November 2017 Surgery Group

I'm almost three weeks in and still no path report. I don't know what's taking them so long. I am meeting with my BS on Monday, so I'll see if I can get some insight. The golf ball in my armpit is almost gone. I found that to be quite unpleasant. Painful and just felt gross.

I plan on doing the oncotype test, even if my nodes are clear. I was told they treat the cancer quite aggressively in younger women (I'm 47, young for their purposes I guess ). I'm ok with that, although I'm dreading chemo more than I dreaded the mx. But - I have two kids, and am trying to maximize my odds for survival in any way that's available.

Congratulations Roxy13! That’s fabulous news and I know you’ve been waiting for a long time to get the results. I’m hoping I hear about mine today or tomorrow. I just can’t seem to relax completely until I hear the news. It sure is good to be done with the surgery part though. Hard to believe exactly a week ago from right now I was headed into OR.

I am very happy you got the good news. Go enjoy the rest of your day celebrating!

Roxy13, mypathology reports were clean! Happy dance! I’m off to see my PS in an hour and hoping I’ll get my drains out today too. I’ve been crying tears of relief since I heard the pathology news an hour ago. Hugs to all going through this journey. Xox

I didn’t get the drains removed but they are shooting for this a Friday. I have to keep my fluid under 20ml.

ghionik - I’m sure the drains feel lighter now that you got a clean path report. Good luck on Friday!

MBPooch - I just saw my PS today. He seemed happy with the incision and how it’s healing. He didn’t mention anything about fluid build-up this time around. He did see something two weeks ago, next to the drain incision, below the breast. It must have reabsorbed. Hope you get that last drain out soon as well!

Hi there,

I am new to the site. Had lumpectomy done 21/11 and chemo gonna start soon. Almost 4weeks post op my right arm is still sore and unable to stretch... finding it difficult especially leaving the parking bay and need to slot in the parking card (as well as passing through tolls). Anyone having the same problem? My incision was only about 4 cm

Roxy13, I got one drain out yesterday by my general surgeon. The right one is the same side the lymph node biopsy was done and is still putting out more fluid than they want to release me from having it. Trying to lay low today so fluid stays low.

My general surgeon is referring me to have physical therapy next month to get my range of motion back. Where my lymph nodes were taken on my right side is still so swollen and tender but she said that will subside. I was looking at how much sleep I get now and wonder how I’ll ever do when I return to work full time. Lol

Glad you’re getting to excercise class! I honestly can’t wait to get back to the gym. I miss my normal routine except for working.

Thanks Roxy, Thera band... Will try to get it and start exercising. Am now lying on hospital bed awaiting my first chemo to kick in.

I'm sure your onc has given advice if chemo is beneficial. I was in denial initially (mine is stg 1, worst 2a, why do I need chemo?) But soon I realized that I should go all out, for the sake of my family my children.

All my best wishes,

Good luck with the chemo, @ Hariry! How are you feeling? My friend’s mom had triple neg bc and did very well with chemo. The only issue they have now: they can’t get her to retire! She’s feeling great and energetic. There is hope for us too!

Thank you for the kind words, @ghionik. I don’t know if I’ll be doing chemo yet. I am meeting with the oncologist on Tuesday and will see what he says. I have to say I’m a bit confused. The BS said that there will be hormone blockers for sure, as the baseline, then maybe chemo depending on the oncotype results. She also said that this type of tumour is not that responsive to chemo, so I wasn’t clear what’s the purpose then. Also, if the path report is clear, and I had the double mx, what else is the chemo supposed to fight? Very confusing We’ll see what the experts say. I’ll report back.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Good to hear from you SWG! I was wondering how you’ve been doing. 😊

You’ll have to let me know how that fill process goes. I’m still stuck with one drain, but that’s coming out on Monday. I’ve never wanted a Monday to get here as fast as this one. I still haven’t driven yet, but will tomorrow. I’m off pain meds as of last Wednesday or Thursday. Just Tylenol.

I don’t think I’ll be getting many “fills” because my PS put enough in already. Can not wait to get the drain out! The lymph node site is very swollen and painful, but she said that will subside soon.

Hugs to all going through this. It’s good to know we aren’t alone. Xox

Thanks swg!

I plan to be doing lots of watching movies for a few days. I’m not wanting complications from this particular drain removal. My lymph node swelling is still huge on that side.

I bought myself a new Apple Watch to learn new “stuff” that I’d be not as patient to learn prior to surgery.

Hi MBPooch. I haven’t experienced this. The back of my right forearm is a little tender. The incision area is a little hard, but there are also scabs there. Best of luck. My non-expert opinion is that you have no reason to be concerned

Happy holidays everyone! XO

Hi ladies,

My affected arm started to swell, a month after the surgery. Weird.

And my snb scar was tender and slightly inflamed initially, let it heal. No massage I think.

Lula73 sounds like it-lymphedema. I probably lean on that side throughout my sleep. And... I had thought about removing my ovaries. Mind if I ask how was the decision made?

Last week I finally got my pathology report from my GP. I guess my surgeon is away for the holidays. They found both IDC and Lobular cancer calling it mixed type. There was a lymph node found near the cancer in the breast. There was also a lot of necrosis but not central. The tumour shrunk from 2.2 to 1.6 cm which indicates that there was a response to chemo. There were clear margins. The cancer in the lymph nodes spread from 2 to 6. There was 16 lymph nodes removed. The cancer had also spread into the vascular system surrounding the positive lymph nodes. There was no response to chemo in the lymph region. My MO says about 50% chance of recurrance/metastasis. If it goes to the bones they can treat it fairly well. Not so much if it goes to the liver, brain etc. Seems my dream of escaping cancer clinics is not going to come true.

I was not able to get a referral to PT until last week either. I start PT next week so that I can move my arm for radiation and be assessed for lymphedema. I have pain that seems to come and go down into my forearm which I think is probably from swelling from lymphedema. My incision is healing nicely and I am still experiencing swelling, bruising and tenderness although it is way better than it was! My incision was almost a foot long. I still have no feeling in my arm pit and all the way around it.

The results have made Christmas tough. Trying not to cry. It was hard telling my son and other close family members and supportive friends. I am mad that chemo didn't work. Seems like they should have done the surgery first so that it would not have spread in the lymph region. I feel hopeless and wondering how to live life knowing that cancer is running around my body wanting to take root somewhere else. It sucks.