Have I got cancer or haven't I? DCIS confusion...

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited July 2012

    understand, until the results come back and they say it is cancer...it is not!

    but I had lumpies, rads and on aromasin

    scares the pants off of me when I hear folks refuse part of treatment, I did all and after 4 years have junk that needed the test this morning

    hoping it is a cyst but prepared for the worse

  • gumshoe
    gumshoe Member Posts: 248
    edited July 2012

    proudtospin - Good luck with the results. Here's hoping they are just being extra cautious and it will turn out just fine.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited July 2012

    hoping my docs are just cautious, the biopsy was of a mass/lump which might be a cyst and hoping that way. never had this before so it does not sound like DCIS to me

  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    Cindy-Sorry for the delay.  I just saw your question.  I'm doing well.  Ok, TE's are pretty uncomfortable, but manageable.  When they took off stubborn surgical tape that was supposed to come off by itself, I had an area on each side that wasn't healing.  So PS clean that up and restitched both sides in office last Monday.  Of course I didn't get the anticipated fill at that point.  It appears to be healing without problems now, and I will get stitches removed in 2 more weeks.  I'm still concerned about getting another fill at that point.  How are you doing?

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2012

    rosetx - crazy tape!  I left mine until it was hanging because not being able to feel anything and having to pull it off made my mind crazy!  So sorry to hear about the healing.  Sounds superficial though so hopefully you're on your way in two weeks!  Did you have any cc's at surgery (forgive me if you have already written that somewhere)?

    I had my final fill today.  He placed 100 left side and 50 right side on Thursday, thinking I was even but I felt the left was bigger as a result.  I went back today, got 50 more on the right and scheduled exchange surgery.  I thought I had to wait 3 months after the last fill so I was surprised when he said to schedule in August which would be three months post placement of the expanders.  I'm at 500 each side and haven't had any issues with TEs to speak of. Wierd, I think I cried more today than I have the whole process!  I had to let someone go at work right before my appt and was extremely emotional when I got there.  That just finished me off for some crazy reason!

    proudtospin - thinking of you today!

  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    Cindy - Yes, the healing seems to be happening now.  I think I came out of surgery with about 360 cc's in the TE's.  May have been a little less, but that's close.  I was surprised to have that much going on at the unveiling!  Two weeks later I think the PS added 120 on each side.  He had planned to add 120 each again when I had the issue last week.  That would have been my final fill to get me to 600.  I think I'd actually be ok with what I have now, except he says that w/the implants I won't have the same projection.  So I guess we'll go a little more.  It will still be smaller than what I was, but that's fine w/me.  I also thought I had to wait 3 months after the last fill, and would be really excited if it were 3 months from the initial surgery.  I certainly feel the TE's all the time, but just in the last couple of days I'm not feeling the same degree of constant discomfort.

    Congratulations on the last fill and pending exchange.  Sounds like cause for celebration.

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2012

    Rosetx ... hi. Did you get your stitches out?

  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    Hi Cindy, Will get them out a week from today.  I'm still having a very, very small bit of seepage---just a spot here and there.  That seems like a long time for it not to be healing, but I'm remembering those skinned knees from childhood would take a while for what's underneath the scabs to heal as well.  Just not sure if the PS will be able to do the last fill, but I'd rather wait than stress the incision further.

    Do you have your August exchange date yet???

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2012

    Oh I was just certain it was today. You're right. The inside heals slower than the outside. Thought about you since early morning.

    My exchange is 8/24. I'm a bit nervous now that I've decided on nipple recon. Tissue will be coming from my inner thighs. :(

  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    Thanks so much for the thoughts, Cindy.  I'll be glad when next Monday comes so it can be checked out.  That is exciting news about the exchange!  My PS is already talking about the nipple recon, because he is the quintessential plastics doctor and wants everything perfect.  I haven't decided for sure yet, but am thinking the 3-D tats.  I don't have a significant other, so I'm the only one who'll be seeing them and probably won't be looking from the side. :)  I haven't researched much about harvesting the skin for the recon.  How is the recovery from that?  I guess they don't actually take too much skin, so I'm hoping it will not be difficult at all for you.

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2012

    I have debated endlessly about nipple recon and had decdied tat only but my PS has caused me to reconsider.  I don't want to regret not doing it and then be facing another surgery.  Both hubby and I were settled on that.  He would prefer less cuts.  I'm a type 1 diabetic and healing is always his first concern, although I've done great. My PS says the thigh cut is minimal but he glosses over everything.  He says its a very small amount of skin.  I'll be checking back in with you!  You're in my thoughts. 

  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    @Cindy - From what I have read on the boards, it seems that most women who have the recon are happy with it and most women who just have the tats are happy w/them.  Everything about this process is such a personal decision with so many factors entering into the decision process.  It's one of those situations where I don't think there's a wrong decision.  There's only the decision you feel is right for you.  I'm excited for you that you are nearing the end of this part of the recovery!

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