BRCA2-DMX w/TE-does "youth"/lack of children impact pain?

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ab1234
ab1234 Member Posts: 54
edited June 2014 in Genetic Testing

Hello!

I'm new to these forums and am thrilled to have found them! Over the past few years, my family discovered the BRCA2 gene runs heavily amongst us. My Mom (59 yo) started with a preventive oopherectomy 2 years ago...imagine our shock when we discovered she had stage 1c ovarian cancer on BOTH ovaries! (The positive power of this genetic test in action!). After recovering from that surgery, she had a full hysterectomy with lymph removal, had a short burst of chemo. Then, she went ahead and opted for the double MX with TE; had final implants in October 2010 and is doing GREAT. She had very little discomfort with her MX.

 So, I am 37 yo with no children. Very petite and in good physical shape, I had small, natural "perky" breasts. I just underwent an oopherectomy and double MX with TE on Apr 30. I'm generally feeling pretty good. My Mom was here with me during the first week (we live far apart), and I'll admit that she was surprised at my level of pain. Even now, 2 weeks out from surgery, my breasts are bruised and VERY sore. Drains were removed and those sites look/feel fine. I've stopped the pain meds except for 1 at night to help sleep, but I feel like I MUST be off of them b/c my Mom was only on them for maybe a few days??? However, she says that she did not bruise, and it doesn't sound like she was in as much pain as I am. She is also very petite and fit, but she did have 2 children and used to be much heavier...

I'm HOPING that I can rationalize my increased pain over my Mom's due to the fact that my breast skin had never been stretched, and that's perhaps why I'm bruised and more sore? I'm definitely not looking for a reason to stay on pain meds b/c I do feel so much better mentally without them, but I'm not sure comparing my recovery to my Mom's is accurate? Would love any insight that anyone can provide...and again, so happy this forum is here!  

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  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,267
    edited May 2012
    Hi ab1234, if there is one thing I've learned from being on these threads, everyone is different.   I didn't have mx or reconstruction, but did have lumpectomy, with sentinel node removal and port placement.  Even with this less extensive surgery I had a lot of bruising and pain, especially the snb incision.  I took pain relievers for about 3 weeks.  After that tylenol.   I'm sure your surgeon told you what to look for to watch for infection, so I would just take the pain meds when needed and keep an eye on the area for signs of infection (unusual swelling, feeling hot, redness and fever) I'm very amazed at the proactive path you and your mom have taken and hope that's the last you have to deal with this.      
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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited June 2012

    Due to 4 grandaughters(me being one of them, all

    In our 50s) turning out BRCA 1 positive last summer (2 hving had breast cancer already) I had preventative Oopharectomy in november. Not bad and all clear. Then had my first screening MRI- found a small 8mm cancer. Zoomed into BMX and still have expanders. Also began chemo. So I can say BRCA changed my lífe. My sis,who'd had cancer and lumpectomy and chemo 7 years ago, opted for preventative BMX now. We had our surgeries one week apart. Very surreal. But going ok. I have one more round of chemo late June. Ps grandma died of ovarian. Had 3 sons.

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