March 2015 Surgery Sisters

Kathy,

I hear ya on having all the tests prior to being diagnosed.  Mine's a long story, but I started on January 2 of last year going to doctors (for fear I had Paget's), going thru tests and biopsies, even ductal surgy, and it took until August 29 to be diagnosed with Paget's because I took my records eleswhere...not that I wanted the diagnosis, but I knew something wasn't right. 

I'm sorry about your diagnosis.  But it is so nice and hopeful to hear about all the long term BC survivors in your family, and one day soon, you'll be able to be one as well.  Oh how I have the same exact feelings as you, as if your life has slipped through the cracks, and being healthy one day and a cancer patient the next.  I still find it hard to say that I have cancer and keep thinking back to how healthy I felt before being diagnosed.

Good luck to you with your RADS.  I won't know until the BS does a SNB as to whether I'll need the RADS or not.  She told me she is 99% certain that all will be okay with the biopsy, but I've already had several curve balls thrown my way, so I am not counting on it.  I am planning on just doing the implants and not the DIEP flaps and hope I don't regret; but as others have mentioned, you can always have more surgery, not something I want to do though.

Hopefully we'll all get this hump behind us soon and won't be tethered to the big C any longer.  We need to be out on "The Links" this summer! :-)

My surgery is going to be in Pittsburgh, PA.

God Bless,

Jacquie

its interesting to read a few dx of   Paget's....In addition to Pagets I also had a very complex pathology report and could not do rads because I did it the first time in 2003.  If I could go back to my original dx in 2003 I would have done a BMX instead of a lumpectomy.  It took a reoccurrence of original dx along with Pagets to have this done.

Now I just want to move forward and go golfing and running!!!!

Good luck to all you ladies with your surgeries!

Thank you Divecat and Tabitha for your words of wisdom.  I welcome them and they do help.

Tabitha I am sorry for what you've been through.  Your story has made me feel more at ease about wanting the BMX instead of the LX.  You must be a VERY strong person. I hope you are golfing and running again soon, they are both such stress relievers.  If it wasn't for a friend of mine's mother having Paget's, I would have never known to pursue that it maybe what was wrong with me too.  My BS told me only about 2% of people get Paget's, but maybe there are many more because it seems to be misdiagnosed a lot.

Valentine, let's hope that March 25 is a good day for us.  I am scared to death too, and wish my mother was still living because I need her now more than ever.

Jacquie

Thank you everyone for the good wishes.

Update - had surgery yesterday. Turned out my sentinel node was still positive so she had to do the full axillary dissection after all. All that stress and worry - for nothing. Chose to try the LX - 2 spots. Now just need to wait for path reports - hoping for clean margins. If not - we will be doing BMX. My sis in law will be coming next week on Tuesday - so happy to have her here for the emotional support. Feeling pretty good thanks to pain pills. SLept well despite having a drain under the arm. My hubby has been an amazing nurse and the best through all of this - so thankful I have him and didn't have to face all this alone. Glad this one step is behind me - it was the most stressful part for me perhaps because now it has finally sunk in that I have BC. Somehow through chemo I was able to forget I had BC - odd I know but I was able to be so much more postive and not think about it - except for on the very bad SE days. Hope all my other March sisters are doing well too

Hello everyone and thanks for the good wishes. I had a right side mastectomy for my IDC, grade 3, estrogen/progesteron+. HER2+ 1.2 cm tumor, yesterday. The surgeon and anesthesiologist were wonderful. I had a paravertebral block, local and general and feel pretty good already. Just got home!

My sentinel node biopsy was negative.

I still want the other side taken off but decided that going with one was better for my health at this time. Once I heal and meet with my oncologist, I will find out more about what is in store.

Good luck everyone!

Windingshores... glad everything went well for you.  Yay!

That is so wonderful!

Called nurse advice and it is an allergic reaction to Keflix! I took it for my BMX no problems. If that's all it is then stopping it is easy. Take care all

Keflx is an antibiotic to prevent any infection. I will probably get a different one Monday. Yes, exchange surgery is the light at the end of the tunnel. TEs do an amazing job but they are very hard. Most call them "rocks". Thank you for your concern.

angmom, yay! Saying bye to cancer sounds fantastic! I pray that you have a very successful surgery and a very easy time afterwards. I'm sorry about the girls! I am having a BMX on March 25 and just started thinking about it. I am sure we will learn to adjust to our new bodies just like we have learned to adjust to so many things in life. Best of luck to you. Keeping you in my thoughts. Lots of hugs

angmom, my heart goes with you tomorrow. I know that God has His hand on you. If you are getting reconstruction then you will get the girls back, just in a slightly different configuration. I just had ny exchange last Thursday.

My thoughts to all March surgery sisters.

Good luck to you Angmom....prayers.

Jacquie

Hi all, sorry for jumping in a little late here, but wanted to share some good information for you and future posters to help prepare for your surgeries:

Check out some good info from the main Breastcancer.org site on Surgery, including:

• What to Expect with Any Surgery
• Lumpectomy: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Mastectomy: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Lymph Node Removal: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Reconstruction: all types of reconstruction, what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask

Also, the Treatment Side Effects section is a great resource for tips to help manage any side effects you may experience.

Lots of practical advice here on helping to prepare for surgery:Shopping/packing/to-do list for surgery + recovery....

Hope this helps and good luck with all of your surgeries!

--Your Mods

I'll be joining you ladies. I am schedule for 3/24 for Lx and SNB. I'm trying to drop a couple pounds by eating healthier and getting out to walk. I'm looking at the treatments beyond as well as contributing risks. I want to attack this from all fronts. In the past I have had a couple of TIAs a few years back and seeing all the conflicts I have with current meds increasing my chances of reoccurrence. I have to find a way to make it all work together.

Welcome aboard ladies!

nlosgatos, I hope your surgery went well today and that you are already comfortably resting somewhere!

Jade645, how sweet of you to take care of your Mom!  My mom was dx exactly one year before I was, so we shared each other's journeys.  Make sure you stay on top of her pain med schedule and I hope she recovers quickly and well.  I'm so happy the nodes were negative, that is awesome news!

gypsyjo, I feel silly to ask, but what are TIAs?  I agree, we want to do everything in our power to beat this beast and put it out of our lives, forever.  That reoccurence conversation was so horrible, and really bummed me out at first.  It does get easier as things move along but I certainly didn't like hearing that it could come back again somewhere down the road.  Something I guess we all have to live with and try to find peace with.

Littleblueflowers, WOW, you've been busy!!  I'm glad they were able to get you in so quickly.  I hope you are feeling ok today.  Take it easy and take care of yourself.  Did they just do a sentinel node removal or a full dissection?  Did you have any reconstruction?

Divecat, it looks like you are next on Thursday, we'll be thinking of you!  Hopefully this will be the last time you have to see the OR for a VERY long time.

I had my pre op last week and apparently tested positive for some super bug called MSSA - that I likely contracted in the hospital when I had my BMX!  Grrrrr.  So, I'm showering with some magic, medical soap (hepiclense, I think) for the next 10 days and have to be on some antibiotic ointment 5 days prior to surgery and then on some other kind of antibiotic for a week following surgery.  I was really bummed about that but the PS says it is very common for reconstructions patients to test postivie.  I'm so sick and tired of being poked and prodded.

Take care everyone!