January 2017 Surgery Group
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annoyingboob. ..YESSSS! I can see that moose now...lol. strange you mentioned dizziness. I have been having random dizzy spells for a few weeks. They started maybe in early November. I never said anything about them to anyone. I always assume any little symptoms I might have is "the start of the change". Even though other than being pregnant and the Depo incident my periods have been like clock work since I was 15. At 51, I might be a few days late or few days early but it still shows up.
Looks like everyone has had a good day. That makes for a wonderful weekend.
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annoyingboob. ..YESSSS! I can see that moose now...lol. strange you mentioned dizziness. I have been having random dizzy spells for a few weeks. They started maybe in early November. I never said anything about them to anyone. I always assume any little symptoms I might have is "the start of the change". Even though other than being pregnant and the Depo incident my periods have been like clock work since I was 15. At 51, I might be a few days late or few days early but it still shows up.
Looks like everyone has had a good day. That makes for a wonderful weekend.
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Laastra, I just saw you post. This group has been the best support for me. I am sorry that you are going through this at such a young age. There is no good age but when I see the younger women on here it stings! Looks like you are going to have great family support to. (Unfortunately they have been there to)
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Thanks BeachbabyK and Vargadoll, I'm hoping for the best.
but I think also prepared if its not-best. at least..we'll see, hah. Tig's got very dry humor sometimes but it's great. She got her diagnosis and then took all that nervous energy and did a stand-up set the next day..I can't imagine! She was scheduled to do the set already but rewrote in light of her diagnosis. And it came off very open and heartfelt and still funny. Just really unexpected for the audience but they loved it. So glad you've gotten that time to connect with family and friends during this and had connections with strangers.
You're so right about keeping your eyes open on those side roads and seeing what's there to learn. Painful and fearful experiences are a part of life, too. and it's ok. it's ok to feel afraid and to fully appreciate the times you feel brave, too.
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I just love reading through these posts and seeing the amazing support everyone gives each other. From encouragement when you get results you didn't want to celebrating the small victories (yay for poop!!).
3Bears - oh my goodness! Amazing news on your nodes. That is absolutely fantastic.
All these ladies with anxiety; I'm there with you. I have intermittent panic attacks for no apparent reason. So frustrating. Thankful there are medications that can mitigate some of those emotions. Obviously, diagnosis with BC does NOT help. Glad to hear everyone is being proactive about talking to their doctors about getting the medication they need to help them. The mind is just crazy how it can sabotage you.
So, I can get put back on the calendar for January 19. Have to admit, even though I am not superstitious in any way, shape, or form, it didn't break my heart to not have surgery on Friday the 13th!! I am feeling very peaceful about the whole thing; for whatever reason that just was not the date that I was supposed to be having surgery. Medical families (my husband is a doc) ALWAYS seem to have some kind of snafu when they're being treated so I am hoping that was it!!
It was a little bit crazy to be in the pre-op area, IV in, family just waiting to say bye, then to get the call from my BS that my PS was so sick he couldn't even get out of bed. She did give me the option of going ahead with the mastectomy and doing all the reconstruction later, but since I have a good chance of being able to go direct to implant I wasn't too keen on going from having one surgery to probably three instead. I guess this is the first time in 11 years that my PS has had to cancel a surgery like this. He even sent me flowers as an apology. I am thinking maybe he should throw in a free eye lift for my troubles
I am in awe of you ladies who are up and about and even out - you're an inspiration!!
I have decided to stay off of any board on here except this one for my own sanity - it has really helped. No sense in going down a road I don't know if I need to be on yet.
I hope everyone is able to enjoy the weekend. Because the surgery was canceled, I was able to go to my daughter's voice competition and just feel like a "normal" person for a little bit longer.
Oh; only bummer to the reschedule is that I have to do the sentinel node radioactive injection again. Oh well. My husband said I will just have "extra hot boobs" with all that radioactivity in there
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i have to go back in on the 26th for the sentinel node surgical biopsy . Will I get that radioctivity as well ? I am still not comforable with this invasive component situation . I wanted just DCIS . Lol .. Oh wait none of us wants any of this ! Well DCISinAz . Glad you are ok woth the reschedule. I have diagnosed anxiety too , as do so many of us. The cancer dx doesn't help with it at all . I am trying to get over this brochitis I have had since last Sunday . I want to be well when I have to go back . Well lovely ladies , have an awesome weekend and enjoy the ice cream and good dinners and outdoor jaunts . Lord knows we desrvevit .❤🌈
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DCISinAZ, you're back!! I'm so glad you are taking the reschedule so well and I love your hubby's attitude! Sounds like a great guy! You bring re-scheduled just means you'll get lot and lots of extra prayers and well wishes from all of us.
BeachBabyK, yes! Recommend OA... I really like it. The Tig show on Netflix good too. This board could give her some great material with our poop prayers and shit fairies! 😁
Laastra, you totally got this girl!! Stay with us...as I mentioned in prior post, you can draw so much strength and inspiration from these wonderful ladies.
Well, I'm still engrossed in my show but wanted to see what you ladies are up to. Talk soon and much ❤️
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Elem - yes, I would think that you will. It really wasn't bad at all. Our place adds lidocaine in with the radioactive stuff so I didn't think it was painful at all. Hopefully you have the same!!
Also, my BS said she thought it was extremely unlikely that there would be anything in the nodes. It's really just being precautionary. She had told me that even if there was micro invasion of the DCIS, most likely would not even change the treatment plan. Did they say whether or not they want you to be on tamoxifen? I went to a tumor board and they are suggesting that for me. I am going to cross that bridge after I get my path report (and my genetic testing results) but I am thinking I will try it and if I don't tolerate the side effects well I will just go ahead and have a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed. Not that I am keen on another surgery but I am definitely keen on hanging around this planet for a long, long while!
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Annoyingboob - looks like there will be plenty huts for myself and fellow surgery partners this week! Wish we were already there 😊 I think at this point I am most scared of the 4 injections around the nipple area I have to receive prior to the radioactive injections. And then of course the node involvement and clear margins. Being TNBC, I'm pretty sure chemo and rads will be in my future. One step at a time. I thank everyone again who posts on here, makes us feel welcome and supports us on this journey we all wish we didn't have to take.
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hi DCISin AZ,
I think the BS said something about Tamoxifen before he went in and removed the tumor. He said that would probably be it and that it might give me hotflashes but that was all. I thought great that sound awesome! Whobwould have thought hotflashes would be awesome right?
Then after the invasive component was detected , he said SNB but also did not think there would be anything there , but I think then he said probably radiation tx. Would be in order. I go in for a surgery followup with him on the 18 th and may ask more since I willhave the other surgery on the 26th. I just want to get rid of this bronchial thing first!
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laastra, a big warm welcome - you have a great attitude - thank you for bringing that perspective to us! I also think its important to seek the good in whatever gets thrown your way. I think the timing of breast cancer right after my panic diagnosis was meant to prove to myself that I can do this. may we all find whatever life lessons we need in this journey!!
gt, plenty of huts. re:injections - I think fightingirl had hers once she was under anesthesia, and then dcis had hers mixed with lidocaine, so maybe just ask what they can do for you to make it as comfortable as possible. and don't race to the dx yet - its not worth the stress. baby steps. lets get you through the surgery and comfy and cozy in a bungalow before we start to think about path reports! 'patience grasshopper' (I think that was a cheezy line from some movie)
elem, take care of your bronchitis, my sweet girl. lets not have any more surprises or cancelled surgeries! drink lots of fluids and breathing treatments if you need them. be gentle on yourself. the good news is that you kinda already know the drill for preop, so hopefully that soothes some of the jitters.
dcis, your husband sounds hilarious. and thank god your ps cancelled instead of falling over midsurgery!! you can do this on jan 19.
varga, I cant believe you are a grannie to 6 - that's so cool! I hope the shower went well today. take care of the dizzy spells - mine were super scary. I hope its just dehydration or something easy rather than panic, but if it is panic, im your girl for getting through it.
as for me, I just peeled most of the glue off around my incisions. literally like 3 tablespoons of purple skin glue. but now I looks less monstrous. sure there are big incisions but hopefully they will fade with time. I even tried on some clothes I had that never looked good with big boobs, but I didn't toss them out bc they were so pretty. so im looking forward to a new wardrobe. and exercise. and hot tubs. I may sneak into the hot tub tonight since I looked pretty healed up...eek!!
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Elem - it's so interesting to me how different everyone's treatment is even if it seems like they have the "same" thing. My drs told me if I did lumpectomy i would need to do radiation. If mastectomy, no radiation. But maybe that's because my DCIS is spattered around my breast, not in any pattern.
So I guess I'm saying I wouldn't get too concerned that they're mentioning radiation because I think that's a fairly common treatment plan.
I guess there is still a chance I will need radiation if they can't get good margins. But no sense in worrying about tomorrow till I get through the first hurdle.
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Since October 6, date of initial mammogram, I have had a series of US, mammograms, 2 biopsies, and an MRI. Malignancy in both breasts has been confirmed and surgery is tentatively scheduled for 1/30.
Just found this site yesterday and have found it to be very helpful. Like some of you, I prefer to remain fairly quiet about my diagnosis. My sons and daughter have been my support system and only a couple of friends have been told. Did not tell my DH until this morning and because of his dementia he may not remember what he was told tomorrow. lol
I know where my ultimate support comes from and I am not worried or overly concerned. However, this site has certainly answered questions and provided information that I did not even know I needed. Your honestly in sharing your experiences, feelings and thoughts and the encouragement for one another is so special. Thank you all for your input. I will continue to follow the progress of all of you as you take this journey.
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ditto. they told me that for my int-high grade dcis the tx is EITHER 1. lumpectomy followed by xrt and tamoxifen OR
2. mastectomy with no need for xrt or tamoxifen. I have yet to meet with ro or mo, but that's the standard of care here in norcal. if you have low grade dcis or just a teensy tiny little spot, they may just do lumpectomy or watch it.
after your surgery, when you have all the pathology reports, they plug your numbers into a 'nomogram' that spits out a bunch of percentages for recurrence and survival to help you decide.my bs said the memorial sloan kettering system was a bit more modern than van nuys, and she liked that one. so for my info and age, I have 23% risk recurrence after lumpectomy only for 12 years. if I do xrt, it falls to 9%. if I do xrt and tamoxifen it falls to 4%. so you can go online and plug in different numbers to get a sense of how it works. 23% doesn't sound too bad, but then my mom is 80, so multiply my 23% x 3 if I live as long as her, and that starts to get scary.
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Well, I had my surgery on Tuesday (lymph node, nipple sparring) and it's been tough. I have a rash all over my body, apparently from the Oxy for pain. The end of my nipple is black and the doc said I have an area of skin on the side of my breast that is dying. I'm worried to death what is going to happen to me. Off to see the plastic surgeon on Monday for her to have a look and see if we need to postpone the mastectomy on the 24th. Any one else have any problems like this?
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welcome goingon75 - woohoo!! you are our inspiration! maybe dementia is a good thing at this time? some things are better left unkown, and im glad you have other support to help you through. our bungalows will be there for you on the 30th
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elem, you and I are opposites in a sense, I was dx invasive but pathology came back after surgery and had DCIS as well as my IDC! Now you listen to a to annoyinboob take care of yourself! You gotta be healthy going in. ❤️️
GT, yes as annoyingboob said, my injections were done after I was put out and on my way to the bungalows! If your surgeon doesn't do this, many of these ladies have gone through it awake so you got this too!
Annoyingboob, you are brave peeling off that glue! I'm afraid to do that! I forget...did you just have the sentinel node biopsy? If so is it causing you more pain now? Above my incision about center of my armpit is very sore. Not debilitating but annoying. I'm also still very blue from injections
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fightingirl, no, they weren't in my axilla at all, but sounds like from others that area gets really tender. my incisions were all around nipple and undercrease bilaterally from reduction. it was all starting to peel off anyway, I just helped it along bc it was itchy. mine was purple bc they glued where they had drawn on me with purple marker. im still a bit bruised and sore, but not in pain anywhere, so id keep an eye on that for sure!
Sheila, sorry to hear about your complications. someone had a black nipple, was it leftcoastie? and I recall my ps saying that was a pretty common complication. still sucks when its you. the good news is that those ps have so many tricks up their sleeve, im sure they will be able to get you back looking pretty. and ive seen some of those nipple tattoos which are crazy realistic. don't give up hope!!
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I am going to take your advice DcisinAz because I have been getting myself worked up neddlessly . I probably need to take a chill pill to give my mind a rest . I haven't used lorazdpam since the day beforr the surgery so maybe I will take 0.5 tonight for a relaxing sleep .
I appreciate all of you so much , It's so much to take in and all of us have so many questions. Coming here is amazingly comforting , in part because we know things first hand from going through it and the emotional rollercoaster is something each of us has to endure. Without you ladies, I would have cracked up by now.
I think I will turn in now . Sweet dreams to all . Have a beautiful evening 💗
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wow what a day! So much to catch up on with you gals! On page 22 already!
Cousins came to visit this afternoon & brought a cannoli cake...my fav! And I wonder why I'm not losing any weight lol. having some snow here so finally got some binge TV watching in. Fightingirl: good for you for pampering yourself today!
Annoyingboob: i love to research stuff but I'm really on a roll these days... I think cancer has unearthed some latent OCD tendencies lol! My PS even calls me his "info chick".I love your pictures & your sense of humor!!
3bears: I am so proud of you! What a warrior!
DCISinAZ: I'm with you, keep the flowers, give me an eye lift!
Laastra: love your attitude. I have generations of BC in my family too. I can relate to your feeling that deep down, you knew it would someday be your turn. Looks like they got it early, thank God!
SheilaW8: I have a rash too, but I think it was where they put the betadine (that orange stuff). I have little bumps on my upper arms & across my midriff. The tape on my sides itches like crazy too! I take Tylenol pm at night & the pm not only helps me sleep, it gives me a break from feeling itchy.
Leftcoastie, my Jan 4 sister: aren't we so done with these drains? I've got 4 of them. Hoping I can ditch at least 2 at my PS appt on Tues. Thanks for your encouraging words of support. Don't know what my treatment plan will be yet, but believe me, I will be here to soak up all the support I can get! I'm trying not to obsess too much about it until all the info comes in
I am definitely going to check out that comedienne!
Welcome to all the newbies!
Good nite my dear friends!
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pugsmama - I have sensitive skin like you - had to ask for no steristrips. do you still have that clear tape on - the thin stuff? that was itching me like crazy so I had to rip it off. by day 3 I ripped off any adhesive bc I was starting to get red and irritated. not sure what your instructions are, but if you can, try to get that adhesive off bc if you are like me, it will turn really inflamed, red and itchy and will last for months. if you need bandaging, try the maxi pad trick. the last time I tried to just suffer through the itching, I ended up with a bandage shaped welt and had to use steroid cream for ages to get it to go away.good luck!!
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BeachBabyK--You are doing a wonderful job of managing this board. We are all very grateful to you for starting this. I'm so happy to hear that this has brought you closer to your kids. In my opinion they are the most important relationships you'll have in your life ever. Friendships too like you said. I am much closer to my friends and family now than before this all started My 16 yr old daughter watched a movie with me in my bedroom last night. My husband was too busy watching football in the living room. And it was my birthday!! I think he's finally burned out on cancer a bit. It's true that going forward I'm going to do some things differently too. Like watch what I want to watch on tv a lot more of the time than the 98% that I let my husband have sports on. If he's in a different room, so what? I have a life too. With my own tastes and distastes. My opinion matters. And my time matters. I matter. Im going to be to my own real person again from now on and not just a reflection of my husband.
By the way girls...........💩💩💩💩💩!!!!
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I just got my estimated portion of my surgery cost and it is more than my out of pocket? My husband sent an email back but has anyone had this happen. Don't need this extra stress right no
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hi annoyingboob: I asked for no steristrips too. I had steristrips on my boobs after my biopsies which was right before Thanksgiving & my boobs were still red when they took them off!
You wouldn't believe the getup my sides are in...no steristrips but they've got clear tape over my drain tubes & on top of that, a thin layer of foam glued on top of it & I have to wear this constricting surgical bra on top of that! I think I'm stuck with this (no pun intended!) until I see the PS on Tuesday...I'm going to ask him to remove everything & come up with something else. After all it'll be two weeks post-op by then...
Elem: hope your bronchitis is getting better...
Goingon75: you sound very serene. Please share your calming perspective often!
3bears: hubby & I rarely watch tv together...our tastes are too different. It's not like we talk to each other when the TV in on anyway! I think it's also a way for each of us to have our own space...I'm actually a football fan & he doesn't watch sports...lol. Congratulations on the poop & happy birthday!
PSA: For those of you on brain meds who may end up taking tamoxifen, certain SSRIs (e.g. Zoloft, Paxil) hinder tamoxifen's effectiveness...if you have to switch to Effexor, the good news is it doesn't put on weight & it helps with hot flashes (I've been on it since my ovaries came out) see below:
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Happy birthday 3bears!!!
We love and appreciate you just the way you are!!
Xx
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January 4th - mastectomy with nipple sparing / spacer
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A virtual birthday party for 3bears! Love it & we love you, 3bears! The start of your healthiest year yet!!
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hi 2moveforward: there's a few of us Jan. 4 gals! Welcome!! How's the recovery going?
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Well, I am waiting to see my surgeon on Tuesday but my Oncologist wants to do chemo (Taxol) for 12 weeks and I wasn't planning on that. My tumor was 2 cm. and the mastectomy got it all and no lymph nodes where infected?
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Good Morning Ladies - lots to catch up on! Hubby (who is sick as a dog poor thing!) is gone to swimming lessons with our 3 year old so I got a bit of alone time.
A Boob - that was an awesome beach vacation pic! I'm fairly certain that work schedule permitting we'll be grabbing a last minute vacay down south in March. I can't stop thinking about it (even thought we just returned from vacation a few weeks ago!) and now I've got the "well after all I've been through I deserve it!" excuse lol.
Laastra - I'm so sorry you're going through this at your age...I thought I was young, but you've got me by 13 years. My cousin was exactly your age when she was diagnosed with aggressive BC and underwent a Mx and radiation and chemo. She was also on some sort of hormone meds which mimicked putting her in menopause for I think 5 yrs. (suppressed periods etc). Anyways, when she came off those meds, she got pregnant immediately lol. She had no plans for another baby, but her Dr said coming off those meds, her body sort of responded by being "extra" fertile...almost overproducing. Very strange! Anyways her "miracle baby" is now 5 and beautiful. Your smart to ask questions though...science is so incredible. Provided you have the time before treatment you could always run a stimulation protocol at a fertility clinic and harvest your eggs. Our son was conceived through IVF so I'm somewhat of an expert on that topic. And thanks for the Netflix recommendation - I'll check it out!
DCISin AZ - funny you mention the eye lift - go ahead and joke about it and see what happens lol. I've always said I'd love to get my eyes done...I have found just because of my eyes and the crowsfeet I feel I've aged quite a bit the last few years. Blech.
So last night I took a shallow bath just to wash the nether regions and hopefully feel a bit better. I had not taken off the post-op camisole since Thursday (yes...time to wash that as well!) so this was really the first time I had "looked" (bandages are still on til Tuesday) and I have to admit...I had a little pity party, cried a bit but then got back on track. In the event this may help someone else here cope with their feelings of loss, this is what I have been focusing on to keep me grounded. I lost my Mom at age 56 to stage 4 lung cancer - 56 days from diagnosis to death. Her Mom died at age 52 - stomach cancer. I think she was around 6 months from diagnosis to death. Her sister died at age 42 from ovarian cancer - approx 1.5 yrs from diagnosis to death. I have always felt that it would be a miracle if I escaped this effing disease, so in some ways I was not surprised by this diagnosis. I have chosen to believe I am LUCKY to have BC. Crazy - right?? Not really. As I'm sure you all know, BC is one of the most treatable forms of cancer with the highest survival rate. Any of those women would have HAPPILY given their boobs (or anything else for that matter) for that diagnosis instead of the one they had. In addition, I will now be monitored closely probably for the rest of my life. So whenever I feel sad, or sorry for myself, I only have to think of my Mom, or Aunt or Meme and I get my head back in the game. I didn't mean to be a "Debbie downer" but I thought/hoped that perhaps someone struggling with accepting their situation right now might benefit from my perspective. I am holding on to the belief that by next Christmas, other than perhaps some bad hair which may remain, this will be a blip on my radar...in the past and I'll be marching forward to the next big great thing!
Love from Ontario...
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