Answering your surgery concerns
In the last few months I have gotten a lot of questions about my surgeries, treatments and recovery. “How did you find your lump?”, “How was surgery?”, “How was recovery?”, “How did chemo feel?”, “What were your side effects?” and a lot more so I decided to just write an article to answer them all.
I will blurt out that Chemotherapy can cause infertility in men and women… Yep! But let’s start from the beginning.
Finding the lump:
I made a video on my Instagram and wrote an article on how I found my lump while showering. However I ended up finding out a couple of days to my Lumpectomy (removal of a lump) that I actually had 2 lumps, one in both breasts.
I was able to discover that with the help of an ultrasound scan. The device was able to detect an inner lump that I couldn’t feel with my fingers. I advise everyone to get a scan at least twice a year. You should also get some sort of scan on other vital parts of your body that have the potential of growing tumors or cysts.
Early detection is everything. It’s the difference between a minor surgery and a bad news such as having cancer.
Lumpectomy procedure:
Now, depending on how big the lump is, you will either be given a local anaesthetic for your minor surgery which will mean you will be awake while the procedure goes on OR be given a general anaesthetic which will put you to sleep.
Mine was pretty big plus I had to take out 2 lumps so I was given the general anaesthetics, however, I was able to go home that same day and I resumed my normal life the next day. I even went to work. However, just make sure you don’t lift heavy things for a while.
Partial Mastectomy:
After I was informed I had cancer I was given some surgical options.
· A simple mastectomy which is a surgery that removes the breast tissue, nipple, areola and skin but not all the lymph nodes.
· A modified radical mastectomy removes the entire breast including the breast tissue, skin, areola nipple and most of the underarm lymph nodes.
· Segmental mastectomy is a surgery in which only the part of the breast containing the cancer as well as some healthy breast tissue surrounding the cancer is removed.
I got a segmental mastectomy, hoping for the best with my chemotherapy. Of course, this surgery needed me deep in sleep because every reachable part of the breast cancer and surrounding tissues, including some muscle tissue, had to be taken out.
Attached tube:
The first 2 weeks were the most painful and bloody. I had a drain inserted in the operated region to collect all the fluid causing the swellings in the operated breast.
Since a large amount of flesh was taken, my body produced a lot of fluid in the region. The fluid in the drain had to be measured and emptied regularly.
I also had to learn to sleep on my back. I normally sleep on my sides so it was essential for me to tuck pillows on both sides of my body to prevent me from turning to my sides. I definitely hardly slept because I was worried of the tube popping out of the incision but I got accustomed to it.
I went for dressings a couple of times and managed the pain with my prescribed medications.
Pain management:
Believe me when I say the pain from such a surgery is probably the worst I will ever feel asides child birth (not there yet though). It was ONLY a specific drug that could help. I can’t recall the name now but I remember buying Ibuprofen when my prescription finished.
Ibuprofen is the only painkiller that helps me with my monthly cramps and even that strong pill couldn’t help this time. I had to go back to my doctors to ask for more.
My wounds took about 6 weeks to heal completely. Although the stitches healed much earlier, my drain was still collecting fluid which at this point was more of a light cream colored fluid.
After we took out the tube the main healing from the inside began and I started to have excruciating pains in my breast.
If you go through this, you will definitely observe the extreme sensitivity in the areola and nipple which hurt badly. Apparently that is caused by your breast nerves reconnecting with the nerves around the area. So its rebuilding itself but the process will be felt in a painful way. An ordinary chiffon material blouse rubbing on you will cause a hell lot of PAIN YO!!
Chemotherapy:
You cannot have chemo therapy until your wounds heal completely because the therapy will take away your body’s ability to heal.
The therapy is painful, weakening and sickening. Depending on your combination, you might gain weight or lose weight.
Know that different people are prone to different side effects but I can tell you that if you lose your hair, it grows back a lot softer and better than your previous.
I had the hair fall out in patches, skin reactions, nausea, fatigue, headaches, low blood pressure and tingling in the hands.Jeez! A lot!
I was told about the potential of infertility due to the therapy and I lost my breath. I was in complete shock. Getting pregnant is something I have never been too sure of wanting to experience but having that choice made for you is a totally different ball game.
Now, depending on the type of chemotherapy drugs you’re getting, you might have the chance of being fertile again but it all depends on your body, age and the dosage of the drugs. Know this affects both men and women.
I advise you speak with your oncologist to weigh in on your options however, Some of the Chemo drugs that will most likely cause infertility are:
• Chlorambucil
• Busulfan
• Lomustine
• Carmustine
• Mechlorethamine
• Doxorubicin
• Melphalan
• Procarbazine
• Temozolomide
Some of the Chemo drugs that you have a better chance at fertility again with are:
• Bleomycin
• Cytarabine
• Fludarabine
• Daunorubicin
• Gemcitabine
• Idarubicin
• Vincristin
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
I was treated with Docetaxel and was given my options. Mainly, no matter what treatments you are undergoing, ensure you are mentally prepared for the possibility of permanent infertility.
I recommend freezing your eggs or taking some sort of viable protective measure before commencing treatment if you have the money.
I definitely didn’t have that sort of money so I went ahead; besides, it’s only an individual who is alive that will be able to worry about kids, right?
In case you’re wondering, yes! My cycle definitely stopped and I am still hoping for it to start again. I must stress what my oncologist told me. “Seeing your period again doesn’t guarantee that you are fertile again.”
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