Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
I was recently diagnosed with ILC at 7 o'clock of left breast. I am 65 years and a 10 year kidney cancer survivor. I've had contradictory measurements of the mass. Ultrasound 1.7x0.7cm. MRI 3x4cm. I will have a lumpectomy with sentinel node dissection in May. Definitely will have radiation and hormone therapy post surgery. We won't know the need for chemotherapy until a later time. My question is...which measurement would be most reliable?
0 -
MariaTeresaG, my first thought is the measurement when they remove the lump. But I must say those measurements are certainly wildly different. Have you asked your BS? BTW, congratulations on your 10 year survivorship of kidney cancer! HUGS!!!
0 -
what does that involve curly. More surgery I guess. The lipofillimg
0 -
Florida, I haven't looked into it much yet, but my undertanding is that they'll liposuction some fat out of other parts of my body, clean it, and then inject it (probably thru my existing scar) to fill in the void in my breast. Not going to worry about that until the summer of 16, though.
0 -
Peggy, I wish I was up there and able to go. I grew up in that area and my family is still around there. I'll actually be going up at the beginning of June for the Hillsdale County Relay for Life. My mom is a colon cancer survivor and my brother usually makes the Survivor's walk with her but this year, he is insisting that I do it since I am now a survivor.
0 -
Jeanelle, That sounds like a nice reason to come visit. Wish you were able to come Saturday but the Relay for Life is more important. YEAH to your Mom!! (And you, of course
)0 -
enticing about getting rid of fat somewhere else! I probably won't do anything unless radiation shrinks my boob. I am small busted to begin with
0 -
Florida, I'm also very small. Radiation did not diminish the little I have. For some reason my bad girl still appears to be about the same size as the good one. I don't know how the physics work on that since a chunk about 3x5x5 cm was removed. But then I didn't take physics either
0 -
Jumping back in here Lumpies...
Has anyone considered skipping a mamo? I'm 2 yrs out and now do mammos every 6 mos and then a month later Zometa every 6 mos..was thinks ng of skipping my summer checkups and try to get the Mammo and Zometa at the same time in late November/May. My Dec mammo was good just would like everything the same week and then over.
Any thoughts
0 -
RMLulu, I just had my first one post-Lx and it was fine. The recommendation on the report was to get my next one in a year. I'll see what the BS says when I see her Thursday (she coordinates my care). I can see why you want to have them closer together. Have you asked your BS or MO?
0 -
Insurance approvals caused the gap...so i thought if I held my breath and crossed my fingers&toes...I could get them back on schedule for my traveling...I fly out to CA for medical...now I have a pup...not as easy to travel and wait.
0 -
RM, I guess I'd ask. The most the oncs could say is "no." It is harder when you have fur friends. Good luck!
0 -
thanks Peggy that is good to hear!!
0 -
Hello Everyone :
I'll have the lumpectomy on May 15. The scheduler said a guide wire will be inserted a few hours before surgery. Does anyone know what that involves?
Thanks a bunch!
Maria
0 -
MariaTeresaG, Welcome! That's a wire locator. Mine was done about an hour before surgery. What they did in my case (and it seems rather usual) is inject a bunch of lidocaine in my breast. Then they do a mammogram and insert a wire into the spot where the cancer is. Makes it easier for the surgeon. It sounds awful but it isn't. It's quite doable. All of it is doable. I was offered a valium when I got to there for my surgery. I never take valium but thought, if they are offering, I'm taking! And I think it helped take the nervous edge off.
What buoyed my mood more than anything was that the nurses asked if I wanted to WALK to the OR! Well, of course. It made me feel much less of a patient/victim; more in charge.
I took one pain pill while I was in recovery and was fine with Tylenol (regular) the rest of the time. But do plan on taking the pain pills if you need them. You will heal better if you aren't hurting. Everyone responds differently so don't be concerned about it.
Follow all the instructions for your post-surgery care. Ask about exercises for your arm if you have nodes removed. That's really important - the SLNB incision seems to be the thing that causes the most annoyance.
All this is rather scary but, honest, it is doable and you shouldn't be miserable afterwards. Not real comfortable for a few days but not terrible. I was lucky that I felt good right away. Ask away with the questions. I know the other ladies will chime in with their experiences. Each of us has gone through the process in a slightly different way. One size does not fit all with BC. But you will do just fine. HUGS!!!!
0 -
Thank you, PP!
0 -
You're welcome, MariaTeresaG. Hope it wasn't TMI. Most of us want to know EVERYTHING! Helps us to make informed decisions. Keep asking - we'll answer.
HUGS!!
0 -
Hi everyone,
RM I just had a mammo and was told now that I will be two years out this summer that I can go to yearly mammos. Not sure I like that idea but that is what the radiologist told me.
Curlycat I had lipo and fat grafting done on my lumpy breast- I was put to sleep, took about an hour- They lipoed about 3 or 4 ounces of fat from my tummy and then spun it down, took the fat cells out and injected them into my breast where the cancer had been, he also fixed the scar at the same time as he had to get under it to place the fat. Fat stem cells can die, up to 30 percent but I was lucky and do not need to do it again. My dent is 95 percent better and the discoloration is still present( fat grafting was Nov 19, 2014) but he told me it can take up to a year and half to get better. I did bruise my tummy especially and my breast some, but I am so happy that I can wear any bra again( the seams of bra would rub the scar and hurt) that I would do it again- I was in recovery a short time and after I was able to go to the bathroom and eat a toast I got to go home. They gave me oxy but I didn't really take them, I found Tylenol was enough.
Maria, I took some Ativan before I had the wire localization placed about 2 hours before surgery. They squished my girl in a mammo machine and placed the wire. I was told I could have some lidocane but was also told the injection of the lidocane would hurt as much as placing the wire and so I didn't have anything and I did ok with a kind nurse holding my hand. Of course with my luck I broke the mammo machine and it had to be rebooted but the group in that room was funny and the time went fast after they took me out of the machine and gave me a break while they fixed the machine. The wire was placed where I had a clip placed during my biopsy. It is used so the surgeon can pinpoint exactly where the cancer is. good luck !!
0 -
MariaTeresaG....I always like to remind newbies to be sure and ice the area. It really helps keep the swelling down. I was fine the next morning...I did take the pain pills for a couple of days just to help me sleep. It can be hard to get comfy...use lots of pillows! And take a valium if offered...sure takes the edge off and it's all over before you know it. It's the anticipation that was the worst for me.
0 -
RMlulu, I think getting everything in synch is a worthy goal, and insurance coverage is one reason why. But convenience and the inevitable stressing over follow-up appointments after BC is another. Timing is everything: I had my last bilateral (routine, I thought) mammo last November, right after I secured the insurance I needed to get it done at the facility near my home. That led to DCIS Dx in early December, Lx in mid-January, and rads in March (completed March 30). I have follow-up with my BS in July, with RO nurse practitioner in November. Prior to surgery, BS told me that follow-up after treatment would probably go back to annual, after my 6-month follow-up in July. When I was discharged from RO, they decided to leave when I should have the next bilateral mammo up to my BS when I see him in July, since it would be mighty nice to get both boobs on the same schedule. Especially with your travel and pup, makes sense to try to streamline. Have you asked your BS?
0 -
I had to have TWO wire locaters, because the radiologists needed to "bracket" two fairly adjacent areas to be removed. Not to freak anyone out who hasn't had the procedure yet, but for me it was pretty rough. I did get the lidocaine, and those shots really did hurt a lot. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense to just forego the shots and go straight to the wire. No one offered me any Ativan prior to the procedure, but a very lovely, sweet tech held my hand and talked to me through it, and everyone involved was as kind as gentle as they could be. No one told me to ice it afterward, and I honestly didn't. Once the wires were in place, they were taped down to my chest until surgery and didn't hurt. I also got to walk to the OR, which I liked, since it gave me a tiny feeling of control over the uncontrollable. My surgery went well and pain very manageable afterward, took only 2 of the oxycodeine or whatever it was, then just Tylenol or nothing. I felt good enough that my husband and I went grocery shopping on the way home from surgery
0 -
Hi Kayfry, I am not sure if I had the same thing done as you did but I think I did. I had one wire inserted. It was also taped down until surgery. I had to lay on the table just like the biopsy with my breast dropped through a hole. The shot just stung for a second and then I did not feel anything. Maybe I was more numb cause I had to have a diagnostic mammogram afterwards to make sure the wire was in the right place and I did not feel any pain more than usual mammogram. They probably e xplained the wire to me but I was so nervous I don't think I heard much that day. Why do they insert a wire? I went into surgery about an hour after that procedure. I was not offered any type of relaxing medication before hand either.
0 -
Hi everyone! Checking in. I have doc appmt tomorrow,recheck post surgery last June and post rads done Sept. and will now schedule mamm in May on both breasts. Seems like all is normal and going fine. Had my GYN a couple weeks ago and it was all normal. Hope everything continues to be normal, but still will always worry. I am just living life to its fullest and one day at a time! Hope you all have a great day and my advice, trust your medical team and ask lots of questions. There is so much to ask and learn and your comfort zone is most imoortant. We can all share our experiences and help one another. Happy Spring!
0 -
MariaTheresaG - The wire insertion along with the injection for the radioactive dye caused me the most worry, particularly after I read about some women's experiences. I discussed with each doctor I met with. What I finally did was to ask my surgeon at my pre-op appointment to prescribe EMLA crème to numb the area that one hour in advance of any procedure as well as take a sedative prior to leaving for the hospital. I would rub the EMLA crème on every hour prior to my surgery. I felt nothing of the procedures. The woman holding my hand during the wire insertion said I was the only patient she had seen since working for 6 months that didn't even wince. I also used the EMLA crème where they would put in the IV since I had it. They can do it there, but it really takes a full hour for it to have full effect, something appointments don't allow for. I just applied with a gloved hand to one half of my breast, not fully knowing exactly where they would inject or insert. It also made me feel in charge of my pain and in control of the situation. My worry was the worst part, more that the procedures. Good luck.
0 -
Had my lumpectomy two weeks ago and have been doing the exercises. Waiting for referral paperwork to meet with oncologists regarding radiation/chemo/hormone treatment. I have always had "lumpy" breasts so the dense areas of scar tissue from surgery are just a reminder that I need to do the massage, to help them soften. For those who need a compression bra following surgery, my RN recommended a zip up the front sports bra (under armor) pricey but worth it as the support helped me with my exercises. I am so glad I found this forum
0 -
Suzannecarol, it was similar, but my wire localization was done with me sitting up in a tall chair, and the mammo machine was rolled up to me. As I said, I had to have 2 wires, whereas I believe the usual is just one. My lidocaine shots hurt more than just a momentary sting, and lasted longer. I also had to hold a very awkward position for quite a long time while they did the shots, inserted the wires, rechecked with another mammo, and conferred among themselves throughout. It was definitely not fun, way worse than the surgery afterward (for which I was asleep, of course!) I had to wait more than an hour, maybe 2, after the wires before I finally got to the OR, but they didn't hurt any more than the I.V. did, which was not at all, once they were in place.
They have to use the wire localization for surgery to remove DCIS because there's no lump or mass that can be seen or felt, so the BS would be operating blind and needs that guideline to make sure he/she gets the right place. By placing the wires and then confirming with mammography that they are in the exact right place before surgery, it takes out the element of guesswork.
0 -
gypsyjo, wish I'd known about that EMLA stuff!
0 -
Kayfry, did not mean to make light of your experience. As I stated yours might be different. That being the reason I explained how mine was done. On another note I do not want people to think it will hurt as bad as yours did for everyone. I can build anxiety when I am about to have a procedure done and someone tells me it is very painful. I was trying to let the person that asked about it to know it was different for everyone.
0 -
Suzannecarol, I didn't feel you were making light of my experience, and I included my own disclaimer before telling the honest truth about my own wire procedure. I repeat, I know that my experience was NOT typical, and for most people the worry is far worse than the actual procedure. BUT, I do think knowledge is power. I fault my team for not educating me much about this procedure before I experienced it, and I fault myself for not asking more questions ahead of time. Trouble was, I felt really in the dark about it. I was switching from the local medical team who gave me my Dx to the one (large, leading teaching hospital) I'd chosen for treatment, and that led to a rather unplanned-on second diagnostic mammo which discovered the second area of DCIS and dictated the bracketing wire thing. This was after my pre-op visit with my BS, after I thought all my ducks were in a row, and right before the holidays at the end of last year. I never had a chance to re-confer with my BS after it was determined I'd need the 2-wire procedure, for example. I didn't know exactly how that worked, if my BS would be removing everything between those 2 wires, or what. (As it turned out, most of the slides on pathology were normal breast tissue, I think just 3 of 10 had any cancer, so I'm thinking maybe that's true). No one ever mentioned the EMLA creme gypsyjo had—that would have made a big difference to me. No one told me how long it would take the two radiologists to figure out how to position those 2 wires correctly, or how many numbing shots I'd have, or what position I'd be in for the procedure and for how long—nothing. No one mentioned that it would be pretty bloody.
I had a lot of questions, and I should have just made phone calls ahead of time and insisted on answers. So my point is not to frighten anyone, far from it. My point is just to encourage the asking of questions! I'm a big researcher and read everything I could find about the procedure, but I was still unprepared.
0 -
I didn't get any answers about those pre-op procedures either which added to my worries. Even when I brought it up, it was sort of pushed aside. I finally brought it up with the surgeon, was again brushed aside until I told her of all I read on these discussion boards and what I wanted to do (EMLA and anxiety meds). The nurse that saw that I didn't wince wrote down what I had done to bring up at their all staff meetings. I think sometimes they don't know how procedures are done in different departments. I know that my core biopsy was extremely painful and needed to ensure that it wouldn't happen again. This should be standard procedure since we all react so differently.
0
