UCSD or San Diego Reconstruction Girls?

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I_Spy
I_Spy Member Posts: 507
edited July 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi everyone,

I am planning for a Prophylactic Bilateral Mastectomy at UCSD Moores Cancer Center. My surgeon there, Dr. Sarah Blair, is fabulous and I love her to pieces. She's already done a lumpectomy on me and I know we work well together. She uses Dr. Amanda Gosman at UCSD as one of her plastic surgeons (the other is Dr. Dobke, but I don't want a man; personal preference). Has anyone had reconstruction with Dr. Gosman? I'm just looking for reassurance (which I might not get if her work is so fabulous people leave BCO forums and go on with their lives haha). Anyway, jump in even if you're in San Diego and you used a different plastic surgeon and were happy, I'd like to connect up with other SD peeps still on the journey...

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  • Kimberli43
    Kimberli43 Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2015

    Hi there. I'm also in San Diego. I'm having treatment at Sharp. I had a unilateral mastectomy in October, started chemo in November, finished in March and just had my exchange surgery on 4/15. It's been a long journey. I'm happy with the results so far.

    When are you having surgery? Are you having immediate reconstruction?

    Kimberli

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    hi Kimberli! Nice to meet a fellow San diegan! It sounds like it has been a long haul for you. I actually live less than a mile from Sharp, but my insurance has me at Moores Cancer Center. I don't suppose you know Dr Song at Sharp? I'm going to sleep soon so if I don't answer tonight that's why. :)

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    see I'm tired so I didn't realize you asked questions haha. I'm meeting with the ps next week. I want immediate reconstruction so I'll have to see what she thinks. I'm trying to graduate from college in June. My bs said I could wait until the middle of June for the pbmx. I had a lumpectomy in sept for DCIS and now something has grown really fast since then that has to come out anyway. With my mother and her sister both dying of breast cancer, my bs and I were like it's time for a pbmx.

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    HI ladies.. Im a San Diegan too. Im still a pledge in the bc world. having a lx tomorrow morning at Scripps. Sleep well :)

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    wait what is an LX?

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    well panthrah good luck tomorrow scripps is a great hospital surrender to the process I always say. I think an LX is a lumpectomy. Do u realize we had lumpectomies on the same day? Ok gotta go to sleep now but I'd love to keep the conversation going with the SD girls.

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    hi guys.. my surgery time was all accelerated today.. I guess someone had cancelled.. so everything got done faster :) have been home watching star wars and disney movies while eating dark chocolate cookies with a cat on my lap and frozen peas strapped to my boob :p not too bad. The DH is more wiped out than me :p hope everyone is having a happy friday

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    yay for dark chocolate cookies! I'm curious -- did you have general anesthesia or just an IV drip? Also, why did you need another lumpectomy?

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    they found a cyst and a mass together.. they must have bffs.. cysts had atypical cells and the mass had junk.. so they wanted it out. with dense breasts and lcis.. they pretty much told me to get used to this. also on the biospy diagnosis paperwork i saw adh and alh which are also high risk things ..figures. this was my first ultrasound (u/s) since surgery and bam.. right out the gate it starts all over again. they told me it was twilight sleep.. i heard the word.. "we are starting propofol (the Micheal Jackson drug) I said that and nite nite and then woke up. surgery was 30-40 min. of course i really have no idea :p im going to get a tad grumpy if this becomes my every 6 month norm. but..next sat ill be flying to cabo to recover ( was booked last year) pool side with little umbrella drinks. and pain level right now is about a "1". took a t3 at 4.. havent needed another one yet

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Good for you. Propofol is for General Anesthesia -- twilight sleep would have been Versed and Fentanyl; maybe you were having a Michael Jackson dream. :)

    Okay you and I have more similarities than just living in SD -- I had ADH on a stereo biopsy in July, which made them want to do a lumpectomy. Then they found DCIS. So 6 months later for my follow up mammogram (March), they see new calcifications. greaaaaaaaat. Then they do a biopsy and they find cells from a papilloma right next to where the DCIS was. Well, guess what? That papilloma wasn't there 6 months ago. Papillomas are benign, but they can hide cancer, and it shouldn't have grown that fast in 6 months. So THAT now has to come out. My mother and her sister both died of bc, and I have very dense breasts (similar to you as well), so it is hard to see cancer on a mammogram. So I am getting a PBMX in June. I meet with the plastic surgeon Wednesday.

    I just keep saying "breast cancer in your breast doesn't kill you", and I am going to make sure that I don't have breast cancer that spreads elsewhere before I can catch it. sigh.

    May I ask how old you are? I'm 51.

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    Im 39 .. will be 40 in oct. it all started last june?july? i found a bump.. they found lots more. they didnt care about my bump (ended up being 5cm) but the main one they didnt like had calcs and another "bad spot" so they took them both out. no visual difference in lf breast :) now im thinking this time.. on the right.. might leave a dent. Im barely an A cup on a good day :p pretty much im a bag of marbles and i think i have 6 cysts and other bumps left in there. and unless they change or hurt they arent being removed. of course this all depends on the pathology of today

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Okay well I'm rooting for you to have a good path report! Gosh I wish I was going on vacation to mexico... instead I'm working and doing schoolwork -- I went back to school, and I graduate in a month from UCSD with my BA in writing! Anyway, have a good time, and check back here and let us know the results of the path report (if you feel like it)? We can be SD support group. Kimberli didn't respond from my posts last night but maybe she just hasn't been on. Anyway, have fun in Mexico!!

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    oh yeah.. no problem. I was going for my MA at a different school for ling but they pissed me off and told them to keep their "M" and give me a "B" .. so i grad with 2 BAs ;P I didnt need the MA i wanted the MA.. and the reason we are going to mex is cause this is the first year the husband ISNT in school.. 8 years and straight As.. so its time for cabo... going to be a rather mellow vacation.. but a vacation thats well needed

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    have fun you guys deserve it! :)

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  • Kimberli43
    Kimberli43 Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2015

    Hi SD girls! Hope you both are feeling well. I'm still recovering from my exchange surgery. Meaning I had the tissue expanded replaced with an implant on the side where I had the mastectomy. I had the good side lifted and reduced to match the new boob. The exchange side doesn't hurt it's the "good" side that still hurts. I worked all week and am just super tired.

    It looks like neither of you are having treatment other than surgery. Is that true or just too soon to know?

    I've been through a lot and am almost done. Still have to do radiation. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

    I was 43 when diagnosed.


    Ispy- did you have genetic testing done? I don't know Dr. Song.

    I wish I was going to Cabo. I've missed so much work these past 6 months I won't be taking a vacation for a while

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    yes, I had genetic testing. I didn't have the bcra gene mutations but I had another gene mutation associated with a higher incidence of bc after menopause (I had menopause at 45 cuz of having ovaries removed for cysts). So it is just high risk all around for me. So far all I have planned is surgery. If they find something else after the mastectomy maybe then who knows.

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited May 2015

    Oh hello there ladies I am also in San Diego - Scripps Ranch. I have had all of my treatments and surgeries at Scripps Torrey Pines or Scripps Rancho Bernardo. Nice to see this thread.

    Nancy

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    hi Nancy! What's interesting is we are all diagnosed around the same time. I live near Mesa college (and Sharp Hospital). My cousin lives in Scripps Ranch. And it looks like u have lab puppies? :

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    Im in Mira Mesa :) today Im pretty bruised (for me) today and i cant raise my rt arm without it pulling on the incision. :p still a low pain level. I almost wasnt able to reach the food in the microwave or put my hair up ..I feel a little silly.

    I was suppose to get the genetic testing .. i got the "they will call you to set up an appt. no one called and i didnt bother with any follow up. i figured high risk was high risk

    Nancy2581- Scripps rb and green are my places too Dr Kurtzhals is my surgeon and Susan Heath (sp?) is my high risk specialist

    Kimberli43- Im glad youre healing and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter :)

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Yay SD peeps connecting up! Panthrah when do you go to Cabo?

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    the 9th. do you think the flight people will give me ice packs :p

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Oh you'll be good by the 9th -- at least, nothing a corona won't handle. :)


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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited May 2015

    hi ipsy - yes I have two chocolate labs - troublemakers those two lol. That is interesting that we were all diagnosed about the same time. What the heck was in the air lol?

    Panthrah - I used to live in Mira Mesa - small world isn't it? My surgeon was also Dr. Kurtzahls and I've seen Susan Heath twice. Who is your MO? I see Dr. Torrey. Cabo sounds like a blast - lucky

    Nancy

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    I have a black lab! and his best friend is a chocolate lab! Labs are the best. Wow we all have a lot in common, more than just San Diego :)

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    I had a lady MO who choose not to put me on Tamoxifen and said she never wanted to see me again :p

    oh yeah... being served pool side in 90 degree weather sounds perfect. doc gave me water proof patches to put over the incision so i can go in the water :) I might be still wearing the sports bra vs a reg suit.. but hey those are water friendly :p

    I work with high school kids who are mod/ severe special ed (drool diapers non verbal weight more than me) so the extra week off will help in the healing . this round feels different than the first time

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  • Kimberli43
    Kimberli43 Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2015

    Hi Ladies! I live in Bay Ho with my hubby and 4 year old. I'm actually laying in the sun in my backyard. It's a beautiful day here.

    Nancy- I see you had radiation. I'll be starting in the next of couple of weeks. How was it for you? I just got my new boob and hope it survives radiation.

    Panthrah- just take it easy and give yourself a chance to rest and recover. I've been totally humbled by stupid cancer.

    I'm looking forward to being able to run and exercise like I used to before all this craziness

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited May 2015

    ipsy we do have a lot in common. My labs helped me so much during treatment. They acted like nothing was wrong and insisted on their walks twice a day ha ha. They are staring at me this very minute. Really helped me keep my butt in gear.

    Panthrah - lucky you no tamoxifen. I'm on it now bleh

    Nancy

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2015

    Kimberli43 theres a running thread on here in the forums "fitness and getting back in shape" topic "2015 running thread" theres a way to link them here I just dont know how :p I do my share of races and stuff.. its all about that bling :p

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Kimberli we are really close to each other -- I live just a mile from Balboa and Genesee. :) I'm in LA working this weekend, and researching reconstruction methods! It's all going to depend on which method my plastic surgeon thinks I'm a candidate for. I'm leaning towards the DIEP flap method, but I've had three abdominal surgeries and I know I have a lot of scar tissue in my abdomen, so I don't know if she is going to want to mess with it. Anyway, I'll find out what she recommends on Wednesday!

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited May 2015

    Hi guys. I met with the ps today; I really like her. She said TEs with implants is the best way to do it. She said the DIEP procedure is such a major operation with having to attach arteries from your abdomen to the artery in your chest and it is a whopper of a surgery, especially when it is a double mastectomy. She doesn't recommend it as the first choice for prophylactic mastectomies. So I'm going with TEs and implants. She said two to three nights in the hospital. I got really overwhelmed. I'm so afraid of infection because I had a serious intestinal infection due to taking antibiotics (called C.Difficile) and I was so, so sick for two years and I haven't had to take antibiotics since then and I obviously have to take antibiotics with this surgery. Also, I disliked the Physician's Assistant who came in first and "explained" everything to me. She was about 26 and I felt like she was talking to me like I was planning a breast augmentation -- or some other minor cosmetic procedure -- instead of a majorly traumatic event. The good news is I really like the surgeon, but apparently I have to see the PA (there is another one too maybe she's better) for the saline injections into the expanders. I was supposed to go to class after my appointment but I got so overwhelmed I came home and got into my jammies.

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