Back to a Second Surgery to Complete Staging

rcdeman
rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
edited October 2016 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

So, after much thought and getting opinions from various doctors, we've decided to go with the gyn/onc's (and the tumor board's) recommendation to complete my mom's staging by going for a second surgical procedure to remove para-aortic lymph nodes, the omentum, and the hypermetabolic fluid she's collected from the last surgery that is still bothering her. I will ask the doctor if they are going to do a second peritoneal washing.

My mom's second surgery will be this coming Thursday (10/13/16) and hopefully will all be done laparoscopically to minimze recovery time. If possible, please pray for my mom as she has to go through another surgery and pray that everything taken to pathology turns out clear and free of cancer cells! That would give us some relief as we go into chemo treatment weeks afterwards and might affect our decision of getting external radiation treatment. I'm hoping they don't take too many lymph nodes out that could potentially cause her to have lymphadema in the future. She's already had 19 pelvic lymph nodes taken out and I'm scared that anything more than 30 will exponentially raise her chances of getting lymphadema.

Will update you guys as soon as I can.

Rebecca

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Comments

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    #2
    You and your mom and the team

    You and your mom and the team taking care of her all have my prayers.

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    #3
    Nellasing said:

    You and your mom and the team

    You and your mom and the team taking care of her all have my prayers.

    Thank you so much Nellasing!

    Thank you so much Nellasing! Your support and prayers mean so much to us!

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #4
    Post Op

    I can't remember if your mom's 1st surgery was with an abdominal incision or not,  but I think it was. Compared to that this should be much easier if it's done by robot, so let that thought help to keep you both less anxious beforehand. I got a good suggestion for having GasX on hand for post-op pain. Those post-op gas bubbles can travel around to cause discomfort in unexpected places. For me, I had one setttle in my right shoulder right by my medi-port that bothered me the most, but otherwise I didn't even need ibuprofen for pain. Your mom probably will need something since she's having an omenectomy and more lymph nodes removed, though. The other thing that helps, like for the hysterctomy, is being upright and walking around a bit in the hours and days afterward to prevent ileus. I had that with my first surgery because I was so tied down to the bed with tubes and it was not fun! Prayers and hugs! Hang in there!

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    edited October 2016 #5
    Sending hope, prayers, and

    Sending hope, prayers, and hugs to both of you.  Your mom is lucky she has such a caring daughter close to,her.  Hoping for a quick recovery.

    Lou Ann

  • Mmpeterson
    Mmpeterson Member Posts: 124
    #6
    Sending hugs and many prayers

    Sending hugs and many prayers for your mom and your family that everything goes well!  Maryanne 

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
    #7
    (((Rebecca and Rebecca's mom)

    (((Rebecca and Rebecca's mom)))  I hope all goes well with this surgery and they don't find any more cancer.  She is very lucky to have a daughter like you!!!

    Love,

    Eldri

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    edited October 2016 #8
    Hope this surgery goes well

    Hope this surgery goes well and she recovers quickly.  Yes, the laparoscopic surgery will be much easier on her.  Hoping for all clear!

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    edited October 2016 #9
    Praying that the surgery goes well

    Rebecca, I will be praying for your mom, her medical team and for you. Hang in there and please let her know that we're wishing her a successful surgery and quick recovery. Kim

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,811 Member
    edited October 2016 #10
    Ditto what the other ladies

    Ditto what the other ladies said! This will all be behind you both soon!

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • LindyLu
    LindyLu Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2016 #11
    Hugs and prayers

    Sending hugs and good wishes that all goes well for your Mom, Rebecca.  Don't forget to take good care of yourself as well!  You're both strong women and will get through this.  LindyLou

  • giggs100
    giggs100 Member Posts: 91 Member
    #12
    Prayers

    Prayers that your mom's surgery goes well.  I had 42 lymph nnodes removed and never had lymphadema.  

    Jerri 

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    edited October 2016 #13
    MAbound said:

    Post Op

    I can't remember if your mom's 1st surgery was with an abdominal incision or not,  but I think it was. Compared to that this should be much easier if it's done by robot, so let that thought help to keep you both less anxious beforehand. I got a good suggestion for having GasX on hand for post-op pain. Those post-op gas bubbles can travel around to cause discomfort in unexpected places. For me, I had one setttle in my right shoulder right by my medi-port that bothered me the most, but otherwise I didn't even need ibuprofen for pain. Your mom probably will need something since she's having an omenectomy and more lymph nodes removed, though. The other thing that helps, like for the hysterctomy, is being upright and walking around a bit in the hours and days afterward to prevent ileus. I had that with my first surgery because I was so tied down to the bed with tubes and it was not fun! Prayers and hugs! Hang in there!

    Thank you so much. Her first

    Thank you so much. Her first surgery was done laparoscopically as well, but it took her a little longer than average to heal from that due to the hypermetabolic fluid. The doctor said this one should heal more quickly because it's not taking out nearly as much as the first time.

    Thanks for the reminder about the GasX. I think I'm more prepared this time around and will make sure she has everything she could possibly need--- GasX, painkillers, stool softener, and walking whenever she can to get her bowels moving.

    Best,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    edited October 2016 #14
    Lou Ann M said:

    Sending hope, prayers, and

    Sending hope, prayers, and hugs to both of you.  Your mom is lucky she has such a caring daughter close to,her.  Hoping for a quick recovery.

    Lou Ann

    Thank you Lou Ann! Your

    Thank you Lou Ann! Your prayers are so welcome. I'm hoping her recovery from this second surgery will be relatively quick too. :)

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    #15
    Mmpeterson said:

    Sending hugs and many prayers

    Sending hugs and many prayers for your mom and your family that everything goes well!  Maryanne 

    Thank you Maryanne! I'm

    Thank you Maryanne! I'm hoping everything goes well and that this will be her final surgery for a long long time!

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    edited October 2016 #16
    EZLiving66 said:

    (((Rebecca and Rebecca's mom)

    (((Rebecca and Rebecca's mom)))  I hope all goes well with this surgery and they don't find any more cancer.  She is very lucky to have a daughter like you!!!

    Love,

    Eldri

    Thank you for your kind words

    Thank you for your kind words, Eldri. That is my greatest hope at the moment, that there is no more evidence of cancer. It would give us some relief and would make my mom feel more positive as she goes through the next treatment steps. I try to remind her all the time that her cancer is not a death sentence and that many people with later stages are still living well. But we all hope to all dance forever with NED, don't we?

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    #17
    Editgrl said:

    Hope this surgery goes well

    Hope this surgery goes well and she recovers quickly.  Yes, the laparoscopic surgery will be much easier on her.  Hoping for all clear!

    Thanks Chris! Her first

    Thanks Chris! Her first surgery was also done laparoscopically, but it still took her a long time to recover. In fact, she's still recovering now from the first one, so I hope her second surgery won't be too much for her. I'm hoping against all hope that everything comes out clear from pathology reports, but since she had positive peritoneal washings the first time, I don't know how likely it will come out negative this time since she hasn't had chemo yet.

    Best,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    edited October 2016 #18
    Kvdyson said:

    Praying that the surgery goes well

    Rebecca, I will be praying for your mom, her medical team and for you. Hang in there and please let her know that we're wishing her a successful surgery and quick recovery. Kim

    Thank you for your prayers,

    Thank you for your prayers, Kim! I will pass on your message to her! Will keep you updated. :)

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    #19
    TeddyandBears_Mom said:

    Ditto what the other ladies

    Ditto what the other ladies said! This will all be behind you both soon!

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

    Thanks so much Cindi, your

    Thanks so much Cindi, your support is greatly appreciated! I will keep you all updated.

    Best,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    #20
    LindyLu said:

    Hugs and prayers

    Sending hugs and good wishes that all goes well for your Mom, Rebecca.  Don't forget to take good care of yourself as well!  You're both strong women and will get through this.  LindyLou

    Thanks LindyLou, you too. I

    Thanks LindyLou, you too. I am praying for the best outcomes for all of those who are currently going through treatment right now, which includes you.

    Love,
    Rebecca

  • rcdeman
    rcdeman Member Posts: 263 Member
    edited October 2016 #21
    giggs100 said:

    Prayers

    Prayers that your mom's surgery goes well.  I had 42 lymph nnodes removed and never had lymphadema.  

    Jerri 

    Jerri, your words really give

    Jerri, your words really give me hope. I'm so concerned that taking out more lymph nodes would result in lymphadema and overall general unwellness for my mom. She really didn't want to go through with the second surgery, but I think we've resigned ourselves that this is the best course because we need to know where her cancer stands in order to go forward with the best treatment.

    I'm not what else I can do that could possibly decrease her chances of lymphadema. Was there anything special or out of the ordinary that you did during your treatment to help prevent lymphadema? Did you go through external radiation?

    Thank you!
    Rebecca

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