Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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ndgrll and summergirl.
My oncotype score also was 18 (12% chance of recurrance). The test is done on the tissue that was removed during the surgery. It did take a couple of weeks for the report to come back. Not sure if BS or MO ordered it because my BS was working as a team with my PCP, MO and RO. I know the MO told me that due to my age (68 at the time 70 now), that he didn't believe chemo would be of any benefit. As you can see by the signature line, my tumor was stage 1 and grade 3.
I was told to not lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks, and to avoid bloodpressure checks, blood draws on the surgery side, also to avoid tight watches/bracelets. (for the rest of my life), Also avoid any injury to that hand/arm, including cutting cuticles around nails. Might do well to check with your care givers to see if they concur on these items.
Vickie
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If you are worried about range of motion push your BS to order PT for you. It can only help. I went last week, 4 weeks after bmx, my range of motion was coming back pretty well, but she found a small amount of cording in the 'worse' arm, which I was surprised by. So the PT and excercises will help clear that. Cant hurt to go and be checked even if you dont need many appointments...
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Thanks, Vickie. I was not given any weight-lifting restrictions (in fact, we were given NO discharge instructions whatsoever - nothing about lifting, showering, exercising, nothing - but I think it was an oversight as I spent a lot of time in the recovery and post-op rooms and when I finally decided to leave, it was quickly and the nurse forgot to give me the paperwork). I was told not to be very careful with my arms re: cuts, even mosquito bites, sunburn, and to not allow blood pressures or bloodwork to be taken in either arm. So for the first time ever I had a blood pressure taken from my leg! It was wildly off the charts for me. So I guess I'll always have to remind and explain in the future.
Aviva - thanks, too. What is cording? I'm concerned because I have sore areas on the underside of my arms (not in the armpits or where the nodes were taken and don't know if that could be a long-term condition if I don't do any PT.
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I meant "I was told to be very careful with my arms." I have found that this week I can't spell or remember things. I'm blaming it on the anesthesia!!
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Summergal,
Blame it as one of the se's of BC
or brain overload....LOLVickie
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Summergal - After my diagnosis the surgeon said she would be doing a lumpectomy followed by radiation and that I would meet with the oncologists after the surgery.
I consulted with an oncologist (who has a good reputation) before surgery to make sure a double mastectomy wasn't a better option for me and long term survival.
I was assured that research shows lumpectomy and radiation and Tamoxifen would give me the best outcome and that I should not consider mastectomy. He assured me that mastectomy would not ensure that I did not have a recurrence as a few cancer cells may remain after mastectomy and metastatic cancer can also occur after mastectomy.
This opinion refers only to me and my diagnosis. It is not necessarily true for everyone in the Discussion Board. Its a question to ask the MO (and get a second opinion for peace of mind). I am going to request an Oncotype DX test (or a Mammoprint) when I meet the MO. Though I am confused by seeing that a lot of ladies with low Oncotype scores still seem to do chemo. I was very distressed to have to wait for an appointment with the MO as I know the test results take time to come back and I was hoping to start Rads 6 weeks after surgery. There seem to be very different numbers floating around about how long one should wait. Obviously things are different if chemo is added or not. Does anyone have a good reference for Rads timing? I was told 1 1/2 to 3 months (if no chemo).
On the one hand I want to do Rads at the best time for optimal results and on the other hand maybe its better to let the breat heal more after surgery.
I am really scared of Rads and Tamoxifen (half of me says FORGET it - they are lethal and will kill you - the other half says - It will Keep Cancer Away) but once I start treatment I am going to try and not keep thinking about the possible negatives - only the positives. Note I say "try". But I can see from other posts that a good attitude really helps get you through tough times.
As far as physical therapy post surgery goes I was shown about 5 exercises to start doing from the day after the lumpectomy. Each day they were a bit easier to do and now if I forget to do them my arm seems to tighten up and I remember and do them.
Every now and then I just have to stretch my arm up. I'm sure people on the bus or at the super market wonder what I am doing! I just think of it as waving out hello to all you ladies.
I was surprised this week (week 3 after lumpectomy) that my level of pain (more like discomfort) didn't improve. I guess the first 2 weeks I eased back into action whereas this week I did everything (work, cooking, laundry etc).
The incision mark on my breast is nice and flat but the lymph node incision under my arm is getting bumpy. Has anyone had experience with that?
Also I have those swollen veins in and around my nipples which I spoke about (which seems not to have happened to anyone else on this Board).
I have noticed that the first 2 weeks my breast was swollen but was a nice shape. As the swelling has gone down I have noted quite a dent in a section quite far from where the surgery was. It is a bit distressing but I am going to wait and see how things look after a month before I freak out.
Have you tried more support? Is it helping? Fephna (Hi there!) says it took her 7 weeks to feel really well.
By the way - if any doctor thinks I am going to put my poor biopsied, lumpectomied breast in a mammogram machine any time soon they are crazy. I'll do the left side breast if they want me to. I'll do Ultrasounds and MRI's - but I will have to be seriously tranquilized before anyone gets me to cooperate with a Mammogram on righty!
Hugs
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My MO said that I would not have a mammogram until 6 months after radiation so for me that means mid March. He also said if I wanted to I could wait and do them both in June, that way both breasts were on the same schedule. Then in 6 months they would do the operated on breast again. I am thinking to myself hmmmm, if I had external radiation that is 6 weeks compared to my 1 week I had for internal, so hmmmm.I won't have as much time to heal before a mammo.. NOT looking forward to that but with all this history of BC in my family suddenly we all need to be extra careful. Adivan here I come!!
I find my whole treatment to be all rather confusing.
With lumpectomies did you spend the night in the hospital? I live 2 hours from the hospital and because of my late surgery he wouldnt have been able to realease me until at least 9 pm so he had me stay the night.
The next day like summer girl I never got any restrictions. He did tell me not to shower for 48 hours and that if I wanted to I could go to work in 2 days? Two days????
- he didn't even know what I did for work and can a person really work on narcotics? He also told me not to worry about my arm even though I had 9 lymph nodes removed- he called it all a "wifes tale that the nurses still believe in" I figure I am better safe than sorry. My MO seemed to think that I should avoid using that arm for blood tests ect for "quite awhile".
I went back to work today for the first time since my internal rads. It went ok but my arm is a bit sore and numb under the arm and arm pitt area.
Does anyone know a good web site that talks about the exercises that should be done as I was told nothing..
Thank you all for the great information. It is nice- well not really nice to have met this way- but great to meet others who have been through similiar things and are willing to share their story...
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Hi Summergal and ndgrrl,
Had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago. Still a little sore in the armpit but more bothered by a truly lovely hematoma that developed last week. Surgeon says I just have to be patient, it will reabsorb. I wasn't prescribed any PT and didn't think to ask...although my husband is a personal trainer certified in rehab so will probably just follow his guidance.
Only bad news is that the size of the hematoma may preclude me from the 5 day protocol which would really bum me out. Seeing the MO tomorrow so maybe I'll learn more then. No idea what my Onch score is..
Totally understand the depression and the second guessing (it's way too easy to do!) but you have to trust yourself and your docs. BC scares the crap out of me if I think about it for too long, but I KNOW in my heart that the docs want the best outcome for me and I will make the right decisions. We all should celebrate each of the baby steps on this journey, for ourselves and for the people who care about us. You're doing all the right things!!
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Bounce - thank you for your thoughtful reply. It seems like we have a similar DX and I was told the same thing that you were by the MO and RO, i.e., that the outcomes of MX and LX with rads are equivalent. It's when they throw the phrase "survival rate" in there that I get freaked out. Would you mind sharing the 5 exercises you were told to do post-surgery? I've just been trying to extend my arms, up the shower walls when I'm in there, and holding my arms out in front of me and bending at the elbow, but I'm just winging it (no pun intended!!). I have the same thing with the breast incisions vs. SND incisions. The breast scars are flat, although I noticed a little puckering today, but the LN scars are quite bumpy. I'm assuming that because my breast skin was still relatively elastic, plus filled with tissue, it lent itself to flatter scars, but the skin under my arms is sort of wrinkly and a little bunchy, so that could account for the puffiness in the scarring. I'm remembering though that when I had my C-section, the incision and resulting scar were quite puffy for a long time after healing. But eventually that flattened out, too, so I have hope for the scars under my arms (and they're in a place where they are not very visible, even though I know they're there!). I'm getting anxious about experiencing what you described as the dented section in your breast - post-surgery, both my husband and I remarked that my breasts looked pretty good, still full and shapely, despite the incisions...but now I'm realizing that it's probably just swelling and when that decreases it might be a whole different story.
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PrincessMom - so sorry to hear about your hematoma. I had a bad one, too, after my left stereotactic biopsy. It bled and bled for about two weeks and my breast was the most amazing technicolor rainbrow of bruising I have ever seen! But eventually it did reabsorb. I made sure to drink a lot of water to help it flush out. By 5-day protocol, do you mean rads? Good luck with the MO - really hope you get some answers there.
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I feel like I've been posting a lot today, but I'm in that place where everyone around me wants to celebrate and/or move on (because of a good path report) and for me, the reality of my recent surgery and ongoing/upcoming treatment is just settling in. So forgive me, please, if I rattle on. When I was first diagnosed, it was by a general surgeon who performed my stereotactic biopsy. Our local hospital has a multidisciplinary cancer clinic once a week, to which every newly diagnosed person is referred. When you go to "clinic," a surgeon, a plastic surgeon, MO, RO and nurse navigator all come in one at a time to meet with you, after having reviewed your slides, etc. to help determine the best course of action. The nurse navigator was presented as the person who would help guide me through the decision-making, and, as a BC survivor herself, someone who could provide information in a supportive role. A few weeks after attending the clinic, I opted to go for a second opinion at a large cancer center an hour or so away. I subsequently decided to have my surgery at the cancer center, but to proceed with RT and MO at my local hospital, just because of the closeness to our home. Here's the thing - I feel as if I can't be the only patient to ever decide to have surgery elsewhere, but that, by doing exactly that, I became dissassociated from the local cancer center. It has been like pulling teeth to get the nurse navigator to return a call. No one has guided me as to how to get the onchotyping started locally and my BS does not communicate with any of my local docs. I'm not supposed to see the BS again until March, but somehow I'm supposed to get a clearance to begin rads sometime in November. I guess. I feel like I'm totally out in the forest with no compass, no map, nothing. I just can't believe that this is the way that a breast cancer patient, or any patient for that matter, is treated and am not sure where to go from here. I guess I could try calling the nurse navigator again tomorrow and see if she can be the connector between the local hospital and the cancer center. But I've truly felt as if they are leaving it all up to me. When I read others' posts that their PCP, BS, MO are all working as a team, I feel very lost and envious. My GYN didn't even call me when I was first diagnosed in June and has made no contact with me since. My PCP - same thing. No contact unless I initiated it, even though I was having all of my diagnostic results sent electronically to both. I just don't get it. Again, sorry if I sound so negative. I'm a person who can handle a lot (all of us are, really, aren't we, having been through this?), but just beginning to worry that no one is actually steering the ship here and I don't know how to make sure it's on course. Thanks so much for listening.
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Princessmom
I too developed a huge hematoma, only just 3 days after surgery (my BS/hospital called my surgery a partial Mastectomy, but I think it was basically the same as a lumpectomy). Anyway called the BS (he is 70 miles from where we live) he had us come upto his office. He was shocked at how large the breast was. His office gal told my husband, they had never seen one that large before. Any way, the next morning he did a second surgery and evacuated 1000ccs. (about 1 quart) of blood/fluid. Sure did feel better but took a LONG TIME to get normal color back, had to have a drain put in for several days. Now you would never know that was a problem... I have had a seroma aspirated 2 different times from that breast too.
Vickie
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Hi Summergal,
I just had this conversation with a friend I was walking with tonight . It's like I'm the general contractor in this journey, and I'm coordinating all the subtrades. When I saw my surgeon who did my lumpectomy for my post op, she said I wouldn't see her again for six months, so I'm assuming I'm clear for whatever is next.
My hospital has a nurse navigator in the breast diagnotic centre. She was sort of helpful with a couple of things at the beginning, but never really navigated me through the process. We have patient navigators too. One is on mat leave, and i have given the other my email 3 times for something she was supposed to send me. I have never received anything. I've written her off as being any help through this,
On the oncotype issue, my experience is that the MO orders that. I had to sign something when I saw him to authorize release of my tissue sample to the company they send it to,
Maybe make an appointment to see your nurse navigator and get her to walk you through the process from here and confirm who is responsible for doing what - e.g. Booking appointments, including follow up mammograms, MRIs, etc.
Good luck!0 -
Hi summergal, (my SBBC buddy!) and ndgrrl, and any frustrated others,
I can totally relate to your frustration. I also was not given much instruction upon release after my surgery. Just said to wait 24 to shower, or something like that. I think they said no heavy lifting. No exercises were given to me, etc. I remember my BS had mentioned at an earlier appt. that I could do the fingers climbing the wall exercise. He also said I would be fine for work in a few days! Ha! So, I found the exercises from the American Cancer Society for after breast cancer surgery, and I just did those. (I made sure to first ask my BS at my 1 week follow up if it was ok to exercise). I also asked at that appt. if I need to be careful of my arms, if it was ok to get BP taken, etc. since I had heard of the dangers of LE. He said that would be fine. He also said I could shave, take a bath, etc. Pretty much everything I asked was ok by him. I felt surprised, like shouldn't I be taking more precautions? It seemed to go against most of what I read. So, don't take my advice, bec. everyone is different, and every dr. probably has their own ideas. I hate the idea that they seem to act like lumpectomy and SNBs is so easy and insignificant, like it is a lesser surgery.
Anyway, besides that, I too felt very scared and uncertain afterwards, even after my pathology report, even after finding out no chemo needed, I really did not feel like celebrating, because I didn't really feel like I was " cured" or even that I was rid of the cancer. I too feel like I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I still worry if BLX was the right decision, or will I end up having a recurrence and have to do BMX sometime in the future? But then I think, we'll even if that happens I guess I bought some more time with keeping my breasts. And it may never happen! And the survival rate is the same either way.
I think the hardest part is the long grueling wait between the surgery and the appt. with the MO and getting onco scores, etc. once you get past that, it should be a bit better, because you will actually have a plan!.
And, if it's any consolation, now that I have started RADs, this is the first time I have actually felt at peace, because at least right now, for this moment, I am actually doing something to fight the cancer that may still be lurking. I feel good I am doing RADs. Go figure!0 -
Zingers someone on the boards talked about zingers.. OUCH is what I say. I wonder how long they last?
The past couple days its like I get zapped or stung by a bea or a needle sticks my breast. This is something else I was not warned about. Is it nerves trying to heal?
I am not sure if that link will work but I want to thank the person on the boards who shared this video it is awesome!
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Summergal:
1) no PT was prescribed for me, but my BS did give me a booklet of exercises to do starting 1 month after surgery -- any earlier and she said there was a chance it would disturb the great work my PS did with the rearrangement. It took a few more weeks, but now at 8 weeks out I have regained full movement. Be patient with yourself.
2) I think all are different with the pain, so I can only tell you my experience. I was sore for about a week, then started getting shooting pains (zingers) as the nerve endings began to reconnect. Those lasted about 3 weeks I would say. Then there was a tiny spot where all my incisions came together under my breast that was slow to heal. That ached a bit off and on until 7 weeks out.
3) my BS says I will have mammograms alternating with MRI every 6 months for awhile. The MRI is justified because my breast tissue is dense ( which is why the second bit of cancer was found that way). We did so much imaging before my surgery: mammogram, follow up diagnostic mammo, stereotactic biopsy, MRI, follow up diagnostic mammo, follow up diagnostic ultrasound, MRI-guided biopsy, and another mammo to confirm wire location on the day of my surgery! With all of that, I feel like modern science has located about all it can for the time being! :-).
4) However you feel at the moment in this roller coaster is "normal." Once I stopped hurting and got my path report following surgery, I felt almost euphoric. But the high risk Mammaprint (like Oncotype) has put me into the chemo sisterhood. That news was a low, but then I put it in perspective that it's not so bad. My feelings range from day to day, but whatever I can do to ensure that I survive to see my son grow into adulthood and maybe to know my grandkids one day... Seems like if I have to give up my hair temporarily for that, then it's worth it. That's how I feel today.... Tomorrow or my first day of chemo might be a different tune. So I try to ride with it, talk to trusted friends, vent on these boards (helps a lot) and enjoy life. As my BS said (with a hug) " go live! because right now and for as long as we can make it so, you are cancer free."
Don't know if any of that helps, but keep asking -- there are wonderful angels on this site to be with you and support you!0 -
Well today I am headed back to work 2 weeks after my lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. Lifting restrictions due to the node removal I have learned already in the past 2 weeks is very necessary. Met my MO, last week. Having a PET scan tomorrow. MO would like me to consider entering a clinical trial based on what my Oncotype DX score is. MO says the prognosis rate in the 0-3 positve node range is very minuscule. Of course, part of the trial is computer randomization of who actually receives chemo and who receives rads, and hormone receptor blocking meds and no chemo. Lots to consider. Thoughts anyone?
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Thank you Ridley, ndgrrl and TeamKim for sharing your feelings. I've been spending so much time inside my head (and inside my house!) that I decided today I need to distract myself from all the fearful thoughts by going out for a little bit, maybe a little shopping (and it's about time I got my hair cut and tended to those roots!!). It's a beautiful day here...I want to get back to that place of gratitude where I was before surgery. I know that every step on Cancer Road is going to be different. Some will feel sure and steady, some will feel rocky and painful, some will be filled with fear about moving forward, and some will just stop me in my tracks to take in the wonder of everything around me and how far I've come. I'm SO grateful to have this little "rest stop" along the road with all of you. If there's a "vending machine" at this rest stop offering hugs and thank-yous, then I'm handing out quarters for all of you! XOXO
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Well, as you will see below, it is chemo for me -- saw the MO yesterday & I start Oct 11. Sandy mom, my MO is one of the central researchers who helps to write these onco tests. He said that we may know in 5 years that chemo isn't necessary for me, but the testing is not that accurate yet to base treatment decisions for my profile (clean nodes, but grade 3 -- luminal B subtype). So since my Mammaprint test came back high risk that he doesn't trust just hormones to take care of it. I could have chosen no chemo, but decided to throw everything I can at this so no regrets in future.
These treatments are so personalized that you can't compare you to me -- it is worth some additional questioning though.0 -
Hi ladies
First rads today 27 more to go!
TeamKim when I read all your pre surgery testing mamos, ultra sounds, biospy, mamo w/ wire and similar surgery, it's like reading my life lol Have you done the oncotype test or just the mammaprint?
Summergal I so understand your emotional roller coaster as well as the physical one. Having bc, kids, work. I feel sometimes like my mind won't stop racing. I decided since I have 14 weeks of paid disability from work I took it. I had a lumpectomy with the reduction and I am finally starting to feel better. I have a physical job and since surgery till now I have been physically and mentally exhausted. I see some of these strong women who work thru chemo and rads and I am in awe. Honestly if I didn't have temporary paid disability I would of had no choice to work. Like others have said I decided to take care of me till rads is finished. There are so many decisions to make and it is very overwhelming.
Zingers...ouch! Up until last week I was getting them constantly and in both breasts. The bc and ps both told me they were healing pains. The nerves were reconnecting. I still get 1 here or there but not so bad now.0 -
Hi Fephna, imaging twin! I just got the Mammaprint -- my BS and MO feel it is a better test because of the way the test was developed. My BS is also a genetics expert (many see her for genetic work ups) and my MO serves as a research consultant all over the country for the development of these genomic tests, so they are picky -- and they also like the fact that with Mammaprint you are either high risk or low risk -- no intermediate gray area. MO is also sending my tissue for an additional test, one that is too new to be trusted, he says, but my results will be added to the pile of data. I feel fortunate that I am living and having BC at a time when the treatments can be so individualized... And are getting more so. Science is amazing!
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TeamKim - how do you request a Mammaprint? I am in limbo - my surgery was two weeks ago, at which time I thought the oncotype had been ordered. At my follow-up appt with the breast surgeon, he said the oncotype had not been done on the tissue from surgery, that the MO would review my path report to determine if she would even order the oncotype, and then if she feels it's needed, it will be another three weeks until the results come back. All the while, I will be waiting to see whether and when I can start rads. It's so maddening to feel your fate is completely in someone else's hands! Thanks.
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I noticed that I have something small and pointy sticking out of the ends of the sentinel node incisions under both arms. My husband looked at them under a magnifying glass and said they look like fishing line! Could these be stitches and if so, should they be sticking out like that? How will they dissolve? Is this something you think I should call the nurse about? Thanks.
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Hi Summergal
I feel like your twin!
Oncotype DX - I met with my MO today for the first time and she did not suggest the Oncotype or Mammaprint. When I raised the topic she said it wasn't necessary for me given the pathology results.
I asked for it anyway and now have to wait to hear if it will be approved for me (otherwise I would have to pay privately - about $4,000) and also don't want it to delay the start of rads. It will take about 3 weeks after approval to get the results back. MO said optimal time for rads is 6 to 12 weeks after lumpectomy. MO seems to think that there is no chance of Oncotype showing I need chemo so she says I can go ahead and arrange my first RO appointment and then the simulation in the meantime so I am not delayed. Though they will only start rads once the result is back (if it is approved).
I wish they just did the Oncotype DX automatically once pathology is back to avoid more waiting and worrying.
I am 3 1/2 weeks post lumpectomy.
As far as stitches go - I had the exact same thing. I had little bits sticking out of the incision here and there but I left them alone and they dissolved. Except for one which got longer and longer and turned out to be a little hair growing back!
Sometimes I don't know if I am having pain, just discomfort, or merely feeling unfamiliar hairy armpits!
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Summergal -- likely ends of the stitches. Assuming they are dissolvable, I have had something simiar. I just trimmed them with clean clippers.
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After my 2 mammograms, biopsy and ultrasound I got my diagnosis. Decided on a lumpectomy because originally it was judged to be < 1 cm. After surgery it came in at 1 cm with mets in one node. My onc was totally surprised, expecially with the grade 3 and mets. His original plan was oncotype dx which we continued with. My score of 21 was borderline yes/no for chemo so I too decided to be most aggressive and had 4 rounds of TC. Followed with 33 rads and now on Arimidex.
My original mammogram was Aug 2012 and 6 mos post rads would have been Sept so I had my " annual" well women in July and gynocologist order my yearly mammogram (3D) with an ultrasound of cancer side. Had this in Aug. and all was clear. I was told that I should come back in one year for next mammogram but I will consult with onc on this one.
Had colonoscopy for second time after 5 year interval.....all clear.
Had thyroid ultrasound in Feb and due for second on Friday due to nodes in the thyroid picked up in the CT scan in Sept last year. All clear and biopsy of same was clear in Feb.
Had second CT in June...all clear.
Had first PET scan last week and will go tomorrow for results. Hope this one is clear so I can have my chemo port removed.
I am so thankful I have insurance and can go for all of these tests with no major financial worry. I met the $5000 out of pocket in Feb once rads started.
We are all different in our cases so best not to question one doctor vs another, but stay informed and ask for explanations of treatments and decisions. My onc told me that chemo seeks out "different" cells and attacks them so that it would hit my grade 3 cells hard as compared to grade 1 or 2....reassuring to say the least. This is why I chose to go the chemo route in addition to other things. My onc pretty much explained the options and left it to me but said he agreed every time I made my decisions ( lump vs mastectomy, chemo vs no chemo)
No regrets, no looking back. Just hope that recurrence is not in my future and stay positive.
Hugs to all.
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Schoolmom - congrats on all clear and passing with happy flying colors!
BC is so daunting, but you have faced the dragon, trampled, and are waving your flag at the top of the mountain...we all look forward to joining you...:D
Yes, fight on ...NO regrets!
TeamKim - we will be in your pocket (((hugs))) science is amazing. Best wishes in chemo land. Checkout the cool cap thread to save hair.
Sandy mom - hope work is not to stressful and you don't overdo.
Yeah Lumpies the weekend is coming!
(((Hugs)))
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Summergal,
I know it can seem like your life is in limbo while you are waiting for your answers, but believe me, we have all been there! If you look back on this board a month or so ago, I was in the same place you are, along with many others. Some of us have now moved on the rads, and others to chemo, and some are still waiting. But some of the best advice I remember getting was that it was better to wait to have all the facts ( ie onco tests, etc) before jumping into a treatment decision. Also, I remember someone telling me that our bodies needed some time to heal before starting treatment. So, I also had a long wait to find out what my future held. My onco scores took even longer because they had to send out both samples, and I guess that caused some confusion. If your MO orders onco, she may want to send out both of your samples, too. I just started rads last week, almost 6 weeks after surgery.
I know the first few weeks after surgery are the hardest, because you have nothing else to focus on. Once I went back to work, it helped take my mind off the wait. Try to find something else to focus on. Good for you for going out and getting your hair done, or shopping, or whatever! And if you have a child, that alone is a lot to focus on!
Try to relax and enjoy life in the meantime. Hang in there. Your answers will come!0 -
Summergal, I agree with the others here -- even though it is hard, try to be patient and wait for your medical team to work the process. Just after my diagnosis, my gyno called to check on me. He said, "Just remember you have time. This is not an emergency that needs rushing into surgery or any other treatment." I was impatient with all the imaging before surgery, but it turned out that all that imaging is now giving me a lot of peace of mind. The tests do take time, and patience is hard -- the waiting for results is the worst part.
We are all different. It is great that treatments can be personalized to the cancer and to the patient, but it means all the tests have to be done and analyzed by your team. At my cancer center, the doctors come together for "tumor board" meetings -- BS, MO, RO, breast center radiologist, etc. and they collaborate on treatment recommendations. This is not the process everywhere, and while the procedures and the tests are DIFFERENT, they are not better or worse..... They just are different. And when you put insurance approvals into the mix, that complicates things even further.
So you do your homework, you write down the questions you want to ask, and you try to be patient. Use the time to live your life, be kind to yourself and spend time with your loved ones.... Easier said than done, we all know... (((Hugs)))0 -
TeamKim - Great advice! I think we somehow think that because we got a BC diagnosis everything becomes urgent. The transformation or trigger of good cells to bad did not happen overnight so we need to be patient and get as many tests done as necessary in order for Drs. to custom design the best plan for us! Knowledge is the key to success. Waiting for results is awful but we are all here to encourage, support and share. Hugs, Marilyn
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