Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Molly50, my estrogen was only 3% so a very weak positive. My MO is going to treat me with hormone therapy anyways after chemo is done. I know chemo was the right decision but it sure is tough. I've never been so tired in my life. I'm someone who normally rarely sits still let alone naps. It's been a huge adjustment. The Taxol is much better than the AC as far as side effects. Thank goodness!
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hi Bravepoint: i had some confusion over whether or not my one node was positive. When i had my lumpy only one sentinal node showed up it was taken out and found to have microcelluar cancer cells. I had already elected not to have a masectomy and felt i would pass on chemo ( my oncotype was 25) just on the borderline but because i had micro calcifications in my left breast the dr felt radiation would be an option. I opted for radiation. When i went for my radiation planning the ro said possibly 33 treatments. At 15 treatments he took a ct scan and told me i would need 21 treatments. I am now on my boosts 1/5. Good luck to you and be stron
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poodles, please don't let her fall. A fall is what finished my moms kidneys off. The doctors told me when the kidneys are in a fragile shape that a fall can cause them to completely stop functioning. I really don't understand what they are doing since it sounds like your mom really needs to be monitored 24 hours a day.
Big hugs coming your way, it isn't easy, especially with a stubborn elderly person.
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hi --I am newly diagnosed. Still in the shock and disbelief stage. My cancer is left sided and am scared of the radiation effects to my heart --so plannnning to choose mastectomy rather than lumpectomy and radiation. Would also decrease my fear of local recurrence. Has any one with left sided breast cancer had radiation and then have any long lasting side effects afterwards due to the radiation? The effects take a long time to show up --many years , but wondering if anyone with left sided breast cancer can comment on their radiation and any subsequent issues--or not . Thank you all for sharing your experiences --this is a very informative for
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Tara, Welcome. You've come to the right place. But before we can comment on anything for you, we would like to know your diagnosis, planned treatments, where you are located (since treatments vary by country and even state). Please go to your Profile, fill out everything you can. Then go to SETTINGS and make each item PUBLIC. THEN we will know all about you.
I had 33 radiation treatments to my left side. After more than 2 years, no problems, and I am a former smoker (quit 18 years ago). I am not sure I feel that having a mastectomy to avoid radiation is necessarily optimal treatment. Obviously, you can and should do what feels best for you. But remember, once that breast is gone, it is really gone. Most ladies here have started with a lumpectomy. If the pathology or genetics indicate a mastectomy then that's what they have. But starting "small" seems to be the choice most make in the beginning. And your recovery from a lumpectomy is much quicker than mastectomy.
Your age can also be a factor in deciding what path to follow. Just don't be in a hurry to decide what type of surgery to have. You do have a few weeks to make the decision. You might also want to read Dr Susan Love's The Breast Book to get up to speed on breast cancer, treatments etc. I found it extremely helpful.
Keep asking your questions. We'll be glad to answer but we do need more information - breast cancer covers a big territory.
HUGS!
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Tara17, I was told that I'd have to have radiation whether I had a lumpectomy or mastectomy. My cancer is on the right side and haven't done radiation yet so I can't comment on your question.
Gail
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Congratulations Elizabeth!
Poodles, my middle brother, has dementia and heard he's claiming he's in prison, doesn't understand he's in a good place, and he can get feisty.. my younger sister is there to check on him.
We had the memorial for my oldest brother, and it went well.. have everything taken care of finally and brother and sister went home tuesday.. then my van broke the tie rod and had to be towed home... i need a break... there were 6 of us 3 boys and 3 girls..
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Judy, you just can't catch a break! I'm glad the memorial for your brother went well. Rotten about your middle brother. Dementia is terrible.
Take care!
HUGS!
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Welcome, Tara! I had (well, it had better be past-tense!) left-side cancer, w/lumpectomy and rads in the summer and fall of 2015. So far nothing conclusively pinned to rads, as I always did have a tendency to coughing and congestion.
But my advice parallels Peggy's: take your time, don't rush into a decision. That first few days and weeks leaves many of us in a terrified fog--so much information, so many hard decisions. And this isn't just because I'm on the lumpectomy thread!
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Tara, I had radiation to left breast in 12 o clock position. They can pinpoint the radiation better nowadays I with new technology. I didn't have to hold my breath or anything. I finished this last May and have had no side effects that I'm aware of.
Celand, I had my first piece of king cake the other day, a strawberry cream cheese with icing only and no sugar sprinkles, and of course, found the baby!!! I bought the last one lol!!!
Poodles, kidney failure turns people into someone you don't know. I've been a nurse for 20 years and had a kidney failure patient tell me "go to hell, go to hell!' When I tried to give her some ice cream and died a few seconds later. Family SId she never cussed in her life. They don't know what their doing, though they have some moments of clarity
Congrats to all finishing radiation and prayers to those who haven't completed radiation or chemo! HUGS to all!! Sandy and Peggy, glad you two are still on here giving your wisdom and awesome advice!
Me, I get to show RO my left arm Tuesday. Started having pAin when I reach for something and hurts when I barely touch the skin. Feels weird. Think I'm getting lymphedema. What rotten luck! I only had three nodes taken out
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My mother knows she is dying and she just wants to go home one more time. We are caling the oxygen company to come set up on Monday. Home health is coming in on Tuesday for an evaluation and to set up visits. My sister is staying for a couple of weeks. Another sister just went back to Seattle this morning and I will be here until Tuesday or Wednesday. We are going to just have to tag team her or hire sitters. I don't blame my mother for wanting to go home. She misses her pets and she misses her things. She just wants to sleep in her bed and sleep in every morning.
I don't think this will go on more than 6 weeks. I expect that Home Health will introduce hospice at some point. I think she'd just like to die in her own home, rather than in a hospital. Who wouldnt?
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Welcome Tara, I had radiation after mastectomy. I had a left side tumor as well. My recommendation is to consult with a radiation oncologist before you make your decision. I would also have a consult with a plastic surgeon. That way all of your options are on the table for you to make an informed decision.
LG, hopefully it's not LE. I went through a period like that on my radiated side. It eventually resolved. I think it was inflammation.
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hi all... im asking here as finding it very difficult to find info. My mum had a lumpectomy (well 2 procedures to remove the full tumour... 2cm at first, then 2nd one to remove further 2.5cm) last nov (9th). Shes severe bruising covering her entire breast and shes worrying now if this is common or normal. Shes asked 2 doctors who didnt seem concerned but it hasnt reassured her. Id really appreciate anyone who coukd shed some light... is this ok... when should she expect to see it clear up or should she get it checked. Shes only started chemo 2 wks ago so this still early days ... all very new to us. Any help appreciated x
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Hi All,
Many thanks on Congrats for my finishing radiation treatments! It has definitely been a long six week journey! So glad to have it behind me. Now that I have completed my treatments, terrible fatigue set over me this afternoon - it was like a case of the flu where I ached all over, I just curled up on the sofa with a blanket and didn't move for at least 2 hours! And just came on all of a sudden!
Now this morning my daughter and I ran some errands - got hair cuts, went to local Wal Mart Super Center, where I had to go back and forth a couple of times, then went to fill up vehicle with gas. Then returned back home - traffic was not bad, that is why we went on these errands early this morning because traffic gets really heavy as day progresses.
Well, a couple of hours after home, that is when this extreme fatigue hit! I literally could not get up for a couple of hours, but did not fall into a deep sleep.
Is this a common occurrence following radiation - if so how long did this last for you?
Celand
P.S. I ate two slice of King Cake last Friday - the breakfast of champions during Mardi Gras season in Louisiana! However it was definitely a treat, but I could smell the sugar when the box was opened! Can't eat too much of this because a few years ago I was diagnosed pre-diabetic, so have to be sparing with my sweets.
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LG, Geez, I hope it's not LE. Glad you're going to have it checked out. And I'm always here. I want to give back as much as I can since I have received so much from everyone here. And what great friends I've made! I am so lucky.
Poodles, I do wonder then, since your mother knows she is dying, if she is railing against it. I do understand your mother wanting to be home with her own "stuff" and pets. For me, I was glad that DH was in the hospital for hospice. I couldn't have cared for him. And when I brought our dog to see him, he didn't want to see her. He was already letting go and she was an anchor to living and it was too hard for him. It worked for me and I was with him when he transitioned.
May I suggest two books for you? Both by Maggie Callanan (one with Patricia Kelley): Final Gifts and Final Journeys. The gals are hospice nurses and the books are very comforting and insightful. I have read and re-read them. Even if you find just one thing that applies to your situation, it will have been worth it. In fact, for anyone with an older parent these books are helpful.
HUGS!
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Celand: yes, from what I've heard and experienced, that fatigue is absolutely normal. Brace yourself it'll almost certainly build for another week or two before it starts retreating. But it will go away!
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Celand, fatigue is extremely normal for all breast cancer patients - actually documented. Not only that brought on by radiation. Yours hit all at once. Sometimes it just creeps up on us. Listen to your body and rest. Part of it is likely the fact that you are done with active treatment and your mind heaved a sigh of relief. Now only hormonal therapy and that isn't any work - you don't have to go anywhere for it. The extreme fatigue you are experiencing should ease up in a week or two. If not, contact your doctor. Remember, you are NORMAL!!
HUGS!
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ConcernedFamilyMember, Welcome. We'll certainly do our best to help you. First, where are you located? UK? Is the bruising on your mother's breast getting worse or just taking too much time to go away? I had bruising from my biopsy and that lasted 8-9 weeks, perhaps longer. But it should have started dissipating somewhat by now. Is her breast swollen? Does it hurt or just look bad? If it is swollen and hurts, definitely talk to the surgeon, that should not be. Good luck to her with her chemo. And let us know what else we can do to help you and her.
HUGS!
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Poodles, hiring sitters (“companions”) is a good idea. My mom had one who came in daily.
LG, it could be radiation fibrosis or cording. It’s a myth that only thin women get cording—sometimes subcutaneous fat can hide it. Ask your RO to refer you to a PT experienced in LE & cording.
Tara, there is a breath-holding technique that helps protect the heart for left-sided radiation. Also ask if you can have it done in the prone position (some centers have tables with a hole for that purpose).
Gail, OncotypeDX isn’t as commonly done in Canada as it is down here. It’s useful if you’re in a “gray area” due to tumor size >1cm and <2.5cm, &/or you have 1-3 positive nodes (used to have to be node negative to get the test). But it’s for women who are both ER+/PR+ or at least strongly ER+ (“Luminal A” type). And in IDC Grade 3 is usually a ticket to the chemo suite. Chances are your tumor is “Luminal B” type or close to “basal-like,” which responds much better to chemo than do the more slowly-dividing cell-type highly ER+/PR+ cancers. Surprised you’re getting endocrine therapy, but you might want to ask your oncologist why.
Judy, bummer about the van. I’ve had tie rods snap on me twice, and it’s no picnic. (Neither is riding in the cab of a tow truck). As Roseanne Rosanadanna said, “it’s always something…"
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Sandy, apparently the universe decided that you and Judy weren't the only ones to have things break. When I moved to my home in June, there was a freezer in the garage! An older (discovered it's 20 years old) upright. I'd left my small 5 cu ft chest freezer when I moved so this was great. Until it wasn't. It went belly up 2 days ago. Of course, they don't make that size anymore. The chest freezers are very reasonable but I've had it with falling in them to retrieve stuff from the bottom. So I bit the bullet and got a rather large (14 cu ft) upright that is coming in a couple weeks. The poor budget. But it will look pretty with the shelves I had installed in the garage! That was a big investment - they just installed them Monday. I still have work to do getting the garage in shape. No, I don't think you can easily get 2 cars in the garage unless they are small. And yes, I labelled every single bin and box
HUGS!
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thanks for reply peggy... firstly im in ireland 😉 Mum only showed me the bruising today but she said it appeared maybe a week or two after surgery and hasnt cleared in any way. I think she finds it hot and like pressure in it. Definately uncomfortable. Maybe its common to take this long, i just tried to reassure her that it was because they went in deep for the tumour and its healing from the inside out. Shes worried that it might be internal bleeding. I am hoping somebody here has had the same situation and its nothing to worry about. The Doctors she asked werent her own, she hasnt seen her own oncologist for a while as shes attending a different hospital for chemo. They seemed to fob her off from what i gather 😢
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ConcernedFamilyMember, please get your mother to a doctor. Since her breast is hot, it is likely she has an infection. Don't want that to get out of hand. Here we would go to our surgeon. I don't know the protocol for your health system. It's common to have different doctors for surgery, chemo and radiation. But her surgeon should be the one to see, I think.
HUGS!
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Concerned, I echo Peggy. Bruising is normal, but heat is not. Is it red surrounding the bruise?
Peggy, what a gorgeous garage. I envy your self-discipline & organization. The freezer should fit quite nicely. BTW, you have as much free floor space as we do, and we fit a Subaru Outback and a Ford Fusion in there. Of course, you’d have to back straight in or out.
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Sandy, thanks. I have a Chrysler minivan so it takes up a lot of room. I can't believe how organized I am. Certainly different than my previous life. I stole the shelf idea from my DS & DIL. I'm very pleased - I don't have a basement or attic.
HUGS!
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Peggy, I have a new post retirement goal (after the big day,June 30th): I am going to clean out my garage so that it is as organized as yours! :-)
I think it is good timing that you are 'forced' to get a new freezer to go with....
HUGS!
Octogirl0 -
Celand, I finished rads on Dec 31 and still have some residual fatigue, especially in the evening. I'm back doing things, but still get tired when out running errands etc. Usually try to only do a couple at one time. My RO and MO both said it is very common to have some fatigue 6 months or up to a year post treatment.
Tara, welcome. I had bc on the left also, 12:00, and had 36 radiation tx. I was on my back and my RO checked weekly and said he can completely keep the beams away from the heart and very minimal lung exposure. I had no SE to those organs during or so far (but it's only 1 month). I didn't have to hold breath either.
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Octogirl, what a great goal. June is coming!!! My previous garage was awful and barely usable to store the lawn mower and it was detached. I feel so pampered having an attached garage! No more scraping snow and ice off the car. Let me know if you need ideas for organization since I seem to have found that hidden gene in my DNA
HUGS!
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Celand, I had fatigue after rads too. Took me by surprise as I has managed pretty well up until then. Don't have extreme fatigue that I had right after rads, but I still don't have all the energy back that I had pre BC. But it could also be a se from Tamoxifen. Or both. I don't like it, but if it's the only se I have I'll deal with it. Hang in there and just rest, it will get better. Hugs!
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Thanks all for the great advice as usual!
Sandy, I will definitely look into the fibrosis. I did have visual cording after I finished radiation, but then it went away. Maybe it's back but not visible like you said. Lord knows I have enough fat to hide it lol!!!!
Peggy, my husband would be so jealous of your garage!!!!
Celand I had extreme fatigue for weeks!!!!! I would come home straight from work and be in bed for 7 pm
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Concerned, I'm chiming on to say, no, your mother's breast is not normal. Redness or darkened skin + pressure + heat may equal cellulitis, an infection in the skin. I'd suggest that she see a doctor within the next 24 hours, because this could be bad.
Peggy, thank you for the book suggestions. I'll look on Amazon for them.
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