Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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LMFAO! The waiting from time of diagnose to first surgery was just madding for me. I kept thinking of the mad hatter, but instead of time for tea it was more like time for another phone call.
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Well, I got through it! And I do owe a thank you to you wonderful gals who responded to my nervous chatter the night before my surgery. Breathe...that is what it was about. However, I didn't follow that at the hospital, necessarily, but I did get through the day. I put a call into my surgeon, and she called me back personally with all the surgery details/times, etc. Even though I did get all the details I needed, I was still a nervous wreck, even with all my best breathing efforts. I broke down completely while the kindly nurse was attempting to insert my IV. IV's are my nemisis...I knew when she started saying "you have such tiny veins..." I was in trouble. I broke down crying right then and there. She managed to get the needle in, and promptly brought me a Valium to get me through the guide wire procedure. Thank God! I only wish I had taken it before I walked into the hospital, but once the Valium took effect, I was ok. My tumor is pretty high up and very deep, so the tech couldn't find the right image right away...took 40 minutes and a second tech for them to get the nasty little cancer monster on camera so the radiologist could insert the wire. My doctor performed the lumpectomy, and sentinel node biopsy. One of the two nodes she removed had cancer cells, so more (all? I don't know really) lymph nodes were removed. I came home with a drain (yuck), and I'm thanking the Lord for my husband being able to tend to it for me, as I'm just too squeamish to deal with draining it myself. I was told not to wear a bra the first day, just the layers of ace bandage wrapped around me. I spent the day in a lot of pain, even with Percocet, and I realized it was from the movement that occurred as the result of no bra. I put a larger sports bra over my bandages and found I am now taking less pain meds as a result. I'm hoping tonight to get a shower in...just waiting on a call back from my doctor about that. My husband and I just weren't sure if I could shower with the drain or not. Also, both my boys were diagnosed with strep throat since yesterday, so I'm on watch for catching it myself. Oh boy. I am rambling! Thanks, you wonderful Ladies for you kind words and support.
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glad you came thru well, and hope your recovery will go smoothly...
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Is it normal to feel numbness under my arm? I had my surgery Tuesday morning, and I'm feeling pretty good, except this unnerving numbness. The worst part is I still feel an itchy feeling, but when I try to scratch, I don't feel it! Am I going crazy?
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I had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago and I had that numbness as well. It's gone now, but I think it's normal.
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Hi Lumpies!
SwissMiss - Congrats, you did it! Did you feel us in your pocket {{{squeeze}}}. Yes, the girl is happiest with support and take a laxative if using pain meds...watch the arm usually that us the area with the most discomfort. Ugh on the drain, but glad hubby is up to the task. Will keep fingers&toes crossed that your boys don't share strep...rest®roup...your team will soon give you options for game plan. Take a NO C vacation between treatments so you can heal...tell everyone to ask now and then 'forget' or make c off limits to give your head, body, spirit a break...now breathe, blow some bubbles, giggle, and enjoy Valentines Day...a lot to live:)
Megomendy - Congrats! Speedy healing...for most the numbness goes away...:)
Happy Valentines Day Lumpies!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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yeah sloyd66 radiance becomes you- close the book on that chapter, let that skin peel and heal and on to the next challenge. The waiting really does make time feel like it is standing still then you look back and in a matter of a few weeks, everything has changed.
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sloyd66 - a tried a few creams and one with shea butter helped me the best.
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Swiss Miss, I had my surgery 3 weeks ago, and I still feel some of the numbness also, plus the sensitivity on the back side of my arm. I was told this is normal and to just give it time. I had my drain in for 2 weeks, and once I got it out I still had a little build up of fluid up high in the armpit (I guess where the drain didn't reach?) and it feels like I am smuggling a small sand bag up there. But, they also told me that this will also take time to reabsorb into my body and go away. It doesn't hurt, it's just pretty darn annoying! My itchiness finally subsided too. Hang in there!
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You got through it Swiss yay!! Isn't is soooooo much better on the other side? My lumpectomy was very uneventful, but I was very scared before, we have all been there and understand your feelings. Hope you have a quick and easy recovery.
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
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2 weeks out from surgery!! Feeing great! Happy Valentine's Day!! Met with RO. (Have a seroma, but doc is keeping an eye on it) Planning starts 2/18. Rads start week of 2/24!! (For 6.5 weeks) Will start hormone therapy after that. Found myself a bit excited about beginning the next phase! 👍 Gonna Beat the Big C!!! ((((HUGS)))) to all my BC Fighters out there!!!
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Hi everybody, got the call today. Rads start on the 19th. That's Wednesday!!! O dear. Ah to heck with it. I've read what you wonderful ladies have written and I'm not scared. I can definitely do this!
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Yay Red!! We can go through it together -- I will find out next week when my rads treatments start, I am a bit scared and concerned, but will get through it and kick C's butt to the curb!!
HanksMom - glad you are feeling well and ready to join your fellow lumpies who are getting radiation too. We can do this!
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Waiting is the hardest, and my surgeon completely sympathized. She drove 200 miles to do my surgery and then 200 miles back for her dads funeral so I wouldn't have to wait over the Christmas holiday. I appreciate her heroic effort to help me so much.
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Swissmiss -- Congrats on making it through -- Good job, sweetie! Cindy is right -- don't forget the laxative if you are taking pain meds. I was able to shower after a few days, and I had one of those lovely drains. I attached it to a wire hanger, and hooked the hanger over the shower nozzle. It is best not to have the water stream directly on your incisions -- I turned my back to the spray and let it run down from my neck.... I remember it felt so good to take that first shower! Once I started doing the wall walking exercises (which my BS didn't want me to do for about 10 days postop), I did them in the shower, which helped. You are doing well, my dear -- you got this!
Sloyd -- Congrats on finishing rads. I just had #20, so I am two thirds finished with rads. Just 5 more whole breast and 5 boosts. LumpieLand will always be my home board here at BCO. Seems like a decade ago when I had my Lumpie in June, and yet I clearly recall that chaotic waiting time with two biopsies and waiting for surgery. How far we have all come!
Red, HanksMom and BigD -- you will be rads champs! Just keep the rads field (including underarm) nice and lubed with Miaderm or whatever your RO recommends for you. The time passes quickly in rads (unlike other parts of BC treatment!). Join us over at the Winter Rads thread for lots of specific support as you navigate the "healing light!"
Happy Valentine's Day, Lumpies!!
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I love my husband! He's so sweet!
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romantic I love it red!!
got this one in my news feed so had to post to see what you all thought
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Will do, TeamKim and thank you!
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Hi! Had lumpectomy Sept last year,finished 4 rounds of chemo in Jan and have just finished #8 of 16 radiation treatments. I have been complaining of nipple tenderness and sore right side of right breast ever since surgery and wondering if anyone else has this and if this is normal. Also aerola is pale, thick and bumpy - had dye injected here for slnb - could this be why? Anyone know. It was lobular invasive, stage 1, grade 2 with micromat in 1 node and triple negative which was analyzed 3 times because apparently it was non-agressive, which I guess is usually receptor positive. Well, at least I don't have to take anything orally after treatment, just hope for the best.
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Hanks mom and BigD, we've got this! We will sail right though it. See you both on Winter Radiants site. (((hugs)))
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I broke down today and took a shower! My husband was worried about it the other day and called my BS, and she said not to shower at all until after the drains were removed...but after hearing of other doctors saying it was ok, I went ahead and did it. Day 5 after surgery shower felt wonderful! My husband wrapped up my incision and drain area with towels and ace bandages, so that area stayed dry...but oh my does it feel good to be clean again
I'm still hoping to get that drain out tomorrow, as hardly anything is draining at this point. I have a feeling since I already have an appointment on Wednesday, that BS will suggest just waiting until then...but I'd be happy to drive all the way to Tulsa just to get this ugly thing off me. I'm looking at my calendar, and I see I have an eye appointment on Friday, which would be about 10 days out from surgery. I had the lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed (the sentinel node had cancer cells). Will I be able to drive myself? I haven't done any exercises, as my BS didn't suggest any. But shouldn't I be doing something?
I really, really wish that when I was diagnosed with breast cancer there was a fairy godmother of sorts to help guide me through this. Right now the only health care provider I'm in contact with is my breast surgeon. She's wonderful, but I can't help but think there is something I'm missing. Should I be seeing an oncologist? I do have cancer, after all, so wouldn't it make sense that a team, rather than a single doctor, be seeing me at this point? I've had anxiety, but no one to see about it...I feel like I might need advice from a physical therapist. This whole experience is really a whole body experience, and I'd love it if hospitals, insurance, whoever, could help a cancer patient through the process of getting care. And not just dealing with the tumor, but caring for me as a whole person. Sorry to rant, I'm just feeling sort of lost(but clean!) today.
Thank you Lumpies for being here for me! I can always find answers and kind words here
((hugs))
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Hi Swiss. My experience was that I received a referral from my BS when I went back for the 10 day check up after my surgery. My BS is part of a team of doctors at the hospital where I go, and he simply gave me two names, one for the MO and one for the RO and I called them both and made my initial appointments. I do have a GP internist that I have been seeing for other things who practices out of the same hospital. Your BS should suggest someone for you. If not, do ask! I was driving myself around after 3 days but everyone is different. I really did not have much pain or swelling at all after my surgery. I guess I was one of the lucky ones in that regard. Glad you are clean! I was allowed to shower the very next day after my surgery but I did wait 3 days. I know how good that must feel for you! If you are anxious, ask for something to take. I know many here take Xanax and I may be asking for that soon myself. My doc put me on Ambien to help me sleep and that works well but I cannot stay on that, it is addictive. But for now, through this crazy waiting period when I still do not know exactly what my treatment is or how my genetic testing has turned out, I am very anxious too and just want to know what is up. I have been having some pain too on my left side, ribs, a burning sensation when I try and stretch that arm. I will know more on Tuesday, but you come and rant here anytime, I rant myself when I need to. We are here for you, Swiss.
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Swissmiss - I thought that not being able to shower was the worst part! That shower and clean hair feeling was the best! I was able to drive within a day or two without any problem after my lst lumpectomy. I think you should be fine to drive yourself to your appt at 10 days out.
The BS is all you need at this point but you definitely will be needing a medical oncologist and probably a radiation oncologist. Perhaps your BS is going to give you the next steps at your next appt. If not, definitely ask them for a referral. At my hospital there was a nurse navigator to call with any questions and she would even set up appts for me. She was my "fairygodmother" of breast cancer. Is there a breast center at your hospital? If so, they are there to guide you.
I hope you get your drains out soon and am glad you are on your way to healing!
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Hi SwissMiss, I'm from Canada so our procedures are a bit different. My surgery was Nov 28th, I had to wait until Dec 19th to see my BS. I had my first shower on day 3, like BigD, but I did not have a drain. My BS had recommended the wall walk from day one, unlike TeamKim's who said nothing for a week (is that right? or was it 10 days). My BS saw me and when I left his office, I had appointments for my MO and my RO. Saw my RO first on Dec 31st, then my MO on Jan 7. At this point things stalled because of complications that had to be investigated. Next appointment was with my MO on Jan 28th and things picked up again. RO on Feb 3, simulation on Feb 10th, rads start on Feb19th.
I'm only telling you all of this so that you can get a feel for the timeline. Some girls here are faster, some slower, but it all seems to happen in an orderly fashion and in it's own time. Most of us, of course, would speed it all up if we could. Don't panic, there isn't anything you should be doing that you aren't.
Oh, by the way, I drove 100 miles to a P!NK concert on day 4. Other than being exhausted, no bad side effects, but that's me.
Smile, sweetie, it'll be okay. ((((hugs))))
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- RedReading that was nice of your hubby.
- Sloyd-Rads are Done! Happy Dance!
How are you going to celebrate? - HanksMom1 I was excited to just
start the next steps. Keep on Fighting! - Macintx , megomendy, Kand1-Kane I hope things are going well with you.
- Swissmiss- Ask for referrals and ask
other patients in the waiting room whom they used for MO and RO. . I actually saw some MO and ROs before my
surgery, but BC runs in my family so I had some names already. I did some research in-between
while waiting for results. I would go
into work Monday-Wednesday and take Thursday/Friday to do cancer research. That
is how I keep my sanity. There should be some support groups up in the Tulsa
area. I will ask around for you and get a list to you. I wasn’t able to drive for 2 weeks after my
lumpectomy. Two good books I would
recommend is Dr. Loves Breast Book and if you are married my husband swears by
this book: Breast Cancer Husband: How to
Help Your Wife (and Yourself) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond by Marc Silver. I actually
saw some MO and ROs before my surgery, but BC runs in my family so I had some
names already. - If I missed anyone else, I hope all is going well. Going to see my MO and RO this Wednesday. Four weeks from last chemo and I ran my first 1 mile today. I'm signing up for a 5K Saturday wish me luck. I' have slo times, but I figure at least I keep on moving.
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Swiss Miss- I took a shower after a few days too. My BS told me that I could remove the bandages from around the drain and it was ok to get the area wet, but just not to let the water hit it directly. Of course, I still had all the surgical tape over my incisions, and I left several pieces of tape along the drainage tube just so it wouldn't jostle around when I moved. I tied a long shoelace around my waist and fed it through the little strap on the bulb of the drain to hold the drain at waist level. It worked well. It was hard to raise my arm because of my AND, but it just felt so good to get clean. I then let it air dry and then replaced all the gauze around the drain and re-taped around it. It was a lot of work, but worth it. I had my drain in for 2 weeks, so by the time I got it out, I was just putting a few large bandaids over the area. Hopefully, you will get your drain out soon! Just don't forget to use your arm so it doesn't freeze up!
FairyDogMother-Thanks, they are going fairly well. I've done my pre-chemo class and have my echocardiogram this week in preparation for starting chemo a week from Tues. I still have a little bit of the smuggled sand-bag feeling in my armpit and a few issues with cording and tightness, but they are getting a little better day by day.
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I was just diagnosed with IDC Grade I and assumed to be Stage I as it is only .7cm. MRI is clear. I have appointments set up with two surgeons next week, but the current expected treatment is lumpectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy (ER+, PR+). What concerns me is that the mass is only 1cm beneath the skin of my areola, so I'm thinking that I'll most likely lose the nipple. If that is the case, I would like reconstruction. Has anyone been in a similar situation needing similar reconstruction after lumpectomy? What was done and how were the results?
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Hi scuba lady, and welcome to the lumpies.
Sorry you have to be here, but this is a great group of women. You will be sure to find lots of support here. I can not speak to your specific concern about the nipple-possible reconstruction, but maybe someone else can. I'm sure you will get much more information at your surgeon appts. next week. Be sure to ask them lots of questions. I know the waiting for appts. and answers can be very frustrating, but hang in there. Good luck.
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Welcome scubalady, sorry you are joining the group nobody wants to be a part of but we are truly sisters-in-arms here! I am going through the same treatment plan as you, I had the lumpectomy and just started on my hormone therapy yesterday. Am waiting for genetic test results before going further just in case we have to stick chemo in there or have the Angelina Jolie surgery (hope not). I, too, cannot answer your question about reconstruction as I have not had any, but I know someone will be along to answer that for you. This is a great place for learning and sharing information, and for having women who have been through this and much worse and who can lend support and be there for you when you need it the most. Hang in there, you can and will get through this!
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Maybe I need to post this in another forum...but have a quick question about swimsuits, and actually vacations in general
I'm still healing from my lumpectomy/lymph node removal from last week, but I'm looking forward to maybe taking a vacation soon. My husband and I originally canceled our planned spring break vacation, not knowing what to expect with my treatment, surgery, emotions were running high. I will likely have a few weeks before more treatment is scheduled (I haven't yet met with MO or RO, but BS said treatment will likely start several weeks from now to allow for surgery healing), and now I feel like I really, really want that Florida vacation.
Is this a good time for a vacation? Is this something I should give further thought to? My kids' spring break from school comes about 5-6 weeks after my surgery, so it's possible I'd be putting off chemo and/or radiation for a couple weeks. Emotionally, I feel like I need the break, but I also feel like my husband and kids need it too. The last few weeks have been all about me and my health problems, I want to have a carefree week on the beach. Thoughts?
If we do go ahead and reschedule the trip, I'm worried about swimsuits. Of course, when we planned this trip, I had every intention of losing about 20 pounds and looking fabulous is a swimsuit...but with all the stuff going on with me, I never got around to that weight loss, and now I have a big ugly scar sort of under my arm on my right side too. Because of the location of my incision I will not be able to wear anything with a wire, but I need support (DD cups). Anyone else have experience with this? I haven't had a mastectomy, obviously, but would a mastectomy style swim top from Lands End fulfill my needs? The description says it has the soft cups, extra coverage that I need...but would these styles not be right? It is so hard to find enough support for my size without a wire
Hope you're all having a wonderful day!
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