January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
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Good luck to everyone going to surgery today! We are all here cheering you on. And to everyone heading back to work today - ease yourself in. I came to the office today trying to get things done preemptively before I go out and all I can do is think about the BC BS - thus I ended up here. LOL
The work is helping distract me somewhat - and by working today (technically a holiday) - I can put this time in my bank and use it later when i really need it.
Fightngirl - I totally get what you mean about others not understanding with the positive sentiments. I keep having to bite my tongue and remember it's really hard to find the right words and they mean well - but seriously, unless you are in it, you just don't get it.
Hugs to you all - it's Monday - we've got this!
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Good luck to everyone going to surgery today! We are all here cheering you on. And to everyone heading back to work today - ease yourself in. I came to the office today trying to get things done preemptively before I go out and all I can do is think about the BC BS - thus I ended up here. LOL
The work is helping distract me somewhat - and by working today (technically a holiday) - I can put this time in my bank and use it later when i really need it.
Fightngirl - I totally get what you mean about others not understanding with the positive sentiments. I keep having to bite my tongue and remember it's really hard to find the right words and they mean well - but seriously, unless you are in it, you just don't get it.
Hugs to you all - it's Monday - we've got this!
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Thought you guys might like a little funny...so back to work today but wore my zip in front sports bra that I bought for after my surgery...I've worn it off in on all last week with no problem BUT multiple times today the zipper just pops open and the girls are free! So embarrassing when your sitting and chatting with the bosses wife! Guess I'll have to find another comfy supportive bra for tomorrow!
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Thanks for the welcome ladies! It really is comforting to hear how everyone is doing post surgery and knowing how many others are going through the same thing I am around the same time.
PugsMama: I will say that chemo wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It's not fun by any means but it's certainly manageable. They give you plenty of anti-nausea drugs that work very well. The only time I ever really felt nauseous was with my very first treatment and that was because I didn't have enough food in my belly beforehand. Lesson learned for sure and I had no problems going forward as long as I ate plenty before treatment. Lots of times it was an egg sandwich in the car on the way!
Thanks for the tips on the ovary surgery. I'll meet with the doc a few weeks after this surgery to plan that one.
Shellybeans: I've definitely thought the same thing about the tattoo! I've never had a tattoo before either and I figured this would be the perfect reason to get one. I've seen some beautiful pictures of what others have done.
Can't wait to get the cancer out of this body! Today I'm not feeling very anxious about the surgery. Bring it on! But I'm sure I'll be back to feeling anxious again as it gets closers. Man BC really brings on such an emotional rollercoaster!
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Lraystar, that's a great attitude - turn the nervous preop energy into excitement about ridding your body of cancer!!
Thanks to all the women with the nipplesparing mx and prepec recon advice - I am following your journey like a hawk!
A word of caution for those women taking brelfies (breast selfies): make sure you put those pics into a separate private folder. I had the joy of showing my contractor some pics on my phone of house renovation ideas, and as I'm swiping through, random breast pics would pop up!!! Mortifying. If I end up with a backyard that looks like a postop breast, I'll know why....
Stay safe out there ladies!!!
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annoyingboob, ok, way more funny than my boobs popping out today...least I had a shirt on but hey we should all be used to baring our breasts by now!
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fightingirl - that's exactly what I was thinking - a month ago I would have crawled in a hole, but now im so used to ripping off my top and baring all, I think he was more mortified than I was!! thank you breast cancer for curing my lifelong modesty, lol!!
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No cure for breast cancer but cancer cures modesty
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Saw PS today and we started forming our plan. During the talks my dear husband lost it because it got very real for him. He teared up while the surgeon talked and during my picture session and broke down when we were alone. Then I had talks with my daughters about the details I am now getting more familiar with, and a sleepless night last night with everything else has left me with the jitters and feeling very fragile. Sometimes we're strong and sometimes we're not...
I should get my surgery date within a couple of days.....
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Bevmomduck, hold on tight, you can do this.
Fightingirl, yup modesty has gone by the wayside. I was really never even one to say words like boobs or t*ts(can I say that word here? and if not here, where???)...and now I'm just throwing those words (and my girls) around like it's nothing.
annoyingboob, I am in hysterics over here at your contractor/brelfie moment. I can see it now:
annoyingboob's neighbor: "What is that interesting structure in the middle of your backyard?"
annoyingboob: "Would you believe it's a cone-shaped gazebo?"
annoyingboob's neighbor: "Umm, no."
Welcome lraystar8166!
Wish me luck ladies, tomorrow is the day. I check in at 7:30. Did-not-see-this-coming, zookeeper, Cowboy-up and GT1965, see you guys at the cabana bar.
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here you go girls - the bar is open and waiting for you!! take your time. breathe in and out. when you are ready, we are here...xx
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Jinmo and all the 17th surgeries, wishing you all the best! Love and light! ❤️️ Your bungalows await! Let us know how you're all doing when able
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Hi. I'm happy I found this group. I already had a lumpectomy a couple of weeks ago, but when tissue had been sent to pathology, it showed the cancer to be more aggressive than originally thought. I will be having a mastectomy, the removal of my right breast on January 24. I would like to be added to your list. I am very scared at this point, but I think that's to be expected.
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Hi BCO sisters,
Please help me decide if I should consider having mastectomy (even BMX) instead of lumpectomy!
I am halfway through neo-adjuvant chemo, I can feel my lump has shrunk a lot form the original 2.5cm so I think lumpectomy is possible. Another reason makes me opt for lumpectomy is I am negative for the genetic testing! Yay! However, my breasts are extremely dense and I know dense breasts have higher chance to develop BC. If recurrence happened to me I would really regret my decision!
I am highly ER/PR+ and will turn 30 in 2 months. Please help me decide!
Thanks
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Dear friends
The masectomy surgery went well on tuesday 1/10/17. After overnight extended care in hospital came home wednesday afternoon with two drains. The hospital provided a camisole with two drain pouches which can be attached with velcro to camisole with zipper. And two temporory cotton prosthesis . Pain at drains site was more compared to breast. Hydrocodene twice a day helped a lot. I took miralax for twodays and now regular.
Bath oneside was not satisfactory but felt better.
Tobay 1/16/17 drains were removed in surgeons office and pathology report showed margins were clear and 2 outof 7 lyphnodes were poitive.
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Welcome Rosa! Scared is definitely an expected emotion! We've all been there and truth be told I don't think some level of scared has ever left me since I was diagnosed! We are here for you. I'm so sorry you find yourself here and that it was worse than originally thought.
Stephy, welcome to you as well! I understand your torture in trying to make this decision. I'm certain many if not all of us felt the same way. I wish I could give you guidance but I think it's a highly personal decision and also what is being recommended by your doctors. I personally would be happy to share why I chose lumpectomy but I just couldn't tell you what is right for you and your situation. I know how you feel though...I wanted the crystal ball to see into the future and guarantee that my decision was the right one!
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Jinmo - I check in at 7:30 also tomorrow. Did-not-see-this-coming, zookeeper, Cowboy-up we got this. I don't know about you ladies, but I am ready.
Annoyingboob - keep sending the hut pics!
Welcome RosaRosadaP and Stephilosph! You will find lots of info and help here. While I've only just started this journey, I'm sure someone will be along shortly with suggestions.
Good night all and best wishes and outcomes for the 17s tomorrow and everyone that has their pathology reports back and now have big decisions to make
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dear friends
While i was trying to take bath with two drains, it was a bit difficult to do that without getting wet the drains and gauge around it, a tried a simple trick thought to share with you all.
I came home from hospital with a camisole and two drain pouches with velcro . I put both drains in that pouches sealed with velcro and then placed them in a grocery plastic carrybag and wore to shoulder as our handbag it fit perferctly around my armpit. I took bath covering my gauge and drains
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GT - you go girl!!
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Stephilosophy - As FightinGirl said, it is a very personal decision, but I can tell you why I chose mastectomy. I'm 43...young, but not nearly as young as you are. I was told by my surgeon (and did my own research as well) that although overall survival rate is relatively equal whether you chose lumpectomy or mastectomy, a mastectomy decreases chance of recurrence to "almost" zero (there's still a small chance), whereas chance of recurrence within within 15-20 yrs of a lumpectomy is approx 25%. The way he explained it to me, for older patients, it may not make a difference because of their age, but for someone younger who hopefully has much more than 20 years to live, the increased risk is more relevant. He did however say a recurrence is generally easily treatable, but I wanted to decrease my risk of ever having to go through this again as much as I could, so I opted for mastectomy. It was the right choice for me...it is not for everyone. If you are interested in reading any of the articles I found let me know and I'm happy to pass them on.
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Welcome Amul79, that is a smart bath idea, thanks! Glad you came through your surgery all right.
Welcome Rosa, sorry to hear you'll be having more surgery but glad you have found us here.
Hi GT! See you on that lovely deck over the water late tomorrow.
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I think we all need these installed at our houses
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I think I am ready. Going to eat something here shortly as I can't eat after midnight but my surgery isn't until 1. I keep looking at my bras and realizing that I won't ever wear these ones again. Kind of a weird thought. I'm ready to get this done and see what the extent of damage this rotten little disease has done. Praying for good margins, it being the size they think it is, no node involvement and a low oncotype dx score. Not asking much am I. Hoping the 16th girls had great outcomes of their surgeries today and wishing my 17th sisters the best of luck. Ready to join you all in the cabanas with umbrella drinks and some moosetracks ice cream.
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As ready as I'm going to be for tomorrow!! Don't check in until 11, so I have time to get some stuff done in the morning. Feel like I'm fighting a UTI which is just wonderful - better not come at me with a foley!!! I've chosen not to have reconstruction, so hoping tomorrow is one and done - I'll see you lovely ladies at the cabana!
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Good luck tomorrow for all of you 1/17 surgery girls - I will be thinking about all of you and sending positive vibes and lots of prayers. Update us when you all are ready, we will be waiting patiently!
DCIsinAZ - I love the picture, that cracked me up and yes, we all need those installed...I they should be in the lobby of our island bungalow too!
Rosa - welcome to the group, sorry for your diagnosis and initial findings but know that we are a group here to love and support you, find humor with you and discuss anything that you want.
Stephy - welcome to the group as well, I agree with lots of the others in that the decision is hard, I found comfort in doing the testing that my dr wanted me to do and fortunately all the tests pointed to the same procedure, a lumpectomy.... I felt comfortable with that and had one 12/6, when he didn't clear the margins and I had a positive node, I again had the opportunity to decide again, since nothing else had changed I stuck with my original decision. Listen to your doctors and results of testing.... don't hesitate to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion, just to feel more comfortable with your line of thinking (I got 3 opinions, one would not even do a BMX if I wanted one!). We are here anytime to ask questions or vent to.
Anyone interested in participating in a secret FB page? The chemo blog group has one that I am in and it works out real well. Let me know if anyone is and I can ask my teenagers how to set it up!
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Good Morning girls!
To all the 17th'ers....prayers for good clean lines and reports for all. Check in when you can. We will all be anxious to hear from you!
Annoyingboob, haha! I should do some breflies and send them to my husband. That made me chuckle.
Fightgirl, I got 2 of those zip front sports bras just for the lumpectomy. I wore one to zumba last week just to test it's support level afew times I thought the zipper was going to give lol. I prefer the racer back pull over kind and have several but could not imagine squeezing into them after surgery. Thanks for the chuckle as well. I needed it before I went to sleep last night.
To all the new girls. I'm so thankful for this group of ladies. I have come to them with all my fears and questions. It's truly a blessing to have found them. They are my support!
Secret FB page, I think I would do if we can keep it really private. No one knows I have cancer. It's complicated with my job. I haven't even told my parents.
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Amul79-GENIUS!
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Good morning ladies! Thinking all of those having surgery today - I hope it is completely uneventful! Not sure what procedures are happening today, but if anyone is having a mastectomy, ask your anesthesiologist about a "block". I had not even heard of it until surgery day when she offered it to me...it was essentially freezing which was done to my chest through 5 needles in my back/upper neck. The needles were not bad, and the point is to make you more comfortable that first night...it lasts roughly 24 hrs.
So today is shower day - how exciting! I feel so gross. I had a shallow bath the other night and some "wipes" of course but I really want a real shower. I'm heading down to the treadmill for a good brisk walk and then the shower. This is also the time to take off the bandage and I have to admit I'm nervous. Although I feel zero regrets about my decision, and I "feel" I have accepted the loss, I imagine it will still be a bit of a shock. I have seen plenty of pics but still...
Nice to know I'm not the only one taking boob selfies lol. I sent my Hubby a "goodbye" boob selfie the morning of surgery.
Hope you all have a good day.0 -
hi everyone! Prayers for all going today & hoping yesterday's gals are doing ok!
Count me in on a private FB page!
Stephilosophy: it's hard for me to look at BC through the lens of not being high risk but I think DSMom's reasoning makes sense. Are they going to do an Oncotype test on the tumor? That can help assess the risk of recurrence.
Rosa: it's scary but we're all here for you. Get that damn cancer out!
Loving the pictures! A-boob & fightingirl, your stories cracked me up! Modesty, what's that?
I took boob selfies too... They were definitely better looking in my mind than in the picture LOL!
I'm so looking forward to my PS appt.today! Hopefully I'll be able to ditch some of these drains, get rid of some of the bandaging & stop having to wear the surgical bra 24/7. Hoping I can start exercising, at least walking. Let's see...anything else? Lol
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DsMom, I was quite surprised when I read your chance of recurrence rate on lumpectomy vs mastectomy. I was not told this nor did my own research find that? I understood there is only a slightly higher risk of recurrence with the lumpectomy. My heart sort of jumped when I read that since I did choose the lumpectomy. Perhaps your doctor personalized the chance based on your type of cancer and other factors? All of my doctors said there was only a slightly higher risk...I'm talking a couple percentage points not 25%! Yikes!
I'm in for the private FB page as well!
DCISinAZ, thanks for the laugh first thing this AM!
PugsMama, how was the first day back at work? Best of luck at the PS appt today! I meet with oncologist tomorrow so getting anxious to find out the next parts of my treatment plan. Always anxious in this game...
I love that you all took the boob selfies! I did the same...though I did only the lumpectomy, I did not know that my left girl would look the same as before after they took a chunk out of it or how long down the road it would be before I had it "fixed" up! I'm still healing but from the looks, I think my BS did a great job and I won't be needing any fixing. I made my husband transfer them to the computer and delete from his phone...just in case! He takes pictures for his job and sends them to various people, wouldn't want him to send my boobs to someone! He's not the most tech savvy.
Hope the 16's are resting and recovering nicely and best of luck to the 17's!
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