November 2018 Surgery Support Group

Christine, I don't know my stage. The doctors tell me that the stage is determined after they remove my tumor. All they tell me is that it is a rare type of cancer, and if it is what they think removing the tumor should take care of the cancer. Most people I tell don't hear the if

So we have boogirl and borogirl both in November LOL.

One thing I read when looking for suggestions about reducing anxiety ahead of surgery, and soothing/inspiring help for in the hospital and once back at home for healing, was to put together a playlist to listen to. I had assumed they meant meditational music but they explained just pick any music you really like. I like Frank Sinatra so I started looking at which Sinatra songs to use. Who knew there were so many appropriate songs for us surgery ladies! Start with (for the night before surgery) “I Couldn’t Sleep At All Last Night”, then (for anesthesia) “Come Fly With Me” and “Fly Me To The Moon”. Next is “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “All of Me, Why Not Take All of Me”. We end with “What Now My Love” , and since my surgery is prophylactic, my grand finale is “I Did It My Way”!

Actually I have that but also a couple of contemporary Christian playlists and one of meditational music. I’ve already been listening to them and it really does help keep me calm as the days count down.

I did mention to BS at pre-op appt that I wondered how anyone slept the night before this surgery. He called in an Rx for lorazepam (5 tiny pills - I plan to only take one for the night before). My surgery is scheduled for 7:15am so I'm guessing we will have to be at hospital by 5:30am. Just hoping to go to bed by 9am and get some sleep that night.

Hi everyone,

I was just diagnosed on Oct 22 with DCIS, and will be having surgery on Monday (October 29). My surgeon calls it partial mastectomy, but it’s known as lumpectomy.

I know that’s an October date, but it’s close to November , and the October group has formed well already. So, can I join this one?

Anyone else going for a lumpectomy soon, or have had one already? I’ll also be going for a dmx in the future. My surgeon sent the referral last week.

I’m really hoping I’ll be lucky and not need any radiation in between. That’s probably my biggest concern right now.

:

Dyannah,

Looks like we are sharing a similar journey. I’m 35, with two kids. Surprisingly I haven’t been stressed, and I haven’t shed a tear. Maybe because I’m not surprised, maybe because I’m relieved it’s only DCIS (at this time), or maybe it hasn’t hit me yet.

I’m not too nervous about the surgery on Monday, but I’m getting anxious for it to be over. Maybe once I start seeing my breast change and being scarred, I’ll feel different?

How are you feeling

Evily,

I actually did genetic testing almost year ago. I used Invitae. Mine came back positive for RAD51D. It’s still a newer studied gene, but it’s put in many studies with the BRCA genes and other high risk genes. It wasn’t just recently found in August that they have increased lifetime risk of breast cancer to 26% (used to only be 11%). It’s also being related to triple negative breast cancer.

I really felt relieved when I found out that was “all” I had. Turns out it could be the reason behind my cancer. We shall see. I have an extensive family history including an Aunt, grandma, great aunt, Gr Gr grandma etc.

This could be why I’m not shocked, but I, like you, as an active and decently healthy person. Go figure that in a family with obese smokers (not meaning for that to sound so negative), but I am the one facing this. My aunt was also a healthy non smoker. Isn’t that funny?! She survived breast cancer twice, while the others did not, it metastasized and took them way too young.

This is why I’m so, so glad to have caught it early . I’m hoping my surgery is conclusive of that this coming week.

Hi Borogirl. GREAT idea on the playlists! I'm putting that on my list.

Christine, I think I only know that I'm stage 0 because it's DCIS which I think is always stage 0. However, that may change if they find more invasive cancer during surgery. They think there may be an area that the MRI "could not see" that may be invasive.

MCBaker, I'm also in WI. And I'm also on a LOT of gabapentin through my pain management clinic that I go to for chronic pain (spinal stenosis, majorly pinched nerves,neck issues, etc) What did you mean about being careful?

Evily, thank you for starting this group! After months of this, I can't believe I'm having surgery in 2.5 weeks. Whole new level of stress!

Wow, interesting. I'm on 3300/day of gabby. Would love to get off it.

I had chemo first, next is BMX with TEs. I was dealt an unexpected recommendation last Friday of doing 30 radiation treatments due to the size of my tumor in the left breast and a gene mutation (PALB2). Are any of you facing radiation after TEs and eventually implants? I keep reading how radiation can mess up implant plans due to radiating the skin and that causing scars that can affect the implant. What do your doctors say about this if you are in the same boat as me

There are a number of people who opt for prophylactic surgery. It's a very personal decisions, and yours and only yours. Look at the statistics, and what your medical team recommends. We're here to back you in whatever you decide!

Hi everyone!

I had my partial mastectomy yesterday. It was a long day, but “all is well that ends well.”

The biggest glitch to the day is the mammo machine broke right before I was to get the wire inserted. I waited over an hour in the hallway outside the room, then they finally said they were confident they could do it with US. So that is what happened.

The wire was supposed to be easy, but it took 45 mins. My breast tissue is very tough, they said. We tried different positions so he could get some “oomph” behind it. By that time. The freezing was fine and I felt EVERYTHING. It hurt so, so much, but I knew I couldn’t move and I didn’t want to stop it because every mm was a milestone. So I breathed through the pain (went back to my times in labour), and they got it done. I was so relieved.

Because of all of that, my surgery got pushed back a few hours. I asked for pain meds and I slept on and off until the time.

The surgery itself was fine. I haven’t heard any feedback from anyone yet, but I’m at home. Should have path results within the week.

I’ve taken the week off work, which maybe have been excessive, but I’m quite sore today, especially under my arm, and my throat still hurts to swallow.

All in all, I’m still in good spirits. My main goal is to stay positive, because I think healing will go hand in hand with that.

I’m not sure when I’m ok to take the bandage off...have any off you had a partial mx or lumpectomy and have instructions for after care?

Thanks everyone.

Looks like HockeyChick is next. Wishing you luck and a smooth process!

Evily, can we put the type of surgery next to our names for reference

Good luck hockeychick and kells in the upcoming days. It's almost over