December 2015 Surgeries

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  • QueenElizabethTheFaux
    QueenElizabethTheFaux Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2015

    Hi all, I'd like to join this group. My lumpectomy, lymph node removal, port placement and reconstruction is set for Dec. 11, 2015. (My cancer surgeon was surprised that the plastic surgeon is going to do his surgery immediately after she's finished. But I'm quite "top heavy" & he plans to use tissue from my non-cancerous breast to fill in the hole she will leave after she performs the lumpectomy.)

    Anyway, I look forward to meeting each of you and learning how to cope with recovery from surgery. Chemotherapy will follow, a few weeks after surgery.

    I'm nervous but best of luck to all of us!

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  • MrsGreenJeans
    MrsGreenJeans Member Posts: 95
    edited November 2015

    Welome, Queen, although I'm sorry you have to join us. This forum is a great place with wonderful people and lots of helpful information. Best of luck to you.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited November 2015

    Queen, you might want to have your surgeon hold off “taking a bit off the top” from your healthy breast and plugging it into your lumpectomied one: you might be surprised by the size of the seroma that forms in the tumor cavity--mine was big enough before radiation to keep my operated breast the same size (I cup) as before surgery---and now that I’m 15/16 done with rads, it’s swollen (J cup) to the point where I’ve nicknamed it Teenage Mutant Ninja Tit-tle (hey, the TMNTs got that way from radiation exposure, right)? If you don’t develop a big enough seroma, there are partial “shell” forms you can buy to fill out the cup until your operated breast settles down to its eventual shape--and then get the two surgically evened out if you still want to. I know rads are a long way off for you, since chemo comes first; but they can often cause a breast to, er, “blossom."

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2015

    Thanks JerseyGirl22. Unfortunately this is my 3rd night in hospital on IV antibiotics. My neutrophils have climbed to a whopping 0.5 Yes that was sarcasm. Chemo sucks.

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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2015

    Oh, Smurfette26, I'm so sorry you have to endure this! I'm praying for you! Yes, chemo sucks!!!! You're strong and courageous!!!! Warrior on!

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  • QueenElizabethTheFaux
    QueenElizabethTheFaux Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2015

    Thank you MrsGreenJeans. You're so right...this discussion board is fantastic. There's many great people, & helpful info, on here!

    ChiSandy, oh boy! I was not given ANY info about developing the seroma & will discuss it w/the cancer surgeon and plastic surgeon this week! Yes, the goal was supposed to be that they end up "matching." Thank you so much for letting me know. (Makes me wonder what else the Drs haven't bothered to tell me.)
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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2015

    Welcome QueenElizabethTheFaux! Sorry you have to go through this journey, but I'm glad you found this thread! We're all warriors... every battle is different, but as warrior women, we can fight alongside each other!


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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2015

    Thanks for the support and encouragement Jersey x

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  • songbird72
    songbird72 Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2015

    Hi everyone. I am waiting to here back from the surgeon but the tentative surgery date is the first week of December. I am having a UMX with sentinel LN's dissected during surgery. If my genetic test comes back before surgery and it is positive, I will have a bilateral (one with IDC and one prophylactic). Hoping not to have radiation. Wishing everyone lots of luck on their surgeries!

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  • QueenElizabethTheFaux
    QueenElizabethTheFaux Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2015

    Thank you, JerseyGirl22! : )

    And a "Welcome" shout out songbird72 in this December 2015 surgery group. Good luck w/your surgery, too...and I hope you don't have to have radiation. xoxo

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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2015

    Welcome songbird72.... we're all in this together!

    MrsGreenJeans, I'll be coming home from surgery the day you go in. I'll be sure to be praying for you that day...

    Smurfette26, keeping you in my prayers... Hope you are out of hospital soon!

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  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2015

    smurfettte-so sorry you're going through this. Prayers headed your way! Being in the hospital is not fun, at least for me. Spent 4 days there in september after I ended up with a post op infection that required iv antibiotics. Noisy place. I work in a hospital, and gained a new respect for patients trying to rest.

    Surgery-a week from Friday. Trying to keep the anxiety in check. Was gonna buy one of those shower shirts online. $69, what? And the nice shirts sold with drain pockets...$50. Seriously crazy prices for something I'm gonna use a few weeks..... at Christmas time, and when I'm out of work. So I'm looking at a cheap waterproof windbreaker that I can modify the sleeves on to make shorter. $15. Just an idea. And button down flannels from the men's department.

    Anyone else looking at alternatives who have other suggestions?

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  • NJ-Jen
    NJ-Jen Member Posts: 64
    edited November 2015

    I saw that some people took long shirts with pockets and cut thru the inside so they could slip the drains in from the inside. Then it just looks like a normal shirt. If it is knit, it may not fray. I would also ask friends and friends of friends if they sew as a few seams can add pockets to front open pocket shirt. It may not look great... But it will function. I got a bunch of cheap shirts on clearance at kohls.

    People were saying large safety pins can be used to pin the drains, but I would be afraid that it would open up. You basically want to rig something that you can move and sleep, get at them to clean them out but not yank at them.

    I have also seen people sell the used shirts for a discount or give away free, even here. The lanyard you can use to hold the drains in the shower you can find at places like five below. So once you can take a shower those are $2-$3 in most places maybe cheaper.

    I hope you can find a cost effective system for you or even a free or low cost shirt.

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  • ramprat
    ramprat Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2015

    Hi Ladies,

    Finally done with my 6th round of chemo on Nov 12th, and been scheduled for double mastectomy on Dec 10th. Scared and worried about the surgery. Does any one has a list what we might need before and after surgery ?


    Praying for all the brave ladies who are going through his phase.

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  • QueenElizabethTheFaux
    QueenElizabethTheFaux Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2015

    If you're having underarm lymph node removal (like I am) my mom, an RN, recommended that I buy button up or zip up shirts, pajamas & sports bras. Mom said I won't be able to easily lift up my arm overhead for several weeks.

    Hope that helps. Bt, I found a really good zip up Playtex brand sports bra via Walmart. (But it took over a week for it to arrive in the mail.)

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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2015

    NJ-Jen Great ideas... I, too, found some clearance shirts at Kohl's that will do... I'm going with the large safety pins for the drains. I was talking to a nurse yesterday and she said they work great and shouldn't open... we'll see, I guess. Was blessed with some fleece button down pjs, and slipper socks. I also found some clearance hoodies with pockets, that if I turn them inside out, the pockets will hold the drains, too.

    ramprat, my partial list for hospital is... pjs, slippers/slipper socks, underwear, beanies, toothbrush/paste, Simple face wipes, Kindle, phone and charger... there's a great document on the Flat and Fabulous website, is has a really concise list of what to expect, what to take with, etc...

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  • songbird72
    songbird72 Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2015

    Finally got a surgery date---Wednesday, December 2nd. Still awaiting genetic test results--I'm hoping they are back before surgery. Now starting the "planning" phase of surgery. I've gotten several button up shirts, a wedge pillow for the bed, and am working on the rest. Hugs everyone!

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  • Jbandkb1
    Jbandkb1 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2015

    Hi ladies new to this thread. I will be having BMX on 12/30 then radiation. I completed chemo 11/3. I had a lumpectomy and SNB back in June. Just had ovaries and tubes removed yesterday. Nice to find this board and hear all the great advice.

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2015

    There is a comprehensive list here:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics…

    Hope it helps.

    I bought quite a few button up shirts but didn't really need as many as I had. Some I didn't even wear. Still haven't worn.

    I saw a physiotherapist twice before leaving hospital and was diligent with my exercises. Within a few days I was able to lift my arm high enough to pull a cami or t-shirt over my head. Was able to manage washing my own hair within a few days too.

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  • MrsGreenJeans
    MrsGreenJeans Member Posts: 95
    edited November 2015

    Hey songbird, we are birds of a feather. My surgery is scheduled for the same day, and I am also awaiting genetic testing results, although I do not expect them to be in by that date.

    I am pretty well set, have what I need but just need to get it all organized and put together. That will be my after-Thanksgiving weekend project.

    I will be thinking of you on the 2nd.

    JerseyGirl, looks like you are first up in this group. Here's wishing you a successful, trouble free surgery.

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited November 2015

    Hey Ladies,

    Just checking in to say hi and announce that I'm scheduled for my second (prophylactic) MX on 12/30, along with a revision to my original mastectomy scar; I've decided against recon. I have my last TCHP infusion tomorrow, so I hope I'm strong enough by the end of December to go through with this! I'm supposed to return to work on 1/10--we'll see how that shakes out. . . . Since it's prophylactic (we lopped off the cancery boob back in July), there will be no node dissection, but I'm sure there'll be a drain.

    As for inexpensive drain holders: a great option is a zippered hoodie, worn inside out. They also make great camisoles with velcro drain pockets, but those run about $45. Insurance will cover them some of the time--it's worth checking out. My first time around, I was able to stick my drain in the pockets of an old pair of sweatpants--it all depends on how long the tubing is. My vote is a cheap zippered hoodie.

    Nice to meet all of you, though I wish it were under slightly different circumstances. . . .

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  • songbird72
    songbird72 Member Posts: 68
    edited November 2015

    Mrsgreenjeans I hope everything goes well for you on the 2nd. I am scrambling trying to get everything ready!

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  • ramprat
    ramprat Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2015

    Hi Ladies,


    Its a good idea to use a old hoodie for the drains, I might consider this..

    Jbandkb1- welcome to the group

    JerseyGirl - thanks for the ideas...will be shopping this weekend for the things I would need at the time of surgery.

    MrsGreenJea, Jbandkb1, songbird72 , KateB79- wishing you the trouble free surgery.

    Hugs to all!!

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  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2015

    Hi ladies. Had my preop anesthesia appt yesterday, immediately followed by a visit to cancer rehab, then straight to surgeon for last appt before surgery. Reality is hitting me. Was diagnosed 8/25, been living in denial and being forced out of it finally. Was told I woukd probably have 5 drains. Urgh. 2 on each side and one where the node dissection will be. I am panicking now. Single mom with Christmas in a few weeks. Trying not to com0lain, I know there are so many in worst situations. And trying to get everything done this weekend. My oldest son is coming over to move a recliner in my bedroom. Glad to have gotten that advice here.

    I found primenow last night at amazon. If you have that available where you live, you need to try it. I ordered groceries and they were delivered to my door. Amazing. Even ordered paper towels, pants for my son and a few presents. All delivered in 3 hours.

    Doc did say they would send off my tumor for oncotype test and refer me to genetics since this is my 2nd cancer and my age. I was negative for brca 10 years ago but she says there is more genetic testing available now. We'll see.

    Hope everyone is feeling well and has a great Thanksgiving!

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  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2015

    Hi Everyone!

    For all those who celebrate it, I pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving! For those who don't celebrate Thanksgiving Day, give thanks for being here! Y'all are an amazing group of strong, courageous women, and I'm thankful you're out here...

    BethL - You'll be in my prayers continually as your surgery approaches...

    Bit of anxiety as my surgery is Monday... It's all good... I just want to get on with it and get on to recovery. With two teenagers at home, life is interesting. They are great kids! They've been handling this whole thing really well, but I think that it's sinking in lately with surgery...



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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited November 2015

    I'm late to the party here. I'm Triple Negative, with IDC and DCIS. Having a lumpectomy on 12/10, but am second guessing my decision. Recovery is easier with a lumpectomy, but then I have to have radiation. If I choose a mastectomy, then no rads, but then I have to have lymph nodes out. There is no evidence of lymph node involvement on the MRI. Had the genetic testing done, but results probably won't be back by my surgery date.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  • Gabby56b
    Gabby56b Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2015

    I had my mastectomy right side with tissue expanders on Oct 13. The anesthesiologist put a pain catheter in my back before surgery...On-C. This was great. It lasted 5 days, so I came home from the hospital with it in. My husband just took it out on my 3rd day home from the hospital. Wasn't sure what to expect and was very nervous. But it did the trick. Pain was very manageable with Tylenol, and after the catheter came out, didn't need anything.

    good luck to everyone.

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  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 147
    edited November 2015

    Hi ladies, I am scheduled for my exchange to implants on December 15th. I had my pre-op appointment on Tuesday. I can not wait!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited November 2015

    Anyone having breast pain pre-surgery? I don't know if it is due to the 5 biopsies I had, or if the cancer is growing.

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  • MrsGreenJeans
    MrsGreenJeans Member Posts: 95
    edited November 2015

    maxdog, how exciting for you. Best of luck with your exchange!

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