April 2017 Surgery

BG46TN

Warrior....wow!! I can't believe it started to grow back so fast! Im also triple neg..so that is my fear too...glad you are doing the mastectomy to help get rid of it and give you some piece of mind.

I totally hear you on the "getting a prize at the end" thats the good part of child birth...sucks we get nothing now....I am not really mourning the loss of my breasts though (yet) LOL I feel betrayed by them...and never really had a great love for them ha ha so I'm hoping getting my implants next year will be my prize...even though it won't be the same, since I will be numb etc :-(

Good luck with your surgery, anesthesia is my fear too, but I know we'll both do great!!<3

BellasMomToo

Last Sunday, I had my dye injection for the SNB. It didn't hurt at all. (The SNB & mastectomy took place Monday AM). After the injection, I asked the nurse if I'm going to pee blue. He was surprised and said, "No, we haven't used that stuff in years!". I felt kind of foolish asking.

Tpralph

good luck to all you ta ta hoorahs who are getting their surgery next week. ( as Hope88 put it )

I now have a  meeting with the plastic surgeon on Tuesday. Told people at work that on Monday I see the guy who will cut it off and then Tuesday the guy who will stick it back on again!   Hoping they will give me a surgery date when I see them!

I will be thinking of all of you! Make sure you take your pain meds around the clock for the first few days so that the pain doesn't get ahead of you.

Hope88

Hey Ladies,

Seems like the time is flying now. Preop on Monday, and I hope I get answers about the procedure. I have heard different things about the nuclear dye mapping. Some say it's painful some not, so I have no idea what to think. More pain, no thank you.

So, has anyone had pain at the tumor site after chemo? I am feeling some intermittent pain now in the breast with the tumor. While going through chemo I thought that was a good thing since the chemo was attacking the cancer, but now I am getting concerned about further growth. I can't wait to get this thing out of me. Then I will pray it hasn't spread. So far I feel as if I have had a good attitude about all of this, but I don't know how I will deal with the news of a spread. Ok, I am pre stressing, so I am stopping now.😬

My thoughts are with you all..onwards ladies!!👩❤️👩🏃🏽♀️

Warrior2016

BG46TN - I'm not sure I am mourning the loss of my breasts but everyone tells me I should be! My breasts don't define me and never did plus I am going flat so I have decided to live without breasts. I just keep being told I will miss them so I am preparing myself for the emotional slap when I wake up and they are gone. Maybe I will just wake up and be so happy the surgery is over with I will just forget about mourning!

Best of luck with your surgery, too!

Tappermom383

Warrior, my lumpectomy was yesterday, so technically in March - but on the cusp! My fear was also the anesthesia as I have a really poor track record with it. Have always woken up vomiting. I talked with two friends before surgery - a nurse-anesthetist and a retired pharmacist. Both said the anesthesiologist could give me anti-nausea meds as part of the cocktail. I talked with a nurse on the phone the night before, talked with the nurse the morning of and talked at length with the anesthesiologist. He gave me decadron and Zofran (I found out later). I slipped into sleep and woke up with a completely calm stomach. When the anesthesiologist stopped by to see me in recovery (never happened before!), I told him he's a rockstar! I did not lose my breasts so I can't address those fears but I have a friend who made that decision and is living a full and happy life years later. There must be a thread for going flat - if not, why not start one?

MJ

Hanging_in_there

Hope88,

I am almost 3 weeks pfc and I am still having pain in my underarms (both) I only have cancer on one side. I might classify it as "discomfort" vs pain really. MO says this is normal because I have been through some pretty heavy chemo for 4 months. MO didn't think it was particularly Taxol (last chemo drug I had), but an accumulation of all the chemo over time.

Good Luck on your Surgery and tell us about it for those who come after. Hugs to you also.

Tappermom383

Warrior - I had another thought. Within the last month there was a segment on "CBS Sunday Morning" about women who have chosen to go flat and why. I was waiting for my diagnosis at that point and found it fascinating. You should be able to find it online; it might be helpful.

MJ.

aterry

Happy April 1st everyone! We don't need any fooling!

Hope88, I also have a sensation at my tumor site--not pain, more of a heat sensation and I have found it concerning throughout the chemo. In my case I'm wondering if it might be the clip left over from the biopsy? My MRI was clear so if the sensation was from the tumor it should have gone away or at least lessened if there are tiny tumor bits hanging around that don't show up.

Warrior & BG46TN I'm sure it's better to be prepared for emotional reactions in what ever way works best.

I had my pre surgery testing yesterday. All they did was an EKG and took blood. I was only 10 days PFC at that point so I don't know why my blood would read differently than the 7 day intervals during Taxol? I would imagine they're looking for the blood counts to rebound before surgery. Counts can't possibly fully rebound that fast. They'll probably send me for another blood test next week. They really seem to love blood.

quaydvt

Went searching and thought I would join the group! Scheduled for a BMX Apr 24th, no recon. I am fortunate in my diagnosis results - no LNs, no spread anywhere that the MRI could see so won't need rads or chemo (unless something pops up on on of the SN's - then maybe some chemo). Nervous (not terrified like I was before the MRI results - the unknown was the worst part) but I hope to be too busy to obsess on it, trying to get all of my exams arranged and set up for someone else to invigilate and grade - the first of them is on my surgery date - don't think i'll be there for that one!

Right now just trying to get all of my post-op ducks lined up. My "support staff" is coming in for about 10 days, i'm looking at pillows, wedges, pregnancy body pillows (sounds like a good idea!) putting food away (feel like a squirrel in autumn).

Sending pink bubbles out to all.

Warrior2016

Tappermom383, thanks for the responses. I am lucky, though, that anesthesia does not make me nauseous. My fear is always of not waking up. The fear is also before the surgery - like here at home. When I get to the hospital I will be fine.


I did look up the CBS Sunday Morning show - thanks for letting me know. Going flat is a definite for me. I am 65 years old and I don't know where this cancer is going. I am not spending anymore time in my life with surgeries or whatever. I just spent 5 months in chemo and I was sick 24/7. I just want to heal from this surgery and go on with my life. My breasts fed my children and were a part of my sex life but now I don't need them to define who I am. I need to live, laugh, and love and I can do all that without breasts! (I am sure if I was younger I might have a different opinion but this is where I am in life.)

BG46TN

Aterry I have my pre-op testing today...2 weeks before surgery and only 1 week after my last chemo...i'm worried now that my numbers will be a concern...ugh I probably should have put it off at least another week...but its too late now, I already took a 1/2 day of work and I have to drive over an hour to get to the appointment...

My numbers have rebounded back up by 3 weeks, so I should be good for surgery, but they won't really know that will they? LOL

Tappermom38 I am definitely asking them to put some anti nausea meds in my cocktail for anesthesia!!

DawnLee

Hi Ladies,

I'm sorry, I haven't been very active on the thread this week, but I have been reading and praying for all of you.

I fly to NOLA tonight, surgery Thursday. Of course there's a flash flood warning for NOLA; why wouldn't there be?

Terrified of flying and now that the surgery is in my face, I'm scared about that, too. Prayers appreciated

BG46TN

Good luck Dawn!!! I'm sure it will all be fine! I"ll be thinking about you and praying for no flooding!!

DawnLee

Thanks BG. Are you in TN? If so, I live in Kingspor

BG46TN

No I"m in NY :-) the TN in my name is for triple negative LOL

I need a better profile name ha ha ha

DawnLee

LOL

Trishyla

Hey Dawn Lee,

Wanted to wish you luck this Thursday. My surgery is tomorrow early, early early, so I won't be able to post after tonight.

I know what you mean about the nerves kicking in the closer you get to surgery. I feel like I'm about to climb out of my own skin right now.

Anyway, good luck with your flight and your surgery. I'd jump in your pocket to keep you company, but I don't think me and my drains will fit!

Trish

DawnLee

Hey Trishyla,

I'll be thinking of you in the morning. Update when you can. I'll go the same. Just broke down and took my first Xanax because I was literally in tears from fear. And people who know me think I'm brave and courageous, lol

Brneyegrl6608

I thought I might as well join this thread too. My team is meeting tomorrow to decide a treatment plan so I'm either starting chemo first or having surgery Friday. I requested and got an MRI today to get a better idea of the size and to see if there are any other areas of concern. So depending on what we decide tomorrow, I may be in surgery on Friday. I want a bilateral mastectomy but m surgeon really wants to do a lumpectomy. I will talk to all the experts and probably make my final decision tomorrow.

Logang

For those concerned with nausea with anesthesia, ask for a scopolomine patch!

Tappermom383

Scopolomine works for some - it made me hallucinate when I had it years ago. Zofran worked wonders for me last Friday - no nausea at all

mollymiller

I'm quite new to this site, but I will say that I understand completely the fear, concern, terror...What can we call it? Tonight my jaw began to throb. I immediately googled "Breast cancer and metastitsis to jaw." and found many articles that scared me. I am stage 2, diagnosed in December 2016, lumpectomy, then nodal resection (12 additional nodes)...Getting ready for radiation after deciding against chemo...Very concerned, scared, etc. EVry single ache, pain or peculiar feeling anywhere makes me think that cancer has spread. It is a MOnday night at 9:20PM and I Am ready to take my nightly dose of Ativan so that I can have a few hours of peace....

Moderators

Welcome, Molly! The fear and stress is completely normal. You've come to the right place for support and commiseration as you continue down this road.

The Mods

Warrior2016

Blessings to those of you that have surgery this week! It has been so helpful to me to hear that you are all getting nervous because it just lets me know that I am not the only one. I haven't resorted to Ativan yet so I guess I'm actually doing pretty well.

BG46TN, I've had problems with my numbers, too. At 3 weeks my RBC, WBC, and hemoglobin were below normal. I was still anemic and neutropenic. My oncologist feels I need to have the surgery now (Thursday) as my tumor is noticeably growing since the chemo ended but my surgeon is concerned. I had more blood tests today - tomorrow will be 4 weeks out for me. I seem to be getting even more tired each day but that might be nerves and maybe depression that I don't feel I have but I might. I sleep a normal night and take a good 2 or 3 hour nap everyday now - more than when I was in chemo. I'd like to hear how some of you are doing after chemo. Did your energy return? How long did it take?

jbdayton

hanging in there - please call NOLA or PRMA and discuss your concerns with the other flaps. I know 1 person personally that did the stacked DIEP and SGAP and was able to do this in one surgery. Her recovery was no harder than just the DIEP.

I had tissue expanders to hold open the breast envelope for future flap surgery. I had radiation after the tissue expanders were put in. There is no time limit. I know some ladies have waited over a year with tissue expanders before their flap surgery. This will give you time to make sure whether you want flaps or implants. More volume can be achieved with fat grafting in stage 2.

I don't want you to miss out on a flap if you want one. My PS would only do tissue flaps after radiation.

Hope88

Hey All,

I really appreciate all of you and am happy I have a place to vent or just ask questions of people going through the same thing as me.

I had my pre-surgery appt. this morning. They only took blood and that was only because of a low hemoglobin level. If my levels had been, normal they would have kept the original bloodwork from after chemo. So don't have worry about doing your blood work too early and rest assured.

Welcome to all the new folks and to everyone having surgery this week, as well with me, I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. The closer I get to Thursday, the more I get a little more nervous. I can't stop thinking about if it's going to be very painful or not. I am not really concerned the anesthesia, however they did ask me at my presurgery appointment if I got motion sickness. Well unfortunately I do so I have no idea what that's going to mean. I think it has something to do with the anesthesia.

I was worried about the day of surgery, and the nurse told me to ask them to give me something to calm me or mellow me out right before surgery. I can't take Ativan on the day of surgery, but they will give me something in my IV so maybe you guys Can ask for that as well.

Trishyla

Good luck to you, too Hope. I'm only 9 hours away from my surgery and I'm really nervous. I plan on asking for every anti nausea and anti anxiety med they've got! Can't hurt!

This time tomorrow I should be done. Then the real fun begins!

Trish

Angelcake2119

Hi, I will be having surgery tomorrow 4/5/17. I will have a BMX with lymph node dissection of the left side, I will also have radiation after surgery which mean reconstruction will be about 6 month from now. I am having flap reconstruction, I was hoping to having both surgeries together for one recover, but my ps didn't want to do it before radiation. I was blessed with not having to go through chemo. My thoughts and Prayers to all of you.

Moderators

Hi Angelcake, and welcome! We're sorry you have to go through all this, but glad you've found this wonderful Community. Good luck with surgery!

The Mods