Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mastectomy Procedure

The plastic surgeon explained this procedure rather nicely and I thought it's a good idea to post about it as a lot of people (I think) have no idea what it entails. So here goes...

The operation will take about 2,5 to 3 hours. It takes Jenny, my surgeon, about an hour to remove the tissue from one breast. As she then starts with the second breast, the plastic surgeon will take the silicone implant and "insert" it behind a muscle in the first breast. Before this though, they apparently weigh all the tissue that Jenny has removed, just to double check that the silicone implant he has chosen (according to measurements of my breast of course) is the correct size. It take him about 40 minutes per breast.

Because of my family history with cancer, Jenny said that my RHS breast and nipple must be removed. I have had a few months to get used to this idea and have decided to also have the LHS removed. Apparently there is an 80% change of the cancer also appearing on the LHS. That is just way too high to take a risk.

Sentinel Node Biopsy
I have also opted for a sentinel node biopsy on the LHS. I had one on the RHS during my lumpectomy. This is when they check your main node to the lymph system in you arm. If there is any sign of cancer in the main node, it will be removed to prevent it from spreading the cancer to the rest of the system. Even after chemo there is less than 1% chance of cancer... To check the nodes, however, I need to go to a specialist on Tuesday morning, before the opwho will perform a lymphoscintigraphy, where a low-activity radioactive substance is injected into the LHS breast area. I then go into a scanning machine (like a CT scan) where scintigraphic imaging is usually started within 5 minutes of injection and the node appears from 5 min to 1 hour. This fluid enables Jenny to see where exactly the nodes are. Please note, this is a very summarised version of the whole process.


Post op
I am hoping to be out of the hospital by Thursday but it could be Friday, not sure yet. There will be a drain on both sides that will be removed about 10 days after the op. I am not sure yet about bandage removal etc but will know more next week. After about 2 weeks I will also go and see my oncolgist, Irene, and will hopefully start Tamoxifan.


For now, I am looking forward to getting the op out of the way. I have taken February off at work so I will have lots of time to heal and relax.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Operation confirmed

After seeing Jenny last Monday, we booked a date for my mastectomy. It's this coming Tuesday, the 1st of February. We basically discussed the op and she had a look at my breasts and also the lumpectomy scar (which has healed very well by the way).

There are 3 options for reconstructing the breasts after a mastectomy:

1. Breast Implants (silicone)
2. Tram Flap Reconstruction (uses tissue from the stomach area)
3. Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap Reconstruction (uses tissue from the back area)

I have opted for the breast implants. Jenny works closely with a selected few plastic surgeons who specialises in any one of these 3 reconstruction procedures. I then had to go see the surgeon who she "uses" when a patient wants implants. A very nice guy, has worked with her for 15 years. He explained the process and I also saw and handled a silicone "breast" – when you close your eyes and feel the implant with your one hand, and then use your other hand to feel your breast, it's really very much alike...

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The next step

I am seeing my surgeon today. We are supposed to discuss the next step. As far as I am aware, I need to have my RHS breast removed. However, Dr Edge recommended to have a bilateral mastectomy, as preventative measure, because I have a family history and also because I am still quite young. So from day 1 I have "prepared" myself for this mentally. All of a sudden though it is nearer that time and I am feeling quite anxious and scared. I guess this is normal.

When I saw my oncologist for the last time, she still said I am going onto radiation now. Until I told her about my decision to have a bilateral mastectomy, in which case I do not need to have radiation treatment. I then realized that I have decided to take this path but have never really confirmed it with anyone. So today I am doing just that with Jenny.

And then about 2 weeks after my op, I will go back to Irene and discuss the pill, Tamoxifan, that I need to take for the next 5 years. I am not completely sure when I will start this as Irene said there is a risk of blood clots if you start taking the pills too soon after the mastectomy.

Chemo is finished!!!

My final chemo session was last Monday, 3 January 2011. I can't believe how quick the 4 and a half months went, its insane! 

I must say, I have been blessed in general with having few side-effects and almost never getting very sick. I have had a sore stomach for weeks now, up and down. This could be for various reasons. It's rather irritating and of course I get paranoid but I try not to. The only other issue is my hair. I think it's going to take much longer than I anticipated for it to grow back. It has stared slowly, very thin fluff-like hair. You can almost only really see it if I stand against the light. Otherwise I pretty much look just bald.

Blogging

I have been so bad with this blog, I know. It's been a busy couple of months since I last posted.  The end of the year is normally very social and all about seeing friends and catching up before everyone goes off to a holiday or family affairs. This is indeed what happened last year. I found myself awing up very early, often, wanting to get up and write something but I end up making mental notes rather and then never actually posting at all. Besides, I am not very good at writing. I thought perhaps it would work better for me if I post some pics as well, just to make it interesting. I will see…