June 2021 Surgeries
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Had my post op appt today - everything seems to be healing well, although I had a huge seroma which I didn't even realize. The surgeon was able to drain it during the visit - there was A LOT of fluid. I feel so much lighter now! Also finally got the pathology report - one close margin, but the surgeon did an ultrasound on the spot and didn't see anything else she could remove, which means I should be able to go straight to radiation rather than for lumpectomy 2.0.
What was most interesting, however, is that she removed 34 mm and it was all DCIS - the IDC part was entirely removed during the biopsy!
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Ms Monster....my period started in the hospital the evening of mastectomy. So I'm in the bathroom with my drain tube hanging out, trying to put pads on. It really sucked. My period decided to be a week late just for that moment apparently.
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that’s some grade A BS (and I don’t mean breast surgeon) right there. My cramps are worse than my surgery pain atm.
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MsMonster,
Argh, what timing, huh? Are you going to take hormonal therapy or ovarian suppression? I accepted both prior to surgery but I'm not doing it again. I found much wrong with my immune system causing poor cellular health and my integrative MD has been guiding me back to health for six months.
My left armpit is killing me the last few days. The skin is painfully sensitive to the touch while somehow managing to also be numb. I've read this is expected with lymph node removal (I had 11 nodes removed). The dreaded sports bra is still too tight, and my regular bras are too loose. Sleep has become so elusive, right when it's most needed!
Goldcity: How great that you're already getting set up with the lymphedema PT/specialist. I need to call them tomorrow. I haven't done that yet but my doctor sent me for a compression sleeve because I need to fly soon and I have to go back because I can't figure out how to get the darn thing back on. (My arm is too thin and none of the sleeves for sale fit me, so they literally cut one out of cloth and cut a hole for my thumb). Even I am laughing now.
Blessings both, and Miti if you are awake and reading this, I am thinking of you tonight!
Rest well,
Esther
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Esther—-
neither are on the table yet but I’m not hot to take them.
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I'm on letrozole and if it was just a matter of recurrence I'd be thinking twice about it. Definitely not an eas choice to make.
Saw the lymphedema specialist this morning. She took baseline measurements and gave me tons of information. I'll see her again after my surgery and my drains are out to start preparing me for radiation. If you get an opportunity to see a specialist I highly recommend it.
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Thanks Goldcity, I will definitely do that. I have a referral but the doctor hasn't given me the number for the specialist yet. I'm looking forward to learning my baseline arm size and am already reminding doctors' assistants to take my blood pressure on the other arm, please.
MsMonster, I won't be continuing either. I'm having estrogen dominance with low progesterone while on Zoladex and my body is so unhappy. It's s been spotting for a month and I'm seeing a gynecologist/oncologist who is supposed to be very good. Meanwhile my doctor is bringing up my progesterone level to clean me out and balance out those levels. I'm 95% decided that I'm going to stop Zoladex next month. I have prayed for wisdom to choose my next steps every day since the diagnosis. I guess there is always a fork in the road and this is a big one for me. I'm going to work on building good cellular health from now on instead of starving my body of hormones that didn't cause my bc in the first place and creating a whole new set of unwanted issues for me.
Evie, that's great news about your pathology report! Sounds like you are recovering well!
Speaking of, I'm supposed to be going to sleep earlier (and not eating past 6). Heading off to bed.
And gb2115, thinking of you today! Did you say the drains are coming out Monday or Tuesday? I'm sure that day can't get here soon enough. It will be here before you know it.Sleep well,
Esther
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I’m new to the group. Had a single mastectomy 6/17 skin and nipple sparing surgery with expander. The pain isn’t too bad but having massive headaches and nausea.
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Hey Esther! I get my drain out tomorrow mid-day. Thank goodness! I can't wait to wear a normal shirt (though lopsided) and take a shower without dealing with all of that.
I also get pathology results but I already know the nodes were negative this time. I remember her coming to see me in recovery to tell me.
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I have been terrible about keeping up with everyone here! I hope everyone is progressing with recovery or getting yourselves ready for surgery.
I have my double masectomy tomorrow, no reconstruction. I can't wait to get this next step over with so I can move on with my next set of treatments.
I wish you all the best! I will try to keep up with everyone over the next few weeks. It sounds like some of you have had additional bumps in your journeys and I hope everything starts to smooth out for you.
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Welcome, Maryrnb, I'm so glad you have made it through but sorry that you're going through the headaches and nausea. How long was your surgery? I wonder if that is still the effects of the general anesthesia wearing off. I had nausea the whole first day, and then dizziness for several more, which thankfully passed. Are you drinking a lot of water? Hard to do so with nausea, I know, but perhaps just as many sips as you can tolerate. Are you able to take something for the headaches?
Pudelpointer, I"ll be praying all day tomorrow for your surgery and that it goes smoothly and successfully. It was such a comfort to go through surgery with the support from new sisters here. Once you're feeling up to it, please let us know how you're doing post-surgery. Sleep well tonight, you're almost there!
Gb2115, That's so great! You'll have such a great first shower without dealing with the drains. We'll have a Virtual Party for you in celebration. Do you want buttercream or whipped cream icing on your cake? Oh, wait, I forgot, we're not supposed to have sugar. Well, since it's a virtual cake, I would choose buttercream. Congratulations also on the negative nodes! How sweet that your surgeon came in to tell you.. and very impressive that you remember what she said
I didn't remember anything at that point in my surgery. I had a good pathology report. Praying now about radiation. Not sure that I'm going to do it, but I have several appointments lined up with good doctors so I'll have the information I need in order to make that decision.
Less pain each day but I still have a sore and swollen half-egg under my arm (they took 11 nodes) which hurts constantly because my arm constantly brushes it. The stitches in both breasts are coming out in a few days (I am dreading that.. don't think they'll let me slather EMLA cream on the stitches), but one great spot of news... the (fourth) sports bra arrived today and merciful heavens, it's the first one that's been comfortable and doesn't t bruise my ribs leaving me breathless. Gamechanger. I couldn't sleep for the past week because of the bruising pressure at night.
Goldcity, did the lymphedema specialist massage anything or just plan for doing that later? How often will you go back? I am going to try to get in this week to get my arm measured and point out the half egg, as if they could miss seeing it! If I have it much longer, I'm going to paint it in Easter colors.Blessings,
Esther
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Esther, no massage as I haven't had surgery yet. She just measured my arms and my range of motion and my strength for a baseline. My surgery is in about 7 hours. She gave me post op exercises to do, most of which I've already been doing. I do Richard Simmons 5 or 6 times a week which entails quite a bit of arm exercise. I will go back after my drains are out and see her weekly until range of motion is back enough to do radiation which will include massage and exercise as needed. She'll teach me how to take my own measurements and guide me through whatever treatment I need. After radiation I'll see her again until I'm back to where I was when I started, or at least as close as possible. Hopefully With exercise and a little luck I won't get lymphedema, but I am high risk. I’m glad you finally found a bra you can sleep in.
Pudelpointer, good luck today. Let us know as soon as you're up to it how you're doing. See you on the other side
Maryrnb, hopefully your surgeon will tackle the headaches and nausea at your follow up. I took Zofran during chemo which worked wonderfully. Esther is right about keeping up with your water.
Gb2115, grats on the drains. I'm dreading getting them. Any advice on dealing with them? I'm trying to imagine what it will feel like to have just one boob. It's been with me a long time.
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Esther...nah, I'll take the buttercream!!! Lots of frosting flowers too, I love those. It IS sweet that she came to see me. She knew I was really worried about needing axillary dissection, as well as the possibility that radioactive dye might have shown up on the other side, so I think that was her way of trying to cheer me up. It's a hazy memory but I remember her in there telling me.
Goldcity....the drain is weird but you sort of figure it out. Took me a bit to figure out how I could be most comfortable. The tubing is annoying under your shirt. Definitely need a lanyard to shower. Not everyone is allowed to shower but I was.
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Oh, and it's weird with only one breast. I've been getting phantom pains, feels like pain in my nipple that clearly isn't there. Lots of pec muscle cramping, will be interesting to see if the removal of the drain tube helps that.
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I'll be having a right side mastectomy without reconstruction in 2 days. Staying in overnight and no visitors due to Covid rules.
This is a frightening and lonely time.
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Too-ticky sending hugs your way. I had a right side mastectomy on the 17th with reconstruction to be done at a later date. I had two lumpectomy's and an implant on that side previously. Pain has not been bad and I am starting to not feel so sleepy. I was fortunate and went home after 3 hours as they don't keep patients overnight anymore here. Hope your surgery and recovery go well.
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Noooo. No! No!
Two more nodes were sent out and they were positive. So they're going to check to see if they will repeat radiation, otherwise I need a node dissection.
And I was warned chemo might be on the table. My oncotype was low but this is two cancers that were node positive, clearly the tamoxifen didn't work, and I'm only 43. It's up to the oncologist.
I'm waiting for calls to schedule my oncology and rad onc appointments.
Devastated. This stuff is trying to kill me, for real. How does a 1.3 cm tumor, with low growth rate evade imaging for years, and make it all the way to my lymph nodes. I mean, did they even do radiation the first time?!
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Hi
also new here...
45 years mum of 2 kids . Diagnosed Dec 2020 papillairy tumor (mi) with large lcis of 6 cm. Er+/PR+/HER - grade 2 - stage 1 -Ki67 is 5 %
I ve been having ultrasound and mammo for several years as my mum , 2 sisters and several nieces also have bc. Apparently the Lcis was only visible on Mri. My sister was diagnosed 3 months before me with IDC. I also have dense breast tissue. Genetic testing came back negative.
Had Lumpectomy with sentinel removed (itc) in Dec and rads done. Now Tamoxifen.
At my latest appointment in April my surgeon told me margins were close for the lcis. The team of surgeons , oncologists and radiotherapists advise me now me to get a breast reconstruction with diep flap. I m still in chock and can t function properly since ...
I had a second opinion at another hospital and they confirmed the decision. They even said they would not have done a lumpectomy .
So far my story. Sorry for my poor English as I m from Europe.
Hope everything is going well here. Good luck for everyone in surgery and a good recovery .
Sleep well!
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I posted earlier, but it seems it went into nether-land. If it shows up, apologies for posting twice. My surgery went well yesterday. My surgeon said she thinks she got everything. I don't expect any surprises from the pathology, main tumor is not really the issue. Saw on MyChart that she's already requested another tumor board. I also went home after 3 hours. I have a vacuum dressing and 2 drains. Not as bad as I expected. My husband is the perfect level in his wheelchair for emptying them. No wraps or bindings. I'm currently braless which is very different with one boob.
gb2115, so sorry to hear about the pathology. Some tough choices for sure. So far, I've gone along with everything the tumor board has recommended. Hang in there! We're all rooting for you.
Too-Ticky, I know lonely you must feel. Back in August I had a 3 day hospital stay with no visitors. They kept the door closed. It was very depressing, but I got through it. It turns out I'm much stronger than I thought I was. I can take a lot more than I thought I could. I'll bet you are too. Hopefully you'll just be really sleepy and the time will pass quickly.
Eowin, I think you're saying that they feel they should have done a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy. I've seen lots of threads about reconstruction and I would suggest you do some research here on this site.
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Goldcity...I'm being presented (again) to the tumor board on Friday. In the meantime getting scheduled with onc and rad onc. I really hope they will do radiation on the nodes a second time. I'm guessing it happens sometimes otherwise the surgeon wouldn't think it's worth it to ask. I don't know. I tried to look it up and all I could find was that they do radiation a second time in Germany.
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I didn’t think they could radiate the same place twice. It might depend on the dosage they used the first time. Germany is hot on this cancer stuff. I read an article a few months back about working on making cancer meds safer with fewer side effects. Have they talked about going back to remove more nodes
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My surgery was 4 hours. Drinking water like it’s going out of style. Doctor phoned in a medication for the nausea so doing better there. Headache are from nitro gel I need to but on my breast and nipple to promote blood flow. See plastic surgeon for follow up tomorrow morning. Recovery is rough but all and all I feel very lucky.
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She did talk about removing more nodes but wanted it run by radiation oncology first. Sigh.
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Thanks l-brain. Hope you're mending well from your latest procedure.
I had my radioactive injection today. Thanks to a genius person on this forum suggesting using numbing cream on the site an hour before the injection, it was totally painless. I love how everyone here shares brilliant little nuggets of info that can make a big difference to others going through the same thing. Big day tomorrow, though.
Look after yourself.
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Thanks for your comments, Goldcity. Pleased your surgery went well.
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maryrmb — me too on the water. What makes these surgeries so thirst making?
I got a pedicure today. The longest I've been out of the house since surgery. I will finally get my path on Friday. Would probably not have changed surgery but might change what comes next. Praying for no surprises or upgrade. Just found out an old friend has IDC and had a lumpectomy a month ago. I hate seeing new members join the club.
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Agree it’s weird only having one breast. I have an expander in place but it’s not inflated at all yet. My reconstruction won’t be for at least 3 months. Saw plastic surgeon this morning skin looks better but nipple may not survive still 50/50 on that. Drain still in for at least another week. Feeling a bit better but getting bored. And I get tired doing just little things around the house. How long until I’m more mobile ?
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Hi everyone,
I've been bad about checking in lately, but wanted to give an update...
I'm one week post lumpectomy. Doing really well. Incision looks great. General area is a little sore due to swelling, but that's all completely normal. I swear the bumps/ulceration on my tongue from the mask have bothered me way more than the incision. They seem to be finally getting better though.
I had my follow up yesterday afternoon (virtually). Doctor was very pleased. Got my pathology. The tumor removed was 1.4 cm and was diagnosed as a grade 3. In the biopsy it was a grade 2, but my KI 67 score was high even back then. So, the grade 3 does make sense. However, clean margins and no malignancy found in the three lymph nodes taken. Genetic testing showed it's not likely to recur anywhere else in my body. So, overall everything is really positive. Next step is to meet with the medical and radiological oncologists. My surgeon thinks it's likely they'll let me do the 5 day radiation that is done through a catheter, rather than 6 weeks of external radiation. She said the oncologist may want me to do chemo because of the grade 3, but it will be up to him. Back to the wait and see.
@gb2115 - Sorry to hear about the positive lymph nodes. I'll be thinking about you as you figure out the plan. Hoping they can find a way to minimize the impact and get you on the road to recovery.
@eviec1 - Happy to hear the good pathology results. Hope you get to move to radiation quickly. Also, I feel like we're mirror twins. You're right lumpectomy, first mammogram. I'm left lumpectomy, first mammogram. Weirdest twins ever.
Sending everyone good vibes. Keep talking. This is a great group to be on. Virtual hugs to everyone!
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Sounds like we’re all moving along, slowly but surely. I’m still pretty sore, but keeping up with the exercises from both my surgeon and PT. No pain, no gain right. The drains aren’t nearly as bothersome as I thought they’d be. It looks as though my surgeon did a beautiful job. Smooth and flat no bumps. I have to say that I’m a little more bothered by the loss of my breast than I thought I would be. A little depressing actually. And I hear you on the boredom. Follow up on Friday so hopefully I’ll get the go ahead to do a little bit more than just resting and arm exercises.
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