Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Molly, our expert on all things LE/cording is ChiSandy. I'm sure she can give you some direction. I'm glad that you and the squishies are doing pretty good. Your poor chest has gone through an awful lot. I'm sure all will work out now that you are done with surgeries (at least I hope you are!).
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Molly, go to stepupspeakout.org and look for a LANA-certified doctor and PT in your area. Your breast surgeon might also know of one. A quick search for "lymphedema Los Angeles" showed links for LE treatment at USC Keck Medical Center, in Santa Monica, and UCLA.
Robin, your insurance (private or Medicare) pays for one mastectomy form every 2 years and two mastectomy bras a year—my LE doc says a lumpectomy is considered a “partial mastectomy.” For those who need to pad an irregular breast for symmetry, there are wedge-shaped forms to match the missing quadrant, as well as foam or silicone “shells” that can be placed in a regular bra and stuffed with whatever you find works best. In my larger (J cup) bras, which fit my “normal” L breast and wrinkle a bit on the R, I sometimes use a small foam pad that I removed from an old Genie bra to shove my R breast closer to the center so my cleavage is vertical instead of skewing left. In T-shirt bras which are lightly padded anyway, I don’t do anything. IIRC, even Target has bra pads in the bra-accessories (strap-clips, nipple covers, back band extenders, etc.) section.
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Poodles: I had total knee replacement 3 years ago. Recovery was a b**tch and I'm reliving it after reading your posts. I will say 3 years later, still pain free and leg is straight , so it was worth it in long run.
You've been given great advice by others -- but I want to ensure you're aware of another source of great pain-- at least for me-- opioid constipation,. I wasn't told anything about it, and when I asked -- it was pooh-poohed. Well, sister, it was just awful. Opioids change body functions necessary for bowel movement and it goes on and on . Serious side effects if not addressed.
So please consider taking laxative combined with stool softener as soon as you can, and take it daily once or twice a day, everyday. If that doesn't do it, add milk of magnesia or-- the big guns-- magnesium citrate. .Like knee pain, u need to get ahead of the constipation . (Of course check with your Dr first) Hope this helps. sorry if it's been discussed already-- can't follow threads on this forum.
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Eat as many prunes as you can stand, on top of a stool softener. Watch out for constipating foods, especially refined starches & rice—offset them with plenty of water, fiber and enough fat. This is not a time to worry about your weight or even blood sugar (the stress of pain will cause artificial spikes in the latter, which will normalize as your pain diminishes). You know about the low-residue “BRAT” (bread, rice, applesauce & tea—a variant being "bananas, rice, applesauce & toast") diet often advised to combat stomach upset and diarrhea? Eat the opposite.
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Thanks for the reminder, SarasotaLady. I've got some Colace and Miralax here. And by here, I mean AT MY HOME! Got sprung from the Big House at 4pm. My pup has just about licked my face off and it's good to have my recliner and my big ole rice bed. I think the Visiting Nurse will come by tomorrow to set up in-home PT. Poor DH, though. He had schlep all the equipment and stuff in. He's exhausted from his lung infection already. So we swung by Publix and picked up some BBQ, Mac & cheese, and collards for dinner.
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I can just imagine the world of good being at home is doing you, Poodles! Another tip: I've found dried apricots to be very helpful.
MJ
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Susie_2017 - Sorry to hear you are joining this club, but it's a great bunch of ladies who will have plenty of help information for you. It's great news that you don't carry the BRACA genes. I had chemo before rads and it started about one month post chemo. They are going to want you to heal up a bit from surgery before you would start rads. I'll be thinking of you as your surgery date approaches. You can get through this! Information is powerful and will help.
For rads, I was told I could use non-metallic deodorant. So, I've been using Alra which contains Aloe Vera gel and Oil of Cypress. It works pretty well. It was available at a local medical supply store. I've also been using TriDerma radiation cream which has Aloe too as well as Allantoin. I have two more "whole breast" treatments before I start 9 boosts.
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Just had my second biopsy (stereostatic) this morning. Same breast different location from an earlier biopsy. So have the dreaded wait and see time. Going in Friday for the results of the second. Process was interesting, not really painful. Radiologist was concerned that lidocaine would somewhat mask area needing biopsy. I expressed being okay with less lidocaine (grin and bear) if need be to acquire good biopsy. So he tried half dosage and only minimal when he got close to location. But the grin and bear tactic didn't work. Still it wasn't bad and radiologist immediately put more lidocaine at the site.
Didn't think I would be saying this but sure hope I just need my lumpectomy as originally planned. Time will tell
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We'll be waiting with you, gardennerd!
MJ
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~Gardennerd~
Biopsies aren't fun. Will be keeping good thoughts that you will get your wish for the planned lumpectomy.
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Thank you ladies.
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GardenNerd, Glad you got through the 2nd biopsy. Hope you can have only the lumpectomy as planned. In your pocket while you wait.
HUGS!
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Gardennerd, sending positive thoughts your way as you wait. Hugs!
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GardenNerd - Adding my best wishes & positive thoughts for you, also. UGH, having to do a 2nd biopsy.
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Hi ladies. I thought I posted this two hours ago and must not have actually hit submit. Drat!
Here is a question for you. I know seromas are common and have read many posts about them here. Today, I just had my breast drained again by my surgeonwith a needle aspiration for a recurring hematoma. Pretty much all blood. We did the same thing exactly a week ago and I may feel it filling in again. These are very close to the surface (like my tumors and lumpectomy) so they get pretty uncomfortable and are visible to the eye.
I met my Rad man today. He said they would monitor with a CTScan every 5 sessions. I start radiationin a week.
Has anyone here had issues with recurring hematomas?
So far... you all have provid d so much wonderful and practical info fir me! Thanks so SO much
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GardenNerd, you are one tough cookie!! Robin, be careful. I had a hematoma rupture.
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Molly, thanks for the warning. I will watch it closely. Was it in your breast
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Robin, that’s why my NP refused to drain my axillary seroma…until the incision burst. She was adamant that a needle aspiration would just cause it to refill, because nature abhors a vacuum (come to think of it, so do my cats). I think having the incision pop and everything gush out all at once was a blessing in disguise. When radiation enlarged my tumor-cavity seroma, we were all in agreement that it shouldn’t be aspirated but that we should watch and wait to see if it resorbed. After the second post-op followup mammo, we’ve discovered it’s back to a few cm. smaller than its pre-rads size, and it may just stabilize in there due to the fibrosis surrounding most of it. I’m fine with that, especially if it keeps that breast from shriveling.
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GardnerNerd- sending postive~~~~vibes~~~~. Fingers crossed!
Hugs!
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My seroma burst during a mammogram which hurt so much it brought me to tears and then filled up again within a few days.
I was told the seroma is no problem for radiation and that they like seeing them because it makes it easier for them to see where the tumor bed is. They also said it would absorb slower during radiation. I am content to have it take its time because it is keeping the shape of my breast better (allowing me to procrastinate dealing with what it will look like in the end.)0 -
Good Morning! I was diagnosed in November of 2016, but this is my first post. I have completed 8 cycles of chemo and now it is surgery time. Yes, I should have been checking in about all of this before now, but one day at a time. My BS has said from the beginning that I was a good candidate for a lumpectomy, but that he would honor whatever I chose to do. After lots of researching, praying, talking to other women, I have decided to go with the lumpectomy. Hard decisions to make as each of you know. I met with my BS yesterday and waiting on call for surgery date. It will be within the next 1 to 2 weeks. He sorta threw me for a loop as he presented 2 different options. The first was the lumpectomy (my tumor was in the armpit, tail of the breast) with a possible prosthesis that will dissolve over a years time and a mini lift. The BS will do all of this. The second option is for a lumpectomy with a reduction and lift (I guess an overall boob job
) that will involve a PS as well. The second is obviously a more involved surgery. He said that neither is better than the other. I really do not like so many choices. I am leaning towards the first choice, but would be grateful to hear your thoughts and experiences. I will be having radiation as well. Thank you all so much!0 -
ML, Welcome! Glad you decided to post. I really have nothing to say on your choices - definitely difficult ones. I'm sure other ladies who have had to make the same decision will chime in and tell you about your experiences. Glad you've made it through chemo and ready for your next step in treatment. We're with you whatever you decide.
HUGS!
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The wonderful thing about this site, ML, is you can express your concerns, your fears, your indecision and not be judged by anyone. You will get nothing but support here! I've been careful about telling certain people about my treatment decisions as I feel certain I would get push-back from them. I know what's best for my body - you know what's best for yours.
Best of luck to you. Come back here often. This site has become my lifeline!
MJ
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RobinLt - I am learning myself, so I cannot offer advise via experience but hope you get the answers you need.
ML1209- I'm in the middle of the diagnosis process. But prior to finding second spot via MRI the choice for me was lumpectomy with brachytherapy (radiation). BS felt with size of breast it would be hardly noticed. But with second spot I am back to limbo land until pathology report.
Your options (although you hate all the choices) are interesting. I have never heard of a dissolving prosthesis (so that is interesting). I am not a prosthesis type of person but it is certainly a popular choice for many. You certainly have stirred my interest up to read more on this.
I do know in the back of my head the idea of a reduction would be an option for me as I am a HH cup and would welcome the girls to be smaller. But as you said, it requires more surgery. I had actually asked the BS about that for my situation and he, at the time, felt it was not necessary (that might change soon)
Like you, I would have lots of questions still. Time factor? how many has BS done with either process? Side effects/complications that could occur from either procedure? what type of followups required? I would probably be doing a pros and cons list to compare.
Hopefully someone will have experience in both of your choices instead of my just adding to your questions. But certainly sharing gives us the ability to make better choices for ourselves. Best to you.
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KB870 - This is so true what you said, " Without the input from everyone it would have been a much harder and lonelier time."
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My BS didn’t think I should do reductions (would have had to be bilateral, and I’d never have recovered in time to go on the Mediterranean cruise we’d booked and on which we’d had our hearts set—my DH nearly died a couple of months before my dx), because she was certain I’d have had more seromas and scarring. Her partner, who had to suture the SNB incision pulled open by the weight of my breast, said he’d have recommended bilateral oncoplastic reductions at the same time as the lumpectomy...and tough noogies about the cruise. Water under the bridge (and out of the seroma) now.
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ML, welcome! Sorry can't help you on your choices, but I'm here to give you support. Did the BS give you any information on the dissolving prothesis to help you make your decision?
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Got a quick question... how long after surgery did you have your first mammos? It'll be 9 months out for me.. I'll be getting it in June, so looking forward to getting it out of the way
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Mammogram after surgery - 10 months (6 months after rads)
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Judy, my first was 6 months after finishing rads, too. About 9 months post surgery. It was fine for me.
HUGS!
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