Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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KarenC Sorry about the discomfort from rads! I used soaks and they prescribed silvadone cream when I had difficulties. The good news it doesn't last for two long(long at the time though!)and once you start to heal it seems to improve pretty fast. I have been done 4 weeks now and no lingering skin issues except for discoloration.
Charlene I can relate over the excitement of figuring out how to work things on this site I am still stumbling through!
Been on Tamoxifen for almost a week a little nauseous and tired but I can handle that
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Thank you PlanB58. I am going in for Herceptin tomorrow so will stop in and ask about some of that cream. Under my breast there is a line of dark irritated skin. I basically say all afternoon with saline soaks over the entire area that was done. Now I'm in my room letting the air get at it. A day in the life of me lol
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Dear Peggy: Yes, it is so wonderful that we do not have any side effects from Arimidex/Ansastrazole. We are very lucky.
Dear Karen: Good luck with your Herceptin infusions and with the side effects from your rads.
Dear Plan B: I hope that you feel well on Tamoxifen.
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Please HELP! Any insight is appreciated! You ladies have tons of knowledge and here I am totally lost and anxious
I am having a lumpectomy for UDH and radial scar (0.7cm) in my left breast and fibroadenoma in my right and my surgeon suggested implanting radioactive seed 7 days before surgery date. Seeds on Monday and surgery the following Monday. I have a lot of concerns related to radiation I will be exposed to. I am 33 yo. I already got mammogram post- core needle biopsy in May and I am aware that carrying seeds for 7 days equals to 2 mammogram pictures for each breast, total of 4 mammograms equivalent for carrying 2 seeds for 7 days. I was told that post-planting seeds another mammogram will be done to confirm the placement. I am already at a total of 4 mammogram shots for left breast and 3 for the right. I get it: the precision and more comfort aspect of RSL, however I also know that the protocol for mammograms is 2 pictures for a breast in a year for non-high risk patients. Since I have only benign condition, do I need to be exposed to this? Does anyone know the harms of being exposed to this much of mammograms in short period of time (3 months)? What is my cumulative risk over lifetime? Will I be better off with wire localization procedure?
Any input appreciated! I am really overwhelmed. Please, help!
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Ottawan, welcome! I defer this to someone else who may have morefamiliarity with this. I don't know of anyone who has had this done. Sorry I can't help! Hope everything goes well for you!
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Ottawan, Welcome! You've come to the best place you never wanted to be. We are informative, welcoming, caring, and just plain nice. I can't answer any of your questions either. But please help us help you by putting all that information into your profile and making it public. We can't remember each person's particulars and that helps. We'd also love to know where you are because likely there is a BCO'er near you.
HUGS!
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PontiacPeggy,
Thank you for replying. I am seeing my breast surgeon, a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist. I am very fortunate in that we found my cancer very early. My breast surgeon was very quick in getting my biopsies and their results and the surgery completed. My radiation was also done quickly. Since this is all new to me I figured it was pretty normal to move as fast as she did. My last day of radiation will be tomorrow, July 27th. Then I will go to my medical oncologist and start the Tamoxifen. I have more pain in my breast since they started the power shots. I have been told that this is all normal. I am hoping it subsides soon.
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I think I have possibly been on the wrong board before now...as it felt as if no one had lumpectomies on the board I was following (or they didn't have good results) and that was freaking me out. Please tell me there are folks on here who have had successful lumpectomies with no recurrence? I was just diagnosed last week with IDC in 2 different spots in right breats, one 1.3cm and the other 2cm...and they are not close to each other. One doctor said she would do 2 separate lumpectomies (in one surgery) to minimize disfiguring, while the other doc consult said she would be worried about the tissue in between the 2 areas, so she wants to get all of it out (plus radiation, unless the lymph nodes from armpit come back w/cancer...then chemo first). I don't care about disfigurement, as I was ready and prepared for them to take both boobs off. I am 49 years old, with no history of breast cancer in my family. My fear with the lump/radiation is that I don't want to always worry about it coming back, etc. They think I am probably a stage 2, as one of my spots is very near the armpit - so they suspect it is probably in my lymph nodes...but won't know for sure until surgery.
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KD, welcome!!! I'm 42 and had idc left breast with lumpectomy and reexcision for clear margins. I finished radiation in May. I don't know what i would have done if I had 2 places. now with all I have been through ( I was blessed not to do chemo), I just rallying want breakthrough this crap again. I also recently had total hysterectomy to reduce recurrences and because oncologists know what 10 years of tamoxifen can do to female organs. My personal decision I have figured out as of today,is that if they find any other cancers and they have not spread, i will probably have bilateral mastectomy. After all of these months, im finally going to ask for nerve medicine because im having heck just functioning at work . Me personally, if I had 2 different spots in same breast, with what i know now, i would have it completely out. Im sure there are others here further out from surgery than me, we will live with the worry of recurrence for the rest of our lives. Im already anxious for my follow up mammogram in December, and have caught myself thinking that if im going to get canceragain, Iwant them to find it on that mammogram instead of something growing for a year before my next one. Hugs and hope all goes well!!! Feel free to ask any questions. The lumpectomy wasn't all that painful, it's where they take the nodes that hurts the worse!!!
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Amanda, hang in there! it will soon be over and then you will feel better. For the "power shots" are you talking about the "boosts"? I've never heard them called that. I had no issues with any of my radiation so cannot speak to the pain you are experiencing.
KDTheatre, welcome! You are certainly at the right place now! We are all things lumpy. And we're welcoming, warm, caring, informative and funny. You have a question and we'll try to answer it. Most of us upon diagnosis felt as you do: take 'em off. Then when you calm down you realize two things. First, a mastectomy isn't always the best choice. Second, once your breast is gone, it is gone. Even the gals here who have gone on to have a mastectomy are not sorry they did a lumpectomy first. Conservative is the way to go when you have options. And if you turn out lopsided your insurance has to pay for any plastic surgery to get you balanced again.
I just moved from Pontiac, so you're right around the corner from where I lived. Are you going to St Joe's for your cancer care? I was totally impressed with them. Who is your BS, MO and RO? I had Dr Kirby, Dr Krishnan and Dr Forman (who is on medical leave for a blood/bone cancer), respectively.
As you know now, nothing can be decided until they find out about your lymph nodes. While waiting, you might want to pick up Dr Susan Love's Breast Book and read it all. It will give you lots of information. When starting out and even after going through treatment, there's so much to learn and to figure out what we don't know and should. That book will help.
I'm sure there are ladies here who have been in your situation and they will answer your questions. Try to breathe. And as for people surviving years after an Lx, well, my Pontiac neighbor had one 20+ years ago and is just fine. But keep in mind that each person's treatment can be different.
HUGS!
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Hi everyone. Been busy since last Friday so catching up with everyone.
This weekend I went to a motorcycle safety riders course at a local JR college. If I passed then I can get a motorcycle license. It was Friday night, Saturday & Sunday all day. Friday night was classroom, but Saturday & Sunday we spent about 3/4 of each day out on the range in this heat practicing on the motorcycles. Long story short, I passed & as soon as I get my certification of completion I'll take it to driver's license facility to officially get my motorcycle license. DH has his own bike so now we can ride together. While at the class, I opened the passenger door of a Tahoe and it snapped back as I was opening it & struck me directly in nipple of the bad side. OUCH! It only hurt for a little while, then I would feel prickly sensations occasionally. Now it's ok.
I'm now 10 days post rads. No longer pink, kind of brown. Nipple is peeling but rest isn't yet. Still tired but refusing to give in to it as you can see. Started tamox 10 days ago & no new se that I can tell. Keeping fingers crossed.
Welcome newbies. Hope everyone else has a good week
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tbalding, my dream is t o ride the blue ridge parkway on a spider!!!!!
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LG that's my husband's dream too, except he'd be on his Harley softtail. I'm going to have to practice a lot before us on my list
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Thanks!
Lovinggrouches - So if you had to do again, would you have done a masectomy instead? I wasn't sure what you meant by 'have it completely out' - did you mean get a masectomy then?
PontiacPeggy - I am still debating getting a third consult. Had the first one with a Dr. Choi-Kim at Karmanos in Detroit, and the second consult with a team of folks at Henry Ford. The surgeon, Dr. Linda Newman, just left UoM to come head up the breast cancer center at Henry Ford...so I felt like I was getting a bit of both - if I go w/Henry Ford. I have an appointment next week at UoM, if I go - but at this point, I have signed a consent with Henry Ford and hope they will call tomorrow with my surgery date. I don't know all the abbreviations yet - what is MO and RO? Thanks for the book recommendation, I will definitely pick that up (and any other books folks suggest!)
So glad I found this board...
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Hi kdtheatre, there are normally 2 types of Oncologists you see with BC.. One is Medical and the other is Radiation. Hence the MO and the RO.
I went to my RO today to get the radiation started.. Met with the RO and was told he would not commence the treatment until I had spoken to my MO. I told him I had left messages and was not getting any call backs... So he had his nurse go and talk to them.. They sent for me right away and I was able to see the MO today too. As it turns out my Fish results finally came in and I am HER2+, so that changes everything. Now I am going to be doing the chemo and be on Herceptin for a year. Then I will do the radiology and start the hormone therapy.
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KD, I probably didn't explain myself good. I'm a bit fuzzy headed lately lol!!! I'm perfectly ok with the lumpectomy I had, but I have underlying worry of positive genetic mutation and sixth on moms side of family with breast cancer. ( that we know of) I have had so much time to reflect on things since i was out of work for 6 weeks. I'm pretty sure that if they find anything else in the future, I will have double mastectomy. The constant stress and worry is so hard. If they told me that I had 2 places in same breast so far apart, I personally would have mastectomy. I wouldn't have been ready to say that or even THINK about that just a few months ago. By no means should you make a decision based on what others say. You have to do what YOU can live with. As someone once told me on this site who is very wise, make your decision and don't look back!!! I don't regret having lumpectomy and radiation. I CAN say that when I was first diagnosed, if the doctors had recommended lumpectomy even if I had 2 places like you, I would have done what they suggested. Hugs to you and prayers for a decision you will be happy with!
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KD - It's been a year since my surgery, and I'm really happy with my lumpectomy and radiation. I did chemo, but I quit when I found out my oncotest result was 12. Now, a year later, I can hardly see the scar, I'm Er+Pr+Her- and on the medication with no problems, and all my blood tests are finally back to normal. Like you, I was shocked and devastated, and it took me months to realize a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Listen to Peggy. Get the book. Also make sure you get an Oncotest to see your chance of recurrence. Low scores don't get chemo, high scores is where chemo is recommended to lessen your chance of recurrence. The number of lymph nodes involved also impacts the score and treatment. It takes a month to get your results back, so stay pestering your doctor about it now! Do you know what % PR and ER positive you are?
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TBalding, way to go getting your motorcycle license!! #1 Son has a Harley softtail now. I like the IDEA of a bike but not enough to actually get one. At 71 I think I'll pass on learning to ride. I have a huge problem with hand brakes (even on bicycles) - I absolutely can't do them. I'm wired wrong for them. Have fun!
KD, lots of good advice already for you. But as Sloan said, make your decision and don't look back. Don't second guess yourself. That's a good way to go crazy in no time at all. Just make sure you get all the information possible, your oncologists input, talk to people you trust, then go with your gut.
HUGS!
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KD - my breast surgeon said I had enough breast tissue to get a lumpectomy although she would have done a mastectomy if I felt better about it... she said with the lumpectomy I would get on with my life easier .. so I had the lumpectomy, actually twice because of needing clear margin - nodes were clear... I did go on to have chemo and radiation but 3 yrs later still clear...You have to do what is better for you - and once you decide don't look back - I felt like I had the best breast surgeon and I did trust her -that helps.
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Elizabeth, so sorry you now have to go through chemo, but the most important thing is that you just take care of the bc and get back to life! And just be so glad that they did the FSH and found the specifics. You can do this and they can now add many things to the chemo to help with many side effects. We are all here for you!
KD, welcome to the site! I agree with all that this is the best place for information, support, and the ability to vent, cry, and ask questions from women who have experienced just what you are going through. When I first started on this site, I kept getting mixed up with all the abbreviations. I thought DH was someone's initials. (Turns out it means Dear Husband :-) ) At the opening page for the discussion boards, the moderators have a whole list of all the abbreviations used in these threads. It helps a great deal. I still go back and refer often when an abbreviation can't be figured out. We are all different ages and diagnosis's but we all unfortunately share one thing we wish we didn't share!
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Elizabeth, I'm also very sorry to hear that you have to do chemo. I hope that you will find comfort in finally having a plan in place and that the wondering and waiting is over. We're all here for you!
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Elizabeth, how disappointing and discouraging that you have to do chemo. You will get through it. My DIL had colon cancer and did chemo. Every infusion session she told those drugs to KILL CANCER. That kept her focused on what the chemo was doing for her. Chemo is doable, not fun or easy, but doable. Keep as positive an attitude as possible. And keep coming here to tell us how you are doing. Many of the gals have gone through chemo and can help you cope.
HUGS!!
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Just wanted to chime in that for me the chemo was doable also, even though I was horribly upset and distressed when I found out I had to do it. The best advice I got was to keep as active as possible; exercise really does cut the SEs from chemo...and it was really true for me. Even a walk around the block helps. I also recommend joining one of the chemo threads for additional support (though this is one of the best threads on bco, right here!) Good luck and best wishes, Elizabeth. You will get through this. Hugs!
Octogirl
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After my surgery, my husband purchased a 15 day trip for us to Figi as I'm glad you didn't die present (I coded in the recovery room). We had been told so many times that i wouldn't have to do Chemo. So this change put a spanner in the works, but we were able to change the dates and I will be leaving on the 29 of July and returning on the 10th of August. Then starting treatment on August 11th. So I will enjoy my trip and fortify myself for the things to come.
Hugs to you all for your support.
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kdtheatre - Lumpectomy (or breast conserving surgery) is no greater risk for recurrence than mastectomy. The surgery itself is much easier to recover from, and there's no promise that mastectomy won't have a recurrence. I met a lady when I was in radiation who had had a mastectomy many years before, and she was back with lymph node involvement. You need to read everything you can and make a list of questions for your doctor. Make them answer them until you feel confident in your decision, then go with it. Does your name indicate a vocation or avocation in theatre? I'm a retired theatre teacher and currently active in my local community theatre. My avatar is from a murder mystery production group I was involved with for several years in the DFW area of Texas.
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Elizabeth, your trip sounds wonderful. A time to rest, recuperate and just have fun. I'm glad you were able to change the dates. Have a grand time!
HUGS!
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Wow! Has it been a whole week since I last dropped into the Lounge? (Been spending most of my online time on the eating, drinking, Crazy Town and political threads). Have been in Italy for almost a week now--Rome was amazing but exhausting, so I'm on my second day of recharging my batteries at the Borgo alla Vigne Resort in Tuscany (would have wanted to spend the whole week here, but the Hilton Grand Vacations booking process required I pounce online and register at midnight starting 9 mos. before each night we wanted to book. After three nights of doing that, we figured what the hey, might as well see more of Rome before and after, so that's what we've been doing). We saw La Bocca Della Verita (emerged with our hands intact--see "Roman Holiday" for the reference), walked around the Jewish Quarter (including a great restaurant as well as the Jewish Museum and Synagogue--Jews have been in Rome continuously since, well, Roman times), Trastevere, toured the Vatican, Forum, Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Borgese Gallery and Gardens. Have been eating and drinking entirely too much wonderful stuff--but will have to wait till we get home to post pix, since I didn't bring a computer and I can't post them from this iPad (and would go mad or blind or both trying to deal with BCO on an iPhone, where my photos reside for now). Have had some great (for me) Fitbit days (including one 15K steps day, and averaging 11 floors daily). But that came at a price--have gone through several packs of Compeed foot blister bandages.
Flew into Pisa yesterday, drove here to Selvatelle, took a siesta, drove past La Rosa and halfway to Volterra (passing through Andrea Bocelli's hometown--sort of lIke a Graceland for "popera" buffs). Bought some groceries at Conad (because of what it rhymes with, the ballsiest supermarket in Italy), had a lovely dinner at DaCarlo (check the What's For Dinner thread for the details) and watched HRC get formally nominated before the satellite link to CNN went blooey and we fell asleep. Took a walking tour of Terricioli this morning (samples galore of local pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, veggies and even chocolate). Came back here and made a Caprese salad with tomatoes so beautiful they made me weep. Then to a winery (La Spinetta) tour and tasting this afternoon. Siesta next and dinner at Locande di Streghe in LaRosa tonight. We plan to visit San Gimignano and Volterra tomorrow, fly back to Rome Friday morning and home Sunday morning. Will have to save Florence, Siena, Pisa and the Cinque Terra for next year.
Elizabeth, have a great time in Fiji! Travel while you can--work hard and play hard
My LE has behaved itself (no compression needed for the Rome-Pisa flight); and I've gone through an entire tube of sunscreen and bug spray. So far, so good!
Welcome to our new sisters, congrats to those who've gotten good news, hugs to those who need them, and in your pockets for those with tests, procedures, and diagnoses coming up. Apologizing for typos--as someone posted here in a meme awhile back, "auto-correct is my worst enema."😄
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Your trip sounds awesome Sandy. Glad things are behaving themselves. Eat, Drink and Be Merry.
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@ChiSandy - I have been saving $ to take my now 12 year old to Italy for her "Sweet 16th birthday" - so absolutely LOVED reading your post. Upon the initial cancer diagnosis - I did wonder if I should move the trip up a bit...but confident all will be fine w/my health in 4 years! I don't know you - but eager to learn all the do's and don'ts of your Italy travels!
@brithael - I spent many years in theatre, acting/directing, touring, and teaching college for over 12 years. Retired from that phase of my life in 2004, when I found myself bringing my 3 month old to rehearsals for a show I was directing, and taking breaks whenever I had to breastfeed. The company even paid to have a 'rehearsal nanny' for me - so I could still direct...but I just hated it. My older kids (step) grew up in the theatre because of me (which was fine mostly - they aren't too mad at me now, lol), but it was different with my little baby girl...so I retired.
When I had my 2nd consult - I met with a slew of different docs...a plastic surgeon, the Director of Radiation Oncology (Dr. Kenneth Levin), and my breast surgeon oncologist: Dr. Lisa (not Linda) Newman was the main person I met with - her title is Director of Breast Oncology Program...and she has a slew of other titles after that, including Adjunct Professor of Surgery. They said that depending on my lymph nodes test, then I would meet with someone else on their team to discuss the chemo therapy options. So perhaps that is the person I didn't meet with yet? The MO...
Two different places suggested lumpectomy with radiation over the masectomy - as I didn't like having the 2 spots so far away in my right breast. I still have one more consult to go - but assume they may suggest the same. I don't know what to do. I appreciate the conservative approach they want to take - but I was so gung-ho to get them both off, that it surprised me that both places basically talked me off the ledge instead.
I am so impressed with everyone's signature with all of your test results - I am sure I must be missing stuff...Here is what my final pathology report said:
ER positive - 83.13
PR positive - 76.83
HER2 negative - 1+
I wouldn't know the Sentinel mode yet, until after the lymph node oncotype testing, right? Which they can't do until after surgery? Oh joy...more anxious waiting again. Glad my doc prescribed Xanax.
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KDTheater. You can put your ER/PR status on your profile. The status of your lymph nodes is separate from the Oncotype test. The pathologist associated with your surgery center will do that and it is included with your pathology report which is the final word on your breast cancer: stage, size, margins, lymph nodes. The Oncotype test tells you whether chemo is likely to be beneficial. Low numbers means no real benefit. High numbers means you probably should have chemo. Like you, I assumed a mastectomy was what I would have and BS said no way, not necessary. Keep your options open, write down your questions and GET ANSWERS. Don't let them fluff you off (some docs do do that). Some gals record their sessions on their phone. You are certainly going to outstanding centers. Good luck.
HUGS!
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