June 2016 Surgeries!

Options
1…181920212224»

Comments

  • SPECTER55
    SPECTER55 Member Posts: 77
    edited October 2016

    Houston2016, if you are itching after taking antibiotics stop taking them and call your doctor immediately. The pain meds will make you groggy.. You should be resting anyway. The phlegm in your throat is most likely a result of the breathing tube . I'm having the same issues. I hope it settles down soon. I can barely talk.

    Your PS wiill not start fills until your mastectomy incision is healed. That is usually at the 4 week mark.

    Until then, rest and recover.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Houston2016
    Houston2016 Member Posts: 317
    edited October 2016

    Does anyone have tips for healing from cold sore? I developed one on my lip after UMX, not sure it came from the antibiotics or pain meds. I do drink lots of water. I put on blistik at the hospital and at home. It gets dried up afterwards. Any suggestions? Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Houston2016
    Houston2016 Member Posts: 317
    edited October 2016

    Hi, I had surgery 10/5 and the first four to five days were manageable (99degrees, was taking ibuprofen, and antibiotic). Then I went to PS for followup visit, the PA drain my TE, 50mg, and pulled out one of my tubes, they want me to stop taking Ibuprofen for one week taking Tylenol instead. They also switch antibiotic to levoclafoxen. Anyway, when I get home all the way till now it's constant fever, chills, range between 99-103. I called after-hours nurse and they kinda help me to bring it down. I feel so debilitating, unable to function. Is it normal to have consistent fever? When will this end? Any suggestions will help, thanks all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FUBC
    FUBC Member Posts: 137
    edited October 2016

    HI Houston

    So sorry to hear about your problems. The fever you're having is not normal and might be sign of infection. You should call your PS first thing tomorrow morning

    I don't remember any of the girls here in this thread having fever after mastectomy.

    I hope all gets better for you soon.

    Gentle hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Houston2016
    Houston2016 Member Posts: 317
    edited October 2016

    Hi, I had the UMX 10/5/16 and had fever for about two weeks, switched antibiotic and took Bactrum and still coughing. My pathology came back 10/20 said I have positive margin with just one single cell goes upward under the skin, my tumor was 6 cm above the nipple. BS took out 3 sentinel lymph nodes negative but he said the neoadjuvant chemo blasted all the tissues. Would not that be false negative? I originally had one SLN positive biopsied. Also, I did the LB ultra sound and mammogram 8/23 prior to surgery, BS didn't talk about lymph nodes just how much my tumor shrunk (3.3 down to 2.5). How do I know the status of my axillary lymph nodes? Thanks for any inputs, suggestions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mena4911
    Mena4911 Member Posts: 49
    edited November 2016

    Hello, I also posted this question in the tissue expander problem group. I had bilat mastectomies with tissue expander placement in June. Doing well till August and had sudden pain , large painful firm solid lump in armpit, fills entire armpit now, and continuing decreasing range of motion. Had a sono that showed a very small deep seroma aspirated only drops and turned out to be Staph infection. The doctor doing the sonogram said the solid mass did not show up as anything. Just started antibiotics today. So worried about losing the expander. Do they always take them out with infection? i cant accept this huge solid mass and very very painful as well is just nothing? I see medical oncologist on Tuesday and thinking about asking for a CT. I dont want to offend her and i dont want unnecessary tests but i really want to know what is going on. Will i have to lose the expander? Anyone been there? Problems are on cancer side.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited November 2016

    hi Girls,

    I just stop by to say hello. I am glad things are progressing positively to most of you. I am sorry to hear there are a few of you with issues that I hope will pass soon. I am sorry I don't have answers to the last 2 questions about fever, nodules , etc, but Mena4911, I am quite sure that we are not allowed to have Ct scans due to the metal port of the TEs. am telling you that because I had my right side totally numb at the beginning of AC and I ended up at emergency room. The doctors considered a CT/Pet scan but due to the TEs they only put me on Brain scan to rule out stroke.

    A little note about me: I am still doing chemo - actually #7 taxol was done yesterday, and last one is on December 30th. TE expanders are scheduled to be replaced by implants in February 2017. Until then, I am hanging here with hot flashes, Imnsonia, night sweats and unable to have a good night sleep due to all of these plus no good sleeping position with the TEs... they are nightmares to me.

    On top of that, I put on 20 lbs so far... ouch!! I was told not to worry about it cause it was mostly due to steroids and corticoides on pre- meds to get Taxol. Did anyone of you had this weight gain problem? I am not happy with the side effect of the breast cancer medication and I requested a referral to a dietitian to help me. I will see the doctor on Monday. Even though I have lower back pain, no outfits and short breathless due to this excessive weight, I keep thinking these too shall be temporary. I am still on the positive side of the glass...

    I just want to remind us all that we have gone through a lot to be here. We should all be thankful and proud of our battles and strengths .So hang in there girls... don't forget to fight for better quality of life during treatment always, but have faith that we should all have better days in our waysoon.

    Xoxo

    Clauclau



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mena4911
    Mena4911 Member Posts: 49
    edited November 2016

    Hi Clauclau, the card with my tissue expanders says no MRI. I did have a CT scan without problems with the tissue expanders. It did pick up the mass in my armpit. I will be having a biopsy soon. Hopefully it is scar tissue. I was scheduled to have fat grafting in Dec and to replace hard unconfortable tissue expanders in March. That is all on hold for now. My plastic surgeon took 150cc from the painful side and I took antibiotics and am feeling much better now.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Maya15
    Maya15 Member Posts: 323
    edited November 2016

    I also had a CT scan with the TE in.

    Clauclau, have you asked them about eliminating the steroids for Taxol? I only had them for the first 2 infusions, then once they knew I didn't have a reaction, they cut out all the pre-meds.

    I am headed back to surgery tomorrow to fix and close a 7-inch gaping hole in my abdomen from the DIEP surgery. The incision reopened a couple of weeks after the initial surgery. Seems it's because of slow healing due to chemo... Then I have my revision surgery (fat grafting and creating nipples) on January 5.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited November 2016
    It seems a few of us are still battling through. I've finished chemo and started radiation which goes until Xmas. I'm feeling a lot better now that I'm 4 weeks out from chemo and feel like I am getting some of my fitness back. I still have a sore back and stomach that I think are related to digestive issues and sore fingertips/nails and feet from the taxol. No reconstruction or correction happening until long after radiation finishes and I still have the three weekly herceptin going on as well.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SPECTER55
    SPECTER55 Member Posts: 77
    edited November 2016

    Hi Clauclau

    Thanks for the post. I try to check in periodically to see how everyone is doing. I am very satisfied with my exchange results. I will need some fat grafting next year. I am concerned about contracture, but if I need surgery later, I'm okay with that. I finally went to Victoria's Secret to get measured for my new bra size. I went from a 38C to a 36D with 740mls. I've lost a little weight.

    My mastectomy was for ADH. I kept questioning if I overreacted by being so aggressive when the studies show that outcomes for lumpectomies are just as good. Then, last month my sister was diagnosed with DCIS. She is now being called back for positive margins. Ugh! My oldest sister had BC 20 years ago, my next sister had uterine cancer last year, now this sister has DCIS. I am now convinced of a genetic component even though we are all BRCA negative. I will never question my decision again.

    I hope everyone is doing well too. I will always have a special pla in my heart for all of you ladies here. You helped me through a very scary period in my life.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited December 2016

    Specter55, I don't think you overreacted with double mastectomy. Especially when you have all these people related to you with some sort of cancer diagnosis.... I do have some questions about the effectiveness of the BRCA tests. I wasn't quite told not to have any liquid for 30 minutes prior to the saliva test, and I had just drank coffee... sure enough the results were negative! Thank you for keeping checking this thread. I will revisit it in February when I will need some help with replacing the TEs... Right now I am just focused on finishing the Taxol ( No Radiation after for me!) . I am very happy for you, and the weight loss :) which is a good thing, I guess.

    xxyzed, I was surprised to see that your cancer was on the left side and you will have radiation ( probably on the whole breast?) ... G;lad to hear you are out of chemo already. Our dates are very closer, but my treatment ends on Dec 30.

    Maya15, thank you for the advice. I will ask them if steroids can be reduced or eliminated at this point. I hope your incision has healed better by now. Good luck on your next step. I too will need some tattoo touch up on nipples. I understand you will need to have the nipples made; I was able to spare my nipples but I call them " Michael Jackson" as they got some discoloration and it's now unclear if they are brownish or whitish :)

    Mena4911, my TE cards don't say anything about MRI. I was told not CT scan at the emergency room, but It's always good to know that there are different ways to deal with these TEs, right!? Thank you for sharing what was applicable to you. I will probably question the type of TEs I have. It doesn't hurt to ask the doctors :) I am glad to hear you are feeling much better now.

    This Friday I have #9 out of 12 of Taxol - I was very happy that I still had eyebrows , but they can't take it anymore... by the time I have #12 they will be non-existing in my face :( anyone that could relate to this experience? How long does it take to grow back? My hair is getting back already while on Taxol...I don't understand why my eyebrows can't resist the toxine..

    I will stop by before Xmas to check on you all. Until then, have a wonderful week!

    xoxo,

    Clauclau

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hanley50
    hanley50 Member Posts: 146
    edited December 2016

    Hi Clauclau!

    So good to hear that you are nearing the end of chemo! I know what you mean about the eyebrows....BUT, they were one of the first things to grow back and with a vengeance! I don't even know when it happen...almost overnight, one day I had no eyebrows and then I woke up the next with crazy eyebrows, running to the salon to have them waxed :) The no hair thing, ok already, the no eyebrows..NO! I was really happy to have them back. Not like you can where a hat or wig over your face to hide the fact that they aren't there and I could never figure out how to draw them on!

    About the radiation...it is so weird how we all have such different treatment plans even with similar diagnosis. We are both triple negative and we both had positive lymph node involvement, but I had radiation and you will not??? I wonder if I had surgery first like you if I could have skipped radiation? IDK? It's a question I have asked but got no clear answer on other than that I didn't have PCR and I needed it.

    Your hair growing back on Taxol is awesome! I took lots of pics of my stupid head () cause that's all it was...a stupid head with no hair until about 6 weeks PFC finally some fuzz.

    All my reconstruction plans are on hold at the moment. I cannot do anything with this stupid TE until I finish Xeloda, which will be in May 2017.

    When oh when will it end???

    Maryann


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SPECTER55
    SPECTER55 Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2016

    Aw Clauclau,

    Yes, the weight loss is a good thing for me. I had to change my diet due to new onset food intolerances (gluten and lactose). Fortunately, I can spare a few pounds. Lol. I don't think I had any thing to eat or drink prior to my BRCA test. But that's good information to pass on to anyone else who may have to take the test.

    February is right around the corner for your exchange surgery. This surgery was way easier than the mastectomy. I wouldn't say I had pain, but more discomfort and that was only for a few days. I took tramadol for a few days and that was it. I was back to normal in about a week. It took about 6 weeks for the swelling to go down so I could see what my final results would look like. It's not uncommon to require fat grafting to smooth out imperfections. After all that you have been through, the expander exchange will be a piece of cake. Don't worry, be excited.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2017

    Hello everybody and happy new year!

    I am finally done with chemo and I am now working on the metabolic syndrome I got from chemo : high levels of insulin, cholesterol almost 400, round waist area ( since I put on 20 pounds during Taxol treatment), etc.

    I am taking Metformin ER. Anyone familiar with that? Someone told me it's good for TNBC... I asked how and I am waiting for response.

    I would like to shed some pounds before getting the exchange done because I think i will get better results with the body closer to what it should be. Does it make any difference if I am overweight or not? I heard MD takes fat from the belly anyways.... what do you think? am i wasting time with losing weight before the exchange?

    Maryann, although I had 1 nodule positive with 0.0008 , I did have clear results on pathology test, and the MD put me in the gray area. I don't have to have radiation, but he suggested that I have it bc I was TN. I know other people who were TN who did NOT have radiation and they are 15 years cancer free. So I decided NOT to have it bc I believe it's unnecessary at this point. I also read that our body are not supposed to have a lot of radiation, so I will have this extra measure if I ever need it to treat a recurrence!

    I am dying to get rid of the tissue Expanders but I am taking my time to do things right. Any suggestions?



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited January 2017

    Good to hear from you Clauclau. I have finished chemo and radiation but am still doing 3 weekly herceptin. I don't know anything about reconstruction but have heard if you take stomach fat to build your breasts and then lose weight you will lose weight from the breasts as well and that it is recommended any weight loss happens before reconstruction. How were you diagnosed with metabolic syndrome? I have a big stomach predating cancer. I did lose a lot of weight during chemo from eating virtually nothing but my normal diet shouldn't give me the size stomach I have.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • new__me
    new__me Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2017

    clauclau, Metformin (aka Glucophage) is a drug to help the body use insulin efficiently thereby lowering the amount of glucose that is in the bloodstream.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SPECTER55
    SPECTER55 Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2017

    Clauclau,

    As far as the fat grafting goes, its tricky. If you fat graft now and then the metabolic syndrome resolves and you start losing weight, it may affect your results. On the other hand if you wait until after the metabolic syndrome is resolved, you may not have enough fat to graft. Perhaps your PS can advise you . But the initial exchange should be fine. I was heavier than I would have liked before my exchange and now that I am losing some weight, they look fine, but I'll need fat grafting too. No worries though. I have plenty to spare (LOL). Glad to hear you completed chemo. The exchange surgery is very easy. No where near the pain of the mastectomy. Good luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2017

    xxyzed, I read an article here at the Breast Cancer Org and brought it to my doctor. There is a quick quiz if you have 3 or more symptoms, you have metabolic syndrome. I asked my doctor and based on my blood numbers he confirmed that I indeed had Metabolic syndrome. Now I am being treated for that. By the way, I am seeing an Endocrinologist and a dietitian.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2017

    new me, did you hear that Metformin helps fight cancer? I will try to copy the article that I received from another member. I will ask my doctor about it. He did not give me Metformin because I was cancer patient but because I needed to lower the insulin , control cholesteroland lose weight

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clauclau
    Clauclau Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2017

    Specters55, thank you for your feedback. I will take in consideration weight before and after and I will talk to my PS next time I see him. I am now searching for the best method to exchange the TEs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FUBC
    FUBC Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2017

    Hey girls,

    Happy New Year

    Its good to hear from you all....special hugs to the ones that are going through chemo and radiation

    Love,

    FUBC

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories