January 2016 Surgeries

Thanks Balthus that is a good reference guide.

Gemma12. Glad to hear you are doing so well. It is encouraging to hear you are progressing. I am sorry if you already posted this but how long before surgery did you have to go in to the hospital to have the dye injected for the snb part. My bs said if my surgery time is early in the morning that I may have to go the day before to have the dye injected. I am hoping not to have to do that. I have enough anxiety about going to the hospital. I was just curious how long the dye takes to get to nodes

Jr114 - My surgery was schedule for 12:30 PM. They told me to show up at 7AM. Seemed a bit early to me. After the all the intake stuff I started the process around 9AM. I first went to radiology for the wire placement. I had 2 areas being removed so 2 wires were placed, and checked for accuracy by mammogram. Next I went to nuclear med and had the radioactive isotope injections. I was nervous about that, but it was a breeze. I had heard it was 4 injections, but it was one, but maybe it was a 4 prong stick, like a TB shot. The radiologist told me to massage the area to spread the stuff around. I did for a bit, and it didn't hurt or become uncomfortable at all. I had a headache after, which I think was mainly due to the position I had to hold during the wire placement on the stereotactic table, and the fact I hadn't had my morning coffee. I took a nap in the pre-op and next thing I knew I was seeing my surgeon and the rest of the team.

I could have had surgery at a surgical center instead of the hospital.. it all depended on where my BS could get in. If I had the surgical center, I would have had to travel to her office for the surgical prep, and then to the surgical center for the actual surgery. I'm glad I had it done at the hospital. One stop shopping.

Good luck with your procedure!

Amy

JR114 - I am doing my SNB on Tuesday before my surgery. I was told to be at hospital at 7AM. They will take me back for injections at 730AM.

I spoke with someone in Nuclear Medicine who does this part yesterday & she said the injections themselves would take about 15 minutes, She said I would get 3 injections per breast near the nipple. She said they use a children's needle.

This is the person who told me not to use the Emla cream - their protocol does not call for it or the lidocaine in the injections - because it affects the imaging. But I told her my BS prescribed it so she backed down.

She also told me not to be upset if they do nit get any image sod nodes later. This happens based on metabolism & body functions.

She said I'd get dressed and be let out to waiting area with my husband but to massage the breasts and walk around so that the injections could "marinate".

She said they like to have 2 hours until they do the imaging so they will probably take me back at 9:30.

They I will go to surgery pre-op waiting area, My surgery is at 11:30 (it was 11 - I think my BS squeezed someone in-between her 7AM and me).

The tech said my BS in addition to their scan will still use a probe & the blue dye to look for the SN,

Hope that helps.

well ladies, looks like my surgical plan has changed. More radiologists looked at my mammograms and consulted with each other and the rad onc and then told the BS that they would recommend mastectomy. The area of new calcs that is separate from the mass are new. A sample biopsied negative but they don't feel confident that they can promise no disease there, and they don't feel confident monitoring it going forward. So on one hand, I'm bummed. On the other, less surveillance anxiety. Ugh.

I'm still scheduled for Lx and SLN on Thursday. BS can switch to Mx that day. But if I want immediate recon, then he will do Lx as planned and schedule Mx plus recon at a later date.

UGH more decisions!!!! I'm meeting with a PS on Monday primarily to discuss skin saving Mx and direct to implant. I think it's either that or I go flat and tattoo. I HAVE NO IDEA how I'm going to make this decision

Jr114- My surgery starts at 7:30am Tuesday so I have to go for the RI injection for the SNB on Monday at 3. Not looking forward to it but hoping it is not as bad as my mind is thinking! My BS prescribe the emla cream and said to use the whole tube. 😕

Thoughts, prayers, and good vibes to everyone having surgery this week! And healing prayers for those in recovery

Mominator - thanks for the suggestion about photos. My daughter gave me a journal for Christmas and I may put the photos in as well to document my journey.

Jr114 - you and I are on the same day - I know what you mean by getting on with it! I'm so ready for this part to be over.

We have made it through the first week! Kaybee2545, Gemma12, Neen56, Vidrine1, and MKTCA - thank you for posting about your experiences - it has been really helpful.

hey everyone! My surgery is scheduled exactly 12 hours from now. Praying for strength and smooth surgery, and very thankful to have found my doctors. I'm nervous, afraid, yet excited. It's been 7 months since my diagnosis, and this is it, I've cried, laughed, anguished over this surgery for too long. I just want to get it over with, and move on! Wishing the best to everyone else having ttheir proceduresthis week. See you on the other side!

27heart - sending thoughts and prayers your way!

I like the idea of focusing on things we are thankful for: For me, I'm thankful for the radiologist who finally noticed something wrong with my mammogram (took 2 years to convince them that something wasn't right), I'm thankful that my ob-gyn moved back into town and believed me, I'm thankful for my surgeon who has been so reassuring and just makes me feel calm, I'm thankful for the radiologist who contacted me directly to let me know my bone scan was clean so that I would not have to worry about it over a holiday weekend, I'm thankful for the anesthesiologist who sent me his cell phone number and agreed to meet before surgery to talk about my concerns. I'm thankful for my job and the amazing support I've received from my boss, co-workers, and students. I'm thankful for my family, neighbors and friends who are doing whatever they can to make this less stressful.

Happy Sunday! Rest up - it's going to be a big week for the 14 of us

(edited to include Snowmagick and RLMin the count!)

Hi RLM - I had the first Dx after a mammogram showed an area of increased density. I had a biopsy, which confirmed the first Dx, then my surgeon sent me for an MRI because lobular cancer (ILC) is difficult to spot on mammogram. The MRI showed another spot in the same breast, which they then biopsied and found out it was also ILC. So it's not really a recurrence, just that it's multifocal and each area was discovered separately a few weeks apart. ILC is notorious for being multifocal, so it was not a surprise. I was just happy that it was not found in the other breast.

(Edited) Also wanted to say that I have not begun any treatments yet - the only thing I've had are diagnostic tests to see where the cancer is, what kind it is and if it has spread anywhere. My surgery this week will be the first step in my treatment, followed by an appointment with the oncologist in early February.

I agree Grandma3x.....there are many things to be thankful for and I keep telling myself it could always be worse.A year ago when I went for my very first biopsy (12/23/14)I never thought I would be where I am. After seeing two prior surgeons that told me I should just "wait and see" I was totally frustrated and worried. Finally in April 2015 I went and saw my current breast surgeon and she was very knowledgeable and confirmed that something wasn't right. I am very thankful that I did not listen to the first 2 Drs. Who knows where I would have been if I would have just waited. Grandma3x.... I am glad you followed you gut and pursued that something wasn't right. It was the same for me.

27heart - Good luck tomorrow....sending calming thoughts your way.

Sending positive thoughts to everyone going in for surgery this week. Also hoping that everyone that had surgery last week a quick recovery.

Sending healing thoughts to our trailblazers who have completed their surgeries:

Kaybee2545 , Gemma12 , Neen56 , Vidrine1 , MKTCA

Gemma12: Great news on your results! I'm so glad to hear you're doing well. I grew up in Massachusetts as well.

Sending calming thoughts to our ladies who are having surgery this week:

1/11/16 - scubagirl01 , 27heart , Unbreakable01

1/12/16 - JulieAggie03 ,Balthus , Snowmagick

1/13/16 - grandma3X , Jr114 , Kessa619

1/14/16 - PositivePeg , BlueHeron , JerseyRenee01

1/15/16 - SVGsurvive , RLM

27heart: a double dose of calming thoughts to you.

Unbreakable01: I'm sure any photos you have will be helpful for your journey. I am looking forward to hearing about your closure. I'm sorry about your UTI. I hope that has cleared by now.

Blue Heron: wishing your well with your decision for the recon. I am liking my recon so far.

I've ask SVGsurvive to add:

1/12/16 Snowmagick lumpectomy with SNB

1/15/16 RLM lumpectomy with wire localization

Wishing everyone has (or had) smooth surgeries and speedy recoveries.

I wish there was a "like" button on this website like on Facebook. There are so many posts I'd like to "like"

Amy

Balthus- good luck with the hypnotism! I hope it works for you! Sleeping is hit and miss for me. I slept well last night but hardly at all the night before. Just wish my brain had an off switch!

Blueheron (love that name!) - I questioned my PS about the 10 year exchange for implants and she said that they don't normally do that unless there is a problem. She recommended getting an MRI every 2 years to check them. My sister has silicone implants and I think they have been in for 20 years.

Scubagirl, 27heart and unbreakable - healing thoughts and prayers coming your way!

For all: