March 2014 Surgery
Comments
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Kelly, you will be fine with the Vit E. It's only your PS's opinion. Many other PS disagree. If it was apparent that women did better with Palmers and worse with Vit E, that would have been written up in a journal somewhere. Palmers is good, Vit E is good, Bio-Oil is good, Eucerin in good...the list goes on and on. All good.
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Hmmm. I've been using CVS Scar Treatment silicone strips on my incisions and Lubriderm fragrance free lotion everywhere else. They seem to be getting flatter.
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It really must be difficult to determine when you're ready to go back to work. I mean, the job must make a big difference, if you paint & haul furniture & old stuff (like me LOL) or sit at a desk. Luckily I've had hubby to load & move furniture & items at auctions & into the shop etc. But I admit to probably doing more sooner than normal! I went to the shop & an auction one week post BMX but didn't carry anything.
BTW my rad dr says EUCERIN only. I do have Miaderm (specifically for radiated skin) & aquaphor. I'm using them all, 3-4x a day.
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My NP said Aquaphore or something else unscented but keeps saying that I don't "need" to use anything. As of today I have 400cc in my 550 TE's. She thinks that they will go beyond the 550 and will keep the fills at 65 because of the muscle stretching not the skin. I have lots of extra skin. She said that they keep all of the skin just in case. I won't be needing it all since I will not be going back to being a DD+ either. I do hate having foobiedoo (when your belly sticks out more than your foobies do).
I am going back to work this Thursday and got my all clear note today. I think that I am 8 weeks out now. I went shopping today and out of the 22 things that I tried on I bought 3 tops. They are all black. It seems like the only way to hide the fact that my TE's are coming out of my armpits is to wear black loose clothing. I will have to brighten things up with scarfs I guess. I think that starting on a Thursday was a great idea. Whom ever it was who suggested that, thank you.
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They don't always give you all the info you need in the hospital.
A woman called a local hospital . . . .
"Hello. Could you connect me to the person who gives information about patients? I'd like to find out if a patient is getting better, doing as expected or getting worse."
The voice on the other end said, "What is the patient's name and room number?"
"Sarah Finkel, room 302."
"I'll connect you with the nursing station . . . ."
"3-A Nursing Station. How can I help you?"
"I'd like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in room 302."
"Just a moment. Let me look at her records. Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she's had two full meals, her blood pressure is fine, she is to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and, if she continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send her home Tuesday at noon."
The woman said, "What a relief! Oh, that's fantastic . . . that's wonderful news!"
The nurse said, "From your enthusiasm, I take it you are a close family member or a very close friend!"
"Neither! I AM Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells me sh*t! -
Sandra - hilarious!
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Sandra...LOL!!! I would agree, esp after my last escape there with the Staph Infection.
Stfne...I had my 1st Sx on March 4, then the second for the Staph on March 21. I went back to work last Thursday...and having my 1st full week this week. I am really glad I did that, email is caught up. I am somewhat up to date on the project work...just in time for meetings all day tomorrow, then appt with MO in the afternoon. We shall see how long my back to work status lasts after the MO appt!!! I have mixed emotions about that one..
janice
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Am I being naïve to think that since I am 6 weeks out from surgery and I just got a call from the oncologist scheduling me for my first appt. on May 20th that I must not need any drastic treatment? If it was serious they would get me in sooner wouldn't they? I am trying really hard to stay positive about my team of doctors but it's getting a little hard to do. Did somebody miss something and forget that step? I have thought about second opinions but seriously can't afford it at this point.
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klj - not necessarily, but you can call and ask to speak with the MO prior to that first appt. to make sure of that. I can't remember whether or not you had an Oncotype Dx done.
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That's a good question SpecialK. The MO should know if they did that test shouldn't they? I know it was never discussed with me.
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KLJ . I just had my first appt with MO today and had my surgery 3/27. My breast surgeon did the referral and said there was no hurry to get me in due to my numbers. The MO recommended Hormone Therapy but said I didn't have to decide today. He ordered a bone density test and said once that comes back I can let him know my decision. Our numbers look almost the same. He told me he does not do the Oncotype test unless he's looking at chemo. He told me my risk of recurrence was 8% at 10 years and the Hormone Therapy would take it down to 5% (at best). I am 63 so I know that is part of the equation. I am very undecided about whether to take it for that small of a difference in recurrence rate. My husband doesn't really want me to because of the side effects. His first wife died of breast cancer and he spent 6 years caring for her and a lot of time in MO offices so he looks at things a little differently.
I would love some of you wonderful ladies opinions on Hormone Therapy!
Hugs to all.
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klj - they may have ordered it routinely based on your ER+ after biopsy.
wynne - hormonal therapy is one of those things that you can try and if you have intractable issues with it you can change meds, or stop. Are you post-menopausal? If so, you have four drugs to choose from - aromatase inhibitors are only for post-meno and include Arimidex (anastrazole), Femara (letrozole) and Aromasin (exemestane) which is the only steroidal AI drug. Both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women can take Tamoxifen, and in post-meno women it can build bone. If pre-meno women cannot take or tolerate Tamoxifen, or it doesn't work for them due to the way it is metabolized, then they can shut down their ovaries with Lupron and take an AI, or have an ooph and take an AI. I have taken both Femara and Arimidex, and had some annoying side effects with the first version of both drugs but not for some time after taking it, but now have found a manufacturer of Femara that does not cause me any particular issues. I have found that the fillers and additives in the generic versions of these drugs can make a difference in side effects, it pays to experiment with different ones.
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Hi everyone,
Good to read everyone's progress and improvements here. I'm doing really well, at least for the most part. I have been dealing with cording though, and it seems to be getting worse, not better. My PT says it's one of those things that can happen, and that not that much is known about it, which, after doing some reading, seems to be correct. She's been giving me new stretching exercises, which do help some, and she's also doing some special massages, which help also, but it's not going away, at all! And it's driving me crazy!
I guess in a way, my range of motion, and especially my strength, are almost completely back to normal, and continue to improve, but I do feel the tightness of the cording. It goes all the way down my lower arm, almost to my wrist. and it's making it difficult for me to stretch my arm out all the way, especially sideways and over my head. I can get there, but have to go slow and be very careful, and even then it feels like something might tear.
I haven't been using any oils or creams on the scar; it's healed so well, and I haven't taken the time to buy anything. I do have coconut oil at home (I use it in the kitchen all the time), so I could use that. Could it possibly help resolve, or at least improve the cording at all?
As far as going back to work goes, I think that it really does make a difference what your job is. I basically went back to my "work" of homeschooling my son full time 3 weeks after my surgery, and also started doing all the cooking, baking etc at home, as well as teaching the few violin lessons on the side that I did before also. I started practicing my violin a little bit before that, but had to build that up a bit more gradually, although I was at full practice (1.5 to 2 hours a day) in about a week. Fortunately the cording is not affecting my violin playing at all, thank God. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't do that anymore!
If anyone has any tips or suggestions about cording, I would be very grateful!
Edith
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Vin, cording is a form of lymphedema called axillary web syndrome. I've read quite a bit about it. Here's a link to a website called Step Up, Speak Out which is dedicated to lymphedema education.
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm
I think you will find some good information there.
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Kitty - I don't know if you saw my first post, but I now hate the color pink. When I saw the mammogram lady walk up to me holding up a fuzzy pink robe and she said "you're going to ultrasound" I knew right then and there I was in trouble. I even texted my husband and said "oh god" after numerous call backs throughout the years that never really fazed me. I mean seriously it is so bad, now that I am looking to plant spring flowers I don't want anything pink as I have in years past, no pink flowers, no pink pots, I think I have issues. But to me it just stands for cancer right now, and quite frankly I feel I need to wipe my mind free of it and get moving on. Maybe someday I will enjoy pink again, just right now.
SpecialK, I think you missed your calling and should have become an MD! You really know more than most.
Has anyone used Origins Smoothing Souffle? A friend sent this to me when I was diagnosed, she is married to a Dr. so I wondered if she knew something that I didn't? I'm still not putting anything on the scar, aren't they going to be going back in there?
The stretching exercises hurt - I never thought I would do so little to hurt so much. The worst for me is laying on my back and stretching my arm straight above my head so it lays flat back on the floor - it literally brings tears to my eyes. I've only had a UMX, I can not imagine you ladies who have had a BMX.
My RN was the one who suggested to go back to work on a Thursday, which is a great idea. But it looks like a Monday start date for me. But in reality, I really do still have some fluid retention near my drain area, so I guess I just can't fight it and need to listen to Dr's orders.
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Thank you so much, Sandra!! That is the most informative article I have read yet so far! While my PT seems to know quite a bit about it (she specialized in post mastectomy and lymphedema PT), I think I will still show her the article too, you never know that it could help guide her how to help me even better! She's a really good PT, and a very nice person.
Oh, and her little boy (he's 4.5 apparently) is going try out for violin lessons, starting next week. I'm excited!
Time for some sleep, it's LATE!
Thanks again,
Edith
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Wynne50 - I started Arimidex for my hormone therapy about 3 weeks after my surgery. It has been 6 weeks or so now that I have been on it and I have not noticed any side effects. I am of the notion that reducing reoccurrence by 5% is worth it. If a terrible side effect emerges I am with SpecialK -- I will change it up and try another alternative for Post Meno women.
My PS nurse is also indifferent about the type of cream to use. She did encourage me to continue to massage -- even though they would be cutting back through the same incision for the EXCHANGE. She said the massaging would help with minimizing scar tissue. So I will be massaging for 6 months -- as my last fill was a week ago and EXCHANGE is tentatively scheduled for early October. Slow and steady has best results per my PS.
Juliecc -- I am wondering why you are considering the round implants over the anatomical ones? I am reading all I can on the products and was thinking anatomical -- but wonder if there might be more projection with the round ones. (though not at all as natural looking) I am at 500ccs and am having such a hard time imagining what the end game will be. I know --"Patience" and "step away from the mirror for two months" -- are the first steps after the EXCHANGE -- none the less just curious as to why you are thinking rounds will be the choice for you?
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Axillary Web Syndrome and cording can be a precursor or risk factor for lymphedema, but are not considered lymphedema in and of themselves.. They are a complication of surgery, that can be resolved in many cases, but some people who have experienced one or both of these do go on to develop lymphedema. Some therapists believe that you can get relief from cording by stretching the cords until they snap or release, but others don't do this.
frostecat - thanks!
sailon - round implants do provide more projection and upper pole fullness, and are thought to be softer than the anatomical ones. Obtaining upper pole fullness is an issue for many because removal of breast tissue can leave hollows after exchange since the implant usually relaxes lower on the chest than the expander did. Many have fat grafting to fill these hollows. This happens with both round and anatomical implants, but the anatomical implants are much flatter in the upper pole area, so this can be even more pronounced. Some women do not like the anatomical implants as one, or both, can rotate in the pocket and create a less than normal looking shape. The gummy bear anatomical implants are relatively new (they just came off clinical trial) not all plastic surgeons have experience with using them. If you wish to have anatomical implants you should start off with the corresponding expander, otherwise you are putting a teardrop shaped implant into a pocket that was created for a round implant.
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Vlnmama - I too have had some cording issues in both arms and have been seeing a PT that specializes in lymphodema and surgery patients. She's been fantastic with the deep massage and the home exercises. I've been lucky in that I'm seeing significant progress after only 4-5 visits. I expect only a few more. The cording does seem to be disappearing as does the sharp nerve burning that had accompanied it.
Good luck to you and I hope you'll have some relief soon. It was a really uncomfortable, slightly disturbing, and appeared 2-3 weeks after surgery when I was returning to work and had been having great ROM. I hope you keep at it and the cords soften and break up.
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So much great information this morning! And now I've got a new list of questions for my PS this morning.
Thanks ladies! I can't wait to see what he has to say! -
Regarding the axillary web syndrome cording, would that explain why there is suddenly a big vein popping out on the inside of my elbow after stretching?
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round one of FEC. home and peeing red!! Lol. I was done in 90 minutes. The nurse told me that I might get a head rush or feel something in my sinuses. Well I do feel something in my head. It's weird. Feels a bit like pressure but not too bad. Other than that the port is still driving me nuts. I have percs for it but don't think I'll take it. I want to watch the hockey game and a perc will knock me out. Lol. They gave me a med for nausea before they started treatment and I have to take pills tonight and for the next few days. Neulasta shot tomorrow. Yippee!! Hope that all are good!!
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Footballnut, you're a trooper. Prayers and hugs to you.
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nausea is starting to creep in. I took a pill. Side effects do early! I hope that this isn't a sign of things to come!!
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Scary,
I'm no expert, but it sounds like it.
Football,
Hope you are feeling better and you will tolerate chemo. You deserve a break, girl.
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Footballnut, I love that big smile on your face. I hope those pills help you feel better quickly!
Sandra, I love that sign. Am I the only one who looks at my own boobs all day though? I feel them too, when no one's looking. LOL
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Footballnut I love your smile at your first chemo, too! I hope you get through it well and the side effects aren't too bad.
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Footballnut, I love your smile! Hang in there. I hope the meds provide you some rel
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Sorry that you're feeling sick football. Hope that feeling passes quickly.
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