September 2012 Surgery

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited September 2012

    Hope everything goes well for u Monday ladies



    Sneakychiquita

    Mumtobe

    LyndaMarie

    annievan

    KellieDenise66

    Wishing u the least pain possible!!! Good luck :)

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2012

    ohiobecky~ Two weeks is long enough to deal with those drains! Good luck at your appt tomorrow!

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  • mrskimber47
    mrskimber47 Member Posts: 97
    edited September 2012

    ohiobecky-

    I feel your pain, I have one drian left too, comes out Wednesday. Starting my chemo in a couple weeks too. AC/T every 2 wks x 4, then Taxol (I think) same schedule. I've been reading up and so I expect this to be quite the nightmare. I am really hoping I am one of those people who respond to nausea meds... Cancer can suck it. I've been having a rough few days since the labs came back and that's all I have to say. CANCER CAN SUCK IT.  

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  • mrskimber47
    mrskimber47 Member Posts: 97
    edited September 2012

    ohiobecky-

    I feel your pain, I have one drian left too, comes out Wednesday. Starting my chemo in a couple weeks too. AC/T every 2 wks x 4, then Taxol (I think) same schedule. I've been reading up and so I expect this to be quite the nightmare. I am really hoping I am one of those people who respond to nausea meds... Cancer can suck it. I've been having a rough few days since the labs came back and that's all I have to say. CANCER CAN SUCK IT.  

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited September 2012

    I met with my BS early this morning and my pathology report was there. I kind of expected some bad news but not as bad as it was.  Pre op with just the core biopsy pathology which said <2cm IDC, no vascular or lympatic invasion, I thought that a lumpectomy, SNB and radiation should do it. But now it is 6/8 nodes cancerous. The second lump the BS found in surgery is actually a lymph node replaced by metatastic cancer. The original main lump is grade 3 invasive mammary cancer and is minimum 3 cm. There is IDC at a couple of the margins and DCIS within 0.5 mm of one of the margins. There is extensive lymphovascular invasion.  I am still tyring to take all this in but she called it a "constellation of cancers." CT abdominal scan and bone scan being arranged along with the referral to a medical oncologist. Looks like chemo, possible modified radical mastectomy and axillary dissection, radiation and reconstruction. Guess I am in for the long haul. I don't think I will fall into the category of wondering whether I need or want any further treatment; instead I will be doing it all!

    In shock, CryMarian 

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  • ohiobecky
    ohiobecky Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2012

    Mrskimber - I did 4 AC every 2 weeks and then what started as 12 weekly Taxol. Ended up changing the schedule and switching to Abraxane due to counts and a reaction.

    For me I needed fiber, stool softener and laxative during the AC. And the exact opposite during the Taxol. I did not have any nausea during either round. The pre-meds they give now are great. It seemed like most of the other patients at MO office handled things relatively well too.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited September 2012

    Oh crap Marian!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry you are in for the long haul. All I can say is that the 5 months of chemo seemed endless at the time and now seems like it wasn't so bad - and that is coming from a person that seemed to get all the weird complications like pneumonitis...



    Hugs from me...

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited September 2012

    Marian, I'm so sorry to hear about the results of your path report! It really is the pits to find all this out.

    Sending hugs.

    Leah

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2012

    Marian,  I'm sorry you have to deal with this mess! It is too much to absorb, your onco will take good care of you. 

    Sending you hugs!! 

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2012

    mrskimber~ Sorry you had to deal with a drain for two weeks!  Hope your TE's aren't causing you too much discomfort!  Can you feel a difference between the TE and the permanent implant?   I did 4 DD AC every other week, the nausea meds and steroids really help.  My hard time was the 4th and 5th day after chemo, then I would start feeling better.  Glad to have the week between to get strength back.  I did 12 weekly Taxol too.  It's doable just listen to your body. 

    Allow yourself to be mad....these boards are a great place to vent!! 

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited September 2012

    Marian-

    Sorry for ur news :(

    Hang in there

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited September 2012

    Just letting you know that I've asked one of the other Aussie women to pop in here and let you all know how I've gone after surgery. My hubby is going to do an update on my Facebook wall and she will copy it over here for you all :-)



    Jenn

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  • LyndaMarie
    LyndaMarie Member Posts: 92
    edited September 2012

    Quick update...

    I am no longer a Monday lady. My pre-op appointment last week showed elevated liver enzymes and as of Saturday they officially postponed my surgery until we know what is going on. I have a lower abdominal CT scan tomorrow along with other blood work.

    Sending out prayers and positive thoughts to all the Monday ladies!! Is it odd to say that I wish I was still one of you so that I could have this process underway?

    Hope all are well!

    Lynda

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  • LyndaMarie
    LyndaMarie Member Posts: 92
    edited September 2012

    Marian - So sorry to hear about your pathology report!!! I have already done my chemo and want to assure you that, while it is hard, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I pictured months of pain and nauseau. I had a few days of manageable pain and no nauseau at all to speak of. There were many other side effects that were hard but the ones I feared the most never became a reality. I cannot speak to radiation yet as that card is still up in the air for me. Maybe yes, maybe no.... I hope your scans all come back alright! Take care!!!

    Lynda

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited September 2012

    Marian - I'm still hugging since my last post in the Candian thread.  

    I'm doped up on morphine, recovering from surgery (UMX and SNB with TE).  Just wondering if others experienced hand numbness/tingling/pain immediately after axillary lymph node dissection?  I apparently had only 2 nodes removed, but woke up with these symptoms on the affected side.  The nurses in the recovery room said it was likely because my arm was in an awkward position during surgery, but it's now 7 hours post-op and I still can't really use my left hand.  I'll follow up with my surgeon, but I just thought I'd also see if others experienced this.

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited September 2012

    Hey Sneakychiquita,

    I experienced the same thing on the side of my UMX and SNB. I was also told it was due to the position of my arm throughout the surgery. My arm was also a bit swollen. They kept that arm a restricted limb...no blood pressures or needles. The tingling and the swelling went down in about 2-3 days. The ability to use it is different for me because I had a lat dorsi reconstruction during the same surgery. My range will be limited for a while because of that.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited September 2012

    Moved you down to unknown date LyndaMarie - sorry about the uncertainty...



    Sneaky - I hope that hand improves :-/



    20 Aug 2012

    Sandlake - hysterectomy



    4 Sept 2012

    Trinity0723 - MX (left)



    5 Sept 2012

    Leah_S - MX on remaining side plus bilateral TE placement



    6 Sept 2012

    leahlee - excisional biopsy

    katylynn - BMX with TEs



    7 Sept 2012

    KnBsAngel - MX with TE

    marianelizabeth - lumpectomy, SNB

    the5owens - lumpectomy

    Momluke - MX (left) with reconstruction and symmetric surgery



    10 Sept 2012

    Sandlake - BMX with TEs

    ohiobecky - MX (left)

    java11 - MX with DIEP (left), reduction (right)



    11 Sept 2012

    SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE

    Tzvia - MX with TE

    mrskimber47 - BMX with implants

    SAR843 - BMX, DIEP/TRAM



    13 Sept 2012

    cthynsh - lumpectomy, SNB

    cjw75 - BMX



    14 Sept 2012

    kittykoma05 - BMX with TEs



    17 Sept 2012

    positivenergy - BMX with DIEP



    18 Sept 2012

    gajor4 - MX with bilateral DIEP

    4caseygirl - BMX

    SooZQ - BMX with TEs

    Sharon1942 - UMX with DIEP



    19 Sept 2012

    michellej1980 - BMX, DIEP

    cathyann - MX



    20 Sept 2012

    LockeKopp - BMX with LD and TE

    RainMaze - BMX



    24 Sept 2012

    Sneakychiquita - skin-sparing UMX with TE reconstruction

    Mumtobe - MX

    annievan - TE to implant exchange

    KellieDenise66 - BMX with TEs



    25 Sept 2012

    Teri060811 - BMX

    FightingLikeAGirl - BMX with TEs



    26 Sept 2012

    sandrav - bilateral DIEP

    triplem67 - BMX



    27 Sept 2012

    kmfrost - UMX/BMX (deciding)

    scared2death2 - BMX



    28 Sept 2012

    Jennt28 - BMX, muscle sparing free TRAM

    Dakota212 - BMX with TEs

    robertson8272 - MX with a SNB and LAT Flap With TE



    1 Oct 2012

    kltb04 - BMX with TEs



    15 Oct 2012

    rozem - BMX with TE's and lat dorsi flap (on the radiated side)



    unknown date

    Bargala - BMX with TEs

    LyndaMarie - BMX with TEs

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited September 2012

    Sneakychiquita, I responded to your PM before I saw this. Now I get it. I did not have those symptoms you mention post op but I had a much shorter surgery so the others are probably quite right. Morphine eh? I hope you sleep like an angel.

    Marian 

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2012

    Sneakychiquita,  I also had the tingle/numbness in my hands, effecting my pinkie and ring fingers.  My PS said it's probably from the nerves being cut.  Hope you had a peaceful night!

    Best wishes today for Teri and FightingLikeAGirl!! 

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  • Teri060811
    Teri060811 Member Posts: 28
    edited September 2012

    Thank you Sandlake - For some reason I'm not nervous yet.  I'm sure it will hit me when I'm checking into the hospital.  Good luck today FightingLikeAGirl <3

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited September 2012

    Teri

    Fighting

    sandrav

    triplem67

    kmfrost

    scared2death2

    Jennt28

    robertson8272

    Ok everyone I decided to wish u all luck now. I am so stressedthat I can't thInk anymore so I wanted to wish u all the most painfree days as possible. Keep in touch !!! We got this. Sorry from whomever I stole it from. I just love it!!! 😍😍😍

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited September 2012

    To all the ladies who are going to be starting chemo - ITS DOABLE.  No, it's not always fun, but it really isn't as bad as you think it will be.  The meds are better than ever for controlling SE.  Some people have little to none, some have a bad time.  You don't know how it will affect you personally.  Join a chemo board with others who are starting the same month.  I had A/C x 4 and Taxotere X 4 and started Herceptin. Anyone can always feel free to PM me if you have questions.

    Hugs and thoughts for all having surgery this week.  I'm on deck for next Monday.  Got the process started for that free hospital bed (why not!) and have some post surgical camis that hold drains ordered (again, they're free so why not!)  Finishing up on my maniacal house cleaning this week and am going to go on a big grocery shopping trip this weekend to try and have things stocked up.  Need to ask my Daddy what he wants to have in the house to cook as he will be doing that part!  DH will go to work (after the first week), my mom will help with the kids and housework and my dad is the cook! 

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  • ohiobecky
    ohiobecky Member Posts: 56
    edited September 2012

    Yay! I am drain free! Steri-strips are all gone. I can shower without wrapping myself in plastic wrap. And I got rid of the massive itchy surgical bra.

    Path report was good. My original 10cm plus tumor was almost entirely gone. A few calcified pieces, biggest one was 3mm. And there was no evidence that it had spread to any of the 13 nodes they took. Still doing radiation, 6 weeks of it. BS said it was based upon size of the tumor at diagnosis.

    Hugs to all!

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  • cthynsh
    cthynsh Member Posts: 41
    edited September 2012

    marianelizabeth - angry and sneaky = Lymphovascular invasive type cancer.  These cells apparantly like to hide in the canals between the lymph nodes and wait to form a tumor.  Also increases chances of recurrence.  Its why the surgeon is recommending the bmx.  The hits just keep coming.  Still trying to coordinate the reconstruction with the mastectomy.  Meeting with 2 different plastic surgeons on Friday and then something should be in place. 

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  • cthynsh
    cthynsh Member Posts: 41
    edited September 2012

    Anyone else develop a serious allergic reaction to the benzoin (glue) used with the steri strips?  Caused a brutal rash that bubbled like a burn right around the incision sites!  Big flags on my chart so they wont use that stuff after bmx.

    Sending out positive vibes.

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited September 2012

    Great new Ohiobecky! Today has been a great day for you!! YAY!!

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited September 2012

    cthynsh - I had the problem not with the steri strips but with the tape used after my SNB....

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2012

    Dakota~ I wish we could just throw that stress into the wind, let it blow far far away!!

    ohiobecky~ Good news for you today, so happy for you!

    cthynsh~ Those rashes are awful!!! I had an allergic reaction on my arm after my Aug 20th hysterectomy, so precautions were made for my Sept 10th BMX.  I get the same rash from regular band aids too.

    I was supposed to get my first fill today, 15 days after surgery.  PA decided not to since I am still very tender.  I was so relieved, going to try again next Thursday Oct 4th.  She did take off my Steri-strips for me.  I just need to take it easy and remember my limitations!

    Good luck sandrav and triplem67 on your surgeries tomorrow! 

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited September 2012
    For those who have yet to have surgery - Unless you have someone at home taking care of you post-surgery, I highly suggest asking the pharmacy to not use child-proof lids on your prescription meds.  I had no idea how impossible the combination of pushing down and turning the lid would be.  I actually had to call on my ex- to help me out of this jam.  Oh, the places BC has taken me that I never thought I'd visit....
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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited September 2012

    Sneakychiquita,

    Great advice about the lids! Me and my DH had a time with my child proof lids! He has really bad neuropathy in his hands from diabetes and we always get his meds with non-child safety caps (or should I say I always get HIS with non-child proof caps). He didn't think about it when he picked up my meds. Learning experience!

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