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04-18-2007, 02:42 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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36 days & still draining...
I had my so called simple mastectomy on March 15th and I *still* have my drain in. Its will be 37 days tomorrow. I am fed up with this. It has to be 30 cc's or lower...and I am still between 54 & 60 cc's per day. I called my surgeons office yesterday & he said he wants to leave it in. (I KNEW that.) I just wanted to know how much longer this MIGHT go on! It doesn't seem normal to me after everyone I've talked to about it.
Has anyone else went *this long*? Remember...this was just a *simple* mastectomy *without* a SNB. If I had a SNB I might not question this as much...but this is getting old real fast!
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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04-18-2007, 03:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 105
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Chelee,
Yes! Those drains are a pain and one day with them is too long, much less 37!! I just wanted to share with you why you may want to let the fluid dissipate and remain as patient as possible. Mine were taken out on day 14 and it was too soon, but I had an infection and I was in agony so he pulled them. Almost immediately, I developed a hug pocket of fluid in my right breast (a seroma) that has still not dissipated after 7 months. I also had a simple mastectomy on this side without lymph node dissection. I feel if I'd been able to keep the drain longer, it wouldn't have formed. The seroma has affected me wearing a prosthetic and at times, is sore. It is unsightly and will probably take another 6 months to disappear completely.
As long as your drainage is red/pink and not yellow/green/white, I'd not rush it. If it is still dark red blood and is not becoming pinker or lighter each day, I'd be concerned about a small bleed in a vessel, seeing as how you are still having so much drainage.
Hang in there and I hope this post helps in some small way...Love and luck to you
Steph C.
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04-18-2007, 05:47 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 492
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Chelee,
Are you being rambunctious? LOL- I got my drains pulled after MRM and node dissection and I ended up with a huge hematoma. Doc said I must not have been behaving. He was right.
Darned if you do and darned if you don't. But I would think that at 6 weeks- normal healing is just not happening! At some point, the drain itself becomes a risk for infection. They might need to go back in there and clean everything up- there maybe a clot or large vessel leaking. Boy, you seem to have quite a crackpot of docs working on you!
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
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04-18-2007, 11:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Steph C., I definitely don't want it taken out too soon, that much I know. You mentioned having a seroma...I have one too on the opposite side. So I know what that's like and I am trying to avoid having a matched set. The seroma I have on the opposite side drives me crazy. It feels awful and there is alot of pressure built up under there as I am sure you can relate.
You mentioned the color of my drainage. It orignally started off a darker red and then turned light red. But this last week or so its a a clear yellow fluid. (Mine looks pretty normal to me.) I hope!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margerie, I had to laugh when you asked if I have been too rambunctious. lol Actually, I have been behaving myself as hard as its been. I have done very little around the house or anything. Since I had the mastectomy on March 15th, then my ooph on April 5th...I have just been trying to go easy on myself and heal. Plus its been a GOOD excuse not to do much. lol So I know its not from over doing it.  (I have been taking it far to easy for a change.)
I still am not sure what I have on my orignal side where I had the MRM last year? My surgeon said it was a seroma...but when it was drained it was super thick gooey blood...not clear yellow seroma fluid? It looked more like fluid from a hematoma to me. It filled right back up after having it drained and he doesn't want to drain it again. So here I sit just MISRABLE as can be! Plus I was mad at him...he was SUPPOSE to put a drain BACK in the other side while I was having my recent prophylactic mastectomy. He said there would be less risk of infection and better to put a drain in while I had this mastectomy done. I wake up and look down my gown and NO DRAIN on the orignally side!! ARGH. I was ticked off. Your last comment about my doctors seem to be right on target!!! I am beyond fed up with this entire nightmare. Not one thing has went right for me since this started.
Thanks to both of you for the replies...obviously as always...this is not the norm just like I thought!
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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04-19-2007, 11:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Chelee - So, are you going for the world's record or what????? It sure does seem that nothing is "simple!" And definitely not the norm. I got nowhere near your record, but did feel like it took forever. Someone told me, wisely, nobody has them in forever!
So here's hoping you "dry up" soon!
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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04-19-2007, 11:59 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Chrisy, I am starting to think its just going to be attached to me the rest of my life. I've already at 30 cc's today and it was only 11:10 am. Ugh. So now I am starting to think I should just GO with this and use it as my new fashion accessory in some way? Maybe I could dress the JP drain up some way with those little dazzlers or something flashy? LOL I can start a new trend.
I do think I have the offical record beat already. Maybe I should call Genis book of world records and check this out. Ha! In stead of people calling me Chelee...I am thinking of changing my name to "Juicy Lucy". lol
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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04-19-2007, 12:41 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Chelee
It does sound like a hematoma...but I would at least request to be put on antibiotics....with the drain in that long, you run a risk of infection....once I started on antibiotics, the hematoma slowly went away and the drains FINALLY came out....hope this helps....gee and I thought I held the world record!
YOU BEAT ME!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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04-20-2007, 03:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Sheila, Since my recent mastectomy my surgeon wrote me a script for keflex (antibiotic) to take until drain is remove. I take 250mg every 6 hours. I am on my 3rd bottle already. I sure wish the antibiotics or something would get rid of that seroma/hematoma on the other side. It has built up so much pressure in there. My surgeon felt in time my body would absorb the fluid..but in a years time it hasn't yet? I hope there is some way of getting it to heal up?
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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04-20-2007, 04:23 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 16
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Chelee, I had to laugh out loud when I saw your post! I had a double mast on Oct 16th and one of the drains was in for 3 weeks; I wanted to croak, but I shouldn't have talked...you're going on 37 days!?! OUCH! I just had my exchange surgery this past Monday, April 16th and I'm already whining that the 2 I have need to stay in until next week. I so feel for you! What clothes are you wearing?? I've got my husbands shirts on. I don't want to touch the tubes or have anything else touch them either! I'm such a wimp, but I know I don't want them out too soon. I think my DH gets a kick out of doing the excel spreadsheet on the drains output. He even graphs it, if you can believe it.
I can't give my 2 cents on a hematoma, just on Keflex; I'm on that too....with a wee bit of Percocet! love it.
Hang in there!!!
Julie |
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