2013 Sister Warriors
Comments
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Welcome MichelleLee and princesspistol. We're all newbies here, so you may have to ask some questions on other threads/search other postings, but this is great place for support and opportunity to vent!
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MichelleLee~Did you have a sentinel node biopsy or an axilary? If the nodes were taken from the armpit, you shouldn't be raising your arm yet. It increases chances of developing lymphedema.
My surgeon wouldn't let me use my arm on surgery side until all drains were removed for a week. No driving either. He gave me 4 drains for a single mastectomy and insisted on removing only 1 per week. He sometimes seems excessive, but he's a brilliant surgeon.
Blessings
Paula0 -
2013 Sister Warriors - Who can give feedback on the drain removal process. I'm down to 10cc's twice/day, and scheduled to have drain pulled on Thursday. How do they do that? Painful - I assume yes? Looking forward to having the "bulbous appendage" GONE.
JLO
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Hi all,
I just came across this thread, though I've been on others since my diagnosis of IDC in early November, 2012. What started as a routine screening annual Mammo lead me here! After numerous diagnostic mammos, ultrasounds, a core needle biopsy, MRI, and finally a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on January 15, I finally have my stats, but still unsure of my treatment. Luckily I was Stage 1, no nodes, clear margins, only 7mm tumor, but grade 2, which scares me a tad. Not real aggressive, but not real slow growing either. I was happy to be hormone receptor + and HER2 -, and BRCA negative, but am worried about the DCIS I wasn't expecting which they found at my lumpectomy. But reading up on this, it seems that finding some DCIS with IDC isn't terribly uncommon since the IDC probably arose from the DCIS. My path report says that the DCIS is "associated" with the IDC, gives no dimensions or size for it, says clean margins for it as well, so I'm hoping both the IDC and the DCIS are all encapsulated together in that one 7 mm tumor they removed! I don't meet with my MO until 2/8 because we're waiting on Oncotype test results, which will determine if I just do radiation or if I'd benefit from chemo. But I can ask her about all this stuff in the path report when I see ger. but in the meantime, this has been a ride! Either way, bring it on, because when I heard DCIS, even tho I know it's the least worrisome of any breast cancer diagnosis, its in addition to my IDC, and an extra piece I wasn't expecting when I went into my lumpectomy surgery. I worry that it might be lurking elsewhere. Which is why if I end up with a low Oncotype score and only need rads, I would prob do whole breast instead of that partial breast radiation option, can't remember what it's called. But I'm almost expecting a score in the middle range at least, though, because my tumor grade is in the middle range. Don't know if there is any correlation. Well, sorry this is so long winded! I'm so glad I found this board, I read way more than I post because it helps so much! It's become my bedtime reading instead of the books I used to read!0 -
Janipani... Regarding the removal of the drains it really is nothing! I was freaking out at how in world were they going to take them out?! But the PS nurse did mine (3) and she just snipped the suture where they were attached to me and then pulled out in one quick pull. I did not really feel anything just maybe a flight pull/pressure. Don't sweat it. It's done in 3 seconds really. But the strange thing is u don't realize how long that tube is inside u!
Good luck!
Melissa0 -
Having a bad evening. Took a shower notice the tumor feels bigger. I mean I know it's aggressive but how aggressive and is it possible to grow what feels like a 3 cm difference in month and half. Or is it just from all the different biopsies? I know I'm having DMx on the 7th but dang.
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Kimberly1965 -- I had my biopsy earlier this month and only this week my bruise has gone away and the swelling gone down. I feel the same way, where I seem to feel my tumor more than I did before. It's probably still healing. It's amazing how sensitive we are to changes in our body now, isn't it?
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Cuetang
Did you have a SN biopsy and do you have or had a big knot under your incision?. As for the tumor there is a big space between the last biopsy. I mean I sneezed today and started crying cause it felt like it was being ripped. I was at work and they acted like I was crazy. But damn it hurt.0 -
is it possible to have a mastectomy without going through chemo? the mass in my breast seems HUGE! i have to see a breast specialist on feb. 11th. it seems like an absurdly long time (i don't have insurance so i joined a cancer program) i wont know what stage it is until then. i am 36 and i do not have kids. i would rather remove the breast than live with the fear of it coming back. i had a hard time telling my family, but now i'm over it. i feel like the best thing to do is to take it day by day and keep positive. sometimes it still shocks me that i have cancer.
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Kimberly1965-- I haven't had a SNB yet. I'll get it when I have my surgery (I'm leaning heavily towards a MX or BMX at this point). The horrible bruise and lump was from my core needle biopsy. I knew it wasn't the tumor because the bump swelled afterwards. My doc said that in order to form my lump, it's probably been there for years (about 1.4 cm now). I'll be scheduling surgery after I speak to the plastic surgeon this week. Hang in there, Feb. 7th is right around the corner!
Humanityisbeautiful-- I feel the same way you do right now. My surgeon is trying to talk me down from a MX (unless my pending genetic testing comes back positive). However, I want to just get rid of the entire breast. Staying positive is very hard, but I keep telling myself that this cancer can't take everything from me (and I crawl back out of my hole).0 -
Good morning, ReneeinOH - I can't remember if you already have your surgery scheduled, maybe not since you are still debating what is the right surgical answer for you. If the BS can't improve your risk of reoccurrance with surgery what does BS say will? Waiting for my surgery on the 2-5 is really weighing on me.
Lemon68 glad you are feeling a little better after your SNB. I am really dreading those injections since I didn't have hardly any pain from them for the core biopsy. I thought the cream and wrap was something I might ask about since I am so anxious about the nuclear chaser injection into the nipple.
MichelleLee and Princess Pistol I am glad you have found this site for support during your journeys. I know we can encourage each other on our worst days and celebrate the milestones together.
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Janipani~I had 4 drains for a single mastectomy. The nurse/pract removed the first one. I got one out each week. She told me to take deep breaths in through my nose and out my mouth. I didn't feel anything at all except some pressure with drain #3, and that was like 2 seconds. No discomfort afterwards at all.
You'll do fine,
Blessings
Paula0 -
Still considering the Tamoxifen, I probably will at least try it to see how I handle any side effects. Have gotten several encouraging posts from others who are on it without any problems.
Hang in there with your pain...it does get better. I iced constantly, even went to bed with ice packs strapped on. It was what helped me through the first week or so. Can't tolerate pain meds.0 -
I had a SNB...they removed the 5 nodes but my BS did not put in a drain. Maybe this is why I have a large puffy bump in my armpit? I'll see what the RO says about it on Wednesday.
Blessings to you!0 -
Hi ladies...I read through everyone's posts, daily, but never seem to find time to post myself.
I met with the PS on Friday. I liked her; was very informative, had a nice bedside manner. Let me feel the implants LOL. "We" are going with silicone, and she thinks I am a good candidate for the "tear drop" shape. She will do her best to spare the nipples, but, she said my health comes first, and that is up to the BS. We spent an hour in her office. I will go back again for a pre-op sometime next week. Right now I am tentatively scheduled for the BMX with TE on 2/13.
I had to call my BS office for the results of the slide stains they sent out. Shows I am ER+/PR+ and HERS2-. I won't know the staging until after the surgery.
I am a bit concerned that there is more going on in these gals, since I am starting to get another dimple in a different area on the "bad" breast. Or, maybe it is the same tumor pulling all over. I also have a small dimple appearing on my "good" breast. I had my DH look at it to be sure I was not over analyzing...he said he can just start to make out the dimple, but he definitely sees discoloration. Stupid things I am worrying about now...such as the fact that I have had a spot on my rib, under my breast where it meets my sternum, that has been sore for the past 6 months or so. Thought maybe it was just and inflammation of the cartilage, so I never thought much of it. Now my DH tells me I need to be sure to tell the surgeon.
Now I am busy getting STD paper work together, buying shirts and pants I can easily get in an out of after surgery, and painting a garage full furniture (I am an artist and between work and kids refinish/upcycle/paint antique and vintage furniture), since I know I won't be doing that for at least a month or so.
Just out or curiousity, any folks here from Northern Virginia?
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Humanityisbeautiful,
I also did a mastectomy to reduce my chances of BC. The decision for chemo depends on some factors such as the size of the lump, the involvement of the nodes or how fast growing the type of cancer is. I am also waiting to see an oncologist to see if chemo is recommended or not. I know waiting is very hard to do. Not having insurance does not help either. Try to get yourself ready at the mean time to learn more about surgery, tests, treatments, etc so you can make a good decision.
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Waiting for surgery date and waiting for next mtg. w/PS to go over the nitty-gritty of the post surgery details. Still mulling over my choices. Trying to get my household chores caught up/house straightened out for when I'm out of commission. That's what's up with me.
Wish I had insights for everyone else. The learning curve to understand breast cancer, much less specifically our cases, has been a challenge. I'm thinking of us all--we're going to be strong through this, together.
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Renee- Take a look at the Gummy Bear inplants, big news story here today in Cleveland on how they are changes breast reconstruction for BS survivors. Seemed interesting, yet just another option.
Michelle- My incision for SNB is huge but today he told me he only got out 2! Whats with the huge hole and cut then!! GEEZ! It is a huge lump and bruised down my side and right to my breast. Good news today, they were CLEAN!!! Thank God. Next step is rads, unsure also about the tamoxifen, I am just not sure and nothing yet has convinced me. Are you doing radiation?
Pacools- 2/5 is right around the corner, I understand it weighing on your mind. We will all be here for you..praying, cheering, crying whatever you need. Get that dancing starting, clean nodes!!! I wish the same for you and everyone else
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Hi All,
There is a lady who has posted in the "Waiting for Testing" forums that has some serious issues going on. She's from the UK and a couple of us recommended she post her concerns in an area where sisters with more experience could help her. I'm afraid she didn't know where to go and felt she needed to apologize posting with us!!!...I told her "NO!"---that we care and wanted her to get the help she needs!...anyway, if some of you could direct her where she might get that, I'd sooo appreciate it. Here's a link to the post:Rats, it won't let me copy/paste. But the post is in the "Waiting for Testing" forum, and the post is actually called that-"Waiting for Testing" by Prasanna13" She's had positive diagnosis and serious surgery. Thanks so much for your help.
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Going to see the RO this Wednesday, to get tattoos and whatever else they do before starting rads. I hope to start next Monday, but will know more this week.
Going back and forth about Tamoxifen, have so many GYN problems already and am afraid Tamoxifen will make thing worse. I have severe endometriosis, cysts that have burst several times, and issues with my endometrial lining. Worried that things could get so much worse...0 -
lemon68 let the dancing commence...what awesome results. I have a 2-4 hour pre-op surgerical oncology physical tomorrow. Not sure what they can do for 2-4 hours but one more task checked off the list.
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So, I called the BS regarding the pain in my rib, close to where the rib meets the sternum. His nurse called me back and said not to worry about it. He said if it were anything it would be "muscular/skeletal in nature"....um.....I guess I am confused...are ribs not skeletal? SMH. I guess I will point it out again when I go for surgery. Sometimes these doctors make me feel stupid for asking. They also made me feel stupid in July when I asked what type of screening can be done for me since I was "high risk" for BC. So, they did an MRI in December...and here I am.
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So, since the nurse left a message, I called back. Told her I did not understand the message 100%, aren't the ribs "skeletal"? She said yes, but the doctor "thinks" (without seeing or talking to me) that I must have pulled something. So I told her it is on the bone and has been like this for at least 6-8 months. The only thing I can compare it to is if you have a bad bruise, that does not go away. So she said to me she has no idea, and the doctor will have to call me. I am not a hypochondriac, but given my cancer diagnosis, maybe this warrants a look-see? I totally get that it may just be an inflamation of some sort, but better safe than sorry, no?
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Yes momof5inva you know your body and you should press them for a better explanation or ask them who might be the best to evaluate it if not him/her.
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Better safe than sorry momof5inva. I would be doing the same thing. I have a pain in my lower right rib area actually under the rib that I am worried about. I saw the doctor in November for it and she said it was indigestion and that my stomach was just irritated from it. She gave me a prescription and it helped but it still comes back once in awhile. I go back to see her on Friday and will have her check it out again now that I have a cancer diagnosis.
I went for my patholgy report from the surgeon today. She said no more surgery yea! She got clean edges and everything looked good. I am stage 1 ER+,PR+, HER2-. Recommending 6 weeks of radiation still ( although she said that the oncologist may decide on chemo but I am really hoping not) and then hormone therapy. I feel better after leaving her office. Now just waiting to hear from the oncologist office and doing research on the hormone therapy.
Hope everyone else who was getting results today check in soon. Keeping everyone in my prayers.
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Hi pacools - the BS called me back...he said it is most likely costochondritis, but without a bone scan he says he can't kow for sure. Than he went off on how this looks like and early invasive stage cancer, and the chances of it metastasizing are low, and he doubts it is anything. The he says if "I" want a bone scan, he can order one, but they come out with false positives, and this is probably and early cancer, so I have nothing to worry about.
Sigh...first off, I don't "want" any of this. Second, I am so glad he thinks my cancer is nothing to be worried about. I told him I will wait until after the surgery when we know the staging. At that point I will decide what to do. So basically I feel stupid for calling or even being concerned at all...why do some doctors make you feel that way? I guess I let him.
Thanks for listening.
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Hello my strong 2013 Sister Warriors! I too, have joined your ranks and I'm looking forward to sharing the journey with you. I'm currently waiting for the results of Oncotype testing. I will find out on Feb 5. For me the worst part of all of this is the waiting, waiting, waiting. I'm not a patient person to begin with and just want to get on with the business of knowing what I need to do to lower my risk of recurrence now that I've had surgery.
I'm ready to do battle and get my life off hold. On we go!
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TMM60 - the worst for everyone is the waiting for pathology findings, your mind is working over time. My friends told me "worrying doesn't change the outcome, so save the energy". That would work if my mindd was ONLY logical, but the emotional part is what we are feeling. We all know how you feel right now - hang tough!
Janice
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Hi Janipani, thanks for that! So nice to have others to share that with who are going through the same thing!
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momto10kids - so glad that you don't need any more surgery!!! What great news! I am ER+/PR+ as well, and hoping that I will not need chemo either. Have also been researching the hormone therapy. Good luck and let us know what the oncologist says.
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