AUGUST 2015 SURGERY SISTERS!!

Thank you for the responses...it helps so much to hear from other who have or are going through it!  Windermeremom - that is cool...small world!  I am going to St. Vincent's, Riversid here in Jacksonville.  

Artista928 - I was told the same about radiation...I'm just extremely hopeful I'll be avoiding it.

Blessings to us all and thanks again for your insights

AJ: I have nothing to compare implants to but mine have been a pain. My TEs broke loose and they had to do another surgery to put them in place. Then a seroma ( definitely not fun) Then the exchange. Then my silicone implants. Mine still look terrible and I have another surgery next Thursday to put larger implants in and do some cosmetic stuff. I'm not sure I would have done implants if I had it to do over....maybe it's just the PS, but it has been quite frustrating.

I've had a relatively good TE experience. I was filled to 400cc at surgery and got 3 fills of 100cc each and oneof 50cc. I was filled to 750cc in 4 visits. A little tightness, my right one, the non cancer side, acts up a little but it's all bearable. I'm also upsizing, getting high profile implants. I have to say my husband loves how I look in clothes. I was so scared at the beginning reading all the problems some suffer, but I got lucky and all is well.

Getting a great PS is important, probably more important the the bs imo. I"m lucky that both my bs and ps are highly acclaimed and all their pts I see, and there are many around here, sing their high praises. If you don't feel comfy or don't see/get high reviews, then I'd look for another. Sx 1 time sucks, let alone of someone is just not great at it or worse, doesn't care to be.

GL everyone. I"m pretty prepared thanks to this board. Been reading alot on the July sister's thread since they've gone through it and have great advice and things to think about. I highly recommending reading that thread and taking notes. They've been so kind to share, and some even the day or two after having had sx. Amazing women!

I had my TEs filled completely during the mastectomy. Then had chemo, rested up for about 3-4 months and had final exchange surgery. So never had to have fills.

Good news on the BRCA test, Dimcc. Do you have to get re-tested for the HER2? I had a UMX and am happy with that decision. Being in limbo is the most difficult part. I hope you get a final decision soon.

Hello Everyone. Well, I have a surgery date of August 28th. I am getting a bilat mx with TE implants in at the same time. i have been seeing lots of helpful information on here about drain management, clothing, etc..

Does anyone know what we can expect for exercise / activity level? I know I won't be lifting weights or anything like that, but are there Physical therapy exercises we do ? What about walking on treadmills, etc... I forgot to ask BS when I was there and now I don't have any appointments until my actual surgery date. My surgery is out of town, so they did tell me that after I'm released from the hospital they want me to still stay nearby in a hotel for a couple days.

I've been wondering about taking a picture of my old boobs before I lose them. I don't know what i would do with it though - just getting a little sentimental and wondering if anyone else had the same thoughts running through their mind? Thanks.

Georgie,

Was thinking about pics too..... I am considering asking ps for copy of the ones he took and for after ones he will take. Wasn't sure if that was too weird.

anyone else?

Good luck and best wishes to everyone having surgery this coming week. Just know we are all here praying, supporting and thinking of you.

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday, August 5th. I'm having a unilateral mastectomy with the hope of a direct to implant one stage reconstruction which is a good possibility for me since I'm small breasted. Plan B would be tissue expanders and later placement of the implant.

I know none of us wanted to find ourselves here but I'm wishing all the best for my surgery sisters this month. I'm grateful for this board of support!

I figured I'd post here and start getting connected with you ladies! I was DX May 6 with DCIS. I've had 2 surgeries so far and it seems like every time I get a pathology report back, what's been left in my breast has invited more friends to come party! While they still have not found anything invasive, it seems like the description and grading keeps getting elevated! Before my 2nd surgery, my BS told me if we didn't get clean margins, I would need a mastectomy. Well, I had positive anterior margins and the deep margin was .5mm. So, I'm heading in for surgery again on Aug 13. I'm trying to decide if I want to go all the way to a bilateral. My BS says he doesn't usually see that for DCIS but frequently does for invasive cancer. He does say it is a very personal choice and I'm pretty sure he'll do whatever I really want. I should know tomorrow if he supports my decision. The only thing really holding me back from this decision is my 10 yo daughter. She is emotionally expressive about me not removing my good breast. We aren't sure if I will or won't need radiation and my BS wants me to loose some weight before reconstruction so I'm looking at a delayed recon for 6-8 months. I just don't know that I can do the uni thing for that long. Anyway - I thought I'd introduce myself and get plugged in here!

Hi Ringelle! I had a similar situation - I had IDC and opted for a lumpectomy. My surgery was successful for the IDC, but I had one positive margin for DCIS. I had a re-excision, then had three positive margins for DCIS. What the heck? So now I need a mastectomy. I'm opting for a single mastectomy, but the whole issue of living as a 'uni' is difficult, even if just temporarily. I'm hoping for flap recon, but still am not sure if I'm a good candidate. There is good support on this board for UMX, though, which has been a great comfort to me. Best wishes.

I guess I should introduce myself. I was diagnosed on 7/15/15 with ca in my left breast. I don't understand about all of the exact words and letters yet. I know they said 2 were in the duct and 1 was invasive. My family Hx is I lost my mother and her 2 sisters to breast ca and I have dreaded this happening. I had my ovaries removed in 1995 and took Tamoxifin for 5 years. I talked with the oncologist at the time about prophylactic Mastectomies, but it was not common as it is now. I just did exams and got mammograms every year. This year at my annual exam on 6/30 they saw something different. I was called back in for more mammograms and then a stereotactic biopsy. The BS suggested BMX esp with my hx-she said we could do genetic testing if I wanted first but I just want them off. I want to live and I can do without them. I saw the PS on 7/28 and he said I am a good candidate for the DIEP flap so I am having BMX w/ DIEP flap on 8/13. I am really nervous about how many nodes might be involved and if I will need chemo. I am so glad they said no radiation and that I could get reconstruction at the same time. I am retired so I am lucky that I don't have to worry about work. I never had children but I have a very supportive husband that will be able to take time off work to help me. I live in downtown Nashville TN and am 5 minutes away from all kinds of excellent hospitals. I have been reading everything I can and have bought button front pajamas at Kmart and several button front shirts at goodwill for when I go home. I had hair down to my waist and I cut it to right below my shoulders yesterday. I like it and it will be so much easier to take care of. I went to a pre op class at the breast center at my hospital and they fitted me with 2 camisoles that have velcro pockets for the drains. Do you think I need bras too? They didn't mention it. The shop has bras for after recovery but I didn't think that was for immediately after surgery.

I am sorry to be writing a book. :-) I have always been very quiet and since this diagnosis ...I am talking all the time. Has anyone else experienced this? I am really having a hard time shutting my thoughts off and my sleep is very irregular...but I worked midnight shift for 38 years so I am used to not getting regular sleep. I guess I could ask my Dr for something, they told me to call if I needed anything. I don't have any more appts with them before surgery. Just a CT scan, blood tests, EKG and chest xray at the hospital.

Thanks for listening, it really helps to be able to have people to relate to.

KT

I was diagnosed with IDC by biopsy after a mammogram & ultrasound was Bi-RADS 5. They think it's small, about 1-1.5cm, but they won't know until they get in there. At the moment I am scheduled for lumpectomy 8/20/15. That could change, depending on what the MRI reveals tomorrow and what the genetic testing tells us. But hopefully, it will only be a lumpectomy followed by radiation.

Welcome Scotland, and we are routing for you All! Please keep us posted on how you are doing!