October 2015 Surgeries

mvspaulding - sorry to hear about your possibility of chemo! . I had chemo May thru September, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. That being said, I made it, and you will too if it comes down to it! We do what we need to to get rid of this horrible cancer!!! Keep up the good fight! Hopefully your results will come back saying you don't need it!

All this time I've kept reading about oncotype scores and wondering why I never got one. It's because I did the chemo first I guess! Lol. Thanks jbdayton for helping me to clarify. I'll just blame chemo brain. Argh.

I'm 8 weeks post chemo, and 4 weeks out of surgery now. 2 fills down. Doing physical therapy, praying for no lymphedema problems, and getting ready for December radiation. Growing eyelashes and eyebrows (but mostly in areas where they'll need to be plucked!). Hair coming in well on head, but I still look like an old man! Stage 3C after chemo and surgery, but still kicking with a clear PET. I'm thankful! Looking forward to Thanksgiving!

KCinMN - I had AI first, you had chemo first. I haven't been able to figure out why surgery doesn't always come first?

I went back for cleaning margins on my lumpectomy today and was terrified I'd get booted because of a cough, (no runny nose, fever, sneezing, but did sound congested). I thought if I'd had to wait another three weeks (Thanksgiving in between) I might just go nuts. They didn't seem to notice my hoarseness. I was due there at 11:30 to sign the agree to pay if insurance doesn't form. Then sat is an open lobby by myself (family had to work) on the ground floor with cold air blowing in from the street for over an hour and a half. So cozy and welcoming (not). I took up redesigning the waiting area in my head like I tend do at the car dealership. Listening to one woman talk talk talk to a stranger for the first hour, then a latino entered with a cell phone sat man-spreaded on a chair behind me blabbering. A young couple with a sweet little girl sat very near. The dad or boyfriend was calling her a brat. You could see the hurt in her face. Plus they brought a full tray of food up from the cafeteria three floors down, while I sit there fasting and not a sip of water for the last 12 hours. Ok I cheated with a few sips of water. I was ready to bolt when they called my name and sent me down to pre-surgery. There I was very nicely told by nurse Roseria to take wet wipes and wash my whole body down and get into a thin gown open in the back of course. After an evening shower with Hisblens and morning shower with Hisblens. Oh well - follow directions I told myself. While doing that my cutie-pie surgeon busted in - AAAKKK! We traded jokes but I was too flustered to ask my two questions I had reserved for him as I got under the warmed white hospital blankets. Oh well I'll see him in f/up. Anesthesiaologist came in and asked about my heart. Had a small attack four years ago but assured him my Cardiologist said I was good for 10 years (at which time I may need valve replacement). He thought that hilarious like a car warranty he said. After surgery while waiting for my son to pick me up, I was treated to the full hospital menu. Grilled cheese sounded good. I didn't see a check on the tray. And now, can't tell for sure, but it all seems ok. No drain Thank God. Not allowed to shower for THREE DAYS!! Will find out the verdict in another 10 days. Getting used to the watchful waiting. Sigh.

gabby - glad you have a rock of a hubby! That helps a ton!

Port surgery.... I hated that uncomfortable port! (Actually, it's still in!) But it will get better!

Keep fighting! Where will you go on vacation? I'd like to plan something fun as well when I'm all done with this...

Is it possible to get chemo without putting a port in? MO is talking about 4 rounds. I thought maybe I would be able to do without a port.

I'm having 4 rounds without a port. In relation to driving I was told to make sure to check with my motor vehicle insurer as well as my Dr as often they have guidelines too. For eg 6 weeks for a caesarean and if you were to have an accident within that time you may not be covered. Something I never thought of

mvs, I had 8 round of chemo with NO port. My treatment was in a hospital clinic setting and ai was able to get a picc line placed before each infusion. It wasn't pleasant doing it 8 times, but I have no huge port scar and did'nt have the uncomfortableness associated with it. I have heard horror stories of people who had IV infusion into the arm veins....there are really bad things that can happen. Some of the chemo drugs are too irritating for the little veins in the arm and you can have damage. I wouldn't recommend that.

smurfette - yes! Grateful for the little things is right!!!!

I just started getting teeny tiny eyebrows growing back in post chemo. Teeny tiny! And some growing in spots where they're gonna need to be plucked out! Lol. But they're coming in!

Never thought I'd be so grateful for eyebrow hairs!

The picc line is basically a catheter the insert into your upper arm's major vein (through a tiny incision) and goes directly towards your heart. It ends up putting the chemo into yhe same area that a port does. They numb it well, but it was still a little uncomfortable and scary...after each chemo, the catheter was removed and I had no lingering pain or discomfort by the next day. Doing it 8 times was the pitts, but now that I am done, I only have 8 tiny little pin dot scars on my upper biceps. Totally worth considering, if you have the option.

mvspaulding how many chemo treatments are you having?

4 for me and no port.

avmom - good luck at your appt this morning! I hope you get good news and feel good about whatever treatment option they recommend!

As for the port... I had one, but I also had 16 rounds of chemo! I hated the port at first. It was uncomfortable when they put it in, and it creeped me out.It got better though, and it saved my veins! But I had a lot of treatments! They can prescribe you Emla cream and you blob that on the port before treatments. Works like a charm. I didn't really feel a thing!

got the call today finally on my Oncotype score and I do need the chemo. My breast surgeon called with the score and said I would need a port but my oncologist never mentioned a port. If I'm only doing 4 rounds maybe he didn't think one was necessary. At first the thought of one creeped me out but if it saves me from a bunch of needle sticks and possible damage to my veins then it's probably best.

Avmom, I hope your appointment went well. My thoughts are with you. Mvspaulding, I sorry you have to have chemo. When do you start? I start on December 3 and will have the port places the Tuesday prior. I was considering not having it but I'll be on Herceptin for 1 year so probably best for my veins. I dont want it in my chest though so I may ask for it in my arm. Dont know if they will go for that. PMR53, Do I have any input on the placement. I to would like it covered my my clothers.

Thats great that you dont need the port. I to would do that with 4 rounds. I know how devasted you are about chemo. It took me awhile to wrap my head around it. I am actually more scared and nervous than when I had surgery. Oh well like they say, it is what it is. I hope your 4 rounds goes quickly for you.

Hey Lemint - I start chemo on Dec 3rd and will be doing Herceptin for a year also (although my Herceptin doesn't start till mid January... I think?). I had my port put in last Thursday. It was, ehh, surprisingly more painful than I thought it'd be. Not knock me on my butt painful, more just constantly annoying. Just something new to get used to. Anyway, its like what appears to be everything else here, not enjoyable but doable. I have a sparrow tattooed on my chest and the doc put the port in under it so its not at all noticeable. When all is said and done (sometime early 2017? Geesh that's a looooong time from now!) I'll get the port out and the tattoo touched up. Voila! Never happened... Bras and summer wear aren't in my near future so I'm not even worried about that. One day at a time, right?