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January 2020 Surgery Group

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Comments

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    Hi ladies - trying to wrap my head around the latest in this journey. My Oncotype score came back at 30; therefore, my oncologist is recommending chemo. As such, he's contacted the plastic surgeon to get things moving with the necrosis issue I'm having on my right breast. Rather than waiting weeks and changing dressings daily in the hopes healthy tissue will reveal itself, he's recommended immediate surgery to remove the expander and affected tissue so I can heal and begin chemo. Trying to keep things in perspective but was hoping for some sort of break this go around.

  • moxie32
    moxie32 Member Posts: 51

    So sorry you are having this complication Sugar. I know my gut instinct would be to go the route where you heal more quickly. I wish you didn’t have to do the chemo but I think it would be easier without worrying about the infection

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    I'm so sorry to hear about everything you are going through Sugar :(

    I pray that everything works out and wishing you the best going forward. Xo

  • martaj
    martaj Member Posts: 307

    Sugar, hang in there!!! Things will get better. Hump in road. My seroma is finally behaving. I had 70ml taken off Wednesday, I now have a small ball called a RAD ball, comes in box with different sizes, to reach hard to reach places, under my armpit, to compress area. Seroma has not grown anymore. It also reminds me to keep my arm down. Feeling good. Sutures healing. Plastic surgeon was pleased.

  • martaj
    martaj Member Posts: 307

    All surgical sites healing nice. Seroma finally disappeared. Washed all walls downstairs interior in preparation for painting. Little sore last eve, but house smells clean, and painting will start tomorrow. Needs it badly

  • ajminn3
    ajminn3 Member Posts: 284

    Sugar- how are you doing?

    Martaj- glad to hear incisions are healing and the seroma disappeared.

    I am 2 months out from my surgery (BMX direct tomorrow implants) and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had no complications to have healed well. I’m surprised by my range of motion and strength, although I’ve been slow to work up to stretching and lifting more and more. I’ve now moved onto the world of chemo, so sometimes I honestly forget about the surgery sometimes. It’s crazy. I hope you are all doing well

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    Glad to hear everyone is doing well!

    I had emergency surgery last Wednesday to remove the tissue expander and to cut out the necrosis that had developed along the incision. I can't believe the difference this surgery made. I immediately felt so much better the next day. I'm lopsided for now but I can stuff an insert in my bra to tide me over once I'm healed and we can begin again with the reconstruction after I'm done chemo.

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    Martaj glad that seroma finally resolved!

    Sugar so sorry to hear that you're going through all of that. I'm glad that your feeling better now though. Hope you continue to recover and best wishes to you.

  • Craftylife61
    Craftylife61 Member Posts: 34

    Sugar, I hope you are feeling much better. When does your chemo start and what are you having?

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    Hi Craftylife - I am feeling better. Flat on one side but definitely on the mend. I'll be having TC (...again!). I know what to expect. I was a decade younger last time I had it so I hope fare as well as I did before. Not sure of the start date but I get bloodwork in two weeks so I'd say the week after, I'll start.


  • JaynerK7
    JaynerK7 Member Posts: 34

    Sugar, Just popped on here and was sorry to read what you’ve had to deal with these past weeks. Glad you felt relief once TE was removed and wishing you strength as you go through chemo sessions

  • martaj
    martaj Member Posts: 307

    Sugar, hope you are finally on the mend. Hang in there with the chemo

  • deanders
    deanders Member Posts: 61

    thinking of all of us who were lucky enough to get our surgery before all this chaos got so close to home! They aren't doing any elective surgery right now and I've seen story after story of cancer patients that just have to wait. Is be freaking!

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    I keep thinking the same thing. My heart goes out to all those affected by this and having delayed procedures/fills/surgeries :(

    I'm very thankful we were able to have ours and hope that you are all doing well!

  • moxie32
    moxie32 Member Posts: 51

    Agree. I feel very lucky. Now to get to April 15 and finish radiation

  • callmeCookies
    callmeCookies Member Posts: 10

    Yes, indeed! Glad to hear people are feeling better.

    I had re-excision March 3 and all went well; got those sweet clean margins at last. Bumming a bit since I'd be through radiation by now and have no worries with the current catastrophe. Setup appointment is next week, and seems to still be on.

  • deanders
    deanders Member Posts: 61

    Breast finally healed (mostly) after the 4 January surgeries so they can start zapping me now. I start radiation on Thursday and am scared that it will deplete my immune system. My RO says that it shouldn't and some of the research I have found indicates that it is fine but I'm still freaked out all the same. I feel pretty good and since I ended chemo in early December was hoping that everything was bounced back pretty well. My blood counts looked good at my last visit on March 13.

    I remember three weeks ago when all I could think about was getting back to work and through radiation so life could be normal again. Want to make God laugh - make a plan.


  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    Deanders I hope radiation goes well for you and without any problems. I can't even imagine going through treatment during a crisis like this. Praying for all of you. Hope you all stay safe.

    Sugar how are you doing?


  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    I’m doing okay. Thanks for asking. I had my first chemo on Friday and am holding up.

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    I'm glad to hear you're doing okay and holding up. I pray that continues and wish you the best.

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    Hope everyone is doing well and that you all had a nice Easter! :)

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    LiveLoveLaugh - I had a wonderful Easter. We're all home in quarantine but at least we're safe.

    Hope everyone is doing well.

  • martaj
    martaj Member Posts: 307

    It has now been 8 weeks since my surgery, partial mastectomy with reconstruction. All is healing so well. No pain except for 2nd degree radiation burns on my chest and were beam exits through my back. Boosts started yesterday to give chest a chance to heel. Next week will be done radiation.

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    I'm glad to hear! I did as well although it was hard not seeing all of my family with this quarantine. But better to be safe than sorry, this is so scary for all of us.

    Martaj glad you are almost done with rads!

  • e32
    e32 Member Posts: 13

    Anyone else had delayed expander fills due to COVID-19? My TE haven't been filled again since surgery and I don't know when we will begin. I had to wait on a few incision areas to heal fully before we could begin. Now waiting for things to be safe again.

  • e32
    e32 Member Posts: 13

    Also, does anyone srill have pain/soreness when you do a lot of activity/housework/taking care of kids? I am not by any means in severe pain, but feel pulling, sore, etc. when having done a lot. Swwm normal?

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    Emma sorry that your fills are delayed :(

    Yes, I still get pain/soreness and I'm 4 months out of exchange.

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328

    My fills aren't delayed per se because my PS isn't filling the left one until the expander gets put back in on the right side after I finish chemo. However, I do know that all the clinics for the PS are cancelled at the hospital until June. He's only allowed to see patients with infections and on a very limited basis due to COVID-19.

  • e32
    e32 Member Posts: 13

    Follow up on mastectomy healing with breast surgeon scheduled this week. Haven't seen them since March. Anyone else cancelling followups? I feel like I should go to touch base with them, but not sure if it is dumb of me. They haven't cancelled with me. I feel like normally, one would be monitored without question but how do I know if this is necessary? I've never done this before.

  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 173

    Hoping all of you January ladies are doing well and that you've had a nice Mother's Day!