December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

Thank you everyone for your encouragement. I have learned so much already from this thread, and have been better prepared at each step. I'm not sure if my sister will be tested now that she knows that I've tested positive for the mutation, but at the very least she has made dr apts that she should have made long ago and will be more diligent with her screenings. Hopefully nothing ever turns up.



For me, I'm looking forward to a few weeks of healing before I move on to the next phase.

Thanks girls. The reason my bs wants do to a blmx is because I had a lumpectomy for idc on the left last March without rads or further treatment. But, the recent PET scan showed a clean left breast. I hate the idea of removing a breast that is now cancer free. The left breast cancer was stage 1, low grade. The cancer I have now is a recurrence of earlier cancers found in the right breast. The right breast also is idc along with high grade dcis cells. The idc has the her2+++ and high proliferation rate so the right one needs to go.  Because the right breast has now been dx 3 times there is no question about a mastectomy for that breast. The left breast is a different story...it never has had califications or signs of DCIS or aggressive type of cancers so I'm reluctant to remove it. If it is ever dx again there is no question then I will do a mx on the left as well. It would be nice to have one real breast...if possible.

Kaara, I hope they don't lose my clothes. My daughter will probably keep them for me until surgery is over. I'm wearing black soft jamies (like workout pants) and a soft buttom down sweather to the hospital. I figure after I come home. I won't have to worry about changing before going to bed. Funny, the surgeon said I will be leaving the hospital about 9 P.M the second day. unless there are problems. I was told that I will shower the second day in the hospital. The nurse will show me what to do and etc. The rooms are all private like spa rooms with sofa's for your guest or over night visitors. The woman who referred me there said that they even feed the person staying with you. It's a very nice facility. They give just about everything you need including a softee cami. I will also be given a nausea patch. I guess thats why I won't need to bring but a few items???

Kaara, I'm not sure if I'll be hungry. When I've been on pain meds in the past, I' barely eat. I am not fond of hospital food. I always feel bad for people I visit in the hospital when I see what it is put before them. Mostly, I see myself sleeping the whole time I'm there. It doesn't take much to put me out. Because I have a pain syndrome, I will be put on pretty heavy pain meds to prevent the Chronic pain syndrome (rsd)  from going into the chest area. This is what the pain doctor and ps strongly suggested...keep me from experiencing any pain. I can just see myself leaving the hospital like someone who has had too much to drink 

one more thing...the pain meds I picked up at the pharmacy are huge white horse pills. I don't see myself swallowing those pills. I have a hard time swallowing anything larger than a capsule.

question...I roll from my side to my stomach when I'm asleep. If I'm on pain meds and don't feel pain, I see myself rolling onto my stomach. Has this happened to any of you. Is it hard on your stitches when you sleep on your tummy?  

spunky...I'm not much help. I hadmy second drain out yesterday but haven't taken any pain meds for a week. The area where my drains were was occassionally uncomfortablle but not bad. I have bandaids covering the 'holes' but my ps said I didn' need to. It's just my bra hits right where they are. Hope you heal quickly. Can't wait to shower this morning too. It's been 2 weeks!

Got my Oncotype back today ---- I'm a 16!!!! So no chemo!!  I'm thrilled, "just" have to do the 6 1/2wks of radiation.

Good thoughts and prayers to everyone who will be celebrating the Holiday weekend (and those who are not) may everyone have a safe and happy weekend and be able to focus on the good of the season... 

Still learning here -- what's an Oncotype? Is that on the pathology report from an SNB and lumpectomy or is that something separate?

CharB22 the Onotype is a test that can be done that looks at the cancer cell on a molecular level. It can give you information about how your cancer will respond to chemo, the lower the % value the less likely chemo will effect it. I think it also gives information and % chance of recurrence.

Hope everyone is doing well. Had my first post UMX visit today and was really anxious about looking down at my chest after the Dr removed the dressings. The tape removal hurt a whole lot, but thankfully he said everything looks perfect. I beg to differ as I have a huge row of staples across my chest and a tube hanging out of my side. I've got suture removal scheduled for Tuesday and a re-look at the drain for possible removal. How does that timeline sound? Less than a week for staples? Believe me, I'll be happy for them to be gone, but that seems fast to me. I was able to take a bath today (little water, no dressings got wet) and felt a million times better.

For those celebrating this week, Merry Christmas and/or Happy Chanukah!

Evebarry - Your hospital sounds awesome!  At Kaiser, I was so looking forward to my first meal, as I'd missed all meals the day of surgery. But I guess when my doc ordered anti-nausea meds, they took that as a sign I needed a "clear liquid" diet. PHOOEY!!! I was starving when I got home! I'm not sure you'll be rolling around much once you are discharged and home in your own bed. As a precaution, you can load up your sides with pillows (put them under your arms, too) to discourage you from sleeping on your stomach.

chrissilini - how was that first shower?

Kayce234 - Yay on no chemo!

mamabearto2 - Yep - definitely weird sensations in the pits! Feels VERY strange to put on deodorant...I can feel it on my right side, but not at all on my left (SNB) side. And there is a little strip of skin down the outside of my arm to the elbow that is pure nervy pain.

CharB22 - Not everyone gets the Oncotype test. Depends on your doc....I thought mine was automatic, but apparently the Oncologist - who I meet on the 30th -  will have the option to order it from the pathology samples left from my 12/5 surgery.

pickychicky - Yeah, "perfect" is relative, isn't it! Generally, drains can come out when the output is less than 30 ccs. That was two weeks for me.

goldlining - As I understand it, staples are faster than sutures; involve minimal skin penetration which means less infection; and are made of stainless steel, causing fewer skin reactions than suturing material. But stitches mean less scarring. My mom had quadruple bypass surgery. She had a LOTTA staples!!!

CookieMonster - Sounds like a great appointment today!!! Plus shopping and lunch? You rock! Glad you are healing so well!

Judy - A trash bag worked great for me when I had ab. surgery years ago.  I cut a hole in the bottom of the bag and wore it like a dress.

Teresa

I have read everyone's posts and am glad to see progress being made! I did not go anywhere but to the PS for weeks after BMX; you guys are sooo ambitious! Take it easy and do not push too fast.

I saw the Onc today and will be starting Femara. Am about to try to read up on it...anyone have experience with this drug?

Ladies with TEs....what are you wearing over them at night?

I'm out of the Ace bandage and into a sports bra. During the day, it doesn't matter so much how tight it is, but at night, I need something looser. I wasn't sure if I needed a tight one for compression 24/7 or what...of course, I could ask my PS, but he's home with his family until the day after Christmas.

So....I come here and ask!

Are you in compression mode even at night?

Hey Ladies,

I just wanted to give you all a heads-up....  We decided it would be a fun outing today to take our kids to the movies... we saw "We Bought a Zoo."  Wellllll...... turns out that the basis for the WHOLE movie is that the mom in this family has died... (presumably from cancer...) and the greiving dad and kids need a change.  It wouldn't have been so bad if this was just the beginning of the movie, but it is a constant part of the whole movie.  (Then an animal has to be put to sleep!!!)  Anyway, my kids, (13 and 10) SOBBED through the whole thing and then for about an hour afterward.... my husband and I just kept trying to reassure them, but what a DISASTER!!!  We thought it was going to be a fun holiday movie!!!  I had no idea....  and of course... terrible timing!!!  Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know so that no one else makes the same mistake!

Jennifer

blessings2011... the shower was pure heaven! It's amazing the things you take for granted. If there is one thing this ugliness has done for me it's to give me a new perspective on just about everything.

I have TE's in. At my last ps appt I asked if I needed to wear anything at night and he said no. I was very happy about that. My instructions were that I should wear something for support, no underwire and nothing tight and don't need to at night. Do you find that when you get out of bed the te's are really uncomfortable? I keep my chest and head elevated, not ready to lay flat, and still when I get up I feel this tremendous pressure. It's almost like they have shifted and are moving back to where they belong. I hope the feeling goes away but I don't think it will until they are out. Oh well.

A very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza to all and to a happy and healthy New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I went to our candlelight service at church last night...it was great to see everyone, but I had to fend off lots of hugs!

Still sleeping in the hospital bed, but now it's more for comfort sleeping on my back rather than the ease of getting in and out of bed.

Showers are awesome!!!! Drain holes are healing well.....the right one started to look a little infected, so we put some gauze with Bacitracin on it overnight. Sure looked better the next day!

I realized I was very swollen in my upper abdomen after surgery. At first, I thought it was because I was flat chested, but now the swelling has gone back down.

Yes! The TEs are very heavy and tight when I get out of bed! I wasn't given any exercises to do, but I try to do gentle stretches when I wake up, and that helps some.

Is anyone else dealing with extremely dry skin? I'm not talking about around the incisions, I'm dry everywhere! I'm even flaking like after a sunburn around the IMF.

Gotta go....I hear a snack calling my name!