Hi all, My name is Amy and my mom was diagnosed this week. We met with the surgeon today and I have some questions. I will move to the "family" forums, but I wanted your expert opinions :) She is 55 and has a 3.9 cm T2 lesion in her left breast, ER-,PR-, and HER2 test sent off for results, and 70% Ki score. I hope I'm conveying all this correctly :) She goes tomorrow for a PET scan and surgery is on Monday. She is opting to have both breasts removed. I'm impressed with her surgeon and he made us feel better after meeting with him in person. We did talk about chemo, but honestly we just need to get her through the surgery. Any tips for the surgery? What are we in for? As her oldest daughter, what can I do? I'm somewhat "hard core" when it comes to things like this and was armed with tons of questions. The Dr even asked me if I was a nurse practitioner LOL! Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. As you can imagine, this has hit us like a ton of bricks. Amy

Amy:

Breathe!  It is good that you are able to go with her to her appointments.  They become so informative that your brain cuts out and all that you pick up from the conversation is blah! blah! blah!
You didn't say if your mom was going to have reconstruction or not.  If she is, what type?  The reason I asked about reconstruction is that it will influence the amount of time she is in the hospital. One of the ladies I spoke to was in the hospital for only 24 hours.  She had tissue expanders placed in for reconstruction.  Some women have had a type of immediate reconstruction and was in the hospital longer.  What she will definitely have are drains.

As for my personal experience: I was in the hospital for three days.  I had tissue expanders so my pain was more from that then from the actual mastectomy.  I had my drains for a week to ten days. I wasn't able to lift my arms for awhile so having help with changing and bathing was needed.  She will need some type of an inclined surface to sleep on.  I placed four pillows on the bed so that I was almost in a sitting mode.  When I wasn't in the bed, I was in the recliner sleeping.  Make sure that in her kitchen or anywhere else things she needs are at counter level.  Tell her to make sure that she takes the pain meds at the times they are supposed to be taken.  Don't try to brave the pain.

I'm sure others can tell you more about the chemo.

This is doable.  You both are not alone in this adventure.  We are here for you.   Other words of wisdom:  If you need to talk we are here.  

Tina    
dx 2/1/11 DCIS
Lumpectomy 2/27 results DCIS/LCIS Stage 0 ER+ PR+
Bi-lateral Mastectomy 4/26 with expanders 
6/3 Surgery to remove contaminated expander due to infection.
7/22/11 Surgery to reinsert the expander. 
10/11/2011 Surgery to replace tissue expanders with implants. 
 

Hi Amy,

Please feel free to post on any forum and I'm sorry your Mom was diagnosed but you'll meet lots of long term survivors here which I hope will reassure you that her chances of a full recovery are excellant!

I did'nt have this type of surgery but if you check the surgery/recon forum you'll find lots of good tips and advice to help your Mom cope and please keep us posted!

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Amy, So sorry for your mom's dx..but glad you found us. :) Like Tricia mentioned go to the surgery forum and there are tons of suggestions there. Also, while she is on the pain pills...she will need a stool softener... :-( Please know we are here for any questions you may have...and we truly care so do let us know how your mom is doing. Take a deep breath, take care of your mom but remember to take care of yourself as well. Hope and Strength, Julie

Bothell, WA
dx 5/07 IDC
lumpectomy 6/14/07 1.5cm
er/pr + Nodes negative
finished rads 9/13
Tamoxfen 9/07- 8/09
Arimidex 8/09-