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axillary lymphadenectomy

Forums General Melanoma Community axillary lymphadenectomy

  • Post
    boot2aboot
    Participant

       

       

      wanted to update everyone…i got my axillary lymphadenectomy on thursday…dr said my tumor was around 4cm…she said there was only the one tumor and she got good clean margins…my surgery lasted longer than expected, but i am told by others this is a good sign because it means they kept looking but didn't find any new cancer tissue?…won't have path results back on tumor until i go get my drainage tube out may 3rd…i am not too sore unless i move my arm a certain way then yow-wee! feels like i am ripping something out…

      boots

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    • Replies
        Carol Taylor
        Participant

          Then don't move your arm that way, 2B!  🙂 great big grin coming your way!  I'm proud of you Boot! For all your panic, you did GOOD! 

          I do want to say, without alarming you, that May 3rd sounds like it may be a little soon….maybe not, hope not. Here's how you can tell: the color of your drainage. If it's still running on the bloody side when you go back, expect to keep it in a litle longer without panicking.  Because I had 2 surferies back-to-back and because it took a longer-than-expected time for my drainage to clear, mine was in a total of 2 months.

          Now, when you go get it removed, I'm guessing it's stapled in place…it will NOT hurt one bit to get the staples removed and it will NOT hurt when they pull the tubing out!  I didn't believe it, but they did it all while I was voicing my dread of the procedure and showed me the staples & tubing while I was talking about dreading it, I never felt a thing…and it was this that particularly made me panic.  I just knew removing staples & pulling out tubing was going to hurt like *&*@&#&^, but it didn't.

          Lord, in Your mercy, let 2B's reports come back good and help her continue to cope and beat the beast!

          Grace and peace,

          Carol

            boot2aboot
            Participant

              thank you Rev…Happy Easter…i am doing a lot of affirmations and guided meditations…as i have read it helps to generate t and nk cell productions and calm down cortisol stress induced cytokine activity…..thanks for the cleaning tips…i tell you guys what…you are one tough bunch 

              Carol Taylor
              Participant

                Haven't you learned through this, that you're tough too?!  I'll say this for the beast: you learn the stuff you're made of when you meet him.  I bet we all learned a lot about ourselves, what we can take and do, and how tough we are. I borrowed "Steel Magnolia" for myself.

                Happy Easter!  Here's to new life!

                Grace and peace,

                Carol

                Carol Taylor
                Participant

                  Haven't you learned through this, that you're tough too?!  I'll say this for the beast: you learn the stuff you're made of when you meet him.  I bet we all learned a lot about ourselves, what we can take and do, and how tough we are. I borrowed "Steel Magnolia" for myself.

                  Happy Easter!  Here's to new life!

                  Grace and peace,

                  Carol

                  boot2aboot
                  Participant

                    thank you Rev…Happy Easter…i am doing a lot of affirmations and guided meditations…as i have read it helps to generate t and nk cell productions and calm down cortisol stress induced cytokine activity…..thanks for the cleaning tips…i tell you guys what…you are one tough bunch 

                  Carol Taylor
                  Participant

                    Then don't move your arm that way, 2B!  🙂 great big grin coming your way!  I'm proud of you Boot! For all your panic, you did GOOD! 

                    I do want to say, without alarming you, that May 3rd sounds like it may be a little soon….maybe not, hope not. Here's how you can tell: the color of your drainage. If it's still running on the bloody side when you go back, expect to keep it in a litle longer without panicking.  Because I had 2 surferies back-to-back and because it took a longer-than-expected time for my drainage to clear, mine was in a total of 2 months.

                    Now, when you go get it removed, I'm guessing it's stapled in place…it will NOT hurt one bit to get the staples removed and it will NOT hurt when they pull the tubing out!  I didn't believe it, but they did it all while I was voicing my dread of the procedure and showed me the staples & tubing while I was talking about dreading it, I never felt a thing…and it was this that particularly made me panic.  I just knew removing staples & pulling out tubing was going to hurt like *&*@&#&^, but it didn't.

                    Lord, in Your mercy, let 2B's reports come back good and help her continue to cope and beat the beast!

                    Grace and peace,

                    Carol

                    Linny
                    Participant

                      I was you 3 months ago. smiley

                      I started doing very mild stretches the day after my surgery. The post-surgical pain wasn't too bad because the surgeon intentionally cut some surface nerves so I ended up with "instant novocaine". But I still knew when I overdid something…LOL. For the most part changing dressings and empyting the drain were a non-event. By the time I went to have the drain removed the pain was negligible.

                      Most of my initial "physical therapy" consisted of washing and drying my hair. It wasn't until about 2 weeks after I had my drain removed that I started noticing a dramatic improvement in mobility.

                      When I lift the affected arm over my head now, I can feel some pulling, but it's not bad. The most important thing is that I can lift both arms the same height now. I also am getting feeling back in the arm pit.

                      The drain got uncomfortable after a week or so because it was resting on a nerve. Every now and then I'd feel a burning sensation down my arm, which I didn't care for. But that subsided after the drain was removed.

                      Hope the pathologist has good news for you!!!!

                      Linda

                        boot2aboot
                        Participant

                          Thank you Linny for spelling it out….success on your treatments…keep me posted

                          boot2aboot
                          Participant

                            Thank you Linny for spelling it out….success on your treatments…keep me posted

                          Linny
                          Participant

                            I was you 3 months ago. smiley

                            I started doing very mild stretches the day after my surgery. The post-surgical pain wasn't too bad because the surgeon intentionally cut some surface nerves so I ended up with "instant novocaine". But I still knew when I overdid something…LOL. For the most part changing dressings and empyting the drain were a non-event. By the time I went to have the drain removed the pain was negligible.

                            Most of my initial "physical therapy" consisted of washing and drying my hair. It wasn't until about 2 weeks after I had my drain removed that I started noticing a dramatic improvement in mobility.

                            When I lift the affected arm over my head now, I can feel some pulling, but it's not bad. The most important thing is that I can lift both arms the same height now. I also am getting feeling back in the arm pit.

                            The drain got uncomfortable after a week or so because it was resting on a nerve. Every now and then I'd feel a burning sensation down my arm, which I didn't care for. But that subsided after the drain was removed.

                            Hope the pathologist has good news for you!!!!

                            Linda

                            shellebrownies
                            Participant

                              Glad to hear your results (so far) are relatively positive. 🙂 I hope the path results are good news for you as well. 

                              My hubby had the same surgery about 3 weeks ago (4/1) and he got his drainage tube out after only 4 days. Everybody is different of course (and he doesn't have breast tissue to deal with…which I would think could complicate things). 

                              His incision site is still quite tender but is better now that the steri-strips have come off. I remember how scared you were in your first post, and I'm so very glad you seem to be in better spirits now that things are moving along. Just remember that we are here for you to keep you positive. : )

                              Michelle

                              shellebrownies
                              Participant

                                Glad to hear your results (so far) are relatively positive. 🙂 I hope the path results are good news for you as well. 

                                My hubby had the same surgery about 3 weeks ago (4/1) and he got his drainage tube out after only 4 days. Everybody is different of course (and he doesn't have breast tissue to deal with…which I would think could complicate things). 

                                His incision site is still quite tender but is better now that the steri-strips have come off. I remember how scared you were in your first post, and I'm so very glad you seem to be in better spirits now that things are moving along. Just remember that we are here for you to keep you positive. : )

                                Michelle

                                carolegarry
                                Participant

                                  Hi,

                                  Sounds like your path report will be the best possible news. Keep your spirits up. I am keeping you in my thoughts as we are all in this together.

                                  Carole

                                  carolegarry
                                  Participant

                                    Hi,

                                    Sounds like your path report will be the best possible news. Keep your spirits up. I am keeping you in my thoughts as we are all in this together.

                                    Carole

                                    FormerCaregiver
                                    Participant

                                      It must be a relief to have the surgery over. Now the wait for the pathology report – hope
                                      that they hurry up with it!

                                      Wishing you Happy Easter! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

                                      Frank from Australia

                                        boot2aboot
                                        Participant

                                          thank you Frank for good  thoughts

                                          boot2aboot
                                          Participant

                                            thank you Frank for good  thoughts

                                          FormerCaregiver
                                          Participant

                                            It must be a relief to have the surgery over. Now the wait for the pathology report – hope
                                            that they hurry up with it!

                                            Wishing you Happy Easter! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

                                            Frank from Australia

                                            boot2aboot
                                            Participant

                                              met with Onc surgeon to get tube removed (it didn't)…and got my path report (can't understand it too well) but here is the short-hand…stage 3c….40 right axilla lymphnodes removed, 7 cancerous….largest tumor size was 4.8cm…necrotic…although i like my ONC alot, i decided to get 2nd opinion before starting chemo/radiation/immunotherapy-not sure if it is door 1, door 2 or door 3 or some combo… i will go to cleveland clinic for second opinion….

                                              today they were talking combo of radiation and leukine..

                                                Carol Taylor
                                                Participant

                                                  Boot,

                                                  You've come a long way!  It seems like just yesterday that you introduced yourself in a huge state of alarm and panic and now you've calmed down, being rational, and talking about getting a second or third opinion before deciding on a plan of attack.  Others on here will help you make sense of your report; I just want to encourage you and say "you go girl!"

                                                  Praying you'll make wise decisions and that you'll overcome this disease!  All the best to you Friend!

                                                  Grace and peace,

                                                  Carol

                                                  boot2aboot
                                                  Participant

                                                    well, you clearly haven't witnessed me in person, otherwise, you would see one angry beeyatch…throwing things with one good arm…

                                                    Carol Taylor
                                                    Participant

                                                      Ha! You take that attitude everywhere you go and that @&$#()#% beast had better WATCH OUT!

                                                      Hang tough, but hang on to your valuables!  You are a hoot Boot!

                                                      Carol Taylor
                                                      Participant

                                                        Ha! You take that attitude everywhere you go and that @&$#()#% beast had better WATCH OUT!

                                                        Hang tough, but hang on to your valuables!  You are a hoot Boot!

                                                        boot2aboot
                                                        Participant

                                                          well, you clearly haven't witnessed me in person, otherwise, you would see one angry beeyatch…throwing things with one good arm…

                                                          Carol Taylor
                                                          Participant

                                                            Boot,

                                                            You've come a long way!  It seems like just yesterday that you introduced yourself in a huge state of alarm and panic and now you've calmed down, being rational, and talking about getting a second or third opinion before deciding on a plan of attack.  Others on here will help you make sense of your report; I just want to encourage you and say "you go girl!"

                                                            Praying you'll make wise decisions and that you'll overcome this disease!  All the best to you Friend!

                                                            Grace and peace,

                                                            Carol

                                                          boot2aboot
                                                          Participant

                                                            met with Onc surgeon to get tube removed (it didn't)…and got my path report (can't understand it too well) but here is the short-hand…stage 3c….40 right axilla lymphnodes removed, 7 cancerous….largest tumor size was 4.8cm…necrotic…although i like my ONC alot, i decided to get 2nd opinion before starting chemo/radiation/immunotherapy-not sure if it is door 1, door 2 or door 3 or some combo… i will go to cleveland clinic for second opinion….

                                                            today they were talking combo of radiation and leukine..

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