Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Simulation is easy. I did wonder about having tattoos since they were NOT on my bucket list but they were just teeny pinches (3 of them). The whole process was rather interesting. I'd think it will take no more than an hour though they allow much more time than that. I guess they never know what they will encounter or something (maybe your boob will have moved down to your leg?).
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No, Kay you should be able to avoid them. I'm pre-menopausal, so I get all sorts of questions.... from people who are young enough to be my kids!
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My mammography is scheduled for 6 months after surgery (actually about 6.5 months). That day I get mammogram and then follow-up with BS. It will be more like 4 months after finishing rads. Odd that mine is a couple months sooner than yours, Peggy and PoppyK.
I asked for knee support for the table in the OR when I had my surgery, and they scrounged up a pillow for me. Of course, within moments I was asleep and didn't know the difference! I'm hoping for something more like that nice generous wedge in Peggy's photo for rads
Since I also have neck issues, having some support there would also be a huge plus, so I hope for at least a folded towel. But once I get into the routine of the short daily sessions, I'm sure it can't be too bad.Also, about letting go of sensitivities and modesties: after getting myself feeling uncomfortable about baring the chest while reading the other forum, with my new scar and underside defect, not to mention the "good" (but not great!) right one to whoever during rads, I also had to remind myself that these techs have seen it all, and I'm sure they aren't likely to be fazed by much. I hope and expect that the people doing my treatments will be professional and caring, as everyone else has been so far, for the most part (RO not very warm, but I'm not going to let that get to me, I hope). I think the problem here is that this process takes long enough for me to conjure up worries just because I can. That's why I didn't even worry that much about my Lx, since it came up pretty quickly. Time to take charge of my mind again, and just get on with it. You positive thinkers are inspiring me.
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My sister was dx with BC two months after me at age 60. She was constantly asked if she could be pregnant and she would laugh and tell them Thanks . Made her feel good they thought she was young enough for that, especially when her oldest daughter is two years younger than me.
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Funny, ndgrrl. Sort of like being carded, at my age, when I order a glass of wine. Well, that hasn't happened for a few years, but I believe it still did happen when I was in my 50s. I would also say thank you. My daughter, now 41, gets carded all the time. You must have enjoyed being the "auntie" to a girl younger by 2 years. Life is quirky sometimes.
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I had a foam mold thing custom made for me for my shoulders arms and head that kept me in the same position each time. Here's my machine with my head and arm mold and knee support. It's covered with a sheet here. The other is how it moves around you. The table actually moves right under and up, close to the machine. And here's my fashionable rad "gown". It's a "shirt" with Velcro closure in front. Only the affected breast is exposed during rad. I had 2 fields they did for about 20 seconds each. I counted during it and watched the pretty picture on the ceiling tile above. Then it was done. Before each rad session started I came in and told the girls a name of a famous bc survivor from Julia child to Amy robach and many more. I started a few days after my first treatment when they kept asking me who I was and DOB to ID me as required for the computer set up. I started telling them I was these famous people and a little about the person. (Came up with 28 or 29people I think and there were more). I had 34 treatments. Found soooo many people. Google famous breast cancer survivors and see, try this for your tech girls if you want and for yourself too. Kept it "fun" and they would wonder who I would come in with nex time. Well, worked for me. Here's my pics. (Wish I could make them smaller, sry for taking up so much space!)
This pic above is about 2 1/2 mo PFC. Chemo ended 4/21/14. Started rads 6/5/1, ended 7/25/14. I'm doing great!! You all will too. Hope this helps get a visual for all of you starting soon. Every place is different though. Take pictures if you can. It will help you explain to your family what it's like "in there" and then you can help others too like this
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Kay--Yes, I have seen the Ehrenreich piece, which does raise a lot of challenging ideas. Of course, all of us have had a problem that brought us here to bco--cells that went or are still going haywire in our bodies--and that problem needs to be addressed by treatments. No amount of 90's style positive thinking can change those facts. (Odd that she portrays positive thinking as a product of the 90's--rather than as a re-visioning of an idea from the 50's.)
The kind of positive thinking I am talking about is the practical kind from a realistic inner voice that told me, "Whenever you expect a problem in anything you do, you can easily find at least one big one. So don't go into rads expecting a problem . . . unless you want to find one!" And I certainly didn't want that to happen! The old self-fulfilling prophecy trope can trump us far too easily, so I'd rather just do something without overthinking it beforehand!
On a totally different note, as a retired English professor, I am curious about the type of books you write. If you want, you can PM me, so as not to interrupt the flow of the b.c. Q and A posts. T.
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Lisaj, I love your 'famous people" idea. Brilliant. There are so many of us. Also, your custom foam set-up actually looks pretty comfy! I know I'm to get some kind of foam mold, too, so I hope for similar comfort.
You look great. Congratulations on getting to the other side with such style
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Trudi, Barbara E. always does take a challenging stance, doesn't she, with a somewhat political undertone. Still, I found her account to ring pretty true in some ways, though maybe a little heavy on the cynicism, but that's her style. Cynicism can be a defense mechanism, for sure. You're right, of course, that cells going haywire must be addressed, and it's serious, life-threatening, and not a matter of political choices or even personal preference if we want to improve our chances of living many more healthy years. It's shocking to learn that those cells are silently proliferating deep inside oneself, isn't it? It was for me. I was lucky to catch it relatively early.
Positive thinking was definitely not invented in the 90s, though. Anyway, I hope to grab hold of that, wherever it comes from. The self-fulfilling prophecy is all too true, and I do believe that the mind has a lot of power over the body. I am seriously prone to overthinking, as must be obvious by now. Trying to let that go.
Will PM you about my work. I love it that you taught English, would love to hear more about that. I was an English major a million years ago.
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Kay--Looking forward to hearing about your work when you take a break from writing and riding!
My first post-surgery mammo was actually 10 months after surgery on Jan 7. My rads started on 3/18 (had to wait for my large hematoma to heal); rads ended 5/1; rad onc did a no-hands check-up in June; surgeon did a hands-on check in July, and said to just wait until Nov. for fuller healing and to get back on my normal pre-b.c. schedule of mammos in Nov.; both Dr. Weiss and he used the mammo at my Dec. and Jan. check-ups, respectively. This schedule differs a bit from what others have posted, but it also reflects the fact that there is no MO in my life--or appointment book--since I'm not doing anti-hormonals. .
Re rads and comfort: the "sculpted" table conformed to elevate my knees and a pillow was available, but I was never on the table for more than 4-5 minutes (mostly set-up time), so never had the chance to get uncomfortable. The zaps each lasted about 11-12 seconds (using the old reliable "1000 and one, 1000 and two" scale), and I could shift and lower my arms after the last one ended, even if the techs (always women in my case--like my RO) hadn't returned to the room yet. All in all, the treatment time seemed WAY shorter than the time I spent in the changing room, and I was never at the center for more than 15 minutes in all, except on one day when a problem with one patient caused a back-up.
LisaJ--love the game you played. In my case, my team of techs always chatted--and always asked on MWF, when I showed up in gym clothes, what workout routine I would do after I left rads for the gym! And on my birthday, halfway through rads, they greeted me with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday"--and then asked the obligatory name and DOB question, causing a round of hearty laughter of course!
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Trudi, since I'm also in the "no MO in my life" camp (thankfully, to tell you the truth), things are greatly simplified over what so many have to work through with hormonal therapy and/or possibly chemo in some cases. Or the unexpected seroma or hematoma, infections, etc. which I've also managed to avoid. So really, at this point I'm just looking at my rads appointments, although at the moment I only have my simulation appt. scheduled. I was told that after my 6-month appt. with BS (and mammogram) at the end of July, I can expect to be back on a regular yearly mammo schedule after that (assuming all goes well, of course). I don't know yet what the follow-up schedule with RO will entail once I finish treatment on or about March 26 or 27. But for rads, I'm hoping to schedule morning appointments that will free me up the rest of my day to work, ride my horse, walk my dogs, and exercise (not to mention that I suppose I'll still have to do some laundry and go to the grocery store from time to time). I hope to ride Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, as I do now, so I can only imagine what the techs will have to say if and when I show up in my riding clothes
I'm loving hearing how easy and (dare I even say it?) fun rads can be, so hoping I get a good group of techs and it'll all be good. Now I'm really getting curious to see how it goes on the 16th, when many of these questions will begin to be answered. I'm getting the impression that they try pretty hard to run on schedule, which is great, and which also means I'll need to make sure I allow time for unexpected traffic on the interstate I have to take to get to treatment. I can do this.0 -
Kay, I'll throw my 2 cents in here. I had no problems with the rads other than skin issues. I found the Fall Rads board to be great and full of good advice. You will do fine with the rads. I made a count down calendar and posted it on my fridge. It felt so good marking off each day. Just take it all one day at a time and it will be over before you know it.
*hugs*
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Thanks, jeanelle. I will definitely be marking off the days on a calendar! I'm feeling much less anxious about rads now, with all the great wisdom from you ladies here. Also, I want to be clear that I never intended to criticize anyone on the Fall Rads board, in case it came off that way. I jumped into it in the middle, looking for basically tips from those who've been through it, and unexpected stepped into some stuff that was rather darker than I'd expected. I guess I'm maybe a bit too impressionable, huh? Anyway, everyone on the board did seem to be great; I just happened to find myself seeing how different everyone's experiences are, and it gave me a new appreciation of the baggage that some bring to this BC thing. I love the supportiveness here, both in this forum and the others I've visited.
Really glad you had few problems with rads. Did your skin take long to recover after you finished?
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Kay, it didn't take long for most of my breast get to heal and get back to normal. Right now they trying to determine if the redness, flaking and swelling I still have around my nipple is still lingering effects from radiation or something else so we are in a wait and see pattern. I go see my surgeon again in about a month and will hopefully be able to get an answer then. It doesn't help that I also have a seroma under there.
I am sure you will do fine with the radiation. My machine looked just like the one that Peggy posted except mine was a bright blue color.
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Thank you all for the information/pictures on radiation-I start tomorrow and am ready to begin the count down from 30. I am allergic to aloe, so won't be able to use lotion with aloe. Looks like Aguaphor or Xclair will be my choice. Those are the two I have seen that have been discussed. Any recommendations?
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Mm68, I also am allergic to aloe. I used Aquaphor and had no problems with it. That would be my recommendation. Good luck!!! HUGS!
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Thank-you Peggy, I get that on my way to treatment. Hugs to you
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Question: is there only one kind of Aquaphor, and it's more of an ointment than a cream? I have a tube of that but just wanted to make sure I have the right stuff!
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Kay, definitely more an ointment - rather reminds me of Vaseline - maybe a bit thicker. I have a tube also. It will probably last me a hundred years. I didn't start using it until about #19 and while using it daily, I did not slather it on. I'm sure that sometimes that might be needed, I just didn't do it. You probably have the right stuff
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Peggy, you're right. I was rather tired when I posted a few days ago and I was, indeed, referencing Poppy, not you. My apologies.
I don't have any concerns about the simulation other than having yet another CAT scan. Nor do I have concerns about the treatment - I know it's not painful as it occurs, etc. However, I do have concerns about what it will do to my skin, my heart, my lung and to the feel and sensitivity of my breast. I'm concerned, too, about the increased risk for rib fracture and leukemia. Just because a treatment is painless doesn't mean it's without consequences - negative as well as positive.
MM68, good luck to you. I hope you sail through without any lasting side effects and few even that are transient.
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That's all right, Hopeful. There are quite a few of us active right now and, sometimes, it is hard to remember who said what. No problem at all. And I certainly get "tired."
I guess all those legitimate concerns about radiation have taken a back seat with me. My immediate concern is kill the damned cancer. I'll deal with anything else that may crop up if the time comes. BTW, I haven't noticed lessened sensitivity in my breast nor difference in how it feels. My skins seems to be fine, too. I'm very lucky and think I had an excellent RO. HUGS!!!
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Hopeful, I share those concerns with rads. For me, especially, the risk of a more easily fractured rib is a bit daunting, given my habit of riding horses and my less-than-stellar record of breaking bones in pursuit of that passion of mine (though I'm much more sedate and cautious these days, since I'm no longer young). I'm a little less worried about heart and lung issues, since I've been pretty well assured by my RO team that measures will be taken to protect those organs. I expect every case is different, and it depends on exactly where the exact area that needs to be treated is. I am a bit more concerned about long-term damage to my breast size & shape, such as they are, and feeling and skin texture. I'm just hoping to follow in Peggy's footsteps there, and that it will all turn out okay. Maybe if we believe it, that's the way it will be
At the same time, we don't get to pick all benefit, no risk, sadly. I guess I'm happier with these tiny risks than with the much scarier risk of cancer coming back, and in a worse way. I know that rads are much, much safer and better than in the past. I think the trick is to do what has to be done and not look back, as others have said. We will deal with the future in the future, whatever it holds. And it might well hold all good things . . .
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Well said, Kay!
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Years ago, I was sitting in a Vet's waiting room with my new puppy when up rode a young woman, barefoot and bareback on a b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l horse. She slid off his back, walked around the back, reappeared with the Dr. who gave the horse a quick injection, and gave the woman a quick boost up onto the horse. Off she rode and I was left slack jawed in awe.
Kayfry, as much as I would love to see you reenact this scenario with your rad's appointment, I'm afraid my chemo nose would object.
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That's a great story, SweetHope! HUGS!!!
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Peggy, I am still waiting to hear from Shaz. The last time she posted was Jan 28. She just had an ALND. If any of you are private messaging with her, please ask her to pop back on here. ( I don't like to initiate PM, although I certainly answer them. I feel it is best to post all messages, good news or bad, as I never know what might help another reader.)
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I'm not in contact with Shaz either. Hope she does post soon. HUGS!
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Let's hope no news is good news with Shaz...
LisaJ514...thanks for sharing your selfie. You look marvelous!!!
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SweetHope, thanks for a great laugh to start the day
Good enough to deserve one of these silly emoticons, if only they would sit level on the line like good little emoticons! There are so many reasons this would never happen with me and my horse, starting with the fact that I pretty much never ride him bareback (he has a very sharp, high wither!), and definitely never barefoot (I'm a stickler for safety). But he IS beautiful. However, the thought of galloping down I-83 on him is beyond hilarious, even though it might be a way to get around that rush hour traffic every morning X 19 days. Hahaha
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Just the thought of you galloping anywhere makes this forum so much happier...especially to one stuck in a recliner.
My best friend since age 4 chose the country life and raised several great horses. My DH was born into that life and left it for a military career at sea. I was, and still am, a suburban girl; only on a horse on special occasions years ago.
But they say that when treatments are done, you need to do something special for yourself. If my wish comes true, this time next year I will be in Scotland, astride a Gypsy Varner, taking in all the wonderful smells of a February countryside. (I just watched National Velvet for the umpteenth time.). DH would sooner go back to sea.
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