Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Sorry that you had to get a re-excision. Take care x
I wanted to ask everyone- when do you go back to shaving your armpit and wearing deodorant? Do you think using an electric shaver would be safer? Thanks!
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Oceangirl, I waited to start shaving until my SNLB was totally healed. I don't use an electric razor. Probably an electric razor would be safer but I haven't had any problems. I didn't wear deodorant until after my rads were done.
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hi ladies, I had the lumpectomy yesterday. Path report will be back Tuesday. They removed one sentinel node but didn't do a frozen section after. I was a little disappointed. He said that 20% of them they don't get clear margins. Ugh. My pain is low but still feel off from the anesthesia. Did it take you guys awhile to feel OK after surgery? I feel a bit depressed this morning because everything seems so real now. plus I still don't know my node status. He said one showed it was radioactive but no others did. One thing he said that confused me (but I was out of it) he said if the sentinel node is cancerous, it won't change my treatment plan. Wouldn't they go in and take more if this one is positive? He acted like there would be no other node removal...
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my armpit is numb. Will it always be?
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ShelleyM, glad you made it through just fine. I was lucky that I felt good right away. I was so happy to have my sons helping me (taking care of my DH) that depression wasn't an option!
My armpit is still numb after 6 months. When I asked my surgeon she said it could take up to 2 years for the numbness to go away. But that whatever I had at 2 years was how things were going to be. So I may or may not be numb - I'll find out eventually.
HUGS!!!
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Hello Ladies,
It was a terribly long day. We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am,
Except for one nurse, everybody was very nice, which definitely helps in situations like these.
I only had one short breakdown when I started crying, and that was after dealing with this one nurse. It's not that she was impolite, just very impersonal. My impression was that she didn't want to be there, but none of us want to be there either.
Luckily, they gave me one Xanax with a sip of water, and that eventually kicked in and I was calmer.
Also, right at the beginning they put the numbing cream on my breast, so by the time they took me to nuclear medicine to inject radioactive materials, the area was so numb that I didn't really feel those two shots. Once the shots were administered, a scan was performed to mark the nodes.
Next step was a trip to mammography to insert the wire. It wasn't horrible. The only time I felt pain was when they injected local anesthesia and it took a couple of seconds. I did not feel the wire either, and the mammo part wasn't bad, because it was light compression. I was sitting in awkward position by the mammo machine, but it was bearable.
From there they took me back to Day Surgery and got my husband to sit with me. They told us that the first surgery took longer than anticipated, so my surgery was going to be delayed 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Because of that delay with the first surgery the wait for my surgery was very long, total 3 hours before the anesthesia came to see me. My Xanax from the morning already wore off and I was getting antsy. When they finally came, they gave me Verced - another calming drug, and this one was great. After about half a minute I felt like I didn't have a care in the world. They took me to the OR, strapped my arms and I was still happy. Last thing I remember was the anesthesiologist putting a mask on my face and telling me to go to my happy place. He offered to take me to Hawaii, but I opted for Rome, Italy instead. And I was gone.
First thing after surgery that I remember I was in recovery room, they were asking how I was feeling. I remember saying I was cold and in pain. I could barely talk, as if my lips were paralyzed. I would imagine my mouth was so dry too, that it gave me difficulty talking. They gave me a shot with some painkillers, and it helped quite quickly. I think after about an hour they took me to Day Surgery for further recovering and they called my husband there.
I had a very difficult time waking up. That general anesthesia really did a number on me! It took about 4 hours of recovery, before I was able to go home. My husband was even pushing for them to admit me for 23 hours. He used to be a surgeon so he knew immediately as soon as he saw me, that I was way out of it. I was trying so hard to wake up and stay awake, but I kept drifting away. At one point the nurse had be sit down in a chair to see how I was doing. Supposedly I turned very pale and I got nauseated, so they told me to get back to bed, and I immediately fell asleep again.
We got home around 8 pm and I went straight to bed. My poor husband was exhausted too. Imagine sitting in a hospital for 13 hours. He was joking that at least I was getting good drugs.
Even today I'm still a little dizzy and feeling "loopy", but it's getting better as the day progresses.
My surgeon took out 2 nodes and they looked fine to him, but of course we have to wait for final pathology, this still could change, but let's hope it doesn't.
He also told my husband that it's a good thing we did that lumpectomy, because the bad stuff was really deep in my breast, almost by my muscle.
I'm in some pain and discomfort today, I'm having difficulties positioning myself so the armpit doesn't hurt so much - that's where I feel most irritation. Breast itself doesn't feel too badly.
I did get strong pain killers prescribed, but they might get me more dizzy which I don't want. And sleepy of course.
So, that's all that I can think of for now. Ask me if you have any questions.
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Take it easy today, BB. I'm sure you'll feel a lot better after you get some of the residual anaesthesia out of your system.
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BB, what an awfully long day. At least it's over! You should feel better soon. If you're like me, the underarm is the biggest PIA. Partly because it is the most unexpected and there's just not a lot to do about it. You can hold up the poor booby so it doesn't jiggle but haven't found anything similar for the underarm. But it gets better! Just glad you're home and into recovery! HUGS!
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Well done! All over. The memories will soon fade as will the pain. It was obviously no picnic but fairly routine I guess and at least you had your husband to support you. As a surgeon he must be relieved it was straightforward - appreciate his care! All the best.
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BB...well done. So glad that's behind you. Praying for good results from your path report. Everything sounds promising. Rest well. The node area will be a bit of a bother but it will get better with time.
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It's official...the computer randomly picked my treatment and I am getting chemo. I think that years from now I will be happy with this choice; and I thought I was prepared for this since I have read ALL the BCO discussions about chemo. But, apparently my insides weren't ready for the news because when they checked my vitals an hour after the decision, I had high blood pressure for the first time in my life!
You all take care and get some good sleep. (((Hugs)))
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Oh, Sweet Hope - I know this must be REALLY tough to wrap your mind around. I do hope it works out well for you in the long run. In the short term, please know that all of us are pulling for you. (((SW)))
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SweetHope. I can believe that your gut wasn't ready to hear that. You'll do just fine and I'm sure you're right that you'll be happy to have gone this path. We're with you! HUGS!!!!!!
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SweetHope, I know exactly how you feel. When this whole thing started I was told that we caught it early, so all I'd need is a lumpectomy and some meds. Then I was told that they always do radiation after lumpectomy. Then my oncotype came back as 23, so chemo was a possibility. Then after the LX they discovered that I had a positive node and because that Cancer was >2 mm, chemo was recommended. I was seriously waiting for them to tell me that I'd need more chemo after the last treatment.
Anyway, hearing that I needed chemo took the wind out of my sails. Very difficult to deal with emotionally, mostly because I knew that chemo would make me look sick and it would be hard to hide. So your feelings are totally normal
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Sjacobs, My SO said right along that I'd need an LX and radiation. However, i always harbored that thought that I'd need chemo. I finally exhaled when my oncotype came back at 13 and everyone said, no chemo. I suspect most of hope we don't need but deep inside feel that we'll wind up getting it. It seems that you were always being "kicked" down the road with the next treatment in line. Must have been discouraging. But it is good to know that there are treatments to kills the damn BC!! HUGS!!
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Sweet hope, sj, similar story, after biopsy was told DCIS, and lumpectomy and rads was needed. So relieved but Then after after path report came back after lumpectomy told IDC and TN so needed chemo also. Chemo makes this damn cancer real because outward you can't really hide it..but it also makes you tough. You'll surprise your self with how strong and tough you are, but be ready for the weak days too. We have to accept all emotions with this disease because we feel them all, acknowledge them as they are part of the journey. Keep in touch with these boards, they are a life saver. Listen to "I am woman" by Helen ready and sing it LOUD! "But I come back even stronger, not a novice any longer...". That's us ladies
Your stories brought it all back to me today, on this day, exactly 1 yr since my first chemo infusion
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Hi everyone. I am meeting with a geneticist on Friday morning about having the BRCA test. After reading the posts, I was wondering if I should be asking for the Oncotype test as well?
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Rekidal: Yes I would encourage you to do the Oncotype test. That lets you know exactly what the condition of your tumor is. The BRCA test is to determine if you are a genetic carrier, which could be important to your children/grandchildren, especially Females. I had the BRCA test this last summer, because my mother had both BC and ovarian cancer, both of my grandmothers had cervical cancer, I have had BC (still on Letrozole, but NED since 2011). My daughter had ovarian cancer and passed away Oct. 31. I had the test mostly so my granddaughters could know what their Drs. would need to watch for. My daughter's 31 year old daughter, was diagnosed and had surgery for cervical cancer just a couple of week before Melody died. My late son's daughters have been good so far. Good luck!!! It can give some peace of mind for the family...
Vickie
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Vickie, I am so sorry for your loss.
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Hopeful,
Thank you!!!.,. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I am curious, why the long wait?
Vickie
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Hi Lisa514 - what an excellent posting. You have shown the fibre and guts needed to deal with this wretched disease and how one must move on. I thank my lucky stars and feel very blessed that I live in a country where good medical treatment is available and that I am still me (not paraplegic/Alzheimers or any of the myriad conditions which ruin quality of life). They can always come of course…. As I told no one about my bc I can happily say "fine" when people ask me how I am - much better than going through all the ins and outs and receiving pity- but I am a tough old bird and do recognise that it is a very difficult voyage and we are all different. These messaging boards are so good and helpful but naturally tend not to reflect those who have reached a safe haven (even if only temporarily). All the best to you all.
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Good morning everyone. I am wrapping a toasty warm, super soft blankee around each of you this morning. Topped off by an impenetrable shell where no evil can get to you. Now you are invincible, so go kick butt!
No, I'm not overdoing my meds, which until chemo starts are only a thyroid pill and a vitamin. I just want everyone here to have a better day.
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Thanks SweetHope...feeling warm, toasty and invincible!!
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Vickie, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for your advice and I will speak with the doctor about receiving that test as well. I held off on the surgery because in the course of 6 weeks I had two biopsies, knee surgery and of course the holidays. I wanted to take a little time and get a second opinion and just absorb all that has happened. If the results come back positive I may decide the have a mastectomy, but still not sure. I wish your family the very best.0 -
Hopeful and anyone else - I'm really sorry if my post about reconstruction for lumpectomies vs. mastectomies upset you, that was not my intention.
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Woke up this morning feeling down. My other arm has lost sensation which the nurse said can happen from the IV. Just not feeling great and worried about the future.
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Vickie, I can't begin to imagine your sorrow. But I can send you loving arms to hold you close and give you many hugs. And perhaps that will help a little. HUGS.
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shelleym1...sorry you are feeling down but it's normal. My arm on lumpectomy side was numb for about 2-3 months...much better now and getting better with exercise. I have a little numbing sensations down my back that come and go...but I think it's just nerves healing. I didn't really start to feel like myself until about 2 months after...feeling really good now. Hang in there! It does get better!!!
(((hugs)))
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I was going to ask about numb feeling too, but mine is on the surgery side. The arm is numb, and my pinkie and the side of my hand are tingling and going numb. My husband (a foot surgeon) says that it is due to swelling aggravating a nerve. Makes sense, but I am very scared about lymphedema.
My leg and foot started to feel numb on the side of the surgery too, but I don't see how this could be connected. Maybe stress of it all?
Shelley, maybe the IV did nick a nerve, like your nurse says?
I got a nasty bruise and swelling from my IV too, but so far no numbing on that side.
BB
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Vickie - I'm so sorry for your loss. I have no words... Please know this stranger is thinking about you and hoping only positive things come your families way this year.
BB - I hope today is a good day for you and your recovery.
I'm off to my MRI. Fingers crossed they don't see anymore cancer than what is already there.
Big Hugs and positive energy to everyone here.
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