Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Very happy for you Tresjoli. It is about the best outcome that one could have!
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FANTASTIC, Tresjoli2! Very good news. Breathe!!!
HUGS!
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congrats Tresjoli2. What a relief !
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Tresjoli2
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Tresjoli2 -- Congrats on the good news! I sincerely hope you don't have to do chemo! It all sounds promising for doing that.
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The surgery/radiation question can be perplexing as well as a little confusing. I know a few women who have had recon after mastectomy and treatment which included radiation....and that was the plan right from the beginning. The surgeon I am seeing was referred to me by another woman who chose to have a reduction after lumpectomy, chemo and rads.
I think the consensus may be changing as more of these successful surgeries occur.
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Marjie, I hope that's true. I can only imagine that there are many, many women facing this apparent conundrum.
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Tresjolie, Great news!
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Hi everyone! This is my very first post on here and hopefully my 41 yr old brain can figure out the threads here!
I'm writing because I am in a lot of pain since lumpectomy surgery nd Sentinel Node Biopsy on 5/7 (almost 3 weeks ago).
Is it normal to feel sharp shooting breast pain and SIGNIFICANT sensitivity at incision sights? I have significant swelling on breast and nurse said if she aspirates it i will be "flat as a pancake" and scared me out of it. Lost and confused but just want to be pain free!
My breast surgeon's nurse said i should be fine by now. I cant deal with this pain. I had cellulitis a week ago but they still think i should be fine by now and recommended physical therapy. The thought of it hurts!
Feeling frustrated. Never expected such pain. Am I alone here?
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Hi everyone! This is my very first post on here and hopefully my 41 yr old brain can figure out the threads here!
I'm writing because I am in a lot of pain since lumpectomy surgery nd Sentinel Node Biopsy on 5/7 (almost 3 weeks ago).
Is it normal to feel sharp shooting breast pain and SIGNIFICANT sensitivity at incision sights? I have significant swelling on breast and nurse said if she aspirates it i will be "flat as a pancake" and scared me out of it. Lost and confused but just want to be pain free!
My breast surgeon's nurse said i should be fine by now. I cant deal with this pain. I had cellulitis a week ago but they still think i should be fine by now and recommended physical therapy. The thought of it hurts!
Feeling frustrated. Never expected such pain. Am I alone here?
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C&D.... Sorry you had to find this group of wonderful ladies under such poor circumstances. Sharp shooting pain is not that unusual and can happen at random times for quite a while... I had a sharp pain overnight and my lx was 10/31/14 and rads 3-4/15. Haven't heard a negative on physical therapy when needed. Incision site sensitivity... yep, for me especially the SNB incision. Lots of experienced folks here, willing to share. Ice was my go to! Maggie
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2 days out, the surgery was textbook, according to my doctor. Other than some nausea and fatigue I feel ok. My under arm is sollen and bruised but the lumpectomy incision looks pretty good.. 4 lymph nodes were removed and looked clear, waiting on final results later this week. I am happily letting my family do everything and I am enjoying the lovely Maryland weather. Have a safe weekend!
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Midgie- glad your doing well this weekend. My whole Breast seems swollen so I am icing on an off. Incision at 6 o'clock and covered with small bandage and clear opsite. I am not taking that off yet. Pain is minimal with pain meds. Are you taking anything? I did go on a walk with DH, but taking it easy for the most part. Ladies is this swelling normal ? I am 2 days post LX. 3 weeks ago I had that infection under the arm do I sure don't need anymore problems. Thank you!!
PMR53
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C &
I am sorry you are having sharp pains. Were you on antibiotics with the cellulitis? I had similar situation. Do apply cold compress on and off and watch for redness and increased swelling. My swelling has me concerned too!! If your gut feeling keeps telling you something is wrong, insist that the doctor take a look I had infection under arm from 4 month old axilla SNB site and had to have IV antibiotics 3 weeks ago, so I understand your concern. Hopefully we both turn the corner in the next few days. Hang in there. PMR53
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PMR, it's quite normal that you're swollen. Just keep icing. It will take several weeks for the swelling to go down (one reason they delay radiation usually). Wear a good supportive bra (without underwires). My incision was also at 6 o'clock starting just under the nipple. I also had a SLNB which was the most annoying part of it all and remains a pain at times. Remember your poor body has been through major surgery (even if it is outpatient) and needs for you to rest and allow it to heal. I took just one pain (in recovery) and regular Tylenol at night for a few days but I was never uncomfortable (I was very lucky).
Cancer & Depressed, very normal what you are experiencing. All those nerves have been disturbed and they keep shooting zingers to remind you that they haven't healed. Being sensitive is also very normal. It was several months before I realized that my breast was feeling normal. I just started getting feeling back at my SLNB incision - now I'll be less like to slice my underarm shaving and not notice until the shower looks like a murder scene
What kind of nurse says something to you like that? You don't need anyone like that on your team! If you have a seroma (fluid buildup) and it is bothering you, you need to have it drained. You didn't post or make public your dx and tx so we can't tell how much was removed during your lx. That would be helpful information. I am a small A cup and had a 5 x 3 x 2.5 cm chunk removed. I have fullness on top and sort of flatter underneath but my bras work well so I don't care. Things seem to shift around as time goes on. If the shape of your breast bothers you, plastic surgery is always an option. Tell your BS what that nurse said and how it upset you. That is just so wrong. it really pisses me off. You don't need someone that thoughtless around you.
HUGS to both of you!
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I think this might be where I "belong"!! Had my surgery the 21st. The medical people call it a partial mastectomy but I don't see the difference in that as compared to a lumpectomy? Perhaps someone can explain. Diagnosed as Grade 2, Stage 2, estrogen/progesterone positive. Took one sentinel node. Won't have biopsy results until later this week due to holiday but guess it doesn't really matter. Surgeon said I will probably be doing both chemo and radiation. Pain has been manageable. Very tired but trouble sleeping if that makes sense? Feel antsy which might be from pain pills. Will discontinue those ASAP since they also cause terrible constipation. I have a ton of questions which I will post once I get some rest. Thanks for being here. Very grateful for the support! Hugs, Julie
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Welcome, Julie! You are absolutely in the right place - you BELONG! One thing that would so much help is to fill out your profile of Dx, Tx, Lx and make it PUBLIC, then we can see where you're coming from and make our suggestions more appropriate to you. Is an Oncotype test being run?
Of course you're tired - this is major surgery! I'd guess you will feel better when you can use fewer pain pills and maybe try Tylenol or Ibuprofen
Ask your questions! We're here to help whenever we can.
HUGS!!!!
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Thank you PontiacPeg! I applied frozen bags of rice wrapped in thin towel all day up until bed and swelling has gone down a bit. I had my SNB months ago but that incision was more painful I agree. I am able to take pain meds with no SE thank goodness.
JHarris29- Welcome! You are in the right place! Sounds like we had surgery about same time. Should hear path by Wednesday I think. I stop taking pain meds by 6 in the evening because I don't sleep well on them. I sleep on the opposite side with a pillow under right arm for support. Keep on posting and get some rest!
PMR53
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PMR53 - just a quick, tongue-in-cheek question: Did you really do radiation in 2006? I don't see anything else that indicates you would have needed it then.
I'm glad that the swelling has gone down some. Pillows are definitely your friend! Take care!
HUGS!!!
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Pontiac
Yes I had small BC left side 2006. Did LX and RX 2006. Breezed through it. No chemo. 8 years later mammogram picked up different BC right side. Body scan negative. SNB negative. This was HER+ so I got chemo this time. Not a breeze. I should have had BMX in 2006. It's been a bitch since November. Crazy and unbelievable. My mom and sister had BC.
PMR53
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PMR, Damn. Good that the scan and SNB were negative. Bummer that chemo was necessary this time. I assume that you are done with chemo now? Don't drive yourself crazy by thinking what you "should have" done 9 years ago. You made the best decision you could at the time. Look forward. Have you been tested for BRCA 1 and 2 genes? Seems like it might be worthwhile since your mom and sister had BC.
Keep icing but remember not all the time. And rest. A good book or marathon of your favorite tv show always good!
HUGS!!!
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Thanks Pontiac.
My BRCA was negative in 2008. I finished chemo 10 weeks ago today!!! My niece is picking me up and taking me to the movies today. I am fine for that. Looking forward to getting out of house!
PMR53
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PMR, glad your BRCA was negative. Ten weeks out from chemo - terrific! Is your body returning to something close to normal? Have a good time at the movies. That should be fun.
HUGS!!
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Pontiac,
Yes and no on PFC SE. Still have fatigue and my hair is gone . LOL. But seriously nausea and neuropathy resolved. Except my left heel numb at times. Achy Joints from Taxotere present esp in the morning. I am still getting Herceptin every 3 weeks. Also 2 surgeries in last 3 weeks. I may be awhile to feel "normal" I walk 2 miles at least 3 days a week. 10 weeks PFC but it seems like yesterday.
PMR53
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PMR, sounds like you have made great progress in getting rid of the chemo SEs. It seems very strange to me that your heel is numb. My DIL had chemo for colon cancer and I don't recall that being one of her SEs. Probably fatigue will be with you for awhile. Will the Herceptin effect your hair? Very good on the walking - that does feel good! Keep thinking positive!
HUGS!!
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I am dropping in to whine about the sharp edges of my sterile strips on my Lx and SNB sites that are irritating my skin and my good humor! They feel like little razors! I can't take them off just yet!
That's all, thanks!!!
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Midgiemoon, I'm going to guess you meant "steri strips," rather than "sterile stepson." Oh how I love autocorrect
Oh, now it says sterile strips, a little less funny. Sorry, I think I must be a bit tired! Feel free to whine here. Hope you can lose the strips soon0 -
I love autocorrect too. It makes life so interesting and challenging to figure out what was meant at times
Midgie, you are allowed to whine, bitch, complain and rant anytime you wish. We get it!
HUGS!!
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Neuropathy caused by Chemo can cause numbness, usually in feet and hands. I've still got some numbness in my left foot, but I think it'll get better... eventually! Takes forever for nerves to heal up a bit...
My BS called my lumpectomy a Segmental Mastectomy. I'm pretty sure they mean the same thing... just maybe a more technical term than "lumpectomy" ???
I was lucky and haven't had any pain or numbness from my LX (5/8). I thought I wasn't getting any bruising, but I can see bruising NOW. The incision from the SNB tends to get slightly tender because of my arm rubbing against it. And I do get a little twinge or itch around that breast now and then.
That nurse's comment about draining fluids was very bizarre! I don't think it's good to keep your breast inflated by swelling up with fluids!!! Geesh. ...terrible!
I hope you all with the pains will have them diminish rapidly!
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Hi Ladies. Been a couple weeks since I've been here but been trying to keep up.
Welcome to the newer ones. Wish you had never needed to know this even existed but this is the place to be... we're the cool crowd. LOL
So I am still having issues with my incision on the side of my breast. It popped open at the very bottom early on (for those that remember my freak out on that one) and now that it is healing, the middle of the incision has now popped open as the stitches are starting to dissolve. So I once again have a black hole into my breast...which I have been hiding from Dave so he doesn't freak out. They say that it will heal at some point, but it is putting off my chemo starting. As much as I don't want to do chemo, I don't want the cancer to spread farther before they can get started.
I have been having more frustration with my team so decided to do to a different cancer center/medical center. My current one has frustrated me to no end. I am one of those that wants to be completely involved with every step of the decisions, which takes information. when I started wanting to discuss my treatment options and radiation treatment plans, they just shut me down and pretty much told me that what they decide is what I will do.... uh? NO. Not the way it isi happening. I even got hung up on when they called to schedule chemo and I told them my surgeon wasn't releasing me for chemo yet as I wasn't healed enough. "Hope things work out for you, but Dr._____ said you are so it is scheduled." hang up. No kidding.
On the good side of things, my PET came back all clear. No metastasizing. I also had my Echo done. Don't have results back yet, but got some really good info on how they test ongoing for heart damage with ACT treatments.
I also did my first Facebook announcement yesterday. It was one of those moments... I read a post from a friend who was distraught over her schedule on Saturday and wanted everyone to pray for her that it would be fixed..... yep. Second meltdown. Really??? I mean REALLY??? I did it tastefully though. I didn't comment something like "I would love to but I am busy having BC and looking at the inside of my breast because it won't heal so I can start chemo, lose my hair, be sick, be thankful I can still work if possible, have radiation and Endocrine; all so I don't die. " hahahaha But I am BC with class. So it was "YAY!!! My PET came back clear. My breast cancer hasn't spread!" :-)
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