HI My name is Mel and I had a WLE and lymph nodes removed on News Years Eve. I was discharged yesterday with very liitle info or any of my questions answered as no one could read the surgeons notes!!!
Can any one tell me what axillary clearance level 2 actually means? Have all my lymph nodes gone???
Thank you
Mel
xx
Hi
Apparently we all have different amounts and sizes of lymph nodes. I had the same clearance done on Dec 7th and they removed 11. Others on this site have had over 20 removed! They will only take what they need to. When you get your histology report it will state how many they removed.
If you google Lymph Nodes there is a lot of info that you might find interesting.
Good luck with recovery! Remember to do those exercises and Happy New Year to you
Gill xxx
Hi Mel,
I’m a bit hazy myself, but my understanding is that there are three levels of lymph nodes in the armpit, so you will have had two levels removed. I had a level one clearance, but a lot on here talk about having had a full clearance, so I guess that leaves you in the middle.
Hopefully someone with better medical knowledge will reply also.
Hi Mel
Don’t live in UK so it may be a bit different for me but like you I was discharged with b****r all info - it was quite upsetting (understatement) so I know where you are coming from and it’s awful
The only thing I would say looking back is that understanding something doesn’t really help until someone tells you what it means to you and your treatment - so although you want to know what this means - when you do it will lead you to more questions - you may think you have found some answers to these on the internet but until someone tells you what you are going to get then you won’t be 100% sure . I kept building myself up for knowing but in the end it was 6 weeks after surgery before I found out whether and what type of chemo I was having. Quite frankly even once you know THAT you still don’t know how YOUR body is goig to react - so even then - until you start you don’t know how it will be for you.
This “not knowing” is very difficult (for me anyway) - I would say looking back my biggest mistake was to expect to know everything … it’s one day at a time … which is VERY difficult if you like to plan …
E.g. I now start chemo on Monday - I could have a reasonably easy week or it could be the pits - no idea and no-one can tell me until we do it … so even at the very edge of the diving board I still don’t know how deep the dive is going to be
It’s a very difficult balance between being prepared enough and not being able to prepare enough … I find this the hardest part …reading through the threads many people find it hard
Once I was finally told, I had learnt so much and had so many planA, planB etc that when it ended up being something different it threw me off balance completely. So whilst it is good to find out what you can on the internet, make sure that you don’t convince yourself 100% of what you are having as treatment - because it will REALLY be a shock if it isn’t. Obviously you need to do some research … I am not suggesting for a moment that you don’t
On a more practical note, I was given a ball to keep in my armpit - as well as the exercises. The exercises are really important and I had to use the ball to help the side of my chest wall stay flat. (No-one has mentioned balls so you may not do them in the UK). I did the exercises - but in a mechanical way - they helped a bit. But the best exercise was having visitors with small children (after about a month) as I just had to get on an use my arm without being too careful and now only 6/7 weeks after the operation I am over 80% back to normal. Clearly, you don’t want to do too much too soon, but using the arm normally has certainly helped mine return to normal - even though it felt as though it was pulling when I moved it. I hardly get that pulling feeling now.
I hope you know a bit more soon and good luck with any and all of your treatment
FizBix x
Hello Mel
We’re not allowed to post web addresses any more but if you google for lymph nodes you will probably find a diagram showing where the lymph nodes are. Level one is nearest to the breast, level 2 next and level 3 farthest away.
It’s really bad that you weren’t given more help or information. Have you tried speaking to your breast care nurse to see if she can give you some more information?
Best wishes
Anthi
Thanks everyone! I got so frustrated I ended up phoning my BCN to find out
Ready - I had the blue dye! 21 nodes removed but only 7 infected! the worst part is that after the WLE I was told that it was not successful so need to have a mascetomy! great so I am in on the 21st Jan for a full mascetomy. Feel like I have been hit with a lorry.
Thanks again
Hugs
Mel
x
Mate…I had the same. I had the lumpectomy done first…then 10 days later in for the mastectomy. It happens so fast that you dont really get time to think about it. I had 25 nodes removed and 5 came back manky, and dx as stage 3. Ive finished all my treatment so, yes its a long road…but we are all there for each other every step of the way. My advice on going in…is put loads of tuuuunes on an ipod…take your mobile in…take a teddy in with you…oh yes and nice thick fleecy tartan jammies and big fluffy slippers! Itll bloomin hurt, but no more than what youve had already…if im honest i found the lumpectomy hurt more than the mastectomy…if that makes sense, which it wont, but hey thats just me. The scar is teenytiny and i cant see mine anymore, and the plaster youll have when you come round is pathetic…its a narrow little strip…apparently i kicked off and complained that I wanted a proper plaster for having proper surgery, was not a happy buttons…but was erm away with the fairies on morphine so couldnt tell you.
Thanks buttons for the advice and OMG how did you know I got bid red fluffly tartan pajamas and fluffy slippers!! oh yes my mobile goes everywhere with me!!
Thanks
Mel
xx
aaaand dont forget to stipulate that you want jelly for when you come round…no reason for it…just that you want jelly.
Youll be fine chica…but the button down jammies will be easier for you for when you have to flash your bits and bobs and the surgeon when he/she comes round to check on you post op. Plus…im a jammies girl, not a nighties girl. Keep yours sense of humour about you…its not a mastectomy your are having…its a boob reduction. In with two, out with one, shut the old nosey bids up several times when I was in. Youll be fine, happy texting for when you are away with the fairies on morphine by the way…just deny all knowledge, apparently i sent out loads that made no sense whatsoever, and told my best mate exactly what i thought about her hubby…which was erm interesting apparently.
Hi ladies can I join you on this thread, I too had wle 13 Dec with axillary clearance - results 4 long weeks later came back no node involvment but no clear margins and upgraded to grade 3 from 2. I am booked back in for surgery on 31st Jan and need to deicde whether to have shaving or masectomy - 99.9% sure I will go for masectomy - I will also be having chemo and rads.
Buttons nice to hear your comment that masectomy not as bad as wle - did you have to stay in hospital for the same amount of time for both ops?
Karen
It must be quite common to go back and have another op. I too had a WLE with sentitel node biopsy. They didnt have a clear margin and found the 1/1 node cancerous. Went back three weeks later and had mastectomy and aux clearance. 11 nodes and they found another tumour!! Good decision made. Now near end of chemo and awating rads. The actual operation is the small part really. Good luck.
Vanessa
Hi Mel
just to let you know I had double mastectomy Oct 07 and was very surprised by the fact that I had no pain(or very little) . Maybe a little uncomfortable with movement but only needed morphine pen for one day after op then only had paracetamol and voltarol (inflammatory). It is just more frustrating that your movement is a bit restricted also I had LD recon done at same time. It really isn’t as bad we expect.
Wishing you all the best Love Sandra x x
I got told initially that my lump was benign…and I stamped my feet to get it removed…and good thing i did as I had the results 4 days after the lumpectomy as stage 3 er and pr positive…so straight back in to have the mastectomy. I didnt get given the choice of have it or not…a case of surgery, chemo, rads, pills jobs done. So ok, where do i sign and my god im getting drunk tonight!
I went in for the mastectomy early oclock on the friday (still sulking as i couldnt have a cup of tea) and was taken down just after 10am…was really getting narky about wanting a cup of tea lol. Was back up on the ward about 2 ish…on morphine for the first night…it was a continuous drip so erm i had no control over my mouth…and hubby kept it short with bringing his mum to come see me lol. I had one drain removed on saturday night…and the second drain removed on the sunday morning…and was back home again on the sunday night. I came home with paracetamol and diclofenec, which made me chuckle…here take some paracetamol…erm not got a headache! I found the lumpectomy hurt more than the mastectomy, and i had all my lymph nodes whipped out at the same time as mastectomy. I took it easy for the first week after the op, did all the exercises several times a day, which is v v v important. Slept with my arm on a pillow so it was a bit comfier and swore at hubby whenever he rolled over in his sleep! I bounced back quickly, but then thats just me…plus it was the week before xmas and there was no way i was going to miss out on the party (friday after mastectomy) boob or no boob…just was very careful to make sure nobody knocked me…but did have fun as the lads were discussing ‘war wounds’ and comparing scars…and I WON lol. Keep your humour about you, it does help…
Hey Mel,
I’m same as you - had a WLE and node clearance before Christmas and am due to go in for mastectomy on 21st Jan. Are you having an immediate reconstruction or not? I’m still dithering, especially as I’m going straight to radiotherapy after this (had pre-surgery chemo) and so can’t have the flap recon, but can have a tissue expander implant as a stop gap measure.
My surgeon told me that while the WLE and node clearance was quite a big op and I was in Mon-Sat, the mastectomy is a fairly minor op (surgically speaking) and I should be out by Wed! Apparently there are few nerves, blood vessels etc to tie off/reconnect. Every cloud has a silver lining…!
Hi MidnightCat,
Not given the option of immediate recon as I have loads of treatment planned for me afterwards!
So we go in on the same day! Lucky Us! What hospital you at I will be in a Stafford general! Lets hope we are not in for long…
Hi Buttons,
You sound as mad as me if you dont mind me saying!!!
I have quite a dark sense of humour but that my way I cope but others cant handle it!
I am trying to cope I have even looked at some piccies (grr) and looked at the chicken fillets (hehe) not sure which is worse!
Take Care All
Hugs & giggles
Mel
xx
Hi all
Hi Mel, I can imagine you do feel rather like youve been smacked in the face - another lot of surgery and all the trimmings`!!!
I remember sitting with the surgeon and trying to decide the best route to go down…chemo first to shrink or a mastectomy. But they had found a second bit lower down in the same breast…and Id had a second biopsy which was inconclusive so I decided to just get rid of the darn thing/s and I feel my surgeon was happy with the decision. I was in such a pickle waiting for a date to go in but once there, I knew I was in excellent hands and I just had to trust in it all. I think whatever decisions we make we will always have that little niggle about which was right - because youre just scared I guess.
I had a skin saving mastectomy just before Chistmas and it looks fantastic. It actually hurt less than my first biopsy Id had. (apart from when I first came round and I was rather sore and had a little morphine to help)...then it was just paracetamol and something to stop me throwing up. Ive never done that before - but…there you go!!
I had an implant as they werent sure if I would need radiotherapy ....and as that can damage body tissue it was better to have the silicon temporarily and then go from there once all treatment was done. Anyway - as I say - the skin saving (nipple removed however) looks great. Im not that big but I was matched up really well and I was confidently wearing lower tops and t-shirts only a week and half after surgery, once my dressings were removed, and feeling pretty pleased with myself. It was a confidence booster at a time when, lets face it, you feel pretty cruddy dont you?
Its all confusing ..lots of decisions and Mel, fancy not be able to read the surgeons notes...how frustrating. Just keep asking questions until you are happy with everything. re pyjamas... I had ridiculous Christmas red ones with sparkly snow flakes on. well....you cant be missed can you!! yes - all buttons down the front for easy access and display and for ease for you when dressing etc because it can pull underneath rather. and if you have an implant you can`t lift your arm high above your head for about four weeks so polo necks are somewhat of a challenge. anything with buttons is highly recommended.
good luck …hugs.
Ahh…you must have mr gendy then if your at stafford general…i had my boob job done there…the girls on the ward were fantastic, and i had a room to myself for the first night which was great…subtle hint…you can use your mobile, they changed the rules last january…however the last time they painted the walls they erm didnt take the signs down and just painted round them lol…which is why they cant take the signs down. The nurses on the ward are as mad as a box of frogs, and the assistants were lovely as well. Oh yeah…and you should have a new bed…and the top and bottom of the bed doesnt raise at the same time when you press the buttons…i know this cos i tried…had hours of fun pressing buttons lol.
Hi Buttons,
No not under Gendy got Dr Scoble - consultant and Miss Vydia is my surgeon!!!
I agree that the nurses are totally nutty - but I think you would need to be in that job!
Had a new bed last time and yep it was cool playing with th buttons OH thought I was reallllly sad but there is sod else to do! I kept pressing the up and down buttons to wind the nurses up! Had a bit of a giggle with them!
Hopefully get boob job done next year!
Are you on the other site too??
Mel
x
oooo cool…im on the other half of the unit lol. Erm think i was on the other site, but have erm lost all my details as my brain kind of went mushy so just loiter with intent on here. But yeah…i really like those new beds, hours of entertainment when you are slightly squiffy on morphine…wasnt happy after having hysterectomy…had an old bed…was bored out my tree
I hope I get a new bed on Mondau if not I think I may refuse to goin! HEHE
I have same user name on other site!
Mel
xx