January 2014 Surgery Sisters
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Thanks Michelle. I'm not worried about the actual procedure, since my skin is pretty numb, just thinking about later, but things look better now that I slept from 4 - 9:30 a.m.
My 11 yr old son is so sweet. Rather than waking me up to cook him breakfast, he went into the pantry and found some Easy Mac and fixed that for himself! I felt bad, but will make it up to him by making sure lunch and dinner are better!
Eve - I've only been on the Arimidex since Friday, so it's hard to say. I was taking Estodial for about 3 years in small doses before my diagnosis to keep the night sweats and hot flashes at bay. I weaned off the estrogen in Nov/Dec and was clean going into January. I was already having a few hot flashes here and there, before I started the Arimidex, but the night sweats were new. I've heard that some women have symptoms in the beginning, and then they level out. Let's hope that's what we both get! My oncologist did say that if this med isn't right, there are 3 others we can try.
HanksMom - good luck today. One step at a time.
BC101 - 5 drains still sounds aweful. So glad they are out! I only had 2, but they were in my sides.
Happy Monday everyone!
Diane.
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Levassel,
You mentioned your ps wanted you to Ooze blood?? Why was that? I was worried a stitch may have loosened or something. Is this a good sign?
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Michelle...I looked it up too. I had never heard of that type.
Layrie
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for me....she didn't want the skin to dry up. I wasn't healing as good and had some dead tissue. She said keeping it moist kept it from dying more. And when it told her there were spots of blood....she said good...blood means it's living. Done with all that now. Drying up and healing up.
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mommyathome, don't mean to butt in, but as far as I know the bleeding and stuff, plus going in and cleaning out the incisions causes more blood vessels to grow, hence better blood flow=better healing.
that is what the surgeon did for my father in law when he issues healing due to diabetes.
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Had a curve ball thrown at me today. My path report was not what I expected at all. I thought chemo was working very well because we couldn't feel the tumor anymore. Wrong. It did work some but it was still 4cm. Then the path report said it was a primary neuro-endocrine tumor - a really really rare type. Now this morning my MO called and said lets get together and talk this week. I needed to know right away so he said that he repeated the HER2 test (had one done on the biopsy tissue, it was negative) and the hormone tests. While I'm still ER+ now I'm also HER2+. That is almost unheard of in a primary neuro-endocrine tumor. Now I'm wondering if I'm wrestling with a pink polka dotted unicorn or if the first PET scan missed another tumor somewhere. How soon can we repeat the PET scan? I'm just really confused. Then he talked about a tumor marker test he ran. He said the the aggressiveness of the tumor on a scale of 1% to 100% with 100% being the worst, I was a 2%. I started asking more questions and he said to wait until Wed. when my husband is there with me (he'll have lots of questions). He also talked about starting herceptin ASAP. I thought that I had dodged that bullet. I can almost feel him writing up a paper on me right now for one of his journals. BC, the gift that just keeps on giving. Supposed to start rads on Thurs., wonder if that is still going to happen. Now that I've vented, I'm off the study the HER+ thing and herceptin. More to come after Wed.
I can sleep on my side now that the drains are out but I need a pillow to keep the top arm from putting too much pressure on my side.
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<<hugs>> Grace! Those path reports have a way of sneaking up on us with news we don't even want! However, knowledge is power, and knowing what you're dealing with means you'll get Herceptin ASAP and that will help! I did have to laugh at your "wrestling with a pink polka dotted unicorn".....
I don't know how soon they would do another PET. I just got home from work and it's so cold and icy outside.....only to find out I have to go back out. My son called and I need to pick up his pyramid project or they're "going to throw it away". I say let them throw it away! LOL What are we going to do with it here?!?!?? He can't carry it home because it's too big and he has to bring his trombone. <sigh> Guess I'll bundle back up and head out. I'm such a softie.
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happy Monday!! I called my breast surgeon about the armpit swelling I am having and as luck would have it; I got in to see her resident this morning and my seroma was drained. So glad. Hopefully it won't come back, but I have to go back on Wednesday for a recheck and in the meantime am bandaged up (once again).
Tried a little side sleeping lady night but it's hard. I feel like the tissue expanders have such sharp ridges that they are bound to poke through my skin if I put my weight in it. I'm still pretty sore in areas too .
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Grace - so sorry for your path report, but Michelle is right, knowledge is power. If you go in knowing what you might be dealing with, it won't sound like a foreign language when you meet with your MO. Having something rare might sound awful, but it also shines a light on you, and you will get fantastic care. A good friend had not 1 but three different kinds of tumors and was written up in journals by her BC team. She was stage 3 and got excellent care...4 years later, she is going strong and cancer free!
I so wish I could sleep on my side. I was a side/front sleeper before all of this began. Girlstrong is right, the expanders do feel like they will poke through the skin, especially on my right side. I guess this is our new normal.
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mommyathome: Wishing good path report
Hanksmom1:Welcome these ladies are a wealth of information and support
Follow up appt today and all 6drains are out YESSSS DID I MENTION HOW MUCH I LOVE MY TEAM MY BS GAVE ME A COPY IF MY PATH REPORT WENT OVER IT WITH ME GAVE ME A BIG HUG AND SAID HE WILL SEE ME IN 6 months. BS told me to find my new normal and to call him if something does not feel right.
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GraceB1: so sorry you now have to figure out a new treatment plan, I am on Herceptin and so if I can shed any light on anything, please don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your meeting on Wednesday.
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Hello January 2014 Surgery Sisters...I am new to this site. I had a BMX on January 17th with TE's inserted. This was my 3rd round of DCIS, the other 2 times I had lumpectomies with radiation. When it reoccurred in my left breast I decided to have not just that one, but both removed. I am taking one day at a time. There are a good many days when I feel like I will never be the same. It will be 4 weeks this Friday, some of the paperwork my PS gave me said I would feel great at 4 weeks. I do not feel anywhere near great. These TE's are very uncomfortable already and I haven't been expanded much yet due to having prior radiation on both breasts, he said he doesn't want to rush it because radiated tissue has a tendency to not heal as quickly. I only had 275 cc added at surgery...I have an appt for this Wed. for my first expansion. I can only imagine that the discomfort will get worse with saline added. I am trying to be positive and I am very thankful that my cancer was noninvasive and that I don't need chemo. Anyone else think these TE's are the pits??????????? Plus, because I had large breasts I also have large "mud flaps" (I hadn't heard that term until this site)...which are also very uncomfortable...I think this is the new me for awhile.
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Welcome Hope! You are just 4 days behind me. I think everyone will agree that expanders suck. Mine are still tight. I've heard that sometimes that first expansion can actually help,since it can get rid of the edges, but haven't had my first one yet due to a hematoma on one side that will be resolved tomorrow. Let me know how yours goes.
I opted for BMX too, even though I had a very small IDC on one side. The pathology came back with precancerous cells on the other side, so I feel it was the right choice. Good for you for jumping info the deep end. It does take courage.
Most of us are dealing with pain in varying degrees. For now this is our new normal.
This is a safe place to cry out to a group of wonderful women who all understand and don't judge you if you are having a rough day.
Diane
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Just got back from breast surgeon appointment. First thing, I had to have 42 cc asperated which kind of sucked. But then, I found out IM CANCER FREE!!' they got all the cancer!!! She said it was a good thing I did bilateral because there was atypia and LCIS in the right breast ... That was supposed to be the good breast. Bottom line, bilateral mastecomy, no chemo, no radiation, no tamoxifen and NO CANCER!!!!!
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Mommyathome - WOO HOO!! Fantastic news!
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oh how freaking FABULOUS mommyathome...bravo!!!!!!!!!
tears of joy for you!!!!!!
Now, go out and LIVE LARGE!!!!!
Eve
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Momaton and dtkd, thank you!!!! Omg I am so happy!!!!!
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CONGRATS Mommyathome! Best news ever!
Laurie
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Congratulations, mommyathome!!!!!!!
I had my follow up with the BS, everything looks good... cancer free! Last drain is coming out tomorrow, woohoo!
Now on to finding my MO... two consults, so hopefully I'll connect with one of them. I am not looking forward to going on Tamoxifen, but I am lucky I won't need rads or chemo.
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Congrats clairefraser!
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mommyathome - WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! FANTASTIC news! I'm so happy for you. Cancer free is the BEST NEWS EVER! And no further treatment needed is great. Yay!
Hope - I'm sorry you had to join us. I'm right with you on the TEs being awful. Only the one on my cancer side really bothers me, but it bothers me a LOT. It's so painful, and I"m 5+ weeks post-op. Not sure it's ever going to get better. Right now I only have 150cc in them.
Claire - Good riddance to the last drain! I started Tamoxifen today. Blah. We'll see how it goes.
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yay! to you Claire, wow! what a great day for you and mommy and really for all of us.
was about to post about how much pain I was in today....somehow I feel better now!
giant bear hugs, well at least in spirit, I even winced at the thought of that.
love,
Eve
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Hi Hope,
Didn't mean to ignore you. Wow, 1999, you have been at this for a while, I am so sorry, Can't even imagine having to face all of this for so long. I am sure you can teach me a few things about being patient. Glad you are here. My BMX was the 17th also and I don't feel very good either. Pretty crappy today, really crappy in fact. Oh well, it will be another Percocet night for me.
peace all,
Eve
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yay Mommy so happy for you best news ever
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Mommyathome, Hope, Claire, happy for you all! So many good things happening! Makes me smile. Michelle, good luck with the Tamoxifen, looking forward to your reports on how you are feeling.
I had a bone scan today. They took extra pictures of my chest and then a 3D set of chest pictures after that. I have been having some pain on both sides, around the shoulder blades, and some rib pain on my left side, not sure what is going on but hope to find out soon. Keeping my fingers crossed. Do any of you know, if they were to find something in the bones would they call and let me know right away or wait until my scheduled appt with my MO which is not until the 18th. Waiting is the worsttttttttttttttttttttttttt, I hate it so much! Glad I can come in here and vent!
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Wow, such great news!!!! Congrats to SouthernGirl, mommyathome and Claire. Sorry if I missed anyone else. I had my BMX on the 13th and the following day while still in the hospital, my BS told me I was cancer-free. I was still kind of groggy, but we met the following week and the pathology report confirmed that I had no remaining cancer, no further nodal involvement, so I don't have to do chemo or radiation.
It also showed that the remaining tumor was dead or dying, so the hormonal therapy I did before surgery worked -- it kicked the cancer's butt! So now I just have to continue taking Aromasin. After hearing that, I felt relieved, like I had dodged a bullet, but still it took awhile to sink in. Even now, I still feel like a cancer patient vs. a survivor. Gotta get that happy feeling back again. Hope - welcome to the club you never wanted to join. Like many of us here, I really struggled with extreme pain for the first 4 weeks, but now I have finally turned a corner. The pain has lessened quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, it's still there, but I feel like I'm climbing out of the pain pit and I've finally quit taking narcotics. I had my first fill last week and it didn't hurt any more than it usually does. I'm still sore, still fighting stiffness, still have hypersensitivity, but it is getting better. Give it time. You'll get there.
Good night and sweet dreams everyone
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congrats bc101
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That is great news bc101. Sweet dreams
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Dtkd....sounds like we both made the right choice...hoping also first expansion goes well Wed..I will let you know.
Mommyathome....that is wonderful news...so happy for you!
ClaireFraser...wonderful news for you also...I had no problems with the Tamoxifen when I took it from 1999 to 2004...good luck.
lighthouselady....sorry I had to join also but thankful for all my "sisters" on here to share this with.
Eve....yes, I have been at this for awhile, way too long. I only took Percocet for 4 days...maybe that's where I've gone wrong! Lol
BigDFightingBigC....I don't know for sure but would like to think they would call you before your appt. Holding good thoughts for you. Let us know.
Bc101...thanks for the encouragement..Will try to keep my chin up.
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Thank you Hope, will keep you posted. I feel the same as you, although I have not been through as much as you. One day at a time, and some days are better than others. I feel, too, like I will never be the same, but I have read so many posts from women who feel they have been able to get past those feelings. We are all different and handle things differently. You deal with what has been given to you. {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}
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