June 2016 Surgeries!

mydogspot

I am joining the June surgery club. After 2 lumpectomies last month I am now facing mastectomy on June 22. woohoo no radiation? I will not be doing reconstruction I'm all surgeried out.

Hopefloatsinyyc

I have to have a sentinel node biopsy/injection the day prior as well. I haven told it will be pretty painful and they ask that you come prepared by applying Emma cream 1 hr prior. I'm not looking forward to it!!

Maya15

Had my first post-op checkup with the PS today. As I expected my drains are still with me. I had read on this site that most surgeons cut off for removing them is either 20 or 30cc, so at 47cc I knew I didn't stand a chance. The second drain was ready at 13cc but since they both come out at the same place I wasn't bothered if she took it out or not, so she didn't. She hopes they can both come out on Tuesday.

She took the steristrips off the incision, so now my chest looks even more hideous. I'm glad she didn't discuss when she would start filling the expanders because I'm dealing with enough pain already, in new places everyday, not where the actual surgery was but all the way down my arm: burning sensation all over upper arm skin, excruciating pain in forearm and now my underarm which had been numb is waking up and sending out shooting pain. PS says its nerve damage as they all get shifted around when they remove the lymph nodes, and the arm nerves converge under the armpit.

I got an unwelcome surprise from my MOs office when they returned my call to schedule an appointment with her and the surgeon to discuss their recommendation for radiation: "Oh we've scheduled you to come 4 hours early for an infusion". So it's back to another day in the chemo suite to get Herceptin and Perjeta. Had been hoping they'd wait longer than 2 weeks post surgery.

xxyzed

That's a pain about the drains Maya15. My surgeon took them both out Day 8. One side was ready to come out but the other side was still at 50+ mls but he said it was coming out anyway so each dr has their own limits. My steri strips are still on so I'm sure I'll feel like you when they come off. Perhaps you need to use more painkillers if you are still in pain. I have a nerve pain medication as well as painkillers and have felt OK of course I may be speaking too soon. Boo to more chemo so soon. I do have fruit sized lumps under each arm that the doctor says is fat and swelling which is annoying that I hope will go down eventually

tsoebbin

Hopefloatsinyyc-- I am not certain what Emma cream is? I googled but it came up as a whitening cream so I must be looking a the wrong thing?

xxyzed

It is numbing cream to use before injections. It is called EMLA cream. Purchased from the chemist and I think it is quite expensive for what it is but worth it if you hate injections or have a screaming young child

sas-schatzi

Hi, I started a new thread tonight on beta blockers and Bc recurrence. It's not current practice, but worth a review with your docs

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics/845083?page=1#idx_1

Hope you all are doing well sassy

ScotBird

Hello everyone, I had my surgery on Thursday. I came to the hospital on Wednesday to have a radioactive isotope injected into my Cancer breast, then went home for the night. Then I came back on Thursday morning and had a wire inserted into the breast. The end of the wire was clipped onto a titanium clip which had been put into the middle of the tumour when I had the initial diagnosis biopsy in January. The wire was to guide the breast surgeon to the right place. It was explained to me that if the chemo works well and there is no Cancer left they need to use the wire and clip as a guide to be sure that they take out all the tissue which was near the Cancer and then after the surgery the pathology department check this tissue for cancer cells to see how effective the chemotherapy was. I also had the blue dye injected after I was anaesthetised. This has made a big blue mark on my breast but I'm told it will go away in time. This dye binds to the radioactive isotope to show the surgeon which lymph nodes are closest to the breast so that they can be removed and checked for cancer cells.

I had a lumpectomy on the Cancer breast and a reduction and lift on both sides. I've gone from 32FF to 32 C or D.

The surgery went really well and I'm going to stay in hospital until the drains are out, which should be tomorrow. I'm quite comfortable and enjoying the restful atmosphere in here!

Don't be anxious, surgery is nothing to worry about, for me I'm just really pleased to get rid of the tumour and anything else lurking in there. Hoping that they got it all. Next up for me will be radiotherapy after my scars have healed. X

Hopefloatsinyyc

whoops! Darn auto-correct! Emla cream... Xxyzed is correct. It just numbs the area before the biopsy. Makes it a bit less painful... Supposedly! My cancer centre requires us to have it in place and covered with Saran before arrival to the sentinel biopsy and wrote a script. I think it was about $12 for the amount needed. 5gm- on breast around nipple and then sealed with Saran. I used it many years ago when I went through IVF for my kids and subjected myself to daily injections, and it worked surprisingly well- but only on the surface.

Maya15

xxyzed congrats on getting rid of the drains! What do you take for nerve pain? My painkillers are working well for the surgery site but nothing helps the arm pain. My PS told me to discuss it with BS next week as its its related to lymph node removal, but I'm not sure what I should be asking for (physio, is it too early? Different meds? etc). I'm hoping it's something temporary like a pinched nerve, or drain under armpit pressing on a nerve. But the PS couldn't guarantee it wouldn't be permanent and I can't live without proper use of my arm.

xxyzed

Maya15 the nerve pain medication is called Lyrica (Pregabilin) and it is my absolute lifesaver for the crawling, tingling problem I was having with my face. The surgeon prescribes it as standard for the regeneration of nerves for his breast patients and said it was fortunate to find by accident that it worked so well for my face. I was told to arrange physio for the same time as my breast surgeon follow up so I don't think it's too early for physio. As I was still in hospital I have my first physio appointment this week. They are very concerned about potential Lymphadema with so many lymph nodes removed and need me to gain full range of motion for radiation in 6 months time. My motion is pretty good and is normal on my right side and about 135 degrees on my lymph node side. It probably goes higher but I don't want to try until I see the physio. How scary for them to say it may be permanent without even trying anything. I would ask for new meds and physio and speak to the surgeon about a timeframe for repair surgery if it doesn't sort itself out. Those quality of life issues can drive you crazy,you need a plan to say it can get better.

rvgirl2016

Hey everyone, I'm finally back after my left mastectomy Tuesday morning.  Wish I could say it was an uneventful few days, but.....  Everything seemed great Tuesday night, was eating dinner, walked around the hospital floor, visited with all my family that was there supporting me, then all hell broke loose, lol.  I had just convinced my husband to go home and get some sleep.  About an hour later I felt like my surgery area looked more swollen than before, so asked for the nurse to come check on it for me.   But she was with another patient that was in the midst of a heart attack!  So I understandably was patiently waiting, and then I started feeling nauseous   I called the nurses station again, and I was given an injection to take away that feeling.  It made me feel better for about 10 minutes, then I started getting dizzy and nauseous.  Started throwing up all over everything( including my glasses, lol),  nurse finally got there.  They moved me to a chair so they could change the bed, and my gown, etc.  She gave me two pain pills to swallow, I take them, and tell her "I feel dizzy again".  Next thing I remember people are lifting me and tossing me on to the bed, voices everywhere, talking over each other as to what was happening.  The nurse had called a code blue on me!!  She said I was out for 2 minutes and she couldn't feel a pulse, so she panicked.  There was probably 10 people in my room when I came to.  They did all kinds of blood tests, heart work ups, etc., my heart is fine   It was the first code blue she had ever called, so I can see how she might have over reacted a little, lol.  Anyway, my surgery site was filling up with blood, so I had to go back to surgery 12 hours after the first one.  I had a small artery that was leaking.  So I got to enjoy ICU for the next 18 hours.  Finally was released late Thursday.  On the way home I noticed my IV hand was swelling up so I couldn't even bend my fingers,  I'm like "Seriously?", what else?  Called the doctor and was told it was common, just to use warm compresses and Ibuprofen.  It looked better after a couple of hours.  I don't react well to narcotics, so I was only taking 1 percaset (sp) every 4 hours, plus Ibuprofen.  Worked well until I couldn't keep my eyes open Friday morning.  Called the surgeon again and was told to stop taking the pain meds.  Now I'm just taking the Ibuprofen and Tylenol, lol.  It rains, it pours with me    Now I'm still waiting to hear the final pathology report.  Truth is, I probably could've found out yesterday, but I felt like sticking my head in the sand for a couple more days.....If anyone thinks this is too scary for anybody else to hear about before their surgery, let me know and I'll delete it.  Feels good to let it out though.  Everything went wonky with me, so everyone else with come through with flying colors, right??  

xxyzed

How scary rvgirl2016. I don't think the nurse overreacted at all calling the codeblue. Better to have too many helping hands than not enough. It is a tricky path we need to manoeuvre but as you've seen we just need to negotiate each thing as it comes if it doesn't go exactly right. Of course I think sticking your head in the sand to leave the results for another day was a perfectly plan. No need to face everything at once. I'm glad you're at home and hopefully enjoying an uneventful weekend

Kawigirl1260

So, it's 9 days since my smx. Will get my drain out on Monday! Have been back to my BS twice and both times she's said things are going very well and I'm progressing as planned. The incision looks as well as I could have hoped. Very straight, very clean, very thin. Almost like it's already several months old. Very little bruising and swelling. And the pathology showed multiple spots of DCIS, but none invasive and all margins were clear. So, that's a relief!

I'm very satisfied with my decision to go flat. I know it isn't for everyone, but it was the right choice for me. I'm adjusting well to being lop-sided. I've been out and about in public with this hugely stuffed (right side only) surgical bra and drain bulb under my shirt. No one seems to notice. At least, I haven't noticed any "odd" looks. Looking forward to getting rid of the drain and the padding to I can see how my clothes will look without a form. I can see where there may be times where I'll not want to wear one.

As the new week approaches, best wishes to those of you who are scheduled for surgery in the coming days. Prayers that all goes well and that you're quickly on the road to recovery.

Peace

rvgirl2016

Thanks for the reply xxyzed.  Maybe she didn't overreact, but it makes me feel better thinking she did, if that makes sense?  And so far , my weekend is going fine   

Phillipians4

I just discovered this thread. I am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy with Sentinal Node dissection on June 22nd. Hope to join in the conversations a gain insight on what to expect. Amazingly, I am not freaking out yet. :-)

Maya15

rvgirl, wow! It's good they reacted quickly though. And please don't delete the post, one of the good things about these forums is they are real life experiences, the good and the bad, they're all helpful.

Xxyzed thanks for the med recommendation. Been talking to a friend who's a doctor who said I should be on nerve pain meds and possibly get a referral for the hospitals pain management team. Hadn't thought about the range of motion for rads, but mine will likely start in one month, so they will have to get my arm sorted out hopefully!

Lunderwood

RVgirl - I agree please continue to post! I have gained so much knowledge understanding from everyone's shared experiences. There is just so much that the doctors don't tell you! I am absolutely awed by the positive attitude and encouragement from this group. Best wishes for quick recoveries for all those who have had surgery and hope that things go smoothly for those with upcoming surgeries.

rvgirl2016

Thanks for the feedback Maya15 and Lunderwood!  I was afraid of scaring someone with my experience, but I guess you're right, we are all learning together.  Always trust your instincts!  Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't asked the nurse to check on my wound?  Sending out good thoughts and healing vibes to everyone

ScotBird

rvgirl thanks for posting and thank goodness you were well looked after, eventually! Hope you are having a good rest now, 2 lots of anaesthetic is a lot more to get out of your system than 1, so take good care and don't try to do too much even if you feel like it. We women need to take plenty of time to heal properly and to get over this. It will take time. I've got lots of books on my kindle, recommendations from friends, and am going to try to read one a week at least to stop myself from trying to do anything physical other than the prescribed physio. I'm normally really energetic so I knowit will be difficult to stop myself. Annabel x

Kawigirl1260

Wow, a lot has happened in the week since I last looked in! Some good, some pretty scary. And, RVgirl, you're right. Always trust your instincts, especially when your health is at stake! I hope that everyone is having a restful weekend!

I'm 9 days out from smx, right side, no recon. Get to have my drain pulled on Monday. That'll be a relief. But I'm just as anxious to get rid of this stuffed surgical bra! Got to shower today! Boy, did that feel good, but was a bit tiring.

I have to say that my incision looks better than I had feared it would. My BS's nurse said it was the best work she'd seen. When my BS was checking on me before surgery, I asked for a "pretty scar." She said she'd do her best. Never hurts to ask, right? I know "going flat" isn't for everyone, but I just wanted to be done with surgery. I'm satisfied with how things have gone. And my pathology report showed no further infiltration and clear margins. So grateful for that news.

To everyone recovering, I send up prayers for healing with no setbacks. To those of you with upcoming surgery dates, I wish you peace and a successful treatment. You've found a wise and caring community here.

tsoebbin

Kawigirl... Happy to hear you're doing so well. Congratulations on the great pathology report too!😃

I'll ask for pretty scars too since I'm not doing recon for several months... who knows I may change my mind and not want recon at all.

Kawigirl1260

Thanks, tsoebbin! I found the site Breastfree.org to be really helpful in making that decision. They have a lot of great info, suggestions, and photos.

rvgirl2016

Thank you Scotbird, I'm definitely taking it slow.  Especially since I'm not taking any strong meds now   Just doing my exercises and slow walking around the house   

Kawigirl glad to hear you're doing so well   Wish I could say my scar is pretty, lol.  I forgot to tell my surgeon that

Mena4911

I was scheduled for surgery last week. Something was wonky with my preop labs so surgery was rescheduled to this coming Wednesday. Last week was very emotional after being all prepared for surgery and it being cancelled the day before! So now trying to get prepared all over again. I go for marking with plastic surgeon tomorrow, treatment with Herceptin and Perjeta on Tuesday. I will have sentinal node done Wednesday morning and surgery is to start at 11am. After my 6th treatment with TCHP I had a followup mammogram and the tumor was not to be found. Wonderful news! But, I was sent to a radiation oncologist who is recommending radiation after surgery due to large size and super fast growth of the original tumor. I feel good in a way I guess to throw everything available at this thing, but I sure was hoping to avoid radiation. I try to stay positive. Some days are really hard. I miss working as I have not been able to except very part time. I hope someday there are great discoveries and these barbaric cancer treatments will be a thing of the past!

On a happy note; I had pizza today for the first time in 6 months and it was wonderful! I had horrible thrush after all 6 treatments with TCHP and was very limited on what I could eat.

rvgirl2016

Thought I was doing good enough to take a shower by myself   As soon as I started pinning the drains out of the way I started getting a sharp burning pain at the drain site!  My husband is freaking out because I'm crying and he doesn't know what to do to make it stop.  I'm not sure what happened, but he says he thinks I had the drains pinned too high so they were pulling at my skin.  Needless to say I'm back in my recliner still afraid to move in case it starts hurting again.  Doesn't help much that I stopped my "good" painkillers because I was so out of it.  Do you guys think that's all it was, and I can try again for the shower tomorrow? 

xxyzed

rvgirl2016 I think make sure the drain sites look ok periodically, no redness, seepage or anything else different than normal, regularly take your temperature to make sure you're not coming down with a infection. If all ok then after you have taken your painkillers and they are working try the shower again, pin the drains lower and have your husband nearby and try again. If you're not sure about any of it call your caregivers and ask their advice.

Blinkie

I had surgery a week ago. I had been diagnosed with DCIS, but the post-surgery pathology report added another diagnosis: invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1, grade 1. There are two teeny tiny nasty things in there. Phooey.

I'm not up on all the lingo of cancer and have been too addled to want to learn so much new vocabulary. haha.

Now, the surgeon has suggested I reconsider having a sentinel node biopsy (knowing that because of the surgery it may not work) and the medical oncologist & radiologist suggest that it isn't worth it. I think I will say no. I'm emotionally overwhelmed and don't like to make decisions when feeling this way. Still . . . am going to decline. I am focusing on being able to accept that I could regret this decision later.

These forums have helped me. For one thing, I read enough here that before surgery I was aware that they could find something more than DCIS. I was more prepared for the new diagnosis than I would have been if I had not been able to read about the experience of others. So thank you all for sharing.

I also want to express gratitude to the moderators and anyone who works to make this forum possible.

I feel so spaced out that I wonder if I have already posted here about my new diagnosis. & I'm not even taking pain meds any longer. Is there a way to see everything I've posted?

ScotBird

RV I hated the drains, and was told that it would be up to the surgeon to decide when to take them out, and that some surgeons prefer to leave them in longer than others. I was told that if there was less than 60mls of liquid coming out in 24 hours, they could be removed. I begged to get them removed as soon as possible, it just makes everything nicer, including washing and just moving around. Maybe ask if they can come out? Since having mine out I've felt so much better, I just hated those things. X

WenchLori

I love, love, love my PS! I called with some questions this morning and he answered all my questions and offered additional information that I hadn't asked about. I told him my surgery was canceled for 6/6 and rescheduled for 7/6. He wanted to know what the exact reason was for the postponement? I told him I was told it was a personal matter. His reply was "It's a personal matter to you as well its your body. Call your BS and demand an answer. If you don't get an answer call me back and I'll get one for you!" WOW! I'm Stressed with the cancelation but Blessed with such an awesome PS! The BS office said I'd get a response by this afternoon, we'll see?