surgery scheduled & breast cancer ?

[donnamarie]

Saw my doctor on Friday - surgery is scheduled for 10/22 at Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia. The doc said he can do "minimally invasive" surgery - said he just needs to see the aortic valve, not the whole heart - and he suggested a pig valve. I liked the guy - he seemed very confident. I'm 50 years old and had a mastectomy - I wasn't thrilled about the coumedin because my veins are shot due to the chemo. He said the pig valve lasts 10-20 years and if/when this one wears out, they have new procedures on the horizon which will make things easier.

Two questions - has anyone else had this "minimally invasive" surgery for AVR? and Has anyone had a mastectomy? The reason I ask that is I was wondering what bra you wore after the surgery.

 

[Karlynn]

Donna, I would have a plan B for valve choice depending on what treatment you had for your breast cancer. You'll want your doctor to assess the scar tissue probability once he gets in and decide if it will make a repeat surgery more difficult than the average OHS for someone who didn't deal with breast cancer.

Coumadin testing now is mostly done with a finger stick machine. I haven't had a blood draw to test my INR in 5 years. Some doctor's only rely on lab draws, but that's antiquated. And in your circumstance any doctor should be willing to let you do the finger stick - and hopefully have your own machine. So if for some reason you end up getting a mechanical after the surgeon takes a look, I don't want you to be concerned about your veins.

At 50, I think you'll have well more than 10 years on a tissue valve as well.

Best wishes for the 22nd of October!

 

[donnamarie]

Donna, I would have a plan B for valve choice depending on what treatment you had for your breast cancer. You'll want your doctor to assess the scar tissue probability once he gets in and decide if it will make a repeat surgery more difficult than the average OHS for someone who didn't deal with breast cancer.

Coumadin testing now is mostly done with a finger stick machine. I haven't had a blood draw to test my INR in 5 years. Some doctor's only rely on lab draws, but that's antiquated. And in your circumstance any doctor should be willing to let you do the finger stick - and hopefully have your own machine. So if for some reason you end up getting a mechanical after the surgeon takes a look, I don't want you to be concerned about your veins.

At 50, I think you'll have well more than 10 years on a tissue valve as well.

Best wishes for the 22nd of October!

Karlynn - My scar from the mastectomy is flat as a pancake - does that mean I don't have scar tissue problems? Or could there be problems on the inside that I don't know about? I "only" had chemo for the breast cancer - no radiation. Is that what you were referring to?
I guess the coumadin thing is just one thing I'm glad (hopefully) I won't to have to deal with. It's great that you can do the home testing! If I do end up on it, I will definately have to insist on that.
Thanks.

 

[Phyllis]

Donna,
Dick had the minimally invasive surgery and did fine with it- never any sternum pain, but the usual hospital stay and recovery. I put you on the calendar for October 22nd and wish you the best.

 

[donnamarie]

Donna,
Dick had the minimally invasive surgery and did fine with it- never any sternum pain, but the usual hospital stay and recovery. I put you on the calendar for October 22nd and wish you the best.

Thanks, Phyllis!

 

[Karlynn]

Karlynn - My scar from the mastectomy is flat as a pancake - does that mean I don't have scar tissue problems? Or could there be problems on the inside that I don't know about? I "only" had chemo for the breast cancer - no radiation. Is that what you were referring to?
I guess the coumadin thing is just one thing I'm glad (hopefully) I won't to have to deal with. It's great that you can do the home testing! If I do end up on it, I will definately have to insist on that.
Thanks.

Donna, as far as I know it's the radiation that's the big concern, but since I don't have personal experience with it I can't say for certain. Did you ask your surgeon or cardiologist if he has any concerns about your cancer treatment impacting your surgery plan? They would be able to have access to your treatment regimen. I don't mean to overly concern you, just trying to help you cover all bases. I'm sure your surgery will go just fine and you'll get your chosen valve.