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Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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Comments

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501

    Beccc81 - ouch:( clean steri gauze to ensure skin is protected...call your RO ...may have a 24 service to direct how to care and then go in tomorrow and show.

    My skin did ok during rads, but my field was hi noon chest wall not near nipple...

    Check out 2013 spring&summer rads...some do have skin breakthrough.



    Aquaphor was my deep sealer to protect..what did your rad team have you using on your last visit? Use and then protect with gauze. Sending healing thoughts and prayers.

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 301

    Becca81 - You haven't had rads yet, correct ?



    So this is an after effect of surgery? Do you have an incision that surrounds your areola? (I do). Could it be that the glue has peeled from the incision in spots and you have some oozing/blood? I remember, though, that you said you had some tiny blisters as well.



    In any case, seems like something you need to discuss with your surgeon as soon as you can reach someone at their office.

  • michelleaz
    michelleaz Member Posts: 15

    Becca- I'm with Kim call dr. office. I have dissolvable stitches at 12:00 on my areola, the only time I had blood was drying off after a shower, I forgot about inciscion and was too rough on area. Haven't had any oozing. ALthough I wish my ALND scar would ooze. Dr. drained two syringes full of stuff out of that area on Friday and by dinner time it was full again...calling it my 3rd boob. lol.

    My problem is not knowing when to let myself feel happy. I got pathology report Friday and in addition to taking out 2 tumors, they found .3cm of DCIS grade 3 and 2 positive nodes. It's great that it's all out, but what if more is there beyond the margins...second guessing lumpectomy..they found a lot of scar tissue from where chemo had destroyed more cancer, that wasn't known about. And I was too afraid to ask BS these questions, because I didn't want to hear answer. UGH. Just worried because I found my lump, not the past 4yrs of mammograms...don't see how it will get detected in the future. I will put my big girl pants on though and ask my questions this Friday when I have 2nd post op and more draining done. I also meet my RO this Thursday..so hoping Rads will kill anything remaining.

  • Palameda
    Palameda Member Posts: 91

    Michelle:

    Just wanted you to know you're not alone in feeling fear and NOT wanting to ask questions (even though needing to). Ugh, never before have I not wanted to face truths head on. It's a strange, uncomfortable position in which to find oneself. Maybe if we'd lived our "before" lives in lalaland it would make more sense to find ourselves acting this way. My therapist has advised me to go ahead and absorb what I can at my own speed, we don't have to meet anyone else's expectation in how we handle this.



    I said all of the above at least for my own benefit as much as yours...

    Pat

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    (((Michelle)))....I know what you mean when you said not knowing when to let yourself feel happy...I go through the same thing.  Since I don't have my pathology report back yet to know if my nodes are clear or if they got clear margins I am afraid to be too happy because I know how disappointing bad news can be at this point.  I really liked what Pat said....we can just do the best we can do at a pace that works for us.  Praying for the best results for you....M

  • canuck46
    canuck46 Member Posts: 62

    I know what you all mean - a little good news makes me soooo happy!! Just got back from BS appt. and she went over path report. She is very upbeat about my results although they changed to IDC stage 1a invasive ca was just 2 mm.  I do need to go back to surgery for sentinel node biopsy and she would like to also go back into breast to get a wider margin although she did get clear 1 mm.  If no node involvement then on to radiation and either tamox. or aromatese inhibitor and NO chemo.  So am happy today and will keep praying for clear lymph nodes.  Amazing that I can be happy with this dx when 3 weeks ago I could barely talk about CA diagnosis I had received.  Praying fo rgood results for you all  still waiting on path. report.  HUGS!!! M

  • michelleaz
    michelleaz Member Posts: 15

    Thank you Pat and lovewins..this land of cancer is one bizzare adventure...praying for all of us....HUGS

    canuck45- that is so awesome, go and do your happy dance girl. So happy to hear the good news for you!!

    We will this fight brave warriors!!

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 301

    Awwww Michelle (Lumpies buddy) -- I know just what you mean about not wanting to ask -- I feel like each time I got a pathology report (2 biopsies, 1 surgery) there was some new information to digest. If the radiologist or surgeon didn't assert herself to tell me, I just didn't ask... Trying to keep it together and get off the phone, I guess. Pat's right -- we don't have to live up to anyone's expectations, even our own! As my mom used to say, don't "should" on yourself!



    Sending hugs and prayers!



    --Kim

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    Hello Ladies....learning so much valuable info here for coping with my situation.  I wanted to share my good news from my pathology report....clear margins and no cancer found in the nodes....so grateful...Praying for the best results for all of you...M

  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 393

    Lovewins

    Praise God.  So happy for you..

    Vickie

  • canuck46
    canuck46 Member Posts: 62

    Michelleaz - Thanks for lifting me up - it means a lot!  Lovewins - YEA!!!!! Go Girl!!!  Wonderful news and I am sure you are feeling relief and anxious to get on with treatment. 

  • batcatlady19
    batcatlady19 Member Posts: 25

    Just had my 3-week appt. w/the surgeon (wow, has it already been that long?). The steristrips all came off last night too -- ew, the incision does look gross to me, not gonna lie. The SNB incision wasn't pretty either. At least both of them have very little chance of being seen by anyone but my husband or me, LOL.

    So surgeon said everything is healed up as it should. Don't lift anything 10+ lbs. for another 6 weeks, but otherwise, go about my business. Midweek, I'd finally turned a corner w/the pain in my arm too, & now it's just a little numb in one spot. I can use the computer ok (with a lot of breaks) & I can even sew (my main hobby).

    Ladies, it does get better! Don't be a hero, take it easy after surgery, use an ice pack, take pain killers (prescription if ya got 'em), prop yourself up with pillows esp. at night, let other ppl do stuff for you. This too shall pass. You'll make it Laughing

    I'm guessing it's all like this -- crappy at the start, you get over a hump, then it's ok. That's what I'm telling myself as I prep for chemo. Just have to make it thru the first icky part & get on with it.

  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 301

    Congrats lovewins for the great path report !!!! Happy dance!!!!



    Batcatlady -- great post and light at the end of the tunnel. I am rounding the corner at 2 weeks out and still feeling the pain but keeping the faith. Glad all is working out for you -- good luck with chemo!



  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    Thank you Ladies for all the congrats.  Much appreciated.  It is a big relief. 

    Since I am grade 3 IDC I still need Chemo and radiation.  I have an appointment Monday with my surgeon for my post opt visit.  They said they would tell me what my next step was then.  I wonder how soon I have to start chemo?  I am thinking like batcatlady in that this journey started out really, really crappy but with each hurdle I am realizing what I have read here is that it is doable.  I keep telling myself that.

    So I am nervous about how chemo will affect me.  Wondering if I can work or how sick I will get.  I know it is different for everyone and I will just have to face what comes.  The stupid thing is I have less than 3 vacation days left and after that I will not be paid for any time off.  We do have short term disability that would pay me 90%....not sure what to do.  I know my chemo treatments will be every 3 weeks.  Do Doctors allow you to go completely off work when they are spread so far apart?  I am hoping to hang in there until Novemeber and then take off until the end of the year.  I hope this is doable Laughing.

    Once again Ladies thank you for sharing my journey...sending blessings and healing hugs to you all....M

  • travlmom
    travlmom Member Posts: 18

    Hello Ladies,

    I had my lumpectomy/SNB August 8th and I am hoping to get my Path report today. My surgeon is on vacation this week but said she would call.  I took today off from work in hopes the call comes.  I was at work when she caled me with my diagnosis and I do not want to go through that again.

    Other than getting your numbers from the PATH - are there any questions I should ask?  I feel "organized" now but I have walked into most appointments unable to talk.

    I know I will be going though Chemo because I am HER2/neu+.  My way of "preparing for this is getting my hair colored - going to go dirty blonde. I have always wanted to and figure this is the time to go bold!

    My incision sites are pain free but in the last day the pain under my arm is growing.  I have used cornstarch to try and reduce rub and only take Tylenol.  Any thing else I can do? 

    Anxiously awaiting my phone to ring today.  Prayers with everyone - we will beat this!

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    Travlmom...Like you I got the first call at work and had a meltdown so good choice on taking the day off to get your results.  Is it possible you could call the nurse and explain that you took the day off for this reason and maybe that would increase your chance to get the call today?

    I was advised not to rub my incision to just let water run over and not to scrub.  I have not had much pain either. 

    Praying for you to receive the best results from your report.  I know it is so hard waiting.

    Many Blessings...M


  • travlmom
    travlmom Member Posts: 18

    thanks - lovewins.  I am not rubbing the incesions area.. My pain is in my arm pit.  so instead of deoderant, i am using corn starch.  makes the arm swing smoother (??) feels like a ping pong ball in my pit. 

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    Oh ok...I just started using deorderant a couple days ago...don't know if I should have but couldn't stand it!  My tape is still firmly in place....I think they used glue????

  • batcatlady19
    batcatlady19 Member Posts: 25

    Lovewins - Sounds like we may have similar chemo schedules, 4 treatments 3 weeks apart? The specifics are in my sig. The surgeon said chemo could start about 4 weeks after surgery, & I put it another week off bec. I had previous plans (both surgeon & onc said no prob.).

    My onc. said that most ppl can continue to work, & she recommends getting chemo on Thursday so the worst of the SEs are over the weekend & clear up by Monday. Of course, this is for my meds & in her experience, so who knows. But reading in the chemo posts here, it really does seem manageable. Sounds like the most common worst SE (other than hair loss) is fatigue. Other really bad things seem rare or don't last long. I'm trying to be prepared, but I also not focusing on the worst.

    I'm an independant contractor so I don't have paid vacation or sick days. But I'm also realizing I can't push myself to work when I feel crappy. It backfires! My job suffers & I suffer. So my husband & I are just trying to be really careful about money & we're getting help everywhere we can.

    Good luck! If you join one of the monthly chemo posts, see you there.

  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 570

    Batcatlady...yes mine in 4-6 3 weeks apart.  It really helps hearing about other peoples experiences keeping in mind everyone is different.  See you on the chemo post boards!

  • elkatho
    elkatho Member Posts: 68

    Hi All. I have been off this board a while but am back to say I have completed 4 rounds of T/C chemo. Ladies it is amazing as you complete each phase (surgery, chemo, radiation, etc) how much you learn. When I look back at what I have gone through so far it had only made me stronger. You all are warriors!!

  • DivaGG
    DivaGG Member Posts: 19

    Hi everyone.  My first time posting on here and I've looked around for some info but thought it may just be best for me to ask :)

    I had a lumpectomy on July 31st and once I removed my dressing, was shocked to find staples and not steristrips like I had been told.  Because of this, I'm a little at a loss for what's normal in my healing with these things in.  I have staples from the sentinal node biopsy and the lumpectomy (right breast, lower part) and while my family doctor mentioned that he thinks it's healing fine, it's a little red and a bit itchy.  Is this normal? I don't get them out until Aug. 20.  As well, my breast is still swollen which I'm hoping is normal but I thought I'd throw it out there to the discussion board world! 

    Thanks folks!!  I so appreciate this lounge being here!  Hope noone minds if I make a martini :)

  • travlmom
    travlmom Member Posts: 18

    Welcome DivaGG. I am sorry I cannot be of much help. I will be calling in to my Dr tomorrow due to pain in my armpit that started yesterday - I am sure I will be told it is normal and to use the pain pills - but I would rather not and Tylenol is doing nothing for me.



    From what I have read swelling is Normal for a while and may help buying a new bra a little bigger.

    I am going to the Walmart for the Genie bra tomorrow

  • michelleaz
    michelleaz Member Posts: 15

    Travlmom- I also had a "ping pong ball" in my armpit, but it got so painful, the surgeon had to drain it for me..and wow did it feel better after that! It did fill up again but not as bad and not very painful. Good luck with finding a bra, I have an Ahh bra and it cuts right across my axillary lymph node incision...going to have to hit the stores again and find something with a low band on the sides.

    Elkatho- glad to hear you have made it thru all your treatments!! you are a warrior

    Batcatlady& Lovewins- I was on short term disability for my 6 months of chemo, which were every 3 weeks for the 1st half, then every week the last 3 months. My first 3 months I was receiving Adriamycin and cytoxan. I would get chemo on Thursday, a neulasta shot on Friday, bone pain Saturday/Sunday from the shot..after steroids wear off, the sickness would begin..the anti-nausea meds were great but I still gagged at everything I smelled and your tasetebuds go on a rollercoaster. Week 2 would be a bit better and week 3 was my "good week" and then it would start all over again. Lovewins if you can get 90% on short term and make it, your body could use the rest plus it can help your WBC from going too low. Best of luck to you...you've  got this brave warrior!! Re hairloss, mine started falling out on day 12, a week later I couldn't stand all the clumps of wet hair in the shower and just shaved it all off. Was nice not having to shave legs or bikini area for 6 months. =) But we are all different, maybe you ladies will luck out and not have all the ickiness. Sending happy thoughts for ya!!

     DivaGG- no experience with staples, but the swelling is normal...just have to watch for signs of infection

    Teamkim- (lumpie buddy) glad to hear you are hanging in there too!! I meet my RO tomorrow to begin the next step in this journey

    You guys rock!!  Michelle

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 327

    I had TC every 3 weeks and was fine Mon to wed. SEs started Thur and lasted 1 week. Couldn't eat or drink much due to taste issues. This made me tired. I too was on long term leave for time from surgery until after chemo. I did penguin cold caps and kept 2/3 of my hair. There are groups here for info.

  • canuck46
    canuck46 Member Posts: 62

    Just got call that I will be having surgery on 8/20 for snb and reexcision of margins!!  Darn my breast is healing so well from my lumpectomy now I have to start all over!!!  Can't wait to get this behind me.  The bad thing is not being able to do much with my right arm for a couple of weeks.  How did all you "righties" cope?   Any suggestions greatly appreciated. 

  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 61

    canuck, sorry you have to go through this.

    I'm a rightie and for the first day afterward, I used my arm gently.  The next day I was doing normal things again.  Doctor said 10-pound limit (I took the to mean 10lbs each arm...lol). The only problem I had with the SNB incision was every time I reached over my head to a high shelf, etc., I could feel the incision pulling for the first couple weeks,  but it wasn't really painful and all I had to do was switch arms.

    Carol

  • canuck46
    canuck46 Member Posts: 62

    encyclias - thanks for the info.  I was told not to raise my arm more then 90 degrees and not to lift anything over 2 lbs for at least 2 weeks.  Ugh!  Oh and not sleep on that side.  I guess they are worried about lymphedema.  My DH has been prewarned that he will have to do a lot of work!!! LOL! (not).

  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 393

    Canuck46

    Best to follow your doctor's orders. they were made especially for your case....

    Happy healing...

    Vickie

  • canuck46
    canuck46 Member Posts: 62

    Vicks 1960.  You are absolutely right.  Each of us are unique and most important is to trust your Dr.  I will follow orders and hope for good outcome.  Thanks for your comment - it is right on.  Hugs, M

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