August 2016 Surgeries

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Hugs for you DottyRobin. It sucks, but what is the alternative?

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  • Unbreakable01
    Unbreakable01 Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2016

    I had a wire guided excisional biopsy on August 15. The ultrasound showed atypical cells and the surgeon wanted to make sure it was nothing more since I was diagnosed with breast cancer last May. I should hopefully get the results on Friday.

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  • Daisy777
    Daisy777 Member Posts: 23
    edited August 2016

    Hi all, scheduled for lumpectomy on the 30th with SNB in London, ON...seed going in the day before.

    Currently on vacation at a peaceful cottage eastern Ontario-put surgery off to come here for 2 weeks with hubby and daughter.

    So great to read all your experiences to somewhat prepare....trying hard to remain calm and just get through this.

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  • Leees
    Leees Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    Surgery was done on August 23. Left total mastectomy without immediate reconstruction. Sentinel node biopsy. Not sure how many were taken. They found one during the mapping the day before but could have taken more.

    The surgery went well and I came home yesterday morning. They were willing to release me the same day but I chose to stay overnight. Got a nice compliment from the night shift nurse. He couldn't believe I am 44 years old haha.

    I'm not in much pain at all - about a 0-1 on a scaled of 0 - 10. I have a prescription for T3 but haven't had to take one yet. I cannot wait until the drain is out.

    I'm over anxious about lymphedema because my mother ended up with it.

    Tonight I get to shower and take the puffy bandage off. Not sure I'm looking forward to that, taking the bandage off I mean. That means I get to see the incision for the first time. I'll get through but hope it's not too emotional for me.

    Follow up on Sept 8 for pathology and any necessary treatment.

    I have great support from family and friends but still feel alone in this. Most women in my life don't seem to understand. Or maybe they do but don't want to say anything? I really wish my mom was still here but she passed away last August (not breast cancer related).

    My husband has been absolutely amazing. I'm so lucky to have him.


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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited August 2016

    Lees - my surgery site is not too bad. I had a full mastectomy and I'm flat and of course, it's not gorgeous, but for the ickiness, it's not bad. I admit I don't enjoy looking to closely, but I've seen what they will become, so I can handle it.

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  • stellamaris
    stellamaris Member Posts: 384
    edited August 2016

    Fiddler, I am in British Columbia. They sent my pathology to my GP as well as the Oncologist's. I got a copy from my GP within 2 weeks of the lx. I had SNB with no serious side effects. Everyone is different, but my recovery from lx and SNB was manageable. I just wasn't lucky with margins 😞. I made a point of getting a copy of my path reports after every surgery. Good luck and sending healing prayers to all. PS, just had balancing reduction on my left breast for symmetry with the DIEP reconstruction. I was pretty lopsided with my "hanging to the waist DD" on one side and my lovely new B mound on the right. Fingers crossed now that there is no BC in the left breast. Mine never showed up on mammo or MRI.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Stellamaris, I'm just over the border in Washington. I'm considering have a reduction/lift on the left side after this is over, but worry about getting cancer on that side and then it will be smaller.

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  • TNpotato
    TNpotato Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2016

    LoveMyVizsla - >>"I found my lump a year ago. That's how long I've been dealing with this, and still have rads to go. *sigh*"

    Man, a year! :^P Hang in there, champ! Maybe we'll be doing rads at the same time? I think my schedule is looking like Sept 6 - early Dec. I've never even heard of MyLifeline.com before, I'll have to check that out...

    dottyrobin - >>"Super family support but still depressed." It's sooo much to take in all at once! :(

    I wish I had magic words, but all I can say is what has helped me: watch LOTS of comedies (I try to find something funny before bed, even youtube clips help) or something very distracting, like a good action movie (to change your focus), get some sun each day if possible (really helps my mood!), try to get a bit of walking in whenever possible (natural endorphins!) and try to come up with one thing that I am grateful for each day as I'm falling asleep. Sometimes the last one is very hard... but I can usually find some little thing, or at least if I got outside I can say 'grateful I got my free vitamin D dose from Mr Sun!' I hope you start to feel better, mentally and physically...

    ayr1016 - >>"But, I am learning how to accept help without feeling bad about it now." Yeah, I'm trying to be better about communication, but my teens would call me a "work in progress" ! lol

    You asked what (if anything) we'll be putting on scars. Nothing yet, but as mine heal more I'll prolly use some of the Boswellia essential oils (Plant Therapy) I used to help my port heal and for my chemo achy shoulders. I think I'll wait a bit more though before I use anything. I'm only a week out right now... Shaving? I haven't had any armpit hair since AC+T stole it, so not an issue for me! :)) My leg hair is just starting to grow in though so hopefully I'll be healed in the underarm before I have to deal with that! And I'm sorry to hear about the positive node. I'm sure your MO/RO/Surgeon will come up with a great plan to attack what's left! :)

    MirandaPriestly - Great path report! :)) woohoo! >>"I post updates almost daily on Facebook, but it's more so everyone knows and I can move on after one simple update. How does everyone else feel about that?" I actually chose to not do a Facebook notification, I just use emails to update my extended family. My Facebook is full of old work associates and I felt weird about talking to them about it. I have my extended family (very large) and immediate family for support and all you wonderful people so I figured that's how I'd handle things. And what ayr said - I get so many questions just from immediate family, I feel I'm constantly talking about my condition esp like with surgery. Everyone calling, texting, gaahhh... just wanna hide sometimes!


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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    TNPotato, why so long for your rads? If you start 9/6, shouldn't you be done by the end of October?

    I will probably use Mederma on my port incision. It is plant based, onion of all things. No worry about shaving yet here either.

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  • Charlene1
    Charlene1 Member Posts: 72
    edited August 2016


    Had lumpectomy, wire localization and SNB yesterday

    Radiologist who did tracer dye and wire was excellent he froze me

    so I felt nothing, he said it was barbaric not to freeze

    all went well and I have not even taken a pain med as really today I have no pain

    had Advil yesterday which took care of the little pain I had

    Have to wait 2 weeks for Path report which will feel like forever

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  • Leees
    Leees Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    Surgery site doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought it would. A bit of swelling but no redness or infection. I feel better.

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  • TNpotato
    TNpotato Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2016

    LoveMyVizsla - Sorry, was a "duuuh" moment! I was reading my pre-approval from my insurance company and they'd 'cleared' the radiation for that timeframe! I'm supposed to do 6 weeks (possibly with a few more boosts) so that's... yeah, mid October? My RO & MO are also going to try me on cisplatin at the same time as radiation, so I'm nervous already reading about side effects. :^P

    Charlene1 - >>"Have to wait 2 weeks for Path report which will feel like forever" That's such a wait! :( I'll be thinking of you in the next few weeks! (hugs)


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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Seems like our Canadian friends have to wait two weeks for their pathology exports. Mine was five days, both times.

    I'm having 6 weeks of rads, including boosts, starting 9/6.

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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    part of my longer wait was because my surgeon was going to be out of town. I will see my GP for something else this Tuesday and she may have my results then. Always happy to wait a little longer being in Canada knowing that I will get top notch medical care and will never have to go bankrupt from it!

    Still having a lot of pain from the SNLB so that is not pleasant.

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  • smilethrupain
    smilethrupain Member Posts: 160
    edited August 2016

    hi ladies, did anyone of you do the oncotype dx?

    My onc said that if my RS score is in the intermediate range I need to have conversation about what to do, as chemo improved survival by 2-4% more than tamoxifen only. Any thoughts?

    Thanks

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  • Tiggerousity
    Tiggerousity Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2016

    My reconstruction surgery is Monday 8/29. I had my mastectomy with SNB and TE on 8/19. I'm nervous because DIEP flap is a long surgery with a long recovery.

    Please share your stories!

    Love and light,

    Tigs

    Ps ordered a Victory bag for my drains! Just got it today.image

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  • kimsos
    kimsos Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2016

    Bi MX with lymph node removal August 24, 2016

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Good luck this week MPBRLove and Daisy777

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  • Bagsharon
    Bagsharon Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2016

    Hi smilethrupain,

    I had the Oncotype and my score was 20, in the low end of the intermediate range. I'm meeting my medical oncologist today so we shall see what happens.

    Sharon

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  • ayr1016
    ayr1016 Member Posts: 228
    edited August 2016

    Bagsharon: how did your MO visit go? I will seem my MO this Friday for the first time post surgery. However, I have seen her multiple times since diagnosis. I am anxious to hear what she has to say though about my surgery results.

    Tigger: Good luck today ~ hope all went well.

    Smile: I had my ONCO done and it was a 15. At this point, MO is not suggesting chemo, but I have not seen her post op yet to hear everything that she has to say.

    tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post op. Strange thing is, I still have some glue on my incisions (internal stitches, outer skin closed with glue). I have been super careful about not scrubbing hard during showers and anything I put on the area (only aloe vera so far). I don't want to pull at the glue, but maybe that is what needs to happen to get it completely off.

    Next stop is rads ~ will probably see some of you on the Fall rads discussion :)

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  • Bagsharon
    Bagsharon Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2016

    Well, because my IDC had lobular features, didn't show up on my screening mammogram, there was lymphovascular invasion, isolated tumor cells in one of my nodes AND an intermediate Oncotype score, it's Chemo for me.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited August 2016

    Sorry Sharon.

    Ayr, my surgery was two days after you and I've pulled all the glue off now. The incision looks great, so the glue doesn't need to be there anymore.

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  • TNpotato
    TNpotato Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2016

    Fiddler - >>"Always happy to wait a little longer being in Canada knowing that I will get top notch medical care and will never have to go bankrupt from it!"

    Amen to that! I'm extremely lucky to be covered by my hubby's plan. I can't imagine how uninsured people even begin to cope with the financial stress involved with all these treatments/surgeries...

    ayr1016/LoveMyVizsla - See you two in the Fall rads discussion!! :)

    Bagsharon - Good luck with the chemo! May it kick ass! :))

    Tigs/Daisy777/MPBRLove - Good lucky today! Thinking of you!! (HUGS)


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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited August 2016

    Yes, I am not currently working full time and my husband was unjustly fired at the end of March (we are suing them for unlawful dismissal), I cannot even imagine the sinking ship we'd be in right now if we lived in the States!

    It's been a pretty stressful time for us, but thankfully mitigated by the birth of a beautiful granddaughter on July 15th!

    Sharon, sorry to hear you have to have chemo.

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  • phbr66
    phbr66 Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2016

    I had a right breast mastectomy Aug. 23, 2016 with reconstruction expander placed. I have had one follow-up apt. with plastic surgeon with one of two drains removed. Still can't take a shower. Ugh. I have a follow up appointment with general surgeon Fri. Sept 2nd to get update on pathology reports on the tumor that was removed. My pain has decreased, but am anxious about what treatments I'll be facing in the future! Sentinal lymph node was removed along with two other nodes. Praying cancer has not spread! The more women I talk to, the more I see that each cancer journey is very different, but we can help each other by sharing our stories! Bless you all as you fight this foreign invader! I still feel like my body let me down! I eat well, breastfed both my children, exercise, no family cancer history, and have never been overweight. I have a difficult time asking for help and feel like I'm a burden. Not sleeping well, but trying to stay positive. Blessings to you all!

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  • phbr66
    phbr66 Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2016

    I just had my surgery a week ago and I find that talking to other breast cancer survivors is the only real help. They understand what you are going through! I am going to try to attend two support groups the second week of Sept. I've also read a lot of real cancer stories that seem honest and forthright about what each woman went through. No two journeys are the same! Blessings!

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  • smilethrupain
    smilethrupain Member Posts: 160
    edited September 2016

    Bagsharon, i am also starting on TC. MO says wig my type of cancer - no BRCA, ER+, yet larger than 1cm - it is more effective. I knew if I were in the intermediate range DX, I'd want to do chemo: the fact that it is 29, just made that decision easier. It's 4 cycles of TC. I worth about alopsia as a SE of Taxotere... MO said if there were no oncotype, >1cm tumors get chemo.


    As for scars, my PS told me that creams generally don't have impact - only from the physical aspect of increasing circulation while rubbing the cream. I've been taking daily showers but there is still some glue, so he told me to put Vaseline on the scar, wait half hour then get in the shower and gently rub it off. Had my first expander fill (60cc on the original 150cc). Will get another one next week.

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  • Heidi000
    Heidi000 Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2016

    Heidi000

    8/2 surgery

    Double Masectomy with expanders

    Oncotype 21 and started CMF Chemo 8/30

    I posted on September 2016, but I think I belong here.

    Anyone else's doing CMF with Lupron injections if menopause doesn't happen on its own?

    Thanks,

    Heidi

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  • Fiddler
    Fiddler Member Posts: 128
    edited September 2016

    Hi everyone,

    Had my follow-up with the surgeon today-- three and a half weeks after my surgery, and the hormone receptor test results still weren't in yet!

    Anyway, my tumour was bigger than first suspected, it was at 3.1 cm, so she said chemotherapy would be recommended. I had been getting mentally prepared for this because some of the things I saw online said if the tumour is over 2 cm they often recommend chemo. (The first ultrasound said 1.8, then the MRI said 2.2, now the surgery put it at 3.1).

    Luckily two lymph nodes were taken and NO lymph node involvement! And clean margins around the tumour. However the cell grade stayed the same at grade 3, so it was aggressive, but they got it all. Makes me wonder about the hormone tests....I will probably be seeing an MO and an RO within the next couple weeks.

    Also talked to her about the nerve pain. It is from the seroma I have (it is fairly large) pressing against the nerves. That makes sense! She gave me a new prescription for Dilaudid and it is making a difference--not completely eliminating the pain, but helping quite a bit. She said the seroma should resolve itself within the next week.

    So we are grateful that all the cancer is gone, kind of bummed out about chemo, but sounds like it will be the best shot at trying to make sure the cancer doesn't come back.
    Hope you are all healing well from your various surgeries!


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  • smilethrupain
    smilethrupain Member Posts: 160
    edited September 2016

    Fiddler, congrats on clean margins and no nodes.

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