Unusual Surgical Request?

Options
CursiveStars
CursiveStars Member Posts: 23
edited February 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

So Im 33 and have had mets for 7 years. I have been bone only until last month when I graduated to liver also. I really wasnt expecting progression as I had felt better in the last 6 months then i had since well before i was diagnosed. So well that I started working on losing all the weight Ive gained from being depressed and on cancer drugs. Ive lost over 50 lbs. I was all set to ask my onc if he would approve of me getting a breast lift. Weight loss and years of cancer meds have wreaked havoc on my already deformed chest. I had a lumpectomy with lymphnode removal 6 years ago because my tumor was eating through the nerves in my nipple and causing excruciating pain. Due to a reaction from a cancer drug I had thrown 4 clots 8 months before surgery so thry refused to do a reconstruction at the time so my right breast has a long scar, half an areola and no nipple and is noticeably of different size and because of that sags less. At 33 and dating this is always such a source of stress to reveal. Now Im kind of nervous to ask if this could still be a possibility. Im on letrozole and Ibrance. Has anyone had surgery on these drugs? Did you have to come off them? Is this an unreasonable request?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited February 2018

    I get it. I was single and dated after a mastectomy 11 years ago. You would probably not have to go off letrozole for more than a day or two. However, since Ibrance makes the white blood cell count and neutrophils plummet, I would suspect you would need to be off it long enough for your levels to return to normal, and probably stay off it for a while after when your body is healing. I have no concrete info on this but would guess 1 month total at minimum (2 weeks on each side), maybe a bit more like 3 weeks on each side. Perhaps you could inquire about taking abemaciclib in the interim surrounding your surgery. Since it doesn't have the same effect on one's blood counts, you may be able to bridge the time with it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jensgotthis
    jensgotthis Member Posts: 937
    edited February 2018

    I agree with JFL. When I was considering recon, I called the Pfizer pharmacy number to get the half life. I was going to do Diep Flap so my surgeon wanted it out of my system so the blood vessel reattachment wouldn’t fail. I think it was a two week half life but my memory isn’t so good so please make that call so you have the most current info.

    Nice work on the weight loss! What’s your trick? Lol

    And hooray for 7 years, dating, and feeing good. Boo for that effing progressin




    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited February 2018

    I don't think this is unreasonable request. I was 36 when I had my mastectomy and reconstruction. Long story short....It failed so, I was left with nothing! Then I received the stage 4 diagnosis and everything cosmetic was put on hold.

    I have been bugging my onc for the last year for surgery. He just required that I was stable. I am on letrozole and ibrance and I am going to have Diep reconstruction this month. This Information might change for your surgery but I was told to stop ibrance 2-2.5 weeks prior to surgery and plastic surgeon requested I drop the letrozole 1 week prior to surgery. 1 week after surgery Pickup letrozole and about 2 weeks after pick up ibrance again.

    And seriously, wow! For 7 years

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories