Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Thanks, other Illinois girl!!! I need some serious retail therapy. Sequestered in my house during October as I did not want to get a cold or the flu. Wanted it over asap.
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B"H
Michelle that is absolutely FANTASTIC I am so happy that you are finshed!!!!! You have been brave throughout, quickly getting hold of it all .... I would imagine (only a third thru the RADS myself so I don't yet "know") that you are starting to concentrate on "what next" and how do you go on from here amd start to "digest" that you have been DX with BC and have had to have surgery etc etc. but I am sure you deserve a few days of just hapiness that you finished the RADS and held your own because none of this is easy.... I think itis so wise that you have given yourself the time to heal physically and emotionally before going on to new tests and meds etc. - very very wise. And it is hard to "be wise" when we have chemo-brain, which I have discovered that we all - even those of us fortunate not to have had to do chemo - have to some degree as a result of the trauma of being DX for cancer and suddenly our lives becoming a series of tests and doctor appointments and surgery and waiting-waiting-waiting for test results etc etc
Proud of you and so happy for you! You have given a lot of strength to us others now in the process.....
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Best month to shop..... I can't wait!
Black Friday ads coming out.....
Stay safe and congrats.
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Tbirdy, Welcome! You've come to the right place for answers to your questions. We're caring, warm, informative and funny. I think that you are so sore because they took some muscle and that could remain sore for awhile. Or is it your underarm that is sore (or both?). How many nodes did they take? Keep taking painkillers as long as you need them. If you don't have lifting you may be fine to return to work. But make sure you rest when you get home. Your body still needs rest to heal. Don't rush things. Others who have had some muscle removed will chime in with their experience.
Where are you located?
HUGS!
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OK—Bob said I could have champagne. The fireworks are going off all over my neighborhood! I hope Chicago doesn’t have to wait another 108 years (I sure can’t)>
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Hubby says he feels like he gave birth!!! He was pacing...... This was great game! Enjoy the champaign.
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thereisnode,
It is hard to be in full control of my thoughts right now, but I am a task master. I can do one thing at a time, and do it very well. But, I do not like to juggle or multitask when it comes to my health. Cooler heads prevail, and I need a cooling off period. I know my limits for both physical demands and emotional baggage. I knew I would be at my limit after rads ended and told the MO that I was going to use this time to heal. You are right, I need to process what has happened, what I did right, what I did wrong and how would I change my decision making. What happened was, I got very lucky to have the best oncoplastic breast surgeon and a Stanley Tucci-esque radiation oncologist. I saw what happened to others who had different doctors and I did not like the outcomes. I get a lot of support from my family, but I found that this is a solo journey and did most things purposefully by myself. My young daughter, about 9 at the time, was in a state level competition on the uneven bars which was the hardest event for her. I asked her if she was ok prior to me leaving her with her coach. She said to me, "Mom, I have to do this by myself. No one is going to get up there are do my routine for me." Out of the mouth of babes, comes the truth..............
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Sandy, good for Bob and you!
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Michelle , don't ook back at the decisions you've made.you did the best with the information you AND what was best for you. that's all anyone can do. not like a lot of things where you try again🤔. just look forward and let yourself heal body and soul.
HUGS!
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Michelle, congratulations on finishing rads ! ! Sandy and other Chicagoans Congratulations ! ! Amazing come back .
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Peggy, I have to look back on my decisions, and yes they were the best under the circumstances of being in shock. I could go anywhere and get treatment, Mt. Sinai, Mayo, MD Anderson, etc. I need to have a game plan if something big like this happens again. I made the right decision for this one instance, but I need to keep the bigger picture in mind. There is so much pressure on newly diagnosed bc patients and you look to your doctors for guidance. In our area, health care professionals will channel you into their clinic, practice, hospital, etc. If I would have went with the doctor recommended by my nurse at the imaging center, who wanted to be my nurse navigator for my condition, I would have ended up with a surgeon whose work that I have seen and do not like. I am not so sure you get the best experience that way. In the end, through my ob/gyn's suggestion, I agreed with the choices for BS and I interviewed and researched the RO. I don't want to feel forced in the decision making process, and in the end I want to make the final decision.
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“Fascia” is the surface of muscle—the reason the surgeon took some is that was probably the location of the tumor. And I can’t speak as to axillary lymph node dissection vs. sentinel node biopsy (other than that some old-school surgeons still insist on ALND regardless of degree of nodal involvement if any, because that’s what they’re used to; and that SNB is pretty much the new standard—and acc. to surgeons at UCLA, even if a few SNs are found to have tumor cells ALND is not necessarily a given, as it would be like locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen). Could be that because of the tumor’s location, the surgeon felt that the sentinel nodes might have been entirely w/in the axilla.
Total madhouse around here. Fireworks still going off all over the neighborhood—can smell the scent and see the haze of gunpowder hanging in the sky, just like on the 4th of July. Devoutly grateful to be living at least 3 miles north of the corner of Clark & Addison. (Rode past it on the L last night on the way home from rehearsal—looked deserted but for the “W” flags flying from shops & bars surrounding Wrigley. BTW, Wrigley flies the “W” flag only after home games). I have to be up at 7 and out by 8 for my post-op followup from cataract surgery down near Midway (near Bob’s office). Seeing as how my eye surgeon lives in Evanston, he might not be any more punctual tomorrow than will I.
Champagne & tiramisu tonight!
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Oh, and Bob got the police report back from his accident. Turns out there were 3 cars involved. The first, a BMW belonging to the 19-yr-old driver’s dad, went out of control (no reason given), hit the rear right of Bob’s Fusion, went airborne and flipped onto the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Dr., and in doing so hit a Lexus. Here’s the wild thing: the car that hit Bob’s was insured (Allstate), so GEICO can subrogate after all and recoup what it’s paying for Bob’s collision repair—and the only ticket its driver got was for expired license plate stickers. BUT the Lexus it hit? Its driver was cited for driving on a suspended license and not having insurance. The only injury was a bump on the head to one of the passengers in the Lexus, which was totaled, as was the Beemer.
Meanwhile, Bob is grumbling that the 2017 Camry GEICO rented for him doesn’t get as good fuel economy as his Fusion Hybrid. Ya think?
We’re having trouble with the breaker for our garage—lately, every time it rains, the GFCI outlet trips and the garage door opener doesn’t work. So I have to open the garden gate and the side door, find the GFCI (using my phone’s flashlight) and reset it, then hit the opener button. Lately, Bob calls me from the alley and I have to go out & down to the garage to perform that ritual. It’s getting kind of old. Looks like we’ll be calling the electrician or maybe even a contractor to waterproof that wall. (Fortunately, at least for that situation, it’s a detached garage).
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Peggy and others,
Thanks for your help. After the first response to my post I was really worried something was not done correctly as to SNB and ALNB. I just am thinking the surgeon saw or thought something extra. Also I had thyroid cancer in 2009. Today I have a second opinion even tho my treatment plan is not finalized. So maybe they can help me figure out why I had both until I see my surgeon.
I live in Illinois 70 miles west of Chicago so I feel some of the pain relieved after the great Cub win.
Thanks everyone!
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Tbirdy, please don't worry until you have all the facts and pathology report. Several of us are in Illinois on this board. Reach out if you need us.
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Michelle, congrats finishing rads. I'm jealous! So great that you were able to get the DD and be finished sooner. I hear there's a let down or disconnected feeling once we finish that takes a little while to acclimate to and feel normal again. I'll be starting Tuesday and won't finish until the week between Christmas and New Year's! Yuck!!!
TBirdy, welcome to the best forum and the most supportive bc sisters. Sorry you're having an issue with pain. I was fortunate to not have any muscle removed so my recovery was very quick and just a little discomfort under the arm. Where do you live? I don't see that in your profile; sometimes we find where people live, like Canada rather than US, determines different treatment. Use lots of ice, don't lift anything over 10 pounds for a while, and keep the ibuprofen going.
Weneke, good luck with the reincision. Many ladies on this site have had this with no problems. You've got this.
Sandy, welcome back and congrats on your eye surgery. I"m sure it's good to at least have it behind you. Sounds like quite a weekend also! Wish there was a way to attach a little video to these posts so we could hear and see one of your performances!
And congrats to all the Cubs fans! That was one nail biting game!
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ILSunrise, I will have my 4th and last (hallelujah!) infusion of TC this coming Wednesday. They took one look at my veins and didn't even suggest getting a port. Regardless, I was more concerned about another surgery to have the port installed than getting an IV a handful of times. I haven't had any problems.
What is up with all the car accidents? I was rear-ended myself last Thursday. No injuries but the kid drove off. I followed him for a while and got several pictures of his car and license plate. It took an hour to file a police report because Barney Fife and all his buddies were at the mall helping release a deer caught in a fence. Just more crap to deal with when I least need it.
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BagSharon, geez. What a fiasco. Glad you weren't hurt and you got the license plate even if the police were occupied with Bambi.
HUGS!
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As usual, I'm way behind! Just not enough time for the computer lately.
Thanks for everyone's good wishes for my biopsy. I had it yesterday and will get results next week. The doctor (she was wonderful, by the way), said it looks like simple debris within a duct by the way the area decompressed after she took the first chunk out. Very small, too.
I went on a short overnight backpack Monday and Tuesday. When I got home, my DH handed me a letter and said "I've got some bad news for you." Ha ha, he thinks he's so funny. The letter said that my MO, the one I haven't gotten along with, is leaving for "other opportunities". I will asked to be assigned to the other MO at the same place. He seemed very nice when I observed him chatting with his patients during chemo. (Something mine NEVER did). He is experienced, too. The one that will be replacing my current MO looks to be another young newbie.
Trish, you look fantastic in your photo!!
I would love to do a SoCal meetup! Especially if I can ride down with others. I'll be gone to Arizona until Nov 16th, though, so please have it after that!
My eyelashes are coming in now. They are all very short but I can see them. My hair seems thicker than before, but that may be because all the follicles are growing at the same time. Once it's in, it may thin out.
KD, I had the same chemo as Dara, taxotere and cyclophosphamide, 4 infusions 3 weeks apart. My last one was August 10.
Michelle, you are smart to eat more protein. I think my high protein intake really helped during surgery and radiation. I think Dara read 60 grams of protein, not 60 ounces! Glad you are done now!!
Poodles, I'm glad you like your prostheses. IMO, you should rethink reconstruction. You don't need more surgeries!
ILSunrise, my Onco report was almost identical to yours. My path report said ER+ (80%) PR+ (40%), but the Onco said ER+, PR-. I think it means that our PR is not as "strong" as it is with some tumors. In other words, not as many of the tumor cells have the PR receptor, but some do. That was one reason I decided on chemo with an Onco score of 26. I did not find chemo so terrible. Less energy and reduced appetite after the first infusion were my main complaints.
Grazy, you and Elizabeth both look wonderful in your photo!
Dara, my hair started really coming in a few weeks ago. My last chemo was Aug 10. I think my energy levels are pretty much back to normal. I've been hiking well for the past three weeks. So figure at least 2 months to see a big improvement. My eyebrows are coming in strong now, and my eyelashes seem to be coming in although they are stilll very short.
Sandy, hooray for the Cubs!! Is your eye feeling better?
Hi to everyone I haven't mentioned. I think about you ladies every day, even if I don't post.
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Had my one-day post-op followup this morning with the eye surgeon. I’d figured that Lake Shore Drive (we actually abbreviated it “LSD!”) would be deserted at 8am because everyone would be home hung over after last night. No such luck—rush hour was worse than usual because everyone will be playing hooky tomorrow to go see the Cubs parade & rally in Grant Park. (On the fence about going—it’d be a SRO crowd on the L all the way down there and a hike to where the video screens will be—and no way will I even attempt to drive or be driven—Uber will probably be at least 4X “surge pricing”). Bob, who takes the Drive for half his commute, is wisely staying over down in Oak Lawn tonight to avoid the traffic and get an early start to work tomorrow.
Big news is that I can see well enough to drive! Just a small corneal abrasion, a little swelling and pinkness rather than red hemorrhage. Both eyes are working well together and I have full depth perception and peripheral vision. Preliminary distance refraction is 20/20 R, 20/50 L (had been 20/80 pre-op) but should improve over the next few days as the pupil contracts and the swelling is down. Contrast that to when I had the R eye done—I had one post-op eye and the other still cataract-fogged; even a few days later if I went w/o glasses the R eye was fine and the L uncorrected; with glasses it was just the opposite until I had the R lens replaced with a plain one. I’d do that now, but I can now at least read through the bottom of my L lens. Still and all, for distance I’m better with wearing my tinted non-Rx Wayfarers—I can see indoors or after dark with them and they hide the post-op swelling & pinkness—or, in sunlight, the dark wraparound plastic shades for driving.
Think I will get some Cubs World Championship gear. Was thinking of grocery-shopping, but I still have weight-lifting restrictions, so for groceries I’ll do Peapod. Probably pan-sear whatever falls out of the downstairs freezer (which is on top—our kitchen fridge is a bottom-freezer model and I’m not supposed to bend over) or nuke some pasta in the microwave (I got a little plastic pasta cooker that works like a charm). Perhaps pick some basil & make pesto. We went to breakfast after the surgeon appt. and brought home house-made kolačky. There on the deep SW Side, the land of the diehard Sox fans, there were Cubs shirts everywhere!
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Sandy, I'm so happy for you. You have to be (mentally) jumping up and down at the results of your surgery!! Get the Cubbies gear! Worth it. I'm not sure I'd join the throng celebrating but you sound like you really do want to go - so go! Pay Uber's exorbitant prices and have fun.
HUGS!
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No way will I chance getting stuck in traffic. I will take the L and get off wherever I can walk to somewhere along the route.
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Sandy, glad you rec'd good news about your eye
BagSharon, glad you weren't hurt in the accident
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Hi Everyone... finished 1 of 30.. only 29 more to go...
Bagsharon, sorry about your accident... I got a strained neck and sprained wrist and my van is totaled, but still driveable.. I'm glad the Cubs won... they deserve it after all this time..
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My goodness, this board is flying this week! DH and I went up to the mountains to rest and recuperate for a few days. I forgot to take my laptop, which really ended up being for the best. Usually, when I take my laptop there is a great temptation to work the whole time. This time, instead of working I read my book ("Caribbean" by James Michener), put together some puzzles, did word searches while relaxing in my outdoor recliner, took the dog on several walks, drove through the country to look at leaves, ate German food (Oktoberfest!), drank the special "mojitos" that DH makes (you know, the one with Diet Coke and rum in it?), and slept late every day.
Today was my first day back to work--well, back to the end of the kitchen table where I DO most of my work, LOL. I took a break mid-day to see my GYN, who had great news from my total hyst: everything was boring and benign. Yay! I didn't realize how much I was worried about that, given that two of my sisters had uterine cancer discovered only incidentally after they had hysts for non-cancer reasons.
I also took my little dog to the groomer today. With all that we had going on here, I just kept putting it off and putting it off. Well, he's a Bichon, very curly, and he needs to be groomed regularly. Ugh. After this camping trip he was so matted, with sticks, leaves, and thorns also woven into his coat. They had to take him down to 1/4" ,so he looks like a little lamb. A cold little lamb, LOL. Good thing he has some cute sweaters!
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Judy, YEAH! One down!!
Poodles, sounds like you wound up with just the weekend you needed. And Whew! So glad the path report came back perfect! Poor puppy. Sweaters are good
HUGS!
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Home. Finally. My surgery got delayed two hours because of the surgery in front and that created a fun domino effect. Surgeon says he got his margins and nothing else was found. Heal up and meat the rads doc in three weeks.
Got my chick -fil-a peppermint shake and all is good.
Thanks for all the good thoughts.
Yah Poodles! Congrats on the great report.
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Weneke, YIPPEE!!! Great news! Now take it easy.
HUGS!
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Weneke, you earned that peppermint shake! (I used to reward myself after every radiation treatment with a slice of Hoosier Mama pie, so don’t follow my example too often).
I drove late this afternoon, in order to get commemorative Cubs stuff at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Seems everyone on the N. Shore & far N. Side had the same idea—a 20-min. trip took nearly an hour. And then there was a 20-min. wait outside, as they let only 20 people at a time into the store lest they run out of stuff. Everyone wanted the official “greige” World Series Champions hat, but they sold out by 3 am! Got several different T-shirts, a pennant for “the sports shrine” (a wall in our upstairs pass-through room on which we put sports ephemera), a ski cap and a couple of commemorative beer glasses. I wore my Wayfarers inside the store so as not to creep anyone out—it looks like I have pinkeye but it really isn’t.
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ChiSandy,
My husband and daughter are up in Chicago for a little father / daughter vaca. They went to Wrigley today and my daughter filmed 20 minutes of the stadium wall and all of the people writing messages. My husband and son (in Switzerland) are huge Cub fans. I did not know at the time we made reservations that the Cubs would win the World Series. I am sure that my husband is having the time of his life surrounded by so much enthusiasm for his sports team. I had better get out to Dicks down here and pick up some memorabilia! My son's dorm at the University of Bern stayed awake with him and watched the game online connected to a big screen tv. Good times....
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