July 2018 surgery

Hi, Good morning everyone! I am new here and this is my first post.

I am 68 years old and still work full timely, and in general in good health (other than those bilateral breast Cancer ;-)). A routine mammogram screening initially found the cancer. I do not feel any thing unusual. No lump felt.

I was diagnosed DCIS on my right breast in early May, 1.7CM. ER+/PR+. And before the scheduled June 1st lumpectomy, the MRI/biopsy revealed the left breast of IDC , 0.6CM, Stage 1, ER+/PR+/HER -. The Surgeon postponed the surgery and ordered me genetic /DRCA test which turned out all negative.

I have a bilateral lumpectomy surgery scheduled on 07/23/2018. The decision to pick which way to go ( lumpectomy +radiation, or mastectomy +implant reconstruction) was a difficult process- and I eventually decide to go lumpectomy plus radiation. Hopefully I have made the right decision.

Being diagnosed as a cancer patient was a shocking to me. And I have gone through the stages of scared, worried, feel uncertainty, ,... many emotions. But during the process of testing I came into encountered so many different doctors and medical professionals., I was always being treated warmly and professionally. I am gradually becoming calm and starting accept the reality and I have cancer and I have to actively work with doctors to fight it.

I am glad that I have found this forum. Other cancer survivors' posts definitely help my fight with my cancer. Thank you all!

Hi all. I've been following along, but haven't posted since my first post. I'm two weeks out from prophylactic bilateral nipple sparing mastectomy with pre-pectoral direct to implant reconstruction. Knock on wood, everything's been good so far - well, now that the drains are out. Except I'm super exhausted. In fact, I think this is the latest I've been awake in two weeks (and it's only 8 PM!)

I saw some comments about bras and irritation, and wanted to mention that I found a sports bra that so far offers just the right amount of support, has a front zip, and the bottom band is wider and doesn't irritate my incisions. It's called Copper Fit, and no joke I found it at Bed, Bath & Beyond (guess that's the Beyond part!) I went back today and picked up two more.

Pathology report came back with all benign changes, but with the BRCA2 mutation my breast surgeon said if I had and doubt about whether this was the right decision, it definitely was. I know the surgery and healing has been easier without having to deal with an actual cancer diagnosis on top of it all.

Hi all, I had my skin and nipple sparing BMX with reconstruction with tissue expanders on 7/10. They also removed a packet of lymph nodes. I had chemo before surgery in hopes that they wouldn't have to remove the nodes, but no luck there. One of my nipples was a little bit gray, so my surgeon ordered hyperbaric treatments, which really seem to have helped. They didn't give me any bras, so I've been going braless. I still have a lot of swelling, and terrible tightness across my chest. Feels like a big rubber band being pulled tighter and tighter. So uncomfortable. It sounds like I need one of those breathing thingeess recommended earlier.

Thank you all for being here. If we have to go through something like this, it's nice to have someone who is going through it too.

Hey, ladies, I need some advice. I'm having bilateral mastectomies on July 26th. ILC on left side and IDC on the right, both small, L 4mm, R 1.6 CM. They found cancer in an intramammary lymph node so mastectomy mandated on the R and I choose it on the L. Planning on TE after the surgery for reconstruction. Will be in hospital 1 night, God willing. My brothers offered to come be with me for a couple of weeks, which has been most welcome, since I'm divorced, 61, and my kids live away from here. But yesterday brothers started sounding like they aren't planning to stay as long as they said. The one who will be with me for surgery is planning on sleeping at my house that night and going some place during the day after surgery, which might interfere with my discharge from hospital. Also, he's only staying a few days, and then brother #2 will arrive for a few days. I'm not sure anymore how long they will be here. They are vague no matter how much I ask them. So I need to know how much can I manage this on my own, if they aren't here very long or very much? My doctor had said to have someone with me for 2 weeks. Is that really needed? When will I be able to cook, lift laundry, work on the computer, make phone calls again? Having my brothers get vague now is pretty upsetting, when I really believed they would step up for me, but they sound scared now, asking if I can arrange a nurse to stay with me. I don't have that kind of money! Any other advice for getting through this? How bad is the pain? So many thanks!

Fairchild: I was diagnosed with BC 20 years ago and had a mastectomy and underarm lymph nodes removed. I stayed in the hospital one night and then was discharged the next morning. The BS originally offered the mastectomy as an out patient surgery but I opted to stay the night. After 20 years, I was recently diagnosed with a IDC in my remaining breast and will have a mastectomy on July 31. As I remember it the surgery was not really that bad, that's a clinical term for lay people. If you can I would prep some meals ahead of time, or have lots of frozen dinners that can be microwaved; laundry I think will be questionable for the 2 weeks. 20 years has erased a lot of the memory of the original mastectomy. The 6 months of chemo, and the tissue expander surgery and inflation when I decided 5 years later to get reconstruction are much more vivid in my memory for the pain and impact on daily living.

Best of luck, I am hoping your brothers will come through as needed once the time comes,

What a week: morning of 7/16 I had my BMX (nipple sparing, direct to implant), sentinel node (l) and the oophorectomy. Day started off with a bang with me passing out after the sentinel node injection (it didn't hurt much and I don't know why I fainted!). That caused a bit of a delay with surgery itself. They gave me the happy juice shot and next thing, I came to and first thing I remember is my husband's face coming in to kiss my forehead. Last peaceful moment for a while. Barfed that night when they got me up to use the commode, had low blood pressure, didn't get asked to walk until next morning. Was sent home that evening (Tuesday). Getting in/out of the car was a nightmare. 90 minute drive, last fifteen on washboard/rutted dirt road. Made the mistake of sleeping in my own bed - with plenty of wedge pillows, was as comfortable as might be expected, but the bed is too high and I couldn't get out in the morning. I was in such pain. Wish I'd thought to have my husband set an alarm for middle of the night pain meds (we both slept straight through). Only took the narcotic pain meds (5mg oxy) on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Since then it's alternating tylenol and ibuprofen. I still have four drains, but two of them will be removed later today! One is almost ready to go, but the 4th (on left side) is still pretty active. I got the call from the BS yesterday that my surgical pathology report is in: no node involvement, very wide, clear margins all around the three tumors on the left and all the ovary/abdomen stuff and right breast were clear. BS is optimistic that with my oncotype score (19) and path results that it's possible I won't need to do chemo!! I am feeling very peaceful.

What did I wish I knew beforehand? That it was possible my drains would be set so far back in my armpits that I can't reach them and so I can't strip them myself. That I would feel like a t-rex (short stubby arms!!). That at first my range of motion would be so limited I couldn't wipe myself after peeing (made me very glad I didn't poop until Saturday!) the first two days. That I would be blown up like a beachball for most of this first week (and am still very round) - cheap nursing scrub pants from WalMart ($5.84/pair) are my friends right now. All I can say is that I am so very glad I have such a wonderful husband. He's made it possible to smile and even laugh through all this so far.

Thank you also to this group for being here - alleviated a lot of my fears, provided a lot of information and generally reminds me daily that this too shall pass.

Debsmisto, please let us know how all your appointments and test results go. I'm praying for you that the results are good.

curious...Am I the only one who went home from DMX with no bandages and no surgical bra?

I had expanders put in. I guess every surgeon is different..

Hi everyone 🤗

My surgery recovery is going very well. Next appts are the Medical Radiology and Medical Oncology, both next week. I am praying i wont be needing chemo as I was made grade 3 because of the tumor size. No oncotype was done yet either.

Debsmisto, I am happy that your scans were clear. Ive been praying for you.

Debsmisto, I'm so glad that your scans are clear!! I pray that the rest of your treatment goes well.

Cindymb, I'm glad your recovery is going well. I pray you don't need chemo.

flag6818, I don't know how long your incisions need to be covered with gauze for. At least 4 days but probably longer. My incisions were covered with waterproof dressings for 2 weeks.

Anyone get a burning/itchy feeling?? I’m 3 weeks post op.