Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
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RedReading i'm grateful because my situation could of been worse. And I applaud all the cancer survivors especially those who have to do the chemo. That was one treatment I was terrified of.0 -
Annika, my surgeon told me to expect the nerve to heal about one inch per month, and so far, it's been right on. My surgery was in May and I still have a little numbness under my arm, but I trust it will heal in a couple more months.
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I had my first appointment with my MO today. I started tamoxifen today and she gave me the go ahead to start radiation. I hope they call soon for my simulation. I've already got my freckles. I'm ready to move on!0 -
follow up today with BS, 9 days po L lumpectomy. Healing well, min discomfort, just tenderness at scar lines, slight tightness and pulling, some numbness, good AROM, feeling of fullness mostly felt in afternoon evening. Lymph nodes negative, margins clear but hormone receptors are negative. HER2 not known yet. Dx also changed to IDC due to small invasive component, .6cm. The "wrong site surgery" lump showed atypical cells but not cancer. Looks like treatment plan will change and will now most likely have chemo as well as radiation due to the negative hormone receptors, high grade and small invadive component etc. chemo first, then rad. The BC surgeon office will be setting up appt for me with MO to discuss treatment options. was just getting used to the idea of radiation, now the thought of chemo is freaking me out. I am a healthy person, barely even get a cold. Im so used to taking care of others in my personal and professional life, and i know you all will say its time to take care of myself and let others do for you but thats just not me. I just dont like the attention on me. This is still all so unbelievable to me. I'm fearful of being and feeling "sick", looking sick, loosing my hair and just loosing it in general. Some days strong, some days not and this is one of those not days. I know I will have up and down days but I dont like the down days and how and what do I do to bring myself up? Looking to connect with a BC survivor in my area that has gone through similar things but I need a bc warrior and upbeat person, someone that will pull me out of the trenches!
Any central ny girls out there? Contact me!0 -
Lisaj514,
Don't dispair too much. My daughter will have her last of 6 chemo treatments for fallopian tube/ovarian/endometrium cancer the day after Christmas. She did lose her hair, has been having a ball wearing different wigs, some good friends can walk right by her and not recognize her. She has had a very positive attitude during this time. Her prognosis after the surgery was not very good, but her blood test are all really good, appears the chemo is doing it's job (along with intervention of the prayers of many).
I too am still taking Letrozole (for 2 years now) for my breast cancer diagnosis and rads. Light does start to shine from the end of the tunnel...
You are already starting the journey of a SURVIVOR... Hang in there.
If it is okay, I will add you to my prayer list and ask that God will give you peace as you go thru this journey.
Have a Merry Christmas and an otherwise wonderful holiday season.
VIckie0 -
Lisa, it sounds like you have been through a lot in the past couple of months. I had my chemo before surgery and I was terrified after reading all of the side effects. I just took it one treatment at a time. I had my lumpectomy on Dec. 4th and had two tumors removed. One was triple negative and the other HER2 positive. The chemo was quite effective on the tn tumor shrinking it from 1.4 cm to 3 mm. If you have any questions about chemo, please feel free to message me. I had TCHx4 and will continue with Herceptin for 6 mo. to a year. By far my worst side effect on the chemo was constipation. I still have radiation to go. You can do this - stay strong!0 -
thanks slowdeepbreaths and vicks1960 (that's the year I was born...you too?)
Ok I'm done with the pity party for today as I was the only one there... But I'm sure I will be invited again, by my own brain! I can be strong I know it! I will take deep cleansing breaths, think warrior thoughts, keep a sense of humor if possible. I will return to yoga on Saturday for some mind body connection. I'm at newbie at yoga but it helped me through these trying times with focused breathing and warrior poses! My yoga instructor is great, she gave me a cd with awesome songs she titled strength and courage and I listen often. I can!0 -
Lisa, Negative on year of birth. That is the year we were married... I know I am an antique now. LOL
Glad you found this site. It can be a big moral booster somedays and we can get a lot of answers to our questions here.
Vickie0 -
Hi Everyone,
Have anyone started rads before their 6wks of their surgery was up? When I seen my RO on this past Monday he stated I can start as soon as the next day. I was for it, but I thought wait this is only 4wks this week since my surgery, next week will be 5wks.
Also have anyone changed their diet, and if so how and doing what? I keep being told change my diet, and embarrass to say I don't know how to eat healthy =( Not like I really eat bad, but I know i'm not getting enough, veggies, fruits all that in my system.0 -
Hi Lumpies
(((Lisa))) - we're in your pocket...yeah, it's a wild roller coaster ride...sometimes we can't pull our blouse up over our heads to hide...our big girl panties do get adjusted...and we find we did make it...whew:). You've had a rough ride which shook you to your core...who to trust...be your best advocate and we will stand strong by your side...ask ask challenge...hoping your BC center has a support group where you can connect with other warriors...
Sloyd66 - if you want another week tell RO you will come in at wk6...discuss. My MO said that voicing fears and open dialogue means success...:))) diet changes ...gluten free, no soy, vegan...well fish Wed/Sat no sugar, no dairy...there's a great book on the recommended site here...anti cancer...great food guide...your BC center may discuss nutrition ...ask!
Slowdeepbreaths - great encouragement...you rock warrior! Speedy healing and check out the Winter 2013-2014 Rad thread. Zip zap you got it!
Mouse - luv the freckles laser rag warrior! Gulp the pill
you go girl
RedReading -
)) stronger than you think!
YIppee hump day is over!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
oh boy don't you hate when you loose a big long post- I had a scroll going sorry I have been MIA- was actually flying to MIAMI lol. Will post more tomorrow about having rads within 4 wks of surgery, changing diet etc. btw- started tamoxifen within 2 wks of finishing rads no vacation per my MO.
Lisa- that is a big change but we are here and so are you and we will get through this thing no matter what gets thrown at you. Better to know now and pull out all the big guns then find out later and you could have treated more aggressively.
talk later!0 -
Hold on that! I'm not to start taking the Tamoxifen yet. And Rads are on hold till after genetic counseling (Friday) and I get results in 3 or 4 weeks.
I guess that's going to free up my schedule during Christmas!0 -
Thanks RMLulu -- I will ask lots of questions about the protocol for rads. I had two consults, and decided on the one close to home -- not crazy about the RO, but saving an hour a day in traffic won me over. Free boobing -- lol -- I already have my soft stretchy cami. Hydrate, hydrate -- it has been my mantra through chemo....I have worn a path to the potty!
Lisa, I was originally diagnosed with DCIS, then a pre-op just-in-case MRI revealed a second area of IDC in same quadrant of left breast. So my LX with oncoplasty took both areas in one wedge of flesh, then the breast tissue was rearranged by my PS and looks remarkably like the non-BC girl. Clear margins, and no node involvement. But the grade 3 of the IDC and the Mammaprint high risk result meant that I needed chemo. MO said without any further treatment, my chance of recurrence was 29% but with chemo, rads and Tamoxifen for 5 years, the chance goes down to less than 5%. Seems a little counterintuitive, because chemo really sucks (and I am allergic to one of the drugs they gave me -- hives, yuck) so it is difficult to feel more sick in order to prevent being sick in the future, but the decrease in recurrence % seemed worth it. My attitude is that we are fortunate to have treatments that can reduce the risk.
I know it is hard to wait until you have the chance to talk with your BC and any other consults BC suggests, but try to be patient -- as you feel up to it, get out and enjoy the holiday hubbub. Keep healing -- it gets better with each passing day!0 -
wyo - I have been missing in action as well.
I am so grateful for the advise and encouragement you beautiful ladies give me and the others on this site. You are wonderful.
In a previous post (2+ wks ago) I mentioned my seroma bursting and received very sage advise that I printed off. Since then the issue raised it ugly head again so I tried to get into a surgeon in AZ where I am at present. The one an acquaintance referred me to had the nastiest receptionist and told me they couldn't see me until Dec 23! I explained I believed I had an infection and needed the seroma drained. They wouldn't see me. Long sorry short, ER told me they weren't sure they could help me! I found another surgeon though a friend and had the seroma drained and cultured plus antibiotics to tide me over until I get home. I am seeing my surgeon Monday and it appears I may need to have surgery to clean out the seroma.
Not a happy girl.
Life is like a cha cha…….one step forward, two steps back. But I'm still dancing!
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RMlullu, Yes I did my official setting for Rads on Wed, I go back on next Wed for the dry run. I did ask him about starting rads before my 6wks. He said your scars are healed and it's healed good, but if you wish to wait you can. So I will start on the 23rd instead.0 -
Cakes,
Hang tough!!! I like that you are STILL DaNcInG
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hi all !! Time sure flies when you get your life back I went to my surgeon office on Monday and she removed the drain YEAH !! And on Thursday I got the best news ever.....my path report came back excellent!! No cancer in breast....clear margins since June surgery , no cancer in tail node in breast and 2 out of 30 lymph nodes ( we already new about the 2) showed no more cancer !!! Chemo worked ......the last 5 months of hell has pain off !! I am cancer free !! She is amazed at my healing powers to have the drain out after 30 nodes in 3 days. No pain , no swelling and no bruising !!! I have til September with herseptin infusions and most likely radiation but for now I'm staying on high.....it feels sooooo good !!! Happy healing ladies !!!0 -
Hurray Annika12!!! Great news!0 -
Annika - Yippee Happy Dancing! Ooo who...so happy for you0 -
Annika,
Congratulations to you! What great news! High Five0 -
Hi all and happy saturday
Cakes- that is a true bummer- I had a bad feeling you had not seen the the end of that seroma- things like that don't seem to just spontaneously resolve- Had a friend with a similar problem which was resolved as you say with a "wash out". At least you are on antibiotics hopefully that will keep things at bay til you get home.
great news annika- glad that drain is OUT
I agree teamkim- we are lucky if not blessed to have treatments to reduce risk of recurrence- I am willing to endure any side-effect to not have cancer re-visit my body0 -
Wyo,
Amen- endure SE's to have no cancer reoccurance. Trying to stay positive!0 -
cakes, glad to see you back. Sorry to hear you may need surgery for your seroma, but at least you will finally be back on the road to healing. I can't believe they gave you such a hard time at the other surgeons office and the ER.
Annika, yippee!! Happy dance for you!
TeamKim, yeah for you, only 1 more chemo tx left! Then on to rads. I'm sure you will do fine there. You always have such a positive attitude and offer much to everyone on these boards. I am glad to hear after all your treatments your risk of recurrence will go down to 5%. When I met with my MO last week, I was kind of surprised to hear that after 5 years of tamoxifen, my risk of recurrence will only go down to 10%. He said without tamoxifen, my risk would be 20%. Because my oncotype scores were considered low risk, I didn't need to do chemo. I wonder if those oncotype scores include after radiation tx? Also, since I had micromets in my snb, I still wonder...
But, overall I feel pretty confident. When I asked my MO last week if I was considered "cured" or in remission, or how did he consider me, he said, considering who my surgeon was (he is very well known and well thought of by the medical community), I could very well have been "cured" after surgery alone, or I could have been "cured" after radiation, but the tamoxifen will just be even more assurance. He also said, you could call it in remission.
I feel very happy lately. Throughout this whole ordeal, I have kept a very positive attitude. (Well, the first couple months after dx, and before surgery were hard, I will admit). Most people are surprised to find out I have been going through cancer treatment. They had no idea. And most wonder how I can be so positive through it all. Having cancer has made me see things in a different light. It has made me realize what is really important, and what is not. I see the beauty in things I never saw before. It also helps to be surrounded by positive people on these boards!
So, even if you are new to the boards, or newly diagnosed, just know that it can and it will get better. It is all what you make of it. You can decide to let it get you down, or you can choose to go forward, have a positive attitude, and beat it!0 -
I asked my MO this week- do I have cancer? or had cancer? She said because it was gotten out during surgery, no positive nodes, no chemo, no rads-- that I can consider it HAD. Yet I have a hard time with that. Maybe after the reconstruction is done, and the 5 years of anastrozole---....I rationally understand it is 'gone', but hard to actually say or feel like it is past tense.0 -
Hi All - I've been on the DCIS forum since diagnosis late Oct. But would like to also spend a little time here, as well. Mammo showed less than a cent. of calcs, biospsy showed one small punch of low-grade DCIS. Had lumpectomy three days ago, Wed. The great news is no invasion! Did find low and also some intermediate DCIS (NO high grade), exact dimensions yet to come. Gave only one margin, 2 mm, and not the others, though I'm asking for a fuller path report. So, surgeon feels that's clean margins, and it was all gotten. Presume they provided the narrowest margin mms. Unhappy about the 2 mm, as, though that's a "clean" margin, not big enough to forego rads, I think. Do realize it sounds like I'm very lucky, though. She did the incision around the curve of the nipple, so should be no scar soon. She closed by sewing the underneath together in layers to have no dent. This has concerned me about if the remaining volume of the treated breast will be noticeably smaller than the other breast. Good no dent, but if dent was closed, stands to reason whole breast could be smaller. Only care about this as I'm really small (A) and even not too much of a difference will be really noticeable. She took about an olive-size. So, she said my breast will still be swollen when I take off the bandages (today). I took them off, by feel, haven't looked yet. Treated breast feels about the same size as always, but if it's swollen now, will obviously be smaller later. My question is this. I'm a really good healer, and the breast does not feel swollen. Any experiences out there from women whose breast swelling was gone 3 days after a small lumpectomy, and it remained the size it was 3 days out? I like to be prepared. - P.
P.S. I'm only so concerned about appearance because it looks like my health is OK; of course, that was the most important thing.
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Annika -- happy dance!!! What wonderful news!!0 -
Hello, everyone,
I just a Lumpectomy 2 days ago. I am sore and taking Tylenol. I don't know what my treatment will be. I have week stomach and home to see a doctor before I start treatment. Also, I would like to see more than one Oncologist and make my choice. I hope this sounds right. Please advise. I am probably just scared of the chemo coming my way.
Thanks for listening.0 -
Hi JCarol,
Welcome to the club you don't want to be a member of , LOL.
If you feel it in your gut to get a second opinion then certainly by all means. This will be the only way you will have peace of mind that you made the right choice with no regrets.
Did you come home with a drain? You should feel pretty good in a few days. How is the swelling? Do you have lymph node involvement?
Let us know how you are doing & make sure to rest.0 -
Hi JCarol - welcome to the Lumpies! Congrats on Lx&snd speeding healing. We will keep fingers&toes crossed as you await path, margins&nodes. {{{squeeze}}} that us in your pocket...:)
Breathe, and enjoy today. Your BS will call with your margin&node results soon, 1 week post lx you will receive path results and begin to discuss what it means. Ask for oncotype testing, set up appointment for MO the next day and take your copy of path report with you ( you may schedule same day too) I met with 2 MOs and checked out the facilities to determine where I would like to receive my care.
You are your best advocate...take an appointment buddy...to ensure you get all your questions answered and data recorded...a shoulder too. Remember don't rehearse something you may never have to do...cherish today brave warrior!
The thought of chemo scars us all...visit infusion site, attend a support group, there's something about being with warriors facing, doing, and surviving well that helps strengthen resolve. The waiting is hard...so for now happy dance...it's done...you did it!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
Have anyone heard of or tried Graviola?
Cancer Fighting Combo - "(Graviola 650mg 120 caps / Red Raspberry Complex 700mg 120 capsules)"0
