May 2019 Surgery Support Group
Comments
-
Meeko: I think it starts getting better, thank you for asking. For now they believe it's normal and no lymphedema specialist. I have to force myself to take multiple breaks though, but I think it's a good start.
Christene: Do you have an access to your doctor or nurse? When I was unwell, I contacted everyone I could, in the end they offered to look at my pictures instead of me coming to the hospital, and gave me advice over the phone in no time. Any chance someone can do it for you maybe?..
Today I drove my three year old to a daycare for the first time. We both felt very proud, she learned how to climb to her carseat without me holding her, and felt I was ready for a short drive.
-
Your three year old wants to be a big girl, to do things on her own... They are so smart at that age...
I saw three drs today, all can't explain the itchy rash on my chest, going from one side of my arm to the other... My breast surgeon even took pictures since he never seen it before... Tomorrow I have to call my dermatologist. The BS will be in surgery all day and wants me to call him asap to find out if the derm dr knows what this rash is....
-
Julie- I'm coming in a little late about your rash... the doctors aren't concerned about an allergy to the TE??
-
ipenelope - I am the one with expanders but not with the rash. Not sure if Christene has expanders, most likely she doesn't..
Christene - have they ever considered allergy as an option? If allergy, I would think tape, surgical glue, etc.. Did they suggest trying anything for allergy by any chance? Even over the counter pills, like Benadryl maybe? I hope they will figure it out soon. Please let us know.
-
hi. Introducing myself a bit late in the game. I had a skin / nipple sparing BMX this past Tuesday, with lymph node extractions on both sides (2 on the right and 5 on the left) plus TEs. I stayed overnight. Home now and just taking Advil.
I wasn’t fully prepared for how helpless I would be. I mean, I was sort of prepared. I arranged for friends and family to stay with me, got front snap shirts with inside pockets for drains, etc. I wasn’t mentally prepared.
I told my boss I’d be out for real for 2 weeks, and would probably start checking email and attending conference calls week three. What do you think? To ambitious?
-
Kber - that’s ambitious, but probably not too ambitious. I’m returning to work 3 weeks after my BMX and 2 weeks after axillary node dissection. I’m not having reconstruction so no tissue expanders, but I had a total of 21 nodes removed on my right side. I will still have lifting restrictions for a few more weeks, but other than that I’m doing everything pretty independently now. I guess it really depends what your job involves. I’m a little nervous about going back but getting really bored at home!
Best wishes for a smooth recovery
-
My Breast surgeon told me to apply neosporin to my incision few days after my surgery. Which I have been doing... Tonight I took a shower, afterwards applied neosporin... About later noticed my chest becoming real itchy.... So I decided to do a search if neosporin could cause an allergic reaction. Sure enough, it can cause red, painful, itchy, burning of the skin.
Going to wash it off and stop using it... Going to try aquaphor
-
Christene:
Wow, let's hope you are right and neosporin is the one to blame, in this case some time and antihistamines will help for sure! (When I was a teenager, I developed allergic reaction to mascara remover. Took me a fortune to find what was causing the problem.)
Kber:
You were among the first people I met here literally the day after I was diagnosed, I still remember you helpful response. Good luck and speedy recovery!
Being ambitious definitely helps your recovery, mentally and physically, as long as you have realistic expectations. I figured that things gradually become better every day. But it depends in a kind of work you are doing and what else is on your plate I guess. I am three weeks post op now, I am independent at home, including cooking, laundry and some groceries. I only had single mastectomy and my mastectomy side is healing too slowly, I can only do a couple of things at a time before I get swollen, driving four days ago almost killed me and I spent all day after trying to get rid of fluid from my armpit and trunk. I won't be comfortable working and taking care of kids, and my work cannot be done from home, so I am not among those being back to work so far.
Give yourself another few days. We are all different and you need to decide what works for you.
-
Hi Friends. My name is Janet. In mid-April I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma as well as DCIS in the right breast. I had a nipple sparing mastectomy with a pre-pectoral tissue expander on May 20th. This is my first post but I've been reading through the May group posts and find them extremely helpful and comforting. This is a wonderful community and feels like a "safe" place to be with thoughts and feelings. Thank you for helping me through a scary time! I look forward to contributing and helping others.
I've been fortunate to have minimal pain which Tylenol relieved for the first week. I'm 12 days out from surgery, had 1 drain and it was pulled on day 10. My range of motion is pretty good and I'm able to wear regular tops now. I start weekly saline injections next week. For the most part I'm doing well physically and emotionally although I've felt a little blue the last couple of days, but I think that's normal. We're waiting on the Oncotype score results before beginning treatment.
Not to trivialize cancer at ALL, but I had foot surgery for a hammertoe & bunion in January of 2019 and, for me, this has been a much easier recovery and is far less painful than that experience. My mother had a radical mastectomy in 1978 and after witnessing her recovery, that's the experience I thought I would have. So I'm just amazed and astonished!
I wish you all well and look forward to interacting with you, cheering you on, lifting you up and listening.
Be Well, Janet
-
Hi Julie- nice to see you again!
Janet - FWIW, I've read foot surgery is among the most painful there is!
I'm 4 days out and still pretty helpless. I can get in and out of bed, go to the bathroom and dress myself, but only if everything (cloths, pillows, wipes) are laid out in advance.
My right side is healing better, or at least is less painful. I have to remind myself to restrict my right arm motion. No such reminders necessary for my left arm!
The material I got in the hospital said I *may* be able to have my drains removed once they are consistently producing less than 20 cc of fluid in 24 hours. I'm hoping to get at least 2 of 4 out at my follow up next week.
Other than that, I'm anxious to get the pathology report. I keep reminding myself that knowing the result won't change it, and won't change my course of action over the next 2-3 weeks while I'm healing from surgery anyway. But I'd still like to know how everything is going. Until then, I'll try to enjoy my herbal tea and resting by our fire pit.
Regarding work, the most activity I'll have to do is to write an occasional stern email.
-
kber: Getting the drains out will make a big difference, and having the worry of the pathology report out of the way will too. When I went back to work at the 2 week postop mark, I had to wear a sling on my arm to remind myself not to lift more than my allowed 3 pounds with that arm. The activity restrictions would have been easier to remember if I had a little more pain (NOT that I am complaining!) I bet you will be fine to go back in a limited function after 2 weeks...you may need an extra week of limited function since you had BMX, but you can always play it by ear!
Janet, I am glad your recovery is going well. I, also, have been pleasantly surprised so far.
Christene, I sure hope the neosporin is the culpril
I will be 4 weeks out on Thursday. My PS said I was cleared "for regular activities" at 4 weeks, so I am going to head back to yoga. I don't want to do too much so that I don't increase my LE risk, so I may use that as an excuse to minimize my planks here at first
. I wore a regular, preop bra to brunch today and it fit pretty much like it used to, so that was nice (and much more comfy than the compression bra I have been wearing!). I tried shaving my left armpit yesterday, but it is still a little numb around the SN Biopsy site and it just felt to weird to finish. I guess I will be half hairy for a little longer. I have decided that I don't want to go swimming this summer (I feel like the incision is too fresh and I don't want to risk an infection), so no one but my DH has to know about my armpit.
I've started my Tamoxifen, and am working my way up on the dose (doing 5 mg daily for a couple of weeks, then I will ramp it up).
Here is hoping for continued good recovery for all of us.
-
just got my pathology test results - no residual cancer!
Chemo did it’s job.
-
Kber: Congrats on the great test results! Hugs!
-
Wow kber, that is such great news !!
-
Just want to say hi. It's my first time posting. No idea if my signature is going to look right so I added it to my post.
This is my second go around with a cancer diagnosis. Was initially diagnosed in 2014 at age 44 and on my first day of nursing school. My first thought was "I don't have time for this!" (yep, never a convenient time for cancer to show up is there?).
Fast forward five years, and I'm checking my voicemails. One was from my medical oncologist saying "It's been five years, you can stop taking the Tamoxifen." Yay! The very next message was a nurse asking me to call her back to discuss the results of my recent mammogram. So both a high five and a punch in the gut! I just knew then and there. The cancer was back but this time on the right side. I knew immediately that I would have a bi-lat mastectomy. Not a doubt in my mind. These girls were just no fun anymore. They had to go. I'm now a nurse and have worked on an oncology floor and now made a recent switch to home care. Love being a nurse. It is reassuring to know what to expect ... I'm even chemo certified. And I am just going keep on seeing the silver lining. This whole process will make me a better nurse in the end because I will have walked in the patients shoes. In fact I plan to get my oncology certification while I'm off from work. Gotta do something with all this time on my hands.
Dx 2/5/2014, DCIS, Lt, Stage 0
Sx 3/7/2014 Lump: Lt; Surgery 3/28/2014 Lump: Lt
RADS Refused
HT Tamoxifen (nolvadex) 2014-2019
Dx 4/8/19 Right ILC
Sx 5/24/19 BMX; Lymph node removal: Rt, Sentinel, Underarm/Axillary; reconstruction: TE
-
Kber, that is great!
Welcome, britgirls! When I got my DX, the first thing I thought was "this is extremely inconvenient!", so I laughed at your initial reaction. I am sorry about the new cancer, but I am glad you have a good plan and a great attitude and something to keep you busy during recovery! Will you need chemo this go around?
-
Hi everyone. Thanks so much for the welcome and encouraging words. Talking about silver linings, these boards are one.
-
did any of you have a PET/CT skull to Thigh, I had one on Monday and waiting for results. But wanted to know if anyone knows what the different colors mean.
-
also wanted to add I had Three surgeries in April. I went for double Mx, and it was a good thing because turned out I had cancer in both. 4 different places. It was invasive
-
Hi, I’m still waiting for my pathology report post surgery. It should be available next Monday. From what I’ve been able to piece together, I think I’ll be stage 2a. There’s a lot of cancer going on in my family right now with myself, an aunt, my brother-in-law,and my nephew all in various stages of treatment. My aunt just found out she’ll need six months of chemo. That seems quite extreme to me as she’s stage 1. She’s being treated in France, though, so probably different to treatment here.
-
That's wonderful!!
-
Kber: Congratulations on the wonderful news! Happy Dance in progress
meeko1452: It must have been heavenly wearing a regular bra. I'm wondering how long I have to wear it 24 hrs/day. Heading to doctor this morning and that's on my list of questions.
Britgirls: I'm really sorry about your new diagnosis of cancer. I'm sending my prayers that you'll have clean pathology report. I love your attitude! When I was diagnosed this past April, everything happened pretty quickly so I cancelledl a lot of appointments that weren't cancer related. I remember telling one scheduler that I had cleared my calendar for the week and she said "cancer will do that to you" to which I replied "I know, it's so rude. It has no respect for anyone" and we both had a good chuckle.
beep7bop: I hope your recovery is going well. So glad they found and removed the other tumors. I have not had a PET scan but am thinking you could probably find a page on the breast cancer.org site that offers guidance on how to read the report and colors.
Be Well,
Janet
-
yes waiting for surgery tomorrow....I'm so scared.
Tried preparing myself but I don't think anything can.
Just go from being weepy crying and then being strong!
pray for me
Thanks everyone!
-
countca - sending good thoughts your way. It will all be over soon and you can concentrate on the next step in your healing process
I was able to have 2 of 4 drains removed today and should shed the remaining two on Monday - yay!
And I was able to shed my post surgery compression vest /bra for a regular front clasp running bra, which is a major life improvement.
The surgeon has still severely restricted my activity; no rehab exercises yet. He doesn't want to disturb the work he did on my nipples. Ah well. Another week of lying around.
I did log into my work email and I cleaned out my inbox. Just knowing I don't have 500 emails waiting for me is a stress reduction.
-
I had my lumpectomy on May 8 and am doing fine but just decided that I will need a re-excision to get better margins so that I feel better about not getting radiation. My surgeon hasn’t been informed of my choice yet so fingers crossed he doesn’t get an attitude with me. I’m a little concerned about the re-excision because the original surgery is pretty much healed up.
@britgirl how awful that yours came back! I see you refused RADs originally, are you still comfortable with that choice? I also see you took tamoxifen which I’m still debating on, any ideas why itdidn’t help in your case. Are you confident in your choice to take the meds?
@countca04 good luck tomorrow. I understand your anxiety, I will keep you in my thoughts. May you have the best outcome possible
-
Good luck countca04. I'm thinking of you. I remember how scared I was too, but you'll get through it, I promise.
Fantastic news kber!!!
-
Kber- Yay!!! Congratulations!!
Britgirl- Sally welcome to the board. You have a wonderful attitude about this!! That is awesome getting your chemo certification! Im a nurse and am not sure i could do that, I think those nurses are a special kind of angel! Good luck with the certification, surgery and your fight!!
Countca- best of luck tomorrow for a very successful surgery and quick and complete recovery!!
I hope everyone else is kicking cancers arse and doing good!!
~Katie💗
-
Just just popping in to welcome everyone.
Kber, I am very excited about your amazing news, so happy for you!
I am at four weeks post op mark today. Last three days were so good, my swelling finally got better. I am still wearing compression bra and taking multiple breaks, but I started driving, cooking and do grocery shopping by myself.
My expander is sitting under pec muscle and margins were not clear at two spots. As soon as the expander is filled I will be starting 5 weeks of daily radiation therapy. Yikes.
-
JulieSim- darn it on needing radiation!
Britgirl- sorry about the new diagnosis.
I can't believe it happened just as you finished up the tamoxifen! I'm glad you have a proactive plan going forward though.I am now 4 weeks out and I finally started PT. The therapist said I have cording on both sides which is why I'm having trouble with the range of motion. Other than that, I think that things are going great. The TE's are still uncomfortable when I notice them, but if I don't think about them, they are fine. Mine are over the pecs and I don't wear a bra at all right now, which has been nice!
I'm going for a fill tomorrow and I plan to discuss the fill schedule with my PS. I've gotten two fills so far, a week apart. Each was 100cc's, and the PT said that my skin feels pretty tight. I've read about some people who feel that the PS hurries the filling because they aren't paid for them, but my PS bills each time I go in, so I don't think that's a problem. I'd like to take it as slowly as needed to get the best results.
This week I start Zoladex and I'm really hoping that the side effects are minimal over time! Nothing like being able to say "well, I start menopause tomorrow". Haha!
-
Hi ladies
Had my total mast. 5/6... seeing the breast surgeon Mon and my plastic surgeon on Tues.... What questions do I need to ask them???
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team