January 2015 Surgery Sisters

Just wanted to say good luck to ya!  Your surgery is around the corner and hope you are staying positive!!

shelleym1! We'll be having a lumpectomy on the same day. Yay for us! I'm not really nervous, as it's a procedure that will take about an hour and doesn't even require a hospital stay. I'm more concerned about what happens afterwards. My radiation oncologist wants the surgeon to take out all of the Level 1 and 2 lymph nodes, which could lead to lymphedema. But, I understand about the nerves. All operations -- especially when they involve anesthesia -- are serious affairs and shouldn't be taken lightly.

shelleym1 -- Hope your surgery goes smoothly as well! At least I don't have to worry about chemo -- I finished five months of that on December 3. I'll find out, though, how well chemo worked from the biopsy of the tissue/nodes collected. Either way, I've got six weeks of radiation coming up and then ten years of hormone therapy. It's a LONG slog.

Hey CassieCat, Bicoastal surgeries (I'm in MA), hopefully with quick recoveries!

Carriek30- Thanks for the kind thoughts. As ElaineThere indicated, there tend to be more treatment options for ER/PR+ tumors. They are sometimes more aggressive but respond well to chemo and hormone blockers like Tamoxifen.

Jmo06, Thanks for updating the list!

To all, Good luck in January and beyond.

May I re-insert my name? I fell into a funk and deleted all my posts. My surgery is set for 1/14/15 and post op for 1/26/15. Then meet w/radiologist on 2/4/15. At some point I'll begin aromatase inhibitor meds for the ILC. I'm not frightened about the surgery but am still enraged with my traitorous body. I was hoping to have "my brilliant career" after supporting and surviving two husbands and raising a lovely but handicapped son. At 65 my mind, hands and eyes are my most important tools as I was trained as an artist but due to family obligations didn't get to use my gifts. I had hoped that it would be my turn and now I'm worried about med. side effects of osteoporosis and heart problems. Whew! What a whiner I am today. Just grumpy. Yes, a grumpy old lady on the outside and a terrible teenager on the inside. Please bear with me--I do have much better moments.

~Hygeia

Hygeia and Lulu -- sure doesn't seem like life is fair, eh? Hygeia, I know what it's like to have a child with disabilities as I'm raising twins with autism. It's definitely a challenge. One of them has been really hit hard by puberty, and DH and I are distressed to see the changes in him. (We're seriously considering putting him on meds for the first time in his life.) It's been doubly challenging because I haven't had the energy to deal with him effectively because I was doing chemo for five months.

Lulu -- definitely sucks to have to go through BC twice, though I can't say I know how that feels as this is my first rodeo. Hope this is the last time for you and your family. Sorry to hear that chemo is in your future (AGAIN). I feel like I'm just coming out of my chemo fog now, but of course there's surgery, rads, more Herceptin and hormonal therapy in my future. So, cancer is a Long Slog for many of us.

Hygeia --

There's actually supposed to be some genetic connections between autism and schizophrenia -- DH and I have it in both of our families -- we each have aunts with schizophrenia, and DH also has a first cousin as well. It does rob our loved ones of so much. My aunt was able to hold down a job for many years, but that was only when my grandfather was alive and he insisted that she take her meds. His aunt raised two children, but one (the cousin) ended up with schizophrenia as well. (Her son is an awesome guy, though -- successful attorney, lovely wife, and young daughter.) Yes, I hear you about the living independently thing. I hope that my sons will be able to live independently and hold down jobs, even if they are menial.

Anyway, healing hugs to everyone on this board -- January (and surgery) is coming soon! Another step forward for all of us, I hope.

Hi everyone! I am having surgery sometime in late January. I don't know if it will be a BMX or uni. My MO seems to think a BMX would be best because I have calcifications in my "good" breast. I won't see my surgeon until Jan 16th though. I agree with MO and hope for BMX, but the BS was weird about it the first time I saw him....All I know is that I just finished chemo Friday and I don't want to do that again if I can help it. I'm glad I found you guys as these boards helped me tremendously through chemo...We all do better together. Hugs Amy

Jan.14 lumpectomy

hi everyone. Unfortunately I've joined the club too and my surgery date is January 20. I think I'm having a lumpectomy, not 100% sure though. Good luck everyone.

Mary, I'm so sorry. What a terrible thing to have to go through. I read through other surgery threads for tips, but I like your idea of having them all in one place. Maybe that is out there? I'll take a look later and see what I can find.

Hi shaz, and welcome to the group (that no one wants to join!).

Oh Mary, my thoughts are with you too.  So many losses.  You've come to the right place for, as a group, think of the tremendous positive energy we're generating.

I'm in the waiting room for my pre-op. I arrived one hour early as it takes 2-1/2 hours to get here and the appt. is  now 20 minutes late. Deep breaths, slowly inhale, slowly exhale.

Gosh, I need to pee but if they need a sample I won't be very helpful if  I go now.

Showtime!  I've just been called. Fill you in later.

Hugs (and cimvee, I'm a bit nervous, too).

~Hygeia

___________

Happy New Year, Sisters!

It's now after 2am on 1 January 2015.We are all moving forward so I hope for the best of outcomes to all.

The pre-op went well.  First I met w/a nurse practioner who took my vital signs and explained what to prepare for the night before, what to expect on the morning of surgery.  I am to arrive at 8am, will receive the dye and the wires will be inserted at 10am and my surgery is at noon.  She explained the period of recovery from the anesthesia.  Since we live 2 hr's drive away, I' ll spend the night before and the night of the surgery at a nearby hotel.

After I met with the nurse I was sent to another dept where two vials of blood were taken and an EKG was done.  That's it--it took not much longer than a half hour.

I've never had high blood pressure but I had consumed so much coffee and was so anxious that my BP was skewed.  I can laugh now but it wasn't so funny at the time.

Anyway, dear ladies, I made it through another hoop and cheer all of you through, too.

Now for a long winter's nap.

Hugs to all, 

~Hygeia

Hygeia, I'm a bit late, but good luck and take some slow deep breathes. I'm looking forward to reading about how you went.

Mods, thanks for the links. There is power (and comfort) in knowledge. I feel out of control at the moment. I just wish I knew more 😞.

It's so nice that we can all wait together and support each other through this.

Mary, I went to pre-op today. I will have injections like you, they will do four, and then right to hospital for sugery were they will inject the dye that will highlight the injections to identify the Sentinel Node  . I was given cream to put on my nipple to deadned the area before I have the injections. I had blood draws. ekg, urine today. My surgery is Jan 6th and this is my second time. I had cancer in 1995, so it has been 20 yrs. I will be having a double mastectomy with no reconsrution. I will tell you it is not any easier the second time around. We all have the right to be angry, this whole thing warents one ? WHY! But we all are here because we are in the same boat, and it helps having support if not critical to dealing with all this. Insensitive medical care is the worst in my oppintion. I will be sending positive thoughts to you my sisters.

Lulu22, thank you so much for the article that helps alot. I'm sure the surgeon told me all that but with everything going on my mind couldn't wrap itself around and hold much. Thanks for the prayers and I'm sure my husband will be beside me in spirit during all of this.