Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

Doula- mine was very different. Biopsy and all the tests including mri showed a 8mm IDC the path report was 10 pages with IDC, ILC, DCIS, and LCIS. Mine isn't common though, so don't let it scare you. My surgeon said I have shit for luck. I went from stage one to 3a with 12 positive nodes. All of it sucks no matter what kind you have.

Mardibra-I will pm you later.

Ndroby- My surgeon took mine out when they were under 35 cc's. I feel for you. It is so nice to get rid of them. I have had a lot of tingling in my breast skin today. I am hoping that the nerves are healing and I will get feeling back. It was weird to take a shower and not feel it when you wash or when the water hits them.

Doula- I had a breast MRI about 10 days before my UMX (left) surgery + sentinal node biopsy..  MRI noted 3 suspicious masses plus a suspicious left node   It turned out that 2 of the 3 suspcious masses were very small DCIS and 1 of the 3 was a fibroadenoma.  The 5 nodes that were taken which included the suspicious one was clear. Apparently all of the suspicious areas examined during the surgery because the BS surgeon told my husband when the surgery was over what he had found and the next day while I was still in the hospital recovering, my BS came by and explained how the surgery went and what was found.  I'd say I was very very fortunate that all of the suspicious areas were invasive cancers.  Hope this helps you!!!

OMG Plymouth...soo amazing to hear from you. you sound so great.  so happy for you.  and your message comes at such a good time for me... I am such a wreck today.  just took my 10 year old daughter out to dinner and a movie (bad mommy on a school night before state tests-- but i promised).  i cried to myself during parts of the movie.  first time in so long.  i am just so stressed again after a month hiatus of feeling good.  4 more days before Monday surgery. i'm starting to panic.  ugh... i wish someone would club me over the head and wake me up when this is all over!

to Plymouthpeople

So happy to hear that you are feeling good!!!!. 

I really love all my new "HERMANAS" (SISTERs) POST.  Your strenght, dignity, willingness to help each other  during this hard time is so wonderful to see and be part  of.

I have a question I'm from Colombian and I been trying to start a blog in Spanish to help others Hispanics women that are dealing with cancer  and I don't know how to do it .

Any suggestions.

Good luck every one that is having surgery soon!!

BAd news,

I have pus at one of my drain sites. More antibiotics. I hope I don't lose the TEs.

Ndroby...



I came home with six drains, two at each breast and two at each side of my tummy,

I had a BIMX with DIEP flap recon on April 11.....

I haven't had a pain free day, since ,I'm not letting it get me down, this is only the first step,

Since I will be starting chemo and rads in the next few weeks

Three of my Lympe node s was positive bummers, I say



But it will not get me down, I feel so blessed I found the nasty cancer when I did, because a fifty five year old woman, who was my DH cousin had died to breast cancer,when they found that she had breast cancer it was already and stage four, and mats to her brain,and other organs.



I give God thanks I found it when I did and I can move on to the next step, as I'm posting this, I was awaken with very bad pain in my breast,



I wish all the ladies here all the best with there fright with this nasty cancer!!!



Lots of warm hugs, meaning full prayers , and always positive thoughts to everyone going though this!!!

wow plymouth so glad to hear u are back on the othher side , I am here like Longisland Mom  .. only 4 more days to go and feeling sick to my stomach , weepy, headaches, anxious , just feel crazy ... so much to do .. one more work day saturday , then pack a bag , nucelear med on Monday ,pick mom up at airport monday night , and tuesday ugh surgery day ... and BS said i can only have one valium for day before to sleep .. she doesnt want me to have naything day of due to anesthsia .. :0 

Ndroby ... sorry about the drain infection , hope all will be well sending you Hugs xoxox

Gabsbaba, sorry to hear about the pos nodes , but We are storng together and we are here to support each other through the whole process not just surgery .. so know we love u and Big Hugs to you ...

Aussie .. sounds like you are doing well .. sorry about the sleep , I really hope my loveseat recliner helps me ..

Sony, I am so worried about you , I hope u are resting well ... I miss you friend .. sending u Big Warm Hugs ..xoxoxo

DianaRose,  girl i hope you are feeling better now , DRains out and all , I know u have some shit to look foward to but as I said above we are all here to help each other through all of this BIg Nasty Cancer thing .. so Big Hugs and LOts of Love to you ... xoxooxox

If I missed anyone I am so sorry my mind is nuts ..so Hugs to all

Columbia , I am not sure how to do that , but I think therre is a place that states to start a new topic try that , or ask the moderators here they can help im sure .. Hugs  

So glad to see so many on the other side now.  I agree, the waiting was worse than the actual surgery and recovery.  Now I am just waiting for the final pathology and all the results of others are starting to worry me.  The only thing causing me any trouble right now is the swelling around the tubes.  I call it my side boobs cuz the swelling is bigger than my breasts are right now.  I wish you all who are still waiting, peace.  All those on the other side, may you have an easy recovery.  (((Hugs))) to all!

Raelan - do some research. As I understand it, taking additional nodes does not help increase positive outcomes. (or so my BS told me) Definitely worth looking into, just so you can hopefully avoid additional surgery and lymphedema risk as much as possible.

Raelan - it is a crazy ride, isn't it?

So you'll either need to remove the nodes or radiate them? Does chemo theoretically kill the cancer cells in the nodes? They want rads and chemo on the nodes? Forgive me if I'm getting too personal, I'm just curious (and not trying to be critical at all, just wondering)- I've been lucky enough to avoid rads and chemo so far.

Were you told that you can't do implants after radiation? I've heard that it CAN be done, but isn't always successful. Definitely talk to mulitple docs. I've heard the same thing about DIEP, one doc will say there's not enough fat but another will say it'll be fine. Hopefully you can find something that will work for you. It's a tough road to go down and when curves keep getting thrown at us, it just gets tougher. Hang in there.

Regarding radiation and DIEP, my PS wont do a DIEP on me until 6 months after radiation is complete and would not do it at the time of MX.  Differing doctors, differing opinions?  Who knows.

Raelan - so sorry about the nodes.  I did chemo before my MX and really, it wasnt that bad.  Certainly not as bad as what you may think.  Im happy to answer any questions you may have. 

So im told, the risk of lymphedema is not bad when the take out less than 12 nodes.  In my case they took 10 and I have not had any signs of LE at this point but, again, who knows.  It can creep up any any time.

Dianarose, so sorry about your path report, but you and our team have a plan.

I had my first MO visit yesterday. I did not pick the doctor because I didnt know one, but I didnt get a lucky draw on this one. I dont think I like her. It was the first visit and she is still waiting for the Oncotype DX to come back before she/we decide on the treatment plan. I am sure she is a fine doctor but her personality and mine do not mesh, I will go back one more time to see her before I decide if I need to change. But I feel that I really need to like the doctor who will have control of my health for the next 5 years.

Have been feeling pretty good, so yesterday I did a bit of housework and walked a lot more than usual. Woke up at 1 am in a pool of drainage fluid. My drains were removed last Friday and everything seemed to be fine. I got up, changed the dressing ( and jammies) but it continued to drain and make a mess. Changed the dressing 5 times before 3 am, then just switched to using a wash cloth. Called the PS office when they opened and the PA said not to worry about it overmuch, I was just too active and the fluid has to get out. She said to watch the opening for signs of irritation of infection and call her again tomorrow morning to update her. So today (3 weeks out today) I have been a couch potato and took a 2 hour nap. Still draining quite a lot, have gone through 2 wash cloths throughout the day.

My biggest concern is my lack of appetite. I thought I would get over it when I saw the MO but no luck. Now I am overweight and not wasting away, but when I came home from the hospital I was down 7 lbs from when I went in, and in the two weeks I have been home I have lost another 9 lbs. I know that if I have chemo I will probably gain some of that back, but may also lose some on the hormone therapy. Has anyone else had a problem getting their appetite back after surgery>

Gmaniki- sorry about the drainage. Melrose had a great idea about using a maxi pad. You might be able to get more rest. You can wrap it with an ace bandage.My appetite was good in the hospital, but has tapered off. I went to the store and bought a lot of fresh fruit and some cereal that I like so if I do get hungry it's handy. Even though I have 12 positive nodes my MO still ordered the Oncotype. If it is a low score positive nodes or not chemo is not going to be the answer. I don't want to kill all my good cells for not. I am going to call Genomic Health tomorrow to see if they have the tissue yet. I wish the burning pain would stop so I can sleep. I want to sleep on my side so bad. I wake up with a headache from sleeping on my back and then it's the pits to try to get out of bed. I took my son fishing tonight. It felt good to do that for him. Usually I fish with him, but he understands I can't do that yet.

I just looked at the list at the top of the post and can't believe it keeps getting longer. It makes me sad. Good luck to those who are still waiting for their dates.