April 2018 Surgery Support Group

star2017

Warrior, interesting. I haven't had to have stitches removed for any of my surgeries. I assume they dissolve? The surgeons use a glue over the incision site.

Warrior2018

Star- I guess I have both kinds. I had a lumpectomy with reduction and lift and a lot of tissue was removed so I guess maybe they felt both were needed. Not sure.

Mrsmcg

I had clear margins and lymph nodes, but still have to have 4 weeks of radiation. My BCS isn't doing oncotype dx testing, even though I asked her to do so. I hope your number comes back low.

I have had issues with wound healing also. I had my surgery on 3/16,and still haven't been able to start radiation. I used to have the goal to be done by Memorial Day, but now I am just hoping to be done by Summer, and our anniversary in July.

Healing prayers and thoughts to everyone!

Colleen

Warrior2018

Hi Colleen, awesome about the clear margins!! Woo hoo! About the Oncotype- could you ask your MO to order it?

Wishing quick recovery for all

Warrior2018

So last night my shoulder was very achey, which of course is because of the SNB. This morning when I first woke, I stretched my arm and it seemed to be ok. Now it is just aching and I’ve stretched and been icing. Any helpful tips would be appreciated. It’s not hurting right near the incision but the muscles stemming out, pretty much on the front and top of my shoulder. I took ibuprofen too. If anyone knows a good way to make this stop I’d love love love some advice.

powerparks

Hi all! I'm a newbie here. I had a right side mastectomy on April 27th. I'm in the recovery stage now. I still have 1 of 3 drain tubes left. I'm doing pretty good health wise but I've been in my head a lot. Right now, they have me wearing a sling on my right side so I don't use my arm. This has been helpful to me because it distracts the eye from noticing I have a size triple h breast on one side and a -a on the other. Tuesday I get my last drain tube out and I am having a hard time seeing myself leaving the house so lopsided. How do you get past this wall? I have talked to friends that have had mastectomies but they all started small breasted. I have been offered a therapist to talk to but I don't think they can help me because they aren't in my shoes. I was hoping I could get some ideas from others how to get through this. This probably isn't the thread I should had posted on, and I really didn't intend to say this here but I figure others here may be having the same problem. It would be nice to feel others know what I am dealing with. Thanks for reading.

powerparks

Warrior2018 for your aching you could try heat instead of cold. Heat seems to work better for me and I've had a lot of the same pain in my shoulder and back of my arm.

Warrior2018

Hi powerparks, thank you for the idea. Maybe I can try that on the top of my shoulder and it will help.

I hope you’re feeling better today. Although I didn’t have the exact same surgery, I understand what it’s like to have to deal with this new body, aches and pains and all. It’s hard at times but at other times, I’m happy to know the tumor was removed. We had major surgery. Be good to yourself. Do small things that can make you feel even a little bit better, like finding a new book to read, or call someone and spend more than the usual 3 minutes on the phone, or have a relaxing cup of tea. I know that all might seem very simplistic but I think every little bit helps. Everyday we get better. Everyday we are closer to being healed. Hopefully someone with more experience about your specific situation will chime in as well. I had heard others discuss prosthetics and particular bras that are for women that had had a mastectomy. Gentle hugs to you

powerparks

Thanks Warrior2018, I have my days. I'm just stressing about Tuesday. My husband ordered me a hand knit foob. Hopefully, it gets here soon. Tuesday I should get my last tube removed and won't need to wear the sling any longer. I may continue to wear it until my foob comes in. It's nice to have a place to go to talk to others that are going through the same thing.

Another thing that may help your shoulder is a muscle relaxer such as Flexeril. My Dr put me on it after surgery. It held quite a bit. I use steroid cream on mine and it is awesome. It takes away all the pain. I received that for my back problems but it can be used anywhere that hurts. I'm not sure how old you are (I'm 41) but as we get older we tend to get more pain. This stuff is a miracle worker. Your Dr can get it for you. Hope this helps. My arm and shoulder hurts and burns so I feel your pain. Thanks for being here. Sending gentle hugs back.

rachelcarter35

Hello Joy2

my PS prescribed it. It worked! He took my drains out yesterday too which was a pleasant surprise. Now waiting to find out about chemo on 5/30. Good luck in your healing joy2. I just kept envisioning pink skin replacing black. Maybe my visualization worked...don't know.

Warrior2018

Thank you for the idea! I will look into that powerparks

PaulaAtlantaGA

April surgery buddies,

I will start radiation soon as I had a 2 cm residual tumor and 2/14 nodes still had cancer after neoadjuvant chemo. Then I'm starting Xeloda and am already reading that thread. I turn 64 on Tuesday, and I get rid of my surgery tape and receive my first non-surgery fill. I'm kinda happy with the 220 he gave me while I was under, but the R breast will be zapped 30 - 35 times, so I think he'll make it a little bigger to allow for skin tightening.

Many of us, I imagine, are coming up on Mother's Day with surgery wounds and pain. For me, it's also my first birthday without my younger brother. Let's look forward to a happier May in 2019! Now that I'm driving again, I actually look in the rear view mirror (at a red light) and remind myself, "I can't drive looking in that direction, must look forward!" Best to you all.

Mrsmcg

What is MO?

star2017

medical oncologist

SLL101984

I just wanted to pop back in this thread to see how you ladies are doing? I thought maybe I’d have a lumpectomy at least in April but that didn’t happen and I’ll actually be going in for s BMX next Monday. Wanted to see how everything is healing and recovering as you’re my hope in gettijf though to the other side of this! We’re there any surprises for you ladies once the final pathology reports came in or did you doctors seem to have a good idea of what wasn’t being dealt with prior to going in? I think that’s my biggest fear, not the surgery but the final pathology report

Warrior2018

Hi SLL! I’m doing ok. Some ups some downs but healing. I didn’t have any surprises but I did see that DCIS was listed on my pathology from surgery. Not sure if that was known, expectedor will change anything. Now I’m just waiting for the results of my Oncotype test. My next appt with my MO is Monday.

Sorry to hear things didn’t go as planned for you. I hope you have a quick recovery with your BMX.

PaulaAtlantaGA

So today my body was marked up for radiation. I've known since I was diagnosed (10/2017) that my likely path would be two sets of chemo, surgery (4/27), radiation, Xeloda, and then a possible clinical trial for Keytruda. I've had CT and PET scans before. The technician today was kind. Now I have three places marked on my body, and I'll begin my 28 radiation visits in early June.

Surely we are all entitled to those days when we just break down and cry, and this is one for me. It's been such a long journey, and I'm feeling somewhat like an object with my DMX scars and radiation marks. I'm struggling for the gratitude for my excellent medical care and the support of those who love me. I'm just - today - wiped out. The tears flow and I wonder, "Why now?" But I accept them, and know I will move on when I'm ready.

star2017

being marked up and moved around for radiation has made me feel the same way

Warrior2018

Gentle hugs to you Paula. There’s nothing easy about this stupid disease.

PaulaAtlantaGA

Thank you, friends. Maybe there should be a "Starting Radiation in June" thread? Would that be useful?

SLL101984

Hi ladies, I’m going to ask here also since you guys are a little further out from surgery than us may girls. I had a BMX on Monday and things are looking good so far. I just went and saw one of my surgeons (because setting up a visiting nurse has been like pulling teeth!) and we noticed the drain in my right is either blocked or not in the right spot to fully drain. If you touch the skin over my tissue expander on that side it looks like a water bed! She didn’t seem to concerned and said we’d follow up Tuesday just keep taking the antibiotic. Anyone else have an issue like this? The drain isn’t totally blocked because there’s stuff to empty. I’m as assuming she should have maybe put a second drain i

star2017

sll, my issue wasn’t exactly the same, but after my drain was removed my breast started to look like I had already had fills, but I hadn’t. Fluid that would have been drained was building up. It’s been about three weeks since and the fluid is gone

star2017

Paula, I think there is already a June thread. I’m in the May group

MAC58

Hi to all my April surgery ladies!

It's been a long haul, but my open incision has healed from 1 1/2 inches deep on April 30 to 1/8 inch today May 31! This has seemed like forever, and with myriads of visiting nurses, packing the wound, hubby had to learn how to pack and care for it too cause we had a wedding and a graduation out of town. Seeing my BS tomorrow and hope he will say no more packing can be done.

Oncotype score will be in sometime between June 5 and 12, so praying for a low score and then to radiation I go. Good luck to all of you

Warrior2018

Great news MAC!!!

SLL101984

Hi ladies- I’m going to ask here because some of you are much further out than us in the may surgery group! I had a BMX with TEs places 10 days ago. I will hopefully start my fills this coming Tuesday when the last two drains come out. Anyways, my question is what type of bra, and where can I get them, did you wear once you started getting fills? I know I won’t need one for support really, especially since I am staying on the smaller side, but I would like to have the extra layer of coverage once I return back to work! I’m ok out and about braless right now but I just can’t picture myself going to work with nothing!!

Mrsmcg

If there is a June radiation group I can't find one. Does anyone else have employer issues? Mine isn't letting me adjust my schedule in order to receive radiation treatments.

star2017

here’s the June radiation thread: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topics/864421

I’m so sorry your employer has not been understanding about treatments!

Popcornme

For those who started working out again, what type of workouts do you do? I had a left breast mastectomy with axillary ln dissection and tissue expanded in place. I'm currently doing exercise bike and some arm exercises with dumbbells or machines.

star2017

only yoga and the glider so far