Posted on:
Apr 14, 2020 07:52AM
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Apr 2020
Posts:
40
Latest activity:
Mar 3, 2021
Earth_Sky
wrote:
I am a bit nervous today for tomorrow I have my first post surgery appointment. I will hopefully get my drains removed and will hear the test results from the surgery.
I am nervous to hear the test results and as well as to what I will look like for the first time since my total double mastectomy.
I opt to be flat chested and I am okay with that, just scared of what the scars will look like.
Any words of advise would be great. I plan to take a deep breath of my Lavender & cry if I need to. Yes I will cry for I already feel it coming on.
Thank you all for all the support and well wishes. May you all be having a good day.
Dx
3/12/2020, DCIS, Right, Stage 0, Grade 3
Surgery
4/9/2020 Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel, Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Left, Right
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NancyD
NY
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Feb 2008
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Mar 5, 2021
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Apr 14, 2020 08:32AM
NancyD
wrote:
If you had a great surgeon, your scars will be straight and relatively even. Expect some swelling and redness along the incision. The swelling may even make it look like you still have slight breast mounds, but that will go down and you will eventually be flat. The redness of the scars will fade with time to pale silver streaks—that takes a few years, but if you've ever had any other surgeries or deep cuts, you know that.
I opted for reconstruction 20 months after my mastectomies. My scars and chest were very uneven as the surgeon had left extra tissue for the recon. Unfortunately, it was unusable, and it all had to be cut away during the DIEP flap procedure. If I did not have the recon, I would have opted for additional surgery to flatten it out.
Life is good. It's not perfect. but it's good.
Dx
2/22/2008, IDC, Left, Stage IIIA, Grade 2, 4/10 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Chemotherapy
3/22/2008 Adriamycin (doxorubicin), Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel)
Surgery
7/11/2008 Mastectomy: Left; Prophylactic mastectomy: Right
Hormonal Therapy
9/1/2008 Arimidex (anastrozole)
Radiation Therapy
9/5/2008 Breast, Lymph nodes
Surgery
1/28/2010 Reconstruction (left): DIEP flap; Reconstruction (right): DIEP flap
Earth_Sky
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Apr 2020
Posts:
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Latest activity:
Mar 3, 2021
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Apr 14, 2020 09:03AM
Earth_Sky
wrote:
Thank you NancyD for the advise. I am told I have the best surgeon in the area & she said she would do her very best for me. She is so kind and understanding. I am just ready for the next healing stage for sure. I feel pretty good at the moment. Just a little tired.
I hope your feeling much better and I thank you for your advice This board has just eased my mind with all the information that flows. Thank you and everyone for walking the path with me.
Dx
3/12/2020, DCIS, Right, Stage 0, Grade 3
Surgery
4/9/2020 Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel, Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Left, Right