January Mastectomy

pbebow, thanks for the heads up.

jackieC1964 - your tumor is about as small as mine which is 5mm. are they saying you should be on tamoxifen because you still have your left breast? I see my onc on Feb 4th.

Neversurrender, KatRNagain92, ariesrotie, Good luck on Monday! I will be thinking of you.

Happy Birthday Lynbob!

Anyone else with TE's experiencing swelling or huge pumps of tissue on their sides right under your armpits? These are the most annoying things right now. I can't put my arms to my sides. My only thinking is it is either scar tissue or the expanders.

Also, those with TE's, what type of cami are you using? I saw my local PS nurse on Thurs and she said I can finally take off the mastectomy bra. Ahh, what a relief that was. The camis I brought feel way to restrictive so I need something that is silky and not tight but easy to put on.

I wish I could be happy that our January list has grown so long ... but all the same, best to all of you on the roll call next week.  As we have all been saying, the wait and anticipation is the absolute worst!  Got my last drain out yesterday and I feel like a new woman.  Also got my BRCA test results and they are all negative.  That was a relief to me and to my daughter.  Now I just have to deal with the ER/PR/HER+.  Glad to hear you are all healing.  I love that we post the little oddities that we have all found.  As for drains in the shower _ i just used some pretty ribbon that I tied in a bow around my neck.  I'm ready to sleep without my cami, but more weeks to go before I can get fitted for a regular bra and foob.  Thinking of all of you this weekend.

formykids,

You can purchase a front closure post surgery camisole on the American Cancer Society website, under "tlc"; think you can go to tlcdirect.org.

My BMX with TE is scheduled for January 28th.  I am getting very anxious.  Can anyone out there tell me what to expect.  PS said I would have 3 drains (2 on the unaffected breast and 1 on the breast that has already endured 2 excisions. Said I would be in the hospital 2 nights....how can I expect to feel?  Guess I just need to hear from those that have survived this procedure.

Also freaking out about chemo.  Because tumor was 2.1 cm, understand there will be no radiation, but probably adjuvent chemo.  Have not met the Oncologist yet.  When will that happen?  How long after surgery, will I have to start chemo?  How long will chemo take?  I know these answers will have be determined by a lot of variables,,,,,but I am just looking for some ballpark answers.  Looks like my husband, who has been unemployed for quite a while has a job offer and it is out of state.  Pretty sure I can go this alone (I know others do...but want an idea of how much time could be involved.  Don't understand cycles?

Thanks for any replies.

Marianne

cat60- I know exactly how you feel.  I was diagnosed on 11/19/09 and lumpectomy pathology showed 2.1 mm IDC and .8 and .6mm ILC and extensive LCIS in the segment taken from my right breast.  I was given the option of radiation and tamoxifen or bilateral mastectomy.  I have decided on the bilateral mastectomy.  When I was given these results I asked how possible it was that I might have cancer in other areas of my body and my BS said "it's possible that you could have a car wreck today" but basically we don't look for it in other areas based on this.  What?  Three (I know very small) tumors that are invasive types of cancer and you don't look for other cancer?  I did have sentinal node removal during the lumpectomy and they came back negative.  I still find it very scary to not know about other areas of my body and every time I have a pain I get a little anxious about it.  Like you, I am curious to know why it seems like other women with basically the same diagnosis get all types of scans and we are left to wonder.

So maybe some of you knowledgeable ladies out there can provide some insight.  Should we get second opinions? insist on scans? trust our surgeons?  

I want to beat this cancer but I am so afraid of finding out later that it had spread and if only someone would have looked I would be ok.

Thanks so much for listening and my prayers go out to all you ladies.  Thanks for all the info you have given us who are still on this side of surgery and waiting to be on the other side and recovering.

Becky 

I am so exhausted. We attempted to pretend to have a normal life and went to a movie & dinner.

I just wanted to pop in

and now I see there are all sorts of concerns, that I am incapable of addressing, but want to send you encouragement none-the-less.

Marianne. It seems to me that you need to go to the trip-neg thread & pose this same question.

We surgery girls know our own stories our own situations, but you need to tap into the great vast experience of the old-timers.

Becky. Thinking the same thing about your scan questions...... go find threads that speak to that very issue.

And welcome Shelly...... so glad you found us..... wish you didn't have to. I'm a few days ahead of you.

Hope that everyone gets some sleep tonight.

xx00xx00xx00x

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

****the movie Leap Year was a wonderful chick-flick, tad bit better than I expected and a great diversion.

faithandfifty,

Don't think the triple neg thread applies as tumor is ER+.  From everything I have read up until now, I know I am candidate for adjuvent chemo and because I am post-menopause and ER+ probably candidate for hormone therapy as well.  Breast Surgeon agrees that oncologist will be able to do Onco Dx.  The only thing that concerns me is that I see him as soon after surgery as is possible, because I believe it takes a while to get the Onco Dx score.  Isn't that the score that will weigh the risk/benefit of chemo for an individual's particular situation?  I know the reason I haven't seen the Oncologist yet is that I have had two excisions and no clear margins, so the mastectomy is needed (node negative).

Like the stress of upcoming surgery isn't enough -- I thought I would start to stress about "what next" already.  Trying to get a feeling for the timing of all treatments and how long it might all take.

Thanks!

Becky,

Looks like you and I are headed for the same procedure 24 hours apart.  I am scheduled for BMX on the 28th with immediate TE.  Regarding your question about "is it in other parts of your body"---I asked the same question.  You do have to trust your BS that he/she has been doing this for a while.  They can tell a lot from your pathology report.  My story was that of noticing a change in my rt breast.  Two different mammograms and sonograms at 2 different facilities both showed negative biopsy results.  But the BS didn't like what she saw, disregarded the 2 neg reports and did an excisional biopsy (lumpectomy)...pathology report indicated Pleomorphic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC).  Margins were not clear, so went in for a re-excision at which point she also did an axillary node dissection.  Report came back that nodes were clear (including the sentinel node) but the margins were still not clear.  After 2 excisions in the same breast, mastectomy was the recommended option.  After the initial diagnosis, I got a chest X-ray and some blood work.  A bilateral MRI was ordered, but I absolutely could not get through it.  I was really worried, like you are, about what information my BS would be missing.  She assured me she had enough information and for me not to worry.  If you are really uncomfortable, ask your BS again to explain what they are doing and why.  I think I have driven my BS almost crazy (though she is extremely patient).  Ask as many questions as you want.  It is your body.  You have to trust that they know what they are doing; that all of us are not going to be treated the same way -- different types of cancer, different grades, etc.  I, too, after a headache thought the breast cancer was already in my brain and why weren't they looking there. I have come to realize that we all think this unwelcomed visitor called cancer has snuck in the door and we are not sure he is alone.  Keep asking the questions until you are as confident as your medical team that your particular unwelcomed visitor is currently alone and not traveling with an army!  Try to relax.  This week I have watched more movies than in my past lifetime, read more books, listened to music, baked a b'zillion cookies.  Just trying to stay busy.  Trying to get through each day until we can get this done.  My thoughts and prayers will be with you on Wednesday.

Marianne

tngolfer

there are so many factors that determine what schedule you could be on, it would be impossible to predict.  some chemo is administered daily for 3-5 days one week out of 3 or 4.  sometimes it is one very long day once every 3 - 4 weeks, or it could be one day each week for however many weeks they want to treat.  some treatments involve coming in for a treatment, going home with a fanny pack with a continual iv for x amount of days.  others are every two weeks.  just depend on the particular drugs they choose to use, which will be determined by your specific situation.

if you have some circumstances that would make going into the treatment center a hardship, be sure to tell the oncologist, as he could take that into account when he makes a decision on a schedule for you. a cycle refers to the number of weeks involved in each treatment.

ask questions..write them down, get the name/# of a nurse you can call when you think of questions.  some centers give you a book with lots of information & phone ## for who to call.  if you start to experience something that isn't normal for you, call right away.  the sooner you find out if it is normal, or a potential problem the better.  and remember that fear and negative feelings will magnify what you are experiencing.  a positive attitude goes a long way--easier said than done.  when people try to tell you their horror stories-cut them off.  you need to stay positve, and not make their experience your own.

gma had a saying -SPEAK IT INTO BEING  -- speak good things into being, not negative ones.

give hugs, get hugs and good luck

binga

try to relax--if the sentinal node is neg, it indicates the cancer cells are localized to your surgical area.  you have to remember that the scans only show disease areas when they have been there awhile--they have to reach a certain size before anything will show.  so if you had a bunch of scans right now that showed nothing, you could end up with a false sense of security.  your dr is right--he isn't trying to be flip.  if you have chemo, it will hopefully kill any cells lurking out there, and if you end up with something down the road, it could actually be different disease and unrelated to your present situation.  try to visualize winning powerball instead...take up target shooting & picture cancer cells.  all the worry in the world is not going to protect you, but will make you miserable.

have a nice healthy tantrum--yell it out & let it go.  laugh often & love much

lordy you made me laugh..made me remember my first pregancy.  omg the horror stories i heard!!  couldn't get through the supermarket without some broad telling me how she was in labor thinking she was going to die for -she made it sound like a week--and there were the cats suffacating babies stories (i had a cat) & on & on,,,i was a basket case.

then i remembered i had grown up on a farm & all those animals having babies by themselves without a peep....or a gynecologist

then in labor, across the hall was this woman screaming on & on, cursing like i had never heard out of a woman before to her poor husband cause he had done it to her.

she traumatized me so bad when i went in the nurses howled cause all i could let go was one little squeek.

but we kept on having babies--got through it & we will get through this too.  

The waiting is hard, but I feel calmer today than I expected.  24 hours from now, I will be out cold and three + hours into my surgery.  48 hours from now, it will be done.  It helps me to look at things in concrete blocks of time.  Makes it more managable and finite.  I can do ANYTHING for 48 hours, so I will be fine.  Kat and ariesrotti, I am thinking of you today. 

My parents and sister are on their way to my house.  They live 2 hrs away and are coming in for the surgery (staying at a hotel near the hospital).  I will be tied up with them today, and watching football...love football!  Hopefully, won't give me much time to obsess.

I will be back tonight to check in with everyone.  Strength and Courage!

So much going on with everyone and so many questions.  I am so glad all of you are here to hold my hand (and everyone else's) as we go through this.  And I totally agree about changing Facebook -- I don't think anyone would be a fan of cancer!  TNGolfer -- I'm with you on the wait to find out what's next.  Didn't know I had any invasive until after the surgery and now am waiting until next Wednesday to meet with the oncologist (finally!!!!) to see what other fun opportunities await me.  The genetic nurse I met with last week mentioned radiation and probably tamoxifen since I am pre-men.  I'm a 'git 'r dun' type of person, so just want to know and get it over with and move on.

To all of you gearing up for this week ... relax, enjoy, and know the outcome is not near as bad as the wait.  We are all here for you.

I am getting close to Tuesday morning.  I feel like I am prepared expcept for one thing....I am not looking forward to dropping my daughters off at school.  The girls are 8 & 10.  For some reason I am already feeling very emotional about this.  They know excatly what is going on and a friend will bring them to the hospital after school.  I feel like kissing them goodbye on Tuesday morning will be extra hard.

I'm as nervous as a cat *no pun intended* right about now.  My husband and daughter and I had a nice dinner...something bland (pork chops and stuffing) but something I felt would stick with me and I wont be so hungry tomorrow. 

Lots of phone calls today while trying to divert with other activities.

I'm going to take a tylenol PM tonight (just 1) and hope that helps.  Everything's all ready. My bag, my room...me,  I'm ready.

Strength +

Calm+

Courage+

Positve Attitude=

The home stretch to the other side.   

xoxo

Kat

Becky,

We are soooo in this together.  My surgery was originally scheduled for the 22nd, so I too am tired of waiting, and then waiting again.  Listen, if you are that close, let's make a pact.  We'll both get through this, recover and celebrate.  Chatanooga isn't far from Maryville.  Sounds like a nice day trip in the Spring! 

I don't know why there is comfort in knowing others are going through this.  I wouldn't wish this on anybody, but I am so glad not to be in it alone.  Praying for you!