June 2010 Mastectomy

Just back from seeing the BS and the PS.  Bad news first.  My drain has to stay in until at least Friday.  I was just at 30ml yesterday. This morning I was at 10ml. I have to be at around 20ml total for two straight days before the PS will remove the drain. So I'm sitting very still today and tomorrow and only getting up to go to the bathroom. The nurse feels that will do the trick.

Now, the good news ... my final path report is in and it is all clear!!!!!!!  They found a lot more DCIS spread throughout the bottom half of the breast, but it's all non-invasive and the margins are really good. The mastectomy was definitely necessary because of the extent of the spread. That's really good for me to know, because it was a judgement call on whether to have the mastectomy or to try to treat with rads. The BS and the radiation onc strongly recommended the MX, but it was still my call and a really difficult one for me to make.  So, no rads for me and no chemo!!!!  I think I see a light at the end of this tunnel ...

My first fill will be in two weeks and I should need only 3 fills to get to where I need to be.  The PS does fills every 2 weeks.

I was so darned scared to get the path report!

Orchidgirl: The day I walked into the PS's office was the hardest day to date for me, too.  I think it's because that is the first time I had to tell someone that I was getting an MX. Before that, it was the medical staff saying it to me.  When the PS sat in front of me and asked me what I needed from him, I just started crying.

I'm so happy to see that marm, reneemac, lucylou, & gettingpastthis are all on the mend and doing well.  I'm seriously jealous that marm got her drains out.

I'm also glad that my experience is making the load a little lighter for the later June girls and others who may be reading here. I know that I was fervently reading the May and January threads before my surgery, hoping to find a little peace and comfort. And those ladies and their stories always helped to calm my fears immensely. I'm glad to be able to pay it forward. 

Stay strong and believe!

Getty 

I did have an MRI before my first surgery that did show a large area of DCIS, but we thought the radiologist had marked the whole area generously. It's either that the MRI did not accurately portray the whole area or that the radiologist didn't mark a large enough area.  Either way, the area ended up being way too big for a lumpectomy, so MX was the best and only solution.

I think your fear is normal.  I was terrified that the path report would bring more bad news. I know that you'll face whatever may come with dignity and courage. 

I do have so much peace knowing for sure that mastectomy was the right and only choice for me. 

The mind will wander.  The unknown is always super scary, like the monster in the closet. There's nothing to do but march right into that closet, turn on your light and see that whatever is in there isn't as scary as what you had imagined. Believe that your MRI is accurate. It's something to hold onto on this crazy ride. If anything, MRI tends to show false positives.

I was walking in the parking garage today before my BS appointment asking myself how the heck I had ended up in this position ... having just gone through a mastectomy ... walking to find out what other little surprises the path report had in store for me. Never in a million years would I have imagined myself in this place four months ago. Life is unpredictable and cancer is cruel. I hate that all of us here have had to learn this.

Getty. 

Had my 8th Herceptin treatment today - yea! Pre-surgery appt is this Friday - so my date is approaching! Still waiting for my HR department to "approve" my short term disability which I handed in last week. 

I echo what others have said - how in the word did this happen!?! Six months ago, I had hair and tons of energy. Now, I can barely walk 2 miles without getting winded, but I am working on getting my endurance back. And, the hair is coming back - 6 weeks PFC. So, it happened, I am fighting, and 6/21 is when the crap gets removed!!!! 

Keep fighting ladies!!! We are going to WIN! 

Laurie08: you made me laugh saying why do you think of this stuff. I ask myself the same question, but then, we have breast cancer, so naturally our minds are working overtime trying to get a grip on it all. I had a mammo & ultrasound first, that led to stereotactic core needle biopsies. The radiologist was only going to do one side, but my PCP insisted on both. The L. showed DCIS multicentric, the R. ADH. I went to a BS who said she wanted to do a surgical biopsy on the R. as she thought more was there. That turned up DCIS, LDIC & tubular carcinoma! A second opinion BS had an MRI done, and that shows lots of DCIS on one side near the NAC, so now my 3rd BS, the one I've chosen, will do a "lumpectomy" actually a subareolar disk resection, on the 15th to see if they will keep the NAC during BMX surgery, the date of which hasn't been set. Who knows what that will turn up! Must say it was a shock to hear "you have stage 0 cancer - , and you'll need to have a double mastectomy to take care of it without chemo or rads." What a mind trip! We will deal with it as we are dealing with it all so far, no matter what happens with the path after surgery. Are you having SNB also? I do hope you and your husband get some intimate time this weekend!

Almagetty: thanks for speaking your truth and letting us know how you feel on all of this post surgery. Have seen two different versions of the film Alice in Wonderland, the recent one and the 1933 version. Somehow it seems all so familiar to be through the looking glass, and down the rabbit hole! 

Marmalade: Congrats on a clear report - yea!! 

stlcardsfan: hang in there. the 21st was my tent date, but now it seems not. still waiting.

You gals sure give me inspiration. Thanks you so much for all the great posts!

welcome to the group - although not happy you had to join.  where were you tx in st louis?  glendale is not far from me.  know what you mean about this not being the summer you had planned.  i had chemo 1st (finished may 26th) and now waiting for surgery on the 24th.  this has been a very long wait.  i want to go to the pool - but don't have enough hair to just wear a ball cap.  and you know how hot st louis summers can be - so far this one is very warm. 

keep in touch - let us know how your PS appointment went.

Found out today that my short term disability was approved at work! Yea, one more thing off the to do or follow up list. 

pre-surgery testing tomorrow and the wonderful ovary ultrasound - after drinking 21 ounces of liquid one hour before and not being able to pee!  That office better be on time tomorrow or there could be an accident!

HELENNAM and JSMILEY60 - Good luck tomorrow on your surgeries! Let us know how it goes when you can. 

I haven't been around today. I'm feeling a little bit frustrated with this drain. I've been at between 20 and 23ml for yesterday and today. I'm hoping the PS decides that it's close enough to 20ml to remove the drain tomorrow morning.  If not, I'll have to wait until Monday.

Welcome, Jane!

Good luck to helennam & Jeanne tomorrow. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers 

A big hug to you, Jeanne. I'm glad you're feeling calm today. I'll be looking for your post after you get home. Good luck!

JSmiley,

I'll be thinking about you tomorrow, wishing you well

Went to see my PS tuesday to discuss the reconstruction options, the reality of it all is hitting home...... I'd packed it all away into a box which has now burst open, no avoiding it now. Just the Psyche Eval to go (21st June) then it'll be my turn. It's really helpful reading all your posts, helps to know what to expect.

Robin

Robin

To the ladies who have already had surgery-  I have been reading on the May thread and saw that several of the ladies have had prolonged abdominal and lower leg swelling.  Have you had issues with this as well?  I was also wondering what your range of motion is like, can you put your arm over your head to put on a t shirt, comb your hair etc?  I seem to keep reading conflicting info on this.  Thanks so much for sharing!

almagetty:  Glad to hear the pesky drain is gone - sure feels better, doesn't it?  I'm still doing OK, thank you!   I'm a little sore in the armpit area, where the nodes were removed, but other than that I doing fine.  I am going to wear my nice satin tops for a few days, and maybe next week I'll try on a sports bra and venture out into the real world!!  Not that I've minded staying at home - I am doing little things around the house to make myself useful, the hubby and kids are picking up the slack.  All is good.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend - all the best to those having their surgeries next. week. 

Melissa: Please continue posting here! Your thoughts and experiences add a lot to our collective strength. We'll hold your hand through your surgery next week and through the next one in July. I haven't heard of angiogenesis. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get to keep your nipples.

Melissa:  No need to move on from here...you will get lots of support from those who have already gone through their surgeries, so this is where you belong!