Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hobbesla4, I went to a Title9 store and tried on sports bras until I found one that was comfortable. I got to where I hated the sports unaboob look, but I have now graduated back into my glamorous European confections. Take heart!
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Hi... Regarding driving after lumpectomy, put a hand towel under that area with the seatbelt
Kosh0 -
Congrat L2girl on finding out you do not need chemo.. I am still in the waiting game and it is soooo hard to wait.
I was also told not to wear underwires. I was told to wear sports bras. I really do not like them and found one of my other bras with no underwire that is lower cut on the arm pitt to wear. I find my arm pitt hurts worse than my boob.
I am at day 17 and feeling pretty good. I have surgery tomorrow( YIKES) to insert the contura balloon for radiation- I am getting a bit anxious!!
I think I am finally healing and they are gonna shove that in there? scarey but everything dealing with cancer seems scarey.
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L2girl- Yeah-keep on dancing!!! Best news.
hobbesla4 I was told to definitely not wear underwire bras. I went to Walmart and bought some front closure sports bras (they are inexpensive) and also bought some genie bras. I had never worn a bra that wasn't underwire but for now these are OK especially for 24-7 wear. I also put a 4 x 4 gauze pad over my incision inside my bra for extra comfort - it worked really well. Good luck.
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I used a loose sports bra that came lower down on chest, and tucked a folded soft tshirt under the boob area, to pad the incisions that I had there. Now after bmx I just wear a soft tank but theres nothing to encase at the moment.
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Hi, oh yes....right after lumpectomy.....I put gauze over my breast...and under the band of my bra so it would not cut in. I also "held" my boobs when I walked down the stairs....lol
Gentle hugs.
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Hi all, I'm 14 days out now. Still waiting for final path report, but have been told that nodes and margins were clear (yeh!)
I had a couple of questions that have now rolled off this page, so I'm going to add here in hopes someone can help.
I had 1/4 of my left breast removed - lots of what feels like internal scar tissue - anything I should be doing to soften?
What about external scars - anyone use silicon sheets? Anything else?
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Koshka1, I had that rash too! I'm still trying to get rid of it. I didn't think to ask about it, just figured it was stress or drugs working their way out...what did they give you for it?
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So, I met with the surgeon yesterday about my infection. She does not think I did anything to cause it, but she says it is very unusual to get an infection this late. I have an ultrasound tomorrow, to see how deep it goes. We are waiting for lab results. She suggested I may have a rare immune disease where my body is attacking my breast, or I am not responding to antibiotics so may need steroids. She went into great detail about possibly needing to go in and pack the wound and repack it daily for a week. When I expressed concern about this she said "don't get excited yet". I feel like this woman looks at me like I"m an interesting specimen, now even more interesting due to a rare infection. I am a puzzel to solve, she has a glimmer in her eye when she talks about getting her hands in my breast and feeling my tissue. I called the patient relations person today and have an appointment next week with a different surgeon. I explained that she stresses me out, does not make me feel trust or confidence and isn't it insensitive for a surgon to wear low cut sexy dresses and platform heels when dealing with women who are facing the invasion and possible destruction of their breasts? Yep, I'm pissed off. So for now, I clean with saline three times a day and change dressing. I'm on Bactrim - monster antibiotics - and waiting to see if it has any effect. My incision is open on one end and constantly oozing pus. Do your surgeons scare you? Do they seem eager to cut you up? Is this normal? She has been trained by the best, has excellent credentials, but man, she stresses me out. Robina Smith if you are in Orange County.
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Serenamuse.....you need to go to your doctor..it will not go away by itself....it is an inflammatory reaction. The cream was a prescription that i cant remember what it was as it was 5 years ago. It was cheap though and cleared it up like in 2-3 days. It also stopped the itch right away.
I was going crazeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Kosh
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Oh SerenaMuse, if you're a strange case, why do I also have an infection that appeared "later?" Why doesn't your surgeon doesn't have an ultrasound? When I saw mine yesterday she used the ultrasound that was right there in the room to locate and assess the abscess before proceeding to aspirate it. I'm on a new type of antibiotics, this will hopefully do the trick.
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I found a package of two bras at Target, which I have lived in night and day. they are super stretchy and pull on, bottom up. I also have been sticking a 4x4 piece of dental gauze leftover from my son's wisdom teeth surgery under the band and against the bottom of the boob where I have the vertical and horizontal incisions. It is soft and fuzzy and keeps any bras I use from rubbing.
I also bought a Jockey Sports bra (too stiff, too hot, too many seams), three of the front-closing Walmart bras in various sizes (worked fine for after the biopsies, but after surgery they squished my girls together too much, not comfortable, and the cotton was scratchy), and then I just went to Target about 5 days after my surgery and tried things on. I found the stretchy ones described above as well as a Spanx-type (but much cheaper) tank top that I wear over it when I need a little more support.
Much probably depends on your size. I am 38C -- now kind of a C- on the left, LOL!0 -
Kim- glad to hear you are hanging in there...I work at Target and now I am going to search for those super stetchy bras. I started my first radiation treatment and want something soft to wear while i am working.
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Hello Ladies
I had my re-excission yesterday and even went to my sons football game in the evening (pushed it yes -but feel the need to be there now as much as possible before chemo.) Of course I came home ate some plain noodles and went to bed. Taking it easy today as the anesthesia wears off and hoping not to need to take any pain pills. Surgeon told my husband that as she was clearing more area the tissue/fat it was crumbling... Now to wait yet again for Pathology.
Wishing everyone a Blesed day and fabulous weekend.
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travlmom,
Sorry that you had to deal with re-excision. I have not gotten my path reports yet, but I am hoping for some good news soon. Hope you have a great weekend.0 -
Hi Lumpies!
Welcome to new Lumpies ...glad you found us, but so sorry that lounge is so active!
TGIF! Lets just catch our breathe and R&R
Lg2girl - Happy Dance! Yippee! Congrats no chemo!
Hobbesla4 - hear you on seatbelt ugh:( got a lambs wool cover helps, but girl is peeling again...does not like clothing just rubs her raw. Genie bras from Walmart work for me. I did go in for a fitting and a chicken filet to lift up my girl...works great for exercise...better than a boob sock supporting her. Let us know what works best or you!
Vickie - thanks for the heads up on ballon procedure...a friend had that, but not an option for IDC.
Ndgrrl - hope you got some info on your procedure...yippee that you are having a shorter procedure...my friend who did it is 5 yrs out:). Always ask ask its hard to remember everything, but call ask you need to know and be comfortable with your tx.
Ridley - yippee! 2 weeks out:) clear margins & nodes happy dance! Swelling takes time...ask BS what to use...I used a combo of neosporin & mederma & vit e 2-3X a day...looks good. Now with emu oil. And I did not shave for 4 weeks...terrified of cuts...and no shaving for 8-10 weeks pre rads post rads...there was a mouse under my arm...ha! Still very cautious when shaving...rads way eliminate some hair follicles. Happy healing.
CynthianTX - Ooo who week out from lx! The relief you did it:). Pamper yourself and give yourself time to heal. Watch the arm don't over do! Rads is doable hydrate! And HT...ask for a month off from rads before you begin. There's just something about getting out of the trenches of active treatment...PTSD ...our shell shocked bodies spirits need a rest.
HT is doable...focus on today! Don't get ahead and worry about what may never happen.
Heal...:)
Canuck46 - bravo and happy healing! Yippee moving on to the next step! Celebrate your victories:)
TeamKim - bright day to you! I still sleep in a soft comfy bra...support just helps the girl...thinking of you as you move on:)
PAEaglesFan - we are in your pocket for reduction and lift {{{squeeze}}}. Here's to Perky!
Speedy healing:) I had 7 nodes...5 blue...2 not...more data brings comfort.
Kosh - yippee Ooo who 5 years out! Thanks for your insight and encouragement
PatAlameda - we are in your pocket for chemo land {{{squeeze}}} glad you have your plan if attack in place and are ready to move forward brave warrior!
Ok what is with all the infections...ugh (((hugs))) speedy healing Pat and Sernamuse !
Sorry if I missed a lump or two! Sending calm happy thoughts and prayers!
Enjoy the weekend!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
Lab results came back and I do not have a bacterial infection. I have an ultrasound later today. She honestly said she does not know what is going on. I was told to continue with the Bactrim, even though when I asked if it would help the doctor said "probably not". So why should I keep pumping this stuff into my body? Next step would be sterioids. I do not want steroids! I'm so frustrated!
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Koshka1, I'll definitely ask for a cream when I go in today. It is prickly itchy and annoying!
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For those a few days/weeks out of the lumpectomy, I found what helped with the itchiness and just overall comfort was wearing a cotton tshirt under my bra. The difference it made was incredible. I was given an antibacterial cream for the incision as well didn't find it helped near as much as the tshirt thing. Also in terms of finding a comfy sports bra or non underwire, it was a search let me tell you because I'm a big girl with even bigger breasts. I bought one fancy shmancy one through Amoena but then found a whole bunch of different ones at WalMart (US only, Canada does not have the same inventory) My fave one is a front closure cotton one (fruit of the loom) that has been a godsend and was only $8.00 I also used a bra extender to make it a bit looser for that first week or two.
Yay, L2 for not needing chemo!
Thanks for all who are posting about infections and internal scar tissue issues. I was diagnosed with a wee infection a month to the day out of surgery because of some slight redness but not on my incision. I haven't really noticed a difference in the pinky colour but I am feeling more internal scar tissue to the left on my incision. Anyone else have that and if so, what are you doing to lessen it? I'm massaging my breast but not sure if it's working.
Can't wait for the 13th to find out if I need chemo. Had my radiation oncology appointment last week and they were all ready to start this week but oops, she forgot that we needed to find out about chemo.
If I don't need it, yay..but if I do, you're all invited to my Boob, Bourbon and Buzzcut party that I'll have before I start 0 -
Hi,
Wanted to let you know what happened to me in case it may help you. I noticed a small bubble under my surgical dressing today. Called surgeon who suspects I am allergic to the glue type adhesive in the dressing. He advised me to remove the dressing and let it air out until my appt. on the 10th. I told him that it hurts to wear any type bra, so he advised not to do so. I don't think it is infected because it is not hard, color looks same as it has since surgery, no fever.0 -
Hi all. I am 19 days out from lumpectomy, node disection and last night I noticed my whole breast looked brown. Like maybe it was bruised inside and the color is coming out? I also noticed bumps under the incison like. hard bumps. I showed them to the surgeon today and he said I looked fine and wished everyone healed as wel. but grrrr never told me "what was up"
I also had the bracytherapy inserted into my breast today in the cavity where the cancer was. I was sedated and woke up with a giant bra on, now where how it got there.I t is concerning to see wires hanging out of my breast but they do tuck into that bra well.
I now have to watch for infection from that. I start internel rad treatments twice a day next week for the week. I hope all goes well.
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Ndgrrl -- fascinating about your rads treatment -- keep posting... I don't think this is an option for me, but good to find out how it goes. My girl turned brown too, can't remember exactly when, but it lasted about 5 days, then she pinked up again. I read on here about someone else with the same coloration issues -- not sure if it is internal or if it is the stuff they paint on you during surgery and it takes a while to wash off completely.
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I recommend Coobie bras. Comfy!
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Hi ndgrrl, I'm 15 days out now, and am a lovely shade of yellowy brown, with some purples undertones. Surgeon saw me 3 days ago and said it looked fine. The bruising is normal and skin colour is because I'm so fair naturally.
I also have lots of internal scarring - my breast is really hard in some areas. Again, surgeon said normal. She took out a quarter of my breast, and I was a DD/DDD to start, so that was a lot of tissue. She also moved some existing tissue around, so I wouldn't look so odd:). She said I could massage after a while, but I haven't tried that yet. I didn't have a drain, which might have contributed to the hard areas. I also have a lump under my snb incision that showed up a couple of days ago. I asked my gp about it when she called yesterday, and she said it was totally normal.
Your radiation experience sounds very interesting.
Ridley0 -
Thanks, glad to know my breast changing color is normal. I was getting a bit concerned. I am also very fair skinned so everything seems to show.
I also noticed the pores on that side are larger. I am thinking that is from the swelling also.
I never had a drain put into my breast either. I just hope everything is going ok in there especially now with the balloon inside.
Radiation is scarey but I am on my next step in this fight. Waiting on results to see about chemo yet.
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Ndgrrl,
I had the brachytherapy rads 2 years ago. Nothing to it. I had no discomfort, other than the catheters protuding but even that was not bad. At least the rad treatments are over in 5 days. My RO put a bit of lidocane on the area when he removed the balloon, so it didn't hurt then either. A couple weeks later he had me massage it a couple times a day with a cream that had Vit E in it.
Now it looks normal (other than a little bit of a dip on the lower side of the boob where the tumor was removed.)
I am sure you will do just fine. Treatments themselves only took a few minutes (less than half an hour) each time twice a day...
Good luck.. Keep us posted as to your progress..
{{{{HUGS}}}}
Vickie0 -
Teachersbc1, I just ordered a couple coobies...hopeing to graduate from my sports bras soon!
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ndgrll - Good luck with barchytherapy. I also had internal rads. It was a lttle unnerving at first but tell yourself everyday that it is only for 5 days versus 5-7 months of external rads. At least they put you out to insert savi. My BS did it in her office with lidocaine. I guess it wasn't really too bad when I look back on it. They hook those little tubes up to a machine that looks like R2D2. Hooking each one of those up 2x day is the most time consuming but the rads go very quickly. You will be in my thoughts next week.
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Starting radiation on Friday...the 13th! I have just started a new job and cannot afford to be out of work. The anticipation is freaking me out.
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Teacher will you be having internal?
I have my wires attached and have my first date with R2D2 on monday
Boob is really a bit sore- but I am doing ok.RADIATION HERE I COME!!!!!
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