Cardiac open heart surgery

[bikebabe]

Hi to all

Has anyone with metastatic breast cancer had open heart cardiac surgery and might you share your experience with me please? I only saw my surgeon yesterday and am now scheduled for Monday. How amazing is that but I'm just a bit scared. It's one of those 'be careful what you wish for' situations as I've wanted my heart to work properly for years but now it's finally here, it's like OMG - should i be having it, is it going to make things worse? I've not had palbociclib for several weeks already because of a post-covid cold which the surgeons aren't too bothered about but it means I won't be having palbo for several more weeks until healed and I'm 2.3 yrs into palbo/letrozole treatment . Any helpful suggestions/reflections to ease my troubled mind would be most welcome.

[Flowerfriend]

I had open heart surgery for valve replacement in 2012, before that procedure could be done thru the femoral artery. At that time I had MBC w/ NED on anastrozole alone, dx in 2005 w/ left mastectomy and the initial A/C infusions.It was apparent the surgeon didn't look at my chart, as I overheard a conversation revealing he didn't know I had a mastectomy and had considerable scar tissue. The anastrozole and my antidepressant were on hold. I was alone, as a friend had dropped me off at the hospital 5 days earlier, and I became psychotic, due to the amount of morphine.

My two post ops were cancelled so I was never seen or advised to massage the long scar, which became a painful keloid requiring 3 injections of corticosteroids over several months, from my dermatologist. I went back to work <6 weeks after the surgery.

My only advice, have family or friend available to visit you, and massage that scar!

[bikebabe in reply to Flowerfriend]

OMG- that sounds a nightmare but how amazingly resilient you are for going back to work within 6 weeks. And thank you for advice re massaging the scar. All my friends and family are 40 miles away but i will get some of that special scar reduction fluid (after it's closed up). Did you have a mechanical or animal valve and how has that been over the years? I'm having full sternotomy to access aortic root via aorta, and mitral valve from below. I never even considered the impact of having copious left mastectomy scar tissue after initial lumpectomy/full axillary node removal in 2021, and full mastectomy two months later. I was more concerned with having one large 40G boob and needing a front-fastening bra as my shoulders are too messed up to reach round my back.. Men just don't get it. I also have Gilbert's syndrome (symptom= persistently high bilirubin) which means pain mgmt via opioids/paracetamol is problematic. I went doolally after a lengthy hip replacement operation in 2003 on 20mg co-codamol and ended up with DVT as I couldn't stand up and mobilise properly. I'm looking forward to being able to walk without being breathless.

[PJBinMI]

I've been at this since long before meds like palbo, so having to stop it would not be scary for me! I got a long time from Letrozole alone. I've not had extensive heart surgery, but I've had procedures....my memory has alot of holes in it and I know I've had heart valve issues and have at least one stent. I'm doing well enough that my cardiologist was comfortable extending time between appts to once a year! That says alot to me! I hope you'll look back at this surgery and be at peace with all of it! Sending love and prayers.....

[bikebabe in reply to PJBinMI]

Thank you - that’s very kind of you to reply and be so encouraging

[mariootsi]

Sending prayers for a successful outcome!

[bikebabe]

Thank you - that's really kind.

[Dragonfly2]

best wishes BikeBabe…🙏🙏🙏

[bikebabe]

thank you