October 2014 Surgery Sisters

It sounds like an enormous project, Sandra, and a huge labor of love. But what else could you possibly do? I wish I could lend a hand; I'm good at that sort of thing, especially when it's for someone else.

Praying for all of you - from your bleach-fumed eyes to Mike's daily struggle to Allison's worry over both of you, and all your other needs.

Hey, Revelle - so good to hear from you, although it's not good to hear that you're so sore. I wish I could send some healing fairy dust!

Could you remind me what your chemo regimen will be? T/C or something else?

I know this must be daunting to face, and the port probably makes it all too real again. I'm thinking of you (especially Thursday) and hoping the chemo clears out each and every cell that's even thinking about breaking bad, without making you miserable.

Thanks for checking in - please know you're in our thoughts. Take good care.

No, it really doesn't help, does it, to have well-meaning others urging a plan that's about 180 degrees from what you're o.k. with. It's not what you need right now, especially.

I've obviously not done chemo but my MO did talk about TC with me way back when all this started and she was fairly reassuring about the side effects, particularly on the 4 cycle course. She didn't make it sound easy but less debilitating than some of the others. Of course, there are still the hair issues on top of the flu-like effects and the possible eye and nerve issues. It just darn well better do the job.

I'm hoping your scan comes back clean, Revelle, and that you'll get that word quickly. Also hoping you won't have to do radiation on top of everything else. You've got enough to deal with. And yes, you're entitled to complain if you choose to and to be irritated as well. Thanks for keeping us posted. I hope you can get some rest and forget the pain and soreness for a while.

Four - thanks for your kind words. You've overstated the case but I appreciate it.

As to surgery - it's complicated. My US results are really good - the node looks normal now, as in the cortex is normal, size is normal, nothing's palpable. The tumor's much reduced, too, and not palpable. My BS says my clinical exam is normal. So, following the trial guidelines we should give it 2 more months and go to surgery in mid-April. Of course, nothing is straightforward; we could give it another month or two if I'm more comfortable with that and maybe have an even better shot at clearing the node.

Unfortunately, we have some events on the calendar that I really don't want to have to change. If the pathology's good after surgery in April, then we'll be able to fit in those events. If it's not good and I do end up needing chemo, our plans for the fall go out the window.

Also unfortunately, A) I am decision-making phobic and impaired and No one's crystal balls seem to operating very well and C) I'm really getting the heebie-jeebies about radiation, so would happily put off surgery (and thus radiation) as long as possible.

Like Leelee, I've mapped out best and worst case scenarios with dates and stare at the charts hoping for insight. Meanwhile, my BS is incredibly patient and supportive about all of this, thank goodness. We've put it on her calendar for April but she's let me know that's not set in stone.

Oh yes - concurrently, the genetic counselor and my BS are in disagreement about the appropriate genetic counseling and the GC is trying to draw me in to the middle of it. I'm much more comfortable following BS's lead on this but the GC is determined to change my mind. And the RO I thought I'd be working with has kind of pulled the rug out from under my feet. I'm pretty well fed up with living in cancerland at this point.

How's that for more than anyone ever wanted to know??

FourM, how are you feeling? Is it improving at a glacial pace or does it just seem that way because you might as well be living in a glacier at this point? Have you OD'ed on hot chocolate and cozy afternoons indoors? I wish I could send some of our early spring weather your direction.

Oh, but we are ready for this bitter cold to break! At least I didn't have to schlepp to work!

FM - re: not having to schlepp to work - thank goodness for small mercies, hmm? I think easing back into work was a smart choice, regardless of the weather. You've certainly had a long, long haul of it. I don't think people can understand how much healing this stupid disease demands of women, at every step of the way. I'm glad you're doing better but please do take it easy!! Being back at work is going to take a lot out of you at first, even though it will also be stimulating and normalizing.

ThinkingPositive - Wow. 3 weeks after your last infusion and still feeling crummy - and that's on the regimen that's supposed to be relatively easy to take. If I were you I'd want to climb into a hot bath and stay there for about a month. Too bad MOs never prescribe a spa stay post chemo...

I'm sure none of that makes it any easier to decide about radiation, either. You might ask your RO about absolute reduction should you embark on radiation, as well as discussing the risks of cardiac & lung damage. I've noticed that the ROs like to talk in huge generalities about risk reduction but it's all relative risk, not absolute, which tells me nothing.

I wouldn't fret too much about the time frame - it doesn't do you any good to start radiation (if you do so) when you're in rotten shape. If you do start Femara I hope you'll have as easy a time with it as I have so far. For me, it's really been such a non-event that I'd suspect I was on a placebo if the biopsies didn't show otherwise. I hope that's your experience, too, and that it's very effective for you as well.

In the meantime, take it easy. I hope you turn the corner soon. (((HUGS to both of you)))

Hi, OceanSky - I was thinking about you the other day, wondering what you were up to. I've not done fat grafting but I think there was a thread on it that was moderately active. I read a few of the posts to see what it was all about. You might find it helpful and I'm sure some of the women on that thread could answer a lot of questions.

When is your first surgery?

Revelle - just want to wish you well tomorrow. I hope the infusion goes smoothly, all the palliative drugs work as intended, and that the T/C does everything it's supposed to and nothing that it shouldn't. I'll be thinking of you.

Ocean, we do have a fat grafting thread. Mine was done a few days before Christmas. It done with general anesthesia and is almost always an outpatient procedure unless there is some other reason for post-op observation. Ask if your surgeon uses the tumescent method, which I heartily recommend. (No bruising on my six abdominal donor sites at all.) They inject a mixture of lidocaine and a drug to control bleeding. Then it's all removed and sent through a centrifuge-type device that separates out the fat and prepares it for grafting. I had a total of 1,000 cc's of fat injected into six places on my chest and two on my left side. Some people only have 100-200 cc's grafted so the experience is quite different.

Keep us posted, Ocean Sky!

Hopeful8201… I wanted to check in, the infusion was fine but then I got intense intestanial cramps at about 2 in the morning, lasted on and off for about 6 hours. Called nurse she said to take the anti nousiea drug to relax the bowles, that didn't work because Sat at about 10 they started again twice as bad, lasted for about 4 hours. Now I am trying Imodium but there is no diareaha with the pain. I pretty nervous about tonight, last night I was hurting so bad I was drenched in sweat. What can you say, I hope this isn't an indicater how things are going to go.

Horsemom,

I didn't have a divot until several months after my immediate implants.

Am sorry you're not pleased. Am confused what you mean by squarish??

As for fat grafting, my PS only does breast recon and he said to fill this divot it will take at least 2 fat graft surgeries and up to four fat graft surgeries. This surprised me!

Hey Revelle, so sorry you're struggling. I do know that gas pains can be very painful. Maybe ask your MO is you can take something with simethicone in it. Hope it gets easier for you

Just wanted to check in, spent 7 days in the hospital, in extreme pain. They said I had Diverticulitus, never even heard of it. They said it was not a Chemo side effect so primary doc would have to take care of it. Never saw the Onco doc when I was in the hospital or have I seen him yet. Nurse said to come in for my normal apt next Wed. My white counts went to .7 and ran a fever for 2 days, but I made it out. The pain is still there not as intense, so hoping it will resolve itself. Not sure what I am going to do now. I have work to do to figure all this out.

Hopeful8201…That was my scheduled apt to do the next round, they take blood test and I get to see the doc for first time. My primary said we need to keep a close watch on what's going on but no antibiotics because I has so much in the hospital, lost count at 18 bags. For this to happen out of no where, with no prior problems, no answers as to what caused this I will do nothing else until I get some answers from someone. Still in some pain but not as bad, of course the hair is falling out fast. I am taking pain meds left over from breast surgery. I may ask for a referral to specialist for Diverticulitis.

Revelle, Look up diverticulosis, which becomes diverticulitis when something causes the pouch to become inflammed. If untreated, the pouch can rupture causing peritonitis. So you definitely needed the hospital treatment. It takes more than a week to heal inside so I don't know if they will wait for the next chemo. Glad they caught it and treated you!