August 2014 Surgery

Bobo good luck with your surgery. I have fingers crossed that this will be a easy surgery and only positive effects. hugs

Yes bobo that is me with the note from my MO    Good luck with your surgery !

Ally, I bet you look beautiful with your short hair!  Sounds like you have some October procedures coming up too.  Bowel prep -- yuck!  We'll be there 'in the bag' with you.

Many thanks to you guys for your kind words.  Surgery is next Thursday... right now I'm on the books for 8 a.m. (getting there at 6).  I'm with ganz... let's get this over with as soon as possible!  And let's make sure the hospital is extra-clean!

XXX

Bobo-- Just thought more about your
doc's little bedtime story--- If my "wish" to you (that the doc
would surprise you and get all the work done in this surgery)
would mean in a practical sense that you'd spend more time on the
table so that the doc could slowly suck out more fat to fill you
with, then I'm real sorry I even dreamed
that wish! Nope, you don't want that at all!

I was starting to wonder if I was confused thinking that your surgery was right now--since you'd posted before that it was supposed to be on the 16th.      I was assuming that "pre-op" meant last minute blood tests and chest x-rays before they anesthetized you, (and maybe it does, but you just do that a week in advance?) or does it only refer to pre-surgery check-up with the lovely surgeon?    Glad you've got the early time slot on the surgery schedule!

Ally, Yay for the exchange date!
And for having enough hair to have hair!

Jules, Hi there!   How's your radiotherapy going?     Does the kind of radiotherapy you're doing require long sessions??

Couture, Hope you're preparing for a wonderful romantic getaway.     Clear your mind and soul of this nasty stuff for a while and try to let some peace and calm seep back in.

As for me, (since Ally asked) I'm fine. I don't talk
about myself because there's nothing to say. I went yesterday to the
radiology department to see if they could give me some idea of
when my post-quadrantectomy radiotherapy would start-- and to make sure they really
had my phone number so they could call me when I finally get to
the head of the list.     I was told that I'm on the schedule for some time in November. That's OK. --as long as they really do start in
November!! I read the studies on optimal time to do
radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery and it seems that (although there's a lot of contradictory findings, as is to be expected), several studies find that  as
long as it is started within 3 months of the surgery date that the
effectiveness for reducing probability of local reoccurence is the
same.     (Some say there's even a longer time range, and others suggest that a 2 month cut-off is important --- Who knows.)     (There's even a study -- just one, and others contradict it, so nobody get nervous!--  suggesting that if radiotherapy is done earlier than a month and a half after surgery, that it appears to increase the probability of distant metastases...     So, yeah, good, the Sardinian sluggishness helped me avoid that potential risk!)       I have no idea if "on the schedule for November" means that my therapy will actually start in November or if I can just expect (hope?) that I'll get the orientation/ CAT stuff and other preliminary stuff started some time during that month.      But I'll just hold tight and wait.      No sense in getting freaky about it--- I did too much of that with the surgery waiting!!    (And anyway, at least I've started on the hormonal therapy)

I will admit to you guys that I've had my moments in which I've regretted not insisting that the surgeon cut the whole darn thing off, despite his clear professional "prejudice".     Just because the whole "breast-conserving-surgery-has-no-different-survivial-rate-than-mastectomy" thing is, of course, dependent on things being done like they would be in a normal place for a person that it is known has a breast cancer, and the proper controls getting done (and looked at!) and if a local reoccurence is found that (this time at least!) the surgery gets done quickly.     And-- well--- I've learned that I just can't assume that that will happen in this system.     (although I do have the hope that things are done more seriously for known cancer patients, and, in general, for people who don't just (for my own admitted foolishness, in my case), fall into this thing only after getting caught by the mandatory (although malfunctioning) screening program.       But the truth is, my surgeon just didn' t give me a choice, or even any possibility to ask for it.      Anyway, my husband, who is an MD and is a real Italian/Sardinian, so understands better how this system works, says that now that we've gotten our education in how things really go  (as opposed to how quickly they tell you things will get done as they string you along) says that if we need to we can just use private testing and docs and can, if necessary (and if we have reason to believe it would be faster) go to Milan or other to get surgery.       But hopefully (and most likely) it just won't come to any of that anyway.  So I should stop indulging in obsessing about that stuff, and accept that, on paper at least, my prognosis looks very good, and just chill and get on with life.  

I have, since I've gotten my "wake-up call", gotten a start on correcting my negligence at getting medical checks for the past 22 years.      So--- just as checks-- ended up getting two ultrasound exams, (a transvaginal ultrasound plus one of my thyroid).  --- with all the pitterpatter that comes with that, as the gyno doc says "Your uterus is REALLY  distorted!"  and then spends a long time going over and over a few areas, measuring (don't you hate that measuring?!)  and the thyroid echographer says the Italian equivalent of "What the heck?!" and jumps up, turns on the light and ruffles back through my very old thyroid echography reports and then comes back and goes over and over and over and over one spot, making me move my head in all different positions.      But it was all just normal benign bumps, as we all know is what most of that stuff they over-examine and measure is!      Just some fibroids in the uterus (that don't give me any real symptoms) and a non-significant nodule in the thyroid that seems to have the same features as the rest of my thyroid, thus just a benign bumplette.

Well now, you see?   You asked me, Allydp, so I went on and on babbling about absolutely nothing!   Well-- Maybe it served as some comic relief here.

Imheretoo it's like you are in my brain. The details are different but The what if's are driving me nuts!!!!! Hopefully that will slowly subside over time but I doubt it will ever go away. To answer your question yes my radiation takes a little longer than the traditional kind. I get zapped from 13 different angles at a lower dose rather than 2-3 angles at a higher dose (very rough explanation). I also have a 5 mm skin bolus that they put on so my skin gets irradiated too. But so far no major SE. 

Guess Allydp is prepping today for her colon scope.     Can't offer any help with that lovely fun, but I do send strong wishes for an all clear scope result tomorrow!

Quiltlibrarian, Hope you're getting some energy back and work this week will be easier to handle.

Ganz- This is Tuesday-- What's supposed to happen today?    Oh-- Now I see it-- Consult to discuss oophorectomy possibilities.   Tell us what you learn!

Bobogirl must be fretting.

Couture- Hope your weekend away from it all was so great and relaxing you extended it and are still romantically relaxing, even if home now.

Oh my goodness, ml, you are a bad-ass!  Port yesterday; work today!  I will be 'in the bag' for you for Friday.  Well, I will be on drugs, but in the bag

And right now I am in the bag for our Ally.  That prep sounds terrible.  Poor baby.  So happy about her scan news, though, so it's hard for me to do anything but smile as I talk about her!

Ganz, in bag for you too.  What will you find out?

I am going to hospital Thursday.  The dirty one.  Not the clean sx center.  And so, Couture, I too need details about your romantic weekend.  Make it like a story.  Start from the beginning!  Be like this:  'I wore a beautiful diaphanous yellow dinner gown that showed off the subtle tan I'd gotten from that day's stroll on the beach, etc.'  

Love to everyone!

Ganz I am with you!  It could be a million things.  I am so glad you're going right to the BS or PS tomorrow.  They could rule out a bunch of things. 

All will be well!  I am not downplaying your worry -- at ALL -- I am just letting you know that we are all right there with you, and we will be 'in the bag' tomorrow, and also on 17 November.  Our August sx thread is actually also a November sx thread!!!

Love you Ganzy! XXXXOOOO

Oh, p.s. -- are you holding?  Xanax, Ativan?

[[[[[Ganz]]]]] !    Darnit!   Why can't this stressful scary stuff stop?      Bobo said perfectly what we all feel.   Very concerned, but waiting to see what the docs say, hoping that it's all something simple and easily resolved, because it really can be.    So we'll all sit tight with you and wait for answers from the docs.    

As far as that staging comment by the Gynonc---  Maybe she just didn't explain herself well, and what she meant to say is that even when the oophorectomy is done for preventative reasons, they send it for histopathological analysis, so that you can be absolutely certain that there wasn't cancer there, or, in the (unexpected!!) case that there is, they then have the info needed for staging.    

Bobo, Thinking about your tomorrrow! Wishing you a very quick
but careful surgery, an easy feel-fine wakeup, a very short few hours stabilization stay in a surprisingly super clean hospital, (they've hired all new cleaning staff since the last time) and an easy
and comfortable recovery at home!!

Ally  Hoping all is fine and good!

Mandy, Hope your body is calming down after that port insert.    And that it stays calmed down through Chemo!      What's  in your Chemo bag besides distraction music?     Nice of your kids to set up the music for you!    We'll be thinking of you on Friday!

As for me, I just got a call from the Radiotherapy Department.     My consult to start therapy will be tomorrow afternoon.   Good.

Ganz - I am hoping like many others that whatever is going on will be easily explained.  Praying for you.

Bobo - good luck today

Allydp - Hoping for good news!

Quilt - Hooray on going back to work!

Imheretoo - Hope you get your dates set up with Radiotherapy today.  Good luck!

I had the port placed on Monday and came home to rest.  Yesterday, I went to work and felt okay until about 2:30 then I started to feel yucky all over.  I left work about 15 minutes early and went home to take a nap.  Once my kids got home from school, my husband and I had to talk with my son about his Civics class and I had to take my daughter to the mobile store because her phone stopped working.  Two hours later, we get home but it was all under warranty and she is happy, through the roof happy because they changed her out to the new iPhone 6.  Then I made dinner for everyone and I ate some crackers and sipped on gingerale.  About 8:30, I went to take a shower and my left breast below the port was red like a sunburn and warm to the touch.  I had a temperature of 100.  I went to bed about 10:00 and didn't sleep well at all.  I woke up this morning feeling okay.  Breast isn't warm to the touch but still somewhat red and no fever.  I will call my BS "just in case".

What is in my chemo bag beside music?  Well, I have some healthy snacks (almonds, nuts, dried fruit, jerky), unhealthy snacks (twizzlers, hard caramel candies), a book (The Hobbitt), a coloring book and crayons (I love to color), a small cozy soft blanket, a small pillow, ear buds, tums, lotion and tissues.  Have I missed anything?

Love you lades!

Hi!

I'm still here!! Sending Love and {{{{HUGS}}}} to all you ladies going through various surgeries and tests..

I'm feeling stronger and stronger each day, but driving my SUV sometimes wipes me out..But TE's are still driving me nuts!! I can't wait until my exchange..

I have PS appointment next Thursday to find out my exchange date..Looks like it will be right at Thanksgiving or right after..

Bobo-- Your PS is a turd!    (but at least no surprises...)   (and just to be clear, he's a very CLEAN and sanitized and totally sterile turd that's very good at surgery)      OUCH.   Sorry you have to go through this (again and again!)

Allydp - sorry and not sorry you couldn't have the colonoscopy today.  Starting gearing up for next week. 

Couture - sounds like a fabulous weekend.  Carry those memories with you during the tough times.

I finally broke down today and called my BS surgeon after feeling like crap yesterday and today.  Yesterday I was running a fever, but not today. 

Well...I have an infection of some sort after the port placement.  My breast is sunburn red in a distinct circle on the port side.  My BS said it could be an infection or it could be fluid build-up from her having to peel the breast/implant back to insert the port and line up to the jugular which could also cause the redness.  She said the redness and warmth coupled with me feeling like crap lead her to believe I picked up an infection.  So I am on clindamyacin and Bactrim for 10 days.

I asked if I could still have chemo on Friday.  She said if it is as red as it is now and has not gotten smaller than no I can't.  So...my chemo is scheduled for 10:45.  I will plan to check it when I take my shower before work and go from there.