January 2016 Surgeries

Thank you so much for starting this thread! I'm scheduled for a lumpectomy with intraoperative radiation therapy, and reduction in the other breast on January 18th. Mixed IDC/ILC.If it has clean margins, I may not have to have additional radiation! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed

Surgery scheduled (finally) for Jan. 13th. I really don't want to wait that long but that is the soonest they can get me into the schedule for both BS and PS. My goal now is to try to relax a bit and enjoy the holidays.

@SVG-I noticed our timelines were similar too, my last chemo is tomorrow! Moved to Fridays once I got on Taxol since I'm still working full time and the SEs are much less. Glad to be done and moving on! Congrats to you too!

Good luck ladies! I am still awaiting test results. And do not have a recovery plan yet. But I just wanted to wish you well and send (((HUGS))) your way! Take Care!

I am brand spanking new to this forum so forgive me for not knowing all the abbreviations. I am having surgery, a left breast lumpectomy and sentinal node removal on January 6th. It seems like I've been waiting forever, it's been a few months. I am stage 1A, both hormones+ and Her2-. After that I will have the oncotype test to determine whether or not I will need chemo. I will have 15 to 19 doses of daily radiation because my hospital hasn't yet been approved by the government to do radiation at the time of surgery.

hello grandma, the melatonin worked great last night. I woke up about an 30 minutes before my alarm went off and had a lot of energy today at work. I also take Trazodone sometimes, a scrip from my doc. But it leaves me not wanting to get out of bed. And I'm always afraid I am going to over sleep. As far as genetic testing, my doc suggested it as soon as I told her that my brother had BC a few months ago in May. I do have a few other relatives who have other types of cancer as well. Had my brother not traveled this road recently and is doing great, I would be a basket case and freaking out BIG TIME! It never hurts to ask your doc about testing.

Hello SVG, My bro had BC in May. He had genetic testing, not sure what kind he had or I had. His was negative. But the docs just wanted to make sure and had me tested. My sisters have not had testing. But they all recently had negative mammograms.

Hope everyone if feeling well today. Take Care!

Thank you sharsand. I so much appreciate your prayers and well wishes and please know that I am praying for all of you as well. 

I tried melatonin last night without much success. I took the recommended dose on the bottle (I'll have to go look at the mg dosage) but slept pretty poorly. Yesterday I got results of my abdominal CT showing that all was clear except for "minor inguinal adenopathy". I had to look it up - it's the lymph nodes in my groin. I'm having the CT read again by the radiologist at John Hopkins, where I'm having my surgery. Hoping the swelling is not a sign that the cancer has spread. 

On the bright side, I've convinced my daughter to start going to the gym with me every morning. I'm determined to build up some muscle in my arms and shoulders before surgery. My BS also sent me an order for PT to get a baseline before surgery, which I will do the first week of January. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Thinking of all of you ladies as January approaches.

About a month ago I ran into an old friend, lady I used to work with. She found a lump. Luckily she was going to the same center as I do for her diagnostic ultrasound. I recommended a doc abs we have been each other's support throughout this.

Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it??

Hello Ladies, Sorry Merymete that both you and your friend are going through this but at least you both have someone to talk to.

Good morning Grandma, I'm sorry for your anxiety. But feel free to PM me if you need to talk. I am like you as far as trying to remain positive and strong on the outside. But I have always been one to stuff the things that bother me until they build up and boil over. Basically, that is what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is. And that is what I have due to my military service and the events of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

My brother found out in May that he had breast cancer. No it is not hereditary. But he had surgery to remove it within a few days of his DX. And he asks me why my doc is taking so long to get this thing out.

Do you feel like this is taking forever? I was diagnosed about a week before you and I have yet to see anyone to discuss my treatment plan. Because I am a Disabled Veteran, I normally use the VA healthcare system. But they really seem to be dragging their feet on every aspect of this situation. Of course I was taking tests and that was part of the hold up. I am really considering going to MD Anderson to get it done right after my company insurance kicks in, in Jan. Hell that's only 11 days away. And the VA seems to be taking too much of a lackadaisical approach to my healthcare.

I was waiting for an appointment to see a surgeon to get a treatment plan. After giving them a week, I finally called today and they have not received a referral from the VA.

Sorry to be ranting like this but I guess the damn blew before I knew what happened.

Thanks Grandma. It was my honor to serve. My thanks goes out to your Husband and Son for their service to our country and also to you for being the support behind the scenes. I feel that Military families do not get enough credit for all the sacrifices they make. It is those who are left behind to hold down the fort and keep things together while we are gone who deserve all the credit in the world. I am thankful that your son has not seen combat. I compare going to war with childbirth. You cannot imagine how it feels and it is hard to describe to someone who has not gone through it.

I have been trying all day to get in contact with this VA lady who is the coordinator of my care. It has been an exercise in futility. She does not answer the phone. And in the past, when she does answer the phone, she is scatter brained. I know she is overworked due to the fact that someone in her office is out and she is doing twice the work. I know this is just the administrative part but if they cannot coordinate such simple tasks as appointment scheduling and referals, how can I trust that they are capable of more important details of my treatment and my overall healthcare? I'm just venting. Thanks for listening.

I guess at this point my concern is the cancer growing and spreading, as you stated.

I know what I need to do is get busy and stop letting these frustrations get the best of me. I'm off to clean my house and make better use of my time.

Thanks for listening. I know there are women here with bigger and more serious issues so I will shut up and stop complaining.

Thanks, SVGsurvive - I'm sorry you have to wait so long between chemo and surgery! - but at least it will give you time to get your strength back.
Over the past 2 months I've thought a lot about why not knowing is more frightening than knowing. I think it's because we are like Schroedinger's poor cat - we are already on a path, but just don't know which one. We live in a state of limbo between multiple realities and it's exhausting because we have to live our lives as if each path is still possible. Once I knew my surgery date, I felt much calmer because I could discard any plans I had made in my head for what to do if the surgery was before the new year, or even before Christmas. I still don't like waiting, but at least now I know my path.
Wishing you all a very happy Tuesday!
Kathy

Welcome, Balthus! Looks like our diagnosis was around the same time (my mammogram on Oct. 27th identified ILC in left breast). You are right - it's been a wild ride to say the least!

My 2nd opinion reading of the CT came back with suspicious spot on my spine (no mention of inguinal nodes this time!). The radiologist said it is most likely age-related degeneration (arthritis) but with my BC it's recommended that I get a bone scan. I'm trying to set that up for next week so that I'll have the results before surgery on the 13th. Another small lesion was seen on my liver, but nobody is concerned about that one.

Happy Wednesday to all of you!

This is my first post, although I've been reading and taking inspiration from all of you for several months now. I want to send holiday greetings and thanks to each of you on this very special Christmas day. I will have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on January 11th and I will post more about my journeyiin a few days after my son, who is dealing with his own cancer diagnosis, returns to his home. I hope you all are surrounded by supportive family and friends at this time. Peace to all!