Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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mripp....so happy for your good news!!!!
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Thanks for sharing your very great news, Mari. SO happy for you!!
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Finished my last rad treatment today and had device removed. Feeling relieved. Going to try and chill until my next Dr. appt on Nov 10th. Trying not to worry until I have something to worry about. 0 -
Nash, I think this quote is apropos:
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
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Perfect Peggy !! My new motto. 0 -
Nash, I keep reminding myself of it. Hard to do at times. Glad it works!
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That's my motto, too, Peggy. Unfortunately, sometimes my mind forgets and wanders over to the deep end...
Nash - it must be nice to had the rad. checked off your list. Congratulations!
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Mine, too, Hopeful. It's hard to keep it leashed. I'm such an optimist but I have my moments too. How are you doing on Femara? I'm on Arimidex, started 4 days after you. So far so good
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I'm doing really well with Femara so far. It may have unleashed my appetite for carbs but that also tends to happen at this time of the year, so can't really lay the blame there for sure.
Other than that possible effect, I haven't felt anything. I take it at night so if it does make me drowsy it won't be an issue but I don't think that's even happened.
I know some women have huge issues with AIs, so I'm counting my blessings and firmly expect things to continue this way.
Two weeks tomorrow until another set of biopsies (ugh) and then a week after that I'll meet with my surgeon and get the results. Saying LOTS of prayers, mantras and affirmations in the meantime.
I'm glad you're doing well with Arimidex, too, Peggy, and hope that it works very, very well indeed for you. Hope your husband's doing well, too.
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Hopeful, I take my Arimidex in the morning in case it wakes me up
So far I still need coffee. I also think I won't have issues with it. DH has a long way to go before he can come home, if he can even come home.Have you had surgery yet? Have you had lots of biopsies? I guess I figured one set of biopsies would be more than adequate. Definitely good luck and positive thoughts sent your way.
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Peggy, I had 2 vacuum assisted core biopsies originally (tumor and node). The process itself was o.k. but I developed a hematoma that really hurt until about a week ago, so well over a month. Still a bit sore but not all the time.
The second set of biopsies will be after a full month on Femara to see if the growth rate indicator (Ki67) has dropped. If it has, that indicates a response to the Femara and then we'll factor that into the treatment plan and go from there. If it hasn't dropped, we've learned something about the biology of this particular tumor and, again, we'll recalibrate and go from there. I'm really hoping for a very strong response to Femara, for many reasons.
I didn't realize there was a possibility your husband wouldn't be able to return home again - I'm so sorry. I know that it's a lot of work being a 24/7 caregiver but losing the day-in, day-out companionship of your spouse and knowing that he's declined to that extent must be rugged.
Thinking of you and your husband, Peggy.
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Hopeful, so you haven't had surgery yet, I take it. Your path is different from the ones I've heard about (and experienced). I never had the Ki67 indicator measured. I'll have to find out why. My oncotype was 13. Obviously, we all hope you respond fantastically to the Femara! I had a really crappy hematoma from my core biopsies, too. And even nearly 8 weeks out from the biopsies, the hematoma was messing up the MRI, scans etc and made it challenging for the surgeon, who decided to take more "lump" out than perhaps was necessary. They just couldn't "see" what all was there. Luckily, everything was removed. Only surprise was a DCIS completely removed and very tiny.
I do miss the day-to-day companionship of having DH around. He has Parkinson's, was in bed for 3 weeks with pneumonia after kidney removal surgery (there was a cancerous tumor on it) and he wasn't moving at all well when he went in for the surgery. His caregiving is extremely physical. He is unable to get in and out of bed unassisted and is up 2-5 times per night, which means I am. I just can't see what's down the road. In the past I've been able to. This time is complicated by signs of dementia (which goes with the Parkinson's). Far too many things happening to him. Hard for both of us. Thanks for your thoughts!
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Nash glad you are done with radiation. Did it make you nauseas at all? Did they give you something for pain when they removed the balloon?0 -
Peggy, I also didn't realize that your DH might not be able to return home. I'm sorry to hear that. I know his rehab and care are very involved- both physically and emotionally for you. I'm so sorry you both have to go through all of this. You both are in my thoughts and prayers!
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ndgrrl....I took 2 extra strength tylenol and a valium. Didn't get nauseous at all. They numbed it with lidocaine right before they took it out. I took a couple of deep breaths and it was pulled out as I was exhaling. Really was quick and painless. The lidocaine shot hurt more than the removal. I was all worked up before I got there so the valium really chilled me out. I did take a pain pill I had left over from my lumpy tonight just in case I got sore....so right now no pain at all. And I am SO glad to have that thing out of me. Mine was actually a SAVI device. It's like a little wire whisk. The RO said he's heard more complaints of discomfort from the SAVI as compared to the ballon device.
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Peggy, so sorry to hear about everything DH is going through. I wish you the best and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thanks Hopeful it is nice to have the RADS behind me. Fingers and toes crossed for good results on your biopsies.
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Poppy & NDgrrl, it is my thought that DH might not come home. I just know that if he isn't somewhat mobile, I won't be able to care for him. Hopefully, rehab will be able to get him to a place where I can have him home. The thought of him in a nursing home and paying for it is completely depressing. DH has bounced back before so there's a chance he can again. With Parkinson's, though, he will never improve, only decline. I didn't want him to have this surgery to begin with. The tumor wasn't doing anything and I knew from past experience that every time he goes to the hospital, he experiences a problem and comes out worse and never gets back to his pre-hospital status. Enough whinging. We all cope with what life throws at us.
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Peggy, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your husband. My grandfather had Parkinson's and I saw what it did to him. It rruly is a terrible disease. Make sure that you take care of yourself too!
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Jeanelle, thank you. It is a crappy disease! I don't have any help and that makes it difficult to find time for myself. I'm taking advantage of DH's time in rehab to do the things I won't be able to once he comes home: dinner with the BFFs, shopping, going to bed when I want. HUGS!!!
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so sorry Peggy! You know I understand.... my DH on same path. Not easy & many hugs.
Quick update. Surgery done and maneageable pain. More hurdles to go but at least one more down! Posted more on October surgery thread.
Best
Sue
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Su-CQ51 sending healing thoughts. Good to have one more down!!
Peggy (((hugs)))
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Thanks, Nash!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SuCQ, we definitely understand the path our DHs are walking and it is not one we want. We'll cope. HUGS
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My first outing since my rads were completed yesterday. I kept a low profile during the week of rads...back and forth to the hospital and picking up DD from school was about it. So today I got my hair done, had lunch out and did a little shopping. And today I can now officially shower...it's been 8 days!!!! (Of course I did bath but was awkward trying not to get the port thingy wet....and I'm a shower person).
Happy Halloween!!!!
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Dear Nash - I can just imagine how good it felt to have a nice, long shower and to be out and about doing normal things - with a salon visit to top it all off. That's a much better treat than any snack size candy bar!
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HI Mari -
That is fantastic news. After my 33 rad sessions which start on Tuesday, I hope to be able to say the same.
MarieBernice6234
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Hello All. I am a new member of the Cancer Club and, while I can't say I'm happy to join, I will say it's nice to be here at the Lumpectomy Lounge. I have seen many topics of interest and I look forward to sharing my journey with you.
I completed surgery (lumpectomy and lymph node dissection) on the 14th of Oct. and am feeling well. Radiation treatment will begin once the swelling has gone down. I have lots of questions on this, but will save for later.
Does anyone have suggestions, information on the pain from lymph node dissection. I have good range of motion, but with searing pain when stretching overhead. I only had two nodes removed and was not expecting continuing pain from this. Also, the back of my arm feels "on fire" all the time - I am assuming this is from the nerve pain associated with surgery.
Also, where the tumor was removed in my breast, it feels very hard - I joked with the Dr. that she left something in there! Is there a way to soften this? I am desperate to get everything "back to normal" so that I can start radiation and move on….
Any insight, advice, and words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Kay
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Hi Kay,
I can't help you yet but our stories are similar. ..I go tomorrow for my lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy, and nipple removal. My pathology is very similar to yours as well. Do you mind sharing your age? I'm 43. Hoping all stays the same amd radiation will be next for me as well then tamoxifen. But can't shake the feeling that I need to do chemo.
Hope you feel better soon and will be following all the responses as I'm sure it will helpe!
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Hi, I'm new here and have postop concern. I had surg. Mon Oct 27 for invasive ductal carcinoma of left breast with sentinel node excision. Day after surgery, I had minimal bruising around surgical site, outer left breast and axillary. The next day bright red petechei and purple areas show up beneath my left breast. It has since spread down my left side, the bruising and now across breastbone to my right breast. My left breast is hard, more tender to touch and looks like I was beatten, black, red, and blue. I saw Dr. And told him how it spread and I was told I have a hematoma 10-30 -14. I'm concerned I am bleeding under skin at surgical area. Is this possible 6 days out from surgery? Should I be concerned? Anyone else have this? Thanks so much.
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KKay, ForHisGlory and caniac: I had my lumpectomy in June with 2 sentinel lymph removed, both were clean, and I was expecting to just have radiation. My doctor sent my tumor for oncotype testing and my score came back high enough to indicate I needed chemo, to the surprise of both me and my oncologist. Even though my tumor was only 1 cm, the oncotype test indicated it was a more aggressive type. So I've now completed my chemo and Friday was my last day of radiation.
caniac, you can develop a hematoma that many days after surgery, do what your surgeon recommends, sometime they have to go in and drain it.
Very normal for both the sentinel and lumpy incisions to be hard and lumpy, and it'll be weeks before that goes away. Check with surgeon, but mine said it was OK to gently massage them with lotion, and to use heat if I was careful because the numb area could burn if anything too hot was used. I had a long skinny microwaveable pillow meant for a sore neck that I used, it laid nicely along my breast and under my armpit and it felt awesome.
Even with only 2 lymph nodes removed, you're still at risk for developing lymphedema in that arm, be sure to talk with surgeon or trained physical therapist to know what to look for and what precautions to take besides no blood pressures or IV's or vaccinations in that arm.
It does get better, just takes some time.
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