August 2010 Mastectomy

Winterstorm - sooooo happy to hear you made it to dinner with your friends the day after surgery!  All that worry behind you!  Your attitude the night before I'm sure helped greatly in your speedy recovery so far.  I agree with brokendreams, get enough pillows so you can sit halfway up in bed to sleep.  I have a recliner, but that first week was hard to get in and out, too, and with someone needing to push the lever was a bit of a snag. 

On the lymph node issue, my surgeons told me they'd take the sentinel and another one or two, and if they looked perfectly healthy, they wouldn't get an immediate test or take any more.  But my path report was available on the nodes 3 days later.  I'd push 'em to get it done asap.

brokendreams  - you even put a smiley face on the end of your post!  I truly hope it's a benign liver tumor!  Enjoy your beach office - It has done me a world of good to be back at work and not be a full time patient.

Hi ladies, I have "more" I'd like to add to this thread (how do you all keep up?!) but right now just this:  The way it was explained to me, the SLN check during surgery (lump or mast) is a quick-lab-check that's only somewhat accurate.  They don't want to "take forever" while you are laying there under anesthesia on the table in the OR, so they do only this cruder quick lab test.  If it comes back positive, more nodes are taken out before you are sewn back together.  If it comes back negative, no more nodes are taken, but the SLN sample(s) then undergoes more testing that is more thorough; I forget how long this took for me but < 7 days.  If still "negative" after the more thorough testing, great---it's officially "node negative."  If negative during surgery but positive in the more thorough tests (after surgery), you'll probably have another surgery (and/or rads??) to get to more of the cancer out.  I didn't understand this at first because it's "so much information" when they first explain stuff.  (Either that or they didn't really explain it then!  ...but they tell me it's me, my confusion, imagine that!)  Anyway, you can get your surgery path reports and read them, and all of this should be spelled out (including the names of the tests) --- if it's the same process for you as it was for me. I think it all makes sense, given the "tools" they have to work with...

I was lucky and had "node negative" all the way, so I don't really know what happens in the other outcomes (other things on my plate to research!)...

Rest assured that even though the docs are "practicing," sometimes we really do need to be "patient"!  IMO.  (And don't mistake this to mean that I think we should just blindly roll with the punches---no way!!!  We need to be our own best advocates!)  I just want to restore some "confidence" about these steps in our care...

Very best wishes to all, keep on keeping on!!

WinterStorm, I KNOW!!!!! Horrible, ain't it?......my chest looked pretty dang scary too, right afterward. Trust me: It gets better. Takes a while, but it gets LOTS better.  I didn't have the trouble you're having getting up and down, but then, I had one GOOD side to pull with. Good for you for getting out and about ...best thing for you. 

The belated SN results...I didn't have to deal with that, thank God, but I guess it isn't uncommon. 

Hi, leelee32.  Congratulations on getting through Hodgkins. You'll do it with this, too.  

Ladies, I am SOOO fortunate to have found such an amazing group of wonderful women! 

My two cents on SNB, my BS told me that they can get immediate results from a "frozen" section during surgery, and she would tell my family the results as soon as they were done. However, the results given during surgery are not as accurate as the final path report. So this is why sometimes, surgeons wait for the final path rather than relying on the frozen sections.

Nancy - I am thinking of you and know that you will make the right decision re further treatment. You are one tough lady in my book! 

Brokendreams - Praying hard for you as well. Stay positive sister.

Lovenature: I think we may have a very similar diagnosis. I am going to send you a PM. Your reaction yesterday is totally normal. I howled at home for hours on Monday. Felt so much better afterwards.

I am FINALLY off meds except ibuprofen and benadryl (for my antibiotic rash). Yesterday and today were GOOD days. I even let my hubby feel the TE (for the first time, it was bearable), not for "fun" but to show him that my swelling has finally gone down so I can feel the actual edges of the expander. I am certain this means I can get my first fill next Wed. Shopped a little today for some shirts that I can wear without looking too lumpy (I feel "lumpy" now that all the swelling is gone). Had a gynocology appt with my favorite OB/GYN this morning Now I am going to take a nap. I have my first physical therapy appt later today. Life is good TODAY. I take is one day at a time. I may be screaming/crying again tomorrow but I will worry about that then (I love that Scarlett O'Hara!).

Hugs to all!

 Smerfie 

Hello ladies. Today is the first day without pain meds but am thinking that with all the activity today I will need some later. I am now able to lift up with the help of my right arm without pain. I use my left foot/ankle to grab the bed frame and then use my right arm at the same time.

After sleeping what seems nonstop since Tuesday, I got up today and went to see my surgeon. He took the gauze off from where the drains attach to my body (4 drains total) so he said I won't need it (or to replace it) anymore. He said it all looked "good" (relative terms I am sure, *sigh*). Finally, he has approved a nurse to check in on me once a day to be sure everything is okay. I live alone so dealing with all of this by myself has left my peace of mind at the hospital with the wonderful nurses there. And to think that after all the requests I made BEFORE surgery about home nursing, he made me make a special trip to his office to talk about it. Darts anyone??

So I went to the doc, and here at the retirement community where I live 1) I went to lunch in the dining room since I was dressed, 2) I got my monthly statement worked out and paid what I owed, and 3) I got my hair washed. All in a day's work I think. Now I am beat.

I'm getting caught up here...

Wow lago, you sound wonderful! Glad to hear you're not in much pain. Sounds like you had a 2-night stay. Good for you. And congrats on the negative nodes.

Anne, you had a compression bandage after surgery? I didn't have any kind of bandage on and it concerned me so asked my nurse. They got me an ace bandage I wore overnight but then the doctor said I didn't need it, that he wanted the air to get to it for healing. Sorry to hear you are needing chemo. Several of you, in fact, are needing chemo which indeed surprises me. Wishing you the best.

brokendreams, I am praying your cancer hasn't mets to the liver. I know just how frightened you must be feeling. To go through the trouble of surgery is bad enough, ain't it?? But good for you that you have an office on the beach! I try and think in terms of what brings me comfort and peace. I wish you tons of that right now.

My surgeon rx me vicodin and it did the trick. But now for the most part I don't need anything. What was rx'd for you and were you happy with it?

With regards to the node check discussion, just the idea of having more surgery really doesn't sit too well with me. Here's hoping none of us will need more surgery anytime soon!

Hello all  August Heroes! It is great to be able share all of our experiences with eachother and to be able think and pray for eachother. Yesterday I went to the hospital for an outpatient surgery to clear up some dead skin that did not respond well to the mastectomy. The goal was to do some more skin graftng after removing the scabs covering the dead skin. Just before surgery my PS said that he had really been going over my case and that he would go in and check things out concerning the health of my tissue. If the tissue did not seem healthy enough he would not  do the grafting b/c it probably would not take. If this was the case I would come into his office today and he would clean up more tissue, change the dressing and then maybe would start me on something called a VAC. The VAC is a device that helps circulate blood to areas that do not heal well and need some help getting blood pumped into the area so the tissue can get healthy. But as he was changing my dressing and cleaning some more tissue, he decided to wait on the VAC. So meanwhile I will have a visiting nurse come to the house and clean and change my dressing. Then on Tuesday I will go into the office and they will place a rubber moist type of dressing over the areas and insert drains and attach it to this vacuum like device which would pump the blood to the "dead" area. Every 2 or 3 days I would go to the office, and they would drain the pump, change the dressings. If it works well I would have this only for a week, if not it would be for 2 weeks. The little device fits into a pocket or purse and shouldn't hurt or stop me from doing regular routine. What is my regular routine at this time? Sitting in my recliner, walking around my house, eating at the table, and taking a nap upstairs in bed, so shouldn't be a problem with my routine. So its been 3 weeks since surgery. I do feel stronger and can move my core body better. My lower ab scar from one hip to the other is doing well, and there is no sign of infection which I am very happly about. I know this all seems quite overwhelming, but my plastic surgeon named Dr. Dennis Hammond located in Grand Rapids, Mi is one of the best in the nation and I trust him completely. He just really wants my body to heal well, and for me to be pleased with the results. He has a team of absolutely great people at his side. So this is a journey but I believe the end result will be great. I will have no new breast cancer suddenly appearing due to my BRCA2 status and my stomach will be flat-which has never been the case, and I can go on enjoying making many memories with my great and super supportive family. 

Nancy, I too want to thank you for starting this post  and keeping it going. I hope we can all continue to post as new results come in and we can "party" together on all our news. I pray for patience for us all as we continue to get used to this new normal we are living.

"Be strong and courageous"

Carla

Yea Robin - congrats on being on the other side - now it's time to heal. Sending love, hugs, healing vibes your way - hang in there, moment by moment, day by day, it will get better!

xoxo Melissa

Hi Sunny! Glad to hear the good news on your SNB. What a wonderful attitude you have. You will no doubt heal very well.

Robin, Lago, Winter and Sunny... Welcome to the Other Side ladies!!!

Don't rush into anything, Rest Rest Rest, and most importantly.. LISTEN to your body!!!

 (((((HUGS)))))

Welcome Dawney!  I am over on the September Chemo thread too. So is Tara, and a few others I think.

Welcome to the Club no one wants to be in!

I'm not yet 4 weeks post BMX with no recon.  I worked full time this past week save for taking Friday afternoon off for chemo - which was very uneventful, and my fingers are crossed.

I'm amazed at how much movement I have in my arms.  They only removed 2 nodes for me in the rt side, but I am so happy I can do most non-heavy things again - cleaning toilet, brushing the dog.  My chest tissue tells me quickly to stop with a twinge or two. 

I'm still not happy with the way I look - need to shop for better tees to go under clothes, will look into v-neck men's t-shirts, and maybe cut off the sleeves.  I was wearing a compression tube top most of the week due to sloshy fluid, but have to say, I went to an accupuncturist last Saturday and she said she'd take care of it.  She did.  No tube top yesterday.

Welcome everyone to the other side.  Cheers.

Hello it is almost a month now since my bilateral mastectomy surgery and I am doing very well. I went to zumba class today and was able to keep up pretty well. Very tired but feels good. The tingles and burning gets less when i exercise. Just taking advil during the day and the pain meds at night.

 My SNB was negative and they told me when I woke up. At my 10 day they said the pathology still showed negative, I had no idea it might not be. I am glad because I would have been worried.

 I did not have any swelling from the beginning and my scars are very thin. I have not gotten any reconstruction so I have these flat saggy looking little skin boobs lol.

 Got my BRACA test which was negative. Waiting for my oncotype appointment on friday.

Send me some low score vibes! low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype low oncotype

Winterstorm...I started driving during the third week. Short errands at first with a small pillow where my seatbelt crosses my chest.

Carrol2..sending you wishes for low oncotype. So impressed you can do zumba class. You go girl

warm welcome to dawney i hope your chemo goes well.

Best wishes that the lung nodule is benign Nancy. Thank you Tara andBrighteyes, work definitely helps get my mind off cancer for awhile. Smurfiep you are right we can worry about it all tomorrow, good old Scarlett O'Harra.

This has been such a wonderful supportive group of women. Many of us are going different ways in treatment and onto different board postings. I hope somehow we can all stay in touch. I am sending warm wishes for continued healing to all of you.