Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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poodles thinking of you today!
Have heard nothing about my genetics test yet.
My assistant just had a prophylactic hysterectomy because she tested for the BRAC1. (We get Ike day in the office together before I go oh.) Cancer on both sides. She still considering a dMX. The BRAC actually comes from her dads side but mom has breast cancer. It has come back in remaining breast tissue and a scan this weekshows it in her bones. I don't even know what to say her.
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SweetMamaJ, never really had a chance to get my female classmates alone to ask how they put on their bras! Love my high heels!
Plumster, isn't it wonderful that one little pill can do so much? I'm very thankful (though I'm taking Armidex).
April, Parkinson's IS awful. Another of those "long goodbyes." Thanks for the kind words. You may/may not have hot flashes on anastrozole. Never know. Apparently it doesn't matter whether you had hot flashes when you went through menopause - we had a nice discussion on that on the Arimidex thread. I haven't had them - now or back then. It would seem that you might react somewhat differently after chemo. Glad your hair is growing back. Chemo does leave one with reminders according to my friends who have gone through it. Fingers crossed that yours will go away. And who knows maybe by the time it gets cold (like NEVER) you'll have plenty of fluffy hair and not want a wig. BTW, that damn underarm incision is another thing that just keeps giving for me. Not all the time but it does make its presence known - sorry, I don't want to be reminded! Good for you for gaining the weight back. I can understand wanting to get back in shape. Weight doesn't matter so much as feeling good (and it helps if you can fit into your clothes
).HUGS!!
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Outrunning, tell your friend that her Mom can live a long time with mets. I have a friend who is in the same boat and they treat it like a chronic condition. The docs know they can't cure her but they can keep it under control and do everything possible to make sure it doesn't spread further.
Poodles, I'm jumping in your pocket!!! Luck!!
HUGS!!
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Good morning I did have the talk with DH. He said he's not freaked out about the idea of my mastectomy because I am getting the TE in right away. He said he's not sure how he will feel about the missing nipple. I understand because I am not sure how I will react either. He also said he's avoided my breasts to "give them a rest". I think this whole cancer thing has him more upset than he wants to admit. Anyway, we're OK. For a man that doesn't talk about feelings, he did pretty well answering my questions. I guess since we still have managed to be intimate is a good sign.
Mlp, praying for clear margins. Peggy you and DH are in my prayers. Beautiful picture of you. I can't wear heals so I am very impressed with your 3" heals. April great to hear from you. Venting is always allowed. I hope you avoid SE's. I too have hard lumps from the seromas in my surgical site.
Octogirl, gorgeous photo. I need to get to the coast soon. Mlp, my sister came back positive for chekB as well. I read it's a 25% chance of BC. My older sister had bc in her 20's.
I'm officially on leave tomorrow but took today to take DS to the doctor. Hopefully he will get over this latest lung infection soon. He's on the third antibiotic and drink not 100%. He's on hospice and we know he won't be here forever but we try to keep him well and happy.
Apologies for missing anyone. I need to wash my sheets, go grocery shopping and see my mom before tomorrow. Love to all.
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Molly50, so sorry to hear that your son is not doing better...hope the infection clears up and hugs to you. You have a lot on your plate. But glad talk with hubby went well! I think my hubby is also more freaked out than he lets on...
Good luck tomorrow! Sending you blessings!
Octogirl0 -
I had a lumpectomy in 2013. I was told at the begining either wayy cancer or not that I could have reconstruction done. That there was a law and my insurance would have to help and pay for them to look symmetrical to the best they could. So I was to heal and in 6 months after the surgery done. That day came and the insurance company denied the surgery. I have been fighting with them since to approve this surgery. My original surgery was coded 19301 which is the mastectomy code for a partial. i am lost as to what to do. Everyone says the WHCRA protects me and that it should be covered. What can I do. I am lost and becoming hopeless. Thanks
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Molly - so sorry about your son. Gosh, as if you don't have enough on your plate. I will add him to our prayers.
Brooke- I am so sorry you are dealing with what seems an insurance nightmare. I unfortunately don't have any words of advice to help in that area but I am sending you hugs of support!0 -
Molly, many hugs for you, DH and DS. That's really hard. I'll keep you all in my thoughts. Hopefully the new antibiotics will help.
Brooke, talk to your BS so they can get the right code sent to the insurance company so they understand you still have a breast and it needs reconstructing. Don't give up! Keep calling and calling and calling. That's the only advice I can give, which isn't much.
HUGS!!!
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Molly - glad you had a good talk with DH.
I gave the book "Breast Cancer Husband" to both my husband & brother (SIL diagnosed same month as me). Written by a Baltimore journalist who was looking for husband resources for himself & found none. Would reccommend this book to anyone. I read it too. Very informative, & supports husbands through the process.
Peggy, you need entourage size pockets ;-)
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MLP - I asked about the genes because I was also tested for all of those - although I came up negative. There has been a great deal of discussion by my oncologist, radiologist and BS that I may have a different gene mutation that we are not yet aware of...they think my family history (including many other cancers as well) indicates such. Also, wishing you clear margins!!!
Molly - I'm glad your discussion went relatively well. I understand both his and your feelings. But again, I'm glad he talked to you about it. I hope your son feels better soon.
Brooke - you need to reach your BS and have them put a different code in the system and resubmit. Or your BS will need to write a letter to the insurance company explaining THEIR screw up on the coding. I'm constantly having to deal with the billing departments and the insurance companies on what is and what isn't covered based on codes. It's a terrible hassle. Also - is it possible that the company you work for (or the company you have your insurance through if you are not the main subscriber) has an agent? Agents are VERY good advocates and have "ins" with the insurance companies that we regular day-to-day people don't have.
Peggy - great photo!
Outrunning - your photo made me miss the ocean. Can't wait to get to Carlsbad in October! I adore Monterey, but I'm a weenie about cold water when I go diving - which is weird because I got certified in Colorado and I did all my check dives there too!
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wish I could take credit for the ocean pic but it was octogirl
I could go for a dose of ocean right now. Work deadline is wearing in my. Ironic isn't it that it isn't the actual cancer that's got me down, just all the sh$ that needs to happen between now and next Wednesday morning.
So how much/little should I expect to be able to do in the first couple days? Surgery is Wednesday. DH will be out all evening Fri and all day Saturday with gigs. I'm trying to figure out how much help I need Those days given I'll have no good arm.
Right side is excise only and I'm not expecting lymph nodes on that side. So I'm hoping that arm is working a day or two after.
People are bringing food, so I won't have to cook.
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Sigh...so much for taking good notes while catching up.
Octogirl - awesome picture, see my post above to Outrunning.
Outrunning - Sorry about the photo thing. Not sure what to say about the level of help you will need. I was pretty much doing whatever I needed to within 24 hours of surgery - but I only had the one lx - and the sentinel node biopsy thing. I'm really good with pain, however, so that may have helped. It was the irritation from the SNB that really got to me. The lx sites haven't bothered me at all. I also had people send food, so that was great - I had sandwiches for a week!
Good luck tho!Edited to add that icing the entire area repeatedly helped a lot! I iced on and off for the first 24 hours. They had this funky little ice pack/baggie thing that I just kept refilling.
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outrunning - I think you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly you get back to things after surgery. Are you having SLNB? That might make things a bit more challenging. You'll probably get good rest the first couple of days But you will still be able to do quite a bit.
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Molly - sending good wishes your way for tomorrow! Prayers for quick and smooth healing
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So I went back to work this week. I said I was only going back for 1/2 days! What a joke! I am my own worst enemy! This week is kicking my butt! The only day I managed to work a half day was Monday because I had an appointment with my PS. Really I think this is just about the only full week I've worked since the beginning of June because of dr. appointments and surgeries. Wow! The crazy thing is that I have no sensor that tells me I'm over doing it. All of a sudden I look up and it's 3 or 4. When I get home, I'm hurting and exhausted. My hubby says I'm running on adrenaline at work. It is the week before school starts and all my teachers and staff are needy this week. What I'm finding is that I get super emotional when I've over done it! I start blubbering like a baby! I guess I'm venting tonight! I'm so sick of these seromas and being bound all the time but when I'm not I'm super uncomfortable. I can't wait for the weekend to come.
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Oh, Ringelle, I so identify with you. I love my work and I can easily overdo it. Some days I just have to set an alarm clock and write my exit time in my daytimer--if it's in ink, it's inviolable, right?
Molly--I think a lot of husbands have a hard time with these surgeries, whether they own up to it or not. It's a BIG deal to us, why wouldn't it be a BIG deal to them? A friend of ours had to give up both testicles to prostate cancer. OMG, talk about a huge life change for him. It's been devastating and frankly, it's sometimes hard to know how to support him (and we're not even related to him.) My own husband has been pretty good about helping me bandage, but I can tell he doesn't like to look at it. Of course, mine turned into a Frankenstein lumpectomy, so it's been pretty gruesome to look at, so I don't really blame him. He has always liked my breasts, though, and I think it would really upset him if I had mastectomy(ies). I'd say, give your husband a bit of a break. He's probably doing his best to be a good and helpful husband. I think he'll come around.
Peggy--you look fabulous, girl! 3-inch heels? in my dreams~
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Poodles, I love my heels. Even have a pair of knee high boots my sister-in-law calls my hooker boots - 4" heels (which I wear only when the walking is safe and REALLY SHORT!).
And ladies, I do think it is really hard for the hubbies. They don't know what to do or say. Most of them love our breasts and that makes it hard for them. It IS a big deal for everyone. Wonder if there is counseling for the partners? I don't recall seeing anything for hubbies but then I have never really looked since our intimacy has been non-existent for several years (that's hard too).
I have no clue what you say to a man losing his testicles either. I just found this article that I thought was quite informative Losing Testicles. I must say I had never thought about that happening. We never know what's around the corner, I guess.
DH is in worse shape. His congestive heart failure has kicked in and he really doesn't do Lasix well. Parkinson's causes orthostatic hypotension and he already has issues with low blood pressure. He is very depressed and weary of being ill.
HUGS!
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Checking in from my re-excision lumpectomy today--
The surgery itself went fairly well. The BS was able to get in there and clean everything out. There was a LOT of liquid blood in there. And I mean a lot. But she got it all and could not find a bleeder, but she cauterized a few little places that looked like they could be guilty. Sewed me up...and my nice soft breast almost instantly filled up and turned dark blue. Yikes. She opened me back up, cleaned everything up and cauterized the heck out of things! The second time was a charm. No further bleeding--she even drew a circle around the light green-blue bruise that was there to begin with. She gave me her personal cell number and told me to call immediately if the bruising increase, went outside the lines, or the breast turned hard again. So far, so good! Breast is nice and soft, except for the suture line, and it's hardly swollen at all!
And I haven't really had much pain this time. I took a Tylenol this afternoon and I'll take a Percocet at bedtime so I can sleep. I'm going to plan to just rest and take it easy over the Labor Day weekend, with an eye toward going back to work on Tues if I can. I may need to conserve my sick leave, just in case my treatment becomes more aggressive than we originally thought.
Now for the other stuff--
The BS is very concerned about the large amount of uncoagulated blood that has been in my breast for 2 weeks. At the least, it should have clotted within a day or so and looked more like a gel. When she told me how much was in there I immediately asked if I might have a bleeding disorder. The BS looked visibly relieved that I asked, and she said she will send me to a hematologist-oncologist for further testing.
I have had some what they call "free bleeding" episodes in the past and I used to have very heavy periods, to the point of becoming severely anemic. Once, after I gave blood and was sitting at the cookie & juice table, someone walked by and nearly passed out when he saw that my bandaged arm was bleeding a LOT more than it should! After it happened a second time, I stopped giving blood!
I hope this isn't TMI. I sometimes forget that the general public doesn't necessarily want all the gory details (nurses LOVE the gory details!) I don't have any friends locally that I can share with, and my poor husband is just about scared to death so I have to be careful not to over-burden him. I have reached out to my sister, the one who had BC 3 years ago, and she also LOVEs the gory details, LOL. Bonanza! Hopefully, she will call me this weekend and we can talk about all this stuff: the genetics, the bleeding, and the repeat surgery. Even though she's not a nurse (she's a music teacher, of all things!), she is level-headed and will be a good person to discuss this with.
Now, off to find the malted milk balls...
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Poodles, glad you got all cleared out. Fingers crossed that all is well. Nice to be soft again? And how about being comfortable? Awesome!
I do know what you mean about the gory details. My DIL who had colon cancer LOVES all the gory details, my son definitely does not! So she's a good one to share with. None of us are nurses. It is nice to be able to share and be fairly sure no one is going to faint.
That's really interesting about your bleeding. Almost like you are "sort of hemophilic" which women aren't but there must be something like it for women. I wouldn't have thought about a hematology-oncologist though - just a hematologist. Or are the two often paired? I'm sure it would be nice to find out why you bleed like crazy at times. Better yet, if something can be done about it that isn't much of a deal
Anyway, onward you go and in pretty good shape. Gentle hugs to you!
HUGS!
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hi everyone... Sorry to see so many having problems...
I do have a question... I had my surgery over two weeks ago and my boob is still bruised, a few hard spots where the bruising is and i do think there is nerve damage in my arm since the back of it feels like i left an ice bag in it.... Basiclly my question is how long where you bruised and stuff and since i will be at the hospital next week to meet with to, should i try to also see bs?
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Ankledolphin, It sounds like you may have a hematoma (collection of blood) in there. Have you had your post-op appt yet? If not, perhaps you should call and get that looked at.
The weird feelings are probably due to nerves being cut. That is common to any surgery, including breast surgery. There can be numbness, zings & zaps, feelings of hot or cold or dampness. Our bodies can be very weird.
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Peggy, a hematologist isn't always an oncologist, nor vice versa. But there are some that are what we call Heme-Oncs that specialize in both.
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Peggy- so sorry DH continues to be unwell. That must me so hard on you both. your DH hit the lottery with you being such a positive person and I am sure you keep both your spirits up. I also love heels. Most of my mine are 3-4"ers. Which makes me giant because I'm 5'10.5" already
Mlp- I'm a gory details person too. Not a nurse, former elementary school teacher. All the medical stuff fascinates me.
Ankledolphin- I had very little swelling and no bruising. But, mine was 12:30 ans not that deep. So that might of had something to do with it.
Ringelle- take it easy on yourself. I hope you get some rest this weekend
Molly- thinking of you tomorrow0 -
Peggy, {Hugs}!
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Poodles, thanks for the info.
Plumster, I am trying to keep his spirits up and thank you for the kind words. Nice to know someone else loves high heels. You have a nice regal height. I'm 5'7" DH when he was younger was 6'3".
123JustMe, thanks!
Molly - I'm dancing in your pocket!
HUGS!
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Keeping hubby and you in my thoughts today Peggy! Hugs! and Gentle hugs and speedy recovery Mollie.
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Peggy - keeping you and your DH in my prayers and thoughts.
MLP - glad they were able to at least stem the bleeding this time. And it does sound like you have some sort of bleeding disorder. I have one too, but it's the opposite of yours - I clot WAY too fast. Dangerously fast (gonna be on Coumadin when I'm older, pretty much guaranteed). Also, my hematologist was an oncologist as well, and in fact, is my current oncologist too! Never thought I'd have to see her for the oncology part - but alas, here I am.
AnkleDolphin - My surgery was two weeks ago and I'm still pretty bruised up. But the only real hard spots I have are where the actual incisions are. The "hole" where the tumor was is not hard. I do understand, however, that it's not uncommon to have those hard spots - but definitely have your BS or someone look at it. They will be able to tell you if it's normal. My radiologist confirmed that all my current bruises, the hard incision spots, etc., were all quite normal. I was very relieved. Also the odd feelings are probably nerves that have been cut, as others have said.
Ringelle - take it easy! I also tend to work on an adrenaline rush, and forget what's going on, then go home absolutely exhausted. I do that though even when I've not been in recent surgery.
Molly - thoughts and positive vibes your way!
Everyone else - have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
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Peggy you should really look into fecal transplantation for the c diff. 90% success rate. it works within hours. The Mayo does them a lot now. Sounds gross but it works
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Molly,((HUGS)) keeping you in my thoughts today and sending many gentle Hugs!
AnkleDolph, I agree with Poodles--it sounds like it could be a hematoma. Could you call your BS/nurse navigator today (since it's a long weekend) if you're still worried?
Poodles, So glad the sx went well, even if it wasn't uneventful! It stinks that you probably have to avoid aspirin/nsaids for pain, and I don't mean to worry or give misinformation but I thought acetaminophen (also in percocet) can have a slight effect on platelets? (it's been over 20 yrs since I worked in a lab). You said your BS might call this weekend for followup; hopefully she can tell you results of PT/PTT if drawn. Anyhow, wishing you no more bruising outside the green-blue circle, and a restful weekend! Many very gentle Hugs.
Ringelle, I'm right there with you when it comes to lacking that overload sensor! (Poodles, I'm too undisciplined and usually ignore my alarms and exit time--even in ink). Anyhow, don't know if you have the flexibility to work different hours at school, but when I know that I should only work a 1/2 day, I try to commit to doing something else (volunteer to help in mom's nursing home, meet a friend for coffee, etc) around 2pm, or I try to keep myself from going into the office until noon time. Well, sometimes that just turned into me working until 7:30pm... Please try to take it easy this weekend and enjoy your family. So sorry that caring for seromas seems to be a damned if you do and damned it you don't, type of thing. I have a hematoma that's about the size of a small Italian tomato--bras hurt, but no bras also hurt. Hugs and lots of rest!
Outrunning, good luck next week! I think Bjclaywell had a great suggestion about the ice. I didn't think to use an icepack, but really wish I had. FYI, bags of frozen peas work well (especially if you're like me and hate peas! lol) because they can be shaped around the site.
Peggy, Lots of love to you and hubby!! Does he know about our pockets? Tell him the pockets are for him as well. My heart goes out to you both--my favorite uncle had Parkinson's. I so sorry your DH is depressed and worried; I hope that it doesn't cause you more worry than you've already been feeling. On a lighter note, so the subject/survey of bras was never brought up at the reunion? Guess that means the party was already lively, and the wine flowing!
) Wishing you a peaceful weekend! Sorry if I missed anyone, but sending HUGS to all.
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Tresjoli, I heard of fecal transplants. DH has a great many other issues and was in poor health before the c.diff. He has pneumonia and now his congestive heart failure has acted up. Can't give him Lasix because it drops his blood pressure dangerously low (in the 50/xx range) and it is already very low (93/55). Thank you for the suggestion.
HUGS
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