August 2016 Surgeries

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  • thereisnodespair
    thereisnodespair Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2016

    jay 8 wishing you all the best for tomorrow. really really really it is not at all as "bad" as you are probably imagining right now. the important thing is to look at this surgery as the beginning of your HEALING!!! good luck to you and LoveMyVizsla and all the women about to have surgery....

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  • s1d1c1u1
    s1d1c1u1 Member Posts: 63
    edited August 2016

    Good luck today, Kristin0520 and ayr1016! Will keep you ladies in my thoughts. Update us when you're feeling uo to it.

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  • Bagsharon
    Bagsharon Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2016

    Had my post-op today. Dr. was impressed with how well I'm healing but she didn't have the best news. Good news: I had good margins so no re-excision. Mediocre news: Only one lymph node had tumor cells but they were tiny and isolated so it is considered negative (pNi+). Bad news: the tumor is both larger and faster growing than previously determined. My grade went from 1 to 2 and my clinical stage I went to surgical II. So now it looks like I will need chemo in addition to radiation and hormone therapy.

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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    Hi everyone, Had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy yesterday. All went very well, with the exception that it took SIX tries for them to get an IV in. Was finally put in in the OR by the anesthesiologist. I suspect that a week-long hospitalization I had about five years ago with pancreatitis may have wrecked my veins. I'm completely black and blue.

    But other than that, this surgery went so much better than the last one I had three years ago to repair a broken wrist. I was a wreck after that one, this one was like a walk in the park! No nausea at all! And today I had a home visit from a nurse (not that I think I needed it but we can thank Ontario Health Care for that). Surgeon's report was they got all the cancer and the lymph nodes looked good! :) So I am going to go with that thought until my follow-up which isn't until Sept. 2.

    Any ladies that are worried about surgery, I hope my experience can allay your fears. I even feel pretty good today, just a little tired. Wishing lots of luck to all of you who have surgeries coming up!

    PS A question: To take a probiotic to prevent yeast infection, is there any other way to take this besides yogurt? (which makes me gag).

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  • thereisnodespair
    thereisnodespair Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2016

    B"H

    Bagsharon - hi! I just saw your post..... it must be really hard to hear both good and not such great news at the same time.... i can imagine you are disappointed thaqt you may have to do chemo ... i'm sure we woulkd all love to skip that particular part of the journey - but i have been told that the good side to it is that they have something they can actually do that should help you in the long run. The fact that you don't have to have more surgery is great - not just becaus having any op is the pits - but because that really is clinically a great sign! Myt heart really dies go out to you - we all have to work soooo hard and keep in mind that all of this is for the sake of our healing!

    all the best!!!!!

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  • s1d1c1u1
    s1d1c1u1 Member Posts: 63
    edited August 2016

    Fiddler I'm so happy your surgery went well! Seems like you have a long wait for your follow up appt. I have a 2 week wait and I thought that was long.

    Sharon I'm sorry you have to go through chemo. For me, it was the hardest part of this entire treatment. Still, I'm happy to hear that they got all the tumor out and you don't need more surgery. Do you know what kind of chemo? AC was awful but Taxol wasn't bad. Hair started growing back by my 3rd week of Taxol and I'm just now starting to get some eyebrows back.

    LoveMyVizsla and jay8 good luck today! You got this :-)

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  • Bagsharon
    Bagsharon Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2016

    Fiddler: I'm not afraid of needles and often donate blood but six stabs would terrify me. As far as the probiotics go, I'm going to get up on my personal opinion box which is just that and not any kind of medical advice. Let's call probiotics what it is: bacteria. It's a living organism. You can get it in a tablet form but there is no way that it is still alive and it's not going to reanimate in your gut. But you can get it just about any fermented food: yogurt, sauerkraut, sourdough, pickles, cheese, miso, etc. I hope it is something other than the sourness in yogurt that makes you gag because otherwise you're not going to like the alternatives.

    Thereisnodespair and s1d1c1u1, thank you so much for your encouragement. It means a lot to me.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    I'm reclining here on my bed waiting for the surgeon to come talk to me, pre-surgery. I'm hungry!! LOL.

    Aside from the constipation, I think AC chemo was easier for me than taxol. They now have me down as allergic to it. But, I was also given 3 weeks between AC treatments instead of two, and I felt great the third week.

    We have to take this in stages, unpleasant as they may be. They bring us one step closer to NED.

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  • TNpotato
    TNpotato Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2016

    Thinking of all you lovely ladies going into surgery and those who are in recovery! ((Big hugs!))

    To all you going in soon: jay8, MirandaPriestly, LoveMyVizsla - good luck and positive thoughts for you all!

    Bagsharon - I'm so sorry to hear you'll need chemo added to the treatment pile! Do you know what kind they're thinking of? I will say that AC+T was no 'walk in the park', and SE's are definitely different for each of us, but looking back it was definitely worth it. For me, the SE's were manageable and the worst part was just fatigue. You can do this! :) I'm sure you're already checking out the chemo section here - it was a GREAT source of comfort to me to get ideas to mitigate SEs. (And I didn't find this site until after I'd started chemo! Didn't even know there were cold caps or I would have been trying that as well!)

    Fiddler - SIX tries for them to get an IV!! :( Ok, I thought that it was bad when it took them 3 tries to get my IV in for my chemo port op! I hope the bruising heals soon. What's the phrase, 'adding insult to injury'? Not fair...

    s1d1c1u1 - "Dr. took 3 nodes out and none were cancerous " woohoo! That's news to celebrate! :)) I'm so glad the AC+T kicked your cancer's butt!!

    Milwmama - How are you feeling? You had the 'double whammy' - BMX + ooph so I'm guessing recovery is slower but hopefully not too painful?

    Dennyse - Hope you are feeling better after the fall! :)

    To anyone I missed (I lose track scrolling back thru the posts!) - Warm, healing thoughts from me to you!

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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    Bagsharon, thanks for the info on probiotic. Not sure how I will get that. sorry you have to have chemo. :( Is this because you are stage 2 or is there some other indication? My tumour was 2.2 cm with a smaller one adjacent. The surgeon (before my operation) said it was stage 2. They also said grade 3 so I am wondering if I will have chemo.

    I felt great yesterday (day after surgery) but woke up this morning feeling like I got hit by a truck! Of course today my brother n law and family were visiting from out of town. Had to rely on hubby getting dinner ready, he was late for them to catch their bus back, didn't run the dishwasher, etc., before dinner, oh well, I was just really out of it! They were very understanding. I guess it's up and down after you've gone under a general.

    Good luck to all who have upcoming surgery!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    They were running behind today, so we are still on the way home. Hour and a half from the hospital. Will be home in 30 min. Have to keep our exuberant dog off of me. Pain when I move. Doc said it went well.

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  • TNpotato
    TNpotato Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2016

    LoveMyVizsla - Hope you are pain free soon! ((HUGS))

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  • beebs2704
    beebs2704 Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    Fiddler, you can buy kefir at the grocery store in the yogurt section( I now make my own). It's sour, which I can't stand so I make it into a smoothie and it's fine. It's not as thick as yogurt so that texture may work better for you. It's working wonders for me :) I started it because I have food sensitivities and frequent tummy trouble..those have disappeared.


    B

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    I'm up. My dog wanted covered up, we are having a cool summer. Feeling drowsy so I took off my scopolamine patch. Those things work like a champ for preventing nausea post-surgery. They say to leave it on for 72 hours, but a.) they contribute to constipation, and b.) I find I just need it for twelve hours or so to get me past surgery.

    I'm amazed, no bruising from the port removal. They said it came out in one piece, that usually it doesn't. So yay for that.

    Miranda, thinking of you today. Best wishes.

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  • Dennyse
    Dennyse Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2016

    Hi all, I am now one week post op BMX. When to first post op appt. yesterday. No drains were removed as I am still collecting about 30 cc each side per 24 hours. Ugh. But incisions are all good. Nipples look well vascularized as well. Final pathology report was good as well and validated my own need to have left breast removed prophylactically (Had Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia with micro calcifications). I see plastic surgeon today. I am off all pain meds except for Tylenol. The most discomfort is the drains, but better than being dizzy and risk falling again. I can say that I am a bit bluer than earlier. I think the adrenalin rush of all that has happened is over, and I am now taking stock of it.

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  • thereisnodespair
    thereisnodespair Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2016

    B"H

    Bagsharon = how are you doing today?

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  • ayr1016
    ayr1016 Member Posts: 228
    edited August 2016

    Hi everyone,

    Had LX on the 9th. What a whirlwind of a day. I had lost sleep the day or two leading up to it. Just so nervous and anxious. Went in for the dye injection, then a Lupron injection (not the norm, just part of my treatment), then over to surgery. I was so nauseous the whole time.

    I have been doing neoadjuvant hormone therapy prior to surgery. I am sore and my breast looks like it has been in a fight. But, I am happy surgery is over. From what I understand, the surgery went well. She took 1 node and it appears they got clean margins. The node looked to be clear, but I will get the final results by Monday. I'm trying not to think of the final results because I am a natural worry type of personality. I am trying to keep ice on as much as possible.

    I'm keeping everyone in my thoughts!

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  • Dennyse
    Dennyse Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2016

    Bagsharon, I am so sorry to hear your news. It seems that there are always surprises along the way. You/they have a plan. Stick with it and stay positive. My heart goes out to you.

    Dennys

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Dennyse. It is okay to be blue. I had a mini melt down in the PACU yesterday, crying about my stupid lupus and whether it will allow another tumor to grow. I think it was just a release of the emotions I felt leading up to surgery. My nurse was awesome. I need to find a way to write her boss a note about her.


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2016

    Scgirl, is it possible the night sweats are a sign of menopause?

    Check out some tips on dealing with night sweats and hot flashes on the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Menopause Symptoms: Hot Flashes.

    We hope this helps and that you feel better soon! Looking forward to hearing more from you!

    --The Mods

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  • s1d1c1u1
    s1d1c1u1 Member Posts: 63
    edited August 2016

    *happy dance*

    Just got a call about my pathology report. She said I had a complete response to chemo with no trace of cancer at original tumor site or lymphnodes. I know she said as much after the surgery, but this is definitive proof that my cancer is gone. So freaking relieved. All the hell of chemo was worth it...I had my doubts there in the beginning when I was sicke everyday for 2 months. Still have to wait 1 more week for my post op visit. Guess I'll find out then about radiation.

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  • thereisnodespair
    thereisnodespair Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2016

    B"H

    s1d1c1u1 thanks for sharing such wonderful news! just fantastic & sure perfect reason to do a happy dance!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Woo Hoo! That's great news! I'm guessing they will recommend rads because you are triple negative.

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  • dottyrobin
    dottyrobin Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2016

    Surgery, BMX on Aug. 19,2016. Please add me to the August surgeries.

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  • dottyrobin
    dottyrobin Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2016

    Think I replied wrong place. Surgery Aug 19, 2016

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  • MirandaPriestly
    MirandaPriestly Member Posts: 28
    edited August 2016

    well, I made it to the other side. Things went as well as possible I suppose. The PS was able to go straight to implants (no expanders!!) and initial results didn't show cancer in sentinel nodes (official test will come back next week). They also said I could go home today (one day post op). Can't wait to be back to normal though.


    Hoping everyone else gets the same results!! Thinking of you all

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  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited August 2016

    I had my bmx with expanders placed on Monday. ThIs iS My First Surgery Ever. Its been pretty difficult. Only one night in hospital, then in hotel for 3 nights, 3 hour drive home...I just feel horrid. Nausea,.pain,.constpation...all the fun stuff..

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  • Milwmama
    Milwmama Member Posts: 115
    edited August 2016

    One week post op doing pretty well. Pain is mostly tolerable with Tylenol now, up to yesterday was taking oxycodone. Met my onc yesterday for check up an path report. Good report with a but. Surgery went well for both. Mastectomy looks good, had three drains, which I hated, two were removed yesterday and holy shot that hurt. Able to raise arms pretty well. Report stated clean margins, 14 nodes removed all clean. No spreading or cancer on my body but.........there were two minute tumors in removed breast that had been affected by IBC. Could have been there and were now microscopic, or something. Nonetheless, going to be put on Xeloda for 8 rounds, about six months, after radiation. Ooph was perfect, no signs of anything in my ovaries or tubes.

    Have to admit I was bummed. Really wanted to say I was NED. Guess I won't ever be able to say that. Glad I have the option of further treatment as a TN tho. Once done with rads and Xeloda I'm done and will be monitored.

    Was a little shocked and sad at seeing my new chest. I'm cut from pit to pit. This too shall pass. Healing and moving on.

    Hope all the rest of you are healing well. Congrats to the NEDs and to the rest of us, we are almost done, just another step :)


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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Milwmama, sound like you are doing well overall. But of course it has to be a shock to see your body after surgery. Hope you heal quickly and can get the last drain out soon.

    I haven't had a pain pill since last night, which is not to say that I don't have any pain. I removed one layer of bandage this morning after my shower. Last time, the steri-strips irritated my skin, so this time they used two different layers of the clear tagaderm. I left the inner layer on, since I think it is taking the place of the strips.

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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    after feeling so great the day following my surgery, I have felt crappy all week. Just very weak and dizzy. Was going to try to do two quick errands today, just wanted to get out of the house, but didn't even feel up to that!

    Tomorrow a friend is coming by to visit and I hope I will be feeling better, but 11:30 pm as I write this and feeling dizzy again! Never had this feeling for so long after a general. Guess each time is different. I was very happy this time not to have any nausea. I took the dressing off the sentinel node biopsy site and all the steri strips ripped off with it! I covered it up with two large bandages. Was surprised at how big the incision is! I am getting a home visit from a nurse on Sunday so will let her take the dressing off the lx site!

    Hope therest of you are doing well.

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