Outcome of post lumpectomy results: total axillary clearance of right arm, surgery next Monday.

Oh I wouldn't want them to have to battle the hospital car park and get germs ... I'm one of those people with the handsanitizer and open doors or press elevator buttons with my sleeves lol.  

Hey @viking1, if your friend is coming to see you, would they not call into the hospital if you're still there?? You could always have a cuppa in the cafeteria - I spent half my hospital time there catching up with lovelies who came to visit!!! Xx 

Dear Melclarity and viking1, mastectomy is pretty much a given due to the size of my tumor and my very small breast. If this rollercoaster ride isn't enough, my brother's filthy behaviour is making me depressed. Not only do I have to look after myself, but I also have to cope with my brother. My mum's 2yr anniversary is on July 14 and her birthday was June 23. I honestly feel like screaming atm. Thanks for the virtual hugs, really need it.
Lisa x 

I never had any nurses come calling. I had to empty the bag myself each day and measure how much was in it and record that on a chart for the doctor to see. After about a week, which is how long it took for pathology to have the results done the surgeon checked my output and it was low enough in the drain to remove. It didn't hurt at all to have it removed. The scar healed up very quickly. Caution on having the drain removed too fast, you can develop a lump and need it drained every week which is what happened to me. The bag in for longer would have been easier but they don't like it too long because of the risk of infection.

@LMK74 Hope you're doing ok, it's so damn hard when you do what is recommended and you feel it isn't working. I'd hang in there, communication is so important, let your Oncologist know how you are feeling. So difficult when you can't see the road ahead or what it looks like, we do start to doubt what the hell are they doing? have some conversations with your Oncologist and see if it can help ease your mind. I feel you, there's never been a moment through both my diagnosis I haven't wished for my Mum, and it always seems to be when we hit a bump in the road, we just want that love and comfort that she used to give. She's with you all the way, know that for certain. x Hugs Melinda xo

@LMK74 I'm so sorry you're having a crap time of it. I'm getting to understand that some people have the chemo first, then the surgery...so this would be you. Do you know if you are having a lumpectomy or mastectomy? Months of chemo sounds very hard, and I imagine the waiting is driving you up the wall. You've probably already done this but have you discussed with the surgeon or oncologist what the possible courses of action are if a or b is the result of the surgery? I like to try and find solutions but honestly, I'd like to just give you a hug and send your mum to you. Mine is hopefully haunting the surgeon and telling him how to improve

Hey @viking1 , your breast care nurse or silver chain nurse should be able to provide you with a drain bag that you sling across your body and your drain and drain bag sit very nicely inside. I carted mine around for 8 weeks - it became part of the furniture!!! Just be careful when you are showering and hang your drain and bag from the tap - DO NOT forget about it and go to walk away!!!! Can be a nasty reminder!! Likewise don't do too much gardening or if your going to,  make sure you are sitting down and not leaning over cause you can move the drain inside you :s. Sleeping I just positioned my bag in between my body and my arm and slept fine (apart from hot flushes blah blah blah...) NSW we have community nurses who can come and see us - I opted to change my own drain bag and note my fluid levels and the nurses would phone me and get the levels for the day. I would go to the community health centre to get my bags (was driving after 2 weeks). I did that because otherwise I would have to wait for the nurses to visit during the day and they might visit first thing in the morning or whenever and I wanted to be able to do what I wanted to do - none of this hanging around stuff - I had essential socialising to do!!!! Good work on the ER results too - isn't it amazing how much our understanding of results grows so fast. Big hug Xx Cath

Also sending you a big hug @LMK74  Xx

Hey , viking1, it's a bummer you need more surgery. Nothing about this rollercoaster ride is easy. I already fear the surgery to come and what the pathology will say. I'm so scared they will tell me they couldn't get it all. I feel like chemo has failed as my tumor hasn't shrunk down much after all these months of shit. Sitting here thinking what's this all for. Having a bad week and miss my mum.

I like the phrase 'the goal posts have been moved'!☺  Is the Silver Chain just in WA or other states? They used to visit my gran to change dressings etc.  I am very lucky to have them...you really don't know how lucky you are until you hear other people's experiences. Yes, I hadn't thought about what if the surgeon only looked at the sentinel node and no others? I've been reading more of My Journey booklet today.  I do like having the info but sometimes it sounds like all the treatments grind you down with a pestle and mortar and then they add some chemicals and grow another version of you in a petri dish!  (I've changed my deodorant to a 'natural' one ... nothing like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted!) Something interesting came up after my lumpectomy in the results - the core biopsy said ER 80% positive. The lumpectomy gave the ER result as 0%.  The surgeon is going to investigate as it may make a difference to treatment. I hope it's 0!  The breast nurse was in the room while we were going through the results and when the surgeon read that one and I said, oh, the first core biopsy said 80% positive, she said 'wow, you have a good memory!'  I even had that result in notebook to show the surgeon. So I sat there feeling like Sherlock Holmes MD for at least 10mins