January Mastectomy

Hey Cindy...glad you're home and feeling well. Take it easy over the coming days. I was on a bit of a high when I got home too (felt so much better that I thought I would), so probably did a bit too much, then suddenly didn't feel great for a few days. So, just stay put and read your new book. Hope you keep on feeling good Cindy:-)

HI robin. Certainly no need to apologize.

We're glad that you found us.

Any insight for those of us still to head to the hospital??

Hope that you are on your way to recovery.

Aloha Everyone,

Thank you--I am so grateful to be here women brave and proactive and willing to share their story with the rest of us--eternally, thank you.  

I was diagnosed on December 22nd after getting the results from a lump removal from the right breast done on December 14th.  It was 3.6 cm, Invasive, Ductal and grade 3.  Today I learned it is Triple Negative.  Lymph status is unclear and will be until surgery.  Bone scan and Cat scan pending next week.  I'm adopted and while I know my birthmother, she was also adopted, so no real bio history.  Genetic testing will likely not be back before surgery date.

I'm scheduled for a mastectomy on the 21st.  I had a fibroid adenoma removed from my other breast 2.5 years ago, and the oncologist today said she felt cysts in that breast today--and lymph glands that seemed enlarged, "but probably normal." Neither surgeon seems to think now is a time to do a double mastectomy, but both agree it is not "unreasonable."  My oncologist just gave me numbers (90% less likely to have recurrence, 20% more likely....) but would not weigh in one way or the other.  Everyone seems to have a different idea, but no one has 'been there'--

HOW DO I DECIDE WHETHER TO REMOVE THE ONE OR BOTH?   At this point, it is getting too real and mostly I just want to cry, but when I'm with anyone in person, it is all humor and upbeat and positive--Fighting and keeping it positive, but feel I can't be real.  I need a community who 'gets it.'  Thoughts?  Feelings?  HELP!

Welcome newbies.

Thanks so much for the continued sharing of experiences that gather us under the same umbrella. For those of you who have just been thru surgery -- it is an enormous gift to those of us that are in the anticipation mode.

I am opting for a bilateral. I had a lumpec followed by rads and tamoxofin to begin this journey 3/07. So to be diagnosed for a second time, under three years, when I had a 2-5% chance of being in this boat..... it was "peace of mind" to take my theoretically healthy breast next week, at the same time. My decision. Supported by my surgeon.

They will complete a SNB on the cancer side.

I am also going against the grain by choosing not to have reconstruction. There has been more 'static' from others/family, regarding that decision that the other.

For my professional life, I wanted to have as proactive a response as possible with the least impact on my calendar in the months to follow. For my personal life, I wanted to have as clear a look at my chest as possible.

My surgeon assures me that I am making an emotional decision, not one based in science.

I made a pledge during the whole lumpec-era, that if we ever found another cancer cell, the set of them was gone. In my brain there was no need to take a poll, sit on the fence, wonder, consider.

It is a complely personal decision and I support everyone's choice and decision making process, be it 24 hours a day on the web researching or flipping a coin or listening to your heart.

I wish you all well.

Having the early reports coming in is a great calming.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Good morning ladies.  I hopped over here to see how Faith is doing and what happened.  Wherever she posted this new health issue I missed but saw she was on this thread.

Let me add my experience to the mix.  My bimx was just over one year ago.  I, too, wish I had found this site before my surgery.  I was only semi-prepared and only because my sister's best friend had had 5 surgeries for breast cancer.

The oncologist told my sister that I was making an emotional decision to do a bimx but I went ahead anyway becaused 10 years previously I had calcifications in the other breast - now I didn't trust either one of them.

As it turns out I had DCIS in the other so-called healthy breast.  The left breast DCIS did not show on mammagram or ultrasound - only with a MRI.  The right breast showed nothing with a MRI.

As Faith says, it is a highly personnel decision.  I just knew I would worry myself into a nervous breakdown if I had any breast tissue left.

Here's the thing - at 61 my breasts were not up north but heading south - quickly.  If I had had a lumpectomy the area was so large my left breast would need reconstruction surgery and reconstruction surgery on the right to match the other one.  If the edges were bad I would have to undergo a mastectomy with reconstruction plus matching surgery on the right.  I did not want to have one real and one fake.  In either scenerio I would still have breast tissue and still have to worry about breast cancer.  My decision was less emotional and more logical thinking.

Somewhere in one of these threads there is a list of what to prepare before your surgery - things like frozen meals, placing everything you need to get to in cupboards down to the lowest shelf, etc.

I will be thinking of all you lovely ladies.  You WILL get through this.  Love, Kathleen

So I see "lefty" and "right" are common names!  I just sent out invitations on my caringbridge page for a goodbye party for 'righty'--specifically: To say Thank You, Good Night and Good Luck to brave and wonderful “Righty” who is heading out on a homicide mission, sacrificing her life to save mine—and perhaps others in the fight of a “beast” called breast cancer.  She may or may not be taking “Lefty” with her—as the mission has some classified elements and war always requires flexibility, the final plan has not yet been decided by their commanding officer of the past 41 years.   Still not sure about the battle plan, but reading and listening to my gut says righty should not go it alone, but with backup from lefty.  Grade 3, 3.6 cm....  big guns may be needed, but oncologist says not necessarily.  Decisions.  

You ladies are terrific!

I found a camisole and bought 2--it is the "Gentle Touch Post Mastectomy Camisole".  My local shop did not carry them, but I saw it on another discussion site by a woman who used it.  The shop owner ordered me 2--one in black and one in white with pink ribbon.  They run true to size and have 8 pockets for the bulbs, velcro up the front (no gapping) and there are 'falsies' that can be adjusted for size and room to grow so when the new ones get put in several months down the road I can use them again.  And they are cute enough that I'd just wear them anyway.  The woman I was reading used them through radiation.  I liked them better than the step-in kind I tried on.  Cotton, good material.  Proof will be in the pudding on the actual date, but from what I have seen and what you ladies are sharing, I am hopeful.  It also sounds better than the safety pins attached to the inside of a shirt the plastics man recommended.

You all are getting me through lots of tears the last 18 hours.  THANK YOU! 

One more thought -- can we start a list of recommendations for the hospital and after? 

1. large zip up or button up shirts to wear home from the hospital

2. post-surgery camisole (has pockets for the drains and foobies)

3. your personal soundtrack, or lots of good reading material

4. even though you feel great when you get home, remember you are on a post-drug high and tone it down!

5. get all your grocery shopping done and meals planned, or frozen, before you go in. 

6. Move heavy stuff lower

7. Get a back rest type of pillow to sleep against as you can't lay on your sides for a while.

What else?

formykids - thanks so much. Right now I'm scheduled for a unilateral with immediate reconstruction. We're hoping to get genetics back in time - if I'm positive, I will have a bilateral, reconstruction, and the ovarian/tube removal (can't remember the name - ooph something!)

This is a tough day for me. I am feeling so blue. My poor three-year old was up all night throwing up and I tried so hard to hold her all night but my surgery site (lumpectomy and SNB) was screaming due to lack of sleep. I felt so bad that I couldn't hold her more. Got a nap this afternoon but still so sore and have a migraine. It's worn down my strength and I find I am so sad about this whole situation. I haven't felt like this since I was first diagnosed in Oct. Now I get the added benefit of the pain my armpit, breast and nipple to remind me it's a long way from over. I wish I could just wake up six months from now and be through the worst of it. I guess it's just time for a good cry. So glad I don't feel alone. My DH is wonderful, wonderful. And you ladies are like a soft pillow where I can rest. Thank you for being here.

I wanted to add one more thing...a lady who works in the home health care store told mama that instead of buying so many mastectomy camisoles...to save $$, .you can make your own camisoles using t-shirts from the dollar store, walmart, etc. Since most women want a sleeveless camisole, you use the sleeves from the T-shirt and sew them in the inside bottom for the pockets for the drain bulb and tubing. Then you cut the shirt down the front middle and use the iron-on velcro instead of having to sew it. She also told us we can buy special-order "sleeves" to fit inside the regular bras she has now that will hold the foobie, and make it secure. (she only had her left breast removed)

Hope this helps!

May God bless you all with enough - enough love to see you through everyday of your life and enough laughter to make it worth living!

Thank you so much. I am still weepy, but allowing. And my beautiful princess is up and wearing her princess dress and eating toast. Phew! She tells me that princesses always sleep with their shoes on. Lol I am relieved she is feeling better. I have not been afraid of the medicine cabinet - no pride there. I am a whimp when it comes to pain, and have some help with sleeplessness (I love the ambien, too!). I have my first ps appointment this wednesday and pre-op with my bs the next day, that will help to answer some questions. Then I have a week and a half before surgery. That will be interesting. I might ask for something with anxiety because this is way too much time for thinking.

Wishing you all a good night sleep and happy thoughts to awaken you in the morning.

-Cyndi

Hi all.  5 days out from unilateral mx, with T/E.  I feel like I slacked off not giving an earlier update that might have provided some reassurance to those ladies in waiting. 

 The "boyfriend" pillow backrest is definitely something to have. We have a recliner, but since my mx is on the right side, so is the lever for the recliner....doesn't do me any good right now.  DH reclines me but then I'm trapped, lol.

For those whose dr. will allow them to shower with drains.  The nurses were wonderful at checking things while I was in hospital. But what we didn't consider was the way the surgeons taped and bandaged the spot where the drains come out of my skin. The tape covered skin, tubes and guaze all together.  So we (mom and I) couldn't get the tape and guaze off either before or after the shower. Now it gets all wet and mom tries to compensate by putting dry guaze over and under the wet guaze, to try and absorb.  If I knew then what I know now, I would ask a nurse to change it all and make sure it is something we non-medical people can handle at home.

Hope this helps.

Faith,

I wish I had a "sister" for the 25th also. 

I think I may ask my doc about some Ambien.

I just joined this chat room and am not exactly computer literate, but I want to get this message to as many pre-operative mastectomy sisters as possible.  When I had my surgery, I found out that the hospital I would be in provided "healing touch".   Healing touch is done by trained nurses and the purpose of the procedure is to balance all the shakras in the body and to provide relaxation.  I ordered a healing touch session at my hospital a few hours before my surgery. 

Ask your hospital if it provides healing touch.  If it does, order a session.  Believe me, it helps!

Idell