January Mastectomy

TNgolfer,

Sounds like a plan!  I will be praying for you too and it does help to know others are having the same feelings. 

jan 12th right mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Had lumpectomy and axillary nodes removed in 6/09. First bx showed small residual cancer. 6 rounds of TC. Latest bx No residual cancer!! But still must have 33 days of radiation. Back to work tuesday. Nothing has been nearly as bad as I though it would be, even the chemotherapy. Hair growing back and everything.

Neversurrender    I'm with you sister. I too am on my way to the hospital. We will be heading out of house in 20 minuets. All set, need to get on I guess this is the first day of a new beginning for us. A new life. Good luck to you and Kat. My thoughts and prayers are with you too as I say my own.. I'm ready. Strenght and Courage. I'll post when I get home and are ready and able.

Keep smiling!

Donna

Slept in until 6:30!  WoW.  We don't have to leave for the hospital for another 2 hours. 

I'm calm this morning and being NPO isn't as bad as I thought....everything just seems to be working into place. 

Thanks everyone for the prayers...They help so much! 

Good luck today Neversurrender.   I woke praying for you and ariesrotties and me today.

I hope that I will be back soon so that I can be helpful with another on this wonderful board as I have been helped..

Strength and Courage

Strength and Courage

Strength and Courage

xoxo

Kat

it's over it's over YEah!!!!!  NOT as bad as I thought!  My surgery lasted 4 1/2 hours and everything went well. They took 5 nodes that came back neg. Now I have to hope that the drains do their job and expanders are ok.  i was home by 5 on sat and glad to be back in my bed. i go to the doctor at 1 to have the pain balls removed. The camis with the pockets are a lfesaver, Thank you for all of your prayers.    i'm sending many your way. pain is manageable if you keep up with your meds. glad to answer any questions,

Melissa

Sunsnow:  Positive attitude, could be he's just squeezing you in to tell you good news!  They probably like to be able to do that occassionally!  ya never know, it could happen.  I know that my BS was very excited to tell me my path results and to tell me that she doesn't need to see me again.  I can't remember what you path report was, but I wouldn't let it worry you too much, you can deal with it when you find out what you have to worry about.  It might not be as bad as you're anticipating.  I know that it's all easier said than done, but try, I know that having a postive attitude is the only thing that's really kept me going through this whole thinng.

I've been checking into the breast cancer walks, the Avon one and the Susan G Komen one, and I would love to do them, but holy cow, the fundraising minimum for both of them is a little daunting.  the min. for the susan G Komen one is $2300 per walker and for the Avon one it is something like $1800...  wow!  I guess it wouldn't scare me quite as much but I have been heavily involved with the relay for Life in our area for the last 7 years and we do a lot of fundraising for that and I don't know if I can keep up with the Relay fundraising and add the BC walk fundraising.  i think I'd run out of people and options, and I am not willing to sacrifice my work with the Relay.  Just wondering if anyone else has ever participated in either of these or is planning on trying it this year...

faithandfifty,

We just took ours off the market because of the breast cancer.  Had to convince the hubby that it was just one more thing on my plater (platter) that was going to have to be put on hold.  Yesterday, he got a job offer, back home in Syracuse.  It is amazing how they just think it will all work out.  Today I am a little calmer and it is because my pre-op visit at the hospital was awesome!  I know you may find that hard to believe, but the nurse who took my history was great--her Mom just went through a Mx.  Then I met with a woman who is the manager of the breast center here at UT.  She is actually one of my neighbors' sister.  She was terrific - met with my husband and I for over an hour and gave me lots of literature.  Also gave me some names of medical oncologist (who specialize in breast cancer only -- what a great idea!) and also recommended 2 anesthesiologists.  She said I could call the hospital and request them (who knew?)  She asked us if we had any questions and I decided to let her play "marriage counselor".  I explained that hubby had a job offer and I was concerned about handling chemo alone.  She assured me that things would find a way to work out.  Actually showed me their chemo suite and said it probably wouldn't be as bad as I thought.  Suggested hubby and I meet with 2 different onc's and make the decision before he leaves.  The job is what he has been waiting for and I guess I can't let this breast cancer take over our lives.  I am strong and I can get through this.  Have plenty of friends and support here in the meantime, so we will re-assess after surgery and I will decide when to put the house back on the market -- you know for that quick cash sale! 

Was a little surprised that in the middle of this meeting with the nurse, the floodgates opened and some tears fell, but actually am feeling a little better about Thursday....we'll see how I feel Thursday morning.  Surgery is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.....it's going to be a long long morning.

Hooray for those of you who have it behind you.  Prayers to Becky and the others who will go slightly before me.

Strength and Courage!!!

and always HOPE!

Will probably change the handle from TNgolfer to something more meaningful, hopefully without any confusing acronyms!

Marianne

TNgolfer, 

I just had my pretest today too.  All they did was take urine sample for preg. test, take my weight, temp and bp and give me some soap to wash with the night before and day of surgery.  That was it.  Wow I feel really prepared- NOT.  Oh well.  I am still going to be positive.  

By the way when I saw TN I knew immediately it was Tennnessee.   Maybe because I am new to all this bc stuff too and because I live close to the TN state line so I am used to seeing it.  Did you notice we were diagnosed the very same day?  Small world huh? 

Prayers to all you others too! 

My heart is filled with love for my BC sisters this morning so I wanted to pop in for moment. I am encouraged by the good reports from those of us on the recovery side of surgery.  Thinking of Aces and KELL414240 for their surgeries today.  To those still waiting, the hardest part for me was the waiting. I woke up in recovery and have not looked back. {{hugs}}

My ten day out report:

I drove across town by myself yesterday, first driving since surgery.

I felt capable and safe -- though by the time I got myself back home was exhausted.

This was a necessary trip to onc office.

We discussed my path report & he has given me the all-clear to head to FL tomorrow for a couple of months of sunshine and smiling.

I have returned to taking one Percocet at night time, in an effort to aid my sleeping.

For me: emotions and pain management and even ROM depends on some good sleep at night.

Today is packing day.

Wishing Aces & Kell strength for today's crossing of the hurdle.

Peaches I'm sending extra prayers for you & your boa as you learn about what's in store ahead.

I'd love for you to navigate to the "Inspiring Stories" section of these boards. I have a thread up about my 'blessing scarf' that started out as a sort of pink boa-esque scarf. I think you'd appreciate seeing it's evolution.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

grandslv, binga, boromon

I also noticed that we were diagnosed on the same day....must have been a sale on bc dx!  Went for my pre-admit yesterday.  Was dreading it (you know it was making all of the surreal become real), but it was totally awesome.  I have never met so many genuinely caring people in my life.  The nurse that took my blood told me to be sure to be well hydrated; can't drink too much water.  Makes it easier when they take your blood.  Had a few little issues in the past.  (Who knew water was the answer!)  The nurse who did my Ekg and took my history was great.  Her Mom just had surgery for BC, so she was especially understanding and supportive.  She was so thorough.  I told her about anesthesia problems.  She told me it is called "delayed emergence" and told me to be sure to remind them (over and over again) before the surgery.  Also met with the manager of the breast cancer center here at the hospital.  She was terrific.  She also told us we could request a specific anesthesiologist.  (You know the guy you never meet until minutes before he puts you to sleep and you never see again).  Wow!  What a concept.  So, I called the hospital this morning, made the request and they scheduled the one recommended. 

My surgery is not until 1:00 so when they said "nothing to eat or drink after midnight" I said NO!  How can I be hydrated and not have anything to drink for 12 hours!!!  The nurse promptly got up and went to seek permission for nothing to drink for 6 hours before.  Permission granted!  When I am done with all of this, I swear I am going to right the breast cancer (be your own advocate) handbook complete with all those little things that no one tells you until after you've gone through it and giving everyone permission and encouragement to keep asking questions. 

The emotions are starting to creep back in, but I am so inspired by all that have gone before me so bravely.  Thank you for that encouragement.  You all will be with me Thursday morning !

6 - 8 hours is fine on the drinking---they just mindlessly say npo after midnight, because surgeries are scheduled first thing in the morning and they would have to THINK to tell you the time frame when you aren't scheduled until later.  most of the people doing the scheduling aren't medical people, but front office, administrative robotic types.  so ... ask questions.   remember, it not only is your dime, it's your life.  my surgery isn't until 12:30, so i think i will set my alarm for a little snack..........

speaking of dimes, i got a bill from the 1st pathology dept---called to ask about a payment plan & she said they would work something out with me, but if i was willing to pay in full today she could give me a 40% discount----whhoooooOOooo...didnt know they had sales.

re:  hydrating & blood draws---keep that in mind you ladies getting chemo...the more hydrated you are, the easier it is to get that dratted needle in there...less pokes.  water water water  can't believe you had just been told that, but then when i had my blood drawn at the onc the other day they weren't set up to draw from the right arm (?) and i insisted (while i can) - totally threw them into a frenzy.  didn't have anywhere to put their tubes etc--jeez  didn't ever occur to them to ask me to hold the tubes for them.  when i offered you would have thought i had uttered some forbidden piece of wisdom to the lower orders or something.  i suggested they get a mayo stand to use---they didn't even know what i was talking about......where do they get some of these people. 

by the way--you ladies have been told no blood draws or blood pressure, or tight sleeves, elastic cuffs on shirts etc on the arm on the side of mastectomy----right????  the fewer lymph nodes involved the less critical, but who wants to take a chance on lymphedema.  if you have a double, ask your surgeon/onc the best way to handle that.  most of you would have a port for tx, but you need to know what to do down the road too, like at your pcp.

binga--so sorry about your dad---i know how hard this is, but it gets complicated when stuff like that happens...my dad was just dx with an inoperable mass on his liver/gallbladder.  i just can't deal with it....my dear brother is out here taking care of my folks so i can focus on this crap.  and i haven't even told my folks...complicated.

faithandfifty--i'm so jealous--florida.  hoping things go well so i/we can salvage some 'down south' time afterall.

silly question for those on the 'other side'  i just got a puppy a couple of months ago,  he is quite the cuddler & i'm worried about how long it is going to be before i will be able to handle picking him up....he'g going to turn into a daddys dog!!!!!!!   waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah  i'm going to cuddle the crap out of him today!!!!

prayers & hugs binga, cindys, tngolfer,sefnboys, & lexislove

grdnslv,

That's why we need a little book -- because we all don't have nurses doing the pre-admit; because there are a lot of "robot" answers out there; because you are so right - it is our nickel, it is our body, it is our life!

Re the payment issues.  I actually retired from a very large insurance company.  The truth is that a provider charges one fee for a procedure; the insurance company ALLOWS a different amount; and the patient may pick up a portion of that amount in a co-pay.  Example:  Dr. charges $500; ins co ALLOWS 280; patient's co-pay is 50; so ins co pays 170 (500 - 280 - 50).  So, if you don't have ins, there isn't a sale.  They are just letting you pay what the insurance company would ultimately pay them.  The sad truth is in some cases where there is no insurance, the provider bills the full amount (which is more than they would receive from a patient with insurance).

The real tragedy here is that we shouldn't have to worry about the financial ramifications of cancer, or any other illness or injury!