November 2009 Mastectomy
Comments
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Hello Ladies I am going in for my next fill today at 330pm. I since I posted last my son fell and broke his finger and had to have surgery. I took him in for a follow up yesterday and saw the pins sticking out it looks real painful. I am a little nervous about this fill because it looks like the skin is not stretching that much. I guess I will find out when I see the PS today.
Rebecca
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I to have wondered where this group has gone. My bilateral mastectomy was November 10. I am still dealing with issues of a tight girdle like effect across my chest and a problem under my arm on same side due to axillary lymph node dissection. Am currently seeing a physical therapist who believes the tightness to be due to the serratus muscle that is in a constant state of contraction for which she is working on. Progress is slow otherwise all going well.
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I got another 100cc on each side today. My new total is 400 in each so I think I am going to fill to 700 If I am decide.
Sorry we are not all posting regularly but its not on purpose.
Rebecca
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It's great to hear from some of you again!!! I figured life was somewhat getting back to normal for most of us and that's why we didn't "check in" like we use to. I think when we were all facing our surgeries, we were scared (I sure was) and needed each other's support. So maybe it's a good thing that we are busy with life again.
I saw my BS yesterday for the 8-week post-op appt. He said everything was great. Here are some points he made. Maybe you might find some of them interesting:
*We discussed eating right and exercising, etc. which I've always done. He said he thought that doing those things helped to keep the cancer from recurring. That encouraged me to "keep on keeping on."
*I know you know this, but with a mast., the cure rate is over 99%. If you have the other breast, the chance that cancer will appear in it is 1 in 6 or, at worse, 1 in 5. That's for life. (I suppose those numbers relate to ladies who don't carry the gene---I don't know????) If you're est.+ and take Tamox., then those numbers are cut in half. (I'm choosing not to take it.)
*Some people, he said, think that the cancer may or could "travel" from one breast to the other. He said cancer doesn't move horizontally. Everything in the breast moves toward the underarm...thus the SN is tested.
* The areas to keep an eye on as far as recurrence are the other breast, thyroid, ovaries, colon. He said there MAY be a link to the other areas from having had breast cancer, but there's no scientific proof of it (other than the other breast).
I thought those things might be of interest to some of you.
You all check in from time to time and update yourself for the rest of us.
It's good to be "on the other side" of everything we went through together!!
I don't know about you, but I feel like a huge black cloud has been lifted and I find myself feeling so much lighter and brighter than the last 4 months! Feels good!!!
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dmorgan2 - Thanks for the info from your onc. I am now 1 year since my last chemo (1/19/09). I feel much more relieved now that I have both breasts gone. I am, however, like every other woman who has had this dx, constantly worried it will show up somewhere else, especially the colon. My mom had colon cancer, as did her mom. Before BC, I had a colonoscopy (actually 2). The first one, I had a polyp removed. The second showed nothing...but that was 8 years ago. I am thinking I should have another one, but I am so tired of constantly going to the Dr for one apt., test or another, that I postpone it. I tell myself that the colon cancer would show up on a routine PET scan or when I have my tumor markers done at the oncologist.
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Well I finally posted my photo I am not so stupid after all.
Rebecca
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Back from a week in "sunny" southern California! We met friends from Ohio who were at a convention and spent time together during their free time. Also met friends of theirs. It was beautiful since it has been cloudy and foggy and cool at home. By Sunday, it was rainy so we found inside things to do. Monday was pouring rain, so we drove to San Diego for sightseeing - places we have been, but it was all new to them. Enjoyed the time very much!
It's so nice to hear the update on everyones progress. Yes, some have some slower progress, but it is still progress! I feel too that it would be nice to stay connected! I, too, am so glad to be on this side of surgery. It really is do-able! Everyone has a slightly different journey and recovery - depending alot on chemo, radiation, and reconstruction. It is such a relief to have the cancer OUT. With God all things are possible! He knows ALL things, and is in control, no matter what!
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Hey 2Hands! Good to hear from you. I wondered where you were. 'Glad you got away and had some fun!
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Just checking in. I asuem everyone is doing good.
Rebecca
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Busy, busy, busy! Everyone must be busy! And that's good...... Hope all are continuing to recover and have minimal issues. God is good! May we not forget Him as things return to "normal".
Seems like there are always details to attend to! If it's not laundry, dishes, meals, phone calls.....there's always smog checks, bills to pay, housework, friends to stay in touch with, etc. Life is busy....some things are routine, some unexpected! But God is always in control!
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Haven't been on the computer much this last week. My usual day at work, my usual tutors, my usual household duties AND a field trip with my sons class! Yes, it's been very busy.
Thinking of all of you and hoping things are going well!
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How is everyone doing - and feeling? In so many ways, November seems like just a month or so ago ---- and it's already almost 3 months since my second surgery. And I just realized that it was 1 year yesterday since my first surgery! I didn't think about it at all until today! And I had thought that it would be a major date that I would never forget!
Still thinking of you all - we'd love to have an update if you care to share!
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Quick update - Dealing with cording issues on the left side where nodes were taken in addition to a bilateral mastectomy on 11/10/09. Seeing a physical therapist twice a week and making slow progress. Hope everyone else is doing well!
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What is cording? What does it feel like?
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November 6 2009.Bilateral mastectomies with immediate tissue expanders/5 nodes removed.
DFC1994
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Leslie - so good to hear from you. Sorry about the cording, but glad the PT is helping. I'll let you answer Jane since you have the personal experience.
Dee - welcome! Did you just find us? I'll add your name to the top list. How are you doing? It's quite a journey, isn't it? Share as you want, ask as you need, and someone will jump in to help as we can! (I just passed my one year anniversary from my right mastectomy - and, believe it or not....didn't even remember the day until later! Sure surprised me, 'cause I thought that date was solidly in my brain! But I'm glad to know that when November comes again, maybe I'll forget that date, too!!).
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Jane - cording is a very tight band of tissue that is stretched to its limits to put it in a nutshell. In my experience it has limited my range of motion in the arm that I had lymph nodes removed. Initially it pulled so tight that I could not totally stretch my arm out straight. You can even see the thick cord from the elbow, it disappears into the arm and them reappears in the armpit. It has really been a tough one to work through. It has taken me several months to get to where I am now, which is, I can almost raise my arm straight over my head and I can, on most days, have no problem stretching my arm straight from the elbow. Do you think you have this problem? If so, you need to consult someone to get this addressed. Let me know how it goes. Hope this helped some.
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Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Enjoy a peaceful, relaxing day! We have church, then dinner together. Hope all are continuing to make progress in recovery.
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Hi everyone- 'Just checking in too, to say I'm doing very well. I am very grateful and praise God. It's hard to believe that it has been 3 months since we all went through our huge ordeals! Life seems to be getting back to normal, which feels great! I second the Happy Valentine's Day greeting made by 2Hands! You all are definitely in my heart! May our next Valentine's Day in 2011 find us all cancer-free!
Note: Remember MsMarilyn? She has had a tuff time with her chemo treatments. She recently was hospitalized for blisters on her feet! Let's remember her in our prayers and, or thoughts.
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So great to hear from you dmorgan! Mountains look huge when you are there, but they can be crossed with God's help. As you look back, they look smaller as you get farther away. There will be others....but He will help with those too! What a comfort!
I've been thinking of MsMarilyn lately, now I know why! Thanks for updating us. I'll pray for comfort and healing in the midst of the storm. He is able to do ALL things.
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Hello Ladies!
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile but I do want to thank everyone that's kept me in their thoughts and prayers! Chemo has been "interesting" to say the least but I'm happy to say that I've completed my 4 cycles of AC and 1 of the Taxol... with only 3 more cycles to go and then I'm finally finished with chemo.
I was in the hospital for awhile with what my doc referred to as one of the rarest side effects of AC (only 1 in 3 million get this SE... go figure it was me.. lol). Both of my feet were covered in blisters and swelled to the point that it felt like my skin was going to rip open.
But I'm happy to report that I'm doing much better now and the swelling and blisters have gone away.
I hope everyone is doing well and please remember that I've kept each one of you ladies in my thoughts and prayers... even if you haven't seen me on here lately. God has us all in his hands and we can and will make it through this journey!
Marilyn
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MsMarilyn - Glad to hear things are getting better!
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Good morning everyone! Thinking of you all and praying that God will bless your day!
I've been having some sudden, sharp "zinging" sensations under my left arm. They always surprise me, and almost by the time I realize something is happening, they are gone again! No increased swelling, so I'm guessing the nerves are still trying to wake up. That's a good thing - so I'm going to let them zing away! And certainly a minor problem compared to cording, chemo side effects, radiation burns etc.!
Wow! Ms Marilyn! The 1:3 million chances doesn't even touch the fact that you had to be hospitalized for them!!!!! We sometimes assume that the less the chance of getting something, the less the severity! This is just not the case! Hope you are having a good day!
Next week is my son's senior class trip - so we're off to Florida! Hoping for warm weather, especially since our spring weather has turned cool again!
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2Hands4me - I'll be interested to see if the warm weather makes a difference in how you feel. I am hoping that I'll feel better when winter is gone.
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Jane - I'm really feeling well, and being in California, we have had some spring weather already! NOTHING like the snow in the East! My daffodils are blooming, almond trees are almost reaching their peak bloom time, and several other flowers are blooming - all a sure sign that spring is just around the cornor! It has turned cool and overcast and rainy.....but when the sun comes out, it's soon warm! We are really blessed to live in such a mild climate. Can you believe that it NEVER snows here? Well, maybe I'd better clarify. It did snow when my son was 2! Enough to gather at the edge of fences only. (And he's now 23!!!!).
I think these twinges are just nerves waking up - so let them continue! It's just a surprise when I suddenly get a quick zap that almost takes my breath away!
How are YOU doing? Your picture is great! Are you feeling like you have your full energy back?
Thinking of all of our November gals!
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I don't know if I'll EVER have my energy back! I'm hoping for spring. Mast-wise, I'm feeling ok. My tumor markers were normal at my last onc visit. He took me off the femara b/c of the se's. They are started to subside somewhat, but I'd only say maybe 40%. I go back to the onc on 3/8 to see what he's going to try next...probably aromasin. I'm supposed to be getting a CPAP Fed Exed to me. I did a sleep study and I have sleep apnea. Maybe I'll have more energy when I stop waking up 107 times per night and stop breathing 37 times per night. Then, I have to set up an apt. with my PCP to talk about a referral for a colonoscopy. I don't WANT to have one, but I think I SHOULD be getting one. At least that's what DH says. My mom and grandma both had colon cancer and I was supposed to have my last colonoscopy 6 years ago....I'm a little overdue. I justify it by saying that if there was anything there it would have shown up on my PET scan in August or my tumor markers would be up. But, there could be (more) polyps there that need to be removed just for safety sake. So...
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Hello ladies just checking in I spend most of my time on the boards in the recon board I started on. I think about all of you and hope everyone is doing good. I will go for my last fill on 3-4-10 and as of now try to schedule my exchange for mid April as long as everything stays on coarse. I do keep up on alot of you and read up on the boards as I get a chance since work is busy I dont always post on all the groups.
Lots of hugs and prayers to you all,
Rebecca
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Great to hear from you rebetata! I think of everyone here, and can find a few on other threads, but there are so many of us Nov. gals that I have no idea of how they're doing. So glad to hear you're progressing. And it is really good if we're busy and getting back to mostly normal!
Jane M - sleep apnea will make a huge difference in your energy! No wonder you're tired! We NEED deep, uninterupted sleep at night! And a colonoscopy is so-o-o important to catch those polyps while they are small! Once you grow polyps, which alot of people do - you likely will grow more. If removed while they're small - they haven't changed into cancer yet. The worst part of the procedure is the prep - but it is do-able. Then, you have medicene for the actual procedure, so it's only the inconvenience of being off work and "getting" to relax at home the rest of the day! Let me know if you have questions.....that's what I do at work!
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I've already had 2 colonoscopies, so I know what to expect. I just want to be in denial and I'm tired of having "procedures." But, I made an apt with my PCP for 3/8 and I'll get my referral then.
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I second the too many procedures!!!! But I'm glad you're doing this one!
I "get" to see a dermatologist tomorrow about a sore spot on my ear..... I'd rather catch something early or KNOW it's nothing, than wait and wish I had!
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