Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Poodles, one less headache - thank you, Delta. That was great of them. Now let's get your mom back on track. Haven't they done surgery before to see what's going on? Keeping her (and you) in my prayers that they figure it out and correct it. Blood thinners are a bitch. At least with Coumadin they can reverse its effects with high doses of Vitamin K; don't think that's possible with some of the new ones. But it still makes surgery trickier than it already is. Keep us posted on how everything goes.
HUGS!
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Yes, they have done 3 cystoscopies this year to try to determine the cause of her bleeding. They have found some tiny little kidney stones in the past. Unfortunately, Mother has tried (and failed) Coumadin--it caused a lot of rectal bleeding--so she's on Xarelto.
1:50pm Update--Mother is out of surgery. They can't find the source of the bleeding. They think there may be an A-V malformation in there somewhere, so they're going to call in a artery specialist. At any rate, she's on her second transfusion for today and going through IV sites like crazy. She just has so few good veins left.
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Poodles, ugh. Fingers and toes crossed.
HUGS!
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Poodles, sorry to hear about your mother... sounds like my brother, I'm just blessed he is living in the same building I am and has Hospice care to help him.. It makes the holidays rough... pray you have a Great Thinksgiving through all this
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Hi Caligirl: i think so too - I am anticipating mid december - scary tho maybe we can compare notes and make the journey go faster and less scary.
Warm aloha hugs to all
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I am so happy the DR rang me this evening at 630 I got clear margins After my 2nd lumpectomy on 10th November,I feel like I've won the lottery I am so happy, having a few brandies, everything has been on hold now I can start planning Christmas sorting the kids toys etc.its been a long time coming
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Lorri, that's great news! Very happy for you. Now you can breathe!
HUGS!
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YAY Lorri on clear margins! Great feeling to be able to move on
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Congratulations Lorri! Awesome news.
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Way to go Lori!!!! Great news!!0 -
great news Lorrie!
Poodles, hugs, and in your pocket hoping they figure out what is going on with your mom
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PontiacPeggy - thanks for the tip regarding changing my settings I think I have done it correctly now:-)
Lori - so so happy to hear clear margins, great to move forward with your life now
Thank you to everyone who replied.
LCIS-ALH is my diagnosis, by the research I have done & from talking to my surgeon it is quite a grey area, it's considered stage 0 & puts Me in a high risk factor for ILC in the future. It seems with this type of diagnosis is a long waiting game as they poke, prod & slice in the search to try & find or rule out an invasive cancer result.
The reason for the long waiting time is partly my fault as well, there was a change in procedure dates & the follow up appointment was missed. I was feeling very confident that all was ok & I would get the 👍 & be all done & dusted, that I left it for a week before I rang & booked it. (the poor receptionist... It was her first day & she was so nice & very apologetic that she missed it - plus I was convinced it was ok & wouldn't need to go back)
I had a call from the McGraw nurse a few days ago following my post-op recovery & she said she will see me at my appointment with the surgeon on Friday. This has put me in a bit of a tail spin as I feel as a person who doesn't have a true cancer/only high risk - it's a bit much. I asked her if they where a little more concerned about it all than I was & she said "the diagnosis has carcinoma in it & we treat it as such & she will talk me through it at my appointment" ... Now trying to research and understand everything I can about my diagnosis, invasive cancer & treatment options so at least I can have some clue on what may be discussed
Have been researching preventive mastectomy and the more I research & read other testimonials from women I'm not to opposed to it if this is an option for me. Having to have this high risk continued screenings & go on preventive therapy will eventually wear me down. I watched & nursed my dad through chemotherapy/radiotherapy to only end his life quicker that this is a big 'convincer' to not want to go down that path.
But until Friday- I just sit & wait - keep positive & busy.
Kathy
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Hi folks,
Me again.... I feel like an attention hog right now, but hopefully one day I will be on the other side, and offer encouragement to others once I've lived through it. Give back some of what I've received in support here so far.
I have a lumpectomy scheduled in two days for two masses in my left breast. At the end of the day today, the pathology report from the MRI I had a few days ago was posted, which noted a THIRD mass in that breast that he recommends be biopsied.
No one called me. WTF? By the time I saw the post on the medical portal, my surgeon's office was closed. Does it make sense to go ahead with a lumpectomy when there is another mass (on the other side of the breast) that has not been biopsied? Resulting in maybe a second lumpectomy, or even a mastectomy if there are more areas of concern?
Sorry, I'm venting. It just seems like it would have made more sense to schedule the surgery after all the test results were in.
At work, I either want to cry or rip someone's head off. The rah-rah corporate culture just seems so insignificant to me.
(Did I mention I had to suddenly discontinue the HRT I was taking, which so graciously helped regulate my emotions?)
I'm a ball to be around right now. Alternate zombie, weeper, fainter, or budding serial killer. Pass the klonopin.....
Carrie
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Corah, I can see why you are all aflutter. Try to not jump ahead of the facts - which you don't have yet. Also, although your father had a hard time with radiation and chemotherapy, that doesn't mean it would be the same for you. After you've been on this site for awhile, you'll find that most of us had radiation and did fine. And quite a few have had chemo and are doing pretty darned good, too. So don't discount any treatment option yet. First you have to know what is going on.
Fotheringay, well, on the bright side, you know the HRT was helping your mood.
Call your surgeon tomorrow and find out if he thinks treatment should be changed because of this 3rd spot. Or did he perhaps already know it was there? It's hard to not jump to conclusions but you need to talk to him first. Continue to vent here. We listen well and will hold your hand. We've all been there with the mood swings. Yours just hit harder since you had to abruptly stop the HRT. HUGS!
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Well darn Fotheringay... they sure should have called you!
Vent all you want... You're in the right place!
💞💞💞💞
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Forthingay , as someone who had to have a mastectomy after a lumpectomy I recommend you postpone surgery until you can discuss with your surgeon and consult with a plastic surgeon . You might also want a second opinion .
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Lorri...Yay! Great news
Poodles ...praying for your mom
Kathy .... i agree with Peggy ...each case is different. My MO said the chemo was a big part of my clear margins. He said the current studies show lumpectomy along with rads has the same success rate as a mastectomy which is more invasive. I think you have to have faith in your doctors & your plan!
Carrie...vent on sister that's what we're here for ... To celebrate & rant together
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Kathy, agree with Peggy, see what surgeon says on Friday and weigh your options then.
Carrie, go ahead & vent, that's what we're here for. We've all been on that up & down emotional roller coaster. Would definitely check with surgeon today to find out why you weren't told about 3rd mass & why it isn't being biopsied before lx.
Hugs and positive vibes to you both!
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hi all. I'm four days post lumpectomy and at that "tired of hurting but also tired of being doped up" Stage. I stopped the hard core pain meds Sunday evening. Tylenol Extra Strength does a pretty good job. Have taken a shower but haven done anything with the bandages. Should they be changed or removed?
No lab results yet. I'm SO hoping my surgeon got clear margins. Dang I don't want another surgery
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Fotheringay
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Forthingay - I understand the dilemma regarding your HRT, I was on oestrogen therapy & I too had to go off them immediately, certainly adds extra emotions into the mix of what is already happening around you. I took some extra time off work when I had my lumpectomy to hopefully settle the emotional roller coaster down a bit.
Thank you everyone- yes - patience & not jumping ahead of myself is the key....Friday will be here soon enough.
RitaR551 - agree the drugs are the first I cut out, but I also didn't realise for a few days I hadn't been to the loo so I got quite bunged-up & had to sort that problem out
I'm not sure of the bandages as I only had internal stitches & glue. If in doubt ring the hospital & I'm sure they will help you.
Carrie - this is such a great thread to vent, to ask questions & get support- so so glad I found it
Big Aussie Thanks mate
Kathy
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thank you all I'm delighted
Rita I wouldn't remove the bandages yet, I had a plaster on my wound it said to remove after 7 days, and there were steric strips underneath that and it said not to wet the wound and to leave the stern strips on to support the wound for a further few days, I removed that on day 10 and it was looking fine.
This site is brilliant for support or questions or to vent
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Lorri, I'm so happy for you! Just what you needed right before Thanksgiving.
Fotheringay, I don't know what to say. I also received my news via email. All that medical jargon. I had to look every. single. thing. And I'm a nurse of 39 years! Not only that, but the breast center left word WITH MY 23YO DAUGHTER! She about died, she was so upset. Anyway, it's not fair to get your news that way. I'd certainly bring that up with your BS.
As for your moods, I'm right there with ya. I never took HRT, but I have bipolar. It has given me a fit this year. All I can say is meds, meds, meds!
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Kathy and Carrie, so very sorry there is so much stress going on right now. Sometimes I think dr offices deal with these issues every day and sometimes forget what it means to be on the other side! I found I had to be my own advocate and CALL frequently. I wouldn't wait till Friday or the next appointment before asking questions. Believe me, when you see what is billed to insurance, they definitely get their money worth! Sorry your Thanksgiving has a big ol gray cloud hanging over it! Vent anytime here. We truly understand!
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I called the surgeons office and talked to the nurse assigned to me. She said to take the bandages off. The incision is glued together. It's a whopper. The incision across the top of my breast is a good 4". The lymph incision is about 1 1/2". Good deal of bruising.
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Rita, I know people who swear by Arnica to eliminate bruising.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING Everyone... Whether from US or somewhere else, I am Thankful for All of You! and Thankful for only 5 more to go after today!!
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I am thankful for everyone here, also
It is a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful community. I am doing pretty well, however I am now wondering if the arimidex is actually benefiting me. My ob-gyn checked my estrogen level and it is still pretty high, despite being in menopause AND taking arimidex for over 2 months! I think the level was 40 (don't remember the units). The nurse said I may want to talk to my oncologist about this. Because I'm so lean (not much fat at all), I was very surprised by the result. Maybe I should switch to tamoxifen. I'll be making an appointment with my NEW MO soon. I know that there is a more accurate estrogen test, and I will also ask for that.
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Alice, that's interesting. My MO said there really wasn't any way to determine if Arimidex is working. Perhaps he was talking about preventing cancer rather than shutting down estrogen levels. As far as I know, I have never had my estrogen levels checked. Definitely check it out with your new MO. He might have a different slant on things.
And I'm with you on this site and this lounge in particular. It is wonderful. So lucky to have made so many great, supportive friends - I wouldn't have known you otherwise.
Happy Thanksgiving to All!
HUGS!
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Happy Thanksgiving to all of you . You are always such a wonderful group of friends . Hugs .
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