June 2010 Mastectomy

I am in June as well.

Completed Chemo first, now on every 3 week Hercerptin.

June 21 - BMX immed recon implant expanders, and possibly ooph at same time. BRCA 2+, lucky me. 

I've been lurking on the May thread, as I thought I'd end up there, but I found out today that I'm scheduled for surgery June 4th.  I'll be having a bilateral mastectomy, axillary dissection on right side, and tissue expanders.  I only have cancer on the right side, but decided to do the left as well.

I finished neo-adjuvant chemo April 23rd.  I had dd AC for four cycles, then 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin.  I'll continue with Herceptin every 3 weeks for the remainder of the year.  After surgery, I'll have radiation as well.

 Jeanne/jsmiley60:  An ooph (oophorectomy) is removal of the ovaries.

I'm scheduled for bmx with TE on June 29th. R side is multi focal DCIS and left is prophylactic. I'm still reeling from this diagnosis.  I was trying to get all of my doctor's appts finished before we adopted a baby, but now the birthmother kept her so everything has gone from bad to worse.

I am scheduled for a BMX with TE's on June 30th.  I am so glad that I found this post and can connect with all of you.  Because of a strong family history I have opted to have the bilateral and remove the "healthy" breast as well.  Like everyone else, I am anxious and just want to put this behind me.  I have never had surgery in my life (except 2 c sections) and the whole thing makes me nervous.  Once I am out of surgery I think I will feel a whole lot better, because than I can control my healing. 

Hello ladies:

 This is my first post, though I've been lurking since March.  I'm scheduled for a Uni Mx, right breast with immediate reconstruction/tissue expander placement  on June 2.  I had a lumpectomy on March 26 and a re-excision for one unclear margin on April 9.  The margin at re-excision was close, so here I am. 

 Jeanne, I can so relate to your feelings right now.  I am so grouchy right now and I feel really bad about that, but I can't help it.  I'm also find that I'm tired of talking to friends and family about it all.  I know they mean well and want to help, but I've been over it all so many times already... 

 reneemac:  I, too, am so ready to be on the recovery side. 

 I'm sorry that we're all here having to go through this, but I'm thankful for the support and the company. 

Well it is official - ooph will be same day as bmx. So, I will have 3 surgeons working on me and probably a ton of assistants going in an out as my surgery will be at a teaching hospital. When I had my port put in, there must of been at least 4 or 5 people who came in my room to introduce themselves and say that they would be assisting Dr so an so with the surgery.

Hopefully I will have some hair on my head by the time I go in for surgery. 

Welcome to all who have hopped on this thread. We can do this! 

The ""free boob job" thing gets me every time.  Honestly ... I never wanted a boob job.  I was perfectly happy as is.  And the no worries thing ... yeah, right, whatever.  Then there's the ones who tell me how lucky I am to be Stage 0, which I can accept on some level.  But when they tag on "If you have to choose a cancer, this is the best one!" ... Hmmm, given the choice, I truly would choose none of the above.  Is there really a "best cancer"? People just say the darndest things. I guess it's hard to know what to say.

 Anyway, I'm praying that everyone here receives courage and strength for the road ahead. 

I'll be having double mastectomy June 2nd.  Glad it's finally going to happen. I was scheduled a couple of times before, but was always rescheduled. Will have tissue expanders when I wake up.

I'm lucky my sister-in-law is coming to help me after surgery.  I hate it that I need her to do it, but expect the drains will be to much for hubby to deal with.  That night will be in hospital and then home next morning. 

I too will be happy to be on the other side of this surgery. 

June 2nd is coming up fast- I keep thinking of you ladies,- reneemac, Reneew53 and almagetty.  Are you getting more anxious and nervous?  Sometimes I am frustrated that I have to wait until the end of June to "get this over with".  Other times I am relieved that it is a ways off- I am so nervous for the actual surgery.  How are you ladies coping?  All I seem to worry about lately is my son who is 2 1/2 and how this will effect him....oh who am I kidding?  I am worried about everything!

Almagetty, I will be having the SNB. This is the reason that my surgery was postponed from May 19 - the hospital where I am having the surgery was low on the chemical needed for that surgery. I'll tell you - I am not as nervous about the surgery as I am about getting a phone call on Friday that it's been postponed again... I had disability approved and now put off/denied. I've made plans for after surgery that now are having to be put off and re-arranged. I am supposed to go in for pre-op tests but don't want to if it's going to be postponed again. The majority of my work has been shifted to another office, so I sit here with "busy" work and hope and pray that it is not put off again!

It's been so helpful to read other people's experiences. I know that mine will be unique to me, but I am so anxious for the surgery to be over and be on the recovery side of things. I feel like I am in limbo.

almagetty- thank you for letting us know that the SNB didn't hurt.  My surgeon has warned me that it is quite painful.  I too just want the surgery to be over.

I too have been lurking n the January thread, and those ladies are incredible!  They all have such positive feedback, it has helped reassure me that things will be ok.  One woman suggested that I go to a private, very secure web site that a woman named Timtam does.  She is on breastcancer.org.  Basically it is a large group of woman, all effected by BC, most from here who share their journey, questions etc with each other along with photo's before, during, after etc.  I have found that site very helpful.  If anyone is interested I can tell you how to get in touch with Timtam. 

The other thing that seems to help me is reading.  I read ALOT.  It's the only thing that gets me to sleep.  You ladies are right, our journeys are going to be unique, we are all nervous about different parts of this process, and all of the process.  But we will get there!  In a few months we may be inspiration for future ladies who lurk on our thread, the way we do January.

Laurie:  I've read a little bit about the TimTam site and I definitely want to be able to check it out.  I thought we had to have a higher post count on here before we would be able to go over there.  If that isn't the case, please do tell me how to get in touch with Timtam.

I found a thread over at the Reconstruction area called something like "I Love My New Breasts". It's also super uplifting and positive.  Uplifting and positive is what I'm looking for right now.

I hope we can be an inspiration to those who come behind us. 

I called the surgery scheduler today to let him know that I was going to do the pre-op tests tomorrow, and should I go ahead, since I was told not to do the pre-op tests until 7 days or less from the surgery date. He said that he has no indication that the surgery will be postponed, but also said that he could get word the day before that it would need to be re-scheduled! That didn't make me very happy, but it is what it is, I suppose.

ReneeW53:  I know exactly how you feel!  I am having a left MX June 1 - I was diagnosed in Nov., finished chemo beginning of April.  I think I've handled it rather well - until now.  My sense of humour has gotten me this far, but with only a few days left, I find myself having several mini-meltdowns.  I am really trying hard not to let my family see me cave in to my fear and sadness.  I am not having re-con, so there really isn't anything to look forward to once the surgery is over!  I will be having rads in the summer, so I don't even have going up to the cottage to look forward to.  Another bummer.