March 2014 Surgery

I think this March group has been the best and most supportive group ever. Sandra you have been our fearless leader in spite of.everything you have been going through yourself.

I have a personal.shout out for SpecialK. Two years ago I was on this forum as a mom with a daughter going through breast cancer. Way back then you were on here supporting me answering my endless questions. I finally remembered my login and checked my posts and there you were. And you are still here answering questions and supporting all of us.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all.of you. Never thought I would be here even once...but twice you have all been a life saver! 

I had my 1 week post op today from my exchange. All is looking great. They took off the steri strips and cut some sutures. It actually hurt. I think this is good as there is now some (not much but some) feeling coming back. I can get back to yoga in 3 weeks (slowly tho), and will start scar strips in 4 weeks. I was also told to get back into a bra. So happy that they all still fit (and a better fit then before too). I will see my PS in 4 MONTHS (yep thas right, I am thrilled that things are progressing so good!). We will talk about nipples and more fat grafting if I lose the current FG.  Feeling so joyous!

Healing ladies, take care, take it slow and keep your head up (as best as you can). Some days it is hard but you all have so much stength, more than we often realize. Best to you all.  

March Ladies!!!  Happy healing to all!!!   

I'm home again in my recliner!!!  Home health is coming to show us the IV infusion for the antibiotic, which we do every 8 hours.  They are also checking my drain site and PICC line site. 

 Working very hard to keep my head up today and my $/&@ together.  My sister is going back to Austin, she has been here since the 1 st surgery on 3/4...  I didn't think it would be this big of a deal, but it is. I've learned and experienced things in the past few months and weeks I was more than happy to be ignorant about and she has been there.  

Enough of that, putting on the big girl panties and getting on with getting better!!!  

Question...PS has said to increase protein intake a lot!!!  Has anyone heard of this?  Any suggestions?  In the hospital they were giving me Ensure  Clear.  It OK, but looking for suggestions. 

Lakegirl, I read that it is good to eat 100g+ of protein per day to aid healing.  I've been eating too much "comfort food" so I'm not doing that great on the protein.  I'll try harder to make wiser choices.

Congratulations Julie and SpecialK...I love it when we get good news !!  

Imagine this...they were telling me to increase protein and a low fat diet....I looked at PS, "Seriously?"...he backed off the low fat part.   I'm not crazy about eggs.  I too am ER+/PR+ didn't even think about that!!!  Thank you for keeping me on track.  There is so much info coming at me...I really am about to go CRAZY!!!

I found a Kashi cinnamon harvest cereal I like that I didn't realize had protein and fiber!!!  I will work for more yogurt too, hopefully will somewhat help with the less than desirable side effects of the IV antibiotics.   Do you do regular or Greek yogurt?  Do you think it makes a diff?

Lemonade glad you are home.  Hopefully the boys will feel better after seeing you in person.  Take care of yourself and praying for a good pathology report.  

My post-surgery follow-up appointment did not go as I expected. Margins still showed DCIS. So I'll have a third surgery on Monday 3/31 (my second March surgery!). If those margins don't come back clean, then it's definitely a mastectomy. I was completely blindsided by this. I thought I was past the point where I had to face the possibility of a mastectomy. Still raw from that news, I met with the medical oncologist the same afternoon to discuss chemo, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. I have a lot to process tonight. I think I'll allow myself some extra self-pity time tonight.

Good luck to those having surgery this week. I'll send good thoughts your way.

For sleeping, 2 Percocet knock me right out. I've taken Ambien when I travel, I haven't had the memory loss, but it did make me feel happy before putting me to sleep.

lake - I think the Greek has more grams of protein.  Also nut butters are a source - like almond, cashew or peanut butter.

makelemonade and everforward - sorry to hear about your setbacks - hang in there!  Everforward, I am a triple pos girl too and have already had all that treatment - if you have questions, just ask.

Everforward so sorry for the unclear margins.  Hopefully they will get it all next time.  Try to relax and get adjusted to the idea of another operation.  Not fun to get less than favorable news.  A lot of us have been through these disappointments and are still marching forward.  You are welcome to join us and we will get to the finish line. 

So sorry to hear of the bad news Everforward and Lemonade. 

I am still awaiting my pathology report which I am told will not be in until April 14, my first post op with my BS. My initial biopsy showed extenstive DCIS, however I felt my lymph nodes aching for quite a few months, so I don't know what to think. My breast was having infected/mastitis like symptoms which is what sent me to the doctor in the first place, so it may have just been my body fighting the swelling in my breast. I felt no lump, my only symptom was nipple pain, redness and pain.

I am so thankful for all of you also. My anxiety prior to my surgery was OVER THE MOON!!!. I was more afraid of having the needle in my breast for the Sentinel node dye, than I was for the surgery. (I guess because my breast was so tender and my biopsy was not pleasant) For those who still have surgery in front of you,.....YOU CAN DO IT!!! it will all be ok,... take one day at a time, as it comes and before you know it, it's on to the next day!!

Take care all of my march Sisters,....XOXO

FAYTH

Everforward and MakeLemonade, I'm sorry for the disappointing news! Be strong! You can do it. Prayers for strength and better news!!

Saw my BS this afternoon. As expected, the drain did not come out. She did take the dressing off, cleaned up the area, and put a small gauze dressing and some waterproof sticky covers over the spot where the drain comes out. I was surprised (and not too happy) to find out that there are staples!!! Yikes. I had staples with my C-section, and it was quite unpleasant to get those out, to say the least. Not looking forward to that moment, although, I have to say that, now that there is no dressing covering and protecting the incision (and staples), I can feel the pulling on the staples of the gauze pad when the ace wrap slides on, so in a way it will be nice when those do come out. She said the staples should come out at my next appointment, next week Tuesday. She said that I bruised way more than normal. Little did I know that the entire front of your chest and abdomen, and a good part of your back, was not supposed to be covered in colorful art after mastectomy. Even though I only had a mastectomy on the left side, even the right side is very black, blue, green, yellow, purple and several other colors, down to my hip bones, and even up to under my right arm! I thought that was normal, but my BS said it's not! She said nothing really "looks" infected, but there could be some infection going on deep enough inside so you wouldn't see it, so I need to finish the course of antibiotics. My lungs sounded good, so it's unlikely pneumonia. I'm also not really coughing.

Anyway, I really feel so much better today. I'm hoping the bleeding will slow down. She said it needs to be less than 30 ml per day, or a max of 3 weeks. Although she did say that if it doesn't slow down at all, I may need another surgery. So prayers for less bleeding would be welcomed! I do not want another surgery!!!!!!!!!! Not sure what I can do though. I have a gene mutation and some other things going on that cause abnormal clotting and bleeding, so I was given one shot of Lovenox (a blood thinner, to avoid a clot) the day after surgery, so that probably didn't help things.

Time to make sure the kids get their evening showers and get to bed. My son hasn't been doing much school work for the past couple of weeks, but that's ok (he's homeschooled). We can catch up later; he's a full grade ahead anyway. My daughter has gotten away with some homework slacking too, and that's not so great, because she's in public school and that will reflect in her grades. But, we'll make it through.

One question, since they didn't find anything much in the pathology report (nothing in 4 sentinel nodes, no more invasive tumors, one more smaller DCIS spot, but all clean margins everywhere), I had assumed no other treatments would be recommended.

Now my BS told me she wants me to call a medical oncologist to consult about possible drugs? WTH?!?!?! Isn't this it???!?!?! 

I am doing IV treatments with a naturopathic oncologist, but that's different. Those treatments make you stronger, help you heal better, and strengthen your immune system so you can fight off any other possible future attacks of cancer cells trying to grow anywhere.

I also made some very drastic life style changes several months ago, right after my diagnosis right before Christmas, such as no more coffee, way less sugars (pretty much no sugar except some 72% chocolate, and honey, and fresh fruits), no more alcohol (used to like my small glass of red wine with dinner). Instead, I added several supplements known to prevent cancer, or kill cancer cells, or inhibit their growth. Wouldn't all of that be better than throwing some nasty chemicals at my body with such a clear pathology report?

I have Crohn's disease, my body is extremely sensitive to drugs (can't even take Tylenol without some fairly major side effects), and I am underweight as it is, from that, have been all my life. My BS didn't seem to take any of that into account, it seemed like that was just standard protocol and that was that. It didn't even seem like she was listening. I will be talking to my naturopathic oncologist at my next treatment, on Friday, and see what she says. 

Thanks again for all the wonderful support here! I'm finally starting to feel a little more human again, one day at a time. Can't wait to be strong enough to drive again.

Edith

Sorry some of you are having some setbacksWe all seem to make it through somehow. I got my last drain removed yesterday, yeah! My sister came with me to the PS appt. She said she started to watch them pull it out and said after about 8 inches, she turned her head thinking jeez that must hurt! It really didn't hurt though. She was glad to hear that. I feel so much better today,11 days out. Wishing everyone success with there upcoming surgery, it is easier than you think.

Juliecc -- Congrats on drains out and feeling a bit normal.  I have had 2 fills now.  60 the first time and 70 the 2nd time. I am at 230 now. (I had 100 put in at time of BMX surgery) The pressure is quite intense but manageable.  Aleve and sleep.  It certainly knocked me physically -- I think it is the body adjusting to the change.  Breathing, restorative yoga, (no upper body) walking -- more blood flow the better it seems to get through day 1 and 2 after the fill.  Glad to hear things are progressing well and hope fill is uneventful.  

vin mama -- One way to help reduce bleeding and draining is to not use your arms much at all.  The less activity with the arms the less fluid generated and drained.  Once I discovered this, I adjusted and the drainage reduced significantly in just a few days.   Regarding the additional treatment even with clear lymph nodes, yes yes a 5 year regiment of estrogen managing drugs are the standard course.  Depending on whether you are pre or post menopause the drugs will be different. There are side effects to each drug that are unique to each individual (so they say.) I have been on Arimidex - which is one of the post menopause options.  If too many side effects appear there are two other options to try.   Taking this drug treatment for 5 years reduces by an additional  6-7% the recurrence rate.  So taking the drug is a good thing over the long run.  Sticking with it for 5 years is critical -- is what my Dr. says to achieve the desired result. 

Letting other friends and family do things for me has been challenging from the start.  It is critical though.  It helps reduce stress and angst about things not being done.  Let others do it.  So many people say to me, if there is anything I can do just tell me what.  Well tell them, ask them, let it go, and left friends and family be there for you.  It has made me feel better and it has made my friends and family feel better too.  MakeLemonade -- hang in there.  Your boys will be there -- and even help you in their own ways -- hang in there.  Hugs Hugs Hugs for your boys --- and normal as possible Mom words and humor and love -- will help them.  I am thinking good thoughts for you and your family. 

Good morning everyone!  9 days since my surgery. I actually woke up with my left arm over my head about seems that my range of motion is increasing. 

Just a comment re staples - for me I didn't feel a thing. I think that I had 20 and only felt 1. It seemed to go very well. 

My husband told me that one if my drains was very long too. Thankfully I was still fairly numb when it was pulled out although I did feel an increase in burning and twinges the next day but all was bearable

Best to all and have a great day!!