PBMX scheduled. Can't sleep....

Hi Shabby.  I was diagnosed around the same time as you and my PBMX is scheduled for  June.  I met with a MO on Monday and he did say that if they do find something it's usually DCIS, but could also be ILC or IDC.  He reminded me that if they do find something, it will be very early and the BMX will take care of it.  I know there are always exceptions, as well as the possibility they don't find anything else.  Either way, we have done all we can do, right?  I know it's still not helping with the sleeping.  I planned a trip with my family the first week of June, and I'm hoping that will be a nice thing to focus on for our whole family.  I hope you find some peace in knowing you made the right decision and that the worries subside.  Just know you are not alone.

Shabby I'm one of those rarities whose cancer was found in PBM pathology. Look, it's not the end of the world. It sucked, but in the scheme of things, it was caught so very early. Had I not had the surgery, it's possible the ILC might have still been missed at mammogram this month. I'd probably be looking at the torture of biopsies in the fall when my scheduled MRI would likely have finally found the tumors (maybe). BTW that was my schedule prior to PBM, now I don't need mammo & mri.

I'm also one of those people who had complications.They sucked too. But here's the thing ... you cannot think about the what ifs. You just can't. Presumably, you considered all of that before you made this decision. So there's no need to worry now. Concentrate on getting yourself into tip top physical shape to make your recovery that much easier. You don't have to do this, but I built myself up to 300 full sit ups. I could sit right up in the hospital the night of my MX without using my arms. Quite liberating! Work up to an acceptable amount (10? 20?). Crunches won't do, you need full sit ups. Concentrate on stuff like that. Keep it positive.

Had I worried about the crap I was going to go through, it would not have changed the outcome at all. It just would have made me more of a basket case. Tell yourself your surgery will go off fine (chances are it will). If there are any issues, you will deal with them, But the hard part will be behind you: walking into the hospital and saying. "Hi I'm here for my mastectomy." Once that moment is behind you, you're going to feel better already.

August is a long time to wait with this hanging over your head, especially if you're prone to worry.

Shabby - I had an MRI show horrible things in my rt breast and node involvement. I had a AND and BMX. My reasoning was that I didn't want to look over my shoulder re: the breast left behind.

When all labs from surgery were in, turned out I had pre-cancer in the good side! SO GLAD I GOT RID OF IT!

Now, I just found out that it is recommended that I have a hysterectomy... seems like the fun never ends! Anyway, at this point, I just don't want to deal with cancer anymore. So if a hysterectomy is going to help with that, then count me in.

When I was first DX, I felt like I needed everything to happen right now. So many people on this site tried to convince me that I had some time to decide on what's best for me... It was hard for me to listen! I don't know if you are thick headed like me or not, so I think the best advice I can give you is to take a Benadryl every night to make sure you get sleep. Also, try to keep yourself active within your life, as recovery can be hard, and even the things you hate doing now will be missed once you are told you CAN'T do them!  

I wish you all the best. 

Shabby, I am not having a SNB.  The BS doesn't think it's necessary.  I am meeting with the PS surgeon tomorrow.  We are going to go over options timing, sizes, etc... Once that's done, then it's just the waiting game.  

And I also agree about reading the boards-it can make things scary.  However, someone mentioned on one of the boards (I think on reconstruction) that the women who have ongoing issues are the ones most likely to post because of the support they need and deserve (as well as the support they can give!)  There are many other women who go through it and move on with minimal issues and the disappear from the boards  Hopefully we'll fall into the latter category, but if we don't, at least we know we have people to talk to.  

Good luck to everyone! 

Surgery is June 26th.  I will be doing immediate reconstruction with TE.  I am not a candidate for nipple sparing because of where a cluster of atypical cells was found during my excisional.  The PS got his training for reconstruction at MD Anderson in Houston.  He works quite a bit with my BS and the ladies at the breast center say amazing things about them as a team.  I've heard wonderful things about him and found him to be very kind.  He was very quick to remind me that all of the reconstruction choices are my choices and I will be driving this process.  Now I have a break from doctors for awhile.  I can get the kids through the end of the school year, take a quick family vacation and prepare myself physically and emotionally for what lies ahead.  Stomach crunches, here I come!