gizmodog

My  core biopsy report had it at a grade 1.  I had a lumpectomy and the pathology report had it as a grade 2.     I don't know if it could change from a 1 to a 3. 

I  had mammosite.   I had the ballon put in on a Thursday and the treatments started the following Monday and ended on Friday. 

I did not have to change the bandages.  The nurses did it each day.  No one mentioned changing the bandage that first weekend but I went to my regular doc on Saturday since the bandage looked like it needed it.  I wasn't about to touch it myself since I wanted to avoid infections.

I was not tired from the radiation.  I will admit it was a long week running back and forth twice a day. 

As far as having something hanging out , it wasn't too bad.  I went to Walmart and bought a soft cotten bra in a larger size and that  helped.  The doc did want me to sleep with a bra on, but that wasn't easy.   I gave up the last couple of nights. 

The tape from the bandages caused a nasty rash.  I found that Gold Bond extra medicated lotion did the trick.  It really helped. 

I was very happy with mammosite.      

I thought tamoxifen raised cholesterol if you were PRE Menopausal.

If you are POST menopausal it can lower it.

I  had mamosite this past Sept and I am very pleased with it. It was the right choice for me. 

 I had no ill effects from it.  My breast became a little red but that went away in a week or so.  Some seem to get a hardness in the lumpectomy area after a couple of months, but this didn't happen to me.  My biggest problem was the reaction I had to the tape holding the bandage around the catheter.  Gold Bond extra medicated lotion did wonders. 

You asked why it wasn't more common.   There are some things needed to qualify for it and this would not fit everyone.    According to the web site the tumor must be 3 cmm or smaller,you must have clean margins, and the nodes are negative.   The cavity from the lumpectomy cannot be too close to the skin surface.   Even after they insert the ballon, a CT Scan is done to measure the distance. 

My surgeon has used mammosite for the last 5 or so years and offered it as a choice to the 5-7 week radiation.  My local hospital/cancer radiation center has the qualified people to do the procedure.  There were a couple of other ladies getting this the same week as me.   

If you have any more questions just ask.  I would be more than glad to answer any type of question.

I was dx 8/2007.  IDC 

Age 59

Postmenapausal

Lumpectomy 8/24,  followed by mammosite radiation.

NO chemo

.8cm, Stage 1, Grade 2, E+40%, P+ 70% Her- 

Sentinel Node - negative  

Oncotype score was 11, 8% recurrence.

10 Peaceful rating...............prior to Arimidex

Arimidex -  I am still unsure if I will continue to take this.  I might switch to tamoxcifen or take nothing at all.  This drives me crazy and is always on my mind.

Peaceful rating with arimidex - maybe a 3   

Thanks for some of the facts.   They were very interesting.

3girls4me,

I think the comments you received fell into the "old wives tales" category. As a kid, I recall hearing "having your body opened up to the air, causes it".    

 I doubt they have any medical knowledge to base their comments on.   Sure, there is some fact to it but you are the one dealing with breast cancer not them.      

Hollyann,

Where did you get the information that tamoxifen does not have much effect on post menapause?

This doesn't seem to match the information I received from my onc's.   

I had a very long day also.  It started at the doc's office at 8:00 and I left the hospital around 5:00. 

I had to go to my surgeon's office and have the wire put in.   This was around 8:00.   I then went up the street to the hosiptal around 9:30 or so.   I went to pre-op shortly after I arrived.  They took blood, my temp etc. The usual stuff.

The anethesiologist came in and talked to me. 

Another doc injected me with that stuff that hurt like the devil  about an hour before surgery!  I was also injected with the blue stuff but that was during surgery.   I had the SNB and the lumpectomy done at the same time.  They did the SN biopsy while I was still in surgery.   I was in surgery about 2 hours.  Maybe an hour in recovery.   When they woke me the doc was there with the good news about the SNB.  No cancer cells found.

They gave me pain pills also, but I was lucky and didn't have much discomfort.  I only took one that night to make sure I slept.  Like Anneshirley I was very careful about any activities. 

It has been 3 months since my surgery.  I had a lumpectomy, and SNB.   I had the high radiation, mammosite.  No chemo.

I don't really have pain but I get more of a shooting , stabbing type thing every now and then.   I just had a follow up with my radiology doc and he said, yes, some people get this. His opinion was it was from the SNB since nerves are disturbed.    

I was happy it was nothing to worry about.      

Somewhere I learned that a patient is entitled to a copy of all test results.  

I  know when I asked for my biopsy, the person in my surgeons office said certainly and she would fax it.  She mentioned that everyone should have a copy of all test results and even asked if there was anything else I needed.   

I  have a copy of everything.  This way I can do research and also give my PC doc a copy in case she didn't receive everything.