Left Masectomy done 12/18/12

[linn65]

Left breast removed, 4 or 5 lymph nodes removed, 2 drain tubes and have not slept all night.....I think I am always confused! I guess Dr. Removed nodes that looked diseased, but he told my family I had beautiful tissue. That's nice wonder what that means? I kind of peaked at my scar it looks like 12 Inches long.

[conomyself]

Congratulations, Linn, for getting through the mastectomy. Such encouraging news that the tissue looked healthy, and he only had to remove a few nodes!

Wishing you a happy recovery!

[Gaver]

way to go Linn !!!!

i dont know what treatment your oncologist has lined up for you but look at it this way !! surgery-- check -- done !!!

[Paula O]

I'm glad things went well, Linn. That's great! I'm sure your doctor told you to try to keep using that arm--combing your hair, brushing your teeth, reaching for things, etc. I met a lady who babied that arm, hardly used it and ended up with very limited range of motion a year later. It gets easier in time and you want to keep good range of motion by using it.

Hope you recover very quickly. What's the next step in your treatment plan for you?

Paula

[BonnieR]

Lymph nodes not necessarily removed because they looked diseased. Even if they are just taking the Sentinal Node, others get removed along with it. Keep the faith!

['lizbeth]

Linn65,

Glad you are through the mastectomy. Look at that, your doctor thinks you are beautiful inside and out!

I always ask for copies of the pathology report. You are still becoming educated on cancer.

Your surgeon performed a Sentinal node biopsy (SNB) which is standard of care during a mastectomy. This is to check for the spread of cancer into the axilla (armpit). If the SNB is negative for cancer - that is a better prognosis.

If the SNB is positive for cancer the next step is to perform another surgery, an axillary node dissection. I had to have this additional surgery and I was not a happy camper. I told my surgeon that I was still using those lymph nodes, lmbo, the poor guy - I was not an easy patient.

The pathologist found 2 more positive nodes in my second surgery for 3+/15 nodes. This information was used to determine the treatment for my stage of cancer: Stage IIb.

All the treatments are written up in NCCN guidelines and are the "Standard of Care" that doctors follow.

At the beginning of treatment it is easy to stress over anything and everything. That is natural. It can a very traumatic time.

And the standard of care is changing more and more. Don't worry too much if it seems you have a "bad" prognosis. It is difficult to put everything into perspective in the beginning. The truth is for most breast cancer patients - you have a greater chance of living a long healthy happy life than not. And if the "worst" would happen there are some great treatments with more on the verge of FDA approval and available in clinical trials.

Ugh drains, lol, not my favorite part.

[snolan]

You are offically cancer free! Sleeping is always hard in the early stages. For comfort I used a pillow wedge kept the pressure off my chest for a while. Keep working on your range of motion. If you feel you are having trouble aske for a referal to a physical therapist that deals with womens issues ie lymphadema specialist. Even though you don't have lynphadema they deal with all issues dealing with mastectomies. The first few days are the hardest but it will get better. Good luck.
Suzanne

[Becky]

Well, as others have said, the surgery is behind you now. Lymph nodes are always removed so don't let that concern you. They have to check. Use the arm. There are exercises you can do.

1. Put your hospital tray in front of you way up close. Put your hands flat on the tabletop. Slowly move your hands away from you as far as you can sliding them forward. Bring the hands back to the starting place and do it again. Do this 5 times. Repeat this exercise a couple of times a day. Another exercise is

2. Face a wall and put your hands flat on the wall. Slowly move your hands up the wall until they are over your head. Repeat 5 times. Do this a couple of times a day.

In 2 days, repeat 7 -10 times still doing it a couple of times a day. This helps you not form too much scar tissue. Scar tissue doesn't stretch as much as regular tissue.

Don't overdo either - at least not today. Maybe do these 3 times each today. Use the arm gently as others have suggested - brush your hair etc. But do use them. It will hurt today and tomorrow. Let pain be your guide but you have to use that arm. The American Cancer Society also has exercises (these 2 as well as others) for this purpose.

I am sure you are going through alot of emotions but we are here for you. If you cannot sleep, get a prescription for something that will help you - just a couple of pills. Sleep is important for healing. Make sure you get a copy of your pathology report (and any tests you get in the future) and keep a file so you have a record.

Remember - although you are in pain, you have no tumor left in your body. Haha - that tumor is gone! If chemo is in your future, it is just to make sure any sneaky cells did not escape. The culprit (tumor) has been laid to rest.

Big hug to you

[linn65]

I already knew I had cancer in my lymph nodes they did a biopsy. I had per adjunctive TCH first and I lost my hair at day 16. Finished chemo, then left masectomy.

Next is goofing to get pathology report which was supposed to be today along with taking drains out. But snow has delayed that and doctors office is closed. Hopefully, they will reopen Thursday.

Next, Herceptin and radiation.....In 6 months remove right breast and start reconstruction on both then.

[linn65]

Okay , I tried to add treatment regimen thus far...