June 2016 Surgeries!

Maya15

Hello everyone!

I don't think there is a thread yet for those of us planning surgeries in June 2016 so here goes...all stages and types of surgery welcome! Hopefully this can be a place for us to discuss the difficult decisions we all have to make, and to prepare and support each other through surgery and recovery.

As for me...I'm finishing 5 months of neoadjuvant chemo soon and scheduled for mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection and tissue expander placement on June 1. I've been advised to wait for reconstruction because I'm likely to need rads which could permanently damage the reconstructed tissue. I will have a further surgery for mastectomy on the other side and bilateral DIEP reconstruction in the future.

I will make a list with everyone's surgeries and dates when posted. Best of luck to all joining us!

Discussion Board acronyms can be found here.

Thanks for all the wonderful posts in the last few months. Here are links to the April 2016 and May 2016 threads.

******************************************************************************************************

HELPFUL LINKS...

• Important Links for Newbies About Surgery
• Shopping/Packing/To Do List for surgery & recovery
• Preparing For Surgery
• Mastectomy Pre/Post Op Tips
• Lymphedema Forum
• Skin / Scar Remedies
• Wound / Incisional Care
• Dana-Farber / Brigham and Women's Cancer Center: Breast Surgery Guide PDF

****Thank you to those who created templates for the last few months that I've copied here.

SURGERY DATES

• kellychameleon -- BMX with immediate reconstruction (tissue expander placement) on June 1
• Maya15 -- mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection and tissue expander placement on June 1
• SthrnYankee -- bilateral mastectomy with phase 1 of reconstruction (tissue expander placement) on June 1
• xxyzed -- skin sparing BMX and removal of level 1&2 axillary lymph nodes on June 1
• CrawfordsMommy -- BMX, no recon on June 2
• Kawigirl1260 -- Single mx, right side, no recon on June 2
• Lindzanne -- Lumpectomy and lymph node removal on left side on June 2
• essieart -- lumpectomy on June 6
• rvgirl2016 -- mastectomy left breast on June 7
• clearly44 -- simple mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy on June 9
• ScotBird -- LX (r) with reduction and lift (both) on June 9
• Opt4Life -- lumpectomy with immediate reconstruction (oncoplasty/breast reduction in both breasts) on June 13
• FUBC -- BMX with tissue expander placement on June 13
• Sue555 -- Mastectomy on June 14
  
• Lolliipop -- NSBMX with immediate reconstruction on June 15
  
• Lunderwood -- unilateral mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection and tissue expander placement on June 15
• Mena4911 -- BMX with immediate reconstruction originally scheduled for June 7, moved to June 15
• nye1980 -- mastectomy of the
  right breast with no reconstruction and axillary lymph node dissection on June 15
• hanley50 -- BMX, axillary lymph node dissection on June 16
• groucho2 -- BMX with no reconstruction on June 17
• Langer -- lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on June 17
• SPECTER55 -- prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with expanders for reconstruction originally scheduled for May 27, moved to June 17
• Dennyse -- lumpectomy on June 20
• jill47 -- secondary reconstruction (prepectoral reconstruction) on June 20
• 4BoysMama -- bilateral mastectomy with TEs placed on June 21
• Dawn41 -- BMX with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction on June 21
• yodez75 -- left total mastectomy with lymph node dissection and sentinel node biopsy, no immediate Reconstruction on June 21
• Cincinnatimom41 -- BMX with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction on June 22
• mydogspot -- mastectomy, no reconstruction on June 22.
• Phillipians4 -- bilateral mastectomy with Sentinal Node dissection on June 22
• Hopefloatsinyyc -- bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (implant and alloderm) with nipple sparing on June 23
• barbski60 -- a BMX with TE on June 24
• silviah -- single MX and lymph node dissection on June 24
• tsoebbin -- bilateral mastectomy on June 29
• Clauclau -- double mastectomy followed by reconstruction with expanders on June 30
• djm71 -- BMX on June 30
• Isshin1heart -- breast saving surgery on June 30
• Mom2fourplusmore -- bilateral mastectomy on June 30
• WenchLori -- BMX with immediate reconstruction (tissue expander placement) originally scheduled for June 15, moved to 6 July

Date to be confirmed:

• Mikie1956 -- (still deciding on lumpectomy or mastectomy)
• 
  jebrunner -- double
  or single MX in mid-June
• Kaileigh7 -- double mastectomy

Mikie1956

My surgery will be the middle to the end of June. Have handledAC and Taxol chemo really well and last infusion will be May17. Have not decided if I will have lumpectomy or mastectomy yet as I have to do one more MRI to see the total amount of shrinkage. Am pretty anxious about surgery, side effects, pain, draining tubes, loss of range of motion,etc. thanks for any words of wisdom, help, suggestions..

Mena4911

My surgery is June 7th, bilat mastectomies with immediate reconstruction. I started chemo in Jan and just completed the 6th BIG chemo and will continue Herceptin every 3 weeks for the year. So glad to be done with chemo but really nervous about the next steps.

Maya15

I'm also nervous about next steps -- been thinking about the surgery and almost forgot I have one last BIG chemo on Thursday. I'm so ready for it to end. Maybe this sounds strange, but at least with the surgery I can look forward to feeling better every day as I recover, as opposed to getting progressively worse with chemo. I was doing really well with AC but Taxol has been a killer.

Anonymous

Dear Sisters,

I found this site so amazing when I had my mastectomy August 2013. I'm doing very well more than two years out.

I wanted to see if anyone out there wanted my clean (gently used) size S/M post-surgery camisole--TLC charges $50 for it. Helpful velcro down the front. Cheery little embroidery. It would be my privilege to pass it on to whomever would like it.

Likewise I have two size 38C front-closing bras, white, in very good condition.

Sending love and courage to all of you!

--Bonnie aka Unplugged Parent

https://www.tlcdirect.org/Mastectomy-Camisoles-And..

Lunderwood

I am so glad to find this discussion thread and all of the helpful links. I have been in neoadjuvant hormone therapy since early January. As part of a research study I am receiving Faslodex injections and taking Anastrozole orally. I have tolerated the hormone therapy reasonably well with a few side effects (mainly fatigue and hot flashes) but for the most part have been able to maintain a relatively normal life. (as normal as someone who has been diagnosed with cancer can be that is!)

I am scheduled for a unilateral mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection and tissue expander placement on June 15th. I have now gone from coping with the neoadjuvant treatment to high anxiety over the upcoming surgery. Prior to my diagnosis I would have described myself as exceptionally healthy and very active, not taking any meds and running 40 miles or more each week. I have never had anesthesia, surgery or even an IV. My only hospital stays were to birth my sons and due to fast labor and delivery never had pain meds or monitoring. My oncology team has been great in walking me through the tests and procedures so far (I have had 4 biopsies over the past 6 months - not fun) but I am truly panicking about surgery. I think its the fear of the unknown!

Thanks for posting suggestions and links....

Laurie

SPECTER55

So glad that I found this site!

I am scheduled for a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with expanders for reconstruction on May 27th. I am BRCA1&2 negative, but I have a strong family history, dense painful fibrocystic breasts, and have had three biopsies. The most recent one was positive for ADH. I have been on HRT since my hysterectomy 8 years ago. My breast cancer risk assessment gives me a 34% chance of getting BC. For me, self exams are like examining a bag full of marbles. The Radiologist said my dense breasts made my scans (Mammos and MRIs) difficult to read and there is a possibility that the ADH could be upgraded to DCIS after the open biopsy. I am tired of having my life run by my breasts. Even when my scans are clear, I often worry that a cancer is being missed because of the density of my breasts. Every year, I lose 2-3 months of quality peace of mind dealing with scans (+anxiety), biopsies (more anxiety!) and follow up scans (anticipatory anxiety!). I am happy with my decision and cannot wait to have this behind me.

I am trying to be as prepared as possible for my surgery including preparing meals in advance, getting my hair done before surgery and hoping it will hold up during the immediate recovery days. ( I'm going to try the dry shampoo). I filled my prescriptions for pain meds, so I will have them when I get home. I bought some button front PJs as well as a healincomfort.com recovery jacket for drains. To keep my sense of humor, I will give each drain a name (instead of A,B,C.. or 1,2,3...). We just got an adjustable bed, so I am hopeful that I will not be as uncomfortable as most people say.

Please, post any other helpful tips that you may have. I am open all suggestions .

tsoebbin

Dang... it just doesn't seem right that I am part of the May and the June surgeries! I just got the pathology back from my lumpectomy I had last week. My original DCIS dx has turned into 2 spots of invasive cancer. One spot is 11mm and the other is 4.5mm and they were not next to each other. Every slide had DCIS on it.

It is being tested for HER2 status right now but I do not have results yet.

Bilateral mastectomy is in my near future. I need to decide if I am going to have immediate reconstruction or not. I am very overweight and would like to lose weight first but need to talk to the BS and PS to see what the advise.

Lunderwood

tsoebbin, I am sorry to hear that you will have more surgery. That is tough! Will the BS wait until you recover from your May surgery or schedule it quickly? Hugs!

sas-schatzi

Hope you find this information helpful. In 2014 and 2015, there were several threads that looked at 1. specific drugs i.e. ketorolac, opiods, propofol, and other NSAIDS, and 2. surgical anesthesia interventions i.e. paravertebral blocks that may affect breast cancer recurrence either local or metastatic. All the information is Evidence Based Research with links. The intent of this post is to provide you with a link to information that you can study and in turn take to your surgeon and anesthesiologist for discussion pre-op, if you feel it has value in your breast cancer care.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics/843381?page=1#post_4691613

A great starting point is this presentation by Dr. Vikas Sukhatme who is academic dean at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard. Published on Jan 21, 2016. Presented by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme on December 8, 2015 at MIT in Cambridge, MA.

"A Simple, One-Time, Inexpensive and Non-Toxic Intervention to Improve Cancer Survival"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zVrYEW8vE&feature=youtu.be

This is a post and run. I'm 7years out and on with life and other things, I'm not monitoring or mentoring this thread. Particular questions re: the research, please, post on each individual thread . Good luck and blessings -sassy

sas-schatzi

These are topics which I've started in the past. The intent is to help you get through this chit. Thought I'd group them and pass on. sassy

Just Diagnosed- Get Prepared

Re: Evidence Based Research (EBR)Sites

STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER

Warm & fuzzy owls, goats, kitties, dogs, birds ETC. PICS &LINKS

Drugs that can cause Mouth Problems

CONSTIPATION--problem with so many of our drugs

Isshin1heart

I was diagnosed last week with invasive papillary carcinoma. It is grade 2, stage 1. No evidence of node involvement on ultrasound. Will have breast saving surgery on June 30. Will start radiation about 8 weeks later. I have been on prednisone for lung disease for 7+ years , that is the reason for the long wait for radiation. Feel very good about surgeon but nervous naturally.

Lunderwood

Sas-schatzi - THANK YOU! These are great topics and links very timely. Many are areas of concern for me and topics I have been researching. It is also wonderful to hear that you are 7 years out and on with your life. Cancer has already intruded in my life more than I want and I am only 6 mos past diagnosis. I am ready to move on with my life. I do not want cancer to define my life. You are inspiring!!!

Moderators

Isshin1heart, we warmly welcome you to Breastcancer.org. We are are sorry you joined "the club", but pleased you landed into the is lovely group.

We wish you much luck with surgery!

The Mods

tsoebbin

Great links! Thank you - Sas-schatzi.

I am trying to decide about immediate reconstruction or waiting until after surgery. I am overweight (by a LOT) and wonder if I should lose that before recon. I will ask the PS when I meet them but curious what input you all may have?

Lolliipop

I am scheduled for NSBMX with immediate reconstruction on June 15th. Finished 6 rounds of TAC on 4/21, still dealing with the nasty side effects and can hardley wait for my hair to start growing back. The good news is all 4 tumors responded very well. Hoping pathology reports come back negative so I will not have to do radiation and I can start living a normal life again. I am really nervous about having the surgery and the weeks following.

WenchLori

Hi, my surgery will be on 6/15/2016. Having mx left breast and propalactic mx on right breast with immediate reconstruction/TEs

Maya15

I've started a list in the original post with our surgery dates.

My surgery is less than 2 weeks away but I've done nothing to prepare except for reading the really helpful posts on the May thread as I'm still trying to fight off the effects of my last chemo. Seems Taxol really doesn't agree with me. After 8 days I can still barely walk and today I couldn't keep any food down. The good news is my tumors have also responded very well. My hospital doesn't want me to do any pre-surgery appointments or tests because it seems they know everything they need to from my various chemo labs and scans, so they've said all I have to do is show up at the hospital on the day.

sas-schatzi

Hi I thought I'd pop in and see if anyone had questions on the links I posted. Still OCD. Thanks to those appreciating the links.

In the template in the topic box is a wound care thread. I didn't know it was included in the surgery template until I started posting the Toradol/ Block/NSAID info. Apparently, it's been done for years. I wondered when folks would PM how they got my name. It's not my thread but I did do a major amount of work on it. Old nurse . Available for consult LOL.

Maya, I was surprised that your hospital didn't want to do an update. General rules are that a pre-surgery update needs to be done if the info is older than 30 days. It really is a safety item. As you have already found out lot's can happen in a short time. Don't be surprised that they call the few days before and want to do a phone update. A quicky . Nice that they pulled all the needed labs etc from the computer. Efficient Bodes well for future encounters.

I do suggest getting the docs to review the Ketorolac/toradol material. After you review Dr. V's video you will see how important one little 2cc injection can mean so much

Dr. Patrice Forget has a study going on now on Toradol. If the prospective research proves the retrospective studies are accurate it will be a major advancement. It will put Forget in line for a Nobel.

Maya15

sas-schatzi, thanks for all the info!

My hospital's policy is consistent with what you say, they told me everything had to be less than 30 days old, but because of the chemo monitoring, I have blood tests, PET/CT, EKG and echocardiogram all less than 30 days from surgery, so they're not asking for anything else.

CrawfordsMommy

Hi! My sx is on June 2. BMX, no recon. I have IDC on [L] side and [R] side is prophylactic (my choice).

I don't know much about what's going to be going down other than the surgeon told me I'd be sore for a few weeks but he expects me to bounce back after the de-fleshening. Rest of tx is pending the pathology report. My tumor is apparently not terribly aggressive, or so they tell me, and I think hormonal therapy is going to be my main tx after sx.

I'm not too worried about surgery itself... I know that is weird but I've had surgeries before, so, I'm kinda like, I know the drill, overall. How to avoid infections, dealing with soreness etc. I'm more worried about SE later on down the road like LE, and of course doing what I can to prevent the dreaded recurrences/mets, so, going to make sure I like my MO going forward. I'm kind of dumb about exactly what goes on with mastectomy, so I'll make it a point to call the nurse, read some accurate articles, etc. on what to expect after BMX with no recon (most of what I read involves recon and doesn't seem to apply to my case...)

Question: What do they do with your tumor after surgery? Are they able to save it (freeze it, etc.) for reference further on down the line, say if some gee-whiz spiffy new test or treatment is discovered, or do they do a pathology report after surgery and then discard it?

I do have some serious co-morbidities which may interfere with any potential chemo. So, that will be touch and go, I think. Just weigh risks vs. benefits I guess.

grandma3X

Hi CrawfordsMommy,
The breast tissue is sent to pathology after your MX where they will thoroughly examine it to determine size, grade, and ER/PR/HER2 status. They will fix it in formaldehyde and embed it in paraffin, then section it onto slides so that it can be examined microscopically. You can ask your MO to also send it out for Oncotype dx to determine whether you would benefit from chemo and your risk of recurrence. The pathology department will keep the rest of the tissue for a period of time (5 years?) - not sure how long, but it should be available for any spiffy new test that's developed in the near future Be sure to ask for a copy of your pathology report after surgery, as well as any other reports for scans or blood work you might have.

WenchLori

Grandma3x, now that I think of it I never got my original pathology report. Not sure how that passed me by? I will definitely asks for all reports before going home from the hospital. Is the Oncotype testavailable for someone that's been told no chemo nor radiation needed?

Dawn41

Hello, I have my surgery scheduled for June 22 bmx with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. I was diagnosed March 15 with ILC and LCIS and had a lumpectomy April 20th unfortunately more was found than detected. I have been doing lots of reading and trying to get some things together before hand so recovery will be easier. It is nice to have the date set and we can now plan out some the the summer with the kiddos.

WenchLori

Good morning CincinnatiMom, I'm so sorry you had bad results and I pray you come thru all of this in flying colors! if you read the thread on May surgeries GreyKat, SpeciaK, Sassy and many others have wonderful posts about getting things in order. You'll find they are all fantastic ladies and ready to help at the drop of a hat!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Gentle hugs to All

grandma3X

Lori - I think the Oncotype dx test is only for ER positive tumors. It calculates a score based in part on the expression of ER and HER2 by the tumor. If you are triple negative, as in your signature line, your MO would probably not order the test.

tsoebbin

Grandma3x - how is your leg today? Any reduction in the swellling?

Lindzanne

I have surgery on June 2nd. Lumpectomy and lymph node removal on left side, followed by chemo and radiation. I've never had surgery before, I've never even had a cavity let alone a broken bone or serious health issue! I'm really nervous about going under for some reason, feels like such a loss of control. It all does!

WenchLori

Thank you Grandma3x, I've learned something new today :-)

Welcome Lindzanne, such a pretty name. It all seems to be out of our control, all of the wonderful ladies here will help you through this. I know they have helped me to be calmer than I was when my journey began. We are here to support you. I haven't been here long myself but I've learned so much in a short time. I've been through 8 or more surgeries, unfortunately it's gotten to be second nature for me. This is so much more scarier than anything I've been through before, and I'm very nervous also! I just take big deep breaths and continue with my life. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a full recovery! I'll be praying for you!

grandma3X

Tsoebbin - my ankle is still swollen. I have a call into the PS office to see if I should still be concerned or if I can do anything more to help the swelling go down. I had an ultrasound and there is no blood clot. The only thing I can think of is that they gave me 2 shots of heparin in that leg while I was in the hospital and the injection sites are still a bit sore. I wonder if it's just inflammation in response to the injections? Anyway it doesn't hurt to walk on it but I'm trying to keep my ankle elevated when I sit down - hopefully it will resolve itself.

hanley50

Hi June Surgery Sisters!

I will be having BMX, axillary lymph node dissection and tissue expander placement on June 16. I am scared to death!

{{{Hugs to everyone!}}}

Maryann