Surgery June 2018

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  • JaBoo
    JaBoo Member Posts: 520
    edited July 2018

    I had 4 injection with the radioactive dye and it was uncomfortable and I would aay like any other injection with fluid being injected - so a sting with a bit of pressure... very much like vaccine being injected, for example. this is just to share my impression/experience...

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    Benny Bear, I took the clear dressing off my chest yesterday as I was told to and I've been more sore since then. Maybe the skin is irritated. I tried wearing forms and trying on some bras but that made me more sore too, so I think I'll have to go flat for a while and try to give my chest time to heal. Thanks for asking.

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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2018

    Aussie cat, havet found much that is very comfortable, either. Hopefully will improve soon.

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    Benny Bear, I hope you feel more comfortable soon too.

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  • Whateverittakes
    Whateverittakes Member Posts: 43
    edited July 2018

    I haven't found any bra or recovery bra I can use yet. Dr told me to wear loose fitting shirts & dusters if possible of course in the house. I've noticed that if I hold my chest pillow on my chest just about all the time it makes it feel better. Loose shirts & silk don't seem to hurt me. Anything tight does. Best wishes

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  • Moonrabbit59
    Moonrabbit59 Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2018

    I was not given the injector dye until I was put under

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    Whateverittakes, I'm sorry you haven't found any comfortable bra yet. It's hard to find anything comfortable when you're in pain. I've been wearing crop tops some of the time but I think wearing no bra is more comfortable. I hope you feel more comfortable soon.

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  • Teaberry11
    Teaberry11 Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2018

    whateverittakes - I found that the spanx type camis work great instead of a bra. I got an off brand 2 for $10 at Marshalls. They are a very light compression and come up to the armpit on the side so no digging into the drain area and have a nice spaghetti strap that is very comfortable.

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  • Kidogo
    Kidogo Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2018

    urdrago71, I had the nuclear injection and it wasn't bad at all, stinging for about 5 seconds. I was awake, had to go to the Nuclear Med Dept for the injection, wait a few minutes to see if it was travelling to the nodes and then back to Day Surgery. I actually had 2 injections. The first one didn't hurt at all so tech said it was too deep and second one hit the target. It stung a bit, and went straight to the node. I only had one sentinel node.

    My surgery was done under a local with sedation. So I was asleep but not intubated, woke up in OR, talked to surgeon, skipped RR and went back to Day Surgery and was discharged very quickly.

    Good luck with your surgery.

    M

    Ps I'm in Ontario, not far from Detroit. So we're actually fairly close geographically.


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  • urdrago71
    urdrago71 Member Posts: 559
    edited July 2018

    kidogo, thanks for information..I'm filling my head of what to expect during next steps. Im still not sure where I wanna go for surgery.. it all makes me a bit nervous!! Yeah, ur close by did u come to US for surgery or no?

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  • Kidogo
    Kidogo Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2018

    I had my surgery in London. Free. If I came to USA l’d be spending my retirement!

    I have a great surgeon. Waiting to meet the oncology team. We have a fabulous Breast Care Centre here.

    Not the way I planned to spend my summer......pinning my hopes on a trip to Rome in October. Although planned months ago, will be my reward. We have rented fabulous apartment with a view of St Peter's Basilica. If I need to hang there some days I'll just soak in the view.....


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  • urdrago71
    urdrago71 Member Posts: 559
    edited July 2018

    kidogo , your trip sounds beautiful. So jealous...I think I will be appericating life a lot more after all of this..

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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2018

    Kidogo, hope you enjoy Rome! It is great to have something fun to look forward to! Last time after my radiation I went to Paris. We have a trip planned too for October but not sure until I see oncologist. thankful we don't have to pay for the surgery and treatments.

    Finally my arm is not as sore, Yeah! I went bathing suit shopping yesterday. All the firsts seem so upsetting, but I did find a decent one.

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  • Justkeepmoving
    Justkeepmoving Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2018

    hi ladies :)

    Checking in... I'm almost 10 days post op (double mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction) - finally feeling good.

    I hope all of your pathologies turned out ok

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    Benny Bear, you were brave to go bathing suit shopping. I'm sorry it was upsetting but I'm glad you found a decent one.

    Justkeepmoving, I'm glad you're finally feeling good ten days after surgery!

    It's nearly 3 weeks since my double mastectomy and my chest is still very sore at times, even though I have good range of movement and I've been sleeping okay.

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  • Moonrabbit59
    Moonrabbit59 Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2018

    10 day post-op update as well: still have one set of drains. Had an allergic reaction to the drapery adhesive which is still working it’s way out of my system. The stitches under the tape is itchy. I did get good news, with the pathology results: the whole amount of invasive cancer that was breaking out from the DCIS was less than 5mm! So that’s good. Only one sentinel node showed cancer and they found atypical lobular hyperplasia in my left breast. The tissue taken from beneath my nipples was clear from cancer so I get to keep my nipples. I meet with the plastic surgeon on the 18th and then I meet with my breast surgeon and oncology team on the 23rd. It looks like I’ll probably have chemo and radiation because the DCIS area was very close to the chest wall, although my margins were clear.


    I’ve been trying to research different chemo therapy. Is there any for breast cancer where you don’t lose your hair? Should I start planning on losing my hair

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  • Verochocs28
    Verochocs28 Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2018

    I had surgery on June 28th, Double mastectomy and after 10 days I am starting to feel like myself again, the pain is less and of course you start getting used to the feeling, yes, I also feel discomfort on both breast and chest and both sides where the drains go. My doctor removed 2 drains 3 days ago and in 4 days he will remove the last one.

    Yes, he said it should be fine to sleep however I want and big mistake trying to sleep on my back, the worst pain ever!! If I use pillows and sleep almost sitting helps a lot and I have notices that during the day and moving around makes me feel much better.

    Hope you guys feel better, I guess the anxiety is normal but in my case, I was diagnosed with stage 1 tumor was 1.2 cms and I inmediately decided to go for a DM , I just could think of going through check ups again and being worried about the results, I feel much better now , I’m just waiting for the final result from the lymph node biopsy , prayers please 😊🙏.

    Also, tylenol extra strenght helps more than others, I am still taking it and it eases the pinches and diacomfort a little bit.

    Medicine research has come a long way so I hope you guys feel happy as me and excited for a second chance to live better and love more 💕.

    Veronica




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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2018

    I am now just a little past three weeks and i am finding a huge improvement in comfort! Thanks Aussie cat!

    Moon rabbit I think there has been research on cold caps or ice to help prevent hair loss.i don’t know much about it, but something to check .

    Veronica, love the attitude. It is just so overwhelming at times and we need to stop and consider how fortunate we are to live today.

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  • Moonrabbit59
    Moonrabbit59 Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2018

    bennybear: good to hear about your recovery. I heard about the cold caps but I also heard that they prevent the chemo from affecting anything that might be in the scalp area so I’m thinking I will not use it.

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  • Justkeepmoving
    Justkeepmoving Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2018

    moonrabbit -- Sorry to hear about the need for chemo but sounds like they are being careful and you are just going to get rid of this once and for all!!

    Is it weird for me to say that the women I know personally who lost their hair lose it for such a short time and it comes back better! Still I know it must not be something nice to deal with....hugs!

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  • LKinKC
    LKinKC Member Posts: 51
    edited July 2018

    Hi everybody,

    I has surgery 2 weeks ago 6/25. I'm doing a little better everyday. They took out one of my drains it hurt but not bad. Now the area where drain as hurts. Hopefully goes it away soon

    For you fellow BC fighters I had my chemotherapy before surgery here a little advice. for those facing chemo Stay on top of your side effects call the doctor if you have issue's, don't wait it out. Make sure to drink plenty of water and everything tastes wierd. Good luck with Chemo and further treatments.

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  • Livlife
    Livlife Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2018

    Hello everyone, I'm 5 weeks post lumpectomy and an on a family trip. Since my 4th week, the pain from the surgery is almost close to none. But In the beginning, i only take 2 caps extra strength Tylenol every 6 hours,works great. Last week I've been getting few massage session, laying on my tummy and my boobs don't hurt anymore when the masseuse put some pressure on my back.

    But unfortunately I have another surgery this Thursday for re excision due to “close" margin. So this is delaying my treatment (whatever it is, I don't know yet- i read it could be a combo of chemo and rads, because I have another pathology result from the margin that I need to wait on). I have a family trip in Europe for thanksgiving weekend and I don't know if I have to cancel it. I'm estimating they'd let me start treatment early next month. Did anyone travelled while in between treatment? Or too risky?

    I'm hopefullI would recover soon, I have 2 little kids to care for and my husband travels a lot. Wishing us all good luck!

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  • Krysm7
    Krysm7 Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2018

    hi LivM

    Can I ask how close your margins were? My surgeon discussed that I may need reexcision but that would be up to oncologist...who I'm yet to see. So just curious how close yours were. Thanks :) and yay for being able to get massages! Can't wait til I heal a bit more.

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  • Livlife
    Livlife Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2018

    Hi Krysm7, here is what it say:

    Distance of invasive carcinoma from margin:

    Superior: 3mm | Deep: 1mm

    Distance of SITU carcinoma from margin:

    Superior: less than 1mm | medial: 3mm | deep: 3.5mm


    Is yours similar to mine?

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  • Moonrabbit59
    Moonrabbit59 Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2018

    thank you for the advice on the chemo. At this point, I’ve only been told to prepare for it, not that it’s actually happening. The good thing is that we have a vacation planned in mid August and it sounds like I’ll be able to go on it even if I start a round of chemo. Right now, I just keep hoping that my drains go below the target number so that I can have the last ones out. Small goals i gues

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  • Kidogo
    Kidogo Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2018

    LivM, I have a margin that is <1mm and my surgeon said I will need 5 boost treatments for a tota of 30 or 6 weeks. It's the standard of care here in Ontario. I see the RO for the first time next Wednesday, July 18.

    Anyone know what “boost" entails? Double dosage?

    Doing well otherwise. Seem to be extra tired. With radiation I will be sleeping 23 hours if it's worse!

    And I forget who had breast pain - I have it too. Doesn't feel like nerve pain. More like bruise. Started maybe 10 days ago. I'm 1 month post lumpectomy. Weird. Comes and goes. A couple times I took Motrin.

    M



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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    Kidogo, I'm sorry you're feeling extra tired and I hope you get enough rest. Maybe boost treatments just mean extra ones but I'm not sure. It's probably worth mentioning the breast pain to a doctor in case it means anything. I'm glad you're mostly doing well.

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  • Livlife
    Livlife Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2018

    I just finished my re excision last July 12, it was quicker than the first one (lumpectomy), and so far, pain from bruising is the only complain I have, i took out the outer bandage yesterday and now just waiting for the steri strips to fall off. I miss sleeping in my stomach. I will have my first consultation on Monday (tomorrow) with my Hema Onco and Rad Onco to discuss option. I wanted to start whatever treatment i have to do next month ( we have a 2 weeks trip with family in Italy for Thanksgiving) I want to go. I find that vacations helps me so much not to get too anxious with this cancer. I'm 37 and Sometimes paranoid.

    Kidogo, a friend of mine had extra radiation boost too after she finished the regular dose, I don't know how many but she's now NED for 10+ years, she looks really good and healthy you can't tell she once fought with cancer. She only did radiation. For breast pain, though I know it's different for everyone, but Tylenol Extra Strenght works for me. Some people say they still feel breast pain that comes and goes even after a few months from surgery. Im sure it will get better in time.Hoping and praying for the best for all of us here.

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited July 2018

    LivM, I can understand you missing sleeping on your stomach. I hope your bruising settles down and you don't feel too sore. It's lovely that you can go on vacations so you don't get too anxious. I pray your doctor's appointments go well and you feel at peace.

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  • Insideout2
    Insideout2 Member Posts: 128
    edited July 2018

    Hello Everyone,

    I had surgery June 14, 2018. I haven't posted anything in a while. I elected to have an expander placed on my left side. I had lymph nodes removed too. My first drain removal took 3 weeks my second 4. It was removed this past Wednesday. I will meet my radiologist this week, but will not begin radiation for a few weeks. I plant to get DIEP reconstruction after completing radiation.

    My two teenagers feel things are better since the surgery. At this time I feel chemotherapy was worse, however I am struggling to adjust to the numb feeling on my left side.

    It's funny hair loss from didn't bother me, nor does the mark from surgery. The what and what not to do list to recover from surgery does. You are told to limit arm motion to heal , but have arm motion to reduce the need for PT. I start each morning with stretching to limit discomfort. I read stretching is easier after a hot shower. I will try this shortly.

    I am optimistic everything will get better with time.

    Take care everyone.

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