Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Celand, what you are feeling is totally normal. Your underarm will likely bother you, more like annoying, for up to a year. It is often the most bothersome effect of surgery. You may or may not regain total feeling. I did but it was about 13 months post-surgery. Please continue to rest and don't lift heavy things with your "bad" arm for another couple weeks.
There are many criteria for the radiation implants besides the fact some centers don't do them. It's possible you may not have qualified for them. Radiation is more time consuming than anything else. Some women do experience SEs other than fatigue but there doesn't seem to be any way of knowing ahead of time if you will.
HUGS!
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DaraB,
Yes, I am recovering from surgery, feel much better 5 days out, drove for the 1st time today, left underarm hurts and is numb. Will take off my bandages today, now just have to wait and see what my post-op appointment will be like and what additional information that I will find out. Will return to work tomorrow on a reduced schedule for the next week or so. This was my 1st surgery ever, recovery isn't quick process for me. Feel drained just after doing a little grocery shopping this morning.
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Welcome Celand and weneke. You found a wonderful place here in the Lumpy Lounge! Peggy is our resident cheerleader and overall wonderful friend. Feeling fatigue after surgery is normal. Remember to allow yourself to rest.
Dara, thank you for asking. DS is doing better. He still sleeps far too much but we are trying really hard to accept that all of this is part of the slow decline. I am fine except I hurt my lower back. Ugh, probably taking care of DS. I really, really need to get my core back in shape.
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Molly, it is so hard moving someone who really can't "help" with it around. And while weight does matter, even someone who doesn't weigh much can be very awkward to move. I'm sorry your back is messed up. I leaned a lot about the proper ways to help DH from his physical therapy and I am amazed at the number of rehab facilities who don't teach their staff how to help patients in the proper way, especially to stand up, sit down, get out of bed, and how to walk with them for the most support. I would guess none of those would help you but perhaps it might help someone else. But glad DS is more comfortable. My heart aches for you. Wish I could be there to help you.
HUGS!
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PontiacPeggy,
I wondered how long my underarm would feel like this - I wonder if I can wear regular deodorant and shave (or will hair not grow because of radiation), the surgeon did not mention anything about my underarm possibly feeling like this prior to surgery. I have been doing some arm exercises and using it as much as I can when I put things away in a cabinet, dishes, etc. But I will not do any heavy lifting for quite a while until it feels better.
I don't know where my friend's friend got her treatment - I think maybe it was in a larger city with a cancer center - we do have some good cancer doctors here, plus if I want to get another opinion, I can go to MD Anderson in Houston, TX, about 3 hours away from us. I have known many from our area to go there for treatment and 2nd opinions as well. But at this point, I don't feel a need to do that - does not mean that I will continue to feel that way - will have to see as my story unfolds.
I see you list being from Spokane, WA, I have two siblings who live in Post Falls, ID - have never been up that way (I live in Louisiana) but hear it is beautiful.
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Molly50,
Thank you for warm welcome. I see that PontiacPeggy has answered a couple of my posts, I appreciate all reply's! All have been so helpful on this scary journey. I am so thankful to have this website and message board to ask questions and vent to others who have traveled this path before me (or are currently traveling this path). We can all help each other out.
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Celand, You cannot wear deodorant before each radiation treatment - at least any containing aluminum (most every single one). You can shave your underarm (hair growth shouldn't be impeded). BUT if you use a safety razor be extra careful because you don't want to nick yourself. Some ladies use electric razors on that underarm. I didn't. My BS didn't mention about underarm numbness either but I was I well prepared by reading this forum. I never had "zingers" from the nerves healing. I did have them for another surgery years before and they were annoying as hell. Don't overdo the arm exercises. You are trying to stretch, not strengthen (right now) that arm. And be watchful for swelling.
Several of our gals have gone to MD Anderson. Be sure to put in your location and make it public. We have a strong southern presence!
Yup, Post Falls is really close. I just moved to Spokane in June to be near my youngest son (DH died a year ago). So I'm still very much a newbie for this area - I came from the Detroit area. Come visit sometime. It's really nice here and lots different from Louisiana!!
HUGS!
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Thank you, everybody for the warm welcome! I knew there was a reason I was stalking all of you.
I had a weird coincidence happen to me over the weekend. I started watching One Mississippi which is an autobiographical dramedy series on Amazon Prime about and starring Tig Notaro. Tig, as you probably know, is a comedienne who is also a breast cancer "survivor." (Sorry, I'm still learning the lingo and trying not to offend anybody.) The scenery in the show looked familiar to me. Turns out the series is based on a fictional town in Mississippi called Bay of St. Lucille which is obviously Bay of St. Louis. I was there on vacation a week before my visit to the gynecologist that started this whole breast cancer roller-coaster for me. Sometimes I think the writers of my life ran out of ideas and started repeating things hoping I won't notice.
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BagSharon, that IS interesting. We're glad you were stalking. Sometimes it is hard to know what forum or website is the best fit for you. Of course, we think we are the BEST!
HUGS!
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Thank you for the warm welcomes.
I was helping taking the Halloween decor down( more like directing...lo) and then lunch and a nap. I am very grateful my daughter is in first grade and except for knowing mom has an ouch on her boob, has not been effected by any of this. Hopeful that can continue.
Someone really needs to make a deodorant that you can wear while doing all these things. Being in Az it gets rather uncomfortable going from east to test without it. LOL.
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Celand, Sorry you have this... my mother died at 65 from a heart attack, my father died from multiple heart attacks and strokes, thought I would do that too... I'm 67, my sister had bc and is a 22 year surviver... didn't ever think I would get this... so just cause someone in your family has or had it... it is still individual to You... and you have a wonderful support group here... we know you will make it!
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Oh, Judy, so sorry about the accident! I've had several rear end accidents and I know what you mean about the neck!
Celand, and anyone else awaiting path reports, I really recommend the pathology guide on the site. I printed it out and also based all my questions not he info and questions suggested with the guide. So sorry about your mom. I lost my sister a year ago to bc and know how hard it is to be so close to it, and then be dx as well. I'm just so hopeful with all the new advancements that they will have a really strong handle on bc at some point in the future.
I had my CT scan and mold done this morning. I'll have my rad sim AND first treatment next Tuesday. They are just so busy, they need that long to get everything measured and ready. I was hoping to start in the next couple of days, but we do what we can.
Hope all else are doing great and had a nice Halloween :-)
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Judy, so sorry about the accident! I hope you don't get too achy. Good luck with the radiation ladies. It will go fast even though it doesn't seem like it now. I was very fond of my rad techs and actually looked forward to seeing them every day.
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Thanks everyone... I thought i had left the 'waiting', now I wait for the insurance report.. guess bc wasn't enough, had to have an accident too.. life goes on..
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Hi PontiacPegg and everyone on this board: i was finally able to set up my acct and join the board. I was recently diagnosed with the exact cancer as PontiacPegg and was very much relieved and less anxious regarding my upcoming lumpectomy and sential node removal. At age 66 it's a bit scary. I will have radition therapy following the surgery and feeling less anxious about that as well.
Tyty all again
Aloha from Hawaii
Miko
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Couldn't decide which thread to post this on, so you win. First a quick question...I don't have my port in yet, so will be getting my chemo tomorrow through a cath in my arm. I can wear whatever kind of shirt, right?
Ok, so I picked up my drugs yesterday. I'm getting neulasta to take the day after chemo to stimulate white blood cell growth. I knew it was expensive since they told me to check with my insurance that it was covered. It is/was, but I was NOT prepared to see the price of this needle. $2946.82. For one dose. I have to buy 5 more of these. I pay first, get reimbursed. Thank Goodness I have an empty credit card!! It's now my drug card. aaaccckkk. Hopefully the reimbursement gets here before I pay out the next one!!!! Unbelievable.
Last day of work for a while was today. It was really hard; I love what I do and I will miss my students. Hopefully I can visit them soon, make sure they are all staying on the path to get their credits.
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Leslie, this is the right place to ask all your questions - even chemo. We have experience in that. Why in the heck won't your insurance pay up front for the Neulasta? That's terrible (and a few other not-suitable-for-nice-people words). Glad you pay for it. I would think you'll want to wear something that is easy to get your arm in and out of, but I don't know.
Good luck and please keep us posted on how you're doing!!
HUGS!
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hi Leslie, I'd never had a port and get all my chemo through IV, however since you're getting herceptin then I definitely think it's good you're getting a port!
Anyway, as long as your sleeve can be rolled up a bit than any top is fine. They usually did mine on the top of my hand, so my sleeve didn't even have to roll up, but if they have trouble finding a vein there they may want to use your arm.
Make sure to bring something to drink, a blanket, and a snack. They probably offer all three of those things, but just in case! Also be prepared your P is going to pink for the pink for a little while, that should end by the end of the first day. The E in FEC does it.
Neulasta is expensive, you're lucky it's covered though. If not there is another one the government covers, but it is seven shots instead of one! By the way, obviously this is up to your comfort zone but I actually got them to teach me to do the shot, and did it myself after the first one. I had never injected myself before and it was pretty scared of it, but it was actually very easy and painless, and nice not to have to go anywhere and wait around to get it done.
Good LuckTomorrow! Feel free to ask me anything. Take your antinauseant in the minute you feel even the tiniest inkling that you might be getting queasy…I waited the first time and never made that mistake again!
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Thanks LoveToFly. I'm ready for the pink pee, and I know I'm lucky my insurance is going to cover it, I was just totally shocked how much it was! I'm going to take all my pills, eat breakfast and go get this done. Will take whatever I have to to not feel sick!!
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I know, so expensive. The other day I was looking at my insurance online, and check to see how much I spent on prescription medication in 2016, $37,000! And that wasn't even counting the chemotherapy that's given in the hospital and covered by ohip.
Tomorrow is going to go so much better than you think, I was so nervous for my first chemo but it was really pretty uneventful. You will be fine! You've got the right attitude about the meds.
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Hi everyone:I'm checking back in. I am working way too many hours every day and I am committed to walking now, so I have been a ghost on this site. There are not enough hours in the day. I miss all of you. Good luck to all of the new people on this thread. Everyone here is amazing. I am doing well, just exhausted.
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Thinking about Tootsie today. Hopefully her bmx went okay. I am sure we will hear from her shortly.
Has anyone read a post from several years ago and wonder what happened to that person? I have read posts from several people who disappeared.
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614, Hi! So glad all is well!
Michelle, I definitely have. When I started on my BC journey on BCO, I read this thread from the beginning. I think many are like 614 and busy, doing well, and living their lives. I'm lucky to have the time to stay here and hopefully help others as they start on their own journey through BC.
HUGS!
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Leslie, I wore a tank top and took a big scarf wrap thing to cover myself with, but I did have a port for my first infusion. The value of the wrap was I actually would use it as a blanket and take it on or off if I was hot or cold. Have you been told about taking Claritin the day before, day of, and several days after the Neulasta shot to help with any bone pain? I never got any bone pain with the Neulasta, and I took the Claritin.
Also, as far as nausea, the trick that seemed to work for me was never let my stomach be completely empty, even if you just eat a bite or two of yogurt, a few crackers, etc. I kept crackers by my bedside. Try to walk when you can, I think it helps the body recover faster, or whatever form of exercise you can do. Drink water, but don't over drink because you can flush out all your electrolytes if you drink too much, and chemo hammered my magnesium and potassium and I had to take some big potassium pills after one of my infusions. Some women drink Gatorade, I stuck with bottled water that contained electrolytes, like Smart Water brand. Also, stay on top of pooping, it is terrible to get constipated during chemo. Not sure about the regimen you are doing and whether it causes constipation or diarrhea.
Also, look to see if there is a November chemo forum you can participate in because it helps with figuring out side effects since those people are going through chemo the same time you are.
I'm a year and a half after chemo, and time does pass, it does end, and you get on with your life. Best of luck!
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Thanks Peggy. I thought I was the only one that wondered what happened to the other people.
Thanks everyone for all of the Anniversary wishes. I appreciate it.
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Welcome Miko, Celand, Goincrzy8, Weneke6
Judy, hope you didn't get too banged up
Leslie, good luck with chemo tomorrow
I found out about the numbness in the underarm from this site as well as most of the other details regarding my diagnosis and treatment. This is the best site
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tbalding, I have a couple of bruises, sore neck and arm... nothing broken.. the air bags didn't even go off.. just the back end is totaled... still driveable though.
Peggy, you have been a blessing to all of us... from the first dx, now what do i do... i'm going to die... to getting through chemo and rads... you are there... Thank You!
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Good luck with your first treatment tomorrow, Leslie! I will be thinking about you.
Hello to all the new people - you've found the right place. I came here back in February when I had my lumpectomy (Peggy was as welcoming then as she is now), I moved over to the Spring Rads board during that treatment and then came back here afterward. It's nice to check in now and then to see how everybody is doing.
p.s. To those asking about numbness, I'm about 11 months out from surgery and each month there's an improvement - part of my armpit, closest to my breast where the nodes were removed in still numb but not as "thick" feeling as it was at the beginning. I remember wondering when I'd ever feel a razor again - I've adopted a very delicate shaving technique. I can now feel the back of my forearm, probably within the last couple of months - that area was numb for quite a few months. My surgeon did warn me that it could take up to a year for the numbness to fully go away so I didn't sweat it - I knew the feeling would come back eventually. I got a lot of zingers in my arm and sometimes my breast the first four or five months, just now and then, reminders that the nerves were regenerating, so that made me happy ot know progress was being made. Feeling really quite back to the way I was before - the only reminders I might get is if I reach high and quickly for something out of a cupboard, I get a pulling sensation where my incision is and that's my reminder to get going on stretching exercises again, which always help.
Hi to everybody else ! xo
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Judy and Grazy, thank you for the very kind words. I do try to be a voice in the wilderness that BC when you are first diagnosed. It's so confusing and overwhelming. And like you said, Judy, we all think we are going to die, cut off our breasts, and then we learn, we're going to live, and probably with our breasts.
Judy, I'm so glad you weren't injured any worse. What fun to cope with car insurance along with the zoo of health insurance
Grazy, I think there is still a bit of difference in feeling between my underarms. But I'm safe shaving and I used a safety razor all along.
HUGS!
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HI everyone. Prayers and love to everyone. We are all song when we need to be and remember even God had to rest on the 7 day, so make sure to get yours.
Tonight, I had a good laugh. My sister in law sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers with get well ballon. My 6 year old loved all the flowers and says" Mommy, they are so pretty, everyone must really love you.....Can I have the ballon." It was nice with all this that priorities are still there....LOL.
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