Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Carriek30,
My MRI didn't show anything unusual with my nodes either. However, because my DCIS is grade 3 with comedonecrosis (which means it is very aggressive) my surgeon told me he would do the Sentinel Node Biopsy.
As it turned out I have much more cancer in my breast than initial breast biopsy showed. My nodes however are negative - thankfully - so even though I'm sore from the SNL, at least I know now that the cancer has not spread so far.
BB
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Hi Kayfry: We are both DCIS and we are both LEFTIES! The description of how your breast looks is very similar to mine. Deep breath my friend, take one day at a time. Your breast will go through a lot of changes as it recovers from the lumpectomy and then more changes after radiation. BUT, once you are through and healed, you can meet with a reconstruction surgeon IF you want to and discuss options.
On February 24 (believe it or not, MY LAST lumpectomy was on Feb 24, 2014!), I am having reconstruction - he has to do a lift to both so they are even and then he will use small implants so they are the same size. You will get to where ever you want to go. It is hard to be patient, trust me, we know.....seems we have to be patient for everything! Keep coming out here and just staying in touch. Everyone is so wonderful and we will help you along the way.
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It makes me so nervous to hear women say that cancer was discovered in their other breast when they opted for double mastectomy instead of lumpectomy. I had an MRI on both breasts before surgery, but what if they missed something? Ugh.
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ShelleyM1, remember each case is different. As my son says "Your mileage may vary." So don't assume that you should have done something different. Your surgeon, who knows what s/he's doing, thought a lumpectomy was the best option for you. Keep that in mind. Keep breathing. It's hard waiting for the path report, we all know that. Positive thoughts and HUGS!
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I am terrified for tomorrow, Peggy. I came home from work and have been sitting in the recliner with my dogs crying off and on. I don't even want to go. Right now I can have hope but tomorrow I can find out the truth and it may not be good.
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Shelley, you're right. It's always possible the report may not be good. But it's more likely that it will be. And whatever it is, you do have the strength to do whatever is necessary. Believe me. Of course you're scared. How could you not be. Hug the doggies and think positive. A big glass of wine might not be amiss HUGS to you and please let us know what you find out.
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Shelley, you've had a very long wait and I know the strain has added to that already involved in dealing with this. I am hoping for very good results but in the meantime, you need to get through tonight.
This might be a good time for a long, hot bath, complete with bubble bath, candles, maybe a glass of wine or a cup of tea and a good book.
Or maybe the weather's decent enough that the dogs would like to take you for a walk? (And then the bubble bath!)
If you have Xanax or Ativan on hand it could almost certainly help and was made for times such as this. There's no reason to be any more miserable than you have to be. Sending you encouraging thoughts, Shelley, and hoping for the very best tomorrow.
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Shelley...I remember how scared I was too. I tried to prepare myself for every possible outcome. I know it doesn't seem like it right now but you will get thru this. Praying for rest tonight and a good report tomorrow.
(((Hugs)))
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shelley, I am waiting for results too, and I'm also scared. But at the same time, I know that no matter whether the news is good or not so good, it will be better to know and not sit and worry. So as others have said, do whatever you can to get through tonight, do something enjoyable and distracting, and know that the stress of the unknown will soon be behind you. I'll be thinking about you as I wait for that call from my surgeon, too.
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Kayfry, you're so right. It is much worse not knowing. Once you know you can do whatever needs to be done. HUGS!!!
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Shelley
I feel the same. I get my results tomorrow too. I'm getting more anxious by the minute. Part of me just wants to know now and part of me wants to bury my head in the sand. My partner is fussing around me doing housework and it's driving me crazy.
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Hang in there shaz. I hope your news is all good.
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Shelley, Kayfry and Shaz, I know you are in that difficult place of not knowing your path results. I hope you get a bit of peace tonight so you can sleep. We are here for you and will help you through, whatever your results are. I'll be thinking about you! Let us know the results. Hugs!
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Okay - here's a group hug from all of us to Shelley, Shaz and Kayfry. We'd send a massage if we could, honestly.
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Hitting the "LIKE" button!!!!
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I love you guys. Ladies. Whatever. I would hit the "like" button if there was one.
My husband and I agree that if I haven't heard from my BS tomorrow by midday, when I plan to leave to go hang out with my horse for a couple of hours, I will call and ask about my pathology report. This waiting thing is the pits. I am just hoping for good news for all of us tomorrow. Or at least SOME news . . . Wishing all of you ladies a good night's sleep!
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Definitely a LIKE button is needed!!
I remember when I had a wire locator biopsy done about 10 years ago and went back after a week or two for a check up. Got some damn surgeon in training who wanted to pass the time of day when all I cared about was the path report. And I let him have it with both barrels. I was so p*ssed at him. Everything was fine. I hope sometime someone did that to him. I believe in revenge! End rant.
Anyway Ladies, good paths tomorrow. Many hugs. Good night's sleep. More hugs!!
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That sounds like a really good plan, Kay. Have fun with your horse tomorrow. I know he/she will be glad to see you.
Sleep tight, friends.
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"like"
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(((Hugs)))0 -
Has anyone experienced more than normal bone loss (hip or spine) since rads? My onc doc made such a big deal about watching my bone health to keep things in check. Would like to know what others are going through or have been asked to watch and what your docs shared with you about the impact from rads.0 -
I have a stupid question.....I came all the way from CA to NY MSK, before I left my BS arranged MRI for me, however MSK BS asks me not to take MRI as MRI reveals too many false information, MSK BS insists that there is only one tumor and mammogram/ultrasound are enough to rule out other places. I am kind of losing the faith to my body, is there any tiny spot < 1cm or DCIS, ILS, or whatever something not caught by mammogram/ultrasound ( I have dense breasts)? BS only takes one sentinel node, is this node really the only sentinel node? O.K. I am driving myself crazy.... Is there anyone not doing MRI here? I often hear that some people have BMX and then find more spots in their breasts, how can we be sure the lumpectomy wo'nt miss anything?
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First of all *HUGS* to all the ladies waiting for your results. I was really lucky that my BS told my family a bunch of information after the surgery like how large the tumor actually was, that the lymph nodes were clear, that they took 4 of them and that they believed they got it all. I think I would have gone nuts waiting for 2 weeks for that info. It gave me enough that I could relax a bit and wait to get the entire story later.
colleen - when I had my ultrasound, they only did the right breast (the one with the lump). When I went in for the MRI, they found another spot on the left breast. It turned out just to be an fibroadenoma but had it been something else, I would have had the option of a completely different treatment regime. Even though it turned out to be negative and caused me an extra week of worrying, I'm glad they did find it and ruled out cancer.
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Hi Colleen1013.
My BS was not considering MRI until I asked him about it. And I only asked because I saw on the biopsy report that the radiologist recommended it due to my breast tissue being very dense. Also, the nurse navigator mentioned the MRI to me when she called me a few days prior to the surgery. My BS said that MRIs are not very helpful with microcalcifications and with DCIS with which I was diagnosed at the time, but still did order the MRI, maybe to appease me. My MRI showed nothing new, other than confirmed that I have very dense breasts. Still, the radiologist wants me to repeat the MRI in 6 months.
Prior to my surgery the BS said he was going to take 1 to 3 sentinel nodes. I think it all depends on how many nodes "light up" when they inject you with the radioactive substance (or a dye). I believe this shows which nodes are the first ones in the "line of attack" from the breast and if these nodes are negative for cancer cells then the conclusion is that it has not spread anywhere else. In my case they took 2 nodes.
BB
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Thanks, Dogs. I can't tell if my operated breast has much swelling or not. If not, then I'm not too unhappy with it right now (though my initial peek when I removed the dressing was still a slight shock). If it shrinks further, or gets more distorted, after either radiation or additional surgery (I hope not) or just the healing process, I may feel differently. I must say reconstruction surgery doesn't sound very appealing to me right now, but I guess that could change down the line. I'm so glad you're finally going to be able to get your reconstruction, and I will be thinking of you and looking forward to hearing from you how it all goes. Yes, this is a wonderful place and wonderful group of women. I'm so glad I found you all.
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Colleen, my Johns Hopkins BS also said that he finds MRI generally yields more confusing than helpful information. He did not suggest that I have one.
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My BS said mammograms are best for me with dense breasts and microcalcifications. If more is needed, she'll order it. April will be my first mammogram after Lx.
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I had an MRI a month before surgery and it didn't reveal anything false. They are highly sensitive. The BS said don't be surprised if you get called back in for another one. I didn't though. It just saw the one mass we already know about. I just hope if there was anything else lurking in there that it would've picked it up, too.
My BS only took one sentinel node. He said that only one "lit up". I find out the results of that node today. I have no idea what happens next if that node has cancer. They didn't check it during surgery - to my dismay.
Jeanelle - I want your BS! lol
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Colleen--I too had dense breasts but the surgeon didn't order a pre-op MRI, since he said it wouldn't have added info to the biopsy pathology report and mammo and ultrasound imaging. And two years post-op I still have not had one. He said he might order one if my seroma hasn't shrunk away, so that he can see "behind" it, but he will decide at my 2-year check-up later this week. tgtg
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Kayfry, Shelley and Shaz and all of the other wonderful women waiting on results - - it is a very stressful time and we are all right there with you. You are surrounded and supported from all of us out here and just know that we are all waiting WITH you and will be here to help you through all of this.
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