May 2017 Surgery Group

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  • Remali
    Remali Member Posts: 36
    edited May 2017

    This may be a stupid question (I know, no question is stupid, lol).... how many of you got an MRI before surgery, to help know whether a lumpectomy or a mastectomy was the better choice?  Reason I ask is.... after two failed lumpectomies, I now need a mastectomy, or so it seems (all just recently, the two lumpectomies just done in April of this year).... when I mentioned an MRI to my surgeon, he told me that an MRI is not helpful in any way.  I am not sure I agree with him, coming from a background in health care, I know an MRI could at least be useful and helpful.  

    ~Renee

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited May 2017

    I haven't been checking in lately - so busy. In a grand turn around, I'm now looking at BMX next Tuesday (5/9). I'm pretty freaked out. I had gone to see the PS (first visit) on Monday to get his opinion on a few things. I really didn't think that they'd be able to fit me in since I'm late even reconsidering this option and now 4 weeks out from my last chemo. I got a call yesterday saying that the OR time is available and so are both surgeons so if I want it ...

    So ... I'm going for it. I hope I'm making the right decision. My original BS was pushing for lumpectomy, especially since I seem to have had a PCR on imaging post chemo. And my MO has no qualms about being very anti-mastectomy. But I just kept coming back to how fast the cancer grew, the HER2 + problem, my concerns about radiation, stuff seen in the other side, etc. Now I have one week to prepare. I may die of anxiety before I get to surgery!

    The PS said it is much better to have any reconstruction done before radiation. The radiated tissues are more difficult to adjust, stretch, heal. I will most likely not need radiation with the MX since my response was so good. He will hopefully place implants above the pectoral muscles with Alloderm since I'm aiming to stay about the same size. If he feels that it will be too much stress on the skin then he'll use TE's. Of course, I'd rather have just the one surgery. But healing well is more important. He's already mentioned fat grafting down the road to fill in the upper portion if needed.

    Remali - Yes, MRI's are useful. I had one before any treatment to verify that there was only the one tumor in the L breast and evaluate the R breast. They did another post chemo to check chemo response. I'm not sure about the difference in how DCIS shows up, but both my lump and some stuff in the other breast showed up loud and clear.

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  • Remali
    Remali Member Posts: 36
    edited May 2017

    Thank you, NotVeryBrave, good to know.  This is all so new to me, I am famliar with so many other illnesses/cancers and so on, but not with breast cancer, but I'm learning, and this group is so helpful.  Hoping your surgery goes well, sending positive vibes your way for a speedy recovery.  

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  • JuliaJazz
    JuliaJazz Member Posts: 246
    edited May 2017

    Not crazy at all, Dee. I can't wait til mine on Friday. I'm really not anxious but raring to go. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, Dee.


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  • KCMC
    KCMC Member Posts: 208
    edited May 2017

    Remall, yes I believe the MRI is helpful, at least in my case. My tumor IDC 1.3 cm showed up on the Mammogram and ultrasound. My Dr. said before I schedule a lumpectomy lets do a MRI. Lo and behold, another tumor 1 cm was hiding that did not show up on the Mammogram and ultrasound. The lumpectomy is now off the table and I am doing a BMX with DIEP reconstruction on May 22nd. Good Luck to you.

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  • Herculesmulligan
    Herculesmulligan Member Posts: 175
    edited May 2017

    remali....my general surgeon asked for the MRI after the positive mammogram but before the stereotactic biopsy to help guide him. All kinds of things showed up on MRI that didn't on mammogram, including an additional site of invasive cancer and extensive lcis. Absolutely there's value in a breast MRI, unless other imaging has unequivocally shown what's in there.

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  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited May 2017

    remail. Yes my surgeon wanted a MRI and yes they found a second IDC so mx for me!

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  • sunnyjay
    sunnyjay Member Posts: 238
    edited May 2017

    Remali, my surgeon ordered the MRI to make sure there the cancer wasn't showing up anywhere else. I also had a chest xray done to make sure it didn't spread to the lungs. The MRI showed the detail of the DCIS that was behind the IDC tumor. Lumpectomy was originally considered since the tumor was thought to be 2 cm, but after the MRI showed the IDC + DCIS = 5cm, an MX was a better solution.

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    I didn't have MRI only mammogram and sonogram before lumpectomy. I will be getting BMX may 25

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  • ML1209
    ML1209 Member Posts: 241
    edited May 2017

    I am having surgery on May 24. After lots of back and forth, have decided on a lumpectomy. I had chemo before surgery. Very thankful to have that step behind me. Will have full breast radiation after. Prayers and hugs for all!

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  • dcdrogers
    dcdrogers Member Posts: 115
    edited May 2017

    Hello All.

    I had my BMX May 4th and am now home recovering. The BS left it up to me as to wether or not I felt up to coming home after 1 night stay in the hospital or if I felt like I needed to stay an extra night. I chose to come home after only 1 night stay. I felt fine after surgery and while I did have a pleasant night at the hospital (pain was managed well), I felt I could watch television, read and take my pain meds at home just fine.

    I chose to give reconstruction a go and I must say that so far I am very pleased with my results. I was able to do skin sparing and nipple sparing and my implants were placed over the muscle. I was originally a little bigger than an A cup but barely a B cup. I told the PS that I would not object to being a little bigger, but my ultimate plan/goal was to minimize the number of surgeries as possible.

    Pain is very manageable. I have a ParaVertebral Block (PVB) so I am carrying around 2 bags of the pain medicine which is a pain in the rear, but I'll only have them for 4 days so it's very doable. I also have a few other pain and anti-inflammatory meds to take and so far so good. Now I just need to watch for any signs of infection.

    Thanks so much to everyone for the well wishes regarding my surgery.

    ~Dee

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    dvdrogers, Im happy that you're home already and doing well. You inspire me since the majority of ladies say pain is unbearable. Glad your pain is under control and you were given the option to go home. Keep us posted.

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    kcmc, good luck with your surgery. Mine will be on the 25th. So we can share our journey.

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  • Kacop
    Kacop Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2017

    Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I had a bilateral mastectomy in November and immediate tissue expanders. My exchange surgery is this Tuesday (can't come soon enough). I created a blog entry for my surgery essentials and luxuries. I can't add the link for some reason, so message me if you are interested in reading it. I tried to include some items not discussed in many of the blogs and forums I had previously researched. Pinterest had a lot on post surgery lists. I ordered some front zip bras from Walmart or Amazon. I can't remember now, but I know I didn't pay much for them. I didn't feel I needed anything expensive and heavy-duty, I was so angry at the prices when I did searches for post mastectomy bras. They are outrageous.

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    kacop, good luck on your exchange surgery. Please keep up posted

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  • Mucki1991
    Mucki1991 Member Posts: 294
    edited May 2017

    I have not met with ps yet that's this week but was wondering what if the tumor 2.3...@ 5:00 postion is really close to the areola and nipple... does that rule me out for a lumpectomy?

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  • dcdrogers
    dcdrogers Member Posts: 115
    edited May 2017

    @Kacop - I agree that the post surgery bras AND the camisoles are way too expensive. I went to Wal-Mart a week before surgery and picked up some Danskin zip-front sports bras for $12 a piece. I figured I'd need Mediums, but I did pick-up a few in the Large size in case I had swelling after surgery. I also found a snap-front gown on Wal-Mart's website for around the same price. With the gown I cut a slit on the inside of the pocket and am able to insert and carry my drains on the inside of my gown.

    ~Dee

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  • IDC_Husband_2017
    IDC_Husband_2017 Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2017

    remali, my wife had an MRI shortly after the follow up mammography that gave us the diagnosis. It was all part of the initial work up including the biopsy.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited May 2017

    dcdrogers - Great to hear you're doing so well! I know everyone is different, but I hope I'm like you!

    I go in tomorrow afternoon for the SNB radioisotope injection. They gave me Emla cream to use on the nipple and areola an hour before - said to glop it on and cover with plastic wrap. I think I'll take a Xanax as well.

    My surgery, BMX, will be the next morning (Tuesday). It should be a one night stay. My husband plans to stay with me. My brother and SIL will stay with my kids. I worry about them - especially the youngest who's only 11.

    Of course, today I had to call the PS because I was having UTI symptoms. Went to a walk in place and, yep, UTI. Very frustrating since I had no infections the whole time on chemo! If I seem better by tomorrow then surgery will proceed. If not - I don't know what I'll do.

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  • stephilosphy00
    stephilosphy00 Member Posts: 386
    edited May 2017

    My SNB and single mastectomy are coming this Wednesday. With possible more than one node still positive after 6 months of ACT, now I am just scared but pretty sure I will be bumped up to stage 3 after surgery. Good luck everyone with your surgeries!

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited May 2017

    Lordhelpmetoo - Can I ask why you are getting a BMX after having a lumpectomy?

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    notverybrave, sure, I tested positive for BRCA. Found out after lumpectomy. Plus, I won't need radiation and I don't want to deal with mammograms and be worried every time

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  • JuliaJazz
    JuliaJazz Member Posts: 246
    edited May 2017

    Just wanted to report that I am home from BMX surgery on May 5th. The surgery went well and the sentinel lymph node was clear. I did have a few complications which caused me to spend three nights in the hospital instead of one.. A hematoma caused me to be put back under to drain that.  Possibly because of all of that blood loss I fainted when trying to get up and then the next morning developed AFIB - racing heartbeat - but they were able to knock that down with some meds via IV and now I will take them in pill form for a month to make sure the heartrate stays normal. Hopefully that will take care of that. The incision doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought.  (No reconstruction) and I have been in very little pain.  I have only taken Tylenol (partially so as not to interfere with the other meds I was taking - but really that was all I needed).  The drains are annoying.  They can cause a sharp pain when you move the wrong way but that is happening less frequently and I will have them out on Thursday in the surgeon's office.  After that I expect smooth sailing.  I will see the oncologist in a couple of weeks and see what further treatment is advised.  Probably tamoxifen at least. Good luck to the rest of you with surgeries coming up this month.

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  • g22gretch
    g22gretch Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2017

    @dcdrogers thanks for giving us all hope w/ the good news on your recovery!

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    Julia jazz, glad you're home now. And happy your nodes were clear. That's excellent news. Keep us posted, especially for those of us having surgery soon

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    notverybrave, may your surgery go well tomorrow. Blessings.

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  • Auntmad
    Auntmad Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2017

    Dear Lord, reading some of these has scared me to pieces. So many have had repeat cancer and lumpectomies. I thought they got all mine. Now I'm terrified. I'm four days out from a lumpectomy and a 2 node biopsy. I had terrible rib pain and a phlegmy cough for two days after surgery. The biopsy hurts, but everything looks good.

    If repeats are the norm and chemo is still looming out there, why did I do this? Please reassure me if possible.

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2017

    Auntmad, if they only took out 2 nodes, it's actually good news. It means that the dye didn't light up any nodes that could be cancerous. I had 2 taken out during lumpectomy and thank God, they were clear. I'm getting masectomy after chemo because of BRCA

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  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited May 2017

    does the dye only light up positive nodes?

    Preop for me today😁

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  • Herculesmulligan
    Herculesmulligan Member Posts: 175
    edited May 2017

    tpralph: my understanding is that the dye lights up the nodes that first catch the lymph coming from the breasts. The idea is that, if cancer cells have spread from the breast, some will be caught in this first, or sentinel, node. So the dye just identifies the node of interest. The surgeon can then remove it and send it to pathology where they look for cancer cells. If no one particular node catches the dye, protocol is then to remove a cluster of nodes and look for cancer cells in each of them. But the dye itself doesn't indicate a positive or negative node

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