Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hopeful, what's the Ki-67? New term to me. How long do they want you on the femara before surgery? Will you wait until after surgery to decide on chemo, when you can have the oncotype done? Or is there some other protocol that is followed? I know nothing about chemo.
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I use Aquaphor for new tattoos and it makes them heal beautifully and I dont think there is any aroma with it. Its thick so it keeps hydrating longer
Ive also put a dab on my lips before bed... and wake up with super soft lips 0 -
Panthrah, the only tats I've had are the 3 for my rads and they certainly didn't require any care to make them heal. There is no aroma to Aquaphor. Your partner must love those sexy lips!
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Yes He doesnt seem to mind them at all
I will be adding to my collection of colorful ink shortly hehehe goal to be finished by Jan (Doubt I will be..expensive hobby)0 -
HAHAHA!! Go for it, Panthrah!
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hi there. This looks like a good place to jump in.. I had a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago. I was sore for the first week but quite tolerable. The second week I started feeling numbness on the skin under the arm through the bicep and down to the elbow. It reached around the back of my shoulder. Beneath the skin is almost intolerable burning. I'm using a lot of ice and looking into acupuncture. My surgeon acts like it is very uncommon and I am upset that she did not tell me about this possible reaction. Is this permanent? Are there any excersizes for it or should I be resting it? Is this nerve damage an does it repair itself. I appreciate any feedback.
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Hi Panthrah and Pontiac Peggy -
Where would one find the Aquaphor that you mention in these posts? Cost? On a slightly different theme - I am going to meet my medical oncologist for the first time on Friday and I wonder what exactly the role of a medical oncologist is? One week from today, I meet the nurse in the oncology unit and then my radiation oncologist. That should complete my team. All these upcoming visits are my first. Generally speaking how long does it take from the first RO visit before radiation is actually started? Still trying to figure it out, sorry for all the ?'s.
MarieBernice6234
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MarieBernice, I don't use Aquaphor but a different lotion my RO recommended but I have seen it at CVS. I met with my MO about 3 or 4 weeks out from surgery. She went over my diagnosis with me and the pathology reports (even though the BS had already done that). She discussed my treatment plan with me and she ordered the Oncotype Dx testing. Her office also referred me to the PT for my arm. She then gave me my results from the Oncotype and I'll see her again right before I am done with radiation to discuss Hormone Therapy. I met with the RO the same week as the MO. We knew we had to wait until the Oncotype came back before scheduling my simulation. I had my simulation at about 5 weeks post-op and started radiation at 6 weeks post-op.
I hope that helps.
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IonaVilla, I had the same type of numbness. How it was explained to me is that they cut nerves when they remove the nodes and that is what causes the numbness. I'm about 6 weeks out from surgery and still have some numbness there and pain in my arm when I lift it over my head. I do get a burning or pin prick sensation too which they told me was the nerves growing back. From what my doctors have said, it is very common. However, if you are worried, you should talk to your doctor about it.
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hi ladies! My RO had me us Miaderm lotion 3x day (OTC from ONC Rx/pharmacy) after incisions were healed and about 1/2 way through rads I added Aquafor (3x day). You can find it at grocery store or pharmacy, and in baby diaper section. It is a thick ointment. My RO also gave me free samples so ask! I added Silvadene creme Rx for 2 weeks when my skin got red and it stopped the weepy skin.
Can't stress how important it is to keep the area and scars moisturized and massage the scar tissue to make it soft & supple and flat. Mine look really good. I put the lotion on, let it soak in a minute or two, then followed w Aquafor and then covered it w flannel rectangle. I switched to gauze squares later. I placed it under arm and down under lower breast to keep rubbing off the SNB site. My last rad was 9/10 and I'm all healed up, no more redness, just some darker skin under breast and underarm. My RO said moisturize for 1 year post-rad to continue to keep skin to heal, so I'm following doc orders! Happy healing to you all!!
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MarieBernice, I found Aquaphor at my local grocery store and probably it's at Walmart. Not particularly expensive. My MO is the one who prescribe chemo if needed. In my case just AIs are needed and he gave me an Rx for Arimidex and told me to start as soon as I'm done with my rads. All 3 of my team gave me my ocontype dx! I will see my RO one last time a month after my last rad tx (which is tomorrow). Then I should be done with him (although I like him). I see my MO after I've been on my AI for about 2 weeks. It appears that my BS will coordinate my care for awhile. BTW, I saw my RO about a month before I started rads. He had me do my simulation before I got the oncotype results back. I got them on a Friday and started on Tuesday (it was Labor Day on Monday
).IonaVilla, I'm 13 weeks out from my lumpy and my damn underarm is still rather numb. The BS said it may or may not get feeling back. You never know. I think it is less numb than it was. Still a small price to pay for knowing there was no lymph node involvement.
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MarieBernice, I met my RO in late Sept., even though we don't know for sure when I'll be doing radiation. I found it really helpful to talk with her as it answered a lot of my questions and addressed concerns about potential damage to organs on the left side, etc.
Once we are ready to do rad., there's a simulation appt. that takes at least an hour. Then they input all the info into a program and fine tune the aim of the beam, etc. over about a week's time. So between simulation and beginning tx. expect it to be a week. Most rad. appts. are pretty brief - 30 mins. or so. Most facilities have reserved parking for rad. pts. so that you don't have to spend all day creeping through the parking structure.
If you google Aquaphor you'll see it's widely available and not too expensive. Somebody else commented that it doesn't have much of a scent, either, which is nice.
Your oncologist is someone you'll be working with for a long time, assuming you have hormonal therapy, usually over the course of five or more years. Make sure you like them and their staff.
Good luck moving forward!
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My situation seems a bit different from everyone else's. My breast surgeon is my oncologist...so I'll just be seeing him in addition to the RO. I'm doing the internal radiation which is 2 times a day for 5 days. I think it's because of the location of my lump site as well as the fact that I'm postmenopausal. I'll start rads on 10/25 and finish on 10/31...Holloween!!!
Then I'll start AI's...
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You're lucky to be able to do the short course, Nash. There are a lot of factors that go into that - lymph node status, size of the breast, location of the tumor, stage, to name just a few. I suspect it's one of the most completely individualized aspects of treatment. I'm glad you have an extra treat to look forward to on Hallowe'en.
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Nash, being postmenopausal didn't effect the number of rads I've had - #33 (and last one) tomorrow. I'd love to know what goes into that decision but I have no complaints.
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Hi Nash, I also had internal radiation. I was 44 which was a bit young for the cut off age of 45. Not sure where they come up with age 45 as the golden age to allow internal. I am one year out and healed completely now. My sister also had internal radiation- she was DX 2 months after me. The day I finished rads is the day she was diagnosed. In no time you will be done!!
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Thanks ndgrrl for the words of encouragement. So glad you are completely healed! And so sorry to hear your sister was DX'd too. I have 3 sisters and am praying none of them have to go thru this.
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Nash: my last day of Rads is Halloween too.
Got my genetic test results back today, negative for the 2 BRCA's,
which is good. Had 2 tests that came back Uncertain Clinical
Significance, meaning there is currently insufficient data to determine
if these variants cause increased cancer risk. If those tests are
recategorized over time as more data is available, I'll be notified.I
also learned from my RO today why I'm only getting 15 treatments. It's
called the Canada model. Each daily dose is larger. Some of the criteria
that have to be met to qualify for the 15 day rads: small tumor with
clean margins and nodes, postmenopausal, estrogen +, smaller breasts,
and other tumor characteristics that he didn't cover in detail.0 -
Puffin2014...we'll be celebrating together on Halloween!! Glad you're getting a shorter treatment time. Halloween will never be the same...
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I've heard about the Canadian protocol and had hoped I'd qualify for it. It's more intense dosages but it sure cuts down on the hassle factor
I hope it works out really well for you, Puffin! 0 -
I too did the Canadian protocol (for my second breast cancer) so I had 15 treatments, but they still did the boosts at the end so I had a total of 20. Still better than the 25 treatments plus 5 boosts they did for my first breast cancer and the 28 treatments for endometrial cancer! I felt like I should be glowing.
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BookWoman, are you a pretty glowing green???
That is a whole lot of radiation. At least you know what to expect and what to do by now!0 -
Sounds like great news, Puffin!
Hope everyone is having a great week! Don't know what I would do without all of you and your helpful, informed insights and support!
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re: scars
in 2007 I fractured my leg badly, requiring several long incisions to repair. The scars were really ugly and when I checked w my pharmacist she recommended Bio Oil. I'm super sensitive, allergic to many things and this product was great. I actually saw a reduction in redness around scars within hours! It can also be used around eyes and other wrinkles...so double duty and not too expensive as a little goes a long way. I plan to use it on my incisions as soon as the glue wears off.
thanks for info about Aquafor..if it doesn't have much smell it might work for my sensitive skin. Fragrance triggers my asthma so many good products are a non starter just because of the inclusion of fragrance.
hope we all have a better weekend.
zha-an
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Like you, Zha-an, fragrances are a no-go for me. Aquaphor is fine. Think Vaseline! Use it when you have radiation. It works nicely. Some ladies use aloe but I'm allergic to it.
Have a good one!
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Peggy - Did you do the Dove dance this a.m. or has it become 2nd nature to do without it?
I hope you took a minute or two (while it was drying perhaps?) to celebrate the occasion.
Have a good weekend - thinking of you and your husband.
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Hopeful, you bet I did. I don't stink anymore!!! Never smelled when I was younger, wonder what changed? Oh well, it's nice to be back supporting Dove deodorant
You have a good weekend too. Hubby needs special thoughts since he's back in the hospital (but should be released tomorrow).
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It must feel good to be getting your life back, Peggy, one little piece at a time. Of course, your husband's illness certainly casts a long shadow. I hope he's doing better and will, indeed, be well enough to come home tomorrow.
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It does, Hopeful. Appreciate the good wishes.
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