Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Sweet, I think you'll find that most of us hang around this lounge forever, not matter our tx stage. We're here for you!
HUGS!!
0 -
sweetmamaj: just got home from Tahoe/Reno....it was a lovely trip but I am officially very tired. Off to bed, more tomorrow. Did want to say: while timing is everything in some things, not to worry, we will be here for you no matter what the timing is!
xox and hugs to all!
Octogirl
0 -
Oh, you guys brought tears to my eyes! This is too scary to go through it alone. Even if I do have my family and friends, it's not the same as sharing with y'all.
Thank you all, love you, and goodnight.
0 -
i had to wait a while for my oncotype too. Lab didn't send enough specimen!!! I feel your frustration.
0 -
Sweet mama: I'm hoping I don't have to leave any time soon either!
0 -
Queen, you NEVER have to leave! We want you to stay with us as long you choose to.
HUGS!
0 -
Good Morning! My lumpectomy is on Friday -- a couple of questions. First, I treated myself to a pedicure last night. My sister and my aunts had a pink ribbon put on their toes - and since they did it for me, I figured I ought to do it, too. NOW I see that the pre-op instructions say no nail polish. But it's my TOES!! Second, for my birthday last week, I had a color pop put in my hair. It's a little hair extension - held in by a hidden plastic bead that I can't take out - I'd have to go back to my beautician to have it removed. So........are the nail polish and hair police going to come after me on Friday?
And YES, I know I'm focusing on the silly things -- I should be asking more important questions but I just can't go there yet.
A good friend sent me the greatest bible verse - She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25. Is it too late to get a tattoo before surgery??
JKKathy
0 -
Peculiargirl: I don't think nail polish is silly at all (sez the woman with finger and toenails in various shades of iridescent blue-greens) For my surgery, the hospital didn't want me wearing polish on my fingernails. I'm not quite sure why, but think it has something to do with those alligator clip oxygen sensors they use--the hospital's worried they won't be able to get a reading through the polish.
0 -
thanks, Queenmomcat! I'm hoping they won't look at my toes. That's not the end they're operating on anyway.
0 -
You're welcome. All standard disclaimers apply--the rules at your hospital may vary--but does your hospital/health system call, pre-surgery, for a rundown of what to do before surgery? That might be an opportunity to ask.
0 -
Nail polish could possibly get inthe way of assessment of your oxygen level, that clip on thing they put on your finger. You should be fine with toenails done. Worst case, it would be easy for them to remove.
For the record, the nurse told me nail polish was ok, so I went for it with my favorite color -had fingers & toes done in turquoise! Gel used on fingers! The oxygen reader worked fine with it.
0 -
Thanks, Horsegirl!! Good to know.
Kathy
0 -
PeculiarGirl, it is much easier to focus on the small things - I think we've all done that. I can't imagine that your hair piece is going to be an issue. Again, they aren't operating on your head (unless you are built really peculiarly : ) ! ).
When you're ready to ask questions, we're here. It is scary but you'll do fine. I found (and still find) it helped to concentrate on why I'm having the surgery - to GET RID OF CANCER! That's the whole point of every treatment we get. So think KILL CANCER and be as positive as possible.
HUGS!
0 -
PatRn10, that's what happened with all 3 biomarker tests from my stereotactic bx! <sigh>
Queenmomcat, I see you have a rad start date--did you have the sims done yet?
Peculiargirl, I had on bright blue (actually, an inside joke of a Blue-Footed Boobie) toenail polish during my Lx. No one said anything. During the surgical prep, I was given long compression socks to wear. They did instruct me to shampoo and wash with surgical scrub the night before Lx, as well as the morning of. Had a freak-out moment when they said I had to take off my wedding ring as my fingers were swollen from humidity and stress, but I finally got it off. Good luck on Friday! Hugs!
0 -
Sweet Mama: haven't had the sim yet--that's on the 26th of August. Just the intake interview. But I'm working up a good head of anxiety steam over the sim! baseless though that may be. All I've done to prepare at this point is get the industrial sized tub of Aquaphor as I'm not sure how much of the possible items I'll need during rads--bras, perhaps?
But I like the 'blue footed boobie' joke.
0 -
thanks, Sweetmama and PontiacPeggy! They gave me stuff to wash with Thurs night and Fri morning, too. Ready to get this OVER WITH!!!!
Kathy
0 -
I was also given compression socks to wear during surgery, and no one looked at my feet or toes, just handed the socks to me and said, 'take off your shoes and socks and put these on' and then so I can't imagine the toenail polish would be a problem. Kathy, I hear you about just wanting to get it over with!! Waiting was/is the hardest part! (as I wait for oncotype score and chemo or no chemo decision...)
Sweetmamaj, I love the blue-footed boobie reference! Inside joke in my household also!! and I also had a lot of trouble getting my wedding ring off although ordinarily it isn't too tight. Swelling from stress? Who knows? Taking it off was the part of prep I hated the most other than the stuff they did to me (wires and all of that).
Meanwhile, I need a few hugs this am...Long story short, before I left on my trip met with MO, who did a physical exam, told me (as I may have mentioned here) that he wasn't thrilled with how one of my incisions (the one from taking the nipple) was healing....but of course bs was out of town same time I was planning to be. MO said, go ahead, go, enjoy your family, but gave me instructions for caring for it (twice daily washes with saline solution, gaze pads, etc) and asked me to go back to bs upon return if not better....well, parts look better and parts look worse, and the tape that is holding on the gauze is irritating my skin like crazy. So off I go to bs today to let her look at it. Sigh. I am starting to get nervous that she won't be happy with it, and then what the *()*)( will I do? My secret fear is that it won't be healed in time to start the rads within the recommended 6 week period, if I don't need chemo. Then what? Will they start me on chemo just to be doing something??
Sigh again. bad dreams last night worrying about it. Didn't keep me from enjoying my time away but I feel stressed now that I am home, and hubby looks worried. I HATE this stuff! I feel like my body is FAILING me! :-(
Octogirl.
0 -
Queenmomcat, I hear you. there's lots of helpful info by moderators on the recent Rads topics that addresses tops, creams, etc. I'm still in the waiting room with the poster ads for gene testing...after they move me to the next waiting room (the one with posters showing the marvels of treatment), I might know when to expect my sim.
Yeah, I picked the exact shade blue as those birds! It was fun:) Since then, I switched to a strange green color, but think I'll change to a turquoise like Horsegirl, or emerald like the color of lake tahoe. ahh, Calgon, take me away (for those of you old enough to remember)!
0 -
Octogirl,
Hoping all goes well when you see the BS today! Hopefully it's just a little bump in the road. I had to order my own Oncotype test because the MO didn't feel it was necessary. She thought it would be a score of 4-7! I need to see it in writing thank you very much....
Going ahead with Rads starting tomorrow... Yikes!0 -
Octogirl, HUGS! HUGS! HUGS! Oh, your body is not failing you! It's trying to heal, and has done a good job on one incision, and needs more TLC on the other. I hate that you're getting sensitive to the tape--my skin is one big reactive prissy organ---but it still holds things together okay, so I can't resent it that much (ok, the wrinkles, I can do without). When do you see your MO next? I know it's a long drive for you, but maybe someone in her office can look at it, or you can send a picture, ichat, or Skype? They will prob want to know if you have a fever, or if it feels warm. Talking to them might give you some reassurance.
And as far as the waiting for rads and/or chemo...
( sorry. I'm right there with you and it Sucks! Tarfu! Edited: oh duhh, I read too fast and didn't see that you are going to BS today. Good luck and keep us posted!
0 -
Getting ready to go down to the Gulf Coast to see my mother tomorrow. She is 81 and a widow lady. I haven't told her about the BC yet because I didn't want to drop that bomb in her lap when she has no one there to support her. My younger sister is going to join me on Friday. She had DCIS w/ Lx and rads about 3 years ago, so she knows what to expect. I know my mother is going to be very upset, as I would be if my DD told me she had BC. Sis and I are going to tell Mother on Saturday morning, and then go do something fun. Maybe pedicures or go see Mission Impossible. Mother is fairly deaf now, but she loves to go to the movies and action movies are the best. They have a lot of loud music and action--she doesn't need to follow the conversation to understand the plot. Plus, Tom Cruise is pretty yummy in MI and Mother does like a handsome young man, LOL.
0 -
Hi all - so - I have my surgery next Thursday. Wanted to say thank you all for the tons of advice I've been reading - especially your most recent post, PontiacPeggy - my mom had a lumpectomy 8 years ago and said a number of similar things - especially about the bras. I found some inexpensive, but comfortable front close/hook sports bras at Wal-Mart and I'm going to use those, I think.
My biggest issue right now is worrying about the path report - I don't know why I'm worried about it, it is what it is, but I know that it is going to be the determining factor in what kind of radiation I get and if I need chemo or not.
Anyway - lots of positive vibes going out to everyone!!! Thanks for your posts and information!
0 -
Kathy I agree with the others that your toe nail polish should not matter. They put socks on my feet as soon as I took my shoes off. Finger nails may be an issue because they need to see if your nails turn blue from lack of O2. I don't plan on leaving this little slice of support heaven even as I move on to my UMX (or BMX) in less than 2 weeks! You all have become my sanity.
jbclaywell, I am so glad our chatter has helped you. I understand about worrying about the path report but try to put those fears aside and remember that they made so many advances in treatment of BC.
Those of you in the waiting room I am waiting right with you. My surgery in two weeks and still waiting to hear from BS the results of my MRI and genetic testing. Not sure if she sent the oncotype in yet and don't know if MO will send me for chemo before I do rads. I keep telling myself a year from now this should all be behind me except for taking a pill everyday for hormone suppression. Something to look forward to! 123Justme, best wishes on beginning rads! Octogirl, I hope all goes well with your BS today. Happy healing. xoxo
0 -
mustlovepoodles, I hope it goes well with your mom. That is not news I would want to hear from my DD. My mom has Alzheimers so she doesn't really know me anyway.
0 -
Sweetmama: why not multiple colors?
0 -
Hi all: report back: raced down to see bs after office called me to say she needed to leave the office early and did want to see me first..hubby drove, bless him, as I was starting to get anxious and he was worried I'd drive TOO fast...
anyway, it appears it was just a bump in the road, I think. It is not infected, which is good news, but one of the sutures had popped. She (bs) showed hubby how to use a fancy rx only dressing (which cost $65 when I went to pick up a two week supply! Oh well) to do a better job of allowing it to close and heal, and which won't cause so much skin irritation. She was very gentle removing the tape job I had done, and very calming. She did mutter something to herself to the effect of "darn, that was one of MY sutures that popped." I LOVE that she takes it personally and obviously is a perfectionist :-) Anyway, after calming me down, patching me all up and giving hubby detailed instructions as to how to redo it at home, along with the surgical dressing rx, she sent us on our way with an apt to return in a week to see how it is doing. I feel so much better just knowing that she has looked at it. Breathing much easier now. Thanks to all of you for letting me vent!
One piece of information that might be helpful to others: she said that gravity may have played a part in the suture popping, and told me I should wear a bra at all times until I am fully healed, even to sleep. I had been taking it off sometimes at night and just wearing a t-shirt, but no more. Apparently, this is more of a potential concern if one is large breasted (I range between a 40 D and 40DD) and if the tumor is in a lower quadrant, as mine was. Of course, I suspect trying to do too much may have been the biggest factor: she (nicely) gave me the 'take it easy' lecture and reminded me that I needed to lie down periodically during the day to help with swelling.
So, back to the waiting room for me with the rest of y'all. HUGS!
Octogirl.
0 -
Good news octogirl! I am so happy to hear it is not infected. I think because my tumor was at 12:00 the no bra thing was a non issue. I just today could comfortably wear my regular underwire again! My leftie is still puffy so everything else presses against it irritating the skin. I was never told to wear a bra. I am sure my next surgery will be different because the PS will be telling me what to do.
0 -
BJClaywell, glad I can help. It is a scary time when you embark on your journey to KILL BREAST CANCER. We all worry about the path report even though we know worrying isn't going to help one bit or change things. What you can do is try to remain positive. You have a surgeon you trust. Most often the Oncotype test is used in determining the need for chemo. Of course there are other factors that can determine it too. If you are having radiation, it is usually done 6-8 weeks after your lumpectomy. If chemo is necessary, my oncology team would have had me do that first then radiation. And that seems to be the way it generally happens.
I wore Genie bras for the first few weeks after surgery. During radiation I wore nothing most of the time - I'm small and it was cool out so I was wearing sweatshirts. I now wear padded camis from Walmart a lot of the time. They don't rub on my SLNB incision which still annoys me - even after a year has passed.
Do keep a running list of your questions for your various doctors - about the only way to remember everything you want to ask and write them down as you think of them.
Let us know if we can help out more. We're here for you.
HUGS!
0 -
Yeah Oncogirl! Nice to know it isn't infected but sorry for those dressings! That's crazy. I didn't have any sutures. I had super glue! LOL! Site looks great and stararting radiation tomorrow! My reward for going through all this crap is a trip to the Smoky Mountains to see the fall colors and hide out in a log cabin
0 -
So glad you got the good report from your BS, Octogirl. Nice to have a perfectionist as a surgeon
And sounds like your hubby is also a definite keeper. Hope you sleep well tonight! Mustlovepoodles: Wishing you safe travels, and hope you get to enjoy time with your sister and mother! Telling a parent is hard, I know.
Bjclaywell: Welcome to the lounge! and the waiting room! We are all here for each other, and welcome you!
Molly: You can call OncotypeDx directly and ask if they have your specimen. They just ask for your name and DOB.
Queenmomcat: Good question--haha! I'm thinking maybe a gradiation of emerald hues from by big toe to my little piggy.
123justme: Good luck with the rads tomorrow!
Big Hugs to all!!
0
