March 2015 Surgery Sisters
Comments
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just wanted to post an update. I am still scheduled for surgery on the 6th. I chose the LX because surgeon felt it was a good option although she said it was my choice. I also thought if the margins did come back clean it would buy me more time to consider whether I really would want BMX - crazy perhaps but that day was how my thought process went. Of course like so many of us I started to doubt my decision and called and asked if I could keep my surgery date if I changed my mind to get the BMX -and was told no it would have to be re-scheduled. I would have to wait another 3 weeks which seemed way too long especially since I had finished my chemo on the 4th of February. I decided to stay with my original plan - and hope for clean margins. Of course now I am learning that with ILC it is usually harder to get clean margins - something my BC did not mention or discuss - so once again I am left wondering if I set myself up for 2 surgeries when I could have just gotten one surgery and have been done. Water under the bridge and I guess I will soon find out. Still keeping my fingers crossed that I am part of her 80% for whom she gets clean margins. I was still stressing about what to do regarding lymph nodes since I had positive nodes before chemo. My BC recommends just SNB but my oncologist felt strongly I needed full axillary dissection. I met with a 2nd BC today (2 1/12 drive). Turns out she and her hospital were part of the research study that supports doing SNB with patients who opt for chemo before surgery and who had positive nodes before chemo but also show a positive response to chemo - like I did. She too would recommend the SNB - BUT totally would support my decision to have the AXND instead since it is still considered the standard of care. After 2 weeks of thinking, crying, talking, reading I finally decided I will get the full axillary dissection because I know if I don't and the Cancer retains to my lymph nodes I will be the type to blame myself for not making the right decision and doing all I could in the first place. I know I will be risking a greater chance of developing lymphadema but that is easier to deal and live with than a second DX of breast cancer having returned. They tell us these are our decisons - but they are so very difficult to make - it literally feels like I am making a life and death decision! I hope everyone else who will be having surgery this week and next (and in the coming weeks) - will come through with minimal SE and pain and that path results, etc are are good. AudreyB- yeah for clean nodes. Patty101014 - what a fabulous response to chemo - mine was good but not that good. Like I said - I kind of wish I too had chosen the BMX up front but I know I can always go back later and have that done. Having a plan and feeling good about it is so important - so I am happy you have been able to make those hard decisons. Good luck going forward. Candy
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Congratulations Audrey!
Windingshores, it sounds like even though you really want the bilateral, you also have concerns about your body's reaction and healing. A uni might be best after all but you have to go with your gut.
I'm meeting with my surgeon tomorrow and hope to leave with a surgery date. I'm ready to get the rest of this show moving.
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NY2TX I sympathize with doubts about whether BMX would be a better choice, and with going forward because the surgery date would have to be changed. Valentine, thanks, I guess I will be able to assess my body's response to one surgery and if it goes okay can go back for the second. But am concerned that I will be less able to tolerate it after chemo-? I asked for further imaging of my "good" breast beyond mammogram and was told no. I will deal with that too after surgery and genetic tests come back. One thing about doing the unilateral: I am going to ask the anesthesiologist about a paravertebral block to lessen general. I may end up hearing a no there to but I am going to ask, and with info from rheumatology, neurology and immunology about my sensitivities, perhaps they will want to do the least amount of any meds. Good luck everyone! Today is preop for me
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deb and cobindie, thinking of you both today. You are going to do great!
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Deb and Cobindie best wishes for an easy recovery.
Robbinblessed good luck tomorrow.
I'm one day post op from SNB. Not feeling too bad. Incision is just under my underarm. I can feel pain in my armpit but at least it's not cut. I do believe I have a wonderful surgeon, Dr Patricia Pezzello in Great Neck. I have picked my radiation oncologist and once I have pathology report will have my consultation. Moving right along here.
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Hi...first time posting....not sure if I am doing this right...LOL
I am a two time survivor first time 2003 (lumpectomy with node removal) rads and chemo....2014 padgets and underlining bad cells with more chemo so this time mastectomy with flap...no implant. 2015 had mammogram on other side and sent for two ultrasounds. Right then I decided to have another mastectomy because of the stress and the dense tissue which never caught my first two cancers.
So my questions is .... Feb 13 had left mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (implant) and additional implant put in right side.
I am wondering what others have been told for recovery. I am an avid runner and weight lifter and really want to get back at it.
Its been three weeks post op now and I have been walking 3-5 miles and started back at the gym with legs. I tried to run but I felt to much movement. Doc originally said 4 weeks but then changed to 3 weeks. I am worrying its too much as I don't want to ruin anything at this point.
I also worry that I am not going to feel "normal" again with these new breast. I was small breasted before and got the smallest implants available but they are bigger (some swelling still) Can anyone share their experience with me regarding this?
Thanks....
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HI tabitha;
When I had my PBMX and immediate reconstruction with implants in April 2014 I was pretty concerned about recovery too, I was very physically active including running, weight training, scuba diving, hiking, and so on. I was able to, and was cleared to, start walking as soon as I felt ready and so I was walking 4-6 miles a day about 3-4 days out of surgery. I started spinning and elliptical (no arms) at about 2 weeks out. I did very strictly follow the "no lifting" more than 5-10lbs for the first 4-6 weeks as I was told by my PS, and then was cleared to slowly add and increase weight. Running, I was cleared to start again at about 6 weeks, though I did not actually start again until 8 weeks, was building back up my running again for quite a few weeks, then I had a bit of a injury recurrence so cut back on running a lot and still don't run as much as I used to because of that rather than my chest...I do a lot more cross training now instead. I don't really do any dedicated "pec" exercises though like pushups, flys and such. When I am supposed to be doing pushups or something in barre I modify. I *can* do them but I don't want to stress the pectorals or cause distortion. That being said, I can lift heavy scuba tanks and such when I need to, I just avoid pushups and the like!
Anything with impact you should be wearing a good sports bra. I prefer underwire ones with some compression as they better encapsulate the implants and prevent too much movement.
Anyway, you can definitely feel normal again. I am the same size I was before surgery (30E, with 29" ribcage, and 35" bust) and honestly I don't really ever think about my chest...I don't know, it just feels like part of me, like mine, etc. Give it some time. It took weeks for my swelling to go down, and months for my implants to full settle into place and be where they have remained.
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Met with the surgeon today, but no surgery date. I will hopefully get it when I see the PS on Monday. He did say it could be as soon as 2 weeks. I can only hope! I want to get this going!
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Robinblessed, good luck tomorrow! We'll be thinking of you!
I had pre op mtg with PS today. I will spend one night in hospital and have 2 drains again...ugh! With BMX BS had me shower the next day after I got home but PS says no showers until drains come out. What? I ought to be a lovely, smelly sight after a few days!
I'm glad to see everyone's plans coming together. It's all about steps forward
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Hi ladies. My name is Amy and I will be having my TE to implant and exchange on March 26th. I had two surgeries in February and I hope this one will be my last for awhile. I had a BMX w TE placement on the 3rd. Then my TE's came loose and my PS had to go back in and reposition them a week later. When I went back last week, he examined me and told me that I don't need fills because I have plenty of room for my C cups that I had prior to surgery. Yay! I'm so happy about that. I am still dealing with some pain from BMX, and I got my drains out just last week. I've already done chemo and I don't need radiation so this is the last big step in my treatment for now. I look forward to getting to know you all.
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Hi Amy!!!!
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Welcome Amy! Congrats on being "almost done" that's awesome.
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Amy, hold the phone!! I just read your post again, are you saying that you had your drains in for three weeks? Egads, you poor thing! I can't imagine how good it must have felt for you to lose those suckers!
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Hi Amy! I've read you on the February surgery thread-- been browsing it to get an idea of recovery and expectations after surgery. It's been nice to have a first hand account of the process to help me adjust and prepare for what lies ahead. So glad to hear that you have scheduled your exchange.
Not much update here. Just waiting. Oh with the weather being bad, I haven't been able to get out for a haircut presurgery. So I had a moment of wanting control of something--even if it's just my hair---and I hacked off 8-10 inches. It's still just above shoulder so it's not super short. It will need to be fixed by a hairdresser but at least it will be manageable for surgery and after. I felt so good after I cut it though!
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hummingbird,
Don't worry, you can still take sponge baths to avoid becoming too stinky! My husband helped me bathe about 2-3 days after surgery, as well as wash my hair, and while it took us some time to get down the techinique it was such a mood booster. After that he helped me every 1-2 days until I could manage on my own and graduated back to showering
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deb1267 and Coblndie, I hope your surgeries went well yesterday. Sorry I missed giving some advance support, work got in the way
robinblessed54, I am hoping your exchange goes smoothly today! Yay for squishies!
NY2TXbaby and windingshores - I'll be thinking of you both tomorrow morning! I know you have both struggled with making surgery decisions, and you are almost on the other side.
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For those who are having reconstruction, have you decide what kind of implants you are going to have? That is the decision I have to make before Monday. I should be having my BMX in 2 weeks.
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I'm going to go with the silicone implants. I have a sister who has had breast augmentation and she has saline and is getting ready to switch out to silicone. She says they are more realistic feeling than saline. I don't feel really strongly for or against either. I do know if you get saline and they leak, you will know almost immediately because they will go flat and your body will absorb the liquid (its the same stuff in an IV). With silicone, you may not know till it gets hard in your breast.
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Valentine,
I have smooth round silicone ones right now, and am switching to more silicone - gummies this time. It was really no question for me; modern silicone implants are NOT like the silicone implants of the 1980s or so, and range from very cohesive to true cohesive (form stable/gummies). You can see You Tube videos of them cutting into implants of the past and today to see how they behave differently. Generally, however, they do not "leak" even if cut or poked due to the way the silicone is cohesive. With typical smooth rounds you can cut it or poke it and squeeze the implant so the silicone "sticks out" but as soon as you release pressure it goes right back. With gummies, you don't even get that much movement!
Silicone is preferred with reconstruction as your tissues are so thin and saline is prone to more rippling (and even then you can still get rippling). Both saline and silicone implants have silicone shells.
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Thanks, Divecat! I will definitely be sponge bathing!
I am fairly certain I'm choosing silicone. I have a BC friend who has saline and doesn't like them. She's already had 7 surgeries so isn't going to switch but when it comes time to replace will switch to silicone. I've heard they're softer and have less rippling/puckering, especially if you're on the petite side.
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Got home at 1:00 from EX!! He put in Natrelle 410 , 475 cc Gummies!! He had to fix the capsule ob rught side for symmetry. A 4-5 pain level there. Surgical bra and ace bandage , no drains!!! Yah!! Thanks for your prayers, Ro
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Robinblessed...no drains! Yea for you! Hope you have a smooth recovery.
Thanks for the information Divecat. I'm definitely going silicone. I have a friend with saline and she wishes she had done silicone because, as she put it, they are just like big water balloons. I've been trying to decide between the round and the gummies. I'm leaning toward the gummies. I'm just anxious to et things moving.
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Valentine99,
Well I have the rounds right now, and am switching to gummies in one week. I actually like the rounds - comfort and shape wise they look great - and wish they had worked out for me, but I am quite thin and I still experienced some rippling and denting on the one side. PS and I are hoping the gummies will work as they are form stable and should not ripple like that
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Add me to the list.
I am scheduled for BMX on 3/30/15. I'm 35y, waiting on final results from gene tests. Right now we are anticipating positive results due to family history on both sides. On the chance that it is negative, I can opt for a lumpectomy with radiation. I'm just ready to get started fighting back!! ; -
Hi ERNnurse. I just went through core needle biopsy, bilateral lumpectomy and left sentinel node removal. BRCA- also.
Should be getting final node pathology next week then will schedule rads and also have to take tamoxifan or another choice for 10 years.
I'm praying I made the right choice.
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NY2TXbaby, I just wanted to wish you best of luck tomorrow. I'm sure everything will go absolutely perfect. I'm glad you were able to make your decision even though it's never an easy one. The good thing is nothing is written in stone and you can always change your mind and do another procedure at another time. I also had a hard time making up my mind because I have to do radiation and was afraid I didn't have enough time to do surgery/reconstruction. Luckily, after speaking with my PS he moved me up allowing me to complete everything. I will have my BMX with expanders on March 25.
Keeping you in my prayers surgery sister!
Hugs
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NY2TXbaby and Windingshores, we'll be thinking of you today. I hope everything goes smoothly and you're home resting soon. Let us know how you did, when you can.
((hugs))
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Yes hugs to our March surgery sisters !!
I slept well and pain is minimal, remember to take your pain meds before it is so bad that it takes time to get into your system. I slept fine, so day two for me. I am bound in surgical bra and ace bandage. No drains this time!👍 i see my PS for post- op on 3/12, that is when I get to see the " girls".
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My surgery is scheduled for March 25. At this time, it's to be BMX with TE placement. However, I meet with BS on Tuesday, and she was pushing for me to have LX. But, since I am HER2+ and also having Paget's with very dense breasts, after lots of research and discussions, I want to be proactive.
Tabitha and Divecat your discussions on bouncing back to exercise have inspired me. I have been wondering if I'll ever be able to run again, workout, and golf as I used to. Neoadjuvant chemo really turned me into a slug, and I'm still trying to recover from it. I'm so afraid of the surgery and any future impact that the implant reconstruction will have on me.
Good luck to Windingshores and NY2TXbaby on their surgeries today.
Butterfly53, looks like we're having the same type of surgery on the same date.
I keep saying this, but I have learned so much from being on here and am so thankful for all these discussions.
Prayers to all!
Jacquie
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ladyduffer, yes it looks like we are having the same surgery on the same date. I decided almost as soon as I found out I had BC that I wanted a BMX. I have a sister who is a survivor (22 years) and a cousin who is a survivor (22 years) I also have dense breasts and even though I had a mammography only 9 months before diagnosis I wound up with triple negative, Stage III C, grade 3. I felt even though I was monitored closely my whole life somehow I slipped through the cracks. I want to be proactive and not have to worry about BC anymore. I feel fortunate that I am able to do the TE at the same time. My original date was April 17 but my PS and BS were able to move it up. That way I will have enough time for the TE and all that's involved before my radiation. According to the tumor board that met here last week on my behalf said that radiation should start no later than 12 weeks after surgery. I should be able to make that window. After radiation, my PS said I need to wait 3 months before I do the DIEP flaps that involve both breast. I too have felt like a slug since neoadjuvant chemo. I enjoyed playing tennis and golf before all this start. Like everyone, I was surprised I was sick. One day healthy and the next day a cancer patient. What?!? Anyway, not that I'm looking forward to surgery but I'm looking forward to getting onto the next step. Good luck and God Bless all of us. Hugs, Kathy
PS: my surgery is in Charleston, SC
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