Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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TaniaE,
I also have ILC and had a lumpectomy. After discussing with my surgeon several times-at first I was leaning towards a MX. I have my follow-up scans in September as she wanted to wait until 6 months after radiation completed
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My rads people said to start using the lotions right from the start as it can make your skin dry-- and it's true that the very first treatment caused my skin to flake a bit! So I've been putting on aloe vera and calendula cream every day-- maybe once or twice, although they recommended 3X a day. They say it helps with the dryness and itching. I haven't had any since that first day because of the lotions. Now I'm over 1/2 way through my 7 weeks. So far so good! And although I've had to catch a nap some days, most of the time my energy is pretty good. --And I still feel like everything is better after chemo, so my spirits are OK. Feels like I'm getting through the last of the treatments that seem to take over your life for months on end...! Looking forward to getting more back to normal! (Still have only an inch of fuzz for hair... but I'm getting used to my wig and scarves and hats. And my wig is definitely thicker and longer than my real hair and doesn't need to get the grays dyed, so I can put up with it!)
---Oh, and I just slather the creams/lotions on, nevermind the stickers and marks (although marks are gone now and only have one sticker). They tell me it's fine if the sticker falls off--they can re-apply. No way am I going to be using q-tips! I've had 20 sessions so far and it's been fine.
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It amazes me how different the instructions are, depending on the radiation facility. April25, do you have tattoos? I am so glad you are doing well and that you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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SailorBev, me too. And the more you read in these forums, the more you realize that there is no one way to do anything! Most approaches work equally well.
HUGS!!
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Different ways of doing things? Tell me about it. Or rather, I suspect that the oncology team local to me would rather you did NOT tell me all this. I'm a contentious enough patient as it is. But I'm glad to know about the swimming thing. Really glad. Not only do I love swimming, but I swear if I hear one more sweet little oncology staff member chirp "Take all the gentle walks you want!" I'm gong to scream.
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Queen, while the staff may drive you nuts, they are right that you shouldn't push yourself yet. Even if you feel great, your body is working overtime to heal from the major surgery you just had. Give it the rest it needs to do just that. It sounds like you're going crazy but you'll be glad you've not over done it.
HUGS!!!
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Pontiac: (laughs ruefully) I know. This is my fourth surgery in fifteen months. The two breast surgeries were the least invasive, structurally speaking....sigh. I do understand the need to wait on swimming until my incision's healed, but I was not looking forward to the possibility of not swimming throughout rads/subsequent healing TOO.
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And speaking of swimming, Queen, my rads people said I couldn't swim. That is a huge disappointment to me during this very hot summer.
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Sailorbev: There seems to be some disagreement/range of opinion on the swimming; I'll have to pin my oncology people down on this. Something about chlorine being an irritant? drying? too much for already overwrought skin?
(My point of contention is that I'm recovering from spine fusion/decompression, and THAT group of health professionals all lit up like [insert culturally appropriate holiday descriptor here] trees when I told them I loved swimming.
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sailorbev --- I had a single mapping/sim session where I got 4 tattoos around my breast and around 4 stickers and some other marks. When my first actual treatment started they took off all but 2 stickers. And a week or so after that, I was down to one sticker! It's off near my under-arm, kind of between my LX and my SNB... A friend of mine had 6 tattoos. I have no idea what determines all the tattoos and marks and stickers!!!
And yes-- light at the end of the tunnel! I should be done at the end of this month! yay!!! (although, at this rate, I might have it run over to August... but no big deal). I've been doing treatments constantly since dx in November '13. I'm still getting Herceptin every 3 weeks, but that seems like nothing compared to the regular chemo. yay!
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I am still puzzled about the stickers. I get it you don't want tattoos but why stickers with tattoos? I have 3 tiny tattoos and all stickers were removed before I left the rad room. Very interesting.
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Queen and Sailor, I really think it is wise to avoid chlorinated pools until after rads and your skin has healed (if it needs to). Considering they want you to use extremely gentle soap and all the lotions you're to use, chlorine just doesn't seem like a good thing. I can bet your spine team lit up when you said you liked swimming. Rotten when you have body parts with conflicting needs!
I never had any stickers with my rads. They did the 3 tattoos when they did the set up. I thought the tats would rather surround my breast. Nope. One on each side (my side, not the "breast" side), so left and right and one in the middle of my chest, except all were below the bra line. Peculiar. But at least I can brag to my tattooed son now that I'm cool
Most of the time I can't even find them!April, so glad you're finally getting done with everything! How long do you get the herceptin? A year? Hang on!!!
HUGS!
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Yep, a year of Herceptin... Everything is better than getting chemo, so I'm cool with it. I think the mild diarrhea I still have is keeping me from piling on weight... I'm about the thinnest I've been since High School, and have cut down on diabetes, hbp and cholesterol drugs, so there's a silver lining!
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You've obviously managed to hang in through it all, April, good going! A hard way to cut back on all those meds but it IS nice to have some silver lining, isn't it?
HUGS!!
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Chlorine, rads, spine surgery recovery? What to choose? This is something I'm wrestling with...and something I need to discuss with the oncology team before I continue with treatment. Much of it is a frustration that does not belong on an oncology board, beyond simply that I hope to eventually find a specialist who will look at the whole patient, rather than just their own specialty
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MY MO seems to look at the whole person and his NP in the survivorship program certainly does. But then I'm not coping with the multiple challenges you are, Queen.
HUGS!
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Pontiac: Is your MO taking new patients? 'Cause I'm so moving to SE Michigan if zie is. Sorry I'm so cranky, everyone; I've had a year and a half of wrestling with specialists. I'd so hoped it was over, and trying to be at least a little mollified about my current mild diagnosis.
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Queen, I assume he is. He is in the cancer center at St Joe's Hosp in Pontiac. I like him. He's caring and always takes the time to answer my questions. I understand your frustration. Wish I could offer more than just "move here."
HUGS!!!
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Pontiac: don't tempt me. I'll even bring my husband who's a decent cook.
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Queen, I just opened the front door - you are welcome to come in! A cook hubby?! Works for me!!
HUGS
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All,
I got my tattoo marks today. Only a lite painful! I adore the staff at my cancer center. I see my RO every day, we have a minute for chit chat, and I like how available he is! Tomorrow is my first official check in with home since I started radiation...
Cheers,
~Midgie
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The tattoos are nothing. A pin prick and voila! you're marked. Nice that your RO is there every day. I saw mine once a week and he always took as much time as I wanted. Do well, Midgie!
HUGS!!
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Midgiemoon--I am so jealous. I have only seen my RO once. When I asked the staff last week if the RO would order a PT consult for my shoulder they said it would have to wait a week. I assume it is because his nurse was away and he couldn't be bothered. The staff is really variable but I can't say that any of them are brimming with compassion. I try to be friendly and upbeat anyway.
queenmomcat---I have periods of crankiness and depression. It usually hits me after I find out I have to give up yet one more thing due to cancer. My husband has been great. So many others, though, respond to me as if I should "look at the bright side". That just makes me feel worse. I have learned to not be honest when people ask how I am.
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hi don't know where to post this but had a question concerning when your next mammo will be
I had a mammo in November 2014
February biopsy
March lumpectomy
I would think next Mao should be
November
The oncologist at MSK says they believe in waiting a year
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Aw, SailorBev, you sure don't seem to have the most supportive team going. I'm sorry. That really sucks. I've been blessed with support from every sector. And that's crap that they wouldn't order a PT consult for you. It should not take an act of Congress!
Of course, you have bouts of depression. We all do. I have found it works best for me to concentrate on what I still have: my life. Things have changed but I'm still here, able to enjoy visiting my kids and seeing DH everyday. I haven't had to give nearly as much as you so it is easier for me to be positive. But do try to find one thing each day that is good: the sun came up, you got to walk the dog, DH gave you a hug. And keep in mind, that you are HERE to enjoy each of them. You don't need to "look on the bright side" but do try to find the positive things in your life. I might help.
HUGS!!!
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Florida2015, I was diagnosed in June 2014, lx July 2014, radiation ended October 2014. My first mammo was in April (I also had a bilateral MRI). They wanted me to wait until 6 months after the end of radiation. My next mammo will be April 2016. I would guess each oncologist has their preferred waiting period before the post-surgery mammo.
HUGS!
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Sailor: you're right--I think it's not just the cancer diagnosis, but the having to give up things I'd hoped to keep or resume after all the [bleep] I went through last hear. The last gasp of normal hormone levels before menopause--I had to stand firm on NOT getting a hysterectomy after the possibility of ovarian cancer. The ramping back up to normal activity levels after being in chronic pain due to disintegrating spine--the swimming because chlorine irritates skin already damaged by radiation (all I could do during the worst of my back pain, not to mention the fatigue! Fatigue of chronic pain, fatigue of cancer treatments...
Knowing the odds are pretty bleep good I'll come out the other end with a normal lifespan? Trying to feel at least a little glad about that, but NOT answering "how are you feeling?" from acquaintances honestly probably a good idea.
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Hey ladies!
I've been hanging out over in the chemo section lately, but I have a question that I think you fabulous folk would be best able to answer (plus I miss you!). I busted out (pun intended) my regular bra the other day and wore it all day long. At night, I noticed a deep indent from the underwire on the post-lumpectomy breast. Kinda freaked me out (mentally I kept hearing a variation of "don't cross your eyes or they'll stick that way"). By morning the mark was gone, but now I'm wondering: are underwires just a bad idea from now on? Any good bra advice out there? My post-surgery athletic bras are fabulous, but the zipper shows under clothes. Coobies are great, but don't offer enough support for the girls (I'm a full D cup).
Huge but gentle hugs!
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Inkster, I'd love to offer an opinion but I'm small-busted so I really don't need the support. I will say that my padded bras with wires were uncomfortable for several months - poking my breast and irritating my SLNB site. I can't imagine they are a bad idea - except if you're having radiation and they don't want you wearing them then (at least per my RO). Good luck journeying through chemo.
HUGS!!!
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Thanks, PontiacPeggy! Hugs back atcha!
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