Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Cool Breeze,
Thinking of you and happy to know you are surrounded by family.

Yea!!! Surgery complete...those mets are gone. Breath deep and take care of yourself.

Lori R

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Thinking and praying for you.

Amelia

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Alive....good start!

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

It gets better:

"Am sitting in a chair! Check out the view."

http://lockerz.com/s/144653929

Here's a link to her Twitter page:

http://twitter.com/#!/ButDocIHatePink

No login required to read her updates.

Now all I want to hear is that she's dancing with NED.

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Cool breeze
I'm hoping the pain is really, really short term and the gain is really, really long term. Thinking of you,
Trish

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

sweet. rooting for you and eager to hear it get EVEN BETTER!

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Well ladies, I came home on Saturday. I'm doing very well. Yes, there is surgical pain but surprisingly not as bad as I feared. I don't need a recliner or hospital bed or anything like that - I can get in and out of my own bed just fine, sleeping with a wedge pillow. I had no infection, my incision is healing beautifully (staples out) and I'm pretty comfortable. I can't eat much - I get too full, but I try to eat little nutricious bites throughout the day. No BM yet, which worries me a bit as I cannot strain! I take miralax each night and drink water all day - we'll see.

They removed my left lobe. They couldn't remove the right - the cancerous area was too deep, but "very very small." He said he used microwave ablation on it and got it with a 2 cm margin so he doesn't anticipate a problem.

The one hitch was later when my surgeon came in and told me about the path report. He said that they had found one small spot of cancer they hadn't seen on ultrasound or visually, but it was in the lobe that they'd taken out so they "got it all". I immediately told him that worries me - does it mean there could be some "invisible" cancer in the lobe that is left?

He didn't seem to think that was the case and was extremely upbeat. However, you talk to these guys at 6:00 a.m. after you have been drugged all night and awakened every hour so when I go to clinic I'll clarify with him and, of course, get a copy of the path report.

At this point, I'm proud to tell you:

I AM CANCER FREE!!!!!!

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Brilliant news. I am so pleased it is over for you and that you are well on the way to recovery. Glad those mets are well and truly gone and zapped!
Hugs from England
Ellie

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Awesome news! Keep the faith ;)

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

woo hoo!

Great to hear you are doing well, and especially CANCER FREE!

Thanks for reminding us that we can push the envelope:)

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Fantastic news. Glad to hear surgery was so successful and while not an easy recovery at least easier than expected.
Trish

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

I am so Happy for you! You amazing women you! Gods blessings to you and your family! I'm sure all of them are doing the happy dance. I well share in this joy and try a jig myself!

I can't wait to hear how the rest of your recovery goes! I hope you have time to post!

Your Friend,

Nancy

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

That is fantastic news, and it's wonderful you are feeling well. Even though I don't think we have 'been in contact' before, I've been following your journey, particularly having the liver resection, as it's something I may embark on myself. So thanks Cool Breeze for all of your posts, and best wishes!
Cheers Marie

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

I am left with a major scar OMG. It's like my stomach is curling in on itself and my body has aged 10 years! At least! I hope I can stand up straight some day! LOL. :) The steri-strips are still on it and I am hoping they don't fall off. I was very intrigued and looked at the wound immediately with the staples, but what is happening under those steristrips does not look good (although it doesn't look unhealthy.) Weirdness! I have a built in halloween costume. :)

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Glad to hear you are healing well, and a cheap outfit for the end of the month too - watch out trick or treaters!!
I hope you continue to heal and get your strength it was a major op so baby steps I think?
Much love and healing
Jenny x

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Fabulous news about the surgery!! You did well!!

Joan

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Congratulations, Ann!!
That's great news! I hope your recovery is quick and pain-free!
Well done!
All the best,
Denise

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

I think the only women online who got this surgery are right here. There is almost nothing out there about it.

Anyway, I have a question about recovery to somebody who has been through it. I am recovering fast - no more pain. Just took a walk around the block. I'm still very tired, which is normal and I can't eat much which is also normal. But, I am having one side effect nobody has mentioned, and that that is difficulty breathing.

Okay, by difficulty I don't mean I can't breath or anything. I am breathing just fine. But, I notice it. It seems to take effort, or I think about it. I need to take deep breathes sometimes, which used to hurt but don't now. I thought it could be fluid around the area where the liver used to be but I can't tell - it doesn't feel like it. It just feels a bit harder to take a breath.

When I look at the area, aside from the scarring, my ribs stick out on one side and not the other - they stick out on the side that the liver was removed - the left side. SO maybe there is swelling?

Did anybody who have this experience that?

It is not dangerous. I see the doctor on the 2nd and will mention it, and it can wait. But, I would like to know if it's common. And, since the four or so of you here are the only BC ladies I can find online who had it - I have to ask you! :)

(I see my onc on the 9th to start chemo back up. I am quite eager to do so!)

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Haven't had the surgery but do have similar breathing issue from an enlarged liver pressing on my diaphragm. I can't imagine that there wouldn't be some swelling from the surgery causing pressure on your diaphragm during this healing phase. Hopefully it is a transitory symptom,
Trish

Re: Liver Resection Surgery
 

Hi CB~
Glad to hear you're up & around & feeling stronger every day. I recall feeling really tired, like so much of my energy was going towards just healing. I started with just walking to the mailbox or showering and having to rest, to then walking to the park, then around the park.
I also remember feeling like there was just so much swelling/fluid filling & sloshing around in the space where my liver was that I just felt bloated & that contributed to not being able to eat much and doing anything, including breathing was just a little more laborious.
But each week it felt like the swelling went down & the fluid reabsorbed & decreased and the energy came back and the ease of moving around came back with time.
So glad you have the hard part behind you.
Only more healing & energy to come.
Hope you're resting well too~

Jml