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July 2021 Surgeries
Hello all, I am getting MRI next week and consulting with surgeon for a mid to late July surgery date. DMX, Lymph node removal, no reconstruction. I finished up chemo last week and I'm ready to move forward, but nervous about MRI findings. Thought I would start a July surgeries thread.
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Breast reduction/lift AFTER radiation? Any experience?
I was scheduled to have a breast reduction before cancer but breast surgeon said they cannot preform the reduction in co-ordination with my cancer treatments. I won’t get the reduction prior to radiation. I’ve already had the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. I know it’s better to have oncoplastic reduction prior to…
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June 2021 Surgeries
I don't see a June thread started.. if there is one, let me know and I will delete this. I am scheduled for a double masectomy without reconstruction on June 21st. It can't come soon enough!
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May 2021 Surgeries
Another new month is almost upon us and surgery for some of us is on the schedule. Mine is May 5th for a single mastectomy. I have recurrent breast cancer ER+, PR+, HER-. Last time around (which was May 4th 2016) was a lumpectomy and radiation (lots of radiation too!) Busy getting prepared and reading lots. Borrowed a…
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for rads/skin issues
I had a double mastectomy in Oct 2020 then radiation in March-April 2021. Three weeks after it ended I got a horrible skin infection near my mastectomy scar. Ended up getting tissue expander removed and now I have to start over. Trying HBOT therapy to heal that side so I can revisit reconstruction. Anyone else have success…
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Question about pain after BMX an TE placement
My surgery was on Wed. Thu and most of Fri I had minimal pain and did not use the narcotic pain killer. Fri night the pain really escalated. I called the PA on call and she said it all sounded normal. As long as I don't move it's not too bad, but if I sit up or stand up the pain shoots up to an 8. I've started taking the…
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Removing implants after 9 years-WHAT NOW??
After nearly 9 years of immense bouts of fatigue, brain fog, pain in my joints, itching breasts, and overall constant discomfort, I am certain I want my implants out. I know that going completely flat is not for me but there has to be other options? I’d be happy to go back to my petite tatas, but not sure how to do that or…
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Recovery from double mastectomy
Question for those who have had a double mastectomy... how long did it take you to fully recover? My mother is 2 weeks out since her procedure... performed on the second, released on the 5th. She has had most of her drains removed. One remains. She does still have some tightness around the stitches and some trouble…
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TE leaking- punctured
I had an infection and lost an implant during the early period of the COVID pandemic. After waiting 6 months, I had a new TE placed to start expanding again. I was almost done filling, when I felt that my TE was not nearly as large as it should be. I told the PA, who told me "ma'am, tissue expanders don't leak". I pointed…
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If you had an MRI prior to surgery, did it change your plan?
My apologies if this questions is naive, I am still very new to all of this and trying to understand what to expect, possible scenarios, etc. In brief: My mamm found calcifications that a subsequent biopsy showed as IDC. I was told that I need to have an MRI prior to surgery, which I just scheduled for next week (that was…
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Did anyone regret the surgery they had?
I really just need to vent because it is bothering me more than I expected. I always said that if I developed breast cancer I wanted a bilateral mastectomy. When I was diagnosed last month I still wanted that. My surgeon was willing to do it. But we are in the middle of pandemic hell, I have a 15 year to consider, and of…
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Cording or axillary web syndrome
I'm 6 weeks post BMX, with reconstruction and TE. Cording has started on the left side from sentinel node removal incision. I'm seeing a physio and doing self massage. Even knowing it's not going to be a permanent condition, it's annoying!! Anyone have any tips? Words of wisdom. Thank you.
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Positive Care Expereince
I found this forum when I was looking for info on ovarian suppression (MO brought it up at 2nd appt, between surgery & radiation) and found useful info but also some scary info. I realize this forum is a place to share when you're having problems & issues, find out what has worked for other survivors, what others have…
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SLNB positive, Axillary Dissection or Radiation?
Just got results back from my bilateral mastectomy and SLN biopsy, they originally told me that my lymph nodes were clear after getting back the results of the frozen section... but just found out with further testing that they weren't. Out of the 3 tested, all 3 showed something. I now have to make the decision to either…
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Scar Away Silicone bandages - incision care
I'm having good luck with the Scar Away Silicone Scar bandages for my incision. I should have started sooner, but they are working wonders.
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Compare Recovery of Breast reduction with PBM
Hi, I had a breast reduction two weeks ago and found it very uncomfortable initially. I am still quite sore but my surgeon said everything is healing well and I still have swelling under the incision lines below my breasts which is to be expected. I am curious if anyone has had both surgeries and how much more painful was…
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NSM with immediate recon some necrosis one week post surg
just had 1 week post op and one side perfect. Other has necrosis on incision line (not big prob but will be operated next week to remove) but more concerning larger patch of skin not healing. Told to give it a week to hope it starts healing or else will need to graft skin/remove implant. Any experience? Anything I can do…
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Can I empty the drains after the mastectomy myself?
Hi, I'm going to have bilateral mastectomy with SLNB at the end of March. I live by myself and wonder if I will be able to empty the drains myself? The nurse from the surgeon's office said I can do that so there won't be need for visiting nurse. Could you let me know your thought? Thank you!
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February 2021 Surgery Group
I'm waiting for confirmation for the 2nd or 9th, Lumpectomy (L) w/ IORT. I will be travelling out of state for the procedure. I can't wait to get this behind me.
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Breast Surgery at MD Anderson in Houston
Hello. I am curious about anyone's experience with a mastectomy or other surgical procedure at MDA in Houston. I have been assigned a surgical oncologist but I'm not sure she is the right fit for me, so I'm looking for recommendations or cautions about the surgeon you used. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to post doctor's…
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How Painful is Mastectomy and Implant Reconstruction? Article
I was just reading a new Medscape article titled "Breast Surgery May Be a Gateway to Addictive Medication Use" about women becoming addicted to medication after breast surgery. A quote from that article: "'I wonder if perhaps we should not be giving opioids at all to certain patients. For example, a mastectomy and implant…
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January 2021 Surgery Group
Hi All - I didn't see a January 2021 Surgery group thread yet and thought I'd get it started. I finished up 6 rounds of TCHP on December 10th (YAY!!!!) and will be having a BMX with immediate reconstruction with under muscle implants sometime in mid-January. I'm hoping to have my exact date soon but scheduling has been…
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Single mastectomy vs. lumpectomy? Your recovery experience?
Hello out there! This is my first post. I'm a 48 year old woman, just diagnosed July 9th, 2020 with Stage One, Level A, Invasive Ductile Carcinoma (Stage 0), hormone+. I am in the process of deciding whether to have a single mastectomy or a lumpectomy with 4 weeks of radiation. My breasts are tiny and dense (barely an A…
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wound vac on a breast?
Long story shortened: I am nearly 1month out from uni skin/nipple sparing mastectomy w/immed ped TRAM recon now. Weeks ago had necrosis, now an open wound. A wonderful visiting nurse that is a wound care specialist is going to speak to my PS about using a wound vac to speed healing (will need chemo and this MUST be healed…
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October 2020 surgery group
Saw the breast surgeon today. Opting for bilateral mastectomy. Plastic surgeons. One Monday and one Tuesday. Tumor board Wednesday. Have to go back to see surgeon before coordinator starts scheduling process. Due to work schedule conflict, can not see surgeon until 10/14...😢 Coordinator going to see if surgeon approves…
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December 2020 Surgery Group
I am scheduled for surgery on December 21. I'm hoping other December surgeries will post here so we can gain from each other's experiences with planning and recuperating. I know this holiday was going to be different anyway, but having surgery during the holidays and with a surge of COVID cases is making me somewhat more…
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Share your decision making process regarding surgery with us?
Breastcancer.org is interviewing several people (virtually from your home) for a video about the decision making process regarding surgery for breast cancer. The video will feature diverse experiences from people of all backgrounds who had either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. We would love to hear from you if you're…
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Rashes and hives after mastectomy with tissue expander
Hi, I am new here. I just had mastectomy with tissue expander on 5/6. I had really bad rashes the second day after I left the hospital. I had been switching antibiotics and pain killers from one to the other. The rashes finally were gone after I stopped all the medications. I still don't know which medication caused the…
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September 2020 Surgery Group
Just booked for bilateral mastectomy on September 17th. I'm having "direct to implant" procedure so lining up two surgeons required a bit of a delay. Hoping this remains a prophylactic surgery. Diagnosis so far is ADH with questionable DCIS in left and I opted for prophylactic mastectomy rather than doing excisional…
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June 2020 Surgery Group
Anyone else scheduled for surgery this month? My bilateral is scheduled for the 10th.