Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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I am being treated at Dana Farber/Brigham and Womens. I have had a wonderful experience at both places. We are so lucky living in Mass to have access to multiple health care facilities that are world class. So glad to hear everyone is doing well. Sue - I think your breast will fill in a bit with fluid/tissue after a bit so it may not be as bad as it seems. Glad to hear you're otherwise well.
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well I'm sharing some of my experiences for those who asked. My lx was 6/3 and 2 SN removed. I had the wire needle localization w lidocaine (didn't hurt), but everything else (dye and SN removal and Lx) was when in surgery while I was under general anethesia. Post surgery, I used ice packs in 15 minute intervals and only 1 day of pain med and switched to ibuprofen. I used the mini pillow they gave me during sleep which helped pad and prop the girl! I was able to shower on day 3 (felt great!) One steristrip came off on day 5-6 and the larger one the doc removed at post-op appmt. As far as size of incision, mine is healed to about an inch at SN underarm and the other Lx site is underneath about 1 to 1-1\2" looks flat and good. I do notice my L breast doesn't look as full underneath when I have my bra on, but you can't tell with clothing. I'm a D cup still. I used the vit E oil and aloe 3x day after healed and I think this is what made my scars so flat and nicely healed and no lumpy scar tissue!! My rad doc says to keep moisturizing for 1 year post rad which I am doing!! Finished rad 9/10.
Well beautifal fall day here in Pacific NW so getting out to enjoy!
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Hi All, I have been absent from the boards for awhile. Not really sure if this is the right place to discuss this, but I always feel the lumpectomy lounge is my home base, you are my friends here.
Breast problems are getting better, but I have been dealing with other pain issues for months. (coccyx, hips, and lower back, and shoulder bursitis). Well long story short, I got MRIs to try to figure out the cause of pain, but there were incidental findings of uterine fibroids, bilateral ovarian cysts, fluid in the cul de sac, etc. I didn't think I should worry, since these seem to be pretty common when I googled them. But when I had my checkup with MO this past week, he read the results and he seemed very concerned, and sent me for a pelvic ultrasound right away the next day. He also said I need to follow up with gyno, regarding results (and by the way I have to wait nearly 2 weeks for that appt. ugh!) He also ordered a tumor marker test for CA125. He is also ordering a hormone level test? I think maybe his main concern is regarding the amount of estrogen, and why I'm forming all those ovarian cysts? I am 48, so probably perimenopausal. But I'm on tamoxifen, so how will I know?
So, just when I was feeling so happy to be 1 year post lumpectomies and putting all the scarey stuff behind me, now I'm going down the avenue of worry again. When does it all end? Has anyone else experienced this?
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L2Girl - Can't chime in on any of that but wanted to send you some support and encouragement. It's tough to have to wait so long for the GYN appt. - any chance that your MO could get in touch and see about getting you in sooner? Hang in there.
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Thanks for the support, Hopeful.
Yes, I was thinking about maybe calling him, or maybe calling the gyno office to see if they get any cancellations this week. Also, I would think that if something bad turned up on the tests, one of my doctors would call me? Or maybe they just wait till the follow up visit.
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I'd call your MO as well as the gyn's scheduler and the gyn him/herself. Be a pest if that's what it takes. Somebody else's annual exam can wait. Tell them you can be flexible in taking cancellations, if that is the case. We all know how awful the waiting can be and feel for you.
I would NOT rely on the idea that they'd call you if something bad showed up - those things can and DO fall through the cracks.
Good luck - and keep us posted.
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L2girl.....definitely call the gyno...use your " cancer card"!!! Whenever I am desperate and anxious, I will go on to say, " I just (in your case) got my year check up post cancer diagnosis and lumpectomy and I am extremely concerned as my oncologist ordered me to see my gyno ASAP....is there a way my gyno can squeeze me in sooner?".... Surely they can move people to accommodate you or call your MO nurse to ask to call office....you deserve that! Staff at that gyno office probably don't know your story and should accommodate you! Good luck dear...waiting sucks!! Rosie
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L2girl, definitely play that cancer card!
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L2 you've received great suggestions. We're thinking of you. Please do try to get in sooner just for peace of mind if nothing else. Update us when you can. We'll be thinking of you!
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Thank you all for your kind suggestions and giving me your support. I will make the calls tomorrow, even though I'm nervous about it. But my peace of mind is most important. I'll let you know what happens. Fingers crossed!
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I had a lumpectomy this past Thursday, 9/25. I had a marker put in during my biopsy and did not require a wire marker. The dye injection for the SNB was done right before I went into surgery and I didn't feel a thing due to whatever they put in my IV. Be sure to ice once you get home 15-20 minutes on and then off for 15-20 mins. until you go to sleep. I took the pain Meds for 3 days just to be sure. I also left the bandage wrap on for 3 days. Today I showered and just took Tylenol. Very little discomfort. I did take a Xanax the morning of surgery. I had to be there at 10 for a 1pm surgery.
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Welcome to BCO Nash54, we're sorry you're here but glad you found this safe forum to discuss issues openly.
Sharing positive experiences is just as important as sharing problems. It gives those about to go through the process a more balanced view and may quell that growing fear of the coming procedure, so we thank you ladies for doing that.
The Mods
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Hi, Nash - sorry you're here but glad to know your lx recovery went so well. I hope the rest of your treatment does, too.
Lots of times the wires are used along with the ever-so-expensive biopsy marker - I know that will be the case for my procedures. It may have to do with whether the tumor is palpable and how deep it is but I'm really not positive why they're used in some cases and not in others. It would be interesting to know.
Thanks for the reminder about the icing - I know that makes a huge difference and it's SO easy to forget after the first couple of rounds of ice. I plan to put sticky notes up to remind myself, as well as setting a timer. If only I could train the cat to fetch the icepack to and from the freezer....
Take care of yourself. Thanks again for sharing your advice and experience.
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Hi Nash - Like everyone else I am glad to see you chiming in here. Nobody is really glad to be here because it means that breast cancer has affected us in one way or another. I am scheduled for my lumpectomy tomorrow. I hope that they would put the nuclear med in my breast when I was already semi comfortable (sedated) but I don't think that is going to be the case. I also had a marker inserted during my biopsy, but will still require not one, but two wires inserted. I hope that the rest of your surgical recovery goes well. Who knows what will come after that, but one step at a time.
MarieBernice6234
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Hi MarieBernice - will be thinking of you tomorrow and pray that all goes well. I think the anticipation is worse than the procedure. Thank goodness for the meds. Once you are sedated you don't remember a thing. Just got back from a nice walk. Hope you can keep busy and don't let your mind wonder too much.
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I'll be thinking of you, MarieBernice. I hope it all goes smoothly and cleanly. Take care.
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MarieBernice: will keep you in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow for clear margins and clean nodes and a comfortable recovery
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I had my lumpectomy in August. Dr. said he was able to get all the cancer and the nodes were clear. Hallelujah! Radiation starts soon.
I have a couple of questions... Everything happened so fast it feels like a blur. I am healthy so my recovery was easy but I don't know how to talk about cancer. After surgery are we cancer free? Am I the only one who doesn't know how to address this? I bring this up because the other day I went to get a flu shot and on the paper it asked if I had any of these ailments that would affect the shot. I just didn't know how to answer it.... I talked to the pharmacist and he assured me it was fine. I did talk to my radiation oncologist and he agreed that it was okay.
I also noticed that some of you said that you take tamoxifen post menopausal? My Dr. prescribed an AI and my blood work said I was post menopausal. I have not started it yet because he wants me to wait till after radiation. It worries me to be on this blocker for 10 years...
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Hi. Just joined this forum. Had a lumpectomy for two close together lumps, two days ago. It's been a whirlwind, only went for the routine mammogram a month ago, but my whole life has changed since then, obviously. I still can't believe the words "breast cancer" apply to me, it's so unreal. ME? BREAST CANCER? And I have to keep reminding myself that it's not like having an appendectomy; they don't just take it out and story over. I have to wait for the pathology reports, about 3 weeks, I think..and then, based on them, and receptors, etc., my oncologist will determine treatment.
It's all so fast and so unreal. I wish that the not-so-terrible pain of the incision sites was all there was to it. I can handle this. I'm just afraid of the pathology reports and not being able to handle long-term breast cancer. I can barely write those words...
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QBee - I understand how you feel; it's not quite a month since I had biopsies and I can hardly say the words as they related to me. I, too, struggle with the knowledge that this isn't 'out and over' - not only is there more treatment to come (and the pieces take forever to fall into place, it seems) but then there's the sense that it's with you for life. That's really, truly hard to accept at this point. I know it will get better but it is the new reality for us. (Unless medical science makes huge advances soon that aren't even on the horizon, of course.)
I'm so sorry you're here, too, among so many terrific women who also had their lives changed in a matter of moments. I hope you'll find the support and information offered here will help you grapple with this and get your mind around it. Give yourself time, and don't spend all your free time reading about this. I have to escape back to my real life with a novel or poetry or even the newspaper for a while every day and that helps me - for what it's worth.
Good luck with your recovery. I hope your pathology report comes back with good news. Take care.
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Hi Everyone. I had my lumpectomy followed by internal radiation a year ago. I go see my radiologist for I hope my final appointment to see if all is healed. I was not aware until I have been reading the posts on here that PS could "fix" my breast I had surgery on and match the other to it. My surgery was at 12 oclock which left me with a 2.5 inch or so scar but what bothers me the most is it sinks in where the tumor was. My girls sort of match but this scar bugs me. I know it shouldn't bother me in the whole general scope of things but it does and my bras seem to all rub on the spot.None of my doctors told me that I could see a PS. They all said it looks fine. I am 45 do I want this "fine" forever. Granted I didn't have perfect breasts after nursing children but hmmm... Has anyone had surgery a year out and have insurance pay?Thanks
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hi ndgrrl- tomorrow will be 1 week since my lumpectomy. I have a post op on Tuesday. I was told I would probably do internal radiation followed by AI. Just wondering how your experience with the internal radiation was and if you had any tips? Also how are you feeling a year out? Physically I'm healing well but emotionally it's a bit of a roller coaster. I keep telling myself the cancer is out! But already starting to worry about it coming back.
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qbee- I'm right there with you , fear of the unknown. Tomorrow will be 1 week since my lumpectomy. Physically healing is going well but emotionally it's a roller coaster. Happy cancer is out but scared of what lies ahead. I'm keeping myself busy and walking outside everyday and trying to take one step at a time. I have post op on Tuesday and hoping no surprises. I was advised before surgery I would have internal radiation followed by AI.
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I had my lumpy July 23. I'm healed and 22 out 33 external rads done! I will be taking Arimidex starting the day after I finish rads. I've found the whole experience surreal since I never felt a lump. My breast was tender in a totally different area than my cancer. So it was found by accident. Maybe if I'd felt a lump it would feel more real. You'd think after surgery and radiation it would be real. Another factor is that I have sole care of my invalid husband, who has now been in the hospital for 2 weeks following removal of a cancerous kidney - that went fine but he got pneumonia, and he has been extremely sick with it. Still not sure of that outcome. So I have never had a chance to internalize my dx etc.
I've been lucky. No complications. No side effects other than fatigue and a bit of redness from the rads. I also was blessed with a surgeon who called me with my path report 2 days after the surgery so I didn't have to wait.
Good luck to everyone just embarking on this journey. We'll give you all the support and information you need (and more!).
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Peg, Your DX and treatment is nearly identical to mine. Ok I was stage II but the rest is the same. The MO stated the Letrozole right away. I have 6 more rads to go.
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Our journey IS nearly identical,RaiderGirl. What are we going to do with all the time we'll have when we're done with our rads? Sleep?? You managed to have your surgery lots quicker after dx than I did. I had to have my sons come in and take care of DH while I recuperated from my surgery (and got to sleep fhru the night for the first time in 15 months) and that took time for them to arrange.
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Hi All -
I had my lumpectomy just a bit over 24 hours ago. So at least step 1 is over . The morning procedure was by far, the worse for me, They decided that I needed 2 guide wires instead of 1. Plus the amount of mammography images that they had to take was overwhelming.The room that they did the mini procedure in was not the regular one either so that made it difficult for the clinicians as well. Towards the end it was really trying my patience. The wait back in the pre-op holding was long too. I thought the OR time was still scheduled for 12n , but it ended up being closer to 1:30. Of course, the Novocaine was wearing off and the wires were really uncomfortable. I think that it would have been better for the plan including the use of anxiety medication. Given the fact that the surgery didn't start in time, everything progressed well from there. All signs point to the fact that they took 2 lymph nodes and she thinks that the margins are clear. Just have to wait for the final pathology report.
MarieBernice 6234
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MarieBernice6234, glad your lumpy is over. I was lucky that I was offered (and definitely took) a Valium. Everything went on time for me. Sorry that you had a less than wonderful experience with the wires. I had two also. But the lidocaine didn't wear off that I noticed.
Prayers for clear nodes and margins!
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Hi All Lumpies,
To clarify a few points, yes PM women can be on tamoxifen: usually it's if they cannot tolerate the AI's.
As for "matching" surgery, yes insurance covers it, even if we don't get it right away. I will consider it in the future. For those of you who are still early in the process, don't stress too much about that just yet. Rads does "stuff" to your lumpy girl: first she swells up, then quite often she shrinks. I'm 9 months out from the end of rads and still shrinking! Don't even consider surgery to match yet, since as Lumpies, radiation is a sure thing.
For those of you new to this merry-go-round, as far as emotions go, the second year is totally unlike the first! Thank you Powers That Be! From the moment of diagnosis (for many of us) life is a whirlwind punctuated by panic. It gets so-o-o much better. The deer in headlights terror fades. I'm not going to say I don't get moments of fear every once in a while: I got a cough this week. I "knew" it was a virus, but a tiny voice had to ask "What if..." But that's a very small occasional voice.
Yes, unless otherwise informed, we are CURED of cancer. Unless we are stage 4, our treatments are curative: yay! We are not in remission. We do not have cancer. What we are, however, are cancer patients.
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Thanks, Palameda. We do need that reminder that things get better. Glad all is going well for you!
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