July 2018 surgery

Options
Debsmisto
Debsmisto Member Posts: 171

Hi all. I am scheduled for bilateral mast July 3rd, didn't see a thread here yet for July, hoping some of you will jump on board. I wanted to go direct to Implant over the pectoral but my ps is afraid there won't be enough skin so he's going to try to do this but may have to leave te's instead which sounds like what he thinks will happen. I didn't see a radiation Dr until after my ps consult and now the radiation Dr is taking possible radiation and said I have to wait on that until after my exchange if the ps goes with te's then implants, ugh this is all so hard to sort out. Anyway hoping some of you will be in this next leg of the journey with me.

«134567

Comments

  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    Hello ladies--not trying to highjack this thread but I have two front-close bras I bought for my last lumpectomy I'd be happy to donate to someone who can use them. Size Large, each worn 2-3 times. A lot of women like them for the first week or two post-surgery.

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2018

    Hi Thank you, Debsmisto, for starting this thread! And thank you, Ingerp, for your generosity! If you wish, you can post it also in the BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer forum, our place to donate and trade breast cancer items free of charge.

    Best,

    The Mods


  • r2d2chelsea
    r2d2chelsea Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    I am scheduled for a Preventative Bilateral Mastectomy and ovary removal on July 19th! My last mamagram (two months ago) showed a lot of breast changes. My oncologist and B.S. are wonderful. They are both being cautious and acting fast.They are doing both surgeries on the same day while I am under. My mom was diagnosed with aggressive 0varian Cancer at 35 and had DCIS before 50. My grandmother and great grandmother died of breast cancer. I'm working hard to get physically and emotionally ready for surgery! I am so thankful for this site. It has helped my husband and I process and absorb all the information that is coming at us fast. I'm learning so much! Let's Do This!!! :)

  • Debsmisto
    Debsmisto Member Posts: 171
    edited May 2018

    Welcome chealsea, so sorry to hear you lost so many family members to this ugly disease, glad you are being pro active. When you have time tell us more about yourself, age etc. Best of luck on your journey

  • brcatutu
    brcatutu Member Posts: 7
    edited June 2018

    I'm scheduled for a preventative bilateral mastectomy on July 5th. I'm BRCA 1+ and have a lot of family history with breast cancer. My first cousin was diagnosed at 34 so I decided 29 was as long as I was willing to risk it. I'm hoping to also do a DTI pre-pectoral reconstruction. My PS was hopeful but it always depends on what they see in the OR. Fingers Crossed!

  • r2d2chelsea
    r2d2chelsea Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    Thank you Debsmisto. I'll be thinking and praying for you on July 3rd!! I am 26 years old! I clean houses. (I weirdly love to clean ) :) I have a 6 year old son. I have been married for 7 years to my best friend! Sorry for all the typos in my last post! Lol I'm going to fix them! :) Bractutu I will be thinking and praying for you on July 5th! You are going to do awesome. Seeing that you are preparing for a PBM too gives me courage!

  • Fairchild
    Fairchild Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2018

    I'm supposed to have bilateral mastectomies in early July....no date set yet....waiting to receive the genetic workup.

  • Cindymb
    Cindymb Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2018

    Hi girls 🤗

    My surgery date hasn't been made yet. I am a candidate for a lumpectomy with a lift but we need the genetics test results before a final decision. My appointment with the genetics doctor is June 18 and the results take a week...

  • Debsmisto
    Debsmisto Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    The closer my surgery date gets the more scared I get, bi lateral mastectomy for sure, possible reconstruction will know for sure next week. The drains and pain sounds. a bit scary but I gotta do this!

  • Inigo
    Inigo Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2018

    Another July 3rd! Preventative bilateral mastectomy, prepectoral, and hopefully direct to implant. I’m BRCA2+, had the BSO two years ago when diagnosed.

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2018

    Welcome, Inigo! We wish you the best with your upcoming surgery, we hope everything goes smoothly!

    The Mods

  • Cindymb
    Cindymb Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2018

    I met my plastic surgeon today. Waiting for genetic testing results. I hope the surgery gets scheduled right after. Then I'll be worrying about the lymph node results....

    How are you all doing?

  • mdevroy
    mdevroy Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2018

    I have surgery July 26. Just went through 12 weeks of Paclitaxel. Not sure what kind of surgery yet I will find out on July 2 after the genetics testing and all the scans are in. If its a lumpectomy i will then go to 6 weeks of everyday radiation. After that every three weeks of herceptin till April 2019. I just want to get back to normal. So far i have been working full time think that will change after surgery. i just want to be back to my self again

  • Cindymb
    Cindymb Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2018

    Hi mdevroy 🤗

    I can relate. All of the waiting keeps us in such a holding pattern. It seems so surreal to me. I still need to tell my 2 grown daughters about my diagnosis. One is pregnant, due in two weeks. I'm waiting until I know for certain what type of surgery.

  • Whateverittakes
    Whateverittakes Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2018

    Hello I'm new here my first post even tho I've been reading your post for awhile. I'm 31 years old & have a BMX with skin & nipple sparing on June 13th. I only had cancer in me left but removed both due to my age. I wanted to say hello & I'm praying everything goes well for you on your surgery day! The nuclear injections wasn't as bad as I thought. I do have a brand new drain pouch & M camisole with drain holders that is brand new never used if anyone needs them just PM me.

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2018

    Welcome, Whateverittakes! We hope you find this community to be a place of support, and we hope you're healing well!

    The Mods

  • Gingerobrien
    Gingerobrien Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2018

    Hello! I am new also. My surgery is July 2nd Lumpectomy I am Her2 positive and waiting for the genetic testing also for the Brac1 Brac2. I agree with you all waiting sucks and I just want my life back I feel like i just everything put on hold for the next year...at least. Ready to have the surgery and start treatment so I can move forward. Still waiting to get actual results for all my tests (not a fan of that not being available) I do know my tumor is 9mm and I am a 34dd so hoping the lumpectomy will go well.

    Ginger

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2018

    Same to you, Ginger! Welcome, and good luck with surgery and further tests. If you need any assistance from us Mods, please don't hesitate to reach out via private message, we're always here!

    The Mods

  • Vermonster
    Vermonster Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2018

    I finally have a surgery date of 7/16 for BMX and oophorectomy . It seems we go from one type of waiting to another (from waiting on all the test results to waiting for the date of surgery). Everything feels like it's in limbo. Sadly, seems like there's a lot of company in this boat on this journey.

  • Cindymb
    Cindymb Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2018

    I received a call from the genetic counselor. All DNA markers came back negative. 😊 Lumpectomy it is. Awaiting surgery date. What kinds of pre-op tests, etc will I need to get done?

  • Justkeepmoving
    Justkeepmoving Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2018

    introducing myself.... technically I'm June surgery but my date is June 29 and maybe I can be a Guinea pig for you ladies!

    I just spent the last 40 minutes having a mini crisis of second guessing my decision for a bilateral mastectomy. Luckily I have my brother's wife texting me and helping me work out the logic in my decision. The waiting for the surgery is difficult!

    I had both nipples biopsied on Monday (OWW!) in an attempt to save both nipples. Fingers crossed no cancer under either of them. Did I mention it hurts! But it will be worth it...

    Can we share how we came to our decision of treatment/ surgery?

    I had biopsy showing DCIS grade 3 (intermediate/high grade), ER/PR negative, MRI showed 2 other areas of concern (one close to the known DCIS - thought to be more DCIS) and some unknown white spots (calcifications?)

    My breasts are small (not even a B cup) so lumpectomy in 3 spots would be A LOT for my tiny breasts...

    Apparently my age (49) and ER/PRnegative status makes me higher risk of recurrence - I don't want to keep having lumpectomies...

    Chance to have the DIEP done immediately - this can only be done once and I wanted symmetry and did not want the constant surveillance of my other breast so I opted for bilateral mastectomy with DIEP flap


  • Whateverittakes
    Whateverittakes Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2018

    Cindymb, it may vary depending on the doctor, but for my pre-op I had a EKG, Xray, Pet scan, CBC and metabolic panel check they also confirmed my blood type just in case in needed any blood but I didn't require any. Praying all goes well. Sa

  • CarolAnnieLumpLump
    CarolAnnieLumpLump Member Posts: 89
    edited June 2018

    Wishing you all the best with your upcoming surgeries. I should be having my mastectomy in July as well if all goes as I hope it does. This is going to sound like a dumb question but I am meeting with a breast surgeon on Monday but he doesn't do the reconstruction he works with a plastic surgeon on that part. So when you say you are having this surgery with reconstruction at the same time...does this involve just your plastic surgeon or a gen surgeon and plastic surgeon at the same time? I would like to have the same thing done and will ask on Monday if it's possible in my area. Trying to figure all this out is so hard. I am considering bilateral just to take the worry out of having to go through all this again on the other side.

  • Magnolia-mom
    Magnolia-mom Member Posts: 101
    edited June 2018

    Hi- I'm planning to have a bmx at the end of July. I started chemo in February. Radiation oncologist says initial mammogram showed calcifications in an area of 11 cm. Chemo has decreased my level of active cancer in my breast and lymph node, but my surgeon still suspects that there is a large area of diffuse cancer and that it may be difficult to get positive margins. So, I will need to wait 6-12 months for reconstruction.

    I'm feeling a little bummed about having to wait for reconstruction, but am happy my team will do its best to eradicate the cancer.

  • SLL101984
    SLL101984 Member Posts: 222
    edited June 2018

    Hi ladies, came across your thread this evening and wanted to send some words of encouragement. I am 33 years old had a BMX on may 21, I opted for the surgery to give me the greatest peace of mind going forward (even though my chance of recurrence is still not 0), and because my boobs were smaller and a lumpectomy would have left me very scarred. My right was prophylactic but this way I will feel most even. I had surgery on a Monday and was off major pain meds that Thursday. I was able to do nipple sparing so my incisions start under and come up the outsides. This also allowed my bs to take lymph nodes from the same incision. I did have to go the tissue expander route due to skin becoming stressed but it will be worth it. The node biopsy site was the most painful and still bothers me some. Overall I was feeling really good a lot faster than I expected. Since surgery I got my oncotype score and learned I do not need rads or chemo just tamoxifen which I started 3 days ago. The waiting is the worst by far, and I hope my story can calm some anxious nerves. You got this ladies!

  • Whateverittakes
    Whateverittakes Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2018

    I opted for a delayed reconstruction but my BS sent me to a plastic surgeon. They would combine and do the operation at the same time if you chose to do it immediately. I think only PS does the reconstruction part. Good luck SA

  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited June 2018

    Hi to all July 2018 surgeries patients! I couldn’t find my post introduction , so posting here again.

    I just turned 41 and first mammogram revealed it! Ductal carcinoma left breast .done mri, ct scan , bone scan together with biopsy and genetic test was negative . Decided if left breast mastectomy and gel implants on both sides.

    I m hormone positive , her2 negative . On a top mother of 2 teen girls and 5 yo girl!!!

    Surgery is in one week , feeling scared and wish everything would happen if it is meant to happened later in my life. But not now...😥

    I chosen mastectomy over lampectomy because my breasts are smaller and don’t want any recurrence . Looking for gals who did or doing surgery at Salem mass general in Massachusetts, other responders are welcome

  • Debsmisto
    Debsmisto Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    Nice to see so many of you joined the July surgery group, well not so nice we are all going thru this but at least we can share our experiences. I saw my PS fri he said he will try to do direct to Implant above the pectoral if the skin is in good enough shape, if not he'll try te's above the pectoral and last resort te's under the pectoral. I was surprised to hear he is the only PS in their practice that had done either of the above the pectoral procedures, this practice is affiliated with OSU The James Cancer Hospital its the Stefanie Spielman Center, supposed to be state of the art, hmmmm anyway so far I have gotten great treatment there and I do like all of my Dr's. My surgery is July 3rd, say a prayer for me girls.


  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited June 2018

    Debsmisto, mine too on 3-d!!! Mine implants I believe they will put behind the muscles !

    Did you go for pre op? Make sure they will swab your nose for Mrsa- it’s an sort of infection!!!

    Prayers for all of us !!!! My breast is stil has bluish hematoma from an biopsy.

  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited June 2018

    SLL101984, thsnk you for your support!!! You are sooo young!!! My gosh!!! I m happy that you recovered much faster!!!! Mine is on July 3,2018!!!

Categories