March 2017 Surgery

I've also written on the April thread. How long do most PS take between the original cancer surgery and the reconstruction for DIEP/fat transfer? My surgeon said surgery wouldn't accept it before 90 days after the first surgery, wonder what other's experiences are. My surgery was April 11, BMX, and he can't do reconstruction until Sept 18. Also, I wanted to get a reduection from a size DDD cup to a C. I think my TE are a good size now and he wanted to fill it more; I don't know whether or let to let him, if I"ll be too big.

Wallan, the problem with cotton batting, cotton balls, or even socks and knitted knockers sometimes is that I always ended up with a "lumpy" look. But what I would do is use the nice smooth Genie bra insert over whatever padding I added to get a smooth look.

Dafne, no, I haven't used any kind of lotion or cream, so if you could share that would be fantastic and I'll run it past my PS.

2FUN, I opted not to do the DIEP flap primarily because I didn't want to deal with the recovery, but my PS has said that if this current attempt at re-inserting the TE doesn't work then he can do a LAT flap. Now, he knows that I am an avid golfer, so why on earth he would recommend something that would completely ruin my game was insulting, insensitive and maddening. I swear sometimes "quality of life" means nothing to these people.

Tnd22, sorry I can't answer your question as I'm doing TE/implants. I believe there's a thread specifically for DIEP surgeries; you may have better luck getting an answer there. That seems like an awfully long time to wait for reconstruction, though.

Oh, KimE, so sorry you're dealing with a seroma now, too. Be sure to keep the area dry and clean and call your PS to see if you can get in before Wednesday. Also, increase your Vitamin C intake if you aren't already to help prevent infection. If you can find liposomal vitamin C in addition that will be even better. Take care and keep us posted on what happens.

Tnd22, every PS has their own set of "rules". I know some women have immediate recon. My PS is ultra conservative. He doesn't do immediate recon and he is very anti fills during chemo.

tnd22. . .I really like my silicone impants. I currently have ultra high profile 300 cc implants which almost look like twins. They give me as much projection up front as my pecks will allow. FYi, I had the revision because I developed capsular contracture and scar tissue around my original implants. That is a rare complication so you should not worry about it.

Yeah on the no chemo or rads. Best wishes in making your decision about reconstruction.

Scottie

Hi all long time no posty. I have been reading all along and praying for all of you awesome women. I'm doing well, so very thankful for this journey with all of it's ups and downs. Saturday dh & I will be doing the Susan G. Komen, but this time will be MUCH MUCH different.. as a survivor and co-survivor. We're not going to run the 5K, just doing the "fun 1 mile walk." Feeling so many emotions about it. They said they except about 10,000 people on Fremont Street (Las Vegas). Wow Wow Wow!

Sorry, same for me -- no reply in a long time. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

My update is I'm just hanging around waiting for implants. LOL God -- love my tissue expanders! Actually, they suck but not as much as I expected. But they still suck! And I'm only expanded to 205ccs! Maybe another fill or two (small ones) and I'm hanging up my boob hat. I'm also taking the first tamoxifen either tonight or tomorrow morning. Anybody else on the endocrine therapy trail yet?

Hugs to all of you!!! I could not have made it through this journey without the support of BC.org team. No kidding at all about that.

Sorry, same for me -- no reply in a long time. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

My update is I'm just hanging around waiting for implants. LOL God -- love my tissue expanders! Actually, they suck but not as much as I expected. But they still suck! And I'm only expanded to 205ccs! Maybe another fill or two (small ones) and I'm hanging up my boob hat. I'm also taking my first tamoxifen pill either tonight or tomorrow morning. Anybody else on the endocrine therapy train yet?

Hugs to all of you!!! I could not have made it through this journey without the support of BC.org team. No kidding at all about that.

Wallen:

Glad you're doing well and no heart attack! I know that must have been scary. FYI: the website is posting replies more than once. I deleted my additional two. Sorry!

Hi 2FUN:

Sorry to hear you feel the panic I feel. Its horrible.

Do you think its Femara? I will be on this drug soon, very likely. Sigh....

I find that Ativan really helps. I am to start on an Ciprolax too after I have recovered a bit from this surgery.

Hi 2FUN:

Once my surgery recovery is underway, I am definitely trying yoga!

Thanks for the heads up about Femara too.

wallan

Today is my first day back from the hospital after my big surgeries. 3 drains that randomly decide to leak, and huge scratchy compression wrap. (And just received a cat scan as he walked over the incision.😻)

I have had a great attitude during all the surgeries, easy recovery even from this combing mastectomy and diep flap reconstruction. But managing the drains, their tubing and compression wrap has presented a real challenge for me. And when I occasionally get a sharp pain while doing something, I'm sure that I have ruined the outcome. I know this all sounds petty, but here it is, at 1:50am in the wee hours, keeping me awake.

Girls, it's late here, I have an early start tomorrow morning, but needed to share some not so great news with you. A few days back I got the pathology report (biopsy) of the mastectomy surgery. Well, they found another tumor, IDC, 1.3 cm, Grade 1, ER+/PR+, HER2- but unfortunately the Ki-67 marker was much higher than my 2 previous tumors, 25-30% this time, "promoting" me from Luminal A to Luminal B BC

My understanding so far is that Ki67 is the % of cells actively dividing and a high number (as mine) means an aggressive cancer which is more likely to respond to chemo. With my previous biopsy reports, (the Luminal A subtype) I was hoping there was a (slim) chance to avoid chemo and go on with the tamoxifen, but I'm pretty sure no oncologist will even consider this now. Apart from not being ready for chemo AT ALL, what freaks me out the most is that the prognosis for Luminal B are not that great. And yes, I know there are still worse outcomes and so many women with worse prognosis than mine go on giving their fights, but each and everyone of us I believe wishes and hopes for the best results when waiting for tests and biopsies...

I already saw an oncologist the day I got the biopsy results, which (no surprise here) was another arrogant ass. We talked for 5 minutes (I had no appointment, was just there to ask him when he could see me) but it was enough time for him to insult me and judge me because I didn't have an oncologist already seeing me. I tried to explain to him that no one had told me I need to find one (well actually my BS told me I should see one before my mastectomy, which I did and the guy told me he did not agree with the surgery based on my previous biopsies and if I needed to see him again that would be after the mastectomy in case I decided to go ahead with it), but he dismissed my explanation telling me "Are you trying to convince me no one told you that you need to see an oncologist?"

He made it sound like I was making this all up, and implied I was just a typical "bad" patient. He was checking the results and when I asked him if I was gonna have chemo in his opinion, he disdained to answer me, telling me "I will not answer you that. So now, you are eager to find out? Where have you been all those months?" And he send me away, to wait for a week till I see him again (tomorrow).

I'm freaking out, ladies... And I freaked out my husband tonight, telling him in case I won't make it, to take care of our fur babies and my mom...

(((((((((Dafne))))))))) It is not your responsibility to "find" a MO. You should have been referred to one. Keep your appointment with this one and then set about finding one who isn't rude!! Big hugs.

hugs dafne!

It may not be as bad as you think. It's small and grade one. The fact that there are tests like ki67 will help you to get the correct treatment so you are on the earth a good long time!!! Keep your appointment and ask BS if they recommend anyone. Take care!

Update on my journey. I was looking forward to july. When I have my TE exchange, BS will take some skin, as my margin was 1mm, and the standard is 2. PS is taking the lump off the end of my nose (that I have has for 10 years). I just found out I will also need my thyroid removed, as it is not clear if it is malignant or not. 13 years ago my thyroid biopsy result were the same, and when they removed it, it was clearly benign. I am hoping for the same result. I also have a bad feeling about the possibility of colon cancer. I tend to have preminitions about things....I am pretty observant. Anyway, I need to get colonoscopy too. 2 BCs, endometrial CA, are enough, I really don't want thyroid CA or colon CA. I wish I was not having to think about this. I had my first day back at work, and it reminds me of my first day back after my lumpectomy when I got pathology indicating a second BC and the endometrial cancer. All I can do is try to breathe while I try to prepare for DS's graduation. I hope DH can hang in there. He may be out of work soon. And he has shouldered as much as I. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. ...:)