January 2020 Surgery Group
Comments
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Sounds just like me. I took photos for reference because there was nowhere that described what I had. I have been on the internet frequently looking for similar situations. My surgeon did say she had seen this before, but I do not know how common it is. I am 3 weeks post surgery now and most of the bruising has gone, but there is still several areas where the blood is still very dark. My breast has an odd color - a bit gray. The bruising went all the way down to my pubic area! The issue that concerns me now is the swelling. I continue to wear a sports bra and a compression wrap I woke up with after surgery 24/7.. The radiologist said the blood and fluids can gel inside the breast and will take longer for the body to drain. He suggested that I massage my breast. I am continuing to look for web sites about Simple Lymphatic Drainage SLD. I did not have any lymph nodes removed so I don't know if that is for me, but I don't think it could hurt. I still have the "glue" under my breast and it doesn't look at all like it will flake off any time soon. Thank you for posting. I was concerned that I was a an oddity. Next comes radiation. Getting my tattoos tomorrow.
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I know we're right at the end of the month, but can I join? Just got my surgery date of 1/30 a few days ago. It will be L mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy (or removal? I think she said removal--is that the same thing?). Later (hopefully not too much later), the R mastectomy plus DIEP flap reconstruction.
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Thank you everyone for the support. I got the name of a rad oncologist today from my breast surgeon. I am so sad and depressed! I’m happy I’m seeing my therapist tomorrow.
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Hi Lucy, I had the same...left mastectomy with expander on the 24th. Thankfully i got the news yesterday that the 4 removed lymph nodes & margins were clear. I have a post op with my oncologist on Friday but we should be good to move forward with right mastectomy & diep flap reconstruction on feb 6th as planned.
Drains were really painful for me the first 24 hours I was home but have gotten better. I’ve only taken an occasional Tylenol or ibuprofen in the past two days.
So sorry to hear about those that have gotten further bad news post surgery or are having tough recoverie. This is all a huge PITA.
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I am having a left side masectomy and lymph node removal on Thursday and I'm freaking out. I have never had any surgery, or been around anyone who has. I know the plan, but I'm anxious at the best of times so I'm worried about what could go wrong, about the pain afterwards, about what I won't be able to do for a few weeks, about the drains.
My husband will be able to stay home with me for 4 days, then he has to go back to work. Will I be able to take care of myself by then?
I'm worried about how long I can't drive for, as I have 2 teenage daughters I need to taxi to school and work.
I hope you are all doing well. 😊
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Hi Ange743, I had a right masectomy and a sentinel node biopsy in August. Like you, I hadn’t had surgery previously and I had no idea what to expect. I’m happy to tell you the surgery was much easier to recover from than I imagined. I found it helpful To focus on being strong and healthy, and repeated that as part of an affirmation and mantra right up until they put me out. You will be in good hands and each step coming your way is taking you closer to putting this behind you. You should be able to drive in 5 to 7 days. You mostly may notice the car door is heavy to open on your affected side. Rest and surround yourself with the love of your family and friends. I’m sure your daughters will be anxious to help and be part of getting you well, so be sure to let them. Good luck
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Hope all of you who have had surgery are recovering well and for those with upcoming surgeries best of luck to you.
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Momofboys3, I'm so glad you got good news from your pathology report! Interesting to hear from someone who just had the same thing I'll have (tomorrow!!). It's been hard for me to gauge what recovery will be like, so hearing your experience helps. Are you glad to be going right into surgery #2? I don't have my reconstruction scheduled yet; maybe I should've pushed for a date? Also, howdy neighbor, I'm in TX too (San Antonio).
ange743, I'm sorry you're feeling anxious. It's understandable when all of this is so new, and I don't know about you, but I haven't gotten really clear info on what to expect for recovery for this surgery (lots more info on reconstruction). It's been hard because I'm a planner. My therapist encouraged me to give myself permission to overplay this situation (an instinct I usually try to fight), as long as I wasn't ruminating on any one thing. It's been helping me. Also, we're surgery buddies! I'll be getting the same exact procedure tomorrow too. Will be thinking of you.
JaynerK7, will be thinking of you too with reconstruction tomorrow!
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My pathology was good. Stage remained 1. Tumor was slightly larger - 1.4 instead of 1.2. Clear margins and lymph nodes.
I don't really understand the pathology detalis of the DCIS portion but BS said it was all clear margins. Will ask oncologist in March.
Waiting for oncotype - but now I have an appointment with radiation oncology for Feb 19 - which happens to be my 60th birthday.
All the best to everyone having surgery this week. And to those waiting for results and further treatment plans.
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Funny that we’re both from TX Lucy. I was initially surprised to have a surgery date so soon after but am now wishing it was this Friday instead of next. I’m ready to get on the road to recovery & right now feel like I’m just waiting around to start over with the healing...more healing in fact.
Moxie, great news on your pathology!
My surgeon called this morning to report a 4mm nodule in my lung that showed up on my pre-op chest X-ray. She said given my clear nodes chances are small that it would be cancer related, that nodules are common & I should try not to worry but she’s ordering a chest CT scan to get a better look since it came up. From the time I found a lump it always seems to be one step forward then two steps back.
So now we wait for CT scan & pre-ops on Friday. Hoping they will remove drains....even a week without them would be nice. The part where the drains run under my skin, up to my breast is the most painful part. I feel little to no pain from the actual breast
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Thanks so much, leftylucy
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Momofboys3, ugh ugh ugh on the lung nodule. I know chances are low that it would be cancer-related, but that doesn't take away all the worry. It's so exhausting to wait on more tests. I'll be thinking of you.
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Hi all, thought I’d send an update. I am 3 weeks post BMX with direct to implants and have been very fortunate to be healing well. My drains came out after 1.5 weeks, I had some fluid from the left side aspirated a week later and now have been fine. My implants are considerably smaller than my original breasts (from DD to
, but I’m fine with it. I am now moving onto chemo/rads/hormone treatment in the next month due to having a small amount of lymph node involvement following the post surgery pathology. Good news is my PET/CT came back clear. I wish you all well in your recovery! 0 -
Update: I was on this thread a while back worrying about complications from bleeding. The heavy bleeding into my drains finally slowed way down earlier this week (12 days out from surgery) and I got the drain removed today. I was also bleeding from my incision, and yesterday the surgeon opened it up a bit more and drained a bunch of old blood out. I'm feeling considerably more comfortable now and can take a shower! Looking back, I should have tried harder to get my surgeon to communicate with me because I had no idea why there was all this blood, was very stressed about it, and he could have reassured me that it was all going to plan in my case (I had a ton of bleeding after surgery and a hematoma).
How is everyone doing with their exercises to bring back range of motion?
I have been guarding my arm too much due to all the bleeding and now, 2 weeks out, am very stiff. I am starting to do some very gentle wall crawls and lifting my arm up from a laying down position.
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When I got word of a pre-op lung module I freaked. I had been handling things pretty well, but that was just one thing too many. He told me it could be a nipple shadow, but that sounded so silly to me I thought it was BS. I headed straight back to pre-op testing and and got a redue chest X-ray where they marked my nipples. Sure enough, to my great relief he was right and that was the end of that. Many people have lung modules that are nothing, but I figured since I beat the odds by having BC, why not lung cancer. It didn’t help that I’m a smoker who quit 6 years ago
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Jayner just saw that you're having exchange surgery too. Best of luck to you.
To all of those who received good pathology results I'm so happy for you and for those of you who didn't/need additional treatment I'm so sorry and praying for you. Hope everyone is recovering well.
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Radiologist took one look at my swollen breast and said can't do radiation with a breast like that. 23 days from surgery and I am still very swollen and have a gray color from all the bruising. Will try radiation set up again in a week. Oncologist said to massage my breast which I had been doing. Has anyone else had to postpone radiation because of swelling / bruising? Any suggestions as to how to reduce swelling? Honestly, I look like a freak!
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I can relate on the swelling -- I have a hematoma and my mastectomy site is still so swollen 2 weeks out that it looks like I have a breast! Have you tried taking arnica to help bring the swelling down? Ask your surgeon what s/he thinks. I was told get 200 ch pills and take 3 under the tongue 4x a day.
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Juat checking in. Surgery went well yesterday. Won't know how many lymph nodes she took or if they were cancerous until pathology comes back. So far feeling ok. Pain meds are doing their job. Hope to go home sometime today.
I hope you are all doing well and healing. 😊
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ajminn3, I'm glad recovery has gone well and your PET and CAT scans were clear, but man that's a bummer on further treatment. Did I read in one of your other posts that you were suspecting they'd find additional cancer in the mx pathology? Curious what gave you that sense, if I haven't mixed up usernames. Good luck with each step.
Brooklyn, glad to hear you're making progress in healing. It can be hard to figure out the doctor-patient communication! Hope things trend better and better for you.
ange743, we did it! Hope you're home soon and that recovery goes as well as it can.
I'm home after surgery already. It took longer than anticipated, as my surgeon sectioned and x-rayed the breast tissue in the OR and then had to go back for more. But everyone is happy with the outcome and I think I'm doing as well as can be expected. The lymph node sites hurt worse than the breast area right now, but pain is manageable. I've got a medicine ball, did y'all get those? Seems to be doing its job pretty well.
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hi everyone just checking in to say hi. I had my surgery on Monday double mastectomy with tissue expander placement. I’m doing OK pretty tired little stiff lots of stuff in my drains but other than that I’m doing well. I have no idea how many lymph nodes I had removed. My husband wasn’t well during my surgery and by the time the surgeon came out my husband had gone home because he wasn’t feeling well and he’s now been in the hospital since Tuesday. It’s very bizarre because I was sent home same day and he’s been in the hospital all week with no sign of getting out anytime soon. He’s on the mend and was finally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. A dear friend has come here from out of town to be my caregiver this week.
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oh, sugar, sorry you have all this extra worry with your husband. I have been thinking about you. Where would we be without our friends. So glad you have her there to step in.Sending you lots of good vibes. Take good care
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Pathology results are in from my Jan 21 double mastectomy. Theleft side was to be preventative only, as the left side showed no cancer with mammogram, ultrasound or MRI.. however, the left side was in fact cancerous. If I had chosen to keep the breast, I would have been undergoing surgery once again down the road!
Unfortunately , one of the four sentinel nodes biopsied also shows cancer cells. An oncologist is supposed to contact me shortly re treatment. Once again, waiting... I know there will be a cat scan, as the surgeon said so, but am wondering re chemo... I read somewhere that chemo is usual if there is lymph node involvement, but am suffering from a lack of info.
As it is now Jan 31, I guess everyone here has had their surgery. Best of luck to all!
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So sorry to hear that Sugar. Hope you're both doing okay and glad someone is there to help you.
Neamster I'm sorry to hear about your results and more waiting. Wish you the best.
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Lefty Lucy- yep, while my original biopsy came back pure DCIS, my breast surgeon said due to the size of it (almost 8cm!) there was likely going to be an invasive component that would be found. The final pathology came back and the left breast was 8cm of DCIS only to the surprise of my surgeon, but 1 of my 3 sentinel nodes had 3mm of triple positive cancer. I’m a strange case to everyone...even the tumor board. Because of the lymph node involvement and the triple positive component (that HER2+ is aggressive) I get chemo, radiation, and hormone treatment for 5-10 years. I had my port placement today and start round 1 of chemo on 2/12.
Sugar- sorry to hear about your husband. Sometimes I feel when it rains, it pours...I hope you both recover well and be gets home soon
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Hi all,
Surgery scheduled for Feb 13. Partial mastectomy left with reconstruction both breast. Having localizer inserted on Wednesday. I'm very nervous and scared. Cried my eyes out yesterday over this whole thing. Already finished up 12 rounds of taxol, carboplatin, adryamicin and cytoxin. Thank god. Radiation after surgery. Won't know how many lymph nodes if any removed until after surgery. Sentinal injection prior to surgery to outline positive ones that will be removed. Just plain scared of outcome
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Sugar, that seems like so much to deal with all at once! I'm so glad your friend was able to be with you. I hope you and your husband are both on the mend soon.
JaynerK7, how are you doing?
Neamster, sorry to hear your news and that you have more waiting. That is my least favorite part.
ajminn3, oof, that sounds daunting. Sending positive thoughts your way. I'm anxious about my pathology report because I also have very extensive and aggressive DCIS, though my surgeon seems hopeful there won't be anything more at this time... she also prepared me to hear there is more, of course.
Martaj, it's all so scary. I just keep thinking of taking this process one bite at a time. We're here with you!
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Sugar, so sorry about your husband's health issue. When things were tough, my mom used to say 'take it one day at a time -- one hour at a time, one minute at a time if that's what you need.' Things WILL get better. Hopefully your husband will be home from hospital soon if he isn't already. And getting the drains out will be huge.
Neamster, that was a nasty surprise, but I'm glad they found the cancer now instead of later. In terms of whether you will have chemo, a key question will be whether you are hormone or HER2 positive or not. I don't know if this helps but a doctor who is also a breast cancer patient helped me accept chemo by pointing out that chemo is your friend. If you need it, chemo will destroy those cancer cells and give you so much peace of mind for the future.
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Sugar, that’s so much to deal with. I’m sorry, but glad you have a friend who could come in town & help.
I had my drains removed yesterday (7 days after lymph node removal & left mastectomy). One of the drains was painful to remove but the 2nd was fine. Boy does it feel good to have them out! I felt like I slept so much more freely last night. Got confirmation from my breast surgeon at my follow up yesterday that radiation is not in the cards for me which was great news. I had a chest CT to check out that nodule but both my surgeons are on board with the right mastectomy & diep reconstruction next week.
My left breast has been taped until yesterday so it’s more real now in that I can see the stitches & that there is no nipple. I feel like I’m looking at someone else in the mirror, or something I’m wearing as a costume. I have an air filled expander & the skin looks like a lumpy blob sewn on bc I have more skin than filler right now. They did end up doing the expander over the muscle when nodes came back clear during surgery & bc we have another surgery so soon we aren’t going to worry about fills or expansion. It’s odd to have that on one side & my regular, saggy boob on the right but not upsetting bc I know it’s a process & this is a temporary step. My husband worries about me being happy with my final look but right now I feel that’s so low on my priority list. I do look forward to both sides being in the same position though. Lol. I told him yesterday I’m thankful to be doing this in cooler weather so I can wear bulky tops during the process. Dealing with wardrobe, drains & no deodorant during a 100+ TX summer would be crummy.
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Hi all, Had my exchange surgery on my right from tissue expander to implant and mastopexy on left healthy breast yesterday, Other than feeling like my left nipple had been plunged in fire or dry ice when I came to, I’m recovering well. Surgery was at 11 and was home by 3:30. Best wishes and warrior high fives to all
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