Out of the woods

susabella
susabella Member Posts: 46
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello, and I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. I'm 2 and a half weeks post mastectomy and reconstruction and got the drains out the day before the holiday. Talk about grateful! The pathology came back great. The lumpectomy that I had in August missed some DCIS in the left breast and the right breast had atypical cells, so I'm so glad I opted to be aggressive and go for the bilateral mastectomy. It was the right decision. Because nothing was invasive, I don't need further treatment, just careful monitoring. I'll be going for genetic testing when I'm healed, as I have such an extensive family history. I'm just about sagging with relief that the worst is behind me. I'm happy with the reconstruction so far, although at first it looked pretty scary.

I've been thinking of all you ladies and hoping your battles have been going well. I'm sorry to read about your fever, Karenack! Hang in there, and keep advocating for yourself. I know it's hard to keep pushing when you feel awful.

My sister and my aunt have both joined the National Sister Study. I'm so proud and hope what is learned will help other women to stop losing their breasts. I hate this beast and what it does to us. We are forever changed with our diagnosis and I'm still reeling with what has happened. I know I've begun the long slow healing process, but I'm learning that it may be harder to heal within than my body. For now I'm just profoundly grateful. Thanks for all the encouragement and support and good thoughts. They're going right back at all of you!

Hugs and prayers,
Sue

Comments

  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #2
    Wonderful news, Sue! Thank you for sharing. This truly is a time for thanks, isn't it? I hope your new breasts heal well, and that you have many more years of health. I will say a prayer for you. God bless.
    -Michael
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #3
    Adding my good wishes and encouragement. So happy that you won't have to do the full treatment... Hope that the rest of your recovery goes well. I will be sending many good wishes your way.

    Susan
  • jamilli
    jamilli Member Posts: 16
    #4
    Hi
    Looks like we will be healing together. I had an implant put in on my left for symmetry (11-16)and a Diep procedure on the right(11-14) after having my expander removed on the left on 11-09.
    I had three surgeries in 8 days!!!Cancer was ruled out on the left by MRI. I removed my drains myself yesterday(from my breasts)what a relief.
    It looks like we both followed a very convoluted course of care. It was so overwhelming when my surgical plan was reajusted upon my doctor's visit when I got to California. But this plastic surgeon was amazingly thorough.
    I know what you mean about "pushing". I never stopped. Unfortuneatly I may have been a little overbearing with the postop floor staff. I wanted them to wash their hands before they saw me and told them this (a little post op delirium comes in handy). In the long run they were incredibly caring and diligent.
    I'm home for two more weeks before returning to work on light duties.
    Today I feel great.
    Happy healing.
    Jamilli
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Hello, Sue!

    You know, it is amazing what our intuition tells us...my first PET scan for colorectal cancer lit up my breast lump, second one didn't. Docs were willing to buy 'false positive'. I WASN'T. Needle biopsy found adenocarcinoma. Surgery found sentinel node involvement. If I had not listened, I would be a colorectal cancer survivor walking around with metastatic breast cancer!!! Instead I am NED...cancer free!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    KathiM said:

    Hello, Sue!

    You know, it is amazing what our intuition tells us...my first PET scan for colorectal cancer lit up my breast lump, second one didn't. Docs were willing to buy 'false positive'. I WASN'T. Needle biopsy found adenocarcinoma. Surgery found sentinel node involvement. If I had not listened, I would be a colorectal cancer survivor walking around with metastatic breast cancer!!! Instead I am NED...cancer free!

    Hugs, Kathi

    OH! AND....

    YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA!

    NAKED happy dance for your news and the sister study!!!!

    Hugs, kathi
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #7
    So, so glad to hear from you susabella, I was hoping to see you post soon. I think you have been very brave, as have many others here.

    God Bless, Kathy

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