SEPTEMBER 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2015

    Great news! I'm BRCA negative! Whew!

    I have decided that I do not care for my oncologist though. It just seems weird there. The Dr. is the one to come and get me from the waiting room. No nurse. He took me to an exam room, pulled up on the computer my report that just showed No Genetic Mutation. And then he said, "okay, we will see you every 6 months for the next 5 years" and that was it.

    First of all, why did I have to pay my co pay for that? I was literally there less than 5 minutes. No explanation on the test results.

    And what do they do at each 6 month appointment? How does the oncologist check you to make sure your cancer isn't back someplace else?

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    Great news, Lharry!

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  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 452
    edited October 2015

    Molly-Since I had uni too my Cooby evens me out. No bra is comfortable but it's tolerable. At the end of the day it's off!!

    LHarry- what did Dr say today ? Thinking about you and hoping for good news!

    NYNJ- hoping going back to work goes well. If anything it will keep your mind off BC. If I stay busy it helps. 

    Have a good night All!

    Patty

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2015

    Patty,

    I'm BRCA negative! He said no genetic mutations! YAY FOR ME! (and my kids)!

    I started back to work this week as well, NYNJ. And I must say, these 7 weeks off have rejuvinated me at work! I have come back and am ready to tackle it all! And the reception I got from everyone at work has been overwhelming! I am the HR manager at a manufacturing company, and all of the men in the warehouse are wearing pink work gloves, in honor of me, and BC Awareness! They also sent me a dozen roses with a nice "welcome back" note. Sure does make me feel appreciated and loved! I love my job!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    Lharry, how lovely of the workers to honor you like that!

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited October 2015

    I had my tissue expanders filled up to 400cc yesterday did 100cc once a week they were fine until this last fill they are like 2 hard rocks on my chest sooooo uncomfortable surgery isn't for a month! Anyone else have this issue

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  • KellyAnne13
    KellyAnne13 Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2015

    The saga that never ends...

    I had my mapping CT for radiation yesterday. They made a body mold because I couldn't hold my right arm in the right spot, then gave me my tattoos, etc. Today my rad onc called. Well, the only reason I am doing radiation after a DMX is to target the intramammary nodes under my sternum because my lump was close to the center of my chest. My axillary nodes were clear, as was the pathology after my BMX. Well, it seems that my chest has a normal variant where the sternum is deeper than normal. Because of this, the intramammary nodes are also deeper. In order to target them, the radiation beam would have to go through part of my heart and my right lung. This changes everything. The very very small benefit to doing radiation in the first place is now outweighed by the risk of irradiating my heart. We discussed everything and ultimately decided to cancel radiation completely.

    I feel like a fish out of water, I was all mentally prepared for radiation. The good part is that I was going to have to wait until at least 6 months after radiation to finally reconstruct my right breast that had all the complications. Now I will be able to start that right away. Wow... the end is in sight!

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  • ang76
    ang76 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2015

    Stephmoen - I am right there with you, I got a fill today and now am at 360cc and yep hard as rocks! I have 1 more fill next week then hopefully surgery the first week of December..... can't come soon enough :)

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  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 452
    edited October 2015

    LHarry!!!!! Thank goodness. So happy!! Glad you love your job and are getting back in the groove of your normal life. Yah!

    Ang And Stephmoen I get my first fill tomorrow. Should be interesting. 

    Good night All!

    Patty


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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    KellyAnne, I understand the feeling. I was supposed to get chemo but that new study came out right before my appointment with my MO. It was a game changer thankfully but still left me feeling very lost and scared/strange feeling.

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  • ang76
    ang76 Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2015

    Happy November all. I hope this month finds you all healing and well :) I go to the PS on Wednesday for what is hopefully my last fill! I had to have a brain cat scan last Thursday because of a lot of confusion and memory loss, hopefully that is just from the surgery, medication and trauma, my doctor just wanted to make sure she isn't missing anything. Anyone else having issues with this?

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited November 2015

    ((Ang76)) I hope everything comes out normal for you.

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  • abc_123
    abc_123 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2015

    ang76 - I have felt very "cloudy" this past month and a bit forgetful. If I remember correctly, you are also having some sadness/crying? Me too and I think that is all part of it. I really think it's a bit of depression. I have spoken to all my doctors, including my internist and all would agree that these are symptoms of some anxiety/depression. I'm getting help and feeling better. Please keep us posted on your results.

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited November 2015

    Ang76, this is all life-changing stuff. We're not the same people we were before cancer, and I find the process of getting used to this comes with a great deal of distraction, to say the least. I hope your scan came out clean and don't blame your doctor for wanting to check everything out.

    It's nice to have surgery in the rear-view mirror, though. I'm starting rads soon--going for the CT tomorrow.

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  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited November 2015

    Ang76 - I returned to work last week and I joked that all my surgeries must have killed some brain cells because I am slooooow. I'm not sure if I'm just rusty or what, but I am actually very happy right now, so it's not depression. I hope all turns out well for you.

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    I am as well feeling the forgetfulness and the cloudy feelings. I'm glad I'm not alone. Crying has lessened some, but not completely. Back to plastic surgeon tomorrow for follow up for my cellulitis. Two weeks tomorrow and it's not completely gone yet 😕 I feel this has really slowed up my fillings. Do most of you have change out dates already?

    Hang in there!!

    Debbie

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  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited November 2015

    Good evening ladies...

    I haven't checked in in awhile. I'm trying to get back in the swing of working again & balancing fills with my return to normalcy. If that's even possible!!

    I am at 440 cc as of today. My PS put in 120cc today instead of the usual 60cc per side. I'm in quite a bit of pain. Don't know if I can handle the 120cc next week. My PS is trying to speed things up for me as I'm trying to schedule my exchange for late December due to me already having met my very high deductible this year. Oh what we have to endure!


    Since getting my Oncotype Dx score of 11, I am so relieved to not need to take chemo. But I'm trying to work up the nerve to start Tamoxifen. It's been sitting on my counter for a week😔 I hope to make myself start it this week. I hope all of my Sept sisters are feeling better. Hard to believe it's already November. Holidays are upon us!

    Hope everyone is doing well...

    Catherine

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  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited November 2015

    Catherine - I was also VERY nervous to start the tamoxifen, but I just wanted to let you know that I started tamoxifen a few weeks ago and I feel absolutely fine! I had made it into a much bigger deal in my mind than it was. You can do it.

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  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited November 2015

    39andhip...thank you!! I needed that

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  • ang76
    ang76 Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2015

    Hello all, I called my oncologist today, still haven't got results of cat scan, the lady told me my results are still pending??? I have no idea what that means.... I had the scan last Thursday and I am pretty sure that results from a cat scan are immediate. Anyways I think that my doctor just hasn't looked at them yet. I started Tamoxifen last week, I take it at night and haven't noticed anything except maybe a hot flash now and then through the night. I am sleeping with a fan on me so it really isn't all that bad. I am now officially back to work fulltime. Yesterday was my first 10 1/2 hour day..... I was exhausted when I got home but I am sure I will get back in the rhythm of everything. Have a blessed day.

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited November 2015

    Has anyone had their exchange surgery yet

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited November 2015

    Lharry, I am several months out from any exchange surgery. I have to wait at least 6 months post rads. Even then my PS is reluctant to try implant on my radiated side.

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  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 452
    edited November 2015

    Catherine, 

    Good to hear from you! That's a big fill. I whined at 50cc. My boob hurt all week. Thursday I am only getting 30. I don't have too much more to go anyway and I am in no hurry. I am so relieved your Oncoscore was low and you don't need chemo. No one wants that. Ugg. I won't get Tamoxifen. They want me to do an AI after MX heals. 

    LHarry- when my fills are done probably December, they sit there for 3 months my PS said. Then I get exchange. Prob March. 

    Ang- that's BS I worked in the hospital for years. Radiology reviews it within 24 hrs types report and sends it to doc. Your Doctor probably hasn't got too it. Call and complain.  You shouldn't have to wait with anxiety. 

    Night all!

    Patty


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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited November 2015

    feel very thankful that the surgery aspect of my bReast cancer experience is going so well had 4 fills 100cc each and I am scheduled nov 25 for implants and even got my gynecologist to change his schedule and do my oopherectomy same day so I won't have 2 seperate surgeries. Did have Lupron shot today feeling reaaaally sore from that and went to pick up my exemestane and wonderful insurance won't cover it ugh I hate this

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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited November 2015

    Hi Stephmoen - curious why your insurance won't cover the exemestane? That was one worry I didn't count on having - assumed insurance would cover all of the standard drugs.

    Besides that detail, glad to hear things are going so well for you after your rough start. Good idea to do the surgeries at the same time.

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    Hi everyone, just got out of the hospital. Still fighting with this cellulitis. Had to have antibiotics via IVs. They kept me for two nights wasn't expecting that at all. Now I'm home the medications are making me sick. I take two steps forward and 5 steps back. The one medication says your dr believes the benefits outweigh the side effects.

    Debbie

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited November 2015

    Gardnergirl - so sorry for you! You will be in my prayers!

    I had someone tell me, it's like doing the cha-cha, two steps forward, one step back...but you cover the ground doing it.

    Just keep moving forward.

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    Thanks Lharry!

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  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited November 2015

    Gardnergirls - prayers to you for a few speedy steps forward!

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    thanks 39! I've now joined the TE troubles groups 😡

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