-
Shoulder Pain - scapular winging after SLN biopsy
I had a sentinel lymph node biopsy on December 2 and everything went very well, no spread, and the incision has healed nicely. Initial swelling under my armpit and that is going down as well. However, the past week I've developed extreme pain in my right shoulder blade and arm, same side. It is almost unbearable, hard to…
-
Trying to make sense of surgical pathology changes
Hi, I'm hoping the wise folks on this site can help me with some questions. I had a lumpectomy on 1/4 and just got my pathology report back yesterday. The good news is that the one sentinel node they found and took out was negative. Also margins were clear (but she did have to take a lot more out than she thought, had a…
-
Waiting for Right Breast Mastectomy
I discovered the lump on my Right breast Nov 09, have my Biopsy done Jan 17 and was diagnosed last Feb 03, 2022 and still waiting for my Mastectomy scheduled on March 28. The reason for the delay is the coordination of the available schedule between the Onco & Plastic Surgeon. I am just concern for the long wait...
-
Looking like a long "before" surgery. Merde
I'm feeling like a yoyo. On Monday I thought I'd be referred to an NCI center for evaluation and surgery. Yesterday afternoon, I heard back that UAB is 2 months backlogged on DIEP procedures and that with the DVT in my arm that happened from the breast MRI needle stick, I am not a candidate at this time. I'm on Xarelto for…
-
Change of Plans after Genetic testing
Hi All, My surgeon called today and confirmed that I am a mutant. I have the RAD51c mutation. She is recommending my lumpectomy on 03/18 should be traded for BMX. She also said that I should have a Hysterectomy once the BC is dealt with. I understand the increased risk and all. My head is just spinning. I had gotten myself…
-
Simple Mastectomy and proud of it!
Glad I made the decision & proud of it. I have zero tolerance for pain, so anyone as scared as I was can relax. I never had kids because I'm squeamish, so I hope I can give hope to others here. But where's my surgeon? Spent night in hospital but... No hospital visit. No phone call. No "atta girl". Nothing. Is that normal?…
-
Pain post lumpectomy
Hi all! Hopefully it’s ok to post this here as I do not have cancer….I had a lumpectomy a couple weeks ago for a suspected Phyllodes tumor that thankfully ended up being just a fast growing firboadenoma. Because it was suspected to be a phyllodes tumor and was already decent sized, she took wide margins. I have a large…
-
Tissue Expander Exchange Surgery - What do I need to know?
I have been so eager to have my tissue expanders removed. They are uncomfortable and painful. In short, I hate them. But now that the exchange surgery is right around the corner (January 28) I’m wondering what to expect. I feel ill prepared for this surgery and I’m worried that it may catch me off guard. I have a few…
-
DCIS ER/PR+, 1 week till BM and the future looks bright!
After I discovered my growth, I spent a lot of time on breastcancer.org. I appreciate the knowledge and especially the emotional support. Got a plan, pivoted to another plan, and have waited six weeks doing comfort-planning. Here is my story in case it is helpful to anyone. Of course, every journey is unique. Pivoted from…
-
Outpatient masectomy becoming the norm in Covid times?
Had 1 of 2 surgery consults and learned my great local hospital is doing "elective" surgeries outpatient only (with max 24 hours observation from entry to exit). With no support person allowed in facility, wondering how drain training even happens. Just sharing my trepidation. Also another unrelated learning, I should have…
-
Bloated tummy after DIEP
Has anyone experienced extreme bloated tummy after DIEP surgery. It's 8 weeks since my surgery and my tummy is still numb and bloated. I can't fit into any slacks pre surgery and it is like a watermelon. This morning it seemed to go down for a couple of hours and then it's back up. I am active, walk, do housework, etc. PS…
-
February 2022 Surgeries
As of today I am officially scheduled for 3rd of February, having left mastectomy and lymph node removal of the same side. I had neoadjuvant chemo (TCHP) and hoping to have no cancer cells left but ultrasound shows some left overs, if they are active I will go on with Kadcyla. Anyone else scheduled for February? I will try…
-
Diary of a bilateral mastectomy
Hello, this diary could be called many things, as I started with a lumpectomy, and two years later had a bilateral mastectomy....I hope by sharing all the things I learned along the way, it will help another who may be embarking on a similar journey..... January 2005 - I found a lump in my left breast. I was about to turn…
-
So surgery…. Ernie, meanie, minie, mo.
I am absolutely floored by the number of decisions that this diagnosis creates. Lumpectomy, mastectomy, double mastectomy and the reconstruction options can make a girl dizzy. I have IDC stage 1 ( currently). Tumor is grade 3 and has been called aggressive. Genetic testing has been sent off. Does anyone have any advice for…
-
Surgery after path complete response
Has anyone with lymph node involvement reached pCR following neo-adjuvant chemo? If so, how does the surgeon decide how many lymph nodes to take? I know that I have one involved but until the surgery, I don't know how many others are/were infected. I know they'll want to remove the known node. Say I have three that are…
-
Exercise Shortly After Surgery Improves Arm & Shoulder Mobility
Exercise Shortly After Breast Cancer Surgery Improves Arm and Shoulder Mobility November 17, 2021 Women at high risk of arm and shoulder problems who started a physical therapist–led exercise program about a week after breast cancer surgery with no reconstruction had better upper arm mobility than women who received…
-
Weird numbness after lumpectomy
I had a right side mastectomy in 2020 but my cancer came back like a movie villian everyone thought was dead and got a tumor on the same side with an affect lymph node. I did chemo and had a lumpectomy and 9 lymph nodes removed. I had numbness from the mastectomy but with the new surgery I have numbness just above my right…
-
Anyone scheduled for Jan yet?
My cancelled April 2021 surgery is now supposed to happen in Jan just after the holidays. Anyone else scheduled soon? I've seen the Breast surgeon and PS again recently. Meeting with anesthesiologist (i have problems metabolizing certain classes) and radiologist next week. Then my MO clearance. My GP surgical clearance is…
-
Other Abnormal Tissue found after Mastectomy
I had a single mastectomy a week ago and am still waiting for pathology results next week I had a 18ml tumour IDC identified at mammogram and ultrasound and we know positive lymph node involvement from a needle biopsy so waiting to understand the extent of this after ALDN. However surgeon said he also discovered some other…
-
Surgery in a few weeks, three questions
Hey all, I'm heading in on Feb 11, and I have three questions today. 1. Those of you who had a nerve block, how long did it actually last? I'll be getting Exparel, and the info on it says up to 72 hours. No painkiller ever lasts as long for me as the bottles say it should, and I'm wondering if this might follow that…
-
Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy with ATM gene variant?
Hello everyone. I have my last chemo appointment on Friday (so worried it's coming to an end) and met with the breast surgeon today. She said that I'm still a good candidate for lumpectomy, even though she discussed a mastectomy as well. She also told me that I had a modest response to chemo (Taxol every week plus…
-
Re-excision under only local? Scheduled tomorrow.
Hello, Long story short I contracted Covid. The hospital has cancelled my oncoplastic lumpectomy (which I’m devastated about but can’t even processes what a mess my breast will be now). They told me they are doing to do a re-excision while I am awake using local anesthesia now bc they won’t intubated me for four weeks post…
-
August 2021 Surgeries
Yes, this thread is a little early... but I just got my surgery date of August 23 and thought I'd get the ball rolling. I'm having a single mastectomy (right side), 2 levels of lymph nodes removed, and the lymphovenous bypass procedure in hopes that I can avoid lymphedema. I understand that taking 2 levels of lymph nodes…
-
Direct to Implant with Mesh?
Hi all I was hoping for some information on any of you who have got Accelular Dermal Matrix or ADM mesh implants following a reconstruction after mx. I would love to hear what your experience was like, what were the results like and how fast you recovered after. I have a large area of DCIS 8cm intermediate grade and having…
-
post-mastectomy/reconstruction
I am about to get a preventative double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. There is a small chance they will decide to put in an expander rather than do the immediate construction, but they won't know this until the time of surgery. I have a couple questions about this. 1) Is there a big difference in recovery…
-
Hormone status different after surgery?
Not sure where to ask this. Has anyone heard of hormone status change between the initial biopsy and the surgery? I found info on it possibly changing on mets, but this pathology was done on the breast tissue. The original biopsy pathology was er+ pgr + her-. I did 6 months of treatment, then had surgery. The pathology now…
-
December 2021 Surgeries
Hi everyone! I didn't see a December surgery post started yet. Anyone else having surgery this month?
-
Radiation after DMX
Happy new year everyone!! I have a question and I know everyone is different. But, how many of you after neoadjuvant chemo, and a double mastectomy with clean margins and no lymph nodes have had to have radiation too? I would like to see studies on percentages etc. but I really can find anything. Yes my original tumor was…
-
November 2021 Surgeries
It looks like time to to start a November thread. My left side mastectomy (no reconstruction) is scheduled for November 12. This is my second rodeo; I had a Mx and ALND on the right side April 1. Midway through chemo, a checkup mammogram and subsequent biopsy found LCIS on my “good" left side. Based on my history (lobular…
-
Lumpectomy with oncoplasty (bilateral reduction mammaplasty)
I'm starting this thread because I thought it might be useful for those of us undergoing this procedure. (I surely can't be the only one that did it!) I did find a thread that was a couple of years old, but it really didn't address what I hope to here, which is a description of the process, experiences of the procedure,…