Thank you for your helpful tips to help me prepare for surgery

Omg! I’m so sorry you had such a tough surgery! I did have bleeding on one side but it stopped after the nurse applied pressure on it. The resident doctor put some thick bandages on the spot which I was allowed to remove the next day. Yes that side was black and blue and one drain was clogged up. I had two drains on each side. It took a long time for the black and blue to go away, probably a month, but the hematoma took about two months to go away. Did they tell you to wear compression bras until the drains are removed? For some it doesn’t take long to recover, my sister was up and acted like nothing happened the next day,. It took me about 3 months to recover well enough for physical therapy. But we all recover in the end. The main thing is that you don’t have infection. Please come back to share after your appointment tomorrow. I’ll keep you in my prayers tonight. Hugs.

Thank you. I really am freaking out a little with the bruising. I can't take the pain meds as they make me vomit...projectile. So I am trying to live with the tylenol extra strength. But...the bruising is what seems so worrisome. I will let you know what the surgeon says. Smiles.

@gailmarienewton I'm sorry your having such a rough time with everything. I will be thinking about you and pray your recovery gets easier. My surgery is this coming Tuesday hoping all goes well.

I am in a silverstein sling now. The bruising has gone all the way down to my pelvis and upper legs. My legs are swollen. I am trying hard to keep my smile and a positive attitude....not easy when your body looks like this. I just read in the pathology report that I have malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites, a breast cancer that accounts for less than 5 percent of breast cancers. It says that it can spread through the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. I have leukemia....this is really a scary new development.

@gailmarienewton
I’m so sorry that the surgery causes you so much pain and discomfort. My husband has leukemia and he bruises easily, especially after blood tests. So I make sure to bring ice packs every time he goes to blood tests to prevent bruises and it works most of the time. His bruises tend to get bigger before fading away. That explains why your bruises go down to your pelvis and upper legs. Mastectomy is a severe assault to the body. I hope you are feeling better.
Your cancer is more aggressive but did they get the margin clear? If it is treated early, you have pretty good prognosis. Chemo works better when cancer is aggressive. Some of us are able to avoid chemo, but it doesn’t mean we’re in better situations. I notice that long term survivors tend to have chemo.
All cancer type can spread through lymph nodes and blood stream. I hope yours is in early stage.
Please come back and share your recovery or vent if you want to. That’s what we’re here for, supporting one another through this journey. You’re not alone. Hugs.

MD cleaned site and rewrapped me yesterday. I am in a lot of pain....even took pain med. I will get through this. ....it is a lot!!!! Have to deal with other MD appointments today. MD wants me to have ultrasound on my legs....fear of blood clots. I can't get appointment until the 16th at hospital. Still can not go #2 even on stool softener...my belly looks like I am four weeks pregnant. The bruising has started down my left leg in stripes....right now it looks like I am wearing a blue striped bikini!!!! You have to laugh.

@gailmarienewton
I know this sounds like a really scary diagnosis, but it really means that you have a cancer that invades more than one pre defined area. 💕 Many of us with invasive breast cancer have this and it still has a pretty good prognosis by itself if it is caught early. I had this and it did mean chemo for me as my tumor had invaded the chest wall.
I had a partial mastectomy and bruised all the way to my hip. The bruising and the blue dye stayed so long that my husband called me smurfette.
It sounds like maybe your leukemia is a complicating factor, but it sounds like your doctors are on top of it.
Have your doctors discussed any other treatments with you? How did your tests go, did you get the ultrasound?

Hi. I did get an ultrasound and they are doing another on the 16th. I am now blue down my legs....it looks like an old time striped bathing suit! I find out my treatments on the 12th. My blood tests are all "low" or a few as "high" which has no meaning to me. I am immune compromised as my IGg and IGa are very low....I usually get gammagard at least every 4 weeks....which helps. The leukemia is probably the cause of the cancer, I would guess.... The right pump is going to town ; the left pump is weaker as I keep getting big clots in it...I am on a blood thinner. But....life is good. I am not doing well on the pain killer as it makes me ill. Keep smiling.....

@gailmarienewton ah geez. Life just shouldn’t be that hard. I don’t even know what to say except keep hanging in and at least the pain from surgery will pass.
I found that none of this is easy but it does get better and I look for the things it brings me, like more time with my husband and having the ability to help my neighbors.
What kinds of things are you living for?