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December 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Post Masectomy Pain After Emptying Drains
After single masectomy (right) surgery a single drain was put in a has to be emptied throughout the day. After emptying, there is pain radiating side to side, which seems to be from the drain vacuum pressure when it's empty. Any recommendations for pain management? we are Taking pain medication as prescribed Emptying drain…
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November 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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September 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Recurrence after 12 years (even with BMX)
I was diagnosed and treated for ILC Stage 2b 12 years ago. Had BMX and took Tamox and AI for about 6 years. I was told 1-2% chance of recurrence in chest wall, etc. Low and behold, a lump under my arm on original BC side. Biopsy confirmed not a lymph node but ILC tumor. Surgeon planning to remove tumor and potentially do…
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ADH LCIS Lumpectomy #2 Now What?
When I was first diagnosed with ADH 2 years ago my surgeon mentioned prophylactic mastectomies and I thought he was very extreme for bringing it up. Now I just finished my second surgical excision for ADH (pathology showed LCIS). I'm starting to wonder what happens next- I can't be having surgery every 2 years! I think my…
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October 2024 Surgery Support thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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May 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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NorCal Kaiser Dr Rec??
Hi. I was diagnosed last week with DCIS and I am feeling pretty overwhelmed. I need a mastectomy and I am considering an asthetic flat closure. Does anyone have any experience with a good Kaiser surgeon & plastic surgeon? I’m in the SF Bay Area so I can travel to any nearby Kaiser. I just don’t know which Kaiser has the…
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The Mastectomy I Always Wanted
The Mastectomy I Always Wanted Sep 13, 2024 Erica Neubert Campbell discusses her memoir about her breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy, and reconstruction. While preparing for breast cancer surgery and reconstruction, Erica Neubert Campbell was understandably scared and anxious. She also had no idea what her…
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June and July 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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August 2024 Surgery Support thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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How Breast Cancer Has Changed How I See Myself
I feel like my identity has changed since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. I’ve become profoundly changed, not only my physicality although that’s significant, but my psyche as well. My thoughts are consumed with breast cancer, wanting to know more and how that will effect my future.…
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Prophylactic Mastectomy
Looking for anyone with shared experience. From my 1st mammogram 15 years ago at 40, I have had issues. Multiple biopsies and lumpectomies, tons of scar tissue as a result. I have extremely dense breast tissue, complex cysts, breast disease, multiple bilateral papillomas and just recently diagnosed with LCIS. I do not have…
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Double Mastectomy 10 Years Later
Hello Ladies! When I was diagnosed in 2014, my son was a toddler and I could not afford the recovery time. I so wanted to get both breast done. I actually wanted to go smaller. I have always had big dense breasts. Now I've put on a ton of weight from menopause and my breast are out of control as well as each shaped…
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Tips for Bilateral Mastectomy with Immediate Tissue Expander AND Implant Exchange
My Breast Cancer Journey from the perspective of a physician/patient/wife/mom of 3 boys and 1 pup: Dec 2022- First screening mammogram (Age 45, no risk factors) found over a 5 cm area of microcalcifications of left breast near nipple, which then led to 4 additional mammograms and ultrasound biopsy. Biopsy showed DCIS, high…
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Mom with stage 2 ILC
hello everyone! this is about my mom, she just went through a single mastectomy for stage2A ILC(multifocal). There were two tumors, one was 23 mm and the second one was 10 mm.No lymph nodes involved, no LVI but PNI was found. So far, no chimeotherapy or radiotherapy was discussed, only daily letrozole. Is this an ok course…
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Breast Reconstruction
Hello, I just had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. It’s been 48 hours since my surgery and I feel that both of my breasts are becoming warm to the touch closer to the armpit area. Is it normal? I don’t have fever and generally feel well recovering from the surgery. There is a lot of swelling and…
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Upcoming DIEP Flap
I was initially diagnosed with a small DCIS. The plan was a lumpectomy with radiation therapy. Genetic testing, BRCA2+ gene mutation, strong family history, and the size of the DCIS measuring 65mm - the plan changed! A BMX with immediate DIEP Flap was the plan. Still a 'Stage 0'. The Plastic Surgeon changed the plan to a…
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Radiation Before Mastectomy: Switching Treatment Order Allows for Immediate Reconstruction
Radiation Before Mastectomy: Switching Treatment Order Allows for Immediate Reconstruction Apr 26, 2024 Dr. Benjamin Smith discusses his research on giving radiation before mastectomy, which allows for immediate reconstruction during mastectomy surgery. If early-stage breast cancer has a high risk of recurrence – coming…
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March/April 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Single Mastectomy vs double Mastectomy
I am 37 years old and have been diagnosed with DCIS high grade in my right breast. I decided to do Mastectomy but not sure what to do with left breast as I want to keep it. I have a family history of breast cancer. any suggestions?
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Drains out today - started to cry
Double Mastectomy was on March 13th. My drains were removed today, and saline was injected into the expanders. All is going well with recovery from surgery. When my husband and I left the office and walked to the elevator, I started crying. Tears of joy, tears of exhaustion. When I was first diagnosed and met with my…
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BMX with DIEP Flap reconstruction at later date question
Unfortunately I’ve had a decent wait for surgery because I decided to do the BMX with DIEP flap reconstruction. So we have come to the conclusion I’m going to have to do it separately because they just can’t do it all at once in a reasonable time period. has anyone been flat and still was successful with the DIEP flap…
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Changes in body shape after double mastectomy and taking aromatase inhibitor
I'm pretty old (age 74), and had my double mastectomy in August 2022 and did not have any reconstruction. I have followed-up with anastrazole daily medication. And even though my body has changed a lot over the years, I have noticed recently that my stomach/abdomen seems much larger. My weight is the same now as before the…
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I am lost and scared that my next option is chemo. Emotional Yo-Yo and I have chemo PTSD
Hi there i just need to vent my fears. Not even 2 years with MBC and i am about to quit all treatments. Emotional Yo-Yo takes tall. Back in 2016 chemos were rough but i was going for the win. But this time around is different. There is no end of treatment and there is no win per se. I am lost and scared that my next option…
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Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) with your mastecomy reconstruction
Anyone use Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) with your mastecomy reconstruction. Can you tell me about it - good/bad? Have you decided against it? I ask because I met with my reconstructive surgeon today, and he suggested it for my skin sparring double mastectomy. Somehow, I hadn't heard of this in all my reading and prep.
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Did you spend the night in hospital after bilateral mastectomy
Did you spend the night in the hospital after your bilateral mastectomy? My surgeon said he would probably send me home, but it seems like an extensive surgery, so I'm wondering what others did. I am having reconstruction at a later time, not the same time as mastectomy. I am having a skin-sparring mastectomy with…
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What happens if you use your arm too much post mastectomy
I just had mastectomy with TE/implant based reconstruction on my dominant side and I'm finding it hard not to use the arm for stuff like mousing on the computer. I am not doing any heavy lifting but I get bored and am on my computer a lot. I'm curious what happens if I use the arm too much. Thanks! And can't wait to get…
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Is symmetry possible with SMX + perky remaining breast?
Hi! I have searched the forum, but couldn't find any posts that were exactly my question. I have been dx with DCIS. As a fun bonus, I probably have body dysmorphia and I am really worried that if I end up at all 'disfigured' in my appearance, I will become significantly depressed. So, my main concern with this diagnosis is…