August 2014 Surgery
Comments
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allydp, so very glad you and your husband are feeling better today. It's sounds like you have a good plan for getting your pain evaluated. You've had to make a lot of tough decisions over the past year and my heart goes out to you for having to go through any of this at such a young age. Like lipgloss said "F*** cancer!"
As for my node incision - went in Friday and had it cleaned and turns out it was just topical. It's been looking much better. However, my BS did not like the look of my R cancer breast when I followed up with her on Monday and wanted the PS to look at it. It's really swollen and the the bruising is awful compared to the left side (which looks really awesome). I was also very sore. So I saw my PS today and finally got my tagaderm bra removed! He drained the seroma and said it just looked like blood/fluid. No sign of infection or tissue necrosis. Whew! I can't tell you how relieved I felt, both emotionally and physically. I had myself pretty worked up about it. I'm hoping I sleep better tonight.
Hope everyone is healing well and enjoying their evening.
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Sunflower: Whew! No necrosis! Hooray!
Ally: You had BMX with TEs, right? I am by no means a doctor, but I just realized something. I had the same surgery, and afterward, my ribs hurt for weeks! My PS's assistant attributed it to 'pocket work' and how much they rummaged around in there. Clearly they had bruised something.
This is no substitute for your test, of course. I just wanted you to know I remembered that! It seems so long since my BMX (December), and I have had so many sx since then! Hey... what did you and your husband come up with to deal with the stress? Let me know some of your good advice. My DLLP and I have been at this awhile too. We could use a plan like that. XXX
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hey ladies!!! Just checking in to say hi! I'm 3 wks post my BMX and I'm feeling pretty darn good. Still have my stiches in and some mild soreness from time to time but overall things are good. I see the PS again tomorrow for another follow up and possibly my first real fill if things go well!!!!!! Eeek!!! Does anyone know if the fills hurt? During or after? My skin around scars is still super numb so maybe that helps??
Xoxo
Jen
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Sunshine, I never felt the needle for any of my fills. The pain would come from the tightness shortly after. If you don't get huge fills, it's not so bad. I usually got 50cc fills on each side but I got 100cc once and had major sternum pain.
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Had my follow up and first appointment with the oncologist. The tumour was a bit bigger than the mammogram indicated...3.3 cm instead of 2.5. Path report is the same as the biopsy...100% ER+/PR+, HER2-. Stage 3. Clear margins. The breast cancer nurse was thrilled with the incision healing. The tapes are off now and no need for any dressings. Off to one side I have a little red area with jaggy pain to the touch which the nurse thinks is from skin coming off from the tape. Most of the incision looks healed. Very little bruising left. She says I don't look lopsided at all!
The onco changed my med to Tamoxifin...for some reason they didn't realise I wasn't postmenopausal! So I start my meds tomorrow.
They intend to give me the biphosphonate Zometa. There is a slight delay because they want to consult with an orthopedic surgeon to see if the two spine Mets (the onco couldn't see a third) need to be stabilised. I'll find out in two weeks. It seems there are holes, particularly in the lumbar 4. If the surgeon does recommend stabilising, I'm going to push for vertebroplasty, I think. The rib isn't an issue. She also showed me the pleural abnormality, (aka lymph node) and reassured me that there are no lung tumours or signs of effusion.
Radiation is on hold for the time being. (And there was great rejoicing!)
Here you need a doctor's note to prove you can go back to work...asked for that at the GP's office. I can see him Friday morning. I plan to do part-time next week, then back to the ol' routine the week after.
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Oh, and I highly recommend watching YouTube episodes of the Brady Bunch to deal with jitters! :-D Stupid, corny and short...does the trick!
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Ally, I'm so sorry about the gene receptor! Good for you for choosing a future for you and your hubby! I a
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Julie - thank you so much.
Sunflower - thank you. So glad the issue was just topical and that your PS was able to drain the seroma!
Bobo - unfortunately the rib pain started back while I was on chemo, so it's an ongoing issue. It's kind of a long story, but the big change hubby and decided to make to reduce our stress was to get a 2nd vehicle. We lived in downtown San Diego for a couple years and really didn't need 2 vehicles, so we had downsized to just the one. When we moved back to our hometown in Michigan, we were dealing with infertility and trying to save up for multiple IVF's. Since I work from home, we decided we'd continue to share a car and put the savings towards the IVF's, which we did, but then came the cancer dx. We just couldn't sustain with the one car having all these appointments. He was either leaving work or I'd have to drive him and pick him up, which living in a rural area was a big time pain in the butt. We ended up going out that very night and finally leasing a 2nd car. It's bittersweet because we weren't supposed to get one until I was pregnant, but it'll be wonderful to have my independence back and give the relief to my husband. Looking back, I'm not sure how the heck we even managed for so long. I can't wait to start driving my own vehicle again!
Sunshine - I had my first fill a week out of sx and I did not feel the needle go in at all. I felt a bit of tightness and pressure at the end of the fill and then some muscle burning/pain/tightness on the drive home and for the next two days. They told me to take a pain pill before coming for my next one.
Mil - thanks. It sounds like you have a great plan in place which is awesome. And again, your attitude is such an inspiration. Wishing you all the best as you ease back into the work grind!
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Mil - you are such a strong person. I go back to work full time next week so I will be thinking of you on return as well.
Bobo - glad everything seems to be better. I hope you get a good night's sleep.
Ally - glad you got another car to ease the stress. I continue to pray that everything will be in your favor.
I had my post-op with my breast surgeon today. She was happy with everything but did tell me that the tumor when removed was a grade three. She said it wasn't what she wanted to see but that based on everything else, even if it does come back with a high oncotype, we go with chemo as added insurance. I guess it was also a good thing that I decided on a BMX as there were atypical changes in the non-affected breast already!
I am a tad bit disappointed that the tumor was a grade three (but still stage 1) and am gearing myself up for a higher oncotype and chemo. I keep telling myself just what my surgeon said "added insurance".
I have another follow-up with the PS tomorrow. Won't see the MO for another two or three weeks when the oncotype results are back.
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I also saw my surgeon today. She was very happy with how I was healing. She also said that I had made the right choice with doing the mastectomy, because the lump had grown since the first exam. It was 12 cm, 2cm larger than May, and if I had not done the mastectomy I would have to have radiation. She also drained about 35 mm of fluid and said I did nothing to make it worse. Said also that I would have to wait a year if I wanted reconstruction so that everything was healed.
I am not sure if I want to do this yet. Maybe in a year I will change my mind on this. I started looking into getting a prostheses today. Another step in wonderland or this is the land of Oz. So many shapes and styles oh my.
Ladies big hugs to all and all my support.
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Ally, It is such a relief to read that you have identified a reasonable explanation for the insurance rejection and are working positively towards resolving the issue!! I sure hope the BS and oncologists' offices and insurance company now do quickly what they need to do, and the issue gets resolved quickly without you having to go through too much additional stress and hassle. You need and deserve answers to why you feel the pain you do! Too bad they added this tremendous stressor onto a situation that is already by itself very difficult to bear. But you've got a great healthy attitude! I must say, dear, dear woman, that, despite what you call a "meltdown", you have demonstrated your great strength, and have my enormous admiration. The stress of what you have been through and the real, serious concerns you have, and this added torture the insurance company tossed in, mixed together with the tremendous physical pain you are feeling would make anyone melt down. But you, strong sister, "melted" into a re-collectable puddle, you let out the pressure and then, with the help of your loving husband, poured youself back together and actually had the calm and brain to be able to pursue sleuthing out the reason for that absurd insurance rejection, communicate the result back to the docs office and get them and insurance company to work on correcting the problem!!! Hats (scarves and wigs) off to you!!! (and you and hubby are a great team!!) I've discovered that I'm likely getting off very easy on this absurd journey, and I wonder, if chance had dealt me the hands it's dealt many of you, if, regardless of my desires and intentions, I would have handled it so well.
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Sunflowercat, I'm so glad both the node and breast issues seem to be easily resolveable!!! I hope that after the breast drainage you are continuing to feel less pain and more relaxed.
Sunshine36, "feeling pretty darn good" sounds pretty darn GREAT!!!!!! I hope that you tolerate well your first fill, without too much discomfort and hopefully no real pain.
Milaandra, Glad your official path report confirms the very very strong hormone positivity and the HER-2 negativity, so you can work on controlling this thing with hormonal therapy!!! The switch to tamoxifen should hopefully spare you some of the joint pain and additional bone wasting (which you surely don't need!) that the AI could have given you, right? (I'm still waiting to find out which one I'll get. I've heard that for some reason here they often give tamoxifen also to post-menopausal "oldies" like me. (Actually, I'm "just" 54, but I've been in menopause for 12 years already!) Will be waiting with you to find out what the orthopedic surgeon tells you! If your holes do turn out to need stabilizing, vertebroplasty (I looked it up) does seem like a minimally invasive procedure, and I hope they take your preferences into consideration. (or else give you a very convincing argument for why they're choosing another strategy) Good to hear your lungs look OK!!!! Wonderful to hear that you are moving at getting back to normal work routine!!!! Normality normality normality. Your doc will write a certificate saying that strong calm Milaandra is doing just fine with her chronic disease and can shine at work like the best of them!! (until it's time to take another great vacation and see the world!!) And glad they're not dreaming to torture your titty any more that they already have! You see? Despite what looks to you like a "Picasso syndrome" (btw, you made me google Picasso and laugh out loud at what I found when you wrote that) other people don't notice the assymetry. You're gorgeous, babe!! (By the way, you asked me this before but I didn't answer because by the time I read your question, there were dramatic things happening to others on the board -- I've lucked out in the lopsided thing (heck-- I'm lucking out in just about everything!). Because I actually was super lopsided before surgery, with my cancer breast being lots larger than the other one (well--- as much "larger" as it could be and still be an "A" cup!). And I've never been a beauty and my fashion style has always been to wear baggy shirts (even when bathing in the sea) because my skeleton and ribs are a bit naturally "deformed". I just don't identify all that much with my breasts, so I'm spared also that aspect of the suffering associated with this disease. Now-- I'm not saying that what the doc left me with is pleasant on the eyes--- Besides being pulled up, it's got a big old ugly bulge and an emptied out space under that, and all that on my minimal breast is very noticeable. But nobody sees that but me and my husband (+ doctors, nurses, and anyone passing through the examining room) and I'm lucky also in that aspect, that my husband accepts me and loves me however my body is. When I'm dressed, I look just like I always did.)
ml14333, I'm sorry to hear about that grade 3, and the likely chemo in your future. But like you say, it's insurance, you'll clear that thing out and get on with life. Hope your return back to work goes super well, that you'll feel all healed up from surgery by next week and will have nothing that interferes with your work productivity and feeling good. Normality here you come! (except for that little interlude for maybe chemo...)
Quiltlibrarian, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around that 12 cm DCIS-- I pulled out a tape measurer and stared at it! Two centimeters growth in three months--Good thing you got that thing OUT!!!!!!!!! I'm glad doc drained out the fluid build-up and that it was nothing that wouldn't have happened anyway.
Ladies, keep going strong all!!
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Just got back from PS who filled me again 100cc's on each side. When I complained and told him that I was in a lot of pain this past week.To help with that he said maybe an muscle relaxant will help. As far as why to continue to fill so much, he said it was because he doesn't want to continue to stick/fill me each week. I have a few more months before the exchange happens. Gotta have some healing time. Also, we are only going as far as I like - up to 800cc fills. Remember I started out 36dd!! So, I have a lot to work with.
Trying to stay positive!
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Angelfaith, are you OK with that strategy? I do understand that you've got a lot of "growing" to do, but, precisely because you do, going so fast sounds brutal. Did he at least prescribe for you the muscle relaxant or do you have to go to some other doctor to ask for it? I sure hope that helps make the stretching less painful. If it doesn't, don't be afraid to insist that he slow down next time. Or is there some maximum amount of time that you can stay with the TE's and then must do the exchange? I've never been through that, but from the way people here are describing it, it sounds like the stretching is much worse than the stick. Thinking of you!!
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Imheretoo,
Believe me I questioned it immediately before the fill thanks to reading about other ladies experiences. Once we talked about why he is filling this fast, I'm OK with it.. His reasoning was he wants me to get to the size I like so the healing can begin before the exchange. If you saw me, I'm maybe a b/c. Because of my mastectomy they had to take out quite a bit and I had quite a bit of skin left. I'm pretty happy where I am now - I was so large before! I probably will ask for only 50cc's at the next appt. PS prescribed the muscle relaxant and it is working like a charm!
Thanks for thinking of me!
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So glad the muscle relaxant is working for you, Angelfaith!
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Angelfaith - glad you are taking some meds to help you during your fills and after!
Quilt - hope you are feeling better
Allydp - I am so glad to hear that you have such a supportive husband and that you two continue to work as one throughout this time. I pray that everyone involved in your insurance appeal will come together for your benefit and that all will be okay.
Mil - Good luck on returning to work next week. I go back too and while I am glad to go back on one hand, on the other hand, I wish I didn't have to work.
I saw my PS today and he said that I am healing well. I graduated from the Velcro band to a sports bra. He gave me more exercises and massage techniques to bring the muscle down on the cancer affected side and took out all of my stitches. He said that once all the muscles get to the place they need to be that both of the girls will be the same size and in the same location.
My colposcopy results came back today, and praise God, it was just changes due to the HPV so they will watch me with paps every six months for at least a year. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
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ml143333 - YAY! That's fantastic news about your colposcopy! One less thing to stress about. Whew! So glad to hear you're healing well and have graduated to a sports bra!
Angel - that sounds so painful. I'm glad that the muscle relaxer is working for you, but don't hesitate to tell that PS to back off on the fills if you find it's too much. He's working for you!
quilt - your tumor was huge! It didn't really register the sheer size until imheretoo pointed it out in her last post. After I read her comment I realized your tumor was a big as my entire pre-surgery breast! Wow!! (Not that my breasts were very big) Hope you find some prosthesis that work for you.
Imheretoo- you're a hoot! I love reading your posts, your stories and all the wonderful supportive things you have to say to everyone. Im so glad you're part of this board. You make me smile!
Good night ladies! Heal well.
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ml14333, Thank goodness for the good colposcopy result! Big relief!! Yay for no more stitches, and You keep on healing well now!!
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so glad to hear that ml!!!!
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Hooray ml!!
I am also thinking about Ally's insurance people. I think that is an excellent idea.
I must say, this is an amazing group of sisters. I consider myself lucky to have been having a sx in August!
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hey ladies! Had my 1st real fill yesterday (aside from the initial fill when he put the expanders in during bmx) and it wasn't bad at all!!! 50cc's in each. Just alittle discomfort and tightness!!! Whew
the girls are definitely comin' along lol. B
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Woohoo, Sunshine! I am so happy for you and your gorgeous up-and-coming 'rack'!
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Bobo I love the rack comment lol.
Sun glad to hear that it was not to painful for the fill.
Angel glad to hear that you got some relief.
ML so glad that you got a good result.
I have a question for you ladies. Do you know of a massage that I could use on my scar. My surgeon said that I could start, but not sure how to do it.
Hugs to all. Ally a extra large one to you.
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quilt librarian I cant remember who posted a video and on which thread it was but do a search and maybey you can find it, I will also try to find it and posst link if I can
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quiltlibrarian, you have got to jump on to my home thread and talk to my bestie Ariom. She is the cat's pajamas regarding all things scar massage, and which creams and oils to use -- she is just great! In fact, you can read right on that thread (if you want to wade through it) and she talks about that kind of thing a lot. She is fabulous! I would be a poor substitute for her. And she has these special scar removing strips!
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Imheretoo, they say that the uneven bits all even out over the year. Thank goodness you were bigger in that side to begin with! Mine was a bit bigger, too.
My scar is looking fairly good. Still wearing my granny bras. Anyone else get freaked out in crowds? I'm always terrified people are going to bump my breast, and now I'm afraid they'll bang into my back...
Quilti...I can't get my head around the size of your tumour!
Well, I start Tamoxifen tomorrow. Wish me luck!
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Tamoxifen do your stuff and keep Milaandra's cancer in a tight small cage!!! (and with minimal side effects too!)
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I have to say that after a couple of days I am still in a bit of shock also. The thing that gets me the most is that it grew that fast.
Mil I hope that Tamoxifen will work for you. I am also a bit scared to get bumped also. I find myself keeping my arm in front of my scar. Instead of letting my arm be at my side like before.
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Mil - good luck starting Tamoxifen. I pray that it will work for you with minimal side effects.
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