July 2016 Surgeries

Thank you all for the best wishes. Surgery went well today, I'm peeing blue, and all is as good as it can be.

Best to you josieg and whoever else is tomorrow. Be strong..we are all with you! LM525, I felt so nervous too and I talked with the kind and wonderful hospital staff I met along today's journey..it really helped me a lot. I hope you have a strong support person or people who calm you..that also helped me today. Anethesologist also gave me a drug(maybe Ativan?) when I told him how I was feeling and that was the icing on the cake.

Beth

Rest up beebs... glad to hear you're doing well.

That is an awesome idea Annie!

hi LibbyD I get where you're coming from I had a stress test was cleared but NO BS or PS would do immediate TE procedure I don't know why-- I'm not diabetic but did have a heart attack 2 years ago though they day that isn't the reason I'm wondering if it's the sz of my tumors I have 3 in different areas of Lt breast scheduled for Lt mast and SNB tomorrow trying to stay calm-- you didn't do anything bad it's not something you could help --- You're in my praye

Good evening everyone!

I want to send best of luck and healing thoughts and prayers to everyone on the other side of surgery!

I want to send best of luck and healing thoughts and prayers to all getting ready to have their surgery!

Molly, I think you and the rest will all have great experiences and come thru with flying colors!

Annie B, great idea on the eraser board! My DH did all the chores even tho we had company all week. My DD and her family were here to take care of me not my house. LOL

My adorable 3 year old DGS Jayce wanted to take me home with them. It broke my heart to see his tears. For some strange but wonderful reason he remembers EVERYTHING he and I have ever done together. Including the songs I'd sing to him at "sleepy time"! Everything since he was an infant! I haven't seen him in 10 months! How is that possible?! I love him and his family to pieces!

I had my follow up with the BS today. She is thrilled with the results of my DMX! She also had the results of my pathology report when I got there... 9 sentinel nodes were removed and 2 showed metastatic ductal carcinoma involvement, the 3 auxiliary nodes taken were clean. Due to my ER+ diagnosis I will be going to an Oncologist sometime next week. She's pretty confident of some type of hormone therapy or whatever it's called but very iffy on chemo. I'll take iffy :-)

I also had another follow up with my PS today and he pulled my drains! Yay me, I'm drain free!! The left one threw me for a loop! Oh My Goodness! Yes, it was very painful for me. I didn't even know he had pulled the right one, it just slide right out! He said it varies from one person to another and he won't tell anyone that it won't hurt. I start my fills next week if all is well. I'm already at 400ccs and we'll see how big I'll go but I'm thinking 700 to 800ccs. I'm so happy I don't have any stitches to be removed as he glued me back together!! lol

I hear pain pills calling to me not to far off in the distance. My energy level is returning slowly but it works for me!

Until next time my love to all!

HI Lori, did your results discuss LVI? That will help determine chemo as well. Normally if you have lymph node involvment you'd be a stage B... The LVI, as well as final size and Nottinghamscore will determine whether you have 1B or 2B. Your age also has a factor. I'm 41, with no involvement in the nodes and there's a change I'll have to have chemo and will definitely have Tamoxifen.

Hey Chelle, glad to hear you're recovering well! Hope everyone else who had surgery yesterday and today is resting and taking it easy. This wait is over. Of course today my brain started thinking about what the surgeon said and began moving forward to..what will be the results? Will there be clear margins? <sigh> I was hoping for a reprieve from anxious thoughts for at least a week after surgery.

Beth

Good morning all. It has been a while since I posted, in fact do not think I have since surgery a week ago yesterday. It definitely has been a rough week. The BMX apparently went well as well as TE with 300 cc. Margins clear in the left breast, nothing found in right breast and lymph nodes negative. Still waiting for HER2 as had shown equivocal in the past. BS referred me to a medical oncologist for determination of chemo and no radiation planned because of ATM gene. Am hoping for NO chemo and may request Onco typing. Saw my BS on Wednesday and she seemed pleased. Do not have to go back to her for 6 months. I am seeing the PS today and looking forward to his assessment. The drains are a pain in the butt even with the special camisole. Fluid amount is definitely decreasing but not sure I am at the point of removal yet. Chest tightness is generally the issue now and soreness at drain sites. I do have pain but moves around in location once the surgical nerve block wore off. Have been trying to stay off the narcotic pain meds but still needing at least 1 dose a day. I have always had a problem with constipation but it is really bad now. My usual dose of MiraLAX daily is not doing a thing and a a regular laxative for 2 nights has not produced anything, but a lot of gas. Last but not least is the swelling in my legs and have to keep them elevated all the time. Well, that about summarizes my week since surgery. I don't know what I would do without my husband who has taken care of my every need including washing and blow drying my hair. Today is his birthday and he said his present was the news that my lymph nodes were negative. I am blessed.

I am following you all through this journey and pray for positive outcomes.

Good morning everyone! I'm feeling pretty beat up this morning after yesterday's drain removal. My PS warned us about this so I'm not to concerned.

Lisey, thank you, if anyone help decipher this for me It would be greatly appreciated

Pathological Staging: pT1c and pN1a I think the T is for the tumor and N is for nodes??

LVI: Not identified ??

It's all pretty straight forward... NOT!

Lisey, I wonder why they have mine listed as pN1a? It's a grade 2, it didn't change from the first path report to this complete report.

I have an appointment on Tuesday with my Oncologist, I'm sure he can decipher it all for me. The things that make you go hhhmmmm

Many thanks for all of your wishes yesterday (loved the 'be in your pocket' expression Molly50 - hadn't heard that before!) - very pleased to have that over with! Had a bit of a last minute change in that they decided to do general anaesthesia instead of the conscious sedation I was expecting (still not sure why). Felt pretty groggy when I woke up in recovery but came right pretty quickly and not in much pain. So pleased I found this forum and therefore wasn't surprised at the blue pee - no one else mentioned that!

Surgeon said she thought lymph nodes looked pretty good but won't find out until pathology comes back in a week. Also did the spitting for genetic testing before surgery - they are testing a really wide panel so will be interesting to see how that goes. Now to browse rest of the forums to prepare for next phase which is most likely radiation and tamoxifen. I have added complication that I am meant to be starting a new job (I've taken the last 6 months off and traveled back from Australia to US) on Aug 8th and considering pushing that out a bit.

Best of luck to those having surgery today - thinking of you!

Ugh, the nurse said I have a SLIGHT seroma on my right non-breast on the follow up 7 day visit after getting the TEs out and going flat. The PS didn't do drains. I personally feel ok, but knowing there is a buildup and it could lead to infection scares me. She thinks my body will still ingest it, she says it feels to be 10ccs. Any advice or suggestions? Obviously I'll watch it and if it gets better, go in for draining, but I didn't want any seromas or complications dammit.. (