Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Susie, glad your surgery went well! I echo TapperMom - you have had had major surgery so don't overdo just because you don't feel awful. Rest and let your body heal.
Vivian, Waiting for all those test results are tough. Hoping you don't need chemo!
HUGS!
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I am laying on my couch all day so far. Not even cooking dinner. My lumpectomy site is slightly red and swollen. I'm guessing this is normal right after surgery. I'm using ice on it now. I will not rush anything because I don't want any set backs.
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I came home with my incision site bandaged, and I think my surgeon said to leave the bandage for 48 hours (it was at least that long). Is yours not bandaged?
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no no bandage at all
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It is so interesting to me how different everyone's experiences are.
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Thanks everyone.. somehow, I was thinking it was supposed to be sooner, guess the bs wanting one done in Jan. threw me off.. can't wait till June is over...
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I was a little surprised I had no bandage and she said I could shower after 24 hours.
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I also had no bandage and was told I could shower in 24 hours. I waited 48, however, I was worried if I'd be able to dry my hair but I had no trouble raising my arm and using the hairdryer.
Glad to hear you're lounging a bit, Susie, and taking it easy. PontiacPeggy was one of the sages who gave me great advice - I listened and am now passing it on!
MJ
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GrendelDog - you speak from the heart. Good stuff on a clear margin!
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Susie - thanks for sharing and I am glad you are doing well. I will have my lumpectomy on 5/24. I have already done chemo ... praying you will not have too, but if you do ... it is doable. Please share any helpful tips as far as the lumpectomy.
Vivian - prayers that you will not need chemo as well. I finished 3 weeks ago ... not what any of us would choose, but doable.
Grendeldog - thanks for sharing. So sorry you had to have it three times, but so thankful for clean margins finally!
Sandy- so if you had to do over, would you have done the reduction at time of lumpectomy?
kB870 - great to hear how quickly you were back swimming. My lumpectomy is 3 days before my kiddos get out of school and they will be chomping at the bit to get to the pool! No rest for mom's!
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Susie2017 - So glad you are doing well. I appreciate you sharing the process of the wire insert. I had thanked my radiologist last time I saw him (thinking I would not see him again) and he picked up that I "thought" I would not see him again and he told me I was not done with him yet. Reminding me that prior to surgery I would get the wire inserted. Here's to a good pathology report.
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Those who have had knee replacement--how long were you on your walker? When could you lift and carry 25-lbs? How long before you could work an 8-hr day?
I'm doing great, btw. Totally off narcotics. Tylenol and diclofenac, only. I've already got pretty good flexibility. Walking doesn't hurt at all, except for soreness in my hamstrings and quadriceps, like I've been climbing a LOT of stairs.
I guess after the rollback of the ACA yesterday I need to think about getting my DIEP done, after I get healed from this knee replacement. We have great insurance now. But no telling what will happen next year. Much as I don't look forward to more surgery this year (mainly more vomiting!)I better get it done while my deductible and out of pocket are met!
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How soon after surgery do you begin radiation?
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ML, usually 4-6 weeks post surgery. They want you to be healed and to be able to comfortably hold your arm above your head for the 10 minutes it takes. That's for traditional radiation. Other types are done differently and some are started when you have your surgery.
HUGS!
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Susie, glad you are recovering nicely. How different all our individual experiences were! No wire-locator insertion for me, but instead a radioactive seed implantation. I awoke stuffed into a front-Velcro knit surgical bra three sizes too small—“XL” for an I-cup boob (the NP had warned me they might have to use a giant ACE wrap instead), which I was instructed to wear for the first 48 hrs. After that, I could shower freely, and let the Steri-strips fall off when they were ready (no Tegaderm necessary).
Poodles, you're doing GREAT! You weaned off the opioids really quickly. As for ditching the walker, my experience was different from yours, as I was in rehab after both surgeries (10 days for the R, 2 wks for the L) and had transitioned to a cane within a week of transfer from hospital to rehab. (The second time, IIRC, I did short stints with a cane at the aft. session of my third day of PT). I used a cane for a long time, mostly for safety & balance. 12 wks. after my R TKR, we took a Viking river cruise. I didn't use the cane while onboard, only for the shore excursions and the airports (where I got a wheelchair).
Nowadays, for domestic flights, I pack a cane unless I'm dealing with a backache or it's a very, very long walk in the terminals. In that case, I carry it with me and am always offered a wheelchair. For international flights, I carry the cane and accept the offer of a wheelchair if I'm either arriving in Europe or home—makes the wait at passport control much shorter. I didn't when landing in London—and after an hour of waiting in the “non-UK/EU" line (full of millennials with their faces buried in cellphones instead of keeping moving), I wish I had. Also, for my flight out of Heathrow I asked for a chair only upon arrival (the corridors there aren't very long), but had no idea that my plane would leave not from a jetway at the gate, but from another terminal—had to take a bus (almost didn't get one of the two seats) from the gate—only to find a the plane on the middle of the tarmac, with a staircase! I asked if I could use the lift-truck (which Bob & I used when transferring to the Budapest flight for the river cruise), and one of the ground crew said I should have asked for a wheelchair at check-in—no standees except if accompanying a disabled passenger—and no wheelchair, no “disability.” Fortunately, a kind gentleman hauled my carry-ons up the stairs so I could hold on to the banister with one hand and use the cane with the other.
Just because you are not in pain, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should be too stoic to accept disability assistance if offered, nor be too proud to request it if there is the slightest possibility you might not be able to handle long walks and standing in line.
Can’t speak as to returning to full-time work, as after the first surgery I was working only part-time (and retired after finishing up the real estate closing on which I was working during the river cruise). I never weighed stuff I was lifting—we had porters on the ship, and didn’t have to yank my own suitcase off a baggage carousel for at least 6 months.
Peggy, I’ve seriously considered breast reduction for years—the lipo/tummy-tuck was always wishful thinking, especially since no insurance would cover it (or any of its complications). I didn’t consider having it done along with the lumpectomy, as my “eyes were on the prize” of the Mediterranean cruise Bob & I had booked shortly before his own surgical misadventures, which were two months before my diagnosis. Because I knew I’d be a candidate for the short radiation protocol (and if I were to need chemo, my MO assured me she could schedule it for the last week in a cycle), I was confident we could make it. And two weeks post-rads, I was on a plane to Rome.
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ML1209 - I started radiation 8 weeks after surgery. RO did not have problems with the timing and I wanted a period of "normalcy" between surgery & the rads phase.
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Sandy, I'm right there with you on the wheelchair. Both DH and I have needed wheelchairs when traversing an airport. You can easily walk over a mile in Atlanta's airport! No way could we do that. It doesnt necessarily get us front of the line treatment, at least not in Atlanta, but it sure makes it easier. With DHs poor lungs and heart, it would take us an hour to walk to our gate.
Think I could be ready to ride 450 miles to my mothers house to sort through her stuff in 4week? 6 weeks?
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Hi all, haven't been posting as much, dealing with a few joint issues plus hitting the art studio daily now. I have a question. I'm 11 months out from LX and was fine at the surgery sites until about 3 weeks ago. I've started having some real discomfort under the arm area by the node removal site. I saw my RO a couple of weeks ago and he said he thought I had some scar tissue build up after the surgery. No lumps felt or anything. Anyone else get this? I see my surgeon next month and have my first mammo and ultra-sound then. Of course we always worry about every little twinge! Thanks, hope everyone is doing well. I'm still waiting for hair to get longer and a little frustrated there. Thanks! Dara
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Robin, sorry Yes it was in my breast behind my tissue expander. I fainted, lost a lot of blood and had emergency surgery the next day.
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Hi Molly50, thanks for the clarification.
I have about a week before Rad begins. And I am trying to slowly decreas the size of the THIRD hematoma with heating help pads. What a fabulous invention! They slip right between my two bras!
I am going to TRY to not have this one drained. It's very visible, just under the skin and the Rad Man will keep an eye on it with Ct scans every 5th Rad session. I am hoping it will shrink with radiation.
Draining it is no big deal at all!!! A relief actually. But since it just fills back up, I am doing what I can to keep it steady and get through radiation.
I hate the thought of surgery to cauterize. So am taking the long slow road and lots of Tylenol.
Any time I am tempted to pout and feel sorry for myself, I read all the great posts from all the fabulous women on here. I realize I won the lottery in the cancer game. Hopefully three months from now, this will all be over. I am tired of this station... all boob all the time!
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Dara...I have the same thing, my LE said it is cording from rads and she is massaging it out.
Sandy...is there any way you can still get mastectomy and DIEP (fat from tummy tuck put in breasts) covered by insurance? I, too, was larger breasted and had a BMX with expanders and will have DIEP recon in July, once rad damage heals. The expanders are a C cup size, I never wear a bra (no nipples) and feel so "light" that I have lost weight just feeling so good and being more active. The tummy tuck will be the bonus. Finally looking good at 67! Even if not covered, I want to encourage you as it is life changing to get rid of that weight on your chest
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Poodles, which knee is it? You can drive much sooner after a L TKR (assuming you drive an automatic ) than a R one. With a R TKR, you might be able to drive at 6 wks post-op, depending on how comfortable you are with braking hard enough and sitting behind the wheel with knee bent (extension is as important to rehab as is flexion). I would definitely hit every possible freeway or tollway rest stop you can, and walk around with a cane at each stop till the knee loosens up and stops hurting. If still on a walker, it’s too soon. And when you get to your destination, elevate—you’ll need to do so for at least 6 wks. post-op, maybe longer (I used to elevate until I could see my toes getting longer & slimmer). And how much standing, stooping and bending would you need to do at your mother’s house? Kneeling or getting up off the ground isn’t advisable yet, not for a few months.
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it's the left knee, thankfully. I'm totally off the narcotic, as of 2days ago, so I anticipate being able to drive in another week or so.
We had to move the contents of my mother's apt back to get house this week.she's been in independent living for about 2+wks. The independent living place gave us 7 days verbal notice. Grrr. I'm pretty sure it's illegal, but we decided to comply to keep them from confronting my mother, who is physically and cognitively declining. Thank goodness she still had the house! At least we have a safe, free place to store, sort, and stage things. My sister have been great about doing all this. I will take my turn soon as I can in June.
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Wait a minute—isn’t “independent living” part of the continuum of care (which next step would be “assisted living”)? You mean she has 7 days before she is discharged to home without any intermediate step? That makes no sense. At least here (as well as in FL), they are long-term arrangements that include leases.
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Poodles, what's with your mom being moved? Where did this come from? She's being moved to what? Crap.
HUGS!
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So I don't know if this is a coincidence but before I went to sleep last night I did the progressive relaxation technique my nurse navigator gave out at the Healthy Habits workshop last week. The next thing I knew, I woke up and it was 6 a.m. - I haven't slept through the night in ages!
My other good news is that the pain under my arm subsided considerably last week. Still a little sore but nothing like before. Still get very tired if I do more than a couple of things in a day - I had a work-related meeting this morning, then went to a fundraising event this afternoon. Fell asleep in the chair when I got home.
Hoping to hear from the RO this week about when I can start my treatments.
MJ
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MJ, how nice to get a good night's sleep. I think you'll find that you tire easily and are fatigued for about a year. Just BC itself does that, let alone the treatments we undergo. Just listen to your body.
HUGS!
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Thanks, Peggy - you are always so supportive!
MJ
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I'm sending good wishes to all. It's hard to await test results or to prepare for surgery. Grendeldog, so glad that the margins are clean although sorry it took the third surgery. Susie_2017, glad your lumpectomy is over. There is great variation. I think many surgeons use steri-strips that fall off after 1 or 2 weeks. I believe that the redness and swelling are typical and subside with icing when healing is going well. Came home with ace bandage covering me and was surprised that allowed to remove that so quickly.
Survivor Guilt: Thanks to all who answered my recent questions about follow-up care and my concerns about having had my cancer diagnosed early, triggering less invasive treatment. I appreciate the info and insights from these and other threads. Forgive me if I missed any posts. I saw ones related to "guilt" at early diagnosis and less invasive interventions from VelvetPoppy, Peggy, IHGJAnn, Tappermom, SJI, KB, Poodles Gardennerd ,natsera ,and ChiSandy. I believe Sandy framed my discomfort as "survivor's guilt." Viewing my experiences through that lens, I've been reconsidering things. Thinking about others who've experienced serious life challenges, I've noticed many respond with a commitment to living well and to helping others. That theme weaves through so many, many posts on assorted topics; even the very fact that those long past the lumpectomy stage are taking the time to offer info and support to those of us at earlier phases of treatment. This is the time of year some of the events related to WWII and to the Holocaust are commemorated and interviews with survivors in various situations during the War show an inspiring sense of renewed appreciation of life and commitment to living life to the fullest. (I hope that analogy does not strike anyone as inappropriate. Survivors of many other extreme situations, such as forced internment, random violence, natural disasters, accidents, or deaths of loved ones show similar tendencies. It is not my intention to offend anyone. I'm merely trying to draw inspiration; understanding the responses of many, many who have endured tragedies of far greater scope and intensity than the experiences I'm going through now.)
Another view from the angle of providers: I've also gained insight into how some providers might experience treating those diagnosed at different stages of severity of prognosis. I perceived this as providers thinking that those with small, early-stage cancers, hormone-receptor positive cancers do not warrant much of their time and resources. I listened to someone who was moved to become a physician while watching her mother battle breast cancer. She was drawn to oncology but did not think she could bear working in any health care role because she observed so many in the waiting room – including her mother – who had grim prognoses and did not survive. She spoke with her mother's oncologist, who engaged so deeply with those who struggling with such dire threats to their lives, and asked how she was able to retain her engagement with those facing death so imminently. The oncologist told her that she was moved to draw upon her training and skill in helping those patients. That said; she drew upon the successes with any and all patients, drawing great hope from those diagnosed early. To the oncologist, early diagnosis signaled greater screening, greater awareness of risk factors and efforts to minimize risk, and a hope that on the horizon, fewer would be diagnosed when they need more serious interventions. This doctor valued the mix of patients, but found relief and renewed energy meeting patients diagnosed at earlier stages. So…I hope that maybe some of my providers find my early-stage experience questions are not a waste of resources.
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Reduction with Lift: I believe that ML1209 asked if anyone had a "mini-lift." I had a lumpectomy on 3/31 and am scheduled for breast reduction and lift on 5/19. I'm moved to do this because I'm trying to lower the dosage, minimize the risk of side effects, and hopefully increase the effectiveness of whole breast radiation for my left-sided cancer in my very large, pendulous breasts.
Some have breast reduction in conjunction with a partial mastectomy. My lumpectomy was delayed for various reasons, including several successive biopsies on both breasts to see if I might need a full mastectomy so it was important to have the lumpectomy as soon as it was clear that after finding IDC, the other suspicious areas biopsied didn't show cancer.
There's a literature about oncoplastic surgery, including bilateral reduction mammaplasty during breast conservation surgery. I've been reading a bit about using this for those with macromastia and early-stage breast cancer. If anyone would find those helpful, please ask and I'll compile and share citations.
The literature about its effective is very convincing and I'm hopeful that this will help me. As a lay person, I was concerned that removing so much tissue would make it hard to find the original cancer site but I've been assured that this is well documented with imaging and I'll be having whole-breast radiation. Also, I'm hoping since the reduction will remove additional breast tissue, it will cut down on the chances that my papillomas and adenomas would develop into cancer. That's a lay perspective so I don't know if it makes sense but I find it comforting!
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