June 2012 Mastectomy

MMTOMH-

I'm doing great! It's been a little over a week and I'm actually ok. Was on the pain meds for like 3 days!

As far as size, well...I know I won't be able to see the final results until a few months but I'm worried about "what if I'm too huge"...

That's a good run though!

Umm what's herceptin for??

I think I'd just leave them on until they loosen up on their own.  You could try soaking with warm water, but I imagin you've been showering?  Usually they will just loosen up in 7-10 days and come off, if not, I'd let the doc remove them so you don't re-open the incision.

Herceptin is a biological treatment for HER2+.  It's like Tamoxifen for us Her2 girls. 

Oh never mind! I peeled them off I'm quite impatient haha

If you do decide to peel them off yourself just make sure you hold the skin taunt and slowly peel them off, I would do this after a hot shower so it can loosen the adhesive though. My skin feels so sticky and gross now. Eck!

thanks?


My ps said its gonna be hard for it to peel off on its own and Idontthink it's good to keep them on for long since it will stick to the scan and when you do peel them it might peel off the scab. But this adhesive is still sticky on my skin now.

That's a good idea

Hi gals,

I haven't checked the blogs in a while.  Here's an update:

I went through chemo (CMF) and radiation to the right breast area, upper neck, and my skull.  Finished Nov 2012.  Started having headaches and pains elsewhere again in January 2013.  I also began using Zometa for bone health.  Oncologist said that one side effect of it was "bone pain" and told me to keep a record.  I was having jaw pain so the onc. stopped the Zometa.  I finally insisted I felt something was wrong the middle of March and he ordered a PET scan.  The cancer has spread to: more areas of the skull - including an area that is impeding on a nerve and has given me Bells Palsey which is like having a stroke on one side of my face; also it has increased in the upper neck area; in my lung; in my liver, many lymph nodes; and hip area.  I am now on a new chemotherapy (Paclitaxel, alumin-bound).  I sure wasn't happy to hear it had returned and spread after such a short time.  The onc. said this is a sneaky and fast cancer but that I should have good results with this new chemo.  I'll try to keep a positive attitude.  I'm hoping the pain in my head and neck will calm down soon.

So there it is.  Bummmer!

ldianel 

I too have recently been diagnosed as stage IV, with two metastases to the liver and so far none discovered anywhere else. They were found almost by accident on an ultrasound I had in January to check out something else, and later verified by biopsy as mets. I am taking anastrozole, but my next scan isn't until May, so I don't know yet whether it's working or not. ldianel, I hope the paclitaxel works for you to shrink your mets, stop progression and relieve the pain.

For those of you ladies who have already had your exchange...did you have any restrictions on raising your arms? After mx, I was not allowed to raise my arms above shoulder level.  I forgot to ask my PS and since I have to travel for surgery, I'd like to know if I need to pack button-down shirts.

Thanks!

Thanks, Juliaanna...I was afraid of that   I'm hoping for a very unremarkable surgery with remarkable results!  LOL.

Oh, these TE have been in for almost a year!  I'm thinking maybe I could gently work my way into some tees if I put them over my head first and then one arm in at a time...:)

MMTOMH - That's great news and hoping for a great outcome for you!

Best wishes for an easy surgery and boring recovery on Monday.  Hope it goes as smoothly as mine.  I just had to be careful not to overdo-I felt that good! I had trouble remembering not to use my hands/arms when I was repositioning myself in bed.  Please check back and let us know how you are doing.  

About a week post-exchange now.  Feeling pretty good.  So happy with the results.  Couldn't really ask for more. Hope everyone else is doing well!

@MMTOMH -awesome!

I made an appointment to see my plastic surgeon next month after my finals. =[
I had my exchange in January and it's been 3 months and my right implants kinda freaks me out.
I still have the hollow curve above my right implant (although not as bad as when I had the TEs).
My right implants feels a little firm than mycompared to my left one (I don't know if this is something normal since I'm right handed and it causes my major right pectoralis muscles to contract or what).
I have a feeling I may hae to redo my right implant. *SIGHS* =[

OH! But on a weird note...
To any ladies that have done their implant exchange does anyones implant feel cold or is it just me? (Random weird question xD)

@MMTOMH-
I guess...It feels weird drinking something cold and the impants gives me a weird chill. HAHA!
How are you though?? How dd your reconstruction go?
I was only uncomfortable for about 3 days after my reconstruction. My surgeon said it was because I had prior surgery on my breast and plus I had the expanders in for a long time so the pain was minimal. Hopw yours is going smoothly!