Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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No, nothing appears to be torn or fractured. I actually do have a fancy prescription knee brace. I don't wear it because it's a PITA. But maybe I will today.
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Yay! I'm finally going to be getting the MRI my BS said I "didn't need" after 2 oncologists + others expressed concern that one wasn't done. At a month after LE, it is apparently trickier to do, but research shows it can still be very effective at identifying residual disease.
Jury is still out about re-excision to clear the margins. RO wants to talk to the BS, see MRI and discuss with tumor board. If we don't do it, she plans to do more boosts.
. She already told me I'm looking at 6-7 weeks for radiation--I think I'd rather have the surgery if it will reduce that time even a little! Is there any way that I would feel up to flying right after 6 weeks of radiation? We have a mandatory meeting for work that I would have to fly to 4 days after week 6 (as it currently stands) would end. I could probably get a special exception to miss it--and will have to if radiation is delayed and/or goes into the 7th week--but if there's a possibility that I will feel good enough to fly out to it, I'd rather wait before telling my boss.
Poodles--very glad nothing was torn or fractured!
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I met with the Radiation Oncologist and was so happy he was so very nice! He has referred me to another Medical Oncologist that will follow me after radiation. He explained everything so well and in a way I understood the importance of having the radiation. I start radiation next Wednesday. I had my permanent markers done yesterday. Was surprised it was an actual tattoo.
I had read somewhere they mark you with a sharpie and not to wash it off. The tattoos make more since! I really am not looking forward to driving 40 minutes every day to get my treatment but it will be worth it I hope. 0 -
Lexicoe, I don't know how you'll do after rads but I was entirely up to flying right afterwards. You might be fatigued. No one knows how their breast will respond to radiation - skin problems, e.g. That would be the only concern. You'll likely do just fine. Glad you're getting the MRI. I have never heard of the number of radiation treatments changing because of the margins. I had 33. And my margins were clear first time around. Good luck.
Boston, I thought it was cool getting tattoos. I bragged about them to my son (who does have quite a few of them). Now we're hip! Sounds like you hit the RO jackpot!
HUGS!
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Poodles - So sorry to hear about your knee troubles on top of everything else. Ouch!
ChiSandy - You are such a wonderful source of info. Had never been told some of the info you shared about lymphedema, especially the compression sleeve info.
BostonTerriorMom - Some places use tattoos, some use markers. Mine used markers. Before it was all done I had a total of 10 marks - looked like a bad version of a treasure map!
Lexicoe - Glad you are getting that MRI. It could be possible to travel. Seems there is a lot of variation between # rad treatments and also how your skin tolerates it and how you feel afterward. My 20 treatments ended on 3/21 & skin is ok - having some loss of appetite & fatigue, but doing OK as long as limit work to 8 hrs daily. Talk to your RO & do whatever they recommend to best take care of yourself. Lots of good creams and things out there to lessen effects on skin. See the Feb 2017 & Mar 2017 topics - some good info. Or, let me know & I will share what worked for me.
Everyone else - Healing thoughts and best wishes.
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I had 2 or 3 lymph nodes removed and no one told me that I shouldn't have BP or blood draws in that arm. Who should I ask about this? My Radiologist Oncoligist or the MO?
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Boston, your BS should have told you. You don't want any needles or BP cuff on that arm. No flu shots. Nothing.
HUGS!
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Boston, the person you should ask is your breast surgeon.
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BostonTerriorMom - No one told me either..... I only found out after 4 1/2 months of chemo. I had a PICC line in my left arm so had been having blood draws and BP taken on my right (surgical) side. I made an appointment on my own with a lymphedema specialist, an RN and PT person. I have no symptoms but wanted to know what i should be doing or not doing.
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~BostonTerriorMom~
My simulation was done with markers. They lasted for most of my treatment because a piece of tape (water-proof, I'm guessing, was put over each mark) I had blue Xs & red Os(circles) on my breast,side & back.. I think the techs touched up once in the seven weeks I was radiated. I have a needle phobia, so tattooing would have been out for me. My BS, RO & MO all told me about not having blood pressure, blood draw or any injections in my right arm. I was also told by my RO to wear gloves when I cleaned house or worked in the yard (I do that anyway).
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VelvetPoppy, The tattoos were just a snap/pinch like when they get blood from your finger tip only less uncomfortable. They are NOTHING.
HUGS!
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So, I have had a weird day. First, I went to visit the new office. It's about 1.2mi from the old office. It's a nice office, but parking is 1/2-1 block away. That doesn't sound like much to the powers that be, but it's a lot for those of us who have knee, back, and hip problems. The office itself is very nice, but since most of us are considered Mobile Workforce (work from home or field) I think they've traded the parking for a lot of wasted space.
Then I had a meeting with my two bosses, for what I thought would be a conversation about expanding my responsibilities within the company. Nope. It was a conversation about how the current administration's decisions on Medicaid and refugees have impacted our programs (all negatively) and how that impacts my position as the company nurse. I will no longer be on salary, but will be doing piece-work at a price they will set. When they need a nurse to do a home visit, some training, or to write a protocol they will pull on my tail and I'll get right to work.
And then on the way home (as if I wasn't upset enough) I got a call from an organization who is helping us find memory care for Mother, saying that in her home state she will not qualify for that level of care because she has to be able to manage her own oxygen and meds. Seriously? If she could do that she wouldn't need memory care! The lady was so apologetic--I could tell she hated to have to tell me. So, in her state it looks like the only option is skilled nursing/long-term care. She's going to be so thrilled... I've called the lady back to ask if she can look at the regs for the next state over, where my sister lives.
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Finished #18/30 radiation today...think I'm still doing ok, but def wouldn't look forward to getting on a plane by the time I'm done with all this. But then again, doing 5 months of chemo first probably has something to do with that.
@BostonTerriorMom a good doc makes all the difference! So glad you got a good RO. I adore mine, along with my new MO (after 2 duds). Where in CO are you from? I lived in Castle Rock for 17 years (before it got as massive as it's getting now!)...and miss CO terribly. My youngest son, wife, and sweet baby granddaughter live in Parachute.
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Poodles, why does everything have to be so damned difficult for you? That's awful about your job. You must be screaming at the gods! And your mother can take care of her meds? Right. Sure. Unbelievable. How could anyone think that? I think an evening of drinking is in order. Maybe a whole weekend of it. ARGH!! BTW, hope you aren't too sore today.
HUGS!
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I know, Peggy. I very rarely sit around and think "Why me?" but tonight my feelings are in conflict. Thankfully, I brought home some Chantilly Cake from Publix, since I'm all out of rum. DH and I were just talking yesterday about my job, specifically that I am getting tired now. I've been a nurse for 40 years, which is a long time in nurse-years. I'm still 18 months from taking early retirement. We talked about what it would take for me to retire sooner than that and came to the conclusion that I need to continue working for now, while we get our financial ducks in a row. We have been talking about selling the house, but one of the concerns is where we would live after the house sells, given my job. Well, this might have just become a non-issue, in light of the changes in my job. I was pretty upset on my way home, so I pulled off and did a couple of quick google searches and found a lot of work in home health that I might want to look at. At the least, it helped me feel like I have options, should I need to separate from my company.
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Poodles, I think you just hit on a good option for yourself. I recall you mentioning about working for awhile yet and figuring out where to live when you sell your house (Come to Spokane
). You have to feel better just knowing that you can find work you love. HUGS and more HUGS!
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Poodles, have you considered home hospice? Our hospice nurses love their jobs.
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I'm currently recovering from a reexcision I hadyesterday. My lumpectomy was on March 1st. I had a wire localization prior to the lumpectomy - I nearly lost consciousness toward the end of that procedure. I wonder if the interruption affected the lumpectomy in terms of exactness since I wound up with close margins necessitating the reexcision. I read about women needing 2 or 3 reexcisions and hope that this won't happen to me. I'm not looking forward to radiation or tamoxifen but these are the recommended treatments. I have osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis and ruptured discs so I imagine the lack of estrogen will destroy my back. One problem at a time I guess.
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Molly, I have actually considered hospice. I think I would like the work. I know a lot of people think that hospice is morbid, but my own personal experience with hospice when my dad was dying was 100% positive. My only fear is of taking night-call--I have chronic insomnia (caused by working 25yrs of night shift), so getting my sleep all messed up is a real concern. But I'm sure I could figure out a way to work with it.
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Tamoxifen doesn’t deplete estrogen (as aromatase inhibitors do)—it blocks the tumor cells’ estrogen receptors to deprive only those cells of estrogen. Your body will still produce estrogen on Tamoxifen—directly via the ovaries (if they’re still working), and indirectly via the androgens made by fat cells and the adrenal glands and converted into estrogens by the liver enzyme aromatase. One side effect of Tamoxifen is strengthening of bone!
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Nessy, welcome! I can't say if your issue with the wire localization contributed to not getting clean margins or not. I had no issues with my wire localization prior to the lumpectomy and my BS did not get clean margins. I had to have a re-excision and which was successful in getting clean margins. I hope you get a good report & they don't have to go in again.
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Nessy, Welcome to the best lounge on BCO! I'm sorry your wire localization was so bad. My first (10 years ago) was awful too and I swore to never have another. Of course, I did. My second experience was much better. I was loaded up with Lidocaine and had a very caring team doing it. But it has nothing to do with clear margins. Those little cells are sneaky. Remember, the BS can't "see" the BC - and they don't want to. So they are hoping they get it all the first time. The pathology report will tell them if it was. For the rest, just one step at a time. You'll likely do well through radiation and Tamoxifen. Most of us do.
It would be wonderful if you would fill out your profile and make it PUBLIC via SETTINGS. You gave us your location - that's great. It helps us immensely.
Good luck.
HUGS!
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Hi, Nessy. Wire localization did not impact my lumpectomy - got clean margins, even though there was a 3 hour gap between wire & surgery. Procedure was a bit of surprise, though. Posed questions about the procedure in a voice mail to the Nurse Navigator, but never got a response. Was already in a highly emotional state thinking about the lumpectomy. First, breast compression on the mammo machine (ouch!) , then some Lidocaine, then the wire going in - Closed my eyes the whole time and cried. Hope you have good results and clean margins.
Poodles - You sound like a wonderfully caring Nurse and with all we hear about the Nursing shortage, believe you will find a new Nursing niche out there. Sound like you are going through a lot - drink away if it helps!
Hugs and healing thoughts to all. It's the weekend!
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I had a small problem with the wire localization and it made me late for surgery. The procedure it's self was not painful nor way the mammogram after the wire was in place. When I got to the center to get my wire the ultrasound technician was late so the doctor tried to do the ultrasound herself. She couldn't find my marker. The tech got there and she couldn't find my marker. I had the biopsy at the hospital breast center not the cancer breast center. The hospital uses old style markers (whatever the heck that is) and the cancer center uses a new style that is easier to see in dense breast. The wire loc or tbe dye neither one hurt. It was the emotional piece that was so hard. All the staff were amazing.
Nessy, I'm sorry you had a painful experience and had to have another surgery to get your clean margins. The girls on this site are the best support all "us newbies" could ask for! Seriously some of these ladies had surgery years ago and they are still here to support the newly diagnosed! They were a huge help to me personally. I just couldn't wrappend my head around so much of what I read about BC but this group made it understandable.
Thank you all you LL ladies!
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Well, my mother has taken a turn for the worse. She's septic and may have also had a stroke during the night. Things look bad, so I'm on my way to the Gulf Coast.
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Poodles, I'm in your pocket. Holding you close and sending you uplifting thoughts. I'm sorry that your mother is so much worse and hope you get there safely. Loads of love to you and yours.
HUGS!
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I am praying for you and your family, Poodles.
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Poodles, hugs and prayers to you and your family.
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Does anyone recall from their days of chemo if you ended up with elevated ALT and AST in your blood tests which relate to liver function? Mine were high right before my 4th and final round of chemo. I had blood drawn a month after round 4 and the levels were more elevated. So, my MO had me I tested again 5 weeks after the the levels have continued to go up. I am now scheduled for an ultra sound of my liver. Makes me nervous so I was just wondering if anyone had a similar situation.
I started rads on Monday, so have only had five treatments.
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Poodles - Adding my prayers and thoughts for you and your family during this difficult time.
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