With 1 in 8 women having breast cancer, we all know someone who has been touched by it. This blog is where I plan to tell my story and share my personal journey in the hope that it might help others.
WARNING: THERE ARE GRAPHIC/NUDE POST-OP PHOTOS IN THIS POST.
Plastic Surgery Post-op Visit at 10.5 weeks
Today was my post-op visit and Phase 2 consult with my fantastic Plastic Surgeon, Dr. O. I am sooooo ready and excited for Phase 2 surgery! This surgery is the "make things pretty" one and I'll get my nipples!! Double yay! Overall, I've had a very "easy" recovery and I'm happy with the results and the way that my body has healed. There are a few things though that need to be tweaked in this second surgery.
You play with SnapChat filters while
you wait too, don't you?
I've mentioned before the "dog ears" at the ends of my abdominal scar that will be removed. To me they are my "mini muffin tops"! (I showed them to y'all in the video I posted last week.) Not only do they look funny, but this past week they have become a little annoying. My waistbands sit right on them now and it rubs throughout the day....especially annoying in my scrubs on my 12 hour shifts. Be glad to see them go! The other issue is that my breasts seem to be a bit "droopy" now that the swelling has subsided and the tissue has settled. They both have flattened on top and the right is a bit flatter on top than the left...not super noticeable but noticeable enough. Dr. O said they both require a little "filler" on top and a bit of a lift. However, since I am wanting them to also be a bit bigger overall, he will do more fat grafting and that will basically provide the lift I need in addition to the larger cup size.
Can you see that one side is a bit fuller on top? The other
is flatter and they both need a little lift and fullness.
Plus, I will get to be bigger overall!
Dr. O will be doing liposuction on my abdomen but said he will have to use fat from another area in order to get enough to increase my bust size. I asked about putting my hated double chin in there, but alas, it was a no-go! Oh well, it was worth a try! :) Happily, he will be getting it from my thighs!! I've certainly got plenty to spare there! This is also the procedure where he will build my new nipples! Really excited about this. Right now, my breasts look a little.....undecorated. It's super cool how they build them, so if you are interested, here's the video from PRMA: The visit went well and I am happy with the plan. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about making my feelings known. Kinda hate to "complain" to a physician about the amazing work he already did. The thing is though that this is the body I will live with the rest of my life....prayerfully a long life thanks to now being cancer free! Please don't hesitate to be honest with your providers about your feelings and your desired outcomes. I'm so glad I did today, because I know the final outcome will be in line with what I want and will make me feel more like "me".
On another note, just wanted to give a shout-out to the awesome staff at PRMA and the PRMA Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Support Group! I went to my first event last night and it was fun. We met at an Origins store for mini facials and just to visit. Nothing like going to meet new people and having all of your makeup removed when you get there!! Ha! I met a couple of very nice ladies and my skin looked fantastic! I'm looking forward to participating in more events in the future. Now to wait for insurance authorization and then we get a surgical date! Enjoy your weekend!
MY TIMELINE:
12/22/16 Routine Screening Mammogram
01/18/17 Repeat Imaging and US of left breast; LUMP found.
01/20/17 Core Needle Biopsy
01/24/17 Biopsy results positive...Stage 0 DCIS, left breast
01/25/17 Meeting with Breast Center Navigator and Genetic Testing
01/30/17 Consultation with Surgical Oncologist, Dr. K
02/08/17 Consultation with Plastic Surgeon
02/21/17 Pre-op Visit with Dr. O's nurse
02/27/17 Pre-op Labs and Testing
03/05/17 Lymph Node Injection
03/06/17 SURGERY DAY!
03/10/17 Home!
03/16/17 10 day Post-op Visit with Plastic Surgery nurse 03/20/17 2 week Post-op Appointment with Surgical Oncologist, Dr. K
04/07/17 1 month Post-Op w/Plastic Surgeon, Dr. O 04/16/17 Returning to work! 05/19/17 Appointment with Dr. O to schedule Phase 2 Surgery!
WARNING: THERE ARE GRAPHIC POST-OP PHOTOS IN THIS POST. And, this is a really long post.
It is Post-op Day #6...my surgery was a week ago tomorrow. Seems unbelievable really. It went fast.
The morning of surgery, we arrived at the hospital at 0530. My parents and my son were with me wearing their "Fight Like a Girl" buttons and my son had a t-shirt that read: "I wear pink for my Mom".
Shortly after arriving, I was taken back to a pre-op room where I changed into a gown and compression stockings....super cool look. My IV was started and then my family was able to join me in the room while we waited for the physicians to come in. Our Pastor came by and prayed with us as well.
My Surgical Oncologist, Dr. K came and reviewed the plan with me again and answered any last minute questions. I signed consent for his part again. Then, my Plastic Surgeon, Dr. O came in and did the same. I signed consent and then he marked me up for surgery. As soon as he left, the anesthesiologist stepped in and I signed yet another consent. Lots of signing!
After that, it was just a matter of minutes before I said my "see ya laters" to my family and the medications started kicking in. I really don't remember much of anything after they left the room.
I woke up hours later in Recovery...very groggy and my eyes felt heavy. I tried to ask about my lymph node biopsy but my throat was dry and sore and the nurse said she didn't know. I closed my eyes and the next thing I remember was Dr. O standing over me smiling. He was replacing a T-Sat probe on my left breast and said: "Miss Hudson, Julie, it's Dr. O. Everything went great. You are doing great. The biopsy was clear...we got it all." That was the phrase I was waiting for....I was CANCER FREE!
They started talking about taking me to my room, but I really didn't care at that point....I had heard what I needed. Once the nurses got me settled, my family came in to see me....it was early evening. My face was so swollen and my eyes so puffy (from all the fluids they gave me in the OR) that it was hard to keep my eyes open. My family didn't stay long and I fell asleep immediately after saying "goodnight".
You can see how swollen my face and eyes are! It was much better by breakfast time.
I remember them telling me that both surgeons said I was a "textbook case" and that my surgery was only 6 hours instead of the 10+ we had planned. I really wasn't very lucid until about 0300 that next morning.
The nurse had to check my new skin flaps every hour that night with a doppler. She would come in and
Checking with the doppler for blood flow to the "skin islands"
put the doppler probe on the edge of the flap and listen for the blood flow. I also had T-sat probes attached to the new skin that constantly monitored the oxygenation status of the flaps. I couldn't really see anything from my angle, so I used my phone to take selfies so that I could see.
Finally got that catheter out and was allowed to go to the bathroom myself...and wear shorts! Still had those hose and SCDs though!
I was wearing a bra, an abdominal binder, and a gown. I still had on the knee-high TED hose, a pair of socks, as well as the SCDs on my calves (they inflate and deflate every couple of minutes). There was a pillow under each of my arms and one under my head. My bed was up at an angle because I could not lay flat. I also had a heavy blanket laying across my chest. I was SOOOOOO HOT! As a South Texan, I am a big fan of ceiling fans and air conditioning. I also typically sleep in tank tops and shorts with light covers. This was miserable for me. I could see the thermostat in the room next to my bed was set at 76! They had to keep my new vessel connections and flaps warm, so there was no negotiating on any of this. Honestly, this was hard for me to get used to....every day I looked forward to my walks in the hall where it was cold to everyone else.
My fancy post-op bra
By breakfast I was feeling more like myself. I was able to eat a little and finally got to see my abdomen when the dayshift RN came in to do her assessment... she was kind enough to help me take a picture.
Every 2 hours throughout my stay-day and night, the RN would come and do the doppler check. As a nurse in the hospital, I was a pretty decent patient to have....compliant and motivated. The staff kept telling me I was ahead of the curve and I didn't argue about getting up or doing my walks. The only thing I really really really wanted out was that annoying foley catheter! I had nursing students following me that week as well....I actually enjoyed that because they were eager to see and learn everything. My RNs were teaching them so they would take their time to explain things and I got to learn along the way. Each day, I tried to take photos of my progress.
My three JP drains....these are a bit annoying. They have to be stripped and emptied several times a day.
On POD #1, I walked up the hall. It was more exhausting than I thought it would be, but felt good to be up. POD #2, I felt great! Got up, ate breakfast, walked.....and then I got nauseated! That was not my best day. I still wound-up walking 4 times that day, but I never really felt well.
POD #3 was way better! I finally got my first shower! It was one of the hardest things I've done
POD #3 fresh from the shower!
but felt so good! The sweet CNA was kind and showed me exactly how I would do it at home. It was hard for me to be the patient. I've never been on the other side of the bed before and totally reliant on someone else to do things for me...like move me up in bed or help me out of my chair. It's a weird feeling, but I had the very best staff taking care of me.
Abdomen and re-located bellybutton
"Lollipop incisions"...the center circles are the skin flaps from my abdomen. The rest of the breast is my native skin that was spared. Obviously swollen everywhere.
By POD #4, I could do two laps around the unit. Dr. O came in and said I could go home. A few hours later, I was heading out. The trip home was not as hard as I had imagined. You definitely want a pillow to go between you and the seatbelt to help cushion for bumps in the road. It felt good to be free from monitors, IVFs, and those SCDs! As good as home felt, it did make me feel vulnerable to be on my own....no one checking me every 2 hours.
Lymph Node Biopsy incision under my left arm
I stayed up most of the afternoon and took a shower before going to bed. I slept hard that first night, only getting up twice for bathroom breaks. POD #5 was even better. I walked to the mailbox and back with my son and my family came over to visit.
Abdominal drain insertion point
Insertion point of one of my chest drains... you can see here that my abdomen is swollen.
I really thought 24/7 care seemed silly since I was not really hurting and I was getting around well. But, it IS necessary. My mother has been staying overnight and my grandmother and Dad take turns with her during the day. It is the little things you need help with: I can't bend over and I can't reach above my head. My pillow is actually a little too heavy to carry. I can strip my own drains, but I have a hard time getting the abdominal one thru the t-shirt that I wear under my binder. Last night I got nauseated after taking a pain med and was so thankful I could call me mother from the other room to bring me Sprite and crackers in the middle of the night.
Every day is better than the last and I have hardly taken pain medication. The sitting and laying around is the hardest part for me, not the pain. I'm not going to lie to you and say this is easy, but it is not as bad as I had read or heard. It is frustrating to not be able to do things I want to do and to get winded just walking down the hall, but I am so grateful and blessed to be here CANCER FREE!
I am going to try to record more of this journey in video form when I can. To get started, I had my mother help me film a really quick YouTube video of how I strip my drains for anyone who is interested:
#FightLikeAGirl
MY TIMELINE:
12/22/16 Routine Screening Mammogram
01/18/17 Repeat Imaging and US of left breast; LUMP found.
01/20/17 Core Needle Biopsy
01/24/17 Biopsy results positive...Stage 0 DCIS, left breast
01/25/17 Meeting with Breast Center Navigator and Genetic Testing
01/30/17 Consultation with Surgical Oncologist, Dr. K
My biopsy was Friday, 01/20/17...this is Tuesday, 01/24/17. I was told that biopsy results would be in 72 hours, but figured that Saturday and Sunday wouldn't count. I tried not to think too much about it over the weekend and just took it pretty easy. I worked Monday and Tuesday. I was a little bruised at the biopsy site and still had steri-strips in place, but the only things that really bothered me was my bra rubbing on the site and the swelling causing my scrub top to irritate my inner arm. Of course, my coworkers and family were asking about my results, but I was trying not to count on them until Thursday.
I'm a NICU nurse. A typical routine for our patients is an every 3 hour feeding schedule. This shift I had 3 patients...0800, 0830, 0900...1100, 1130, 1200...etc. I was mid-way through my second round and decided to walk a dirty bed to the cleaning area while milk was warming for my little patient. My phone was in my pocket.....needless to say, every time it vibrated that past week, I had jumped. This time was no different. I felt the vibration and when I looked in my pocket I recognized the extension from my OBGYN's office. I jumped into the supply closet next to where I was standing and took the call.....time stood still for a moment.
My long-time OBGYN told me he had my results....he didn't make me wait or ask, thankfully. His words were: "It's the best of the worst diagnosis, Julie." I was informed that the biopsy showed Stage 0 DCIS....ductal carcinoma in situ. He went on to briefly explain that this was "the good kind" and that the Breast Care Navigator would be in touch to walk me through this new journey.
It wasn't a long phone call....but it was life-altering.
In that moment,
standing in a supply closet in the middle of the NICU,
I became a cancer patient....a woman with breast cancer.
I walked out and just started pushing the dirty bed down the hall. While I was in the empty cleaning area, I quickly dialed my mother and told her what little I knew. She would inform my Dad and Granny since I was at work. I asked her to wait and let me tell my son when I got home.
Then, it was back to my pod and time to get back to work. It didn't feel real and I definitely think I was in a bit of shock, even though I thought I was prepared for this possibility. My two coworkers were working with a patient when I returned with the news. They both immediately said: "Do you need a minute? Do you need to go?" My response was something like: "I better not....I think I need to just keep moving. And, the babies need to eat."
The baby was bottle feeding that round and took his time...I remember sitting there and just re-playing the phone call in my head. One of the gals asked me what I was thinking and I just said: "I have breast cancer. That's really weird to say out loud."
Within the hour, the Breast Center Navigator called me and we scheduled a meeting for the next morning. She gave me a little more information over the phone and let me know that I qualified for genetic testing and that I could complete it the next day too.
My lesion...~3cms located at 1:00, 5 cm
from the nipple on my left breast
At the end of the day, here's what I knew:
"In situ" means "in place". This means that the cancer is usually contained where it is found and Stage 0 means that it appears to be non-invasive.
DCIS is furthered contained in the milk ducts.
I would meet with the Navigator the next day at 09:00 to review everything and start making plans and appointments. She would help me with surgeons and appointments.
Because I am 40 with breast cancer and have a grandmother with a history of uterine/ovarian cancer, genetic testing would be offered, recommended, and should be covered by insurance. It would be completed at 10:00 the following day.
Most likely, the MDs would offer me three options: lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy, or double mastectomy....details to be discussed the next day.
I would need to talk to a surgical oncologist for lumpectomy or mastectomy and a plastic surgeon for reconstruction.
My son took it well that night. Calm and cool as usual. He gave me a big hug and told me it was going to be okay. Pretty sure I didn't sleep that night but a few minutes here and there. No tears, just a lot of praying and thinking.
It was a lot to take in, but I actually felt better knowing...as crazy as that sounds, it was better than wondering and waiting.
MY TIMELINE:
12/22/16 Routine Screening Mammogram
01/18/17 Repeat Imaging and US of left breast; LUMP found. 01/20/17 Core Needle Biopsy 01/24/17 Biopsy results postive...Stage 0 DCIS, left breast 01/25/17 Meeting with Breast Center Navigator and Genetic Testing
