Confused

Lorice

It is fortunate they caught it early. Sounds like you are on the right track to recover and move on.

I will still have my surgery next week. The doctor didn't think it was infected but put me on the antibiotics just in case, When you see the radiation oncologist on June 2 will this be your first visit? I was told they make a form to keep you in the same position each time and do small tattoos so they can be precise with the location of radiation.

cbowle

Yes, it will be my first visit. They told me to plan to be ther for 1 1/2 to 2 hours so I'm assuming they do the mold and tattoos that day. From what I've read radiation visits will be quick once they have that part done. Maybe 5 minutes max after the initial visit. I hope all goes well with your surgery. The anxiety and waiting for the surgery is usually harder than the surgery. Do you have someone going with you and to help with recovery afterwards?

Lorice

I was told the radiation treatments are quick. The longest part is getting set up. Do you live reasonably close to where you will be going for treatments?

My daughter will be coming down and going with me and my husband to the hospital. She will also stay and help out for a few days. My husband will also be here to help out

cbowle

I live closer to the radiation center (40 miles round trip) versus my breast center (120 miles round trip). I'm not looking forward to traveling 40 miles each day but it could be worse so I can't complain.

I'm glad you'll have a couple people helping you through this while you heal. I've read that there are so many more restrictions with a mastectomy versus the lumpectomy. Little things that we take for granted like driving and even laundry. I hope everything goes well for you on Wednesday. How is the fluid and swelling going?

cbowle

Lorice, how did everything go?

Lorice

Sorry I didn't write sooner. Everything went well. I spent one night in the hospital. Yesterday I was pretty sore so I used my Percocet all day but today hasn't been bad so I haven't used it. I will take it before I go to bed so I can get some sleep. I have a drain so I won't have to worry about swelling at least not until it is removed. I have a follow up on Tuesday. Hope all is well with you and you can do something fun this holiday weekend.

suz2016

I had saline implants prior to be as well.

I had a mastectomy with reconstruction since they didn't know how an implant would react to radiation. the risk of Cc goes up, then reconstruction is much harder since the skin tends to really thin out. I also did a mastectomy because I didn't want to go through it again.

I'll be interested to see how radiation goes for you on that! it was a big struggle on which I would do.

hope you are healing well!

cbowle

Good, I'm glad to hear that everything went well for you. Hopefully everything continues down that path and you will heal up quickly. I'm scheduled to see the oncologist on Thursday so we can start planning my radiation and hormone therapy. I will be glad to get this started! Let me know how your post-op visit goes today.

cbowle

Thanks suz2016! I'm anxious to get it started and I'm hoping that it doesn't cause issues with my implants. I will be asking lots of questions during my visit on Thursday. I know it isn't the end of the world if I get capsular contracture but it's defintely something I want to avoid if possible. How did everything turn out for you? You had implants before, then did the masectomy then reconstruction with new implants put in?

suz2016

I just had surgery almost 4 weeks ago. I have a TE, that could be filled almost to capacity since I already had the pocket and the muscle stretch. but, I had one fill, and possibly another, then get switched out in a few months.

the surgery, to me, isn't as hard as the drains. it's being stubborn at 50ml a day at 4 weeks. I go today to the ps and he said next week he's pulling it today regardless. which makes me nervous. but, I didn't have any drains during my original surgery 10 years ago without any problems. so I'm praying it all turns out ok.

Lorice

Hello all.

Suz, I have a drain but I am only one week post up. My output is hovering around 30ml a day but I didn't do immediate reconstruction. Output seems to be higher with recon due to the extra stress on the muscles. I am not a huge fan of the drain but I am glad my BS didn't want to pull it yet.

My follow up went well. I have negative margins so that's good. As it turned out, it was good I opted for a mastectomy. My pathology showed I had multi focal DCIS and it was found scattered through out my breast in areas no where near the original lesion