It's now Saturday, and I've been home for five days. This is the first day I've actually felt like sitting at the computer for more than two minutes at a time. So, to start where I left off.......
The sentinel node biopsy was kind of a "That's IT?" kind of moment! Quite unbelieveable after all the worrying I did. But it was literally just a little stick for the numbing med (and yes, they did numb the area) and then the injection of the nuclear isotope. Took like three minutes! But what I would suggest is that anyone going thru this, stick to your guns, ask questions...as many and as often as you need to....demand local numbing, and you will be fine. The procedure was done in the breast center, and I think that made a difference too. Nuclear med is so cold and sterile and that department will scan every part of the body. The Breast Center does only....BREASTS :)
When the anesthesiologist came in to see me, I was never so happy in my life! FINALLY the surgery was going to happen...oh, and my EKG was misread...no problems, Echo was fine, repeat EKG was FINE! ohhhh well.....at least I had the OK from the cardiologist that I could have surgery :)
Surgery went fine, I am told. I was given Dilaudid to manage the pain for the first twelve hours or so. I was discharged on Tuesday around 10 AM :) I slept much better in my own bed, rather than with the monitors beeping and whirrrrring all night!
I saw Dr. Gawley for my first post-op appointment on Thursday. He said everything looked good, minimal bruising...it was a rough appointment for me, first day back out of the house and sitting up for a lot longer than I had been the last few days.
Dr. Walker phoned yesterday. My pathology report came back unbelieveably good! NO cancer in the lymph nodes (they removed three)and no cancer in any of the breast tissue...not even around the tumor! Not sure how it can be called invasive when the cancer didn't "invade". That will be my question to Dr. Walker when I see her the week of August 9th.
So, I will still be learning about what additional treatment....maybe the "anti~hormone" pill, since my cancer is hormone receptor positive. I still have questions for my doctors :)
And then there is still the process of filling up the extenders, and getting some curves back :)
Oh, and one more thing! Hubby is always thinkin' :) I have four drain tubes in. After I saw Dr. Gawley he said I could then shower...but don't get the drains soaked! The solution: BUNGEE CORD! The bungee cord is draped around my neck, the drain tubes already have a safety pin in a little plastic flap that is on part of the tube. The safety pins are hooked onto the curved ends of the bungee cord, two on each end of the cord, so that the tubes are then able to hang in front of me while I shower :) I think it's the most clever use of a bungee cord that I have ever heard of!
Hugs to All!
Suzanne
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
and the saga continues.......
Evidently, the professionals at Scottsdale Hospital can't read an EKG! Because, after I saw the cardiologist today about my ECHO...which was normal, they re-did my EKG...and low and behold it must be a miracle because it was NORMAL TOO!!!!!!!
So, this week I spent my time scheduling my own STAT ECHO, asking the surgeon's office to send my EKG to Cardiovascular Consultants...which CVC never received, which is why they repeated the EKG....and now I will have a 20% copay for all of it, on top of the $50.00 total amount paid in copays.
So, when I got home from finding out my results, who should call but a very unfortunate nurse from Scottsdale Piper Center. Unfortunate, for her, because I chewed her out! And that is so TOTALLY not like me! But, she started off the conversation by wanting to know if we had time to discuss my upcoming procedure...so sure, I've got time. And "Did I know I was to be there at 8:30 AM?" And I told her that I was originally told 8:30, then I was told 8:00 AM..and I was planning on being there at 8:00....I was told "OH NO!!!! 8:30 is PLENTY of time :)"
Then, the unfortunate nurse said "So, I see you had your pre-op lab and EKG here, do you have any questions about that?" And I said.....Why YES! Could you tell me whom it might be that CAN'T READ AN EKG??????? And then I explained all of the above... when I got to the money part, she said she couldn't do anything about that! And I said I was fully aware of that.
I also told her I have been jumping thru 15 hoops just trying to get this surgery accomplished with the Scottsdale Campus....and that I had NO CONFIDENCE in them WHAT SO EVER!
Well, I think that may have upset her just a bit. She said the staff at the Piper Center would do their utmost to make sure "I was well taken care of".....which is what I'm kind of afraid of at this point! I told her what she could do for me was GET ME DISCHARGED ASAP ON TUESDAY!!!!!! Guess that comment didn't make her happy....
With that, she told me to "have a nice weekend" and hung up! Like a NICE weekend prior to losing my breasts is even possible???! These people are CLUELESS!!!!!
oh, so the surgery is on for Monday.....I have clearance from MY cardiologist :)
So, this week I spent my time scheduling my own STAT ECHO, asking the surgeon's office to send my EKG to Cardiovascular Consultants...which CVC never received, which is why they repeated the EKG....and now I will have a 20% copay for all of it, on top of the $50.00 total amount paid in copays.
So, when I got home from finding out my results, who should call but a very unfortunate nurse from Scottsdale Piper Center. Unfortunate, for her, because I chewed her out! And that is so TOTALLY not like me! But, she started off the conversation by wanting to know if we had time to discuss my upcoming procedure...so sure, I've got time. And "Did I know I was to be there at 8:30 AM?" And I told her that I was originally told 8:30, then I was told 8:00 AM..and I was planning on being there at 8:00....I was told "OH NO!!!! 8:30 is PLENTY of time :)"
Then, the unfortunate nurse said "So, I see you had your pre-op lab and EKG here, do you have any questions about that?" And I said.....Why YES! Could you tell me whom it might be that CAN'T READ AN EKG??????? And then I explained all of the above... when I got to the money part, she said she couldn't do anything about that! And I said I was fully aware of that.
I also told her I have been jumping thru 15 hoops just trying to get this surgery accomplished with the Scottsdale Campus....and that I had NO CONFIDENCE in them WHAT SO EVER!
Well, I think that may have upset her just a bit. She said the staff at the Piper Center would do their utmost to make sure "I was well taken care of".....which is what I'm kind of afraid of at this point! I told her what she could do for me was GET ME DISCHARGED ASAP ON TUESDAY!!!!!! Guess that comment didn't make her happy....
With that, she told me to "have a nice weekend" and hung up! Like a NICE weekend prior to losing my breasts is even possible???! These people are CLUELESS!!!!!
oh, so the surgery is on for Monday.....I have clearance from MY cardiologist :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ups.....and downs.....and UP AGAIN...I hope
7/20/10 I got a phone call this morning from Pati, she is a liason in the Scottsdale Women's Breast Health Center. She assured me that my sentinel node mapping will be performed in the Breast Center, NOT Nuclear Medicine. YAY :) She also said that local numbing is ALWAYS used by their doctors...another YAY :) And that using the EMLA numbing cream was fine, too YAY YAY YAY :) The day was looking up!
Then I get a call from Michaela, Dr. Walker's assistant. My EKG that was performed last week came back with RIGHT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK. RBBB occurs in medical conditions that affect the right side of the heart or lungs, so a finding of RBBB on the EKG ought to trigger a screening exam. These include blood clots to the lung, chronic lung disease, cardiomyopathy, and atrial and ventricular defects. However, RBBB also commonly occurs in normal healthy individuals, and the screening exam therefore often turns up no medical problems. The surgeon is afraid the anesthesiologist will cancel my surgery at the last minute unless he/she has an older EKG to compare to. A few phone calls later.. and no luck finding my old EKG. Granted it was probably done eight years ago....but someone should have record of it! So, it was decided I would have to have an Echocardiogram. Sure....no problem.... Cardiology offices have LOTS of STAT openings.....ha ha ha. While Michaela was calling the hospital to see if they could try to schedule an ECHO STAT....
I used to work in a cardiology office almost 11 years ago. Luckily, someone I knew still worked there (although she didn't really remember me). But, I explained my situation anyway, apologized profusely that I was putting her in the middle of all my drama, but Becky was awesome. She had the head nurse, Terri, call me this afternoon, and I am now scheduled for the test tomorrow at 7:00 AM , in the building right across the parking lot from the medical building I work in. I love it when a plan comes together :)
So, as long as the ECHO turns out OK....I should be good to go on Monday.....
Then I get a call from Michaela, Dr. Walker's assistant. My EKG that was performed last week came back with RIGHT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK. RBBB occurs in medical conditions that affect the right side of the heart or lungs, so a finding of RBBB on the EKG ought to trigger a screening exam. These include blood clots to the lung, chronic lung disease, cardiomyopathy, and atrial and ventricular defects. However, RBBB also commonly occurs in normal healthy individuals, and the screening exam therefore often turns up no medical problems. The surgeon is afraid the anesthesiologist will cancel my surgery at the last minute unless he/she has an older EKG to compare to. A few phone calls later.. and no luck finding my old EKG. Granted it was probably done eight years ago....but someone should have record of it! So, it was decided I would have to have an Echocardiogram. Sure....no problem.... Cardiology offices have LOTS of STAT openings.....ha ha ha. While Michaela was calling the hospital to see if they could try to schedule an ECHO STAT....
I used to work in a cardiology office almost 11 years ago. Luckily, someone I knew still worked there (although she didn't really remember me). But, I explained my situation anyway, apologized profusely that I was putting her in the middle of all my drama, but Becky was awesome. She had the head nurse, Terri, call me this afternoon, and I am now scheduled for the test tomorrow at 7:00 AM , in the building right across the parking lot from the medical building I work in. I love it when a plan comes together :)
So, as long as the ECHO turns out OK....I should be good to go on Monday.....
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A lesson for you to learn, from my past....
I had a stereotactic breast biopsy on the left breast in 2005. The lesion was not deep, and they entered at the top of my breast to get to the lesion. Came back as proliferative tissue with no atypia. Basically, "busy breasts" was what I was told then. They wanted to watch closely, with frequent mammograms, and cone compressions. I opted to just have an excision and get the thing out of there. Everything went according to plan...no complications.
Here's what you need to learn:
Right breast, the lesion is (as I have said before) deep in the tissue. The stereotactic breast biopsy was performed by entering more into the side of my breast and the core need biopsy kept taking little "bites" of tissue as it advanced. Well, I FELT one of the bites, and almost came off the table. Of course I really couldn't, because my right breast was trapped in a mammogram machine under the table I was lying face down on. The breast is pulled thru a hole in the table, and then the table is raised. Anyway, if you have a lesion deep in the breast tissue...ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU LIDOCAINE as the core needle advances! Don't wait until it's too late, like I did. Hopefully, they will honor your request. I have researched, and when the lesion is deep in the tissue, it is typical for the lidocaine not to reach it's designated target.
One last thing on this subject. I have been in pain since that biopsy on the right breast. I thought it was because there is cancer there, and things were not going to heal inside because of it. But what has been suggested from Melanie at Scottsdale Hospital is that I now possibly have nerve damage. Never even thought of that being a side effect. Researched that too....not a whole lot of info on the subject. But I did find one woman who said she was still in pain 3 months after her biopsy was performed.
My hope is that this info helps you to make an informed decision...and to be better prepared to ask the right questions :)
Love to All
Suzanne
Here's what you need to learn:
Right breast, the lesion is (as I have said before) deep in the tissue. The stereotactic breast biopsy was performed by entering more into the side of my breast and the core need biopsy kept taking little "bites" of tissue as it advanced. Well, I FELT one of the bites, and almost came off the table. Of course I really couldn't, because my right breast was trapped in a mammogram machine under the table I was lying face down on. The breast is pulled thru a hole in the table, and then the table is raised. Anyway, if you have a lesion deep in the breast tissue...ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU LIDOCAINE as the core needle advances! Don't wait until it's too late, like I did. Hopefully, they will honor your request. I have researched, and when the lesion is deep in the tissue, it is typical for the lidocaine not to reach it's designated target.
One last thing on this subject. I have been in pain since that biopsy on the right breast. I thought it was because there is cancer there, and things were not going to heal inside because of it. But what has been suggested from Melanie at Scottsdale Hospital is that I now possibly have nerve damage. Never even thought of that being a side effect. Researched that too....not a whole lot of info on the subject. But I did find one woman who said she was still in pain 3 months after her biopsy was performed.
My hope is that this info helps you to make an informed decision...and to be better prepared to ask the right questions :)
Love to All
Suzanne
time line......as it stands right now :)
I guess I failed to say what the surgery schedule will be...and thanks Betty for pointing that out :)
On July 26th, I am to be at the Piper Surgery Center at 8:00 AM to register. Then I will be taken by shuttle bus to The Women's Center for the Nuclear sentinel node mapping, which is scheduled for 10 AM. Whenever that process is finished, I will be taken by shuttle bus BACK to Piper Surgery Center...to wait....surgery is scheduled for 1 PM. First will be the sentinel node biopsy, then the bilateral mastectomy, then the tissue expanders will be installed. I will probably be in my room by around 6 PM. And I am supposed to be discharged the next day by Noon :)
Now, what I was also told: Be at the Scottsdale Hospital at 8:30 AM to register there, (not the Piper Surgery Center) and the sentinel node mapping is done in Nuclear Medicine. Then I will be taken by the shuttle bus over to Piper Surgery Center after the first procedure is done. Surgery still on the books for 1 PM.
Guess I'll find out where I'm REALLY supposed to be and how the sentinel node mapping will be performed....once I'm in the right place at the right time! sheesh!!!!!
On July 26th, I am to be at the Piper Surgery Center at 8:00 AM to register. Then I will be taken by shuttle bus to The Women's Center for the Nuclear sentinel node mapping, which is scheduled for 10 AM. Whenever that process is finished, I will be taken by shuttle bus BACK to Piper Surgery Center...to wait....surgery is scheduled for 1 PM. First will be the sentinel node biopsy, then the bilateral mastectomy, then the tissue expanders will be installed. I will probably be in my room by around 6 PM. And I am supposed to be discharged the next day by Noon :)
Now, what I was also told: Be at the Scottsdale Hospital at 8:30 AM to register there, (not the Piper Surgery Center) and the sentinel node mapping is done in Nuclear Medicine. Then I will be taken by the shuttle bus over to Piper Surgery Center after the first procedure is done. Surgery still on the books for 1 PM.
Guess I'll find out where I'm REALLY supposed to be and how the sentinel node mapping will be performed....once I'm in the right place at the right time! sheesh!!!!!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Hurry up and.......wait.............and wait............
7/15/10 Another lesson learned!
I really didn't know what was important to me during this process, until I learned yesterday what I don't like about Piper Cancer Center. And it's a little too late now to be changing things. Normally, one would think you go into a hospital building and whatever needs to be done is taken care of. NOT at the Piper Center, because it is part of the Scottsdale Hospital Campus. Hubby and I went from building to building to building yesterday in order to accomplish a few simple tasks.
Get my preop lab and EKG. We went into the building that said Piper Cancer Center, but that's not where the preop tests are done. Nooooo, that's across the street... ok, not bad, within walking distance of where the car is parked. Had to register in, just like I was being admitted to the hospital. Little strange but....ok. But before I could get my preop tests done, we had to meet with someone who went over every bit of my hospital stay. What I could and mostly would not be allowed to do. NO body lotion, no oil, no deodorant! This is not good....I live in the freaking desert, it was 112 degrees today...so ya want me dried up and smelly...oh, and ugly, because obviously no makeup either! Well, I hope they run screaming when they see me in that kind of condition!
So, finally get the preop crap out of the way. THEN I have an appointment at "Tina's Treasures" where I get fitted for my post surgery camisole and mastectomy bra. Unfortunately, my preop tests were scheduled at 7:30 and even with all hoopla, I was done by 8 AM. Hubby and I had to go back to the first building we were in, and sit and wait for close to an hour for my 9 AM fitting appointment. Oh, but wait, after they open the shop doors, I'm informed I have to REGISTER! But wait! I just registered for the preop labs...unfortunately, this is a different department.. and building! Fine....get registered again. Get fitted...the lady was nice, she had breast cancer twice....Tina was there, and my sales lady offered to bring Tina in so I could see her reconstruction job....ok....now that's getting a little weird. Sorry, but everyone heals differently...and I don't care to see how Tina turned out! I was told she'd be more than happy to show me! Again....no, thanks :[
As I was registering the second time, I was asked if I had pre-registered at Piper. I said I had pre-registered on~line at the Scottsdale Hospital website. Ummmm, no, wrong, I have to register at Piper Surgery Center. So, if you just go out the main doors, get in your car, drive allllll the way around the CAMPUS, go to the locked entrance gate, type in the access numbers...THAT'S where I can pick up the paperwork. All righty then....had troule finding the Piper Surgery Center, got directions from the receptionist at the Scottsdale Hospital, got back in the car and drove to the correct building, got the paperwork...and low and behold.....IT WAS THE SAME PAPERWORK I FILLED OUT AT THE PREOP LAB AND EKG BUILDING!!!!
Ergo, my lesson learned is to ask....IS THIS HOSPITAL SELF~CONTAINED???? or is it an entire CAMPUS??????
7/16/10
Today was less eventful. Had to go out to Dr. Gawley's office to go over all the pre-op, surgery, post-op what to expect kind of thing. Now again, there was confusion as to where I go FIRST when I get to the PIPER CAMPUS. After Brenna called Piper to re-verify (and she spoke to three people) I go and register at Piper Surgery Center, then I will be TRANSPORTED BY BUS to the Nuclear Med Dept for the sentinel node mapping. (I still can't wait to write about that one, because I've been given three scenarios in the past two days!). When that procedure is done, I get BACK ON THE BUS! to be escorted BACK to Piper Surgery Center where FINALLY I will be put under general anesthetic! WHOOOO HOOOOO!
Here's the time frame I was given: Be at Piper Surgery Center at 8 AM (I was told 8:30 AM yesterday) sentinel node mapping at 10 AM. Bilateral mastectomy to be around1 PM with tissue expander surgery to follow. Will probably get to a room around 6 PM. oh....and NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK from MIDNIGHT the night before.....oh, sure... 112 degrees in the shade, no water, nooooo problem!
The final kicker for this morning.....I got a call from Scottsdale Breast Care Center, which is part of the Scottsdale/Piper CAMPUS. She wanted my mammogram films because they needed to decide HOW to proceed with the sentinel node mapping! I told her I wished I had known that yesterday....when I was OUT THERE!!!! My breast surgeon has the films...and the last time I saw Dr. Walker for my surgery consult, she told me she was "keeping them". I guess they just need to call a courier service....because I'm not taking them out there. sheesh!
Well, this is probably my last post until after surgery. This coming week should (hopefully) be uneventful. Therefore, the only posting I would be doing is yadda yadda yadda~ing about pre-op jitters. And no one needs to waste their time reading that!
Thanks to all who are following......I am sure I will have many more lessons learned in the following weeks and months, and I will share all of that with you.......... like it or not :)
I really didn't know what was important to me during this process, until I learned yesterday what I don't like about Piper Cancer Center. And it's a little too late now to be changing things. Normally, one would think you go into a hospital building and whatever needs to be done is taken care of. NOT at the Piper Center, because it is part of the Scottsdale Hospital Campus. Hubby and I went from building to building to building yesterday in order to accomplish a few simple tasks.
Get my preop lab and EKG. We went into the building that said Piper Cancer Center, but that's not where the preop tests are done. Nooooo, that's across the street... ok, not bad, within walking distance of where the car is parked. Had to register in, just like I was being admitted to the hospital. Little strange but....ok. But before I could get my preop tests done, we had to meet with someone who went over every bit of my hospital stay. What I could and mostly would not be allowed to do. NO body lotion, no oil, no deodorant! This is not good....I live in the freaking desert, it was 112 degrees today...so ya want me dried up and smelly...oh, and ugly, because obviously no makeup either! Well, I hope they run screaming when they see me in that kind of condition!
So, finally get the preop crap out of the way. THEN I have an appointment at "Tina's Treasures" where I get fitted for my post surgery camisole and mastectomy bra. Unfortunately, my preop tests were scheduled at 7:30 and even with all hoopla, I was done by 8 AM. Hubby and I had to go back to the first building we were in, and sit and wait for close to an hour for my 9 AM fitting appointment. Oh, but wait, after they open the shop doors, I'm informed I have to REGISTER! But wait! I just registered for the preop labs...unfortunately, this is a different department.. and building! Fine....get registered again. Get fitted...the lady was nice, she had breast cancer twice....Tina was there, and my sales lady offered to bring Tina in so I could see her reconstruction job....ok....now that's getting a little weird. Sorry, but everyone heals differently...and I don't care to see how Tina turned out! I was told she'd be more than happy to show me! Again....no, thanks :[
As I was registering the second time, I was asked if I had pre-registered at Piper. I said I had pre-registered on~line at the Scottsdale Hospital website. Ummmm, no, wrong, I have to register at Piper Surgery Center. So, if you just go out the main doors, get in your car, drive allllll the way around the CAMPUS, go to the locked entrance gate, type in the access numbers...THAT'S where I can pick up the paperwork. All righty then....had troule finding the Piper Surgery Center, got directions from the receptionist at the Scottsdale Hospital, got back in the car and drove to the correct building, got the paperwork...and low and behold.....IT WAS THE SAME PAPERWORK I FILLED OUT AT THE PREOP LAB AND EKG BUILDING!!!!
Ergo, my lesson learned is to ask....IS THIS HOSPITAL SELF~CONTAINED???? or is it an entire CAMPUS??????
7/16/10
Today was less eventful. Had to go out to Dr. Gawley's office to go over all the pre-op, surgery, post-op what to expect kind of thing. Now again, there was confusion as to where I go FIRST when I get to the PIPER CAMPUS. After Brenna called Piper to re-verify (and she spoke to three people) I go and register at Piper Surgery Center, then I will be TRANSPORTED BY BUS to the Nuclear Med Dept for the sentinel node mapping. (I still can't wait to write about that one, because I've been given three scenarios in the past two days!). When that procedure is done, I get BACK ON THE BUS! to be escorted BACK to Piper Surgery Center where FINALLY I will be put under general anesthetic! WHOOOO HOOOOO!
Here's the time frame I was given: Be at Piper Surgery Center at 8 AM (I was told 8:30 AM yesterday) sentinel node mapping at 10 AM. Bilateral mastectomy to be around1 PM with tissue expander surgery to follow. Will probably get to a room around 6 PM. oh....and NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK from MIDNIGHT the night before.....oh, sure... 112 degrees in the shade, no water, nooooo problem!
The final kicker for this morning.....I got a call from Scottsdale Breast Care Center, which is part of the Scottsdale/Piper CAMPUS. She wanted my mammogram films because they needed to decide HOW to proceed with the sentinel node mapping! I told her I wished I had known that yesterday....when I was OUT THERE!!!! My breast surgeon has the films...and the last time I saw Dr. Walker for my surgery consult, she told me she was "keeping them". I guess they just need to call a courier service....because I'm not taking them out there. sheesh!
Well, this is probably my last post until after surgery. This coming week should (hopefully) be uneventful. Therefore, the only posting I would be doing is yadda yadda yadda~ing about pre-op jitters. And no one needs to waste their time reading that!
Thanks to all who are following......I am sure I will have many more lessons learned in the following weeks and months, and I will share all of that with you.......... like it or not :)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
A lot of learning to do
First thing I need to do is learn more about creating a blog. So, we'll see if this works or not. Well, I checked it, and it seems to be working. First mission accomplished!
I wish that all the upcoming events would be so easy! Unfortunately, I know enough to know better. I never thought I would create a blog, or that I really had anything to say. But things change quickly sometimes, so now I do have things to say....and hopefully writing this will help others facing the same challenges...and for me to come to terms with what lies ahead.
I've been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, right breast. Due to a history of abnormal mammograms, cone compression mammograms, and stereotactic breast biopsies, I have opted to have a bilateral mastectomy. I meet with the plastic surgeon on July 7th, 2010...so I will know more about that phase soon enough.
My reasoning for opting for the more extensive surgery, rather than a lumpectomy is pretty simple. I won't have to worry about future cone compression mammograms and biopsies. Due to very dense fibrocystic tissue, my mammograms tend to be harder to read, and therefore easier for things to be missed. I have to undergo surgery, so I might as well take care of things now before I get any older, and the surgery becomes even harder to recover from. The second reason is due to my personal history of skin cancer. When a lumpectomy is performed, it will definitely be followed with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is known to accelerate any possible skin cancer. I had Squamous Cell Carcinoma just below my lower lip...mid-line over to left corner. Since I would like to keep the rest of my face for as long as I can, I'll go with losing both breasts now. Also, because I am adopted, I have no knowledge of my birth~family history. So, all this combined, I did not make this decision lightly, but it is a decision I am comfortable with....terrified....but it's something I've come to terms with and trying to stay positive.
I have read so many articles on the subject of breast cancer, and about all the procedures that may need to be done, and some of the descriptions want to make me run away to live on a deserted island, and others make a procedure seem like a walk in the park....only to find out first hand that they had to have been lying thru their teeth when they wrote the article!
My next post will be after I see the plastic surgeon........
July 6th 11:12 PM Not sleeping much these days. Sleep about three hours, then WIDE awake with everything running through my mind. The one thing I keep thinking:
I am absolutely terrified of what lies ahead....what Stage this cancer is........
7/7/10 Appointment with Dr. Gawley www.gawleyplasticsurgeon.com went about the way I thought it would. His office is very nice, the staff are efficient and friendly, and he was too :) I had thought I might be a candiate for the nipple saving procedure, but unfortunately gravity hit even more than I had thought! The plan is: tissue expanders go in after mastectomy is done. Over time, saline solution will be added to the extenders. Eventually a new nipple will be created and then they will tattoo them :) It will be my first tattoo! How thrilling!!! Depending on what OTHER issues arise, like Chemo or the medications that zap every bit of Estrogen out of my system, and those issues could possibly delay my "expansion".... Dr. Gawley's assistant said to plan to be their patient for about a year! Maybe in that amount of time, I'll think of a few other things that need to be lifted....hmmmmmmmmmmm :)
Now that this appointment has been taken care of, I find that I now have MORE appointments. I go to the hospital, (it's called The Piper Center, in Scottsdale, AZ) on July 15th for all my pre-op labs and EKG. After that appointment I get to go to Tina's Treasures at the Piper Cancer Center to be fitted for a Mastectomy Bra and a Post-Operative Garment....whatever that is! I was given a prescription for the items! I was told Dr. Gawley is very specific about what he wants his patients to use post-operatively. THEN on July 16th, I go back to Dr. Gawley's office for a "Pre-op Visit" to go over all my labs, etc...... Maybe I can have the week of July 19th to actually devote to working at the office and just do the usual mundane things! My surgery date is now carved in stone...Monday July 26th. Don't have a time, altho' it should be early. They will do the thrilling sentinel node marking and biopsy. I'll be awake for the marking part....that's where my nipple will be injected with radioactive dye. Then about two hours later, after the dye has had time to find the primary (sentinel) node, I'll be taken to surgery for the biopsy and then mastectomy. While the mastectomy is being performed, the lab will be processing those lymph nodes to see if there are any cancer cells. THAT'S when my cancer will be staged...probably a week or so later, I will have to go back to Dr. Walker (my breast surgeon) for those results. Then it will be decided what chemical treatment I may need...but I won't worry about that today...............I'll worry about that tomorrow.....ot possibly later today! :)
7/9/10 A day of downs and ups.......
Since I had not heard from my surgeon, I decided to be pro-active and see what time I should be at the hospital on July 26th. I was told my surgery would be at 1 PM, and that of course, I would have to be NPO (nothing by mouth) after midnight the night before. Not the best news I've heard...but then I was told that I would need to be at the hospital early because of the sentinel node marking. This is when I start having my first melt~down at work.......LESSON LEARNED.....NOT ALL NUCLEAR MED DEPARTMENTS ARE THE SAME! The Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, AZ will inject the radioactive dye WITHOUT ANY NUMBING MED, will either inject into the areola of the breast OR possibly close to the cancer nodule (not a good scenario for me, since my lesion is deep in the breast behind the nipple) and then wait FOUR HOURS before doing the scan so that the sentinel node can be marked. Not all Nuclear Departments do it this way.....this is from the Dr. Mengele School of Medicine! All this news was a little much to bear.....so, that was the down (meltdown) part of my day.
When I got home from work, not in the best of moods.....my son and granddaughter came for a visit. Can't be moody when my 3 1/2 granddaughter says "Here Gamma, I have a present for youuuuuuuu" and gives me a Dora the Explorer sticker :) Then the mailman came and I received the most wonderful box of presents from Susie..my very best friend :) Thanks, Susie......your timing was impeccable :) A few of the items, since I'm sure you'd say...well, what the heck was in the box?....a lovely white night gown with a lace insert on the bodice and a light bed jacket in black and white. TWO Moody Blues t-shirts (one for hubby and one for me), a very fancy notepad, some things to eat and somethings to drink, and to top it off, Flexible Straws...because no one ever thinks of them and you need them for the hospital. By the way, each item had an explanation of it's importance :) LOVED that part, too! Hubby got his own little bag of goodies to take to the hospital, so that he won't be too bored waiting on me to get to a hospital room around 5 PM ........
So, again.....thank you Susie from the bottom of my heart :)
7/15/10 Getting closer!
This morning I go in for my pre-op lab work and EKG. Then to "Tina's Treasures" to get my post-mastectomy bra and camisole. I thought I should have two bras, so I ordered one on line. Probably a mistake...best to go and get sized first...THEN get a second one. Another lesson learned. Because I think the one I ordered on line is too big...it sure doesn't fit right! I'll see what size I'm fitted for today... then send the other one back. At least the on-line company is fine about returns! I did think to check that out before I ordered :)
I was told yesterday that Piper Cancer Center will work with me on pain management for the sentinel node marking. That they will give me numbing med... "but it doesn't always work". Dr. Walker's assistant said that if the anesthesiologist came in early enough to start the IV and to talk to me, maybe he/she could give me something. Guess I'll be asking to speak to the anesthesiologist when I check in at the hospital :) Tomorrow is another busy day....go back to Dr. Gawley's office. If I learn anything at that visit.......I'll pass it along!
I wish that all the upcoming events would be so easy! Unfortunately, I know enough to know better. I never thought I would create a blog, or that I really had anything to say. But things change quickly sometimes, so now I do have things to say....and hopefully writing this will help others facing the same challenges...and for me to come to terms with what lies ahead.
I've been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, right breast. Due to a history of abnormal mammograms, cone compression mammograms, and stereotactic breast biopsies, I have opted to have a bilateral mastectomy. I meet with the plastic surgeon on July 7th, 2010...so I will know more about that phase soon enough.
My reasoning for opting for the more extensive surgery, rather than a lumpectomy is pretty simple. I won't have to worry about future cone compression mammograms and biopsies. Due to very dense fibrocystic tissue, my mammograms tend to be harder to read, and therefore easier for things to be missed. I have to undergo surgery, so I might as well take care of things now before I get any older, and the surgery becomes even harder to recover from. The second reason is due to my personal history of skin cancer. When a lumpectomy is performed, it will definitely be followed with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is known to accelerate any possible skin cancer. I had Squamous Cell Carcinoma just below my lower lip...mid-line over to left corner. Since I would like to keep the rest of my face for as long as I can, I'll go with losing both breasts now. Also, because I am adopted, I have no knowledge of my birth~family history. So, all this combined, I did not make this decision lightly, but it is a decision I am comfortable with....terrified....but it's something I've come to terms with and trying to stay positive.
I have read so many articles on the subject of breast cancer, and about all the procedures that may need to be done, and some of the descriptions want to make me run away to live on a deserted island, and others make a procedure seem like a walk in the park....only to find out first hand that they had to have been lying thru their teeth when they wrote the article!
My next post will be after I see the plastic surgeon........
July 6th 11:12 PM Not sleeping much these days. Sleep about three hours, then WIDE awake with everything running through my mind. The one thing I keep thinking:
I am absolutely terrified of what lies ahead....what Stage this cancer is........
7/7/10 Appointment with Dr. Gawley www.gawleyplasticsurgeon.com went about the way I thought it would. His office is very nice, the staff are efficient and friendly, and he was too :) I had thought I might be a candiate for the nipple saving procedure, but unfortunately gravity hit even more than I had thought! The plan is: tissue expanders go in after mastectomy is done. Over time, saline solution will be added to the extenders. Eventually a new nipple will be created and then they will tattoo them :) It will be my first tattoo! How thrilling!!! Depending on what OTHER issues arise, like Chemo or the medications that zap every bit of Estrogen out of my system, and those issues could possibly delay my "expansion".... Dr. Gawley's assistant said to plan to be their patient for about a year! Maybe in that amount of time, I'll think of a few other things that need to be lifted....hmmmmmmmmmmm :)
Now that this appointment has been taken care of, I find that I now have MORE appointments. I go to the hospital, (it's called The Piper Center, in Scottsdale, AZ) on July 15th for all my pre-op labs and EKG. After that appointment I get to go to Tina's Treasures at the Piper Cancer Center to be fitted for a Mastectomy Bra and a Post-Operative Garment....whatever that is! I was given a prescription for the items! I was told Dr. Gawley is very specific about what he wants his patients to use post-operatively. THEN on July 16th, I go back to Dr. Gawley's office for a "Pre-op Visit" to go over all my labs, etc...... Maybe I can have the week of July 19th to actually devote to working at the office and just do the usual mundane things! My surgery date is now carved in stone...Monday July 26th. Don't have a time, altho' it should be early. They will do the thrilling sentinel node marking and biopsy. I'll be awake for the marking part....that's where my nipple will be injected with radioactive dye. Then about two hours later, after the dye has had time to find the primary (sentinel) node, I'll be taken to surgery for the biopsy and then mastectomy. While the mastectomy is being performed, the lab will be processing those lymph nodes to see if there are any cancer cells. THAT'S when my cancer will be staged...probably a week or so later, I will have to go back to Dr. Walker (my breast surgeon) for those results. Then it will be decided what chemical treatment I may need...but I won't worry about that today...............I'll worry about that tomorrow.....ot possibly later today! :)
7/9/10 A day of downs and ups.......
Since I had not heard from my surgeon, I decided to be pro-active and see what time I should be at the hospital on July 26th. I was told my surgery would be at 1 PM, and that of course, I would have to be NPO (nothing by mouth) after midnight the night before. Not the best news I've heard...but then I was told that I would need to be at the hospital early because of the sentinel node marking. This is when I start having my first melt~down at work.......LESSON LEARNED.....NOT ALL NUCLEAR MED DEPARTMENTS ARE THE SAME! The Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, AZ will inject the radioactive dye WITHOUT ANY NUMBING MED, will either inject into the areola of the breast OR possibly close to the cancer nodule (not a good scenario for me, since my lesion is deep in the breast behind the nipple) and then wait FOUR HOURS before doing the scan so that the sentinel node can be marked. Not all Nuclear Departments do it this way.....this is from the Dr. Mengele School of Medicine! All this news was a little much to bear.....so, that was the down (meltdown) part of my day.
When I got home from work, not in the best of moods.....my son and granddaughter came for a visit. Can't be moody when my 3 1/2 granddaughter says "Here Gamma, I have a present for youuuuuuuu" and gives me a Dora the Explorer sticker :) Then the mailman came and I received the most wonderful box of presents from Susie..my very best friend :) Thanks, Susie......your timing was impeccable :) A few of the items, since I'm sure you'd say...well, what the heck was in the box?....a lovely white night gown with a lace insert on the bodice and a light bed jacket in black and white. TWO Moody Blues t-shirts (one for hubby and one for me), a very fancy notepad, some things to eat and somethings to drink, and to top it off, Flexible Straws...because no one ever thinks of them and you need them for the hospital. By the way, each item had an explanation of it's importance :) LOVED that part, too! Hubby got his own little bag of goodies to take to the hospital, so that he won't be too bored waiting on me to get to a hospital room around 5 PM ........
So, again.....thank you Susie from the bottom of my heart :)
7/15/10 Getting closer!
This morning I go in for my pre-op lab work and EKG. Then to "Tina's Treasures" to get my post-mastectomy bra and camisole. I thought I should have two bras, so I ordered one on line. Probably a mistake...best to go and get sized first...THEN get a second one. Another lesson learned. Because I think the one I ordered on line is too big...it sure doesn't fit right! I'll see what size I'm fitted for today... then send the other one back. At least the on-line company is fine about returns! I did think to check that out before I ordered :)
I was told yesterday that Piper Cancer Center will work with me on pain management for the sentinel node marking. That they will give me numbing med... "but it doesn't always work". Dr. Walker's assistant said that if the anesthesiologist came in early enough to start the IV and to talk to me, maybe he/she could give me something. Guess I'll be asking to speak to the anesthesiologist when I check in at the hospital :) Tomorrow is another busy day....go back to Dr. Gawley's office. If I learn anything at that visit.......I'll pass it along!
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