Topic: Surgery in June?

Wow is it the surgeons month?  Usually this is the slow time for the doc's. What is up with the doc's and the appt's?  Doesn't andbody have anything shceduled?  Is June a low month?

Dear rosy...remember we are all here, we are strong, we will get through this.  We are a battle that will survive us.  Remember that when he/she sais the "C" word to you, that you become strong.  You are one and will carry on.  Keep that in mind and that is all you need to know.  You are the strength of all you need, and if and dought of that, there are ten million sister's on this site that will tell you different.  We are here for a reason, because we have been diagnosed.  We don't want to be here, but we are.  Think about it.  We will be here for you, like you will be here for us.  Carol

I am scheduled for June 26th too.   Double Mastectomy with reconstruction of expanders.  I just finished dose dense chemo on April 24. 

Good Luck to all of you....

Hi Carol, Wow, you sure did have a rough day! Bless your heart for still worrying about everyone here. I am one of the May gals, still in recovery, and thank you for thinking of us too! Yes, we will be there for you June girls....just ask any questions, etc. The best to all of you...you will make it!!!   (((((HUGS)))))

Kathy

"When I was at my PS's office this morning her nurse put it in perfect perspective. . .she said, "My Mom always told be to be thankful I'm on the right side of the dirt." So I think that's where I'm going to put my thoughts. All this will pass eventually and life will be good again."

sam408, that is really powerful! Thanks for sharing it--it really makes sense. I am definately thankful to be on the right side of the dirt!

Hi all:

I'm having a mastectomy and axillary node dissection (right side) on June 5th.

This is my 4th time in surgery since I initially had a mastectomy (left side) almost 4 years ago.  Prior to that I had lymph nodes removed in two separate surgeries (also on the left side).  Weird though, the lymph node removal was more painful than the mastectomy...I'm nervous about recovery--having both procedures done at the same time, this time...

Since the cancer recurred in the right breast a few months ago (this is my second recurrence), I've decided to remove the breast (and tumour) once and for all.

I don't remember too much about my mastectomy years ago except that it was day surgery and I was swimming in the ocean two weeks later.  It was relatively uneventful.

I'm finding these threads a really useful refresher. 

Good luck to everyone having surgery...

Cheryl in Toronto

Hi girls, I too am scheduled for surgery in June.  Bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction with expanders.  My surgery date is June 16th, preop on the 9th. Yikes...the closer it gets the more nervous I become.  I am the only woman left in my family, mom, grandma, great-grandma and 2 aunts all died of breast cancer before 40..except my mom, she made it to 51.  The men in the family are being supportive....but....they are men! They are all so cute and try, but you girls are all I have right now. 

Your emotions are all normal.  The weeks leading up to surgery were my worst moments (had bilateral mastecomy in September and last week had my expanders exchanged).  Stay calm and know that everythign you feel is normal.  The best advice.....trust your doctors and have no doubts in your mind about their medical opinions and abilities.  And don't hesitate to ask every question you have.  I have drove my doctors nuts since September....even calling nurses and making a friend out of the office manager who faced BC 2 years ago. 

If you're married, have kids, belong to clubs, or involved in your community--don't be afraid to share how you feel.  Reach out and those who have faced it too (and lord knows there are many)--will reach back to you.

God speed....you're in our thoughts and hearts. 

"Only" a bilateral mastectomy???  If you ask me, that's a pretty big deal -- and even if it isn't, everyone is welcome here, because everyone's treatment/surgery feels like a big deal to them. 

Your pre-surgery organization is very impressive.  The only task I have thought of so far is that I'd better clean my car before June 26th because my aunt is coming from California to stay with me post-surgery and she has the world's cleanest car.  My 7-year-old son will be staying with his father (we're separated) so thankfully, I won't have to worry about taking care of him while I'm recovering.

There are a lot of good packing/preparation lists on here but I'm not ready to look at them yet.  I just finished chemo 2 weeks ago and I'm focusing on getting my strength back before surgery (single mastectomy + reduction on the other side).

Hi everyone - I too have surgery in June on the 4th.  Only two weeks from now.  I finished dose dense chemo on May 2nd.  I have to follow surgery with radiation so am not getting reconstruction now, have to wait for 6 to 12 months for that.  I'm second guessing myself all over the place.....am scheduled for a mastectomy and SNB.  Had an option of a lumpectomy, but the amount of tissue they will have to remove is above the recommended amount for a lumpectomy (over 1/3 as the original tumor was 5.5 cm).  Could have opted for an expander for the 6 to 12 months I have to wait for reconstruction, but didn't want to take the chance (30 to 50% chance) of having expander failure and having to go back into surgery to have it removed during radiation - thus delaying the radiation.  Anxiety has started to creep in.....  Thanks for reading, I know I haven't posted much (although I have read MUCH) here.  Can't imagine what it will be like to wake up after surgery and know that part of me is gone.

Bumping this up again for any new June surgeries.

Hi Annie, welcome.  I finished dose dense chemo on May 8th so we're sort of on the same path.

Thanks Carollyn for sharing your experiences.  I feel the same way -- I was so much less scared going into chemo thanks to this board!

Hi Anne--I just had my exchange 2 weeks ago tomorrow.  For a year I've looked forward to that day.  I was amazed to discover how emotional it was for me for 2-3 days. I had a sense of loss...more than when I had my bilateral mastecomy--and felt some sense of disappointment.  I had such high expectations but kept looking down at what looked like hamburger buns and thinking will they ever look like breasts!  Now 2 weeks later--my new girls are looking fabulous and I'm feeling much better.  My golden nugget to you...the process continues..be patience.  Good luck and take care...

Well I'm 1+1/2 weeks out from surgery girls.....as some of you know my husband and I bought a house and gutted it in Jan and I knew I had a lump then.  Had a lump at old lumpectomy site and 2 new ones.  Said when we got done with the ceilings/walls and then solid wood floors insatlled I  would go have it looked at.  Anyways, that was yesterday and here I am today.  My husband and I are still working on ten million projects to get the house done, so sorry breast cancer has interupted our lives!  Deal with it!  I haven't had one moment for a melt down because I am too busy getting on with life.  So I say to those to blue to move on, lift your left leg behind you...give a kick, and move on for yourself and all of us, and keep coming back for all the newbies that  need us for the lift.  Comfort to everyone tonight.  Tomorrow is a great day!!!!!!!!!    Carol

Bumping up for any more June surgeries.  It looks like there are at least a couple of us scheduled for next week: Anniese on June 4th and Cheryl (mason204) on the 5th.  Did I miss anyone?  Best of luck to both of you, and please keep us posted re: outcomes and recovery if/when you are able.

I'm glad I have several more weeks to get stronger after chemo -- I've been walking almost every day but I still feel bloated and sort of low-energy.  But in a way I'm looking forward to surgery -- one more step towards getting all of this over with!

Hi Carollyn--the party sounds great.  Your positive attitude is a definite plus!  I remember being with a friend a month ago who had one of her breast removed...the nurse asked her to mark it...and she handed me the pen.  Knowing my friend's healthy frame of mind...I wrote "bye, bye boobie".  We laughed and then cried...but it was all good.  As for being home by Friday--you might be able too.  But don't push it...nows the time to really pamper yourself and get lots of rest.

We'll be thinking of you.  Let us know how you're doing when you get home.  Hugs--Erin