Breast Cancer second time around

Hi Maz, I had 3 radioactive injections to track my sentinel nodes - a couple around the nipple area and one directly into the cancer.  I was pretty anxious but it was just a tiny, quick sting.  I had to wait and massage for an hour before being taken for the x-ray on the morning of surgery (this was at Pindara).  They stressed to me that it doesn't matter how many lymph nodes are highlighted by the dye - it isn't a reflection whether cancer is present or not.  Glad they told me as I was covered in crosses when finished.  They were done with a permanent marker and I had them on me for weeks!

The surgeon also injected me with blue dye during surgery as this turns the sentinel nodes & guards blue which makes them easy to identify and remove.  11 weeks on and my breast still has 3 lovely blue 20c sized marks.  I've heard it can take months for these to fade.

Hope you get some dates booked in soon Maz, it will make it so much easier for you once you have a plan in place.
Take care,  Jane x

My surgeon took the sentinel node and two guards as he called them. In hospital for 6 days and drains out before I went home.

Thanks Ne, They only took 6 lymph nodes from my left arm and they were clear. What I am learning from you all is that now they do the sentinal node and don't take the lymph nodes. Am I right with this?

How soon can you go out? I know it wont be the first couple of weeks. My surgeon said I would only be in hospital for two nights and then the nurse would come to check on me.

Thanks TonyaM for your info. I have never heard of a seroma.

How long did you all have to wait for the surgery? Sorry full of questions tonight.

Mazoz said:

Question When I had the BC in my left breast I was told not to allow anyone to take blood pressure on that arm. Now I will have both arms out of action for blood pressure. How does that work?

It is my understanding that only when you have had a full auxiliary clearance (removed lymphnodes from your under arm) that you are not allowed tight clothing,needles in, or bp taken from the arm where lymphnodes have been removed because are at risk of getting lymphoedema.

Unless you've had that surgery, you shouldn't have issues with BP's being taken or needles in any arm.

Hi Mazoz,
I had bc twice- first time in 2003(a lumpectomy) and then 7 years later in 2010 in the same breast,so a mastectomy.I was so angry it came back again but somehow,you get your head around it and jump through the hoops again.Painwise and recovery wise, it's similar to a lumpectomy. Because you are having bilateral, you will have double the drains and pain on both sides so just multiply your lumpectomy x 2. Don't be alarmed if you get a seroma on the left chest scar- I had one drained each week for 5 weeks.I wore a camisole after drains came out(1week)a soft form in a surgical bra after 2weeks and got fitted for a prosthesis after 6weeks.I wore loose shirts up till then.It takes abit of getting used to but you do. Ask us any questions and yes, keep very busy till surgery.
Sending big hug, Tonya xx

Hi Tracey62, I will be having my surgery at Tweed Hospital. I have been overwhelmed by the support from all here and on Facebook. I really appreciate it. I'm sure a lot has changed in 15 years as to treatment and well just about everything. I had my Chemo at Robina last time. Robina was just a new hospital then and all the staff were wonderful. I had my surgery last time in Murwillumbah. xxx

Cath, there going to have lots of fun grabbing my nipple as have really badly inverted nipples.As soon as I know the date you will to. xxx

Hi Maz, just wanted to ask, you said public hospital, is that Robina or tweed? I had my sentinel node injection at southport but surgery at Robina. If that's where you are going, they take very good care of you. Take a deep breath, the plans will all come together soon. As you can see, lots of support on this site. We are here for you xX

Maz, yep if your having sentinel node mapping they will inject a radioactive dye under your nipple, then wait about 10 minutes and then try scanning you to see how far the dye has moved. You may need to massage your breast to get the dye moving. All up my mapping took about an hour and a half and some of that was waiting for the doctor to travel from another suburb (original machine I was supposed to go to broke down that day). Sounds pretty horrific but its more like a nipple cripple (pressure). I felt that the doctor was pulling my nipple up and away from my chest. Its nowhere near as bad as it sounds. And I had my bone scans done at the same time - all good! Let us know when you have your date for this. Xx Cath

Thanks Cath, I'm still trying to get my head around what will happen. My Surgeon said that I have to go to John Flynn Hospital to have something done before going to the Public Hospital I'm thinking that is the dye for the sentinal node. I guess I will find out more when the Hospital contacts me. xxMaz

Hi Mazoz, the wire you are referring to is a hook wire procedure that is used to show the position of a lesion or tumor for the surgeon can find in during surgery. If your having mastectomy this isn't needed as the breast tissue is all being removed. Hope this helps. Xx Cath