Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Poodles, we have to get together when you come to Washington! I am laughing because it is what you need and you certainly can work anywhere.
Molly. Thank you for the input. I'll tell her about that forum. I don't really know many of the details as to what kind of reconstruction she is undergoing. Thanks for the input - she's really down.
HUGS
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Poodles, you are amazing! How you are keeping this all together is beyond me. While the nature of the changing neighborhood surprised me, it clearly is a community in flux which seldom brings top dollars. Knowing the situation with my Mom's house, what you described in terms of needing updating didn't surprise me. It sounds like it would be counter productive (not to mention timely) to put too much money into it. And if its in a college area, now is the time to sell - not in the fall. Maybe your Mom's house is something that you can get someone else in the family to take on.
The will situation is a reminder to me that I need to we certain that my legal house is in order. We had a discussion just today about what my LTC policy REALLY covers. We've been paying on it for 10 years, and we each have a different idea of what it will actually cover. And of course we bought it with the belief that Ken would die "young" like his father and I would live forever like my mother. Cancer and the advances in cardiac care have called both those assumptions into question.
But not tonight. A new book is waiting.
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mustlovepoodles - my vote is deep clean carpet with floor allowance. My reasoning is the alternatives have to many negatives. Carpet or parquet not popular so doesn't matter what is showing. And although presentation would be nice with new flooring, the opportunity for new owner to choose what they want is even better. An added perk is you and siblings don't have more work in replacing. Hoping you have a quick sale. Worst experience, most divisive event I've witnessed for family is splitting property among surviving members. I so hope you don't have to experience
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Hi...newly diagnosed and scheduled for lumpectomy on June 14th. Feeling a bit stir crazy right now. Up until now I run and workout at least 5 days a week. I had a MRI biopsy almost 2 wks ago that left me with a significant hematoma. I am not able to run or do an any other aerobic exercise that would cause my chest to move or bounce or do any other exercises that apply weight or pressure to the chest area (pushups, planks, downward dog, etc) I saw my breast surgeon on Thursday and we just need the hematoma to heal before my surgery. I can walk, ride bike and do lower body and ab strength work but that is its. Ugh!! I was so down after being told that I forgot to ask how long I will have restrictions after my lumpectomy. I really wanted to continue to run this summer as it's my stress reliever and my therapy. Can any other runners chime in and share how long it was before they were able to run, do yoga, HIIT or strength workouts after a lumpectomy. I am starting to go a little crazy!!
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Gardennerd, we learned a lot about dividing property when my father died. He owned about 22 acres on the Outer Banks (NC), land that had been in the family since the early 1700s. My dad left a will that he had printed off the internet and never had notarized. He also left a $78,000 lien on the property. No life insurance, of course. We didn't like having to sell, but we couldn't pay off the lien. My brother lived on the property , so it meant displacing him.
Oh, my. It was so bad. It was all I could do to hold the siblings together. Lots of bickering and digging in of heels. Finally, i just laid down the law: all communication goes through me. Period. And unbelievably, they complied! How in the heck we got 5 adults on board with the plan is a mystery to me. But, it's like I told them: when Mother dies, we are all we'll have. We need to do everything we can to perserve our relationships. And it has really paid off now, as we take care of Mother.
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Runnermum - I don't run but I do go to fitness classes - strength training (weights) and mat Pilates. My surgeon told me I could go back after two weeks; I waited three and modified what the class was doing for two weeks. Now I am doing the regular class and am scheduling my rads so I can continue going. It makes me feel normal and has made me so much stronger.
Hope that hematoma heals quickly. Best of luck with your lx; aside from some discomfort and numbness in my tricep from the SNB, I was fine. I did take the advice of the ladies on this site and took it easy for a bit. It's major surgery, as PontiacPeggy reminded me!
MJ
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I've had something really creepy happen. Someone called my oncologist's office and told them I had decided I wouldn't see him anymore. I found out when I ran into his coordinator and she told me. Why someone would do such a mean thing is beyond me. This whole cancer thing is stressful enough without this kind of creepiness added in. I'm going to call the radiation oncologist tomorrow to make sure no one has canceled my Tuesday planning appointment with him.
Runnermom - I know how you feel about exercise relieving stress. I don't run anymore - had meniscus surgery on both knees a few years ago. I use the elliptical, not the same as running outdoors but I do work up enough of a sweat to get the endorphins. I think I had to wait three weeks after LX before I could start working out on the elliptical again. The surgeon said as long as my chest didn't bounce it would be OK. So I ended up going slow and at a low resistance level for a couple of weeks, but at least it was something.
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That's awful, SJI. I can't imagine why anyone would do that! Other than that, hope you're doing well.
MJ
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That's beyond creepy.
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Mustlovepoodle - I watched the decline of my husbands family start with the death of DH Dad. Less than nine months later we lost his Mom. His parents spent thousands to clearly line out their wishes with trusts and will many years in advance to their death. One sibling, the executor, had a different take on it and tried her best to say their intent was something different. That their parents did not mean to legally line out this or that. My husband and I decided to compartmentalize and stick strictly to the legal documents to avoid the emotional baggage that was erupting. There was no way to make everyone happy. For several years after we incurred legal fees as one property was left to my husband and one sibling. The sibling constantly attempted to force us to spend funds on this property we did feel necessary. The sibling had unlimited funds. Just last year (13 years later) she finally decided she wanted to sell her half and we bought her out. It has been a hellish thirteen years but we finally are out from underneath the good intentions of his parents. To this date the siblings still do not communicate, unless absolutely necessary. It has been a terrible, terrible experience.
If you can negotiate and head up the process it is great. I am happy for you. A wise man told me once, "if someone asks you to be executor of their estate . . . run".
Runnermom - I imagine once you are healed, you will be cleared to exercise. Everything I read pretty much states that being active is the best thing while having radiation treatment (not sure of your treatment plan).
I have tubes hanging out from my breasts as I will start brachytherapy tomorrow (surgery six days ago). Radiologist asked me to not be active, mostly out of concern that I am large breasted and he doesn't want my tubes moving the balloon inside my breast. BUT, if I didn't have these tubes, I am fully mobile and it's six days out. I wouldn't think you will be down but for a couple of weeks. Its a bump in the road and you will be back to being active soon in my opinion.
SJI - that is so strange about what your oncologist coordinator said. Kind of hope she got you confused with someone else (it happens). I have to admit with finding out about having cancer, there is just to much on my mind I cannot comfortably speak with confidence the past few months. Last week I had to call three different doctors office to confirm my appts as one of them called the morning of my surgery to reschedule my appt. Seriously my mind was not on anything but going to surgery. I wrote the new time down but wrote the wrong doctor down. The next day I'm on the phone trying to figure out who rescheduled me.
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SJI, that is totally weird. I'm like GardenNerd and hope that the nurse was mistaken.
When I hear the tales of what happens after the death of the parents, it makes me so glad that my brother and I were so congenial. And when DH's mother died, DH and his 4 brothers never argued about a thing. My oldest BIL had handled all MIL's finances and nursing home bills and had done a fantastic job. I guess this doesn't happen where everyone is on the same page. DH and I were lucky.
HUGS!
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Good Morning, Ladies. The sun is shining in northern IL, and I feel (not myself) but better than yesterday! I had the energy of carpet lint yesterday, even after my first shower. It's interesting how something so simple as a shower can feel so special. My DH washed my hair, because I was a bit emotional and sore to stretch my right arm out. I have sent him to work today, for which he is probably secretly happy, and I am working in my home office. Not doing too much, just wanted to feel "normal." By the way, I have taken nothing for pain since Friday evening. I have so very little, and it's quick to come/go. Little sharp ones here/there. Soreness is mostly what I feel. #grateful
So many posts, and I feel most have been addressed thoroughly, so I will respectfully decline to comment as not to add one more opinion at this time. I am also not fully of sound mind.
I do wish each of you the best with personal decisions regarding family matters that can be such a stressor - especially when we are already under stress. I am not sure if I mentioned this (forgive me if I did) when I posted after surgery, but one of my nurses during my surgery (and the last to come talk to me before going to the OR) started my IV. DH had just leaned over to tell me he loved me and was proud of me, and I started to cry. She patted my arm and said that it is totally understandable that I felt overwhelmed, as I tried to hold back my tears. I said to her that I am not afraid, I am just reliving my experience as I lost my first husband to brain cancer and I know this is hard for my DH to see me like this. She said her sister lost her husband as well to brain cancer and she later developed breast cancer. She said she is convinced it was the stress. I felt like her being my nurse in that moment was not a mistake. I have tried to wonder how on earth this happened to me (too) - what did I do/not do to cause this? My DH said to stop the wondering, as that will drive me crazy. I have thought more about how I do react to the stressful situations in my life. I take on others' burdens that I don't need to or mostly have no control over changing their situation, and I realize it has to stop. I can show compassion without getting so frustrated or worked up about something I cannot do one single thing to change. I don't know how easy this will be for me. I get this honestly from my mother. I even asked my DH how on earth my mother could be in such amazing health at 77 with all her worry?!
So, while this journey is still super fresh, I know that one thing I must do going forward is seek better "mental" health. What that means, probably starts with some counseling and a new exercise regime - I really am not a fan of exercising. Honestly, I have tried so many things, and I never stick with anything. Walking is the thing I do the most, because I like the company of friends on a walk mostly. I will paddle board, kayak, swim, etc on vacation or during the summer, but it's not something I have ever stuck with longer than a year. I truly admire anyone - most of y'all - who make it a priority. I danced when I was young for 7 years, but then I never played any athletic sports and just would just do things very leisurely throughout my entire adulthood. A friend how is a real runner used to say she didn't understand how I could maintain a good weight and not be active, especially with a Southern diet! Since I moved north 4 years ago, that Southern diet went all but kaput. I'm married to a very healthy eater who is a runner and cyclist. (Can't catch him and don't want to try, but I love his cooking!)
Thanks for letting me just write.
Kim
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KimPossible - You are probably correct that your pre-op nurse was definitely the right person for you to speak to prior to you going into surgery. I'm sure we all have moments that in retrospect look back and think wow wasn't it neat to have this person or that person in our lives at that very moment. And in particular with strangers. It certainly gives pause to appreciate those moments.
My oldest and dearest friend (38 years) was diagnosed with lung cancer the same week I was diagnosed with breast cancer. We both believe the timing was Gods way of giving us each that extra support we needed. Her lung cancer on right upper lobe, mine the right breast. Both of us with very early stage cancer.
I struggle also with exercise routines. I do know for me, the biggest thing is to not take on to much change at once. If its diet or exercise I look at it as choices. Do I want sweet tea or no sugar in my tea. Once I make a healthy change and have done so for at least one week, its only then that I move to another "change". Hmmm? unsweet tea "changes" to water. Same thing with exercise. Do I want to sit on my backside or do I want to go for a walk? I walk. Do I want to walk 15 minutes or walk 30? I walk 30 minutes. Once a habit, I move to improve.
Baby steps work.
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Garden,
What a profound thing to happen to you and your best friend. I am sure the further bonding that has ocurred because of it is truly special. Wow. I am very thankful both were caught early. In another 38 years, you will both remember this time and be so thankful for how it was such a small blip in the course of your overall healthy lives.
I get the sweet tea vs unsweet. Honestly, I would rather drink water than unsweetened tea, and I am drinking lots more water. Diet changes are going to be much easier, though, I had truly improved upon those in this marriage and a move north. He cannot do fried! All things in moderation, I say.
God has shown He is always there, but for me it has certainly been more real during the darkest hours of my life that I noticed His presence in reassuring me all would be ok. I felt that even when I lost my first husband, and I feel it now. The calm that abates most of my fears can only be from Him.
While, I am still feeling just fine today, I noticed this morning at shower time a "swishing" sound coming from my breast. I have researched that it can happen if a large amount of tissue is disrupted, and I am assuming it cold be a seroma? I've messaged my doctor to see if I should be concerned. I am not at this point, and I don't see anything else unusual coming from the bandaging. It certainly was an odd sound to hear, and I wasn't sure at first it wasn't my tummy gurgling for lunch. One day/issue at a time.
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Kim and GardenNerd, I don't know how anyone can drink sweet tea. I never put sugar in tea or coffee. Sorry to say it makes me gag. I'm not averse to sugar (I put tons on my Cheerios in the morning), just not coffee or tea. And I do drink Coke once in a great while. But I get changing habits slowly. It does work much better. One thing at a time. You might find you want to extend the intervals to 2 weeks. When I went from regular to decaf iced tea I made that change gradually. That was decades ago. Now I can switch back and forth with no headaches
HUGS!
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This is going to be a l-o-o-o-ng week! Doctors Mon-Thurs. PCP this morning; bone density tomorrow morning; BS Wednesday and dentist Thursday.
I saw the PCP for my Well Woman and lab follow-up this morning. Horrible weather to drive in. We had strong thunderstorms move in around 6:00. I left the house at 7:30 for a 9:00 appointment because the rain was coming down so hard and the wind was terrible. It took me 45 minutes to drive 10 miles! A lot of people cancelled because of the weather, so I actually got in to see the doctor before 8:30. She did the GYN, but said she wouldn't do a breast exam because the BS (RO & MO) are currently doing clinical exams every time I go in and BS is ordering mammograms now, but she wanted to see how the breast was "coming along" since finishing radiation.
I was concerned my cholesterol would be high because I had been off the meds for almost a year when she put me back on last November, but all the levels were really good. My thyroid is fine and liver levels are back to normal, but D3 is low. I told her the MO had raised my D3 to 3000 i.u. last month, so she said we would look at it again in 6 months. My glucose and A1C numbers were high enough to put me in pre-diabetic status, but I am going to try to get those numbers back to normal in the next 6 months on my own. She was pleased that the extended release acetaminophen is helping the joint pain in my hands. That, along with the extra D3 and glucosamine chondroitin have eased my pain a lot. She also mentioned tumeric. Did I read something about that here somewhere?
She asked me how the plantar fasciitis was feeling and asked if I wanted a referral to a podiatrist, but I didn't think I needed one. I am walking a lot better after 3 weeks. I told her I would wait one more week and then get back to my walking again. Slowly...maybe only 10 minutes to start. I am basically going to start all over with my walk exercise, except, this time I will stretch properly! I was pretty much a sloth about exercising and hated the idea of exerting myself, but I started just casually walking and found I enjoyed it. I was breathing better, sleeping better and had more energy than I thought possible. Since I tore/pulled/twisted/whatever I did to that ligament in my foot and can't walk, I have started to gain my weight back (and I worked hard to lose those pounds), I don't sleep well (last night I didn't sleep at all) and I have no energy to do anything. I may not be able to get back to the intensity level I had before the injury, but that's okay. Just walking will be good. I was up to 25-28 minutes a day, six days a week with at least 10 minutes of intense movement everyday. We shall see how I do.
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KimPossible - Not had swishing sound. I "think" seroma's tend to show up a little later (if at all) . . . but I could be wrong. Will be interested to hear what your doc says. I know that I have had so many odd tugs, dull aches in various locations since my biopsies. I even felt pangs in non-cancer breast . .. I could only attribute to sympathy pain : ) But I know my heightened attention to both girls has definitely increased. I hear my Moms voice telling me it is growing pains.
I am at a new resolution to care for the whole body and so water is being pumped in, along with better food choices.
One day at a time Kim : )
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PontiacPeg - the sugar talk was just an example. I don't like the taste of sodas, sweet tea and such. But sweet cakes, darn it . . . still a problem. So we don't keep in the house. But you are right, sometimes it might take two weeks to give whatever it is out of your system.
Velvet Poppy - One step at a time, you'll get it! Your bad weather is heading our way. Good that you were able to get in due to all the cancelations.
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Natty: I'm not sure what "markers" are, but the pathology after my first surgery found DCIS in the margins at the deep portion taken out. So, I had a re-excision 3 weeks later to take much more tissue out and the margins were clean, but there was still some DCIS. My surgeon didn't recommend another surgery and said the radiation should take care of anything left behind. And I'll be followed up every 3 months by my MO with mammograms twice a year.
Runnermom: I don't run, but I do walk and take a Zumba Gold class. My surgeon said no exercise for 2 weeks, but honestly, I wasn't comfortable enough to do any exercise other than a walk until after 4 weeks. I went to Zumba last Thursday and other than being out of shape and getting tired, it was fine. Both my MO and RO encouraged me to exercise several times a week during radiation and thereafter. Good luck with your surgery. I'm guessing that since you are in such good shape that you will be fine for running etc this summer.
SJI; that is REALLY creepy. Any idea who might have done that? It would have to be someone you know and someone who knows who your oncologist is. They didn't get the name wrong did they? Or someone called from another doctor's office giving them your name instead of the correct one? I can't even imagine.
Gardennerd: There are SO many appointments to deal with after BC! I am thankful for the "My Chart" feature which has all my appointments and sends me emails to remind me of appoiintments. I also keep them in the calendar in my phone. Without all this I would NEVER be able to keep them straight, especially since my radiation is at a slightly different time each day.
Regarding exercise, I've always joked that I'm allergic to it. :-) It is NOT my favorite thing to do and I have to force myself to do it. Right now, I'm sitting here avoiding it by answering posts. And if I wait long enough, it will start to rain before I can get out for my walk. I need to have structure and an investment involved in order for me to exercise...hence, the Zumba Gold class, although sometimes I can talk myself out of that one too. So, it's something I need to work on.
Regarding diet, we haven't eaten processed or fried food for quite some time. What I have to work harder at is eliminating white flour and sugar, and staying away from carbs, which is my downfall. I just had a slice of rhubarb bread and justified it by saying "but it has fruit in it"!!! We have a new store that opened near us called Fresh Thyme...been going there for organic fruits and veggies and other items. So, we ARE making a concerted effort to further clean up our eating habits.
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Nancy618 - I had a lumpectomy and partial mastectomy last week. The margins on the lumpectomy were not clear, so heading back in tomorrow morning for more surgery. My surgeon tells me I will not be getting general anesthesia this time, but whatever it is they use for colonoscopy.. Probably what you're talking about. I'm relieved to hear it puts you out.. I was worried!
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From my BS' nurse: It sounds like you are doing well. The swishing sound is normal; the lumpectomy cavity fills with fluid and sometimes patients can feel or hear it.
So glad to know I am "normal."
Peggy, I love Coke (no diet) and sweet tea, but I cut back on Cokes more than a year ago - try not to drink more than 1-2 12oz cans a week. I don't drink coffee at all. (Funny, I would never put sugar on cheerios, but then I would just buy Frosted Cheerios.)
Velvet, You definitely have a full week ahead. Glad you made it safely to the DR today. Interestingly, I have battled low Vit D for the last 4 years, fluctuating between 20-31. (31 is just below normal, though.) Just can't seem to get it higher. Never really checked it before then. I am now on 3,000 ius daily, as it was just bumped up in April from 2,000. My cholesterol is great, and I always have great BP. Right before LX it was 114/72. I assumed it would be off the charts at least for that day.
Fortunately, DH won't drink sweet tea, so it's kind of a waste to make at home. If I need my fix, I head to McD's and get a large one, but I drink on it all day long - or sometimes over two days (stays in frig). Honestly, I love candy, cookies and any dessert mostly. I have a mother who believes dessert after dinner is just a required course, and she is a tiny, healthy woman. 0 -
Joanie618: I hope you get the propofol. It puts you out, but you don't realize it and feel perfectly fine after you wake up. Good luck!!!
Kim: My husband and I grew up in a family where dessert was THE most important meal course!!! So, we're still in that mindset, but we've substituted fruit (baked pears with honey!) or a VERY small piece of the nasty sugary stuff. :-)
My Vit D was borderline low and never came back up to normal until I took 5000 IU a day. I've backed down to 3000 because that's what I could find in gummies. And THAT adds sugar too, but I've found since I've gotten OLD that I just can't swallow pills/capsules anymore. My throat literally closes up when I try. I am able to swallow the tiny Femara though. I've always had high cholesterol, so it will be interesting to see what it is, next time it's tested. My BP has always been 120/70 area, but was 158/90 the day of surgery!
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My cholesterol has always been high, too, so I am really pleased with these labs. High cholesterol seems to be in my family. My sister struggles with it and our mother always had high numbers.
My BP is another issue. I take two BP meds to keep it in check, but hopefully that will change in a year or so. I am becoming more health conscious and my BP has been steadily coming down over the past 6 months (I check my it every day). It was 132/72 at the doctor, which is pre-hypertension, but my PCP cheered that reading. It's usually in the 150s-160s/high 70s-80s. I think watching what I eat and the walking has been the key. She told me if I can keep this up, I may be able to drop one of the BP meds next year.
Breast cancer has made me more aware of my body and what is happening to it. If only I had paid more attention when I was younger. I'm not saying I wouldn't have gotten cancer, but maybe it would have been easier if I had been thinner and healthier. BC has been my wake-up call.
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Kim, that swishing is indeed a tumor-cavity seroma—annoying but harmless. Mine was deep enough it didn't make noise (but then, my breasts are big enough to have dampened the sound). Most breast seromas do slosh, and it can be disconcerting. It'll go away with time. I feel the same way about exercise—the only sport I ever did and ended up looking at my watch and saying, “drat, gotta stop or I'll be late for my next appointment" instead of “geez, how much longer do I have to do this?" was cross-country skiing; and even if we get enough snow next winter (and temps not too cold to be outdoors safely), I now have to worry about falling—thanks to osteopenia and letrozole. (My trainer devotes a third of every session to balance work). I decided to not just join a gym but do personal training, not just for the expertise but also for the accountability. (Same principle as going to WW or Jenny Craig—if you slack off, people notice, and you don't want to disappoint them).
Speaking of all things mammary, after brunch I went to Rigby & Peller yesterday while Bob was at his barber (both at 900 N. Mich.). Been 15 mos. since I last bought a bra, and nearly two years since I was fitted personally rather than buying online. Imagine my surprise (and relief) to find out that I am no longer a 38 I, nor even a 40 I, but a 40G (or even F, depending on the mfr.). I got some really pretty lacy ones by Prima Donna and Empreinte. My mammary seroma is definitely resorbing.
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Hi
I've been trying to catch up on posts I missed around time of my surgery on Friday. I noticed some ups and downs in the posts. Sorry I'm not yet clear headed enough to say anything coherent or helpful.
When I can, I'll try to see if there are ways to make info more accessible for those contemplating bilateral reduction, either after lumpectomy or in the same surgery, Thanks to those who offered insight. It helped a lot.
Wearing surgical compression bra 24/7 and replacing gauze daily. Will have to buy a bra with cups (for contouring) but no underwire. Figure would help to have front closure. Instructions recommend Soma, Kohls, or GiGi. Quick look there didn't see much promising. Advised not to buy expensive bras because shape will change. Hmm. And hope to start radiation in about 6 weeks so should consider that with the bra. Any folks have favorites you'd recommend?
Thanks and good wishes.
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Blooming, Good questions about bras. I am still in this surgical one, of which they gave me only one, so I washed while in the shower this morning, tried to relax until it dried. Feels better just being washed. I will suggest they send future patients home with an extra. I am so certain insurance will cover it, and if not, it's worth paying extra! They told me to stay in this until I see BS at post op appt on Friday. You said you are replacing the guaze daily. My post op instructions indicate I am not to remove it, that it will be done this Friday in the office by BS. Interesting, how instructions can be so different. I told DH that could be a real tear jerker when I see it. Right now it's so covered, it's impossible to tell how big/deep everything had to be cut. I have noticed my armpit itself feels a tad numb.
Sandy, Impressed by the cross-country skiing. I think I would surely freeze in the winters here. Plus I have myofascial pain syndrome, assumed by rheumatologist to be brought on my repetitive caregiving of first DH, and I am sure that would not mix too well. I definitely need upper body strength improvement. When I did Jazzercise 3 years ago and started using those bands, it was painful. So, I quit after a year. Too much impact on my body jumping all around. I could have modified, but I just quit. I have thought about a personal trainer when this is all to a place of calm. My husband has a gym set up and, before this, he was good at helping me with small weights. Doing it together with him helped motivate me. We had just started that, when this... I do hope that this sound will eventually abate. It's a bit creepy, but I am trying not to think too much about it, since it's not uncommon. I really like a couple of my more recently purchased VS bras. I had begun to loathe underwire, and these offer great coverage and support with no wires, but I guess I will need to rethink that, perhaps, later. Of course my size is common and nothing special, so maybe there won't be too much change with that. Also, what happens if the right is now so much smaller than the left? How do you fit that issue properly without one having to over/undercompensate?0 -
Hello, fellow lumpectomites!
I am new to this forum, and new to BC as well (diagnosed end of March). Just had my first chemo a week ago monday. So far the SEs have been manageable, and I'm doing the details on other forums. Came to this one because of some problems I'm having post-lumpectomy.
I had a lumpectomy/biopsy first, then after the positive cancer pathology, a re-excision to widen the margins, and a SNB. The original tumor mass was only 9mm. When the BS did the second surgery, she implanted something she generically referred to as a spacer. She said it has several purposes--to fill the lumpectomy cavity so there won't be a dent in my breast, to make it easier for the radiologist to find the right spot to irradiate when I'm done with chemo, and I think there was a 3rd purpose, but I don't remember it. She said the spacer will dissolve and breast tissue will grow in its place.
But I've never liked the way the implant feels--it seems hard, and kind of crinkles when I touch it hard. The whole area is hard, but the cancer mass was just under the nipple, and the BS made both surgery incisions in the same place at the edge of the aereola, so there's double scar tissue I suppose. Hard to tell if the hardness is from the spacer or from the scars. I saw BS about 2 weeks ago when she installed my port, and she thought the breast looks great. Well, looks are one thing...
And now I have the weirdest rash under my breast (only the breast with the implant). It's unlike any rash I've ever had there. This weird rash is about 5 or 6" in diameter, it's not solid, it's in well-defined very red, only slightly raised spots about 1/8" diameter and maybe 1/4" apart, it itches sometimes, and there was peeling skin at first. (if I'm not careful an let my breasts get too sweaty without a bra during summer, i get chafing rashes, but that's under both breasts evenly, it hurts rather than itches, it's a solid pink or red, and there's no peeling skin.)
Of course, I'm going to call the doc and send pix, but thought I'd see if anyone else has encountered this.
I tried to do some online research last night, but could only find info on tissue expanders for mastectomy reconstruction, and spacers for brachytherapy. What little info I did manage to find about biodegradable spacers made me doubly suspicious about what might be happening under my breast. The rash I have--and bear with me here, as it's only a theory--seems like the implant's contents have leaked out the underside of my breast and have found their way to the skin's surface, where they are irritating it in a big way. I have no idea what the implant is made of or what chemicals it contains.
The "doubly suspicious" part of my thoughts are because I didn't respond well to the chemo port the BS inserted a couple weeks ago. Huge, persistent bruising, lots of pain and swelling, some pains were even sharp and stabbing when I'd move in certain positions, and the damn port is always rubbing on something--it's on the inside of my upper arm, and constantly rubs my side, and generally gets in the way a lot. The swelling is mostly down, but it feels all ropy around there, and even yesterday there was bruising (from the chemo? or bumping it?)
Then there is the other weird thing-- the port came with a flexible plastic/rubber/nylon (?) bracelet like the ones for all sorts of different causes. I'm supposed to wear it 24/7. But in less than a week, I developed a 3" long, itchy, red, blistered rash underneath. I took it off. Only now is it nearly healed. Could it be latex? Could I have a latex allergy? (I've only had problems with latex once, long ago, from a certain brand of condoms my first boyfriend used.)
So (being OCD) I'm thinking I'm rejecting the port and my breast spacer, and I'm allergic to latex. Just call me paranoid, LOL. Well, I tell myself, I do have autoimmune issues (fibromyalgia, chronic inflammation), and had severe allergies as a child. I dunno...
So, first, has anybody here ever had those spacers? And second, does anyone know what they are called, so i can google them? And third, has anybody had problems with the spacers (or know the risks?) I just plain came up empty in my searches.
Sorry this was so long... Thanks for any replies (or referrals to other forums or websites).
NCBeachGirl (making myself crazy, as usual)
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NCBeachgirl, you very well could be allergic to latex.Did you have any dressing/tape where to rash is? I am very reactive to most adhesives, so I had all kinds of rashes on my chest post-op. At one point the tape finally ripped off the skin! Definitely let your surgeon know about all this.
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Double post
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Well Hiya, mustlovepoodles, same NC neighbor, different thread.
Yup, need to tell my doc. But nooo, am I doing that? I'm on here for the last 3 hours! Procrastinating. And now I'm hungry and wanna go eat lunch!
No problems with tapes and adhesives. Most of my allergies went away when I moved to CA when I was 24. But with a whacked-out immune system and history of severe allergies (both personal and familial), one never knows. Once in awhile something weird crops up. Would be just plain bad luck if it's allergies to stuff they've implanted inside me!
See you around,
NCBeachGirl
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