March 2017 Surgery

2fun I just saw your question about symptoms of seroma. It's a build up of fluid in your surgery area and can get infected. For me, it was uncomfortable pressure from the skin/muscle stretching, it was also squishy and I could actually kind of feel the fluid sloshing around when I pushed on it. I never got an infected one though.

Well, I thought that I would be having chemo on Monday but now I'm not. I received the results from my breast MRI and they found additional large tumors in my left breast as well as a large suspicious mass in my right. My oncologist cancelled my chemo until I have the bi-lateral mastectomy and get the pathology report back. I hate that things keep changing and I have no control.

KimE . . .sending hugs and prayers. Please keep us updated about your surgery.

Scottie

thanks, Sitti, for thinking of me! Hope you are doing well!

Raven, thanks for sharing your story. That doctor of yours is a piece of work! What a jerk. Hope you can save your TE!

East coast, thanksfor advice on probiotic. I've been taking one but it isn't medical grade from the pharmacy. I will look into that!

Lisbeth, I had never heard that about the NSAIDS!! I've been popping the ibuprofen like crazy. Ugh!! I'm so scared of getting c diff or rupturing a tendon!

My incision finally closed back up and the breast has calmed down and I feel better. Two more days of this cipro. I really hope the infection doesn't return!! He said I had "spit" a stitch but wouldn't say if the pseudomonas was a primary or secondary infection. I don't care at this point, just want it gone!

Thanks for all the support and advise!!

Well, girls, here is the alternative regimen that I followed mainly before surgery and the first couple of weeks that followed.

First of all, let me say that in no case my homeopathic/supplement protocol substitutes western medicine, it's only supplemental. That's how I used it, and that's how it's supposed to be used. My homeopathic doctor is also a close friend who works as a Radiologic Technologist and she was the one who performed my first ultrasound that gave us some indication I might have bc.

Homeopathic Remedies

Arnica Montana is used to reduce swelling and bruising associated with trauma, surgery or overexertion. Staphysagria is indicated for lacerated tissues (as occurs in surgery) especially if the tissues are sensitive to the slightest touch.

• Two days before surgery: Arnica 1M, two times per day
• One day before surgery: Arnica 1M, three times a day
• Day of surgery: Arnica 1M right before surgery
• Post surgery: Arnica 200CH every half hour (starting as soon as possible in recovery, ideally within the first hour), alternating with Staphysagria 1M (used for the pain) every half hour -for example at 11:00 you'll get your Arnica and 11:30 your Staph and 12:00 Arnica again, and so on.
• One day post op: Same combination (Arnica + Staphysagria) every hour
• Day two post op: Same combination every two hours
• Day three post op: Same combination three times a day
• Same as day 3 to be followed for at least 2 weeks

Extra homeopathic remedies (although not mandatory, I used them almost all)

Aconitum is used to aid with fear/anxiety. If you experience fear or anxiety after surgery too, take one to three more doses

• One day before surgery: Aconitum 200CH or 1M morning and night
• Day of surgery: One dose upon waking up.

Hamamelis is used in cases of amputation of the breast or a lump

• Day of surgery: Hamamelis 200CH, twice a day. Continue for at least 5 days.

Ipecacuana is helping with persistent nausea with vomiting after surgery, especially when vomiting does not provide relief. (note: the only one I did not use, I had an excellent anesthesiologist)

• Day of surgery if you are feeling nauseous or vomiting: Ipecacuana 200CH every hour till the feeling subsides.

Lymphomyosat drops is used to help eliminate anesthesia from the system (it helped me with swelling too).

• 10 drops in water or directly in the mouth 3 times a day, beginning the day before surgery and continuing for at least 10 days after (I continued it for at least 2 weeks)

Other supplements:

To help wound healing:

• Vitamin C, 1000mg tablets, one tablet once daily for one week before and one week after surgery
• Multi-Vitamin of your choice: one tablet once daily for one week before and one week after surgery
• Zinc, 50mg, one tablet daily for one week before and one week after surgery (to be taken with food)

That was it, girls. I still take Arnica and Staphysagria (7 weeks post op) everytime I feel pain or have done too much during the day.

I don't know if the doses of the homeopathic drugs are the same abroad (1M / 200CH), but I guess a little Google search will help you with this.

Hope I've helped. Hugs to all.

Hey, girls, just checking up on you! It's quiet here lately, but I want to believe no news is good news

So, let me share some good news of mine: I won't need chemo! The last oncologist I saw was indeed a great one, we talked for almost an hour, and we ended up that chemo was not on the menu for me. I will still need to take tamoxifen and he strongly advised me to have the BRCA test. I was so happy I could fly but the brca test thought freaked me out completely over the next couple of days. To be honest, I had a few rather bad weeks, with all the pre-surgery anxiety coming back like a whirlwind, insomnia and a rather huge nervous breakdown. I just don't have the guts right now to go on with the test. I know I will do it, I just can't seem to find the courage to deal with it just now. So I gave myself a couple of weeks to just try and calm down.

Then the guilt trip started: why am I feeling so depressed and down when I had so good news, why am I so afraid, am I just an awful, ungrateful person? shouldn't I be just happy that I'm here, still alive and going stronger everyday after the surgery, why won't I just appreciate the beautiful sunny day or the fact that my mom is still alive and here to help me, my husband whom I love and he has been great so far and so on and so on....

But even the thought of going for the damn brca test and the possibility of another huge surgery, petrifies me. Even more than when I had to prepare myself for the bilateral mastectomy. I had trouble breathing right, had ugly nightmares when I finally could sleep, gloomy days where I could cry over anything and even when I should be feeling happy, got terribly emotional and sensitive and for the first time in my adult life, I had a bad acne break. I could not believe it. Acne, at 43! I didn't even have it when I was a teenager, just the occasional pimple a few days before my period.

What can I say? I might be a coward after all. But at this point, I don't care if anyone thinks i'm a chicken and I could really hate the next person who's gonna tell me "Oh, you are so brave".

I know this was supposed to be a "happy news" post, but I guess I got carried away. Anyway, I will finally do the damn test, just not tomorrow. Soon though...

Hope to hear good news from all of you. Hugs.

Hi Dafne:

So happy to hear you do not need chemo! That is good news.

I totally understand your feelings. I too have been feeling depressed with panic attacks. I do not need chemo or radiation either and you would think I would be relieved and happy. But I am facing a few big surgeries for more reconstruction too and these worry me too.

I was finally put on some antidepressants and antianxiety meds for my anxiety and they are starting to kick in. I am beginning to see myself come back. I am living moment to moment, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel now.

Hang in there, things improve with time.

wallan

Girls, once again your help has been valuable. I want to hug you all Or even better, host you for holidays in Greece! Hey, for real, if you ever decide to visit, let me know, I'm a proud couchsurfing host heh!

Yesterday I decided to go for the test. Don't know how my mind clicked and I thought I 'll do it. Maybe it was a combination of the marvelous sunny day here, the fact that it was the first of June and summer is my favorite time of the year, and your encouraging words too. It really helps to have someone that really gets how you feel, even if is someone you've never meet in person. So I called the geneticist specialist and this morning I was there, giving blood for the test. I'll have the answers in about a month. The guy was shocked by my family history... Yep, unfortunately there is a strong family history from my mom's side, breast cancer actually. The specialist was a great person, really compassionate, caring and friendly but he said it's almost 100% certain I carry the bad gene.

Well, I guess it's better to know. You know, all the "knowledge is power" stuff. I just try to shush the voice that says "ignorance is bliss".

Either way, now it's done and soon I'll know.

Let's hope for a miracle to happen. Who knows, maybe it will.

Hugs again and wish you all a great weekend.

Dafne, I'm glad you're feeling better today and that you went with the test but just because you have a strong family history doesn't mean you'll have the BRCA gene. I have a pretty strong history too and didn't test positive for the BRCA gene, but did test positive for a different gene that had a higher increased risk for ovarian cancer. There are several women in my family who have had breast cancer but only one (so far) that has had ovarian cancer. Nevertheless, I figured hey, my lady parts are trying to kill me? They gotta go! I had my ovaries and tubes removed bilaterally back in October - easiest surgery I've had thus far - and my sister, who also tested positive for the same gene, just had hers removed a couple of weeks ago. Interestingly, my sister's daughter did NOT test positive for this gene.

Dafne:

I also have family history (my mom) but not strong and my BRCA, etc. that they tested for was negative. So...you never know.

I'm glad you went. But I get it. I want the "ignorance is bliss" some days, too. Many days.

EastcoastTS, from your mouth to God's ear!

As for family history count with me:

From mom's side (my mom, amazingly and against all odds, is still healthy, age 84):

1. My grandmother (bc, age 60+uni mastectomy some 50 years back plus radiation, survived but unfortunately died from lymphedema complications)
2. My great aunt (bc, age 50+grandmother's sister / uni mastectomy, survived, died from heart complications)
3. My great aunt's daughter (breast and/or intestine, mom's not sure, operated, survived, died from other causes)
4. My aunt (mom's sister, bc, refused to operate, died 2-3 years later age 42)
5. My uncle (mom's brother, prostate cancer which spread, age 80+ died from it)
6. My first cousin (daughter of my mom's sister, bc, age 50, partial mastectomy, chemo, radiation, 8 years survivor)
7. My nephew (brother's son, testicle cancer, age 24, operated, chemo, 5 years survivor)
8. and now me, bilateral synchronous bc, age 42

Dad's side all clear.

That's why doc freaked out more or less. I want to believe I might escape it. It's gonna be a LONG shot, but I keep on praying. Who knows, maybe I'll make the difference as my mom, and break our family pattern.

I'm going to try to convince my younger niece (first cousin's daughter) to have the BRCA test as well. She's only 24, a bright student, a marvellous, beautiful young woman full of dreams and hopes, which I love dearly. Not an easy task. Her mom is in denial. She doesn't want to have any kind of test, she doesn't want to know. She says she gave her battle and she wants nothing to do with the damn cancer. I tried to talk to my brother's daughter, she was also completely negative. She's a young mother and newly wed, and she firmly believes she is in no danger at all.

Sometimes I feel like Cassandra, the bearer of bad news. Although I know it's not my fault. Sigh

Dafne. . .great news on the no chemo and don't worry about the Tamox. I've been on it for 2.5 years and there is a great Tamoxifen board here that you can join for support. As for the BRCA test, hang in there. You don't know until you get the results. I had the test for my daughter. I wanted her to know just in case. Hugs,

Scottie

Dafne Im so glad you don't need chemo!!! yay!! as for the genetic testing...I was very nervous waiting for my results too..I also have a strong family history, my sister had bc 3 1/2 years ago...and my mom 32 years ago (survivor) and my Nana...who passed away from it when it went to her brain, but that was early 70's and she didn't do anything about it when it was bc.....

anyway when my sister was diagnosed my other sisters and I (there are 6 of us) all got tested for Brca....we were all negative...false hope because then I was diagnosed, so I got a full panel genetic testing..and came back positive for Bard1 gene...also a bc gene..possible links to ovarian but they are not supported enough, but I will be getting my ovaries and tubes out anyway, I"m done with them and chemo already put me into menopause LOL

Raven4mi I"m glad to hear that surgery was easy....how long was your recovery? I was thinking about doing it after radiation this summer, but I dont' want to ruin my one month free of treatments in August LOL (before I go back to school in Sept, I'm a teacher)

I had my catscan and mapping yesterday to start radiation the end of next week.....here we go with phase 3 of this horrible year....hoping it goes quick, but I have a 1 hour drive each way to get to radiation...*sigh*

carmstr835 . . .I had some sharp nerve pain from cording on node side and I had a specially trained PT that could gently massage the cording. I did subsequently develop lymphadema and ended up going to an LE therapist. Be careful with the cording and see one of your surgeons or ask your MO about it. My MO was the one who diagnosed the LE and referred me out.

Scottie

Thanks Scottiemom, I did mention it to the nurses and my primary care, but I told them I was going back to my PT person, and she is working on my cording, but it is very painful when she works on it, and maybe that is why it is so bad right now. I only see her once every 2-3 weeks. It worries me you got lymphadema after cording issues, I am very sorry..

I sure hope this isn't the beginnings of it...it is very sore, more so that it ever was, and my range of motion is less than it was as well. But I don't notice any swelling, just the pain.