June 2016 Surgeries!

Maya15 - yes I've been in hospital since my mastectomy. The surgeon originally said I would be in 4-6 days. It has ended up being 8. He prefers you to go home with only one drain and I've had both sides draining beautifully. I also have two high energy kids and limited support at home so while I was happy to stay in hospital it was a better place to be recovery wise. I'm feeling all good now. I haven't needed any panadol today but I'm still taking the Pregabalin. My underarms are still stiff but movement is OK to 90 degrees. I can't go any higher until the drains come out. I suspect my right side will have full movement and my left side will need lots of physio to get full range of movement back.

Kellychameleon - that is disappointing you didn't get the complete response you were hoping for but its good the chemo was effective on the cancer. Yay for no drains soon. I hope you can share with us what the response means when you find out.

Hugs to all those still in recovery mode or anxious waiting for surgery

WenchLori - I have had all the level 1 & 2 lymph nodes of one arm removed. All the things you said were the same as I was told but it doesn't mean you can't do what you love. I was told to keep my hand and arm well moisturised with a thick cream. To minimise bug bites and sunburn I will need to always wear a long sleeved top and for gardening should wear thick gloves. I think fishing would be the same. In the event these precautions don't work and you do get a bite or scratch see a doctor straight away for treatment. Deep breaths - you can do it. I don't know anything about the wire. My lymph nodes were clearly affected so there was no question that they would come out and I would just have to manage the lymphadema risk

Good to hear WenchLori. I've just woke up from my morning nap and the world feels brighter. I just love that you can have friends (we will be soon)on the other side of the world living the same life you are that you can connect with.

I got my path results from the surgery today and I'm definitely feeling like a temporary citizen. They took the level 3 nodes as well as the level 2 and 20/20 are positive for cancer. How the ct and bone scan don't show cancer spread is anyone's guess. The floating cancer must just not have settled enough to be showing up. Also ER-/PR-/Her+ so there is some treatment they can use but I'll find out specifics on that next week. Anyway all up it doesn't look real good but not as bad as it could be. One day at a time and all that

I'm sorry to hear of your path report xxyzed! My healing thoughts and prayers are with you always! (((((xxyzed))))

Hi all - it's good to have reports on everyone who has had surgery! Your fortitude and positive energy is amazing. Xxyzed- I am sorry about your path results but it sounds like you have a good medical team who will guide you on a successful treatment plan. tsoebbin-your reconstruction plan sounds like it will be good for you. I know it must be a relief to have a plan in place. Continued good wishes for quick recoveries for all our June surgeries.

I met with my BS on Tues for pre-op consult. My tumor has shrunk about 20% during the 6 mos. on hormone therapy. Although we had hoped for a little more reduction, the smaller size may give her the chance to for skin sparing. Unfortunately the nipple is involved and won't be saved. I am very concerned about a finding on the MRI of a 5mm T2 hyperintense lesion in the mid sternal area. (still not quite sure what that means) Apparently it was observed but not noted in my Dec. MRI. The June MRI notes that their has been no change in the lesion but metastatic disease is a possibility. Now I am not only anxious about the surgery next week but in shock that my cancer may have already progressed.

One bit of humor - on my pre-op visit to the hospital I asked for a tour of the surgery department. They thought I was joking (I wasn't) I explained to them that my only other stay at a hospital was when I gave birth to my sons. We were given a tour of the maternity ward prior to the birth and I wonder why wouldn't that also work for pre-surgery.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new here. My surgery will be June 30. BMX. I was really surprised when they gave me my date and its 3 weeks away. My anxiety level is soooo high! Im trying to find things to do to keep my mind busy until then. I'm reading lots and lots of posts on this board too. It's really helpful to know I'm not alone. DH is supportive, but it's different for the one not going through it. He's really concerned about the financial side of things and stuff like that. Sometimes he forgets to be concerned about me too. Not intentionally of course!

Anyway, I look forward to getting to know everyone!

djm71, I am so sorry that you're here, but finding this site was really helpful to me, especially in the beginning. I don't post a ton but read a lot.

Try to keep yourself occupied and as busy as possible. Do as much as you can to prepare for the surgery - buy some comfort items, stock up on food, etc. It's totally natural to be anxious, depressed, and freaked out in the beginning. It will get better. My course of treatment was different - chemo first, then surgery, but getting things scheduled and having a plan in place helped the mental side of things greatly.

Good luck to you!

tsoebbin - I'm glad you are happy with your plan forward. It will give you something to work towards. I'm not so concerned with the report because it makes no difference to the treatment I would be having and the node status results were expected to be in the bad category anyway I just didn't expect all of the nodes including the next level up to be bad and I thought I would have some sort of positive hormone gene that could help out.

KellyChameleon - my surgery has been a breeze. The team know I have it tough and are really looking after me. Also it's my first step so I'm not worn out yet from all the treatment to date. I think the order you do things in makes a huge difference to how hard it feels as well as a whole lot of luck. You're well on the road and must be feeling like an old hand at this cancer business now said no one ever. It just sux.

WenchLori - great name. The study sounds interesting. I can understand how disapointed you must be in your surgery delay. I know these things happen but don't they realise how damaging it is to your mental wellbeing. Support yourself with whatever you've got. Im not sure about the wire. It's normally used to make sure they get the right spot so for a lumpectomy but you're having a mastectomy anyway or a sentinel node biopsy. Maybe it's so hey know which lymph nodes to look at do they don't take any unnecessarily. You'll have to call your team to get clarification.

Djm71 - welcome. I find it helpful to spread myself around between friends for support. It's a big ask to put all your emotional download onto one person. Personally I would try to download on a counsellor and leave your husband for love and cuddles in the middle of the night. None of us know if this is just a small speed bump in a long and fruitful life or a rapid race towards an early finish line. We are in a fragile balance and hugs are always good without the expectations we place on people. When my husband was sick he spent what little energy he had on the kids and his friends and none on me. He said it was because I was strong enough and he didn't have enough energy to go around. It was hurtful and he was wrong. I wasn't strong enough and needed his love as well.

Lunderwood - not long to wait now. It's horrible when the find new things to make you worry that were there all along but they didn't notice. Surely if it was something the chemo would have changed it so by being the same doesn't that make it assumed b9 anyway.

Maya15 - thx for your understanding. I think we're going to become good friends. I don't really understand what the er/pr- thing means other than hormonal therapies aren't effective and it puts us on the lower survival curve lines on the graphs but still not real bad odds. I haven't met my oncologist yet. I'm told she is the one to have around this area, no bullshit and big on trials. I am also crapping myself about any reconstruction which would be a long time away. I'm really hoping I grow to like FrankenChest and can skip the reconstruction phase.

Aahh this is all too hard. My kids missed me terribly while I was in hospital so I went to bed sore after having them knocking all my bits with their enthusiastic love. I'm sad because my kids tell everyone they expect me to die in two years like their dad and granddad. I've told them breast cancer isn't like that but we were told the same for my husband and dad and that's not what happened. I'm going to call the counsellor again and see what they suggest. Life is just so unfair sometimes. I shouldn't be needing to deal with this I should be living a life in ignorant bliss of all things cancer.

I always say my goal each day is to live through it preferably out of bed and dressed. I'm pretty sure I can manage that today.

I have a tentative surgery date of June 29 @ 6:00am. I need to stop by the hospital on the 28th at 3:30 to have the dye put in for the lymph node testing. The plastic surgeon also wants to stop by her office to do some marking up on me the day before even though I won't have reconstruction for several months afterwards. Her thought was we can prepare me for DIEP recon if I choose it by what tissue breast surgeon takes / leave behind.

How uncomfortable is the contrast dye injection?

Lunderwood.... so much to learn, isn't there!

Thanks Huskerfan! Still trying to wrap my head around what to expect each step of the way.