Onward and Upward!

Now that I am using Betadine instead of Neosporin, my left incision is healing nicely. Yesterday I was able to have my third fill—60 ml woohoo!!!! 

My doctor assured me that he knew what cancer recurrence at the incision site looked like, and he would tell me if that happened. I suppose there will always be the nagging fear of recurrence in the back of my mind, but with a 3% chance of that happening—I should just relax and enjoy life.

The "Girls" are looking pretty perky, and it won't be long before the expanders are removed and the implants are in place. I am looking forward to that happening in 2012. May everyone who is reading this have a happy, healthy Holiday and an excellent New Year.

Two Steps Forward One Step Back

Yesterday I was sooo looking forward to my third fill on Monday. But—for the last couple of days I had been noticing that  the skin around the left breast's incision was red, swollen and had a progressively worsening rash. I Googled  "rash at breast cancer incision" and found it could be anything from an infection, to an allergy to breast cancer recurrence at the incision site. Yikes!

I called my doctor who had me come to St. Luke's emergency room at 5 pm last night to examine it. He said it was either an allergic reaction to the petroleum in the Neosporin or a fungal infection. A fungal infection—I can believe since a sports bra has bound my breasts 24/7, and I have hot flashes almost hourly! He gave me Betadine to use instead of Neosporin. 

This morning the swelling has gone down and the rash has lessened. I am better, but bummed. Doc says no more fills until the left breast looks as good as the right. That means I have to wait for another week or more to get my third fill :(

Second Fill

For the second fill of the expanders on Monday, I had a tiny bit of oozing from left the incision. So as not to aggravate it,  my doctor filled the left expander with 20ml and the right expander with 50ml. I am a little lopsided, but that will be worked out soon. The left incision has already calmed down since the expansion and is looking much better.  I will have another expansion on the 12th.

With the tissue expansion water is it is injected into a metal port of a silicon encased expander. I don't really feel the injection because the breast tissue is fairly numb. The doc finds the port under the skin with a magnet. Randy thought that was pretty cool, calling a medical stud finder! 

This process continues for several weeks until the tissue expander is filled to an optimal volume. Six to twelve weeks are then allowed for the skin to stabilize and loosen around the expander. I will have another surgery to remove the tissue expander and insert a permanent breast implant. 

I am about six weeks from my initial surgery,  almost to my normal size and feeling great.  My guess is I will have the second surgery to replace the expanders with implants sometime in early 2012. It will be good to get the expanders out. They are heavy, hard and feel like breast vice grips! Not that I am complaining—I just hear the implants will be more comfortable and I am all about comfort. 

I have really very little pain, and greater range of motion in my arms. My energy level is good and I am able to do most of my normal activities without taking a nap! Life is good.