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Chelee · 02-19-2007, 12:42 AM

mekasan, What a very informative post...thank you so much for your time and trouble. From what you have been through, and Kate having one node removed...it seems both of you have had no problems. My surgeon removed 5 of 16 last year & I am fine. So 1 should be no problem. I never thought to ask about the time BETWEEN surgeries? I'm glad you brought that up...I need a ooph too so I better ask about that.

As to the dye, I had that done at 6:00AM the morning of my mastectomy last year. I had to go to nuclear...have the injection which was put into my nipple. OUCH! Then had to go home and come back around 10:30 AM I believe. Surgery was at noon. I guess that gave it time to attach to the nodes. He told me when I was under he would use some a gamma counter that lets them know which nodes are affected. (something like that.) I would just assume he do that this time to save me from another surgery.

As to why I could *not* have rads is because I have some under-developed ribs. So I have no real chest wall. Especially the right side. If they used radiation it would fry my lungs. I have only 37 % use of lungs at present and can't afford to lose anymore.

I've had 4 months of pain now. When I was DX last year on the right side...my breast was JUST like this one. Painful and enlarged.

I have an appt with my GP tomorrow and need to tell him whats going on. I was going there with the intent to see if I could get an expedited 2nd opinion. (It will have to be quick...because I have to get this ooph done too since my onc left me with no hormonal protection.) If they put off a 2nd opinion another month or more I can't do that. Its already been 4 months since I have been having problems with this breast. I hope my GP has some input on this. I've been seeing him for 22 years...so I pray he helps me out here.

Thank you so much mekasan, your post was helpful.

Chelee

02-19-2007, 12:42 AM	#17
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	mekasan, What a very informative post...thank you so much for your time and trouble. From what you have been through, and Kate having one node removed...it seems both of you have had no problems. My surgeon removed 5 of 16 last year & I am fine. So 1 should be no problem. I never thought to ask about the time BETWEEN surgeries? I'm glad you brought that up...I need a ooph too so I better ask about that. As to the dye, I had that done at 6:00AM the morning of my mastectomy last year. I had to go to nuclear...have the injection which was put into my nipple. OUCH! Then had to go home and come back around 10:30 AM I believe. Surgery was at noon. I guess that gave it time to attach to the nodes. He told me when I was under he would use some a gamma counter that lets them know which nodes are affected. (something like that.) I would just assume he do that this time to save me from another surgery. As to why I could not have rads is because I have some under-developed ribs. So I have no real chest wall. Especially the right side. If they used radiation it would fry my lungs. I have only 37 % use of lungs at present and can't afford to lose anymore. I've had 4 months of pain now. When I was DX last year on the right side...my breast was JUST like this one. Painful and enlarged. I have an appt with my GP tomorrow and need to tell him whats going on. I was going there with the intent to see if I could get an expedited 2nd opinion. (It will have to be quick...because I have to get this ooph done too since my onc left me with no hormonal protection.) If they put off a 2nd opinion another month or more I can't do that. Its already been 4 months since I have been having problems with this breast. I hope my GP has some input on this. I've been seeing him for 22 years...so I pray he helps me out here. Thank you so much mekasan, your post was helpful. 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.