Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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My CA 125 is very low, so maybe the Lupron shot? You are right Molly, it is a big surgery and a big decision. I don't want to toss out perfectly good healthy organs. I think I will have to wait.
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Sandy without getting all political, I just want to say I think a lot of people feel the same as you. Devastated . I hope we can all lay down the hate and harmful rhetoric that has defined this horrible election and unite our nation so we can move coward together. What's done is done. Let those who need to grieve, grieve without condemnation . And those who rejoice, let them do so without gloating, as mature adults do.
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Michelle , I feel the same way--don't toss healthybody parts unless there is a darn good reason to do so. There can be unintended consequences to any surgery and it's not to be taken lightly.
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My anxiety is on high today. I had my lumpectomy on 10/26, starting radiation soon. The diagnosis read The deep margins is positive for carcinoma. Does that mean that I still have some cancerous tumor although the tumor was removed? The Breast Patient navigator says the doc is not concerned about it, but it's not his body. I see the oncologist on the 17th. I had IDC stage IIA.
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Samantha, I can't answer your questions, sorry. But please help us by filling out your profile and making it public. That will tell us a lot - we can't remember each person's details. I certainly understand your concern. If you haven't read this publication on BCO, you might want to download it: Your Guide to Breast Cancer Pathology Report (That's the name of the report you want). It is extremely helpful. Also you might want to read Dr Susan Love's Breast Book. I know others will chime in and answer your questions.
HUGS!!
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Samantha, the BC.org site here has some good information about deep margins. Here are some comments from "Ask the Experts"
The deep margin, which is up against the muscle of the chest wall, is often our most difficult margin. Once we physically remove the tumor off the chest wall muscle, we have physically removed the largest limit of breast tissue that we can from that area. There is a layer between the muscle and the breast tissue that is called the fascia. This is a flat layer of tissue that separates the breast from the muscles of the chest wall. If the back (also called "posterior") margin was either close or positive, we need to enlist the help of our radiation oncologist. Knowing exactly where the margin is tight, can help the radiation oncologist plan their radiation therapy treatment.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. As a radiation oncologist, if the deep margin or posterior margin is positive or very close, I immediately pick up the phone and bug the pathologist. I need her to help me better understand if the tumor went to the back of the breast and stopped there, or if it went into the fascia and/or the muscle. Sometimes it's hard to sort all of these questions out.I also call the surgeon to learn what I can from her. This week alone I've had 3 patients with a close or positive deep margin. Ultimately, we proceed with radiation, and I aim my boost dose to the area of concern. I also have the ability to go to a higher dose if the margin is clearly positive. If the surgeon is concerned during surgery around the deep margin, she might choose to place tiny metal clips to mark the area where she knows the margin to be close. This gives me a very accurate target to focus my radiation dose on.
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Dara, well done!
HUGS!
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Hello ladies!
Monday is the magic day for me. I'd originally planned for a double mastectomy and did a 180º to a lumpectomy just a week or so ago (to my breast surgeon's great pleasure) so all of my surgery research has been on BMX - surgery options, recovery, etc. It's time for a crash course in lumpectomies!
Thanks for being here
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KQHill, I'm glad you have chosen a lumpectomy. For most women, it is the best first choice. There are times when a mastectomy becomes necessary after an Lx, of course, but even those women say they are glad they had the lumpectomy first. Your recovery will be much faster and you will still have your breasts. I'm sure it was a hard decision for you. Ask your questions - we're here.
HUGS!
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ChiSandy, I'm as devastated as you, I could barely get out of bed yesterday. UGH, what were all those people thinking.
On a positive note, I saw my BS today to review mammogram etc, two years post diagnosis, 18 months post surgery, and 15 months post end of treatment. All is well, she was very pleased with my weight loss and exercise commitment.
Best, MJS
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MJS. So happy for your great report!
Sandy, I knew exactly what you were referring to. I've just put my head in the sand - just too worn out from 2 years of it. Tipple that bubbly - your eyes are good!
HUGS!
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Hi Kimberly, welcome! I didn't have any issues with either the lumpectomy or the re-excision to get clean margins. I was off work 3 days + weekend. Only used Tylenol and ice and did my stretches. I bought ace ice packs at Walmart that were flexible. Wear a front close shirt and comfy pants, easy to put on. And just take it easy. I started doing light exercises after week and a half. Hugs
MJS, YAY for the good report!
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The Bar Show writing staff is in panic mode, since the election totally blew the story arc between the skits out of the water, and the finale might have to be scrapped if the lyrics can’t be rewritten and number recast without totally bumming out our audience (we are in the bluest part of the bluest city in a blue state). All of us who’ve desperately been working to get “off book” and memorize choreography keyed to lyrics are tearing our hair out—we open four weeks from tonight. Oy.
On the bright side, I went for my one-week post-op followup with the ophthalmologist, and he says my left eye is healing much faster than my right one did. So much faster, in fact, that I will be refracted next week rather than two weeks from now and have my new glasses sooner rather than later. And I can stop wearing the eye shield for sleep (I’ll switch back to my sleep mask); and freely wash my hair and wear eye makeup again (I feel naked without mascara, especially without glasses to frame my eyes)! And my dentist was pleased with the state of my gums yesterday.
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Sandy, Yikes!! I can see why you're going crazy. Good luck!!!!! And happy as can be about your eyes (and gums).
HUGS!!!
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Sandy, your photo looks fine.. i didn't see anything, your eyes looked good
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Thank you Peggy, I took your advice.
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OMG ChiSandy, my daughter does theatre so I feel your pain!! I can just see her now stomping around trying to remember new words in the right places with the steps. Hopefully you don't have to learn all new choriography too!!
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I'm dealing with a pretty bad head/chest cold, with some fevers. But went for chemo yesterday anyway. Taxol #1 went well, but I wound up with a rare 'Rigers' reaction to Herceptin, which brought on sudden chills & shaking that I couldn't control. They quickly treated with Demoral...which got rid of the shakes in about 5 minutes, but did initially make me vomit/dry heave. However, I was fine after 10-15 minutes. Very thankful that was my only bad thing that happened (& I didn't wind up in hospital like I did with every AC treatment due to severe hyponatremia...also a very rare SE! I should play the lotto or something with my 'rare' chances)
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Yikes KD, that must have been scary. Glad you were surrounded by people that knew what to do!! Also glad it was short lived and you didn't get admitted. I think one ticket on some big prize couldn't hurt!
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Hi Guys,
Yes, I'm still around and surviving without winding up in the hospital. The Taxol does seem to be a bit better than the A/C was and I didn't seem to have any reaction to the first Herceptin. So we'll see what happens next week... I only have two Taxol left and then I have an appointment with the RO to decide what, when, why and where for the radiation.
SANDY - So glad the second eye is healing so fast... but sorry for the disruption with your show... Good luck learning all the new things.
KD - It is a shame you had such a bad reaction, but glad you were still in the Chemo suite when it happened... Hope you recuperate very quickly.
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Samantha, glad you were able to update your profile and thank you for posting your path report. That's a huge help (although I can't help out
).KD, I definitely think you should play the lottery. You do seem to collect rare SEs! I think you should stop
. Glad this one was so "easily" controlled and no hospital stay needed. Did they say if you are likely to have the same reaction next time or is this usually a one-time thing? Take care! Sending loads of hugs your way.HUGS!
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ChiSandy, (((hugs))). We are here for you if and when you want to share.
J
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ChiSandy, as soon as I posted above then tour picture and the last few pages showed up. I understand your upset. We will get through the coming years together.
Jo
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KD, sorry you had the reaction to Taxol. I remember all your reactions to the AC! Be careful. Your body really doesn't like these treatments does it?
Sandy, completely understand the stress with all the last minute changes. Hope your script gets worked out smoothly.
Samantha, from the tiny bit I read on the research site here, your path report seems to match what I found. If the deep margins contain carcinogens, it appears they try to get rid of that through radiation. It seems they can only get so close to the chest wall with the lumpectomy, but perhaps others have more pertinent info they can share. I've been so pleased with all the info this site holds. It's pretty much the only one I use anymore.
Day 4 of rads and Arimidex. Doing quite well with both. My appetite seems to be pretty much gone, but not sure to what that should be attributed. I get a couple of twinges of nausea that I think may be the AI. Looking forward to the weekend off.
I'm in the process of buying a new car which is exciting! I hang on to cars forever. I love the car I have right now, a Lexus GS 350, but it has 165,000 miles and is beginning to need some money thrown at it for repairs. I wanted an RX this time, but, wow, they are up to $61,000. Now that I'm retired, just can't swing that. I've settled on the Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum (it has the safety surround package so brakes automatically, etc. ) I've had my car for 10 years now but it's time to say goodbye!
Elizabeth, glad you haven't paid a visit to the hospital lately! Keep it up!
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I like you all very much. This thread is my home here on BCO. So can we please NOT talk politics? Frankly I don't want to know who is on what side. It was a lousy 18 months no matter the outcome.
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72 hours post lumpectomy (2 sites) plus SNB, breast is a little hot while being both numb and itchy. The surgeon went in through my breast reduction scar around the nipple so there's lots of steri strips. Armpit doesn't really hurt at all. Counting myself lucky until next week when we get the path report back.
You ladies are all awesome
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Just hope the Cancer Moonshot survives.
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I agree with you Molly! Let's leave politics alone. The next 4 years are going to be horrid no matter who is in office!
Peggy- they aren't sure if I will get the same reaction to Herceptin next time or no. Luckily it's every three weeks, so next week it's just Taxol.
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I just finished 7 of 25.. 18 more fun days to go... The fun will be when they are over.. but didn't have the burning this time, still have some twinges of pain every so often, but it could be worse. I get my new (for me) van next week.. a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country.. almost like the Dodge that got totaled, but the insurance has been great.. i just faxed over my title and they towed the van out today and will be getting check in couple of days.. and this is 20,000 miles less and looks better and only 1 owner.. Glad that part is almost done.. now to finish the medical, need to have my neck checked before signing off on the insurance..
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KD, fingers crossed!
Judy, so glad that you are getting your new car so quickly. Do get your neck checked out!!
HUGS!
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