March 2016 Surgery

samanthamala

Hi ladies! Longtime lurker, finally made an account. I'm 26, TNBC, and now 2 weeks postop (3/1) from BMX (BRCA1+, discovered after diagnosis). I had a sentinel biopsy with 3 nodes removed, all clear! I had one questionably positive node on physical exam and on my staging PET, which my onc believes was probably reactive from inflammation and not a true positive. I did neoadjuvant chemo and had a pCR! I am so grateful to my team. My MO is some kinda sorcerer with young triple negatives, he just keeps racking up the pCRs...it is truly a new age for what was once "the bad kind" of breast cancer.

I am cancer free, officially! I still have rads to do (and I'm not entirely sold on that, but that's for another day). I can't say it has been easy, but you can do this. I have Franken-boobs, sure, but I came out of this hell relatively unscathed. You can win this fight, and our soldiers are armed with more and more knowledge every day.

One question - have any of you experienced or heard of skin sloughing on a spared nipple?? I got to keep the one on the right and now large sections of the brown pigmented skin are sloughing off- there is healthy pink tissue underneath but now I look like I have vitiligo on my nipple...I'm seeing the PS tomorrow for a TE fill, will ask her.

okbecca

My occupational therapist paid his first visit today. He thinks I'm doing great. He had me do a few things, beginning with seeing if I could just stand upright for 30 seconds. (No kidding.) and progressing from there to all sorts of demonstrations of my balance. It seems my balance is quite good.

He gave me a few very easy exercises that are well within the limitations the doc set to do twice a day, and told me to walk around the house several times a day. Said that if I just did that, I would be ready to take off when the doc lets me do more.

He says I am doing great and complimented me on my willingness to work at getting well. Next step is follow-up visit with doc on Wed. Hopefully the drains will go, and hopefully it won't hurt when they do.

After that, I begin physical therapy, and then strength building.

The guy today told me they're going to get me into better shape than I have ever been before. It seems that in a couple of months, I'm going to take up Yoga with a group of breast cancer patients.

I'm tired ... which he said was normal. He also told me that the shakiness was normal. Gave me a lot of instructions on how to shower when I get around to it.

It seems that I'm doing well, in spite of the post-mastecto-weepies, chills and exhaustion.

agharta

Hello everyone;

First post I'm 32 years old from Istanbul. Just diagnosed with IDC and scheduled for a lumpectomy on 3/21. I'm also BRCA1 positive. It was a difficult decision for me to choose between BMX and lumpectomy but since my mother and grandmother both had lumpectomies (both had the same grade and type before and did not have any reoccurances) I chose lumpectomy with the same surgeon my mother had. I trust my surgeons and I know that I will be cancer free in no time. However I am a bit anxious since this will be my first operation - ever..

Greeetings from other side of the world

gerrib

Hi Agharta.

I loved Istanbul when I was there in 2014.

I'm in another age bracket to you (65). Getting ready for my uni Mx tomorrow in Albury, Australia.

Good luck with your surgery.

Gerri

Seedsally

Welcome agharta and hello Gerri from the USA. I have never been outside this country. I am 65 also and just had a lumpectomy not quite 24 hours ago for a precancerous area in my left breast. I will be having surgery on my right breast in about three weeks (not sure if Lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy-depends in results of yesterday's lumpectomy). There were a few panicky moments during the procedure but you just take slow deep breaths and relax. One moment you are in one room with a lot of lights and the next you are in another room trying to wake up. You might get panicky then. It's a little hard to wake up and you think silly things but remember to take slow deep breaths and tell yourself you'll be awake soon. If you feel pain try to say so and they'll give you something for it. Take your time and try to stay calm or even enjoy the chance to nap a little. Just get those slow deep breaths. So far I am feeling fine. I am resting as much as I can and haven't got very much pain. My surgeon gave instructions to wear a tight sports bra and I am. It helps keep me from having any sagging that causes pain. I hope you don't mind if I say God bless and keep both of you. May he grant peace for you both.

Sharon

grandma3X

cajunqueen - thanks for hanging out with us! You will be in our thoughts and prayers for your April surgery. Also please keep us posted on your experience with the Everolimus trial.

Seedsally, glad to hear things went well. I think the only advantage to having the MX was not having to go through a wire localization procedure. Ouch!

On my way to B'more. Had to get up at 4:30 to make my 8:45 appointment - darn morning rush hour! My apptmt with the BS is this morning then I have my apptmt with the PS late this afternoon so will be hanging around all day. If it's not raining we may go walk around the inner harbor.

Have a great Tuesday everyone

Seedsally

Be careful and enjoy the harbor grandma3x. It's the small things that we tend to overlook but really give us so much. I live near this huge Mississippi River at about the largest bend in it. A beautiful sight but I seldom take the time to stroll the walkway we have here. I think I'll try to make at least a weekly habit of it starting this week.

Moderators

Hi samanthamala and agharta, welcome to Breastcancer.org! We hope you find this community to be a place of support and helpful information! If you need help navigating the forums, or have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us via the private message function.

We wish you the best with treatments and further tests!

The Mods

Mecool

Wow, who knew I would discover some international friends here on my journey! Welcome! It's funny how "attached" we can become to our computer families, but I think of you all daily and wish nothing but good health and continued recoveries

Okbecca - I'd be interested to hear more about the exercises that the PT gave you. I've been doing simple stretches since day one and really upped my activity level over the weekend, even getting on my elliptical for a slow 20 minutes last night but I swear the pain in my right arm pit is greater now than it was last week. I'll be two weeks out from surgery tomorrow and I'm just bummed by this. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the darn drains and tubing though. It's almost like as the swelling has gone done other places, the tubing has become more prominent, especially under my arm pits. It's maddening. I see the surgeon today for my official post op and according to my logs, only 2 of my 3 drains will be coming out. It's progress and I am glad those 2 will be gone but still so upset that the other has to remain. I start my chemo on Tuesday and I just would have really loved to have all of this out of me and to feel "normal" as much as possible before starting the treatments. Oh well, that's my woe is me moment for the day....I will discuss all of this with my doc today, hopefully while not being a blubbering mess. Also nervous and anxious about those 2 drains coming out.....dear Lord, I pray it doesn't hurt!

Wishing everyone a peaceful Tuesday and praying for Chapagonzo as she heads in for surgery!

Mckaylaleigh

Okbecca, I am so sorry you have had some rough days but very happy to hear that you are doing well, even if you didn't realize it :P  I haven't broke down yet, still wont know if I will or wont, but right now the drains are so painful (really just my right one) that I don't have room in my head to deal with any emotions. My post OP is today but I am stull putting out 42 a day in each drain so no chance of getting them out. I am wondering if there is a numbing cream of sorts that I can put on the entrance site as that is right where most my pain comes from. I am thinking probably not.  I really wish I was getting to see a physical therapist, I haven't done ANY exercises.  I know I should be but I just don't feel like it and my BS didn't tell me I needed to do any until my appt today, so I didn't :P

Continued prayers and thoughts to everyone with surgeries this week!

JessieJake

Another day of my new schedule: up at 6am to help kids off to school and then back to bed for a nap until 9:30-10am. I can not believe my ability to nap since surgery. Told DH and he said, "awesome". Thank goodness he's supporting these new habits.

Iammags - Hope you are enjoying being drain free! I just have to comment that the drain things gets usually open mouthed reactions from people when I tell them about it. It's fun to be able to shock people a little

I'm so sorry to hear it was painful for you, though. I had read so many things online before I went in and I'd say the responses were 50/50 on no pain/very painful. I took oxycodone before I went, similar to you. Though when I explained my concern in the office they looked at me funny insisting it would be painless (ok, they said with a rare exception!). Of course I had no choice but to believe because keeping them wasn't an option. Then when the girl (she seemed so young!) came to do it, she had me take a deep breath and then when I blew out she pulled! Fast! It took 3-5 seconds each side. I think the pain I felt at the incision site was strong enough to distract me from any feeling of the tubes pulling out. I still can't believe it. I would think your experience would be more common, but it's over so yeah! Enjoy your shower!!!!

Hey firebird, I'm so glad to read your post about negative nodes. That is wonderful. Great to enjoy those moments and I hope that joy lasts a long time.

Out to buy another mastectomy/front close bra today. What have others been told about wearing/not wearing bra during healing/TE phase? Sometimes I enjoy sitting back and letting it all hang out (covered completely as to not scare the daylights out of anyone walking by - at home!), but my PS said I should wear one for light compression to aid healing.

Nausea free, negative node, as well as other positive surgery result thoughts to surgeries today and upcoming.

Sheree66

Yesterday, I went to see the BS nurse to remove my drains after just a few days. BS only removed 1 node on each breast during surgery which he initially checked as clear margin but official result will be on Friday. Crossing my fingers that he is 100% right. Removing the drains were not that bad, just take a deep breath and think of the benefit of not having it while the nurse is pulling it out. It's all worth the little pain you will have. Today, I took a shower and it felt really really good. Washing my long hair was kind of a challenge but hubby helped me with it. I'm still dealing with rashes all over my body from one of the meds they gave me. They presumed it was the antibiotic and replaced it with a new one. I'm off with all the drugs except for the antibiotic, and hydrocortisone cream for my rashes. Right now, I don't like to look at myself in the mirror with all the rashes and the surgery. I just think of the positive side that the cancer in my body is gone and moving on with my life.

I want to share with you all these videos of the exercises that my hospital has. I have been doing exercises since Day 2 after the surgery for 5 times a day. Please note that the exercises are for different surgeries and just look for which one is right for you.

Without reconstruction:

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/exercises-after-breast-surgery-without-reconstruction

Reconstruction with tissue expander:

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/tissue-expander-video

Reconstruction with tissue transfer:

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/exercises-after-breast-surgery-reconstruction-using-tissue-transfer

Hope these videos will help you out in some ways. If possible, check with your doctor if these exercises will not harm you in any way.

Wishing everyone a good Tuesday. Asante314 and Seedsally -- hope you're doing alright after the surgery and good luck to Chappagonzo.

Vicky

Seedsally

thanks Vicky I am doing well but it's back to the waiting game now. It will be 9 days before I know the pathology report I think. Glad you got the drain taken care of and wishing the same for everyone else. Warm hugs to you all.

Mecool

9 days??? Wishing you positive, distracting thoughts to make that time go super quick! And praying for a good report!

Thanks for those videos, Vicky! Very informative and I tried some of the exercises listed for my surgery last night and they felt amazing. They were similar to some my docs had suggested.

I'm down 2 of my drains as of yesterday afternoon!!!!! WHOO HOO! It didn't hurt at all, I actually had no idea he was pulling them out until I heard them gurgling, THAT was bizarre! And I'm so hopeful that the other one can come out yet this week. Actually hoping and praying that today is the day the output is less than 30 (he said I just needed one day and then to call to come in) because he's in his office tomorrow afternoon and Friday morning but I have onc. appt Friday morning. Fingers crossed and positive thoughts for me, ladies! I want just ONE weekend to feel "normal" before I start my chemo on Tuesday. It's incredible how much better I slept last night and how much easier my shower was this morning with just having those 2 removed.

Wishing everyone a great Wednesday and sending positive, quick, uneventful, painfree surgery vibes to the 3 ladies on today's schedule!

JessieJake

Yes, Mecool, you deserve that week! I officially proclaim that today is your day, it will be < 30! Yep, I feel it.

Is it not too crazy about those drains? I think I have definitely gone on about that topic too much.

I hope you have some fun, yet relaxing, plans to enjoy this upcoming week. I'm excited at the thought for you.

I second Mecool's wishes to today's surgery ladies.

Today, 2 weeks + 1 day from my BMX with TEs, I feel good (not perfect, of course, but able to think about some other stuff rather than just my chest). You know that commercial with the song? It's going through my head. I actually feel like doing something. I'm going to bake. I'm going to hope this lasts. Thanks for everyone's sharing here - all of it helps!

iammags

Good luck MeCool. I feel so much better without those drains! I still have irritation from where the drain rubbed against me but I'll take that over the drain itself any day!

Today I meet with my MO for the first time. I'm a bit nervous. I know that I'm cancer free now but between the BC and the CLL I'm not sure what will happen. I know for sure that there will be rads and hormones but what else? Cancer is such a waiting game!

JessieJake, I'm thinking about you. Enjoy the time and try not to worry to much. Easier said than done sometimes, I know.

Hugs to everyone who is having surgery this week or is waiting for some test results or is just plain nervous!! Go happy Marchers!! tee hee.

Mckaylaleigh

Had my post op appt yesterday.  Stressed the pain I am having from my right drain so they removed the stitch, put a catheter holder on to keep the tube from pulling, and gave me Litocain to put on the site to numb it. It has helped quite a big but I have to reapply it every six hours, I sure can tell when it wears off.

What are the symptoms of infection? Today it is pretty red and inflamed but I don't know it that could be the Litocain or if I should be concerned about infection.  I am also very tired and sick to my stomach today.  Any experience with infection?  My drain output is slowly declining, down to about 40-44 a day each side.

It is my turn for the emotions.  I started to not feel good yesterday afternoon so maybe that has something to do with it, but I just keep having little crying bouts and I don't even really know what about.  My husband is going out of town Sunday-Saturday so I know that is weighing on me. It's almost like there was this "build up" for the past several months since diagnosis and then I had surgery last week and now I am just here in pain, bored, lonely, and trying to recover. My sleep schedule is all messed up. I have not been falling asleep until 2, then I get up with my son at 6:45, see him off to school, then back to sleep until 10-11. I don't like sleeping the day away but I know my body needs rest and sleeping 2-6:45 doesn't cut it.  I just feel depressed. Maybe I am PMSing?? I sure hope this passes quick.

Sheree, thank you for the video, when I feel better I am going to try the exercises!

I was really hoping to get out tomorrow and have a green beer (I am Irish an LOVE St Pattys Day) but if I am feeling like this, it may not be a very fun St Pattys Day   Guess I will just have to make up for it next year. I am just ready for nice weather, feeling better, and moving on with life!! UGH!!

Continued hugs and prayers to everyone!

Seedsally

Mckaylaleigh you may be experiencing the depression a person gets sometimes from the anesthesia from surgery. Plus probably all the pent up anxiety is probably draining out of you leaving you tired and weepy. Just hope you are not getting an infection. Keep a check on your temperature and stay hydrated. I know my lumpectomy was nothing like what you are going through but that anesthesia let down hit me hard yesterday afternoon plus a terrible sore throat from being intubated. But I feel good today just a little depressed and not happy about having to wait for test results again.

Blessings and hugs to all of today's surgery ladies. We are here for you.

Well wishes to you iammags, mecool, and JesseJake. Way to go girls!

And to all the rest of you keep us posted because we really care.

Mecool

Oh, Mckaylaleigh, I was going to suggest what seedsally said to take your temp and keep an eye on it. It sounds like that drain is really giving you troubles and I'd hate to see it get infected I really hope your days turn around soon. Try to get yourself a routine as best you can. Maybe pick up a good book or dive into a good series on Netflix after you see your son off. Take a quick walk and just try to wear yourself out a bit (within reason, don't go run a marathon ) And then maybe you'll fall asleep better at night. Plus having the routine and following a schedule might lift your mood as well. I couldn't wait to go back to work for that reason alone. Hugs to you and everyone battling the emotions of it all right now. It's a lot to deal with. We are warriors, our bodies are fighters. We must treat them well in order to win this war!

All my love to everyone!

iammags

Mckaylaleigh it is perfectly normal to feel depressed and angry and all of those emotions. It's hard to put your head straight after a diagnosis. I didn't really cry when I was told that I had cancer. I didn't really cry until after my surgery. Then I cried and cried. It's so emotional, I broke down yesterday because my son didn't hand in his homework. Crazy. And when my husband asked how I was.

I hope that you don't have an infection,. If the site is red and warm you might just have one. Don't hesitate to call your doc. You've had major surgery, don't forget. Have you tried ice packs?

My MO is great. He's ordered an Oncotype test and I'm anxious to see the results. The drain sites are still sore but healing. And, I can take a shower. One of life's greatest pleasures!

Have a great evening everyone!

Seedsally

I found out today that one of my nieces may have BC. My oldest sister had a UMX 12 years ago. It is her next to oldest daughter. A mass was found in screening mammogram The doctor did FNB but path report was negative. Her doctor told her he still believes it's cancer and said its small and the BX may have missed it so he's doing a surgical BX next week. He's telling her to be prepared for a BMX. He believes she has one of the genes. Her father passed a few years ago from bone cancer She smokes and found a swollen auxiliary lymph node that caused her to go seek medical check. I feel so worried for her She's about 54 and scared crazy. Please keep her in your good thoughts.

JessieJake

Mckaylaleigh, I could have written your post myself a week or so ago. I would warn my DH, "I'm going to start crying now". Today was my first day not taking a nap after kids left for school. Go with it! Read that book and see if a friend will stop over to visit with you. It'll pass, I'm sure of it!

I did get real bored and down a few times. Then I binge watched call the midwife on Netflix. It's a great heartwarming show if u r interested.

I hope you don't have an infection. Keep a close eye!

I'd join u for that green beer if I could!!

Things WILL get better!!!

iammags

Oh dear, Seedsally. I feel for your family and hope that it all turns out fine. Good thoughts are coming your way!

okbecca

McKaylaleigh, how did you post op go? One of my drains is sore and the others hurt, but I don't have a clue how to get them to stop. The doc pulled two of mine today. I'm supposed to go back in Friday to see if we can pull the other two.

I got my path report back and it was a bit of a stunner. I had LCIS as well as the DCIS I knew about in my right breast. Also, lots of tiny incidents of DCIS scattered throughout the breast. Plus, the left breast (which was supposed to be clear) had DCIS we didn't know about.

I'm soooo glad I went with the bmx. If I hadn't, they wouldn't have treated the left breast at all, and I would have been a sitting duck. One of the smaller DCIS in the right breast was a very aggressive type.

I don't mind that docs don't know these things. That's just the state of medical ignorance at this time. But I have had it with them pretending to be certain when they're just making an educated guess, based on statistics instead of me and my body. What tops it is all the bullying, patronizing and belittling I endured when I refused their "advice." I'm going to send a copy of this path report to each of the ones I ultimately fired with a note telling them what I just said here. Creeps.

Bottom line: I may have saved my life by telling my big-name docs to stick it and finding someone who would treat me as a whole person and not just an isolated cancer in petri dish.

Skittlegirl

When I had my post-op check at 8 days, my surgeon noticed that it was a little red (rosy pink not bright red) around my drain site. He decided to call in an antibiotic in case it was the start of an infection. My temp ended up going up to 99.4 that afternoon, so I was glad he was already prepared to treat an infection.

Mecool

okbecca, wow! Good for you! You have to be your own advocate in all of this. That's crazy the way your path report came back....mine was similar. Mamm, u/s, biopsy, MRI & PET all showed my left breast clear. Docs recommend right mx. I chose BMX. Guess what, path came back showing early stage DCIS of the left! They made it sound like such an uncommon and unique situation.....but now I wonder. Way to let them know that ultimately YOU took care of you!

Seedsally, I'm so sorry about your niece. I will be praying her results come back normal! I'm having my labs done for genetic testing tonorrow.

Happy St. Patrick's Day all! This Lynch is sending you all the luck of the Irish today and always

Seedsally

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes for my niece. Her older sister's doctor has already ordered genetic testing for her.

Way to go okbecca. You others with problems with drains, I hope today finds you better and feeling well. For everyone, Good morning and have a Happy St. Patty's day🍀

Sheree66

I went to see my PS for post-op yesterday and he said that surgically, I'm doing fine. But he was worried with the rashes that I have all over my body. He asked me to completely stop taking antibiotics. He also sent me to a dermatologist just to get checked and this doctor doesn't think it's the antibiotic that caused me rashes but the Hibiclens cleanser that was used before and during the surgery. My husband and I don't think he's right, but we got prescriptions for the rashes (oral and topical creams) which will be helpful for now. I will need to see an allercologist to do topical testing this time. I did all the other testings in the past. This was my first major surgery and I never knew I have these allergies. Did anyone experience rashes after their surgery?

Mckaylaleigh, I hope you feel better today, try to keep yourself busy with small things and see if that will help you. Seedsally - sorry to hear about your niece, she will be in my prayers. Good job in being proactive, Okbecca !

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone !! Good luck to everyone who's having their procedures done this week ...

grandma3X

I had a rash at each of the spots where they had applied the little round discs to monitor my heart during surgery. I thought it was from the adhesive, but they said it was more likely an interaction with the orange betadine solution that they put all over my chest. Hydrocortisone cleared it up.

I have heard of others getting rashes, and antibiotics are the usual culprit, especially if the rashes are not localized.

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone!

iammags

I had a rash after surgery all over my neck and chest. I did chalk it up to the scrub that they use before surgery. It itched like hell. I was told to take Benedryl and Zirtec plus use 1% cortizone cream, which I did. It took the better part of a week but it finally went away.