Preparing for Surgery

Ahhh, so we took a quick trip to Disneyland with the boys so we could have a bit of fun before the long journey of Breast Reconstruction begins.  It was a great trip but just like all things had to come to an end.  Kids went back to school, Eric back to work and I had two meeting with my Dr. McHotties this morning.  I had to sign the surgical waivers for both Dr. Jones(General Surgeon) and Dr. Gold (Plastic Surgeon). Kristen my Breast Cancer Consultant was right by my side and she has asked me several times if I feel better now that I have made my decision? I feel like the Little Caboose thinking, I think I am, I think I am, I think I am but inside I feel full of anxiety and fear. I would like to believe that my faith is in God but there is that part of me that would like a sign.

And this is when I got a sign!!

I had one appt at 9:30 and it went pretty quickly because basically Dr. Jones portion of the surgery is removing my breast which will take approx 30 - 40 min.  The rest of the 6 hours will be the work of Dr. Gold.  I had about 45 minutes to kill before my next meeting and then Kristen appeared to tell me that there was a patient of Dr. Gold's who just completed all of her reconstructive surgeries with Dr. Gold (I'll call her Roberta.) Roberta was willing to meet with me and let me ask her questions.  Roberta had one breast removed and she opted for the TRAM Flap reconstruction.  Roberta actually waited with me and then came back to the exam room so that I could actually see Dr. Gold's work. I was really excited about this chance meeting. Dr. Gold began Roberta's reconstruction in Dec 2010 and it was completed Feb 2012.  Her new breast looks amazing!!  I am so happy I was able to see this in person and to hear so much praise from her regarding Dr. Gold.  Roberta told me that the first surgery is pretty tough but that she would do it all again.  In total Roberta  had 5 surgeries because she opted to have her nipple reconstructed using her thigh tissue.  I have not made any decisions yet about what I will do with my nipple reconstruction.  I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Dear Baby Jesus,
Thank you for today!!
Love Lisa

Birthday

Happy to celebrate another Birthday.   A friend had posted this song from Melissa Etheridge .  I did not know she was a breast cancer survivor but I really like this song:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vigIVXDmHdI&feature=share

Thanks Katie

Plastic Surgery Consult

It has been a bit since my last blog and I felt the urge to write about my recent meeting with the plastic surgeon. Eric and I met with Dr. Gold who informed me of my options for reconstructive surgery. My 3 options are:

1. Remove breast and wait to have reconstructive surgery.
2. Remove breast and insert spacers for silicone or saline implants
3. Remove breast and use my own tissue/muscle to rebuild my breast.

After thoroughly examining me he did inform me that I am a candidate for the TRAM Flap Reconstruction. This  is a procedure where they use my tissue from my stomach to rebuild my breast (they can also use tissue from the back, thigh, buttocks.)

http://www.mayoclinic.org/breast-cancer/tramsurgery.html

I was pleased to hear that I am a candidate for this procedure.  If I chose to have implants they would have to be redone approximately every 10 years.  If I use my own tissue than I will not have to readdress the issue after the breast reconstruction is complete.  

As with every choice there is pros/cons with each decision.  The entire reconstruction is a 9 - 12 month process.  Dr. Gold likened it to having a baby.  

My surgery is scheduled for 31 May 2012.  The general surgeon, Dr. Jones, who performed my lumpectomy will remove my breast and Dr. Gold, the plastic surgeon will begin my plastic surgery. I will be in the hospital for 4 days as long as everything goes as planned.  

I pray every day that I am making the right decision. Thankfully Eric is supportive of my choice.

Post-Op Good News & Bad News

2 May 2012 ~ I had my post-op appointment for the lumpectomy procedure that was done on 20 April 2012.  I felt my scars were healing well and that I am now able to lift my arm and mostly carry on a regular day. We were hoping that the Doctor would have some results since we hadn't heard anything since the lumpectomy. I was not really prepared for the results we received.  Dr. Jones came in and began with,"I have good news and I have bad news." Well.......Blrgggggggg!!  He says, "I took 9 lymph nodes from under your arm and tested them all for cancer and they did not come up positive. This is excellent news because if the cancer was in the lymph nodes then the cancer can easily spread throughout your entire body.  The bad news is the lumpectomy specimen with the margins I removed came back positive for more cancer.  I did not remove enough margins around the cancer.  It appears there is more cancer in your breast that will need to be removed."  Oh boy, it felt like the first day they told me I had breast cancer.  All of a sudden I hear the word cancer and my heart is racing and I can't seem to process what Dr. Jones and Kristen are saying.  I immediately ask Eric to start writing down everything because my mind has just gone to mush.

Okay, I tell myself to take a few breaths and then begin with some questions for Dr. Jones.  Due to the kindness of many family and friends I am loaded with Cancer information.  Dr. Jones says, "You have a few options.  I go back in to remove more margins from the breast area and we test the specimen and then carry on with radiation treatment, assuming he gets all the cancer the second time.  Or I have the option of a mastectomy." Truthfully before I had received this information I had already discussed with Eric that if the lumpectomy came back with not good margins that I was going to opt for a mastectomy.  We all know that making decisions on a hypothetical is so much easier then when one is really faced with having to make a decision when we are in the thick of it. I mean all of sudden I thought, oh my gosh my breast...MY BREAST!!!   Of course making this decision is really all my decision because what people choose to do in regards to their health is very personal.  I then asked Dr Jones, "If I was your wife sitting here, what would you recommend she do?" At first he was hesitant because he did not want to make the choice for me and I understand but I said, "I am not asking you to tell me what to do, but I am asking you, if hypothetically I was your wife sitting here what would you recommend." He said a mastectomy.

Since we had a lot of information to process and discuss, Eric and I asked for some time to make a decision.  I do have an appointment with a plastic surgeon next Tuesday.  If I am going with the mastectomy(which I am leaning toward) they will remove my breast and begin reconstructive surgery at the same time. I feel like I need to just stomp this cancer out.  I figure if the bad breast is gone there is no place for the cancer to grow back.  I have 3 young boys and I can't afford to mess around with this stuff.

A Week After Surgery

I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy a week ago, 20 April 2012.  The surgeon removed the cancer mass and 4 lymph nodes from underneath my arm. The surgeon was pretty sure that he removed enough margins around the cancer to be safe.  They still have to biopsy to be sure they removed enough skin around the cancer. We should know the results in about 10 days, basically "don't call us, we will call you." I have a post-op meeting on Wednesday, May 2nd. Praying for Good News!!

The first two days after the surgery I was in a lot of pain.  It felt like someone had stuck a hot poker into my breast and underarm area, OW!!  They gave me some really good narcotics for the pain and medicine for upset stomach.  The meds took away the pain but gave me an awful headache.  Thankfully I am down to taking Motrin for the pain. For those that don't know, the cancer was is in the right breast and I am right handed.  This has been really challenging having to navigate with my left arm and hand.  Eric and I are super grateful for having Grammy and Grandma(his mom and my mom) here to help out.  As you could imagine, after Eric being gone to Iraq for almost a year and then returning home with this stressful situation on our hands has also been very challenging.

Thank you to everyone that has made meals, sent cards, gifts of love, called and stopped bye to check on us. We are very blessed to have such loving family and friends.  Big Hugs and Kisses to you all!!!! xoxo

Thank you Grammy J and Nan

So grateful to have our moms here to watch the boys while Eric and I were able to go off on our own.  We had a wonderful time.  I did not really think much about the procedure that is ahead of me on Friday.  This entire situation still feels surreal.  Now time for some deep breathing exercises.

Thank you Grammy J and Nan for being her for me, Eric, and the 3 C's.

Random 13 April 2012

I have many random thoughts regarding this whole situation.  I feel good about the surgeon and his feeling towards my choice of treatment.  I feel like I am getting ready to give birth and I am in a nesting phase.  I have a long list of things I want to get done before they perform this procedure and I am out of commission for a bit. I feel it will be like coming home with a new born but I have to just take care of myself while family and friends help Eric with the 3 C's. As my Breast Cancer Counselor said,  "Cancer is an inconvenience." Thank goodness for modern medicine. Going with a positive side that there will be no cancer in the lymph nodes it will take about 6 months out of my life.

Eric's mom will be arriving tomorrow to help us out as well. Sweet!! Mom's ROCK!

I have a long "Honey Do" list:  Charlie's field trip(ck), Garage Sale, Baseball Games, Hanging out with our friends, Charlie's Birthday, pre-op appt, two day alone time with my hubby(yippee), Haiti Dinner(sweet no cooking), Choir and then Surgery(long rest). As my girlfriend Laura (Breast Cancer Survivor) said, "When you have young children to take care of they don't really understand when you are not feeling well, they just need taking care of."  I don't have time for this "C business."