Brownj1's Journey:
- 1 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 2 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 3 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 4 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 5 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 6 Radiation Icon Radiation
- 7 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 8 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 9 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 10 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
Patient: Breast Cancer > Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Patient Info: Currently in active treatment (initial surgery, receiving chemo rounds/radiation), Diagnosed: almost 9 years ago, Female, Age: 60
Get Full Access Today It’s EASY and FREE!
Things you can do
More Questions
Find us on Facebook
Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
Loading...
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Bilateral masectomy with axillary dissection
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
Side Effects
extreme fatigue, anemia, chemo brain, memory changes, mood changes
Radiation
Decision Point
Whether or not to undergo radiation. Have one positive lymph node and changes in lymph duct
Breast Reconstruction (Implant)
Procedure or Surgery
Underwent surgery on September 18th, 2012. Will need further surgery 4 to 5 months after/
External radiation
Radiation
Side effects: severe fatigue, skin reaction/burns, shortness of breath, changes in lungs
Reconstruction on right side failed due to radiation side effects
Oh No
Saw my plastic surgeon at the end of May 2013 for a routine follow-up. The plan was always that I was going to need a minor third procedure to fine tune things. Told my husband not to go with me, as I expected basically to find out exactly what type of third procedure I needed as well as how long I would have to be out of work; one week, two weeks, etc. I was shocked when my plastic surgeon told me that the reconstruction on the right side had failed due to radiation, and that there was scar tissue and adhesions which were already causing pain and tightness, whihc would only get worse as I age. While there were some other less-extensive procedures which would not be as effective, his recommendation was to start the recornstruction all over again with the Tram Flap procedure with free flap, expected to be 8 to 10 hours of surgery, and 5 days in the hospital following the surgery. I would have to be out of work close to three months. By contrast, my initial double masectomy with removal of 16 lymph nodes on right side, I was in the hospital less than two days, I was shocked at the news.
Facing major unanticipated major surgery
Decision Point
I was shocked at the news that I needed major surgery, much more extensive than before. I had returned to work in December 2012 after being out for 8 and 1/2 months, was still suffering from neuropathy, fatigue so I worked reduced hours until early April 2013. Here it was, the end of May 2013, being told that I needed major surgery which would neccesitate another long leave from work. How could I even tell my supervisor, who had held my job for me for 8 and 1/2 months? It was hard enough telling even my husband and children. However, I was never going to get any younger or better able to recover than I was right then. Scheduled surgery for first available date, September 12, 2013, Tram-flap surgery with free flap.
High Blood pressure
Oh No
Failed intial pre-operative clearance due to high blood pressure. I never had HBP before, had to see my primary doctor, who put me on a low dose of medication and had to monitor it myself. My doctor had to double the dose of the medication and we were finally able to bring my pressure down enough to have the surgery. Cleared for surgery finally on Friday, September 6, 2013.
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I underwent bilateral Tram flap surgery with free flap on Thursday, September 12, 2013.. Surgery toook longer than expected, 12 1/2 hours due to the development of a blood clot in the first grafted vein. Spent all night in recovery,transferred to a room in the mid-morning of the rollowing day.Post-operative pain and nausea, could not get out of bed nor eat solids for a couple of days. Finally was released from hospital on Tuesday September 17, 2013.