May 2017 Surgery Group

dcdrogers

@Lordhelpme,

I'm so glad they found it. That is so scary. I also elected to have a BMX even though I was offered a lumpectomy. Turned out to be a good decision on my part as well as they found atypical cells in my "good" breast.

~Dee

Tpralph

wow lordhelpmetoo ! Someone is watching over you. 3mm tumour. So tiny. That is good.

JuliaJazz

dcdrogers and lordhelpme, I too had atypical cells in my good breast.  Just glad to be done with them and hoping the chemo will eradicate any stray cells.  We just have to do the best we can and follow our doc's advice.

Lordhelpmetoo

Julia jazz, I had 4 cytoxan and Taxotere already. I didn't have MRI with initial diagnosis. So I guess I'll find out what's the next step after nodes are checked

Lordhelpmetoo

tpralph, yes God is watching over me and so grateful for it

Lordhelpmetoo

dcrogers, thank you. I already had lumpectomy, BMX, now another surgery to check nodes on "good side

MamaOz

oh lord helpme .. well the lord was looking out for you! On the bmx choice .. I also had one forming in my left 8mm they discovered thru the pathology, i didn't think they could still do the dye without the nipples.. i regret they didnt do dye in both of mine as I will now wonder about my left nodes but as my margins were clear the drs seem ok with it ,prayers to you that your nodes are clear...

I am 3. Weeks post op , still working on my range of motion with Pt , my right underarm 3/29 nodes still tight and numb although , the numb feeling is very sensitive to touch!!

but other wise feeling stronger each day, but unlike all you brave girls , i didnt get reconstruction ,

JuliaJazz

MamaOz, I am five weeks out from surgery and feeling less tightness in arms.  Not doing PT but I do water aerobics here in Florida four times a week and my own exercises. One out of 11 nodes in my right arm.  Both underarms feel numb to the touch but not too sensitive.  I didn't get reconstruction either. Busy sewing rolled shower poofies in my tankini tops.  Have just completed the third one so I am fashionable in the pool. Starting chemo in ten days.  Good luck with your continued recovery.  

MamaOz

thanks julie! What an inventive idea on the shower Poofies ! The water aerobics sounds like great excersize plan. Do you have your own pool or take classes.. my under arm and a bit on chest (have glue closure )really is aggravated by rubbing against material I have been trying to wear a slight compression tank or sport bra but they still rub any suggestions

NotVeryBrave

And the saga continues ... I noticed some added discomfort yesterday on one side and it looked a little pink before bed. Worse this morning. Saw PS this afternoon and am now in the hospital for IV antibiotics. Ugh!

Sono shows 2 areas - hematoma or abscess. So fun - NOT!

Tpralph

sorry notverybrave, sometimes never ends eh? I don't know what will kill us the cancer or the treatments sometimes.

I too have to go back for surgery now for ALND as had one sentinel positive node out of two grrrrr.

no date yet. Does anyone know how long I would be in hospital?

Lordhelpmetoo

Notverybrave, sorry you're in the hospital. Keep us posted please. Sending you hugs and white light

dcdrogers

@NotVeryBrave - I'm so sorry you've having more issues after surgery. I hope all goes well and that the antibiotics you're given wipes out any infection you may have. xoxo

~Dee

JuliaJazz

TRalph, I had to go back in  just like you to have more lymph nodes removed.  I did not have to stay overnight, although it was 3 or 4 pm before I got out.  Hope your path report turns out like mine, no further lymph nodes involved.

NotVeryBrave

Thanks for the well wishes! I feel pretty much okay - some tenderness but what else is new? Waiting to see PS, hospitalist, and Infectious Disease docs today.

Tpralph - You have to have ALND with one positive? Is it because they only got two? They had told me I would need that if three or more were positive. So sorry.

Just when I thought I was finally getting the digestion issues figured out -

Tpralph

thanks Juliajazz, Good don't want to stay in hospital if I don't have to. have had enough the last few months with bmx and diep. Not looking forward to having to start at square one with my arm exercises again.

not very brave. Yes alnd, it was because I had a focal extranodal extension, only a couple of cells that put me out of the "rads only" group. however it looks like today and according to Dr. Notes from the tumour board the plan will be to get the chemo first then surgery after so will give me a bit more healing time. That is unless the BS can fit me in within two weeks. So not sure why i'd have alnd after chemo when it may clear everything up? Oh well, just hope these docs know what they are doing. Hopefully you heal well and get home asap and back on with your life! Sending positive vibes

MamaOz

hope your infections clearing up notverybrave .. wishing you positive outcome

Tpralph good luck as well ..

Sorry you gals are going thru extra issues

sunnyjay

Tpralph: I guess your stay depends on the time of day you have the surgery. I had to get ALND while I was about to be released from the initial surgery. and the only time they could fit me in was the end of the following day (4pm) so I had to stay overnight and was released the next morning. I'm approaching 4 weeks post-op, and the stitches are healing nicely, and slowly gaining range of motion with the help of PT.

Notverybrave: I hope things are going better for you today. I noticed some redness at the bottom edge of my breast over the weekend and was also warm to the touch, but it seems to be going away. This morning, it was just a little red but no warmth. I see my PS tomorrow for my next T/E fill so we'll see how it goes. My PS is so anti-infection, so hopefully she can nip it in the bud... if it turns out there's a bud to be nipped.

NotVeryBrave

Well, my PS pretty much freaked me out by sending me to the ER yesterday. The signs were very subtle - slightly pink areas on one breast with an area of increased tenderness and maybe very slight swelling. He started talking about the risk of losing the implant due to infection and the importance of being aggressive.

The Vancomycin seems to be working since the pink is somewhat faded in color and the little bit of swelling is better. Hoping to go home tomorrow if more improvement is seen and blood cultures come back negative. ID doc would like to culture fluid seen on sono but PS doesn't think necessary at this point. Whew!

Herculesmulligan

notverybrave....sorry to hear of your setback. Did you have a fever?

Tpralph...sorry to hear about your setback too. I hear you about not wanting to start the healing process again.

Hugs to you both

Lordhelpmetoo

notverybrave, I hope that they come back clear too. Nothing better than being at home. Hugs

Lordhelpmetoo

dcrogers, I see you had chemo before BMX. Did you know from beginning you'd need radiation?

I also had chemo before BMX. I emailed mo yesterday and asked her what the next step was on her behalf and she said I'd need to start on tamoxifen

Lordhelpmetoo

dcrogers, did you need to go back into surgery after BMX to check nodes

dcdrogers

@Lordhelpme - I was pretty sure I would need radiation going in. When I had my initial scan the mass on my left breast lit up in addition to 2 lymph nodes. My BS did a biopsy the mass and 1 of the lymph nodes. The biopsies came back positive for cancer. After getting my biopsy results both my BS and my MO said that it was high likely I'd need radiation treatment. Although I recieved a complete response to chemo and there was no evidence of the disease in my pathology report, the radiologist I met with still recommended radiation since the cancer had at one point reach my lymph nodes. BTW my BS removed 10 lymph nodes and all were negative for cancer, but again...this was after neoadjuvant chemo.

~Dee

NotVeryBrave

They are setting me free! Blood counts have stayed normal and blood culture was negative. Still have some pain and pink areas but never had fever or any other symptoms. ID doc is putting me on two oral antibiotics at home.

If any of you ever have changes - be sure to let your doctors know. They said 90% chance this will continue to get better. If it doesn't or comes back - then I'd have to have the more invasive removal of pocket of fluid for testing. And probably removal of implant if positive cultures!

It's truly never ending. And now I have yet another doctor to see. Sigh ...

Lordhelpmetoo

notverybrave, you're free!! Happy for you. Take those antibiotics as prescribed

ready2bedone

I got my remaining drains out today! I am three weeks postop and finally feeling human again. It will be even better when I can take that first shower in a couple of days when my drain holes scab over. (I was told that I had to wait. A bit of a bummer, but still thrilled over all.) so far everything has been going smoothly and better than expected. I keep waiting though for something to go wrong. I know I am feeling bad for those here who have had complications. Hoping things get better for you!

Lordhelpmetoo

readytobedone, isn't it great when drains come out? You'll feel a lot better once you shower too

Tpralph

that is great news readytobedine. It is so nice for us to share small milestone with eachother. It helps ourselves and others reading it. Makes us all feel happy for those moments. I know I always have a smile in my face when I read positive news from members

troyryans

Jumping in a bit late, hoping everyone is recovering well from surgery. I had BMX on May 11 with expanders and nipple sparing. IDC 2cm 0/6 nodes, ADH LH, CHEK2+, ER/PR+, HER2-. Recovery has gone ok, now 5 weeks out, except for tearing tendon stitches on right side which has hindered movement on that side. Still unable to sleep in a bed, having to resort to a chair and ottoman. Still burning sensation on upper chest, most nights I have an ice pack on for a bit.

Have any of you returned to work?? I have to report back tomorrow and that includes driving to and from the office. Employer is not too forgiving to be off any longer after 5 weeks (FMLA does not apply-under 50 employees), and I still need at least one more surgery this year. Praying I can get through this week