Forum Discussion
Another surgery down.......
Hi Troopers!
I am home after having my re excision. The surgeon is confident he got enough tissue out to get clear margins this time. So pending those results, then will start chemo. A soon as i got back up to the ward, my beautiful Breast Care Nurse KIM appeared....she answered all of my questions and gave me some exercises for the darned cording i have, (which is now a bit numb from the anesthetic!) I feel Ok apart from being tired and sore (again) and I have now lost quite a substantial amount of my right breast....which I really couldn't give a #$@! about as long as the cancer is gone!
I also have to have a heart ultrasound, booked for next week, (the fun never stops does it?) for my Oncologist, yes God gave me a dicky heart from birth :/ this will help determine if the drug they will give me will effect the muscle part of my heart. Fingers crossed there.
So over needles! My one vein they can access is tired already and have a black and blue hand to show for it! I don't know if you can ever get used to that part! A port has been mentioned, but I don;t know if i want another procedure either!
Anyways will spend the weekend recovering...
Love and light to for easy recovery and beautiful days and for those who are struggling and extradose comin your way!
-Tracy
stay strong|breathe|believe
16 Replies
You'll be alright. Make it 'your time' - you'll be sitting there for a little while so make yourself comfy and give yourself some personal time (if they have wifi, watch some good shows....or take some good mags/books). I feel like I have my little routine now - I take snacks, something to watch etc - and settle down for a bit.
I don't know if you mentioned what chemo you are having or how long. Maybe you don't need the port. I'm doing weekly taxol (for 12 weeks) and then 3-weekly herceptin for a year so I thought it was worth getting a port. I'm now on antibiotics for the next few weeks too (got a little baxter bottle that drip feeds the antibiotics 24/7 into my port)....so all up, was good for me to get the port put in. Anyway, you can always decide later....see how your chemo goes and if the veins start giving up, then get it put in.
The cording is just one more thing to deal with huh? Are you getting massage/laser or anything like that? Hope it sorts itself out soon.
Thanks Anne!
Still in two minds about the port....but my friend, who is battling pancreatic cancer, is getting one on Monday, so Im sure I'll get a report from her....we were diagnosed at the same time! Stupid cancer! Grrrr!
The cording is so annoying! You feel good otherwise, then go to do something and it's like NOOOOOOO! don't be silly I'm not going to let you pick that up! It's bad enough the universe gave me BC. but to take my right arm away!? I am right handed! Boooooo! Anyways i have been doing my exercises religiously nad I am getting better, but my patience with it is getting thin!
I am absolutely terrified of starting chemo! but have a weeks grace before I start, so am psyching myself up for it...thanks and hoping your are sailing through as well.
xx
Hi Tracy,
A port is one of the easier bits of this whole journey (as is the ultrasound and especially any non-invasive tests!). I really hate blood tests and needles now so for me, the port has been great. Pretty easy little procedure - they give you lots of sedation and I didn't feel it. Get my chemo in there now (and all blood tests!).
I've also had cording - another annoying thing to deal with. Have been seeing OT and having massage/light laser and its still taking ages. My surgery was November and I've still got the cording issue now. It has been frustrating.
You'll probably find going through chemo that there are lots of little things that pop up - that you don't expect.
Good luck with your chemo.
Thank you Eileen!
Feeling better every day......
I am so glad your op is over Tracy & that the surgeon is confident of the clear margins. Hope you get plenty of rest this weekend & start to feel better soon.
Sending big hugs
Eileen xx
I know Adean! It's already been 43 days! (not that I'm counting? LOL!...yeah right!)
Yep well and truly on that train now, and I've only a few days grace and I'll be on the chemo train.....It's probably going to seem like slow motion, but I know it will fly by. Like I said to a friend, who isn't handling this very well, and he's male! I said to him :look at it this way, "this time next year I'll have new hair AND new boobs!" the look in his face was priceless! Then we laughed.....funny how you have to prop every one up as well as them you....
Thanks Nadine,
I 'm glad I had it on a friday, gives me the weekend to recover better than during the week as we own our own business and hubby has had to go back to work for a bit.....
I'll cross the port bridge when i have to, although not looking forward to that decision, but then again the only thing in this situation to look forward to is the end of treatment and being cancer free Huh? I suppose we all put up with what we have to, to get to that result!
Hope you are traveling well nadine..
Hi Tracy, glad it's all going well , how amazing is it I remember your first post , where does the time go? Well your certainly on the train now. Adean xx
Yes I knew it i had my surgery at St George Private too but I'm in Sutherland and having chemo at the southern chemo clinic. Kim is great and love that I can ring her anytime.
Hi Tracy, what a relief now that that is all over. So glad you are home. Make sure you don't push yourself too hard in the next couple of days. I know what you mean about veins. I didn't want another procedure for my port but am now so glad I have it. It was inserted 2 weeks ago today and I barely notice it now. Best of luck, Nadine
