June 2012 Mastectomy

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  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited June 2012

    That's one thing for sure, kirwin ---- you are definitely not alone. It's funny. Before you're diagnosed, you see the adds and the pink ribbons but you just don't think you'll ever be a part of it then boom!!!! here you are. Someplace no one wants to be but we are lucky that we are not here alone.

    I hope and pray that when jackie, curveball and 3kids mom come back to the computer, they will be feelings great (relatively!) and will have nothing but good news.... I'm hoping and praying the time goes fast for lynn and kim and they are done with surgery before you know it! I see I'm alone on Thursday, tomorrow. I hope and pray they tell me the lymph nodes are clear....

    Love and good vibes from NY.... 

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  • sandpiper1
    sandpiper1 Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2012

    Gosh Bev...don't even know as my BS now does SNBs at least 1 week prior to breast surgery.

    I am told I will go to pre-op for intake and IV insertion, then be taken to radiology for the  injection of the radioactive substance. I will be awake and a local will be used for that prep.

    I will then go back to pre-op to wait a bit for the substance to travel and be taken to the OR and placed under conscious sedation for the remainder of the procedure. 

    BS does it in this manner to try and eliminate taking Lymph nodes after the original MX. If more lymph node removal is warranted, he will do that at the time of my mx.Less surgery, so-to-speak and less time spent under anesthesia ;)

    I understand that this may not be the true standard of care for DCIS. However, mine is so extensive and diffuse, BS is being proactive in lieu of waiting to see if there is invasion on the final post-surgical path.

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Thinking of you who are in surgery or prepping. This is the first step to healing. Wishing peace and clear nodes!

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  • rhymeblue
    rhymeblue Member Posts: 18
    edited June 2012

    June 8. You guys all sound so strong and equipped with all the right acronyms and I'm just plain freaked out. I make it until about 3-4 pm each day then I either have a breakdown or my brain feels disconnected from my body. Hard waiting for the surgery, hard waiting for the path reports, hard staying present.

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  • hannah318
    hannah318 Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2012
    Bevg49. >Just wanted to say you will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I live on Long Island and saw you were in Queens. My doctor is Dr. Heerdt from Sloan Kettering. Just curious if you were going into the city or maybe have the same doctor. Best of luck tomorrow!
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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    I am fully cleared by my primary and my onc.  I was giggling on the way to work from my apt this morning, I am going to get a shirt made that says 'The real ones tried to kill me so my butt and thighs stepped up to replace them' :)

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  • annievan
    annievan Member Posts: 92
    edited June 2012

    Telle-S - - Good grief - - so happy you had that talk with the MO and got more clarity re: the PET scan/METS thing - - I'm so sorry your surgeon had scared you so!  Dang!  Do they think about the emotional side of this?!

    Cheering all you ladies on who are having surgery this week (or have already finished)!!! Love all the prep tips you are sharing. . . appreciate it so much.  And thanks to you "experienced" girls from other months who have stopped by to lend advice and pointers to the June girls!  Nothing like getting the scoop from someone who's recently been there-

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  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited June 2012

    Faithhopenluv- I love your t-shirt idea! Made me laugh and I needed a good laugh.



    I hope all of those having surgery today and tomorrow are doing well. I pray that all goes smoothly for all of us.



    I saw my BS today, and just like I had feared, the lump that we are watching on my right side has grown since April. I will have to have an MRI before surgery so she can make a final decision on doing a node biopsy.

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited June 2012

    Waiting to hear from those who had surgery this week...I know a few more up to bat soon...

    My right arm almost feels back to normal  day 5 post op (getting used to the expander snug feeling) but my left arm / side where the cancer was and she took out the nodes the BS took more and "cleaned me out" really well. DAMN it's like the ligaments or something in my armpit are trying to heal in a downward position and get really tight if I don't stretch every hour or so. Also I think the Vicodin is starting to chew up my insides... crap  :(  ...starting to taper just a little but not ready to drop it all yet. Oh and I swear from walking/sitting funny now my back is aching all or most of the time. I smell like BenGay now too! Can't take ibuprofin because it messes with colitis. If it's  not one thing it's another...grrrr...back to cammomile tea and hope it's another step better tomorrow.

    Anyone getting antsy about their pathology report? Get mine Monday...will be breaking out the ativan one more time I guess...

    loriio - hope for good news for you too!

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  • 3kidsmom
    3kidsmom Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2012

    Well, here I am!  I got out of surgery about 7 hours ago and other than getting sick from anesthesia, I feel fine now. They want me to stay all night.  The dye injection didn't hurt and I regret the worry I went through over it. Everyone was so nice and the surgeon talked to me about my favorite vacation spot (Pensacola, fl) as I went to sleep.  Hubby brought Arby's a while ago and it really hit the spot.  My nodes appeared clean but I guess they do a more complete testing as well. 

    7of9, I hope you feel better soon.  I want to thank everyone for the prayers and I will be praying for you all as well.

    Karen 

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  • hannah318
    hannah318 Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2012

    Karen good for you! Glad to hear all went well.

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  • Lisa143
    Lisa143 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2012

    Karen so glad to hear your doing well. Hoping test results come back clean!



    Bev- your in my thoughts and prayers!

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  • tellie_savalis
    tellie_savalis Member Posts: 121
    edited June 2012

    Karen- great to hear you are doing well.  And thanks for update about the injection.  Curious, what's in Pensecola?  We are planing a cross county trip to Florida next year.

    Corky

    Hope all us June gals do as well as you and 7of9!

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  • JenH13
    JenH13 Member Posts: 183
    edited June 2012

    Karen glad you are doing well!

    Thank you for checking in and letting us know its not as bad as we(I) am thinking :)

    Hope you continue to do well!

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  • my3sunz42
    my3sunz42 Member Posts: 148
    edited June 2012

    Karen - that's great news!! Congratulations!! Stay strong & get some rest. Thanks for taking the time to post ... see you on the other side shortly :-)

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  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited June 2012

    3kids - Did you say 7 hours post surgery?????? Wow, you are a warrior... I hope tomorrow goes as well for me. I am just nauseaus from nervousness but looking at you and 6of, I might be overreacting. They are only keeping you one night? My BS told me they will def. keep me 2 nights so I'll be getting out Saturday. I don't have a smart phone so won't even be able to post til then. 

    BS told me to take a Klonopin tonight and one in the morning for nerves and who am I to disagree with a doctor:)? My surg isn't until 1:30 p.m. so the morning is going to be kind of hellish. She said she was taking 3 or 4 nodes and if they're clean, that's it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...

    Hannah, I live exactly on the Queens/Nassau border in Bellerose. I thought about Sloan but stuck in the neighborhood. Having it done in Long Island Jewish which is slightly further than walking distance from me. The BS Dr. Susan Palleschi, office on Northern Blvd. in Manhasset. PS is Randall Fiengold of Fiengold, Israeli & Korn also on Northern Blvd. in Great Neck. My thoughts are with you and I send healthy cheertful thoughts to you. You know you have the very best going to Sloan.  (My son lives in Plainview - are you near either of us?)

    7 - I really truly hope the pathology comes back perfect. Sending "clear" vibes your way. Also, don't allow yourself discomfort. If you need the Vic's, take them. I truly believe in no pain and really hope the docs tomorrow agree with me ....  

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  • kirwin524
    kirwin524 Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2012

    7of 9,  the worst part of all of this is the waiting in between.  sending you positive vibes, hugs and prayers for Monday.  

    bevg49, I am sending clear! clear! clear! shoutouts to you.

    rhymeblue, don't worry about acronyms or anything else, I don't know them yet either :) I think that as much as we are alike in some ways, we each handle all of "this" in a unique way.  We are here for you! 

    3kids, wow!  you ARE a warrior!  sending hugs and prayers your way!

    faithhopenlov, I literally laughed out loud at the t-shirt idea!  Love it!  I am spending far more time laughing these days than I am feeling anxious or blue -- gotta be good for me :)  

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited June 2012

    3kidsmom....Yeah! So glad you came through with flying colors.

    Bevg49 - clean clean clean!

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  • 3kidsmom
    3kidsmom Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2012

    Hello all,

    Today my muscles are so sore.  All around my ribcage and under my arms are very sore.  I have an on Q pain pump so my incisions are not hurting yet.  Thanks for all the well wishes.

    Tellie- Pensacola has the most beautiful beaches I've been to. Fort Pickens is there and is part of the national seashore. It's sugar white sand everywhere, just beautiful!  There's no fun parks for kids, but there's shops and restaurants and watercraft rentals.

    Good luck everyone.

    Karen 

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  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited June 2012

    I'm walking out the door in about 15 mins. It's 10:30 here and I have to be there 11:15..... Oh, man.... This sucks big time lol...... Love and healing vibes go out to each and every one of you. Say a prayer or send positive vibes my way please....

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  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited June 2012

    You've got it!  Praying right now for you bevg49-and for the doctors, nurses and your support system.  I pray your surrounded by love and peace and protection.  Best of luck to you today.

    Lori 

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  • tellie_savalis
    tellie_savalis Member Posts: 121
    edited June 2012

    bevg49- Go get em!  Okay maybe that should be go get rid of them! Sorry my humor is off before coffee.  My thoughts are with you and I will spend the day thinking CLEAN!  Prayers and Positive vibes heading to NY! 

    Karen- sorry you are sore, hope it passes quickly.  I will have to put Pennsecola on the list, it sounds wonderful. 

    Man I am getting tired of waiting, I feel like I can feel the cancer growing as my hair grows back!  As scary as surgery is, that is scarier. 

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  • NanG
    NanG Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2012

    AAAHHHHH!!! okay i did something MAJOR!  When i went to go see my ps i was undecided but told him i was leaning diep.  He filled out the preop pages...deip with possible te.  AFter sitting with it for a week...i realized that i totally don't want a diep!  I want to go with te and implants.  !!!!

    This to me is major!  Im kind of freaking out.  I just got given my surgery date and preop appts.  Im praying, hoping that they don't delay my surgery to a later date!!  Please pray for me. 

    I didn't realize i wanted to go with te and implants until like, for the last two or three days i have been walking around in complete dread.  Really sad...and almost feeling doom?!  Then I was laying in bed, on the ipad as usual googling breast reconstruction...and i was looking at the diep pictures and feeling extra sad and then it dawned on me....I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS!  I talked to my husband and suddenly it just became all so clear!!  I don't want to go through with the surgery and im so sad all the time because i don't have peace about my choice! 

    As soon as i said that out loud...i felt like this weight came off of me.  So I called the ps this morning first thing.  I was suppossed to call him by the 11th to confirm either diep or te. 

    I AM REALLY HAPPY about this!  And its really weird!  Like, I think that I somehow made the choice to get a diep because i thought it was the choice that would make everyone else the happiest? I don't even know why i did that?  I don't even know who i thought i was making happy. lol.  But oh my LORD do i feel better with this choice.  For so many reasons!  When I went to talk with the ps he told me how he has to access the blood supply under my ribs, about the four days in the hospital, etc.  And i felt really really grossed out.  And i think that i would rather have interruptions to my blood supply be a last option for me.  Also im kinda creeped out about the tissue getting cancer?  Does that make sense?  If its artificial i'll know its not cancerous.  I just am so sososososooooo relieved you guys!  Oh my gosh!  Gushing here...sorry....

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  • hannah318
    hannah318 Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2012

    NanG- Good for you! It must be a relief to have what you know you want.

    I am going to surgery on Monday and was glad that I did not have a choice

    because it would be to much to think about. I am having TE on Monday

    because of my body type. I will keep you posted on how they go. I am very happy for you. 

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  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited June 2012

    curveball reporting in. I stayed in the hospital overnight, came home late in the morning, had a nap, ate lunch, had another nap and here I am. I feel as weak as a kitten and somewhat sore, like just getting over a bad case of the flu. If this is typically how people feel I see why they only keep patients overnight. The people at the hospital were all very nice. My choir mates sent me a beautiful flower arrangement and one of them is bringing dinner for me & my mom (I am staying with her). She said she would be here around 6, which is only a few minutes, so bye for now. Path report probably won't be ready until next Monday at the soonest.

    @ NanG, I also found that making a decision one way or another is a terrific stress-reducer. I am glad for you.

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  • Lynn27
    Lynn27 Member Posts: 110
    edited June 2012

    Last post before the big day tomorrow.  It's you and me, KimKay!

    Spent the day doing final prep work for our youngest's graduation celebration, packing, and, oh yes, having the SN mapping.  Bee sting?  Bee sting my left foot.  I recently read "The Lump" by Alan Johns.  He's a gynecologist who was diagnosed with IDC and his book is about his experiences with getting it treated.  He swears after getting his SNM "bee sting" he would never again use that phrase to describe injection pain.  I recommend reading the book.  It's a quick read and is particularly useful for newbies with a section of things to look for and questions to ask.  Even though it is necessarily a man's perspective on breast cancer (he does not even attempt to address the psychological and physiological issues of reconstruction), it is particularly interesting to read his reactions as a gynecologist.  One of the best carry-away points for me was "your breast cancer diagnosis is a psychological emergency, not a medical one".  His reaction was the same as mine:  cut it out NOW.  I still want it out NOW (and tomorrow it will be out), but it's reassuring to know that even the "pros" react the same way I did/do.

    My goal is to do about a third as well as the rest of you (a tenth as well as 7 of 9).  I'll be in ICU for a couple of days and won't be doing any posting.  I'll give my DH or DD my logon and one of them can do a quick post and let me know what new stuff is going on.

    Thanks for all the help.  Here's to clean nodes.  I'm looking forward to a hearty breakfast of saliva tomorrow.

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  • 3kidsmom
    3kidsmom Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2012

    Curveball, good to see you posting.  I hope your soreness doesn't get worse.  I feel like they beat me up while I was asleep and it continues to worsen.  And here I was all proud and full of myself yesterday, lol.

    I got my path report this afternoon and there was cancer in my sentinal node.  The bs said he would confer with the rest of the team to decide on more nodes taken or radiation to the nodes.  I will push for more nodes taken.  I would always wonder if the rads got it.  I am very disappointed that I am not almost finished with this, since I did chemo first.

    NanG- I'm glad you feel better about your decision. I think if something like that keeps bothering you it is because it's the wrong decision.

    Bevg49-  I hope you are feeling well and your surgery was successful.

    Good luck to everyone on Friday.

    Karen

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Curveball and nang, - happy that it is behind you. Bevg, hope u are resting comfortably.



    Karen, sorry about the positive node. Our options are so crappy :( I understand how you feel. Although it was so upsetting to me that I lost 21 nodes, it do have some peace knowing they all were checked. On the other hand, since I did chemo after - I wish I could have seen some sign that my tumor pathology was responsive to chemo. Hopefully you will be comfortable with the next step

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2012

    Sorry nanG! Messed up - good to hear you are happy w your decision. Must be a great relief

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  • kimkay10
    kimkay10 Member Posts: 12
    edited June 2012

    Tomorrow is the big day.  I decided against the TE because The BS said that with RADS there is about a 25% failure and I don't want to have another surgery.  I will just have to wear a prosthetic for about 9 months to a year and then have the reconstruction.  I wish that I didnt have to have the RADS but that is what will help me to have a better shot and life in the future.  I went for my "bee sting" also today for sentinal node mapping and I am glad to have a doc that does this because she will send it to the lab and only take out a conservative layer of nodes.  I am pretty nervous but my DH and my mom and sister will be there and I have been asking everyone I know to send me a little prayer tomorrow. Im a little nervous about having my DH help me with the dressing so my mom will come and help me for a few days.  I have to get up the nerve to let him see my body with my breast gone.  Also I am glad I decided on MD Anderson Downtown and feel confident for a good result.  I have to check in at 5:15 AM so I have to leave her at 4:00 AM So I guess I better get to bed.  Lynn27 good luck to you also.   Will post in a few days how it went. 

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