June 2012 Mastectomy

I have  a lot of numbness and spots where my skin feels really tender.  Stretching my arm off to the side and up makes a sore pulling feeling which I would guess is normal.

I also get occasional little stabs of sharp brief pains that feel like they are in/on my missing breast.  It's like the brain is interpreting signals as being from where the nerves used to be and not where they are now.  

I'm not having any real arm issues though.   They didn't cut into my armpit so I don't have that to deal with at least.

I had my 2nd post-surgery followup appointment today. Some fluid had collected since my drain was taken out, so Dr C (the surgeon) drained that. Other than having additional fluid drained if necessary (a same-day appointment with the nurse, like drain removal) I'm discharged as a surgery patient. Dr F (oncologist) had already verified that no RT is necessary so I guess I have completed the first two phases of my treatment.

Hi Ladies!

I just found this board, so I'm a little behind.  I had a mastectomy on the left side on June 20.  The surgery was uneventful, which is good, and I had a tissue expander put in during the surgery.  I opted for implants as I already have them anyway.  They were a gift to myself when I was 30.  

I have to say, finding out I had BC was quite shock.  I went for my very first mammogram and, lo and behold, I have cancer.

I ended up with two drainage tubes.  The first one was removed 7 days post-op.  The second is still there.  I have to go see my plastic surgeon again on Thursday and I hope he removes this effin tube!  I could deal with all the post-op pain, but this tube HAS TO GO!  It's like somebody is poking me with a pin every 30 seconds.

Like others have posted, I have a weird sensation on the bottom of my arm, I guess you would say the triceps area. It's a tad bit sore and it kinda feels like pins and needles.

I'm glad I found this topic and I am looking forward to following everyone's sucess stories.

Lisa 

Kirwin, sorry for what you're going thru, my thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Kirwin, so sorry. Hopefully the antibiotics will work quickly and get everything cleaned out.



I got my first of 2 drains out this morning. It wasn't planned, but when I woke up this morning, I noticed blood was leaking from behind the bandage. It had only put out 10ccs yesterday and 5 Ccs overnight. I called the PS and they had me come in and go ahead and take out the drain. Maybe leftie will come out Thursday!

mmtomh! glad your body is functioning!

man, my drain removal felt relieving like letting go of a heavy bag i was carrying for too long.  it didn't hurt at all.  i think it can hurt if its been in for a while and skin starts to grow over the 'exit wound'

i had my first fill today!!!!!! it was fun! for real...not even joking.  So, my PS saw my green boob and said, "...yeahhhhh...that happens to some people." and went along as normal.  its actually more yellowish brown today girls, so im healing up as i should, PRAISE THE LORD!

So, heres how my fill went.  I'm sitting in the little room with my mom, showing her the new shade of green/brown/yellow that 'Lefty' has become...when a knock at the door came.  In walks my ps....then a resident....then another resident...then a nurse....LOL! I was laughing because it was like a little clown car.  People just kept coming in through that little door!

He goes, "so we're both gonna come at you at the same time".  I seriously guffaw laughed out loud and im going...this has got to be a joke, but no....the residents ran over to the sink and elbow battled for the syringe.  The guy won, and he comes over to me quickly just grinning from ear to ear with this needle that was seriously the thickness of a cob of corn!  I made the mistake of looking at him!  I was like, reaching for somebody's hand to hold...but there was too many doctors!  So my mom held my feet and was going, "Hang in there honey...it's gonna be over soon", while she watched my chest expand like sick little water ballons under my chest. (Who am i kidding...these aren't little at all...i'm told he'd 'like' to expand me to 800cc...)

As they were filling up the TE, I just lay there on the table, literally out loud going..."ahh, ahhh....ahhhhhhhh...this is weeeiiiirrrrddd....oh my goodness...Jesus, hold mee...ahhhhh" I think I annoyed the PS! lol.  I was so nervous though!! He kept saying, "What is it? What do you feel?"  and i was like, "Its just weird pressure...no pain...just WEIRD!"  So he told me to take a deep breath and that we could stop after one syringe.  THANK THE LORD!

This was also, by the way, the first time that I laid down completely flat on my back, so I think that added to the strange feelings.  I sat up, and it felt like something was better.  I don't know how to explain it but honestly having just that little bit of extra fluid put in, it feels like something in there that was out of place got squished into place where it belongs and I feel better...almost like, i feel like my shoulders have come forward or something back to where they belong and now my arms dont feel so sore?  Its really wild.  And also, my sides, beneath my underarms...to the sides of my breasts feels like its kind of normal now.  Before they felt really weird, and now they feel like sort of how they used to.  Its so hard to explain all of this. 

Also, I asked him about the backs of my arms hurting and my skin feeling like a sunburn and he said something about my nerves finding a new path, them being cut and that it was okay, nothing to be concerned about. 

Additionally...I was looking through the paper the other day and saw that there is a Lymphedema Awareness event coming up NEXT WEEK in my area.  So i called the lady, who has been a Lymphedema Specialist for years, treated BC patients for years...and then ended up being diagnosed with DCIS, which was then graded to Stage 1 GRade 2, and HER2+...!!! So I had a looong talk with her on the phone.  We have the same ps so that was cool as well.  But she is a survivor AND a lymphedema expert so I am SOOOOOOO greatful for that!  Im going to get educated next week and then for sure will go in to talk with her sometime!  I especially want to just be educated on LE so I can be aware and careful! 

Man...I miss u guys when we don't get to update each other every day!  Junebug Hug!

Oh, I forgot I have a question.

I know I have to go for chemo but how do they decide if you need radiation too?  Can't seem to get a straight answer from my surgeon. 

I think this is such a test of the "in sickness and in health" vow. I did have a sweet moment from hubby last night. I had a busy day yesterday and wound up going to bed at 7:00. (keep in mind I'm still only 1 week out from my BMX.). He kept coming in and feeling my forehead like he thought I might have a fever. He asked my mom several times if she thought I was ok. It was nice. He's definitely not the most sensitive man on the planet and too many nights like that might cause him to tell me to quit being a weenie, but I appreciated it for what it was. He's also taking me for breakfast in the morning. (he has a groupon that's about to expire-but I'll still appreciate the gesture! )

NanG- That was a fantastic post about your fills.  I'm getting my first fill on Friday, so this makes it less of a mystery for me! 

Kirwin - still praying for you...hope you are feeling better!

7of9 - I pray that you and your husband are able to make the necessary repairs quickly.  I know how hard it is to deal with an attitude from someone else, but remember that he loves you and is scared for you and worried about you and feeling helpless, too.  We all need gentle hugs and patience.  You are strong and you have done so much already to kick this cancer's butt, so don't even consider the possibility that you won't see that beautiful baby boy grow up.

Queenbean - for me, the decision to have RT was made because I had such extensive involvement of the right breast.  If you have a lumpectomy, they recommend rads, if you have lymph node involvement, they recommend rads.  Basically, if you have a high risk of recurrence, they will recommend rads because the risk can be reduced from about 5-10% down to 3-5%.  At least that is what my research has told me...each woman's diagnosis is unique and should be treated as such. 

Now, let me share my good news!  I just got a phone call from my surgeon and I am officially CANCER FREE! I had a complete pathological response to the chemo, no cancer found in my breast and the final on the lymph node was clear! Praise God! I am so happy I cried! Wish I was home with my family to celebrate, but I'm stuck down here til Friday.  Sure miss my kiddos and my husband, but am thankful for the time to spend with my parents.

@MMTOMH

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Cancer Free is probably the best thing you have heard in a long time! 

Congrats MMTOMH! What a great independence day for you!

MMTOMH~ Such great news!!!  Enjoy the celebration with your parents and again with your family! You deserve at least two! (if not more)

HAPPY 4th of JULY to all!

CC

MMTOMH-

That's fantastic!!!  What a wonderful reunion you'll have with your husband and kiddos!  You have been through so much - "journey" in more ways than one to fight this awful thing.  Now, Happy Independence Day for all of you!

I'm awaiting my first post-op tomorrow.  I'm  hoping that they will have my pathology report then.  It was so hard for them to find anything in my breast, I'm nervous that they will have found more than just the DCIS that it took an MRI to find.   My surgeon said that the two nodes they removed looked clear but until I see the final pathology, I won't know if I will have more treatment or not.

I'm also hoping she will remove the drain as it is quite annoying especially when it accidently gets pulled a little.  She didn't give me a set amount or time so I really don't know yet.  I think I'm getting close to the 50cc a day mark but not quite there yet.   Of course I don't want to deal with a seratoma either.  

I'm going to ask her about PT or anything else to help reduce the risk of lymphedema.  I've been doing my arm exercises and my range of motion is pretty good but still not complete.  I've been writing down questions to ask her when I go tomorrow so I don't forget.

Congrats to those who have had good news and whose recoveries are going smoothly. 

@annievan, thanks for your good wishes but just to clarify for anyone who may be a bit nervous about it, the fluid that collected after my drain was removed did not hurt, and having it removed did not hurt either. The needle was pretty large, although nowhere near the corncob size so vividly described by NanG. Dr C (surgeon) must have stuck it in somewhere that was already numb--she did not use any local anaesthetic but I didn't feel a thing. That was the day before yesterday and there doesn't appear to be any more fluid collecting there now, so I guess I am really all finished.