Hi there,
I went into Wgtn hospital today and met with my Breast Surgeon. She examined me and was pleased with the surgery and gave me the histology/results of tissue analysis. The cancer was grade 3 i.e. growing quickly but I think is stage 1 - very early stage. It was 10 mm and is estrogen positive (fed by estrogen). The surgeon said that if the tumour was 9mm, she would not need to refer me to oncology - but as it is 10mm, that is her cut off point so she will refer me to oncology (who will talk to be about chemotherapy and what might work/statistics etc). They may not recommend chemo but they also might. I don't have the HER 2 neu result yet (which indicates whether I need Herceptin again) so those results will come through soon. I will meet with oncology in around a month. So...the upshot is, that I probably don't need chemo but will still meet with oncology to hear what they have to say. i still require a medication to inhibit estrogen production and may/may not require Herceptin. So..I guess I will be back to work in a month and just focus on getting better. I have the remaining stitches out tomorrow and am feeling a lot better. I will go home to my place at the end of the weekend so that is a milestone. Also, have much less need for painkillers...and bought myself a dress today to celebrate. I needed a treat. x
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Monday 27 June 2011
Managing risks
Today, I am feeling good. There were a few milestones today: most of my stitches are out (the rest out on Wednesday), the plastic surgeon is pleased with the surgery so far (I gave her some flowers as she is a brilliant surgeon) and...I don't have a DVT (clot). Saturday morning, I woke up with a sore calf and on Sunday, again, a sore calf. Mum thought that we should double check that it wasn't a DVT as I am high risk. So I had an appointment with a GP on Sunday. He thought I probably didn't have a DVT but wanted me to have an ultrasound. He rang Wellington hospital and was assured that I would be seen ...so in I sent. First step, a blood test to assess whether a blood clot was showing - you may know that veins are difficult for me but the nurse was finally able to find one on my hand. After waiting for an hour or so, I was told that my blood level was 2000 when the usual is 500. However, that is normal when someone has just had surgery. So..I waited for the ultrasound and the doctor. Luckily, a couple of friends came to visit me and that was nice. Eventually.....after waiting three hours, a nice doctor came in and did an exam. He thought that I didn't have a clot but wanted me to have an ultrasound but I'd need to wait 1-3 hours or the next day. As I was tired, I decided to opt for the next day. He was a lovely doctor :) and that made up for some of the inconvenience. Better to be safe than sorry.
Today, I had the ultrasound and was cleared of a clot.
I also had my first shower without help and noticed that I didn't need as many pain killers yesterday/today. So I'm moving towards wellness.
Tomorrow, I get the results from the Breast Surgeon ....and Wednesday, the rest of the stitches out.
x A
Today, I had the ultrasound and was cleared of a clot.
I also had my first shower without help and noticed that I didn't need as many pain killers yesterday/today. So I'm moving towards wellness.
Tomorrow, I get the results from the Breast Surgeon ....and Wednesday, the rest of the stitches out.
x A
Wednesday 22 June 2011
One week on from op
Hi there, I detailed a bit about the surgery and 24-48 hours afterwards. But not the updates since.
On the Friday, I was able to sit up in a lazyboy chair for about an hour and started my first physio exercises and on the Saturday, I sat in the chair for about four hours - and I think did a small walk around the ward.
On the Saturday, one of the lovely nurses told me that things would improve a lot each day as tubes start to be removed on a daily basis. On Sunday, I had the oxygen removed as my oxygen levels were ok.
Drains had to drain less than 30ml a day in order to be removed and two were removed on the Monday along with the canula/needle in the back of my hand. Also, the catheter came out on the Monday. It was a good day. So I was able to get up and go to the toilet and also have a seated shower. The doctors also said that I could go home on the Tuesday if things improved at the rate that they were going. YAY.
On the Tuesday, another drain was removed which left me going home with only one drain (draining from my tummy). The drains are put into cute pink bags so that you can walk around with them. However, as I have this tube coming out of my abdomen, it is very hard to wear clothes - I decided to cut a hole in some track pants so the tube can come out :)
I really bonded with three nurses - they were sweet, caring and so helpful, giving me pep talks about how I would feel and that having a cry was normal. And making me feel comfortable There was a couple of nurses who upset me - and one time when my buzzer wasn't working. I couldn't work out why I was pressing it and nobody came. It was a powerless experience.
I thought I would feel anxious about having nurses washing me, but when you need a wash, you just don't care who sees what. Also, same with the catheter. It didn't bother me at all.
My plastic surgeon had the flu so hadn't been at work since the surgery but she was fantastic - so experienced, so kind and even gave me a hug before the surgery. I have so much admiration for the medical team - including two female lead surgeons. The hospital is also a training hospital and quite a few students were around; it was inspiring to see an amazing group of new surgeons coming through.
Each time someone would check my breast, they'd use the word perfect. It was such a relief to pass the critical point where if something had gone wrong, I would have needed to go back into surgery to replace the breast tissue. To be honest, when I was feeling so grotty, I almost didn't care what the breast looked like as I just wanted to feel better - but in a few weeks, I will really care :)
So it appears that the surgery has been a complete success and as each day passes, the trauma reduces slightly. It is amazing how the body heals along with the mind.
As of Thursday one week later, I still have some serious healing to do - stitches on abdomen and breast - and not able to lift very much - or use my right arm much at all. I am walking slowly and able to shower seated (with my Mum's help). I am resting almost the whole day and taking pain killers every two to four hours. When I am late with them, I know all about it. The antibiotics make me a bit nauseous and I have quite an upset tummy. I am able to eat a little more each day but don't really have an appetite yet. But I am feeling my spirit is back :)
Also, I had some beautiful flowers in my hospital room - very uplifting - and especially the card from people at work, the words were lovely. Yesterday, another bunch arrived from a friend in Chch. I have a lot of support and caring around me. x A
On the Friday, I was able to sit up in a lazyboy chair for about an hour and started my first physio exercises and on the Saturday, I sat in the chair for about four hours - and I think did a small walk around the ward.
On the Saturday, one of the lovely nurses told me that things would improve a lot each day as tubes start to be removed on a daily basis. On Sunday, I had the oxygen removed as my oxygen levels were ok.
Drains had to drain less than 30ml a day in order to be removed and two were removed on the Monday along with the canula/needle in the back of my hand. Also, the catheter came out on the Monday. It was a good day. So I was able to get up and go to the toilet and also have a seated shower. The doctors also said that I could go home on the Tuesday if things improved at the rate that they were going. YAY.
On the Tuesday, another drain was removed which left me going home with only one drain (draining from my tummy). The drains are put into cute pink bags so that you can walk around with them. However, as I have this tube coming out of my abdomen, it is very hard to wear clothes - I decided to cut a hole in some track pants so the tube can come out :)
I really bonded with three nurses - they were sweet, caring and so helpful, giving me pep talks about how I would feel and that having a cry was normal. And making me feel comfortable There was a couple of nurses who upset me - and one time when my buzzer wasn't working. I couldn't work out why I was pressing it and nobody came. It was a powerless experience.
I thought I would feel anxious about having nurses washing me, but when you need a wash, you just don't care who sees what. Also, same with the catheter. It didn't bother me at all.
My plastic surgeon had the flu so hadn't been at work since the surgery but she was fantastic - so experienced, so kind and even gave me a hug before the surgery. I have so much admiration for the medical team - including two female lead surgeons. The hospital is also a training hospital and quite a few students were around; it was inspiring to see an amazing group of new surgeons coming through.
Each time someone would check my breast, they'd use the word perfect. It was such a relief to pass the critical point where if something had gone wrong, I would have needed to go back into surgery to replace the breast tissue. To be honest, when I was feeling so grotty, I almost didn't care what the breast looked like as I just wanted to feel better - but in a few weeks, I will really care :)
So it appears that the surgery has been a complete success and as each day passes, the trauma reduces slightly. It is amazing how the body heals along with the mind.
As of Thursday one week later, I still have some serious healing to do - stitches on abdomen and breast - and not able to lift very much - or use my right arm much at all. I am walking slowly and able to shower seated (with my Mum's help). I am resting almost the whole day and taking pain killers every two to four hours. When I am late with them, I know all about it. The antibiotics make me a bit nauseous and I have quite an upset tummy. I am able to eat a little more each day but don't really have an appetite yet. But I am feeling my spirit is back :)
Also, I had some beautiful flowers in my hospital room - very uplifting - and especially the card from people at work, the words were lovely. Yesterday, another bunch arrived from a friend in Chch. I have a lot of support and caring around me. x A
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Second op down
Hi all, thanks for all the support and good wishes - messages, cards, flowers, texts, pressies....it's been great.
The surgery was a bit bigger than I expected and felt quite a trauma at that time. It was around five hours and I got back to my hospital bed around 5pm on the Thursday. The general anaesthetic and I didn't get on too well and I remember Thursday night - not being able to lift my hands - with a horrible taste in my mouth. Wine gums help a bit with this and Shaz and Nicky visited the hospital and gave me lollies and a bit of support. I had a wonderful nurse Leo who spoon fed me some yogurt; I was like a baby.
I woke up with four drains coming out of me - two from my breast and two from my tummy - these are tubes which drain fluid from the wound sites. A catheter so I didn't need to go to the toilet, a canula/needle in the back of my hand - with two lines, one for a morphine pump - where I could push the button and get a burst of morphine plus a drip with saline making sure I was hydrated. I also had an oxygen tube putting oxgyen straight into my nostrils. Anything else - I had anti blood clot socks on and the electric wraps that massage the legs (to avoid blood clots). The room was so hot; I was told that I had to keep the flap (skin/tissue taken from my tummy and moved to become a new breast) very warm in order for it to survive/not be rejected.
Hourly for 48 hours, medical staff checked my blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels and pulse plus checked my breast to see if it was the right shade of pink/that it was accepting, not rejecting. I also had daily injections into my thigh muscle of a drug to prevent blood clots, antibiotics injected twice daily through the back of my hand plus daily blood tests/taken from my feet! All this with 3-4 types of painkillers plus a variety of other drugs to stop nausea, inflammation and other things. I felt completely overwhelmed/that I couldn't cope and that I could not get through this. The first night, I had kind of druggy dreams about driving and monkey/jungles etc etc abut didn't sleep much at all. I realised that I couldn't cope seeing any visitors. I was spending basically all my time being nursed/doctored anyway - exhausting. Friday morning, mum arrived at 10am and I told her that I couldn't cope and could she help me. I was sweating from the heat so she was able to pin my hair up in little bunches so that I the back of my head wasn't sweating. Mum contacted people and let them know that I wasn't up to visitors, just focussing on survival really. Mum is a nurse and is amazing. She helped me wash my face, wash my glasses, brush my hair, she read to me and basically did heaps of things to help me try to be comfortable including cooking alternative meals to the uusally unappetising hospital meals. She stayed until around 3pm and continued that pattern of visits for the five days post surgery in hospital.
The doctors do their rounds at 8am each morning and told me that the surgery had gone perfectly - and that the breast flap was looking great. My tummy was also looking good. I have in effect had a tummy tuck with fat and muscle taken from the tummy and turned around/created into a breast - and apparently, they've created a new belly button.
Feeling a bit better each day so will update this tomorrow. x Andrea
The surgery was a bit bigger than I expected and felt quite a trauma at that time. It was around five hours and I got back to my hospital bed around 5pm on the Thursday. The general anaesthetic and I didn't get on too well and I remember Thursday night - not being able to lift my hands - with a horrible taste in my mouth. Wine gums help a bit with this and Shaz and Nicky visited the hospital and gave me lollies and a bit of support. I had a wonderful nurse Leo who spoon fed me some yogurt; I was like a baby.
I woke up with four drains coming out of me - two from my breast and two from my tummy - these are tubes which drain fluid from the wound sites. A catheter so I didn't need to go to the toilet, a canula/needle in the back of my hand - with two lines, one for a morphine pump - where I could push the button and get a burst of morphine plus a drip with saline making sure I was hydrated. I also had an oxygen tube putting oxgyen straight into my nostrils. Anything else - I had anti blood clot socks on and the electric wraps that massage the legs (to avoid blood clots). The room was so hot; I was told that I had to keep the flap (skin/tissue taken from my tummy and moved to become a new breast) very warm in order for it to survive/not be rejected.
Hourly for 48 hours, medical staff checked my blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels and pulse plus checked my breast to see if it was the right shade of pink/that it was accepting, not rejecting. I also had daily injections into my thigh muscle of a drug to prevent blood clots, antibiotics injected twice daily through the back of my hand plus daily blood tests/taken from my feet! All this with 3-4 types of painkillers plus a variety of other drugs to stop nausea, inflammation and other things. I felt completely overwhelmed/that I couldn't cope and that I could not get through this. The first night, I had kind of druggy dreams about driving and monkey/jungles etc etc abut didn't sleep much at all. I realised that I couldn't cope seeing any visitors. I was spending basically all my time being nursed/doctored anyway - exhausting. Friday morning, mum arrived at 10am and I told her that I couldn't cope and could she help me. I was sweating from the heat so she was able to pin my hair up in little bunches so that I the back of my head wasn't sweating. Mum contacted people and let them know that I wasn't up to visitors, just focussing on survival really. Mum is a nurse and is amazing. She helped me wash my face, wash my glasses, brush my hair, she read to me and basically did heaps of things to help me try to be comfortable including cooking alternative meals to the uusally unappetising hospital meals. She stayed until around 3pm and continued that pattern of visits for the five days post surgery in hospital.
The doctors do their rounds at 8am each morning and told me that the surgery had gone perfectly - and that the breast flap was looking great. My tummy was also looking good. I have in effect had a tummy tuck with fat and muscle taken from the tummy and turned around/created into a breast - and apparently, they've created a new belly button.
Feeling a bit better each day so will update this tomorrow. x Andrea
Friday 10 June 2011
First operation down
It's Saturday today and I got home from the hospital yesterday. I'm a bit sore and it all went to plan I think. I just need to get myself ready for operation #2 on Thursday. I'm staying with my parents and resting. I had a wee scare in post op when I had a reaction to an anti nausea drug...but was okay after 30 mins. I am a bit sore (maybe like a C section) after the 90 minute surgery and now find it a bit uncomfortable to do most things but am just taking panadol for the pain, I had some nice visitors in hospital and luckily, was able to use my cell phone. Trend alert - two of the four people on the ward had laptops on their beds :)
Talk soon, Andrea
Talk soon, Andrea
Friday 3 June 2011
Busy
Hello there, it's been a while. I seem to have got really busy...I decided to do a few weekend trips before the surgery date (as I didn't know when I would get to travel next). I visited a friend in Chch and the damage was gobsmacking down there...but we did find some nice cafes (not demolished) and had good chats. This weekend, I'm in Auckiwood - and have spent time with my niece and nephews plus the Auckiwood girls. I finished work on Friday - only to find out that I now have two surgeries. The first one is a preparatory surgery - to prepare the veins in my stomach so they are ready to be moved. The op will take an hour and I'll be in hospital overnight. The second op is a week later on the 16th and involves the mastectomy and full reconstruction from tissue in the tummy area. That op will take around five hours and I'll be in hospital for 5-7 days. Work was full on and I am glad to have taken some days before to get some sleep and relaxation, which is hard to do when work is full on.
I know the second surgery will be quite painful so I am not looking forward to it but I guess it's good to get it over with. So June is going to be hard but then things hopefully will get a lot easier. By the end of June, I'll have the results from surgery - analysis on the grade/stage/type of cancer and what happens next. So the rest of the year is a bit of a question mark....we will see. It is a good reminder that we are not in charge of life, though I can take charge of a few things.
I had an art therapy session last week and it was great. I was trying to plan what to do post-cancer e.g jobs, holidays etc but really, I needed to just be with where I am at right now and I can plan the future later. The therapist also suggested that I write a thank you - farewell letter to my breast or something like that to mark this significant occasion - so I will do something like that this week.
My cousin Loma and I had pedicures and manicures together - I have blue toes and bright pink fingernails - and it has given me quite a lift! Treats are good :)
This time, I've struggled with telling people that I have BC. It is hard any time but I'm aware there are quite a few people that don't know. It is strange running a double life but in some ways easier for me than having to explain myself so many times.
This week and next are the big weeks - I have the pre-assessment on Wed, surgery on Thurs and then the following Thursday. Mum and I went to the plastic surgery ward and had a tour - so I feel more comfy about where I am going post-surgery.
I am grateful for all the support that I have received from friends and family. It has been wonderful.
:) s
I know the second surgery will be quite painful so I am not looking forward to it but I guess it's good to get it over with. So June is going to be hard but then things hopefully will get a lot easier. By the end of June, I'll have the results from surgery - analysis on the grade/stage/type of cancer and what happens next. So the rest of the year is a bit of a question mark....we will see. It is a good reminder that we are not in charge of life, though I can take charge of a few things.
I had an art therapy session last week and it was great. I was trying to plan what to do post-cancer e.g jobs, holidays etc but really, I needed to just be with where I am at right now and I can plan the future later. The therapist also suggested that I write a thank you - farewell letter to my breast or something like that to mark this significant occasion - so I will do something like that this week.
My cousin Loma and I had pedicures and manicures together - I have blue toes and bright pink fingernails - and it has given me quite a lift! Treats are good :)
This time, I've struggled with telling people that I have BC. It is hard any time but I'm aware there are quite a few people that don't know. It is strange running a double life but in some ways easier for me than having to explain myself so many times.
This week and next are the big weeks - I have the pre-assessment on Wed, surgery on Thurs and then the following Thursday. Mum and I went to the plastic surgery ward and had a tour - so I feel more comfy about where I am going post-surgery.
I am grateful for all the support that I have received from friends and family. It has been wonderful.
:) s
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