Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hi Leslie - SO glad to hear things went well. I was thinking of you. Too bad we don't live a little closer to each other, I'd drop off a lovely plate of turkey dinner at your doorstep
Happy Thanksgiving to you - I'm sorry you have to spend it in recovery mode, but glad you have three days to sit and rest. Take good care. 0 -
Thanks again Peggy. I am working with a plastic surgeon but will ask more questions about the radiation before I make the final decision. I find the most helpful information is talking to others who have been through this. And As are perectly fine!
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Leslie, glad to hear you're doing well, isn't it a relief to get surgery out of the way? Enjoy the holiday weekend, hope you've got a good book or some great TV while you've got your feet up.
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Dara, forgot to mention thath I was so glad you heard from your brother - you must have been very relieved!
Stacey, I didn't realize you're Canadian as well, and in Toronto! I'm in KW.
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Happy Thanksgiving to our north-of-the-border friends!
Before bc, my right breast had been the smaller one—by half a cup size. I would insert a pad from a Genie bra (which I discovered would never, ever fit me) into its cup to even things out and nobody was the wiser. My lumpectomy took out a chunk on the side the size of a Double Stuf Oreo. Yet it never looked shrunken because a seroma filled it in pretty quickly, and by the second radiation treatment was half a cup LARGER than the left one. The seroma has resorbed to the point where both “Thelma & Louise" are the same size (38 I), and since I'm no fan of surgery that isn't absolutely necessary (yeah, I'm a wuss), if “Louise" shrinks appreciably to the point where there's definite asymmetry, I'll just go back to padding rather than either partially reconstructing it or reducing “Thelma." They don't make implants, mastectomy forms (or bras to hold them) big enough to achieve symmetry, so if I ever need mastectomy I would have to have the unaffected breast either reduced or removed. (At my moderately-obese BMI, I'm not a candidate for DIEP—though it would be a convenient way to redistribute some of that belly fat).
I was back in my underwire bras five weeks post-op and wore them all the way through rads, as my treatments were targeted and no part of the wire was in the radiation field.
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Lorri, would it help to look at pictures of reconstructions before and after tattooing? The photos that I have seen after tattooing look really good, and you will still have your own breast.
A friend showed me her reconstruction, she had no nipple and looked fine, she wasn't sure she would even have tattoos because she was happy with the way she looked, and no one could tell unless she was undressed.
It's hard to think of losing your nipple, emotionally it matters more than any other part of your breast. So be kind to yourself, it takes time to process this. And yes it may be stage 0, but it is still taking a part of you that really matters, and if this hadn't happened, you wouldn't be going through this. You can get very tired of being grateful for being early stage when you don't want to be ANY stage.
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Leslie, Glad you're doing so well! Hope your surgeon calls you with the pathology report sooner than 3 weeks. Waiting is the pits. Happy Thanksgiving!
HUGS!
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Leslie, so glad surgery went well! Take it easy this weekend. Ice is your friend and do your stretches. Happy Thanksgiving!
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I was just thinking about the words we use to treat our BC (and any cancer). With the exception of an infection (are there others?), with cancer we are trying to KILL the errant cells. We use many methods but the object is the same. We don't have to "kill" anything with heart disease, we work on curing it or controlling it. With infections we also "fight" the infection to "kill" the bacteria. Perhaps this is why cancer is depicted in war-like terms. What does anyone else think?
HUGS!
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ChiSandy, I love Thelma and Louise, I've been trying to come up with names for mine. Any suggestions anyone?
When I was looking at mastectomy products I was amazed to find that most bras only go up to DD, there weren't that many that went up to a G. Who do they think is buying these things? And heaven help you if you need anything more than a G.
I still think I will have surgery to the other one because it would be nice if my nipples were on the same level, at the moment there's about a two inch difference. And there is a definite difference in size and shape, with the operated breast being smaller and perkier. But nine months from now, I might feel that I can live with a size difference if it isn't really noticeable, and I can imagine not wanting any more surgery. I guess it'll depend how much difference the rads do make, if any.
It's great to get everyone's perspective on things, there's so much experience amongst all the women here.
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Grazy I am in Toronto! This was the best support site I could find and everyone is very helpful. I'm being treated at Princess Margaret so feel very well taken care of. Happy Thanksgiving
ChiSandy that is very interesting witt the change in size. If I have learned anything about reconstruction, it seems like waiting is the best thing to do in order to balance things out as they evolve and change!
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The reason those mastectomy forms and bras only go up to DD is the same as the reason most US-manufactured bras stop at DDD (if they even go that big): the vast majority of women are wearing the wrong size bra—at least two inches too large in the band and two cup sizes too small. I remember buying 42 and even 44 DDD bras and wondering why the center gaped in the front—giving me the dreaded “uniboob balcony"--and I had “bat wings" of skin & fat at the sides (my breasts were overfilling the cups) yet the band kept riding up in the back. Go into any discount dept. store (Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, etc.) and even most higher-end dept. stores (except Nordstrom, which finally wised up) and you will see no cups bigger than DDD. Even Lane Bryant carries no bigger than G (perhaps H online). I'm talking US, not UK sizes (the latter are delineated a couple of letters closer to the beginning of the alphabet).
After seeing an episode of Oprah featuring the owner of Intimacy Boutiques (now called Rigby & Peller) in which women were re-fitted into properly sized bras—which gave them separation and lift, with the “apogee" falling midway between shoulder & elbow—I booked a fitting and found that I was really a 38 HH or I! I bought a few basics—all European brands, one each black, beige, sports & “fun date-night" pastel lace—and when I got home went online and bought the same ones in different colors. The online sites I use most are figleaves.com (or .uk), BareNecessities.com, and HerRoom.com—the latter uses a “Universal Cup Size" system, based on the current size and brand of bra you own that fits you best, that assigns a number that is a multiple of “D" (mine is “D6"). This is to provide consistency among various bras that tend to vary in size, as well as between European and U.S.-based mfrs. (Goddess, Elila and to a limited extent Wacoal and Cacique—which stop at G or H--being the only domestic ones making bras large enough).
When I was told I needed a soft-cup, non-wired bra to wear home from my biopsy, I went to a venerable local shop—Schwartz', which has been the top store for large-cup/regular-band bras for decades and is now out of business. The two salesladies—both in their 80s, asked me where I'd be treated and who my surgeon would be if my biopsy were malignant, offered some opinions as to whom to choose and then reassurances it'd probably be benign. When I told them my size, though, they snorted, “Who fitted you, Intimacy? They always give you two band sizes too small and two cup sizes too big." I stood my ground, but they had only one brand (Elila) that offered even as big as G. You guessed it—every other line they carried (even the European ones like Prima Donna which make cups up to J) stopped at DDD. They sent me home with a very stiff & scratchy Elila in 42G, and a Wacoal in 44 DDD. Neither fit properly, of course—but I had no time to buy online, and Intimacy & Lane Bryant didn’t have my true size in a soft cup.
I learned that as band size goes up, the same letter cup gets bigger. A 40 DD has cups the same size as 38 DDD or 42 D. So I had to go to “sister-sizing" and put up with bands that rode up in back until I could get back into my underwires. I needed to sleep in soft bras for several months post-op, so I went with 40 or 42 F/G/H in Leading Lady stretch front-close bras, online from BareNecessities or HerRoom (Woman Within and Roamans online have them too). Riding up in back or proper silhouette in profile was not a consideration when in my nightgown or PJs.
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This site has been very good to give me an excuse to sit down and take a breaks throughout my busy day, ahaha I have a breather for a while now before our guests arrive.
I wanted to say that I really liked what you said earlier, Dizzy: "You can get very tired of being grateful for being early stage when you don't want to be ANY stage." My husband works in oncology and when I told him I needed a biopsy, he tried to assure me by saying, "Well, if you have to get cancer, breast cancer is a good one to get". I know what he meant because he used to work in the world of glioblastoma and, as opposed to that particular brain cancer, breast cancer - for most - is treatable and survivable these days, but nobody wants cancer at all, thanks very much. He's forgiven, of course, because he's incredibly kind and supportive - and he was just stating a fact, but that particular line is a trigger for me when I hear it. People usually mean so well when they attempt to offer support, and they aren't trying to offend so I cut everyone slack. Some people like pink ribbons - I hate pink ribbons - but I'd be the first one to buy you a pink ribbon if you liked them. )Stacey, I agree with Sandy from an earlier post, breasts can morph a bit post-surgery so it would be good for women who have a lumpectomy to wait to see what they end up with. I have definitely filled out a bit since surgery - my silhouette was much flatter in the first three months; by months four/five, I started to plump up a bit again - not to what I was though. The breast form is enough to fill out my bra cup now and give similar weight to match the other side. At 57, I wouldn't bother with reconstruction mostly because I don't care and neither does my husband, but the asymmetry is enough that had I been in my early 40s I might have considered some additional surgery to even things out. It's amazing how I care less about some things as I approach 60, and this is one of them! Like Sandy, I'm not too interested in having additional surgery. If I were, I'd probably perk up my little jowls instead of my breasts, because everybody can see those!!
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Grazy, that line about breast cancer being the one to get...at various points I have felt so dismissed by non BC friends. Everyone knows someone who's had a lumpectomy a few years ago and been fine, and the implication is, "what are you worrying about, everyone knows it's nothing these days". And when I've said I'm waiting to find out if I have to have a mastectomy, they tell me how you can have a reconstruction, it's all so easy these days. You'd think we were talking about having your appendix out, when it's done, that's it all over, right? I know people are trying to be kind and supportive, but they have no idea what the reality is. A lumpectomy...well would that be the size of a cherry, a plum, a peach, a grapefruit? Nodes, how many, caused lymphedema? The only thing anyone pays any attention to is chemo.
Maybe breast cancer is a victim of its own success, but most people seem to believe that except for the desperately unlucky few, it's a defeated disease. Which makes being newly diagnosed a desperately lonely place.
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Blame celebrities. If I read one more story about how they went right back to the stage, set or studio after reconstruction or hid their chemo effects from fellow cast members, I’m gonna upchuck.
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I have so much to catch up on and see so many new people!!! Hope all are well! Went to making strides walk today with coworker and fellow cancer survivor along with my awesome DH. I'm so sore!! Hugs to all!!!!!
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I think chemo mainly gets attention because of the hair loss, if no one lost their hair that would be dismissed too. I guess really it's good that most people are in a state of happy ignorance. I was the same myself, I wince for the things I have said in the past. I wish no one had to find out the hard way.
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I find I just don't really talk about, post, or discuss my bc anymore, especially on social media. I agree that if you have a lumpectomy, it is almost immediately dismissed as "oh, it's nothing." Even a good friend (but much older) who had bc 17 years ago, keeps comparing what she experienced to my experience. Luckily, she had virtually no SEs and can't understand why I have any. I agree that it's most likely because bc does have a good track record of non recurrence, but what most don't realize is that we always live with that little nagging worry that it might recur. It doesn't keep us from thoroughly enjoying life, but it is a new normal, and I bet most who have had bc will admit to a bit of worry each year when mammogram time rolls around. I try to stay so positive and not complain, even if I'm in so much pain I can't move, so maybe I'm just contributing to the problem.
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Anyone have a little nausea during rads? I have just done 2 so far, but it is condensed to 16 plus 4 boosts.
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Michelle, try increasing your water intake. I drink a lot of water but had some nausea early in rads due to slight dehydration. Leslie, glad your surgery went well. Lorri, I know losing a nipple can be distressing but once I got used to it I didn't mind. I even voluntarily had my good side nipple removed during my prophylactic mx. I plan to have 3D nipples tattoos.
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I had some nausea the day after my second treatment, and was all set to blame the radiation--until I realized I had gone most of the day without a sip of water or anything for breakfast but an espresso and a dry-fried egg, and had spent seven hours leading song circles, moderating a panel and performing at a coffeehouse's 45th anniversary celebration. Felt so icky and faint I had to leave early. By the time I bought some gas, had a bottle of water and a piece of string cheese and was on the way home, I was fine. I had simply been dehydrated and hypoglycemic. The lesson to be learned from this is that just because you are going through a treatment that produces side effects, don't assume that every ill feeling is an SE, nor that you're immune from more mundane ailments and needn't protect your general health. Most of the time those hoof beats are from horses, not zebras.
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I follow Germtrax and think I might have a slight gastro bug. Very particular eater and drinker, and nothing out of the ordinary. I just love red herrings! I think I hear the horses coming.
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Ugh, Michelle--those are the pits. I had a norovirus a couple of years ago so bad I had to bow out of the second weekend of an teaching artist residency at NIU--not only couldn't I even think about making the drive to DeKalb, I spent three days shuttling between bed and bathroom. Be careful and hope nobody else catches it. Feel better and drink chicken broth and weak sweetened hot tea to help with your depleted electrolytes
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((((Michelle))))
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Sandy, it's interesting that you busty gals have as much of a problem buying bras as those of us who got passed over in that department. Obviously your challenge is greater since you really do need the support and I can easily go braless. But so many manufacturers seem to think that because I'm an A I want a bra padded out to be a C. Well, sometimes I do but I'm quite happy wearing a softcup bra that actually fits. I have 8-10 ancient, really ancient Victoria's Secret bras that DID come in A. Vickie's now believes all women with small busts have disappeared. Of course they never acknowledged that you curvy girls even exist. It's frustrating for all of us. End rant.
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thank you for replying, I have looked at photos online of nipples removed then what they are like a year on, I will get 3D nipple tattoos definitely although I did see where women who have come through breast cancer and they got their whole breast tattooed I quiet like this idea would hide scars and have a significance, I don't have any tattoos by the way, wish I had a fast forward button to fast forward a few months or weeks even
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it's been so long, I cannot possibly catch up I'm not even trying, sorry guys I really don't come to BCO very often except occasionally the hair posts to see what I have ahead for my growth! Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian sisters!
I'm doing pretty well. I have noticed some lack of strength and mobility on the right side, around my chest and arm. I should probably look into physio and plan to do that eventually, for now I do gentle stretches and exercise.
I've been running again and did the run for the cure with my daughter last Sunday, 5K and it felt amazing. I did walk a little, but I ran more than I have since surgery, and it was great
I don't seem to have any lasting effects from chemotherapy or radiation, and feel lucky for that. I no longer look like a cancer patient, as you can probably see in my profile picture, I just look like I have a short edgy haircut. People that have no clue that I had cancer, even strangers, complement my hair all the time. I don't really like it and can't wait for it to be longer, but it is nice to know longer feel like I am wearing cancer
I've been on tamoxifen for five months and shots to suppress my ovaries for two, I seem to be doing OK with both and don't have a lot of side effects except occasional hot flashes and joint pain in the morning that goes away as I move around
I will try to hang around here more, I feel guilty for not being around you ladies very much, but I am working full-time and things are piling up, and I really try to push away cancer stuff as much as I can. But you guys have always been so amazing to me!
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Hi all. I have been on the emotional roller coaster since I was diagnosed with BC in late July. An abnormality was found on my routine annual mammogram and I got called back to have further images done. After having a sonogram & needle biopsy I received my diagnosis of IDC in my left breast. After that an MRI was scheduled. The good news is the tumor was small and the MRI did not detect any cancer in my right breast too.
I had genetic testing in August which screened for 17 gene mutations know to contribute to BC. While, I don't have issues with the BRCA1 or BRACA2 gene, I did have a variant of unknown significance for the ATM gene which can contribute to increased risk of BC. I'm going to participate in a registry of testing so maybe the medical researchers can find out more about this variant and whether my mutation directly relates to BC.
I just had surgery last Monday, 10/3/2016. There was no cancer in the lymph nodes according to my path report (yah!). I know I'll need radiation but don't know yet if I'll need chemo. There were a couple things in the Path report I have questions about and was wondering if anyone else had as similar diagnosis.
My IDC has lobular features. Does anyone know what that means? There was also lymphovascular invasion present. Based upon those two things, does anyone know if that means I'll automatically need chemo?
While, my margins were clear, the distance of the posterior margin is <.01 cm from the tumor site. I'm thinking the surgeon may want to do another surgery (don't have a follow-up appt. until later this week). Has anyone else had to go in for additional surgery to get clear margins after their lumpectomy? If so, was it an easier procedure than the first one?
I've been talking to friends I know who are survivors, but I've quickly found out that everyone's situation is different. They've all helped me deal with the initial fears and armed me with a lot of information, but none of them have the same situation as I do. Anyway, thanks for listening and I hope to hear from some of you.
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ILSunrise, I had PNI in the part they removed.. it was found after the surgery and I was told they got everything, but it is rare and usually goes with LVI, but still not clear on that part... I'm right in the middle with my onco score and don't know if I will be doing chemo, I'd rather do just the rads and get it over... BTW, we're diagnosis twins... and there is always someone here that can help answer the questions you have.. and you will have more.. I see a new MO tomorrow, and will find out what treatment I will be getting.. or another test...
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