Surgery Tuesday

jk1952
jk1952 Member Posts: 613
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
On Tuesday, I am having my fourth (lumpectomy, bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction, D&C and now reconstruction tune-ups) surgery in 2009. I'm then planning that 2010 will be smooth sailing. Actually, I'm hoping to live long and have no more surgeries, ever.

I'll have one breast reduced to match the other one, and I plan to have nipples done, so it's minor compared to many of the other surgeries that I've had over the years. But, it's the first time that it's been a cosmetic surgery, and one that I have chosen to have done, rather than a medical necessity. I'm not the superstitious type, but I think that I am more concerned about something going wrong since this surgery is not a 'must do'. I'd appreciate your prayers and good thoughts.

Joyce
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Comments

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    Hi Joyce
    I am sending you lots of prayers and good thoughts Joyce! Praying for good health for you in 2010!


    Sue :)
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    Ritzy said:

    Hi Joyce
    I am sending you lots of prayers and good thoughts Joyce! Praying for good health for you in 2010!


    Sue :)

    Good luck
    Wishing you good luck with your surgery Joyce! Update us when you can!
  • missgogo
    missgogo Member Posts: 58
    Good Luck
    Good luck on Tues. Love and Prayers sending your way. I am to faceing surgery that day also. My Cancer came back so they have to clean my scar up.
  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    missgogo said:

    Good Luck
    Good luck on Tues. Love and Prayers sending your way. I am to faceing surgery that day also. My Cancer came back so they have to clean my scar up.

    wishing you well~
    ~Joyce I have been down a similar road. I had 5 surgeries over 3 1/2 years. And reconstruction was the last 3. I am happy and pleased, and I did as the doctor instructed and all came out well, very well. Cosmetically speaking, it is about us being pleased with our new bodies~kind of. It is an adjustment for sure. I will be thinking of you and praying for you as tuesday approaches and you get home to heal. I always stock the cupboards and fridge with the goodies that i love, and are easy to prepare~plus bought new jammies and slippers for my recovery. Fresh sheets on the bed, and I was ready for it all.
    Melanie
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member

    wishing you well~
    ~Joyce I have been down a similar road. I had 5 surgeries over 3 1/2 years. And reconstruction was the last 3. I am happy and pleased, and I did as the doctor instructed and all came out well, very well. Cosmetically speaking, it is about us being pleased with our new bodies~kind of. It is an adjustment for sure. I will be thinking of you and praying for you as tuesday approaches and you get home to heal. I always stock the cupboards and fridge with the goodies that i love, and are easy to prepare~plus bought new jammies and slippers for my recovery. Fresh sheets on the bed, and I was ready for it all.
    Melanie

    Good luck, will be thinking
    Good luck, will be thinking of you. hugs
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    Best wishes to you, Joyce
    With sincere hopes that all will go well.

    And, yes, that as 2009 nears its end - 2010 will be a much better year for you.

    Kind regards,
    Susan
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    Joyce
    Sending you positive thoughts for your upcoming surgery.

    I'm sure you will do fine, and can start looking forward to a surgery-free future!

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • karen0423
    karen0423 Member Posts: 67
    Hi- I had the DIEP in Jan
    Hi- I had the DIEP in Jan 2009 and have had 4 surgeries since (just had another one 2 weeks ago), it may seem that it is "cosmetic" but in reality it is reconstrucion after a mastectomy. (I waited 7 years to have it done) Everyone has different experiences so some only need one or two surgeries, but in my case due to healing issues etc. my "new breast" required more surgeries. Yes it is a choice to have the surgery, but it wasn't a choice to have the mastectomy. It was very hard to go 7 years with only one breast so even though some may say it was cosmetic, I don't feel that it was, after all the 1998 Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act requires Insurance to pay for reconstruction. I am happy for you that you are doing this, it will make all the difference in the world. I will say lots of prayers for you and if you want to chat "off" line about the surgery let me know. Karen
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    karen0423 said:

    Hi- I had the DIEP in Jan
    Hi- I had the DIEP in Jan 2009 and have had 4 surgeries since (just had another one 2 weeks ago), it may seem that it is "cosmetic" but in reality it is reconstrucion after a mastectomy. (I waited 7 years to have it done) Everyone has different experiences so some only need one or two surgeries, but in my case due to healing issues etc. my "new breast" required more surgeries. Yes it is a choice to have the surgery, but it wasn't a choice to have the mastectomy. It was very hard to go 7 years with only one breast so even though some may say it was cosmetic, I don't feel that it was, after all the 1998 Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act requires Insurance to pay for reconstruction. I am happy for you that you are doing this, it will make all the difference in the world. I will say lots of prayers for you and if you want to chat "off" line about the surgery let me know. Karen

    Wishing you good luck with
    Wishing you good luck with your surgery!

    Megan
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    Megan M said:

    Wishing you good luck with
    Wishing you good luck with your surgery!

    Megan

    Best of luck
    Best of luck Tuesday.
    We will all be there holding your hand in spirit.

    Margo
  • AmandaMarie29
    AmandaMarie29 Member Posts: 55
    Good Luck with your surgery
    Good Luck with your surgery Joyce! You will do great....I am sending you prayers and happy thoughts right now!

    Mandi
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613

    Good Luck with your surgery
    Good Luck with your surgery Joyce! You will do great....I am sending you prayers and happy thoughts right now!

    Mandi

    Thank you everyone for your

    Thank you everyone for your well wishes and prayers. I'm really looking forward to having this done.

    I did want to clarify: I had the DIEP reconstruction done in April and I am very happy with the results except my reconstructed breast on the good side is quite a bit larger than the one on the side where I had received radiation. My plastic surgeon is awesome: the surgery for both breasts was only 7 or 8 hours, despite the fact that there was a complication during the surgery because radiation had affected the blood supply to the breast area. I think that it is very common that this is the only surgery that this doctor performs, and the nipples are then done in his office. It seems that my case is more the exception, that there is an additional surgery post-DIEP. I've been so fortunate to have this doctor in my backyard (his office is 10 minutes from my house).

    Joyce
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    Hi, Joyce. Sending you best
    Hi, Joyce. Sending you best wishes for your surgery on Tuesday. Post when you can and give us the good news. Take care!!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    Best wishes to you, Joyce
    With sincere hopes that all will go well.

    And, yes, that as 2009 nears its end - 2010 will be a much better year for you.

    Kind regards,
    Susan

    Sending you Lots of Luck!
    Good luck Joyce! Post when you can to let us know how you are doing.



    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    I say, re-direct your
    I say, re-direct your thinking!! This surgery is definately a "must do"~ you must do it for your peace of mind, your mental health, your re-gaining of control, your being as physically beautiful outside as in, and you must do it so that 2010 will be the milestone marker of long,long, long, healthy life after cancer!

    Check in with us when you can!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    chenheart said:

    I say, re-direct your
    I say, re-direct your thinking!! This surgery is definately a "must do"~ you must do it for your peace of mind, your mental health, your re-gaining of control, your being as physically beautiful outside as in, and you must do it so that 2010 will be the milestone marker of long,long, long, healthy life after cancer!

    Check in with us when you can!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Thanks, Claudia. I needed
    Thanks, Claudia. I needed that reminder. I'm 57 and expecting to live at least 30 more years, and I wanted to get past the treatments in 2009, so I could start 2010 fresh.

    Joyce
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    In thoughts
    joyce, you will be in my thoughts and prayers on Tuesday!! Hugs, Diane
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    chickad52 said:

    In thoughts
    joyce, you will be in my thoughts and prayers on Tuesday!! Hugs, Diane

    Thinking of you
    Sending you good positive thoughts and prayers today Joyce!

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    susie09 said:

    Thinking of you
    Sending you good positive thoughts and prayers today Joyce!

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

    Sending you Hugs!
    Good luck with your surgery Joyce! Post and update us when you can!

    Lex♥
  • sallyf
    sallyf Member Posts: 33
    Alexis F said:

    Sending you Hugs!
    Good luck with your surgery Joyce! Post and update us when you can!

    Lex♥

    Lighting my candle
    Surgery today...lighting my healing candle, Joyce. What a brave and an amazing woman you are, remember that!
    Hugs, Sally