I have invasive ductal BC, Grade 2 lump, no sign of it in lymph nodes, oestrogen and progesterone positive. Mammoplasty and sentinel node biopsy surgery is on Friday. After feeling eerily perky when telling our ten year old went well last week (getting her through it is a major priority) I came crashing down to earth yesterday following the pre-op call from the kind BC nurse. Everything from worrying about not waking from anaesthetic (have had this a few times before - this is daughter-related again), to hearing the details of what they are going to do to me that day. Oddly, the surgery itself has been fairly low down my list of things to worry about but I was quite shaken up by the realities I had put to the back of my mind. I am whizzing around crazily trying to get Christmas sorted pre-op. Also simultaneously feeling guilty about worrying about it considering this is considered a “good outcome” BC, and very unreasonably silently cross with kind medical staff who are trying to be reassuring but aren’t, as far as I know, walking in my shoes. What an unedifying head mash.
There’s a further pre-op meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday - any ideas about what “fine-tuning” questions to make the most of the time? Treatment is at the Churchill Oxford. I would like to know if they have an oncology physio, and (on advice of someone who was treated at UCH) whether they test for Oncotype DX. It’s a predictor of whether chemotherapy would decrease my particular chance of getting a 2ndary cancer but it needs to be sent to the US. If you fit the profile I believe some but not all NHS trusts do it. It’s available privately but it’s a big cost and you have to ask in advance.
More practically - what do you wear on the big day? I am guessing button up tops and elasticated waists, but it’s going to be freezing outside: my usual layers of thermal vests and big jumpers may be difficult to put on, and long wraps will be chilly at the front. Apologies if this is really obvious!
How long before you were able to leave after surgery? Our hospital admits patients at any time from 7am, but I won’t know when until the day before. We live an hour away on a good day, and my daughter has an important end of school event that afternoon which we are hoping my husband can make. He might not be able to get to the hospital until 7pm, so if that’s not going to work I need to be picked up by someone else. I don’t react well to anaesthetic - I know they can adapt so less chance of my being sick, but I also have had bad “shakes” in the recover room, so I may not be the speediest patient.
How long before you were able to raise your arm or do I need to practise being left-handed?!
Any other top tips?
Thank you, lovely lot. Feeling a pathetic, over-analyzing worrywort with stuffing unexpectedly knocked out of me, after chirpily buying a post surgery bra on Friday morning, and being sunny with everyone. Gah!
You have headed your post “unexpected pre-surgery wobbles” I would absolutely challenge anyone who didn’t admit to having any wobbles before surgery of any kind: they are very very understandable (even without the added pressures of Christmas and doing your best to keep the “normal ship” on course for your daughter)
I am anticipating that your further pre-op appointment will to a large part echo previous appointments and go back through questions you have already answered (some of which you will no doubt be asked again and again: by the time I got to theatre I lost track of the number of times I’d given my name and date of birth, and no I hadn’t acquired any false limbs, dentures or other such things since the last time I was asked!)
In terms of trying to calm your racing mind, if you don’t already have one I would get yourself a notebook and pen and use to write down anything and everything which comes into it: just the act of putting things on paper can help to ease your thoughts, you can also jot down questions that you want to ask so you don’t forget them.
Another way to try and help the racing mind is using mindfulness: if you haven’t tried it before now would be a good time to try it. It does take practice and time to learn to do it and to understand it’s full benefits: I use Headspace but I understand Calm is very good too, you have to pay for both and but there is also some good effective meditations on You Tube
In terms of practicalities on the day, my tips would be go in expecting a wait (I knew before I went in I was “last on the list” even so it was very late when I went to theatre) and take lots of things to do, I found it hard to be distracted by any one thing for any length of time. Also take toiletries as you may need to stay in overnight. Front fastening pyjamas are a must (there’s lots around in the shops at the moment) and shirts (I know some ladies borrow their husband’s especially as they are nice and loose) Admittedly immediately post surgery pulling anything over your head is going to be a struggle but you should be Ok with some help.
Having said that I was surprised to find I had plenty of movement in my shoulder almost immediately following my SNB, but as you heal your shoulder will stiffen up which is why it is so important to do the exercises they give you as often as you are told to.
I’m sorry I can’t offer any advice on Oncotype DX, this wasn’t something I was offered at the time and wasn’t actually aware of until joining this forum!
I would say having a wobble before surgery is completely normal and to be expected rather than unexpected. I had the same op that you are having on 19th September, yes the day one the Queen’s funeral and a new bank holiday that wasn’t expected when I was given my date for surgery. The anxiety over whether the op would be cancelled or not overrode all the anxieties you mention about the actual operation. All wobbles hit me with full force when I got into the car to go to the hospital and by the time I got there I was a quivering wreck. The staff in ward and my lovely surgeon soon put me at ease and I went back to looking forward to not having the cancer anymore. I realised that knowing what I was walking around with made me far more anxious than having surgery.
I prepared by gathering as many front fastening garments as I could but after the first day didn’t really need them apart from the pyjamas. Like AM I was surprised to find I had good movement in my arm and shoulder and was able with care to wear over the head clothes and I had no problems putting on and fastening jeans to go home from the hospital on the day of surgery. Mine is on the right side too but I am left handed so didn’t need to worry about hand switching for some things although I don’t think I would have had a problem if I had been right handed.
The SLNB site was more stiff and sore than my breast in the first couple of weeks but I easily managed the exercises and they did help, so make sure you do them.
I was admitted to the ward at 7.30am, I was second on the list and went down for surgery around noon. I was able to go home at 5.30pm. I slept most of that evening and the next day but after that recovered well. I had a slightly sore throat and a raging thirst from the anaesthetic etc but that only lasted a few hours. I had to eat something before I was allowed home and because it was a bank holiday and most of the catering staff were off the choice was limited, I eventuality managed to force down a dry cheese sandwich with litres of water. Something softer and easier to swallow would have been preferable so that may be something for you to bear in mind. I also had terrible heartburn later that evening but this is because I have a hiatus hernia which was aggravated by the tubes.
I live in a different area to you and my cancer was triple negative so oncotype testing wasn’t appropriate which means I have no idea if my NHS trust send tissue to America for this test. I have a friend who lives in Lincolnshire and had surgery a few days before me and her tissue samples were sent to California but that doesn’t really help you as it is not your area either. I know easier said than done but try not to worry about all that for now just concentrate on having your op and recovering from it, all the rest can wait.
I hope you get through the next few days without too many wobbles, but reach out on here if you do. I start radiotherapy on 19th December and I am trying not to think and worry about it but the wobbles do occasionally creep in but keeping busy helps.
I also hope all goes well for you on Friday and you recover quickly. Remember to take care of yourself in spite of Christmas and the temptation to do too much xx
I am now 5 months post op after therapeutic mammoplasty , sentinel node removal and a mastopexy to make a matching pair . I’ve completed my radiotherapy and on tamoxifen . I was grade 2 Oncotype 19 . I was lucky to get my surgery within 10 days so didn’t have too much time to think about all the details but on the day I was meant to be in the afternoon list and believe it or not they phoned to say could I come in early so was whisked in . My husband wasn’t allowed in with me but I’m not sure if that’s still the case . It was surreal but all doable . Everyone was friendly . Expect your surgeon to come and draw all over your chest . My surgeon was so lovely but I noticed how focused he was and definitely stepped into surgery mode . The anaesthetist asks so many questions and is quite thorough . I had had surgery before so was fortunate to cope ok with the anaesthetic . Remember to ask for plenty of pain killers as soon as you wake . You will either have a bra on or the nurses will put one on you straight away . They then come and check you so regularly through the night . I stayed in one night and I was ready to go home . I had stretchy open front pyjamas but kept the hospital gown on until I went home - my wounds were a bit leaky but this is normal . I needed to wash my bra every day so had a couple of front opening ones . I was confused re my results I thought they were going to send for Oncotype straight away but they do an initial pathology and then have a meeting to decide if they are going to send it off . So didn’t get the full results until early September . I would suggest following all the arm exercises they will give you a booklet . It wasn’t too uncomfortable . The swelling is significant though so be prepared for that but it will soon reduce through a couple of weeks . I really hope it goes well for you .
Hope you are ok and all is going well. I was exactly the same as you described and Christmas made it all harder, it’s awful. I hope that you are able to focus on your recovery long term as the dreaded day is just one day. Where are you at now?
