Saw both my surgeon and my local onc today (surgeon called onc in). Surgeon really not happy that Marsden are keeping my skin mets stable rather than trying to eradicate them. As much as I’m not happy with the outcome of the appt I’m completely happy with his explanations and concern for me.
I have my appt with Marsden on Monday and shall ask to see Dr J (the consult)to discuss any possible options of ridding me of these mets. I just feel that as well as I am they are stopping me from moving forward and feeling better about my body, no recon and no reduction now.
I did ask about other surgery and he said that if I needed emergency surgery they would proceed and take the chance, the reduction is cosmetic as there is no disease.
Back to school tomorrow so be too busy to dwell on things
Sorry you are so down and no wonder. What chance do we have if the experts can’t agree!! I really hope something can be done to erradicate your skin mets. Seems to me that if you are willing and there’s any chance of succeeding they should try.
I also had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday. My mastectomy is scheduled for 14th and this was my final chance to talk it over with him. I’ve decided not to have an immediate reconstruction due to the risk of skin mets and so that I can recover quickly and get back on Herceptin. While he didn’t attempted to persuade me either way before I decided, he now says he thinks I’ve made the right decision. I’ve been luckier than you with my request for a reduction on the unaffected breast. My plastic surgeon (a woman) has agreed to do it after my treatment is over whether or not I eventually have a recon. She’s very keen on us feeling as good as we can about our look. Strange that standards should be applied so differently depending on who you see. I hope for you that they change their minds.
Feel better today, moving forward with my thoughts so to speak.
Theresa, any emergency surgery would be performed for me, breast or otherwise.
Jan, if I didn’t already have skin mets there would have been no question (in fairness) about having the reduction. Both my surgeon and local onc agree too that every lady should have the choice of follow up surgery to help with confidence etc. Just my bad luck re the pesky mets
Hope all goes well with your mastectomy, and Theresa has her surgery about a week ahead of you I think so not long now.
Hi Jackie - good to hear you are feeling abit better about things…
Yes i’ve got my mastectomy on Monday… will probably pack my bag tomorrow so it is done and out the way… I have to go to the hospital at 7.30am on monday and am due to have surgery during the morning session… They did ask if i wanted to go in the night before - but i know just how noisy that ward is… lol
Hi Paula… I was only wondering the other day how you are getting on… I really hope things are going well and that the chemo has been working well… Don’t worry i don’t think your coughing kept me awake… More like the phones ringing, and all the crashes and equipment being moved around… lol
Just wanted to pop in quickly to say hi and to wish you well for your op tomorrow, hope I am not too late. Hope everything goes well and you recover well from the op. Take very good care of yourself xxxx
Jackie, so sorry to hear about your disappointment re your reduction, but hope your appointment with the Marsden goes well tomorrow and you get some really good answers.
Thinking of you today and hope the meeting at the Marsden goes OK. I know how frustrating it can be when you are geared up for one course of action and then the surgeon and/or the onc have perfectly good reasons for going down a different route.
Theresa. Hoped to catch you before you left for the hospital but wishing you all the best. Maybe the hospital has an internet link and you can stay in touch anyway. Heres hoping that everone is as quiet as a mouse and you get some rest
Well ladies back from Marsden and feeling quite cheered up!
Had herceptin which went well though my good vein is beginning to resist the cannula!
Clinic appt with new rotation of oncs, saw lovely lady. Very thorough examination and long chat.
She feels that as nothing has ever been found on my good side it’s worth referring to Dr Johnson (head honcho at Marsden)for his view on surgery. (She reminded me that she is an onc not a surgeon though).
She is going to ring me at the end of the week.
I guess I still feel it will be a ‘NO’ but at least I will have exhausted all avenues. She totally understood my reasons for such surgery and asked me how sure I was about wanting to proceed. She very definetly led the conversation and made quite a few notes.
So is it down to personal choice with surgeons or will they all agree with my local team?
Will let you know
Jackie x
Dr J can understand where my local onc/surgeon are coming from but feels that as there has never been any probs with my ‘good side’ and because the surgery is not for cosmetic reasons I should see their surgeons for a consult.
They are writing a letter of referral today.
I was only wondering the other day how you are getting on… 