October 2018 Surgery Support Group

Bookworm, I too asked the oncologist to get the Oncotype score going and was told the same thing you were ~ that we needed to wait for the path report. So, you confirmed for me that’s protocol. Thank you! You and i think alike.

Good luck tomorrow!

Rant! I had my surgery on October 10th, I have a very rare bleeding disorder that my surgeon was well aware of and in fact could have looked in my file at previous surgeries to see what to do to prevent a bleed. He did not do that and I ended up with an enormous hematoma my entire breast was three times its normal size in purple. My incision opened up at the bottom and all the black blood drained out all over my house and was very painful. I am calling around now trying to get a different surgeon because I don't want to go back to this guy cuz because I do not trust him. No one will take me because somebody else did the surgery. So I'm between a rock and a hard place. Either I don't get any follow-up or I have to go back to someone that I totally do not like or trust.

DWisely, I'm so sorry that happened to you and I hope you can find a better surgeon soon.

DWisely, I'm glad to hear that you're mostly healed and you already feel better!! Having a place to rant is very important.

you can do it, bookworm! Main issue with AC is fatigue. I’m sure the mo will prescribe something to help with the nausea (I took steroid pills and zofran and some infusion anti nausea meds). I imagine you’ll likely get neulasta shots or something similarly to keep your white blood cell counts up. Taxol causes less fatigue but more body aches which can be managed with meds too.

Wishing you all the best in this next step! Please stay in touch and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to vent or ask questions.

Thanks star2017! Trying to go in with as upbeat of an attitude as possible. the write two nausea scripts and I will have to do the nulesta shots for sure. A bit worried about fatigue since I HAVE to work through this since we own our own business...hoping that I can push through on most of the days. Have “chemo school” on Friday so that should give me a bit more info.

DWiseley,

I am lucky to have a good set of family around that are always offering to help so just have to make sure I ask for help! 😉.

Ladies,

I appreciate all the help and encouragement from each of you on this board! You all have been awesome!

Just checking in.....I've been battling a seroma in my armpit for the past couple weeks. First time, she drained 140 ml of fluid. I've been back 2 times since then, it's been way less than that but still significant. Got it drained today and although the fluid was clear, I've had pain and a slight fever since Sunday so she put me on antibiotics and told me to take a week off work. I admitted to her that I went back to work too early (1 week post-op), but I felt great then. Oh well, live and learn I guess. On the bright side, during that week of work I got promoted and am now salaried so I'll get paid for this week. And I plan to make the most of it

Hugs, all!

I have a question...mark Oncologist says that there will not be any yearly scans for check ups, on tumor markers. I would honk an MRI or other scans would be ordered yearly...are tumor markers more reliable and quicker to find issues

my doctor said no scans unless I start feeling different, weak, short of breath, pain, etc. I have unexplained back pain along my spine and last month tho it was unlikely, they did do a bone scan. Thankfully everything came out clear.

according to my mo research suggested no greater results when they used to scan more frequently, and it resulted in greater anxiety and exposure to radiation. So now I think the protocol is to wait and see and scan only when there's cause.

llupp: The fatigue was rough with my mastectomy and I think weeks 2-3 it hit big time and surprised me at how incredibly fatigued I felt. But then after week three it improved drastically. Hang in there. It’ll get better!!!

llupp- I have been surprised at the fact that I don't feel "normal" yet after my lumpectomy on the 26th. I'm sure the type of surgery you had would need even longer. I guess in my mind, since it was outpatient, and "just" a lump I thought I should be completely fine in a day or two.Haha! Oh my, no! I still have some stubborn surgical glue and I am quite sore. Surprisingly so. I have been able to get back to most things that I usually do, but it hurts! I also tire easily and I stop and rest when I can. I am pretty sure I have some nerve damage and I know it aggravated my frozen shoulder, that had almost healed. So, it hasn't been as easy as I had hoped. I usually tolerate pain fairly well (I tried for natural births for my five children and was successful for four).That being said, I am sure you need this time to heal. I wanted to reach out to you and say I truly hope you are listening to your body and are able to go easy on yourself. I also hope you can get plenty of rest. You have been through so much!! I really like this forum, because we can share our real experiences with our surgeries. The good and the bad.

I had some good news yesterday!! I got a call from my oncologist's office, moving my appointment from December to . . . .Today!!!! Woo-hoo!!! No more more waiting!!!! I was getting sad that everyone else knew what their plan was and I had to wait forever to know if I needed chemo or not. So, I'm pretty sure today is the day!!! Woo-hoo!!! Seriously, I just want to know.

I had three incisions for my laparoscopic ooph, one small one at the belly button, another small one at the left, and a largely deeper one on the right through which the doctor removed the tubes and ovaries. I thought I was healing fine but for the past couple of days the belly button was has been very tender and the location is such that it’s hard to ignore and every movement causes a twinge of pain. I’m thinking it got irritated by waistbands and such bc of the location. I hope it’s nothing serious.

kat22, nice to hear back from you. I thought lumpectomy would be a much easier option, but sorry to know you still had some kind of complications (that makes me wonder...). Hope you feel better very soon.

When will you start to have radiations? How long the radiations suppose to last?

Anyone else having these problems?

I still cannot straighten my left arm out when I raise it to shoulder level. It continues to get worse and now you can see tendons raising up from the skin. This goes all the way from under my arm to the palm of my hand. I have tried stretching, but it is not improving and the pain used to be in the upper arm and elbow and now affects the whole arm. Yesterday started pain and tenderness on the back shoulder blade area of that same arm. It hurts to the touch, similar to the feel after you have a deep tissue massage. No swelling or bruising that I can see. Just odd because I can move my arm just about fine except when I try above my head. So weird