Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hey there!
RMlulu, Red and Debster, thanks for the feedback. I go in for the rads planning next Monday, CT scan and some measurements, etc. checking out the rads posts now to mentally prepare. Debster hope your treatments are going well!
Charusa, will be thinking of you tomorrow! I followed all of the advice from these ladies after my surgery and it was spot on. It really was a huge relief once it was over. allow yourself to heal and ask for help from your support system. Take it easy and let others pamper you. I was uncomfortable at times, but not in pain, and definitely needed extra rest.
Have a great evening all!
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Hi Charusa:
Cindy is the voice of calm in here, she is always right and has guided many of us through this.
I, too, live alone and was very concerned as to whether I could care for myself. I had more time to plan things than you have, so I had food and water, laundry done, garbage out, tank tops and button down sweaters purchased, an ice pack ready, extra soft pillows ready, etc. etc. I was not given an option to stay for overnight, or I would have taken it, but really, when I left the hospital that evening, I felt absolutely fine. I had minimal swelling, and zero pain after I took meds. The only pain I felt was when I first woke up in recovery, as I had not had any pain meds given in my IV yet. The nurse said to me "I cannot take away all your pain," and I said I understood. The pain was really not horrible, probably on a scale of 1 to 10 I would say a 5. But it was not something I wanted to feel, you know? I got something in my IV, and 10 mins later the nurse asked if I was still in pain, and I said yes. Then she gave me another shot. I could feel the pain starting to ease and I told her so. Another 20 mins went by and she asked if I was still in pain, and I said yes, some. So she gave me another shot and at that point, the pain left me completely. I took a pain pill before I left the hospital and a friend took me home. I was home alone that first night and I did just fine. Everyone is different, but this was a very tolerable surgery and recovery for me. I have had two other non-cancer surgeries before the lumpectomy, and those were much, much tougher. So hopefully this will be the same for you. Easy -- but just take it really easy the first couple of days and baby that arm and keep ice on your girl to help with pain and swelling. I went back to work after 4 days and could have gone back sooner.
But I was a nervous wreck before, so I understand. Hang in there, you will get through this, and you will feel much relief after it is done. I am crawling into your pocket with Cindy!
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Thank you fellow lumpies....I appreciate all your input and advice!!!
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TGIF Lumpies!
Charusa - yippee you did it! Speedy healing
)). Watch the arm...don't over do! Happy Dance 
Lina - you will do well in rads...laser tag princess...ha ha! Rads is very mental. It's showing up everyday and jumping up on the table...but the light does not hurt and it's is over in just a few seconds 20-30 for each field. You can tell when it is going to start and pass over the field turn off and move to the next area. Your team can talk to you too! I think it is normal the first few times to want to jump off and escape, but we pull up our big girl panties and trust the healing light to zap any potential bad guys to oblivion ...be faithful to apply moisturizer as directed...ask questions and take your since of humor...stickers, does radiation make my butt look bigger anything to lighten the mood. Arrive early and get in your zone so not stressed out...does not hurt!
BigD - thinking of you:D
Off for a few days...road trip!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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Char! Good for you! You did it. The feeling of relief that you finally were able to do something to fight it is immense. No more helpless feelings.
I am from Canada and I was told things a bit differently from you ladies. I started wall walking on day 3, during my first shower. I also kept my arm elevated every time I laid down. Like Cindy I went from a 38D to a 42DDD. Just for a few weeks. Found sports bras at Walmart 3/$15 so I didn't care if I threw them out after I went back to normal size.
Take care of yourself. Let others help - they really do want to. Get tons of rest. Don't push yourself. {{{huggles}}}
Hope we weren't too loud in your pocket. BigD was cracking us up with her jokes. Take care.
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Thank you everyone for all your advice and help. Everything moved so fast...had surgery yesterday and came home around 6pm. Home Health came today. I am feeling fine, really don't have pain just some discomfort where the drain is. Have appointment with my surgeon on Tuesday to remove drain. I can't believe it is all over....it is an amazing feeling to know I finished chemo, now the surgery, and just have rads ahead of me....wow...
Thank you thank you thank you ladies!!! I have been in the December chemo forum since diagnosed and the triple neg forum also....such great support everywhere!!!
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Yay, Charusaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Take some deep breaths and relax. So happy you got through it and feel good. You will get through rads just as well. Hope I was not too loud in your pocket, but I have to keep Red in check.
Cindy, you always make me smile
Have a great trip!0 -
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers and good wishes!!!
Went to surgeon today good news pathology report read clean margins and
out of 15 nodes that were removed 15 were clean!!! Still dragging my
drain he says he wants to wait a bit longer until it is draining less
fluid but likes that the fluid is clear. Walked home from his office,
only about a 5 block walk, then went to the grocery store with a little
help. I did forget to tell him that the neoropathy is a lot worse in my
arm on operated side. Actually it is the numbing feeling like asleep in
my elbow area and upper arm and also in my lower thumb joint. When I
touch it or rub it hurts and tingles more. Not sure if this is common
or a SE still from chemo or something new from surgery. In the morning
it isn't there comes on suddenly when I start using my computer...this
is the same arm I ripped/hurt something while stretching a few weeks ago
and that was resolving. Any ideas?0 -
Charusa!! Congratulations on on clean nodes!! That is fantastic!
All- I had my surgery on 5/1 and no issues for a few weeks. I went for my first appointment with the RO on Monday to prepare for rads and that was fine two, basically a CT scan and two tattoos. Yesterday and today though I am feeling a slight tingling in both arms all the way down to my fingers. My feet are slightly tingly too, just the feet. Has anyone experienced this? I am thinking I just slept funny or something and it's nothing but wanted to ask. Should I call my nurse?
Hugs to all!!
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Cindy…..you are a Godsend. You are the glue that holds this board together.
Thank you thank you.
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Hi ya Lumpies!
Charusa - Happy Dancing! Ooo who great news...but dragging the drain ugh:(. Watch your arm with so many nodes LE may rear it's ugly head so discuss with your team and be proactive. Now is healing time
. Ask about possible continued SEs from chemo...always best to ask. You did it!Lina - yippee a month out and ready for rads! Don't know about the arms feet tingling so ask...but for rads hydrate hydrate hydrate! During rads anytime I felt tired or spaced my BP was very low and really needed to hydrate...drank about 10-12 glasses of water a day. You will rock laser tag!
BigD - hope you are doing well! Us TX gals are meeting up this weekend end in New Braunfels
Debster - in your pocket! Hope your treatments are going well
Cakes - you are sweet! Are you preparing to Happy Dance your 1 yr anniversary:) celebrate you celebrate life and all you have accomplished this year...Ooo who! Trade out those big girl panties for pretty tong hee hee! Hope Femara is kind to you and non event. I think the biggest challenge is the first few major mammos and MRIs ...I felt anxiety going into the same room where wire localization was done...but got over it quickly. Glad they had we wait and gave results right on the spot. Really June July is is a milestone to celebrate!!!
Again Lumpies check out Casting for Recovery! Enter your name for an opportunity of a lifetime ....special weekend
Time to go pound the bones....FitBit says to get moving...road trip was fun:)
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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Kathec: ??
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Almost TGIF!
Leeleeleepan - how are you doing? Hope your lx&snd + reduction went well and path results were good. Here's to speedy healing and comfort with the next step in treatment...
Charusa - drain out? Results in? How are you doing? Watch the arm...:)
Shouts out to all!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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leeleeleepan! here i am! whats up?
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Hi RMlulu & kathec: Thank you both so much for your comments. Very good to know you're "on tap" here. Have been distracted & erratic on this site, and I apologize. I don't even know how to post my basic BC info here in proper format. So I'll have to "write" it:. Contrary to initial understanding, it's IDC, not, DCIS. 2.3cm; Stage 2; ER+/PR+' HER prob neg. (being double checked). Surgery on May 20, right breast lumpectomy with bilateral reduction; Sentinel node negative therefore no dissection....
Have had medical oncology appts. Oncotype and BRCA tests were ordered. Will have results in about 10 days and they will determine chemo or no chemo. Estrogen inhibitor seems definitely to be in my future, as does external radiation though I have not seen seen a radiation oncologist. Will make appt. for next week. My surgery wasprobably more elaborate than yours because of the recduction, so I'm moving on everything a little more slowly....that said I'm healing very well, very quickly. Outcome looks promising and will definitely facilitate radiation.
Am very stressed and tired, though. Lived abroad for 11 years until last year. Difficult reentry with apartment problems. I have a hectic household, turbulent marriage, teenage daughter, animals, etc. -- all good, but not exactly restful. Need to focus, get in shape, get stronger & calmer mentally & physically. Therefore I am not planning to embark on further treatment until September. Want to set it all up now, but proceed after Labor Day. Docs look surprised when I announce this, but no one has argued.....is this off the wall in your book?
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leelee, any one of the women here are great and helpful and care, and will try to be here to support you. as far as waiting for september, i dont know. i think that the standard of care is to be done with it asap, because they have found that that is what works best. supposedly, there is even one woman a newcomer, to a bc group i go to tonight as a matter of fact, that only had mastectomy and refused chemo for several weeks, and then she said her dr refused to give it to her at all. i am going to ask her tonight if she knows what her stage and oncotype score is. she is very sweet, asian,and a little hard to understand. i missed several of the once a month meetings, and i do believe that a few of them were rather rude to her about that because she wasnt sure she wanted to do chemo, and then the dr made the decision for her. but it is certainly worth talking to your docs about the advantages/disadvantages of waiting. in the mean time, please take it very easy on yourself, no heavy lifting, and be nice to yourself. it takes longer to heal than we think, and the body uses lots of energy for that.
as far as adding your info to the bottom, i think that you go up to the very top of the page and find where it says my profile. click on that , and there will be prompts that you check, and you can always add to it later if you need or want to. i need to, myself.
you have done a hard thing, so be very good to yourself. gentle hug to ya.
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sorry i deleted original message.
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Leeleeleepan - congrats! You did it! And soon your game plan will take shape. Glad your team is doing the oncotype and BRCA test. Yes,the profile section will let you update your info...
My BC team wanted to jump on top of treatment with no delays...seems there's a schedule and order to treatment. I did take mini vacations between each step...sure did help my mind and body and spirit!.
Living aboard and returning and then BC...yes a major adjustment. Upheaval! Be kind to yourself...but throw all you need to at this and it will be behind you...doesn't seem so as your moving through it, but you will push get there....promise. You don't want it hanging over your head...kick it now!
Breathe, and spend your time healing! If you only need rads...those days go by fast and are more mental...showing up each day to jump on the table...but does not hurt and is over in seconds...
Write down all your concerns and discuss with your team...you will know what is right for you...sending healing thoughts and prayers!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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Hi Everyone, My treatment is going rough this time and not sure if I will be getting the last treatment of taxatere( or how ever it is spelt) because of my SE and seriousness of them. My doc said she will see how I am doing in the next two weeks and then decide for sure. I am having some very serious swelling and problems with a bad rash. She said I seem to be having a reaction to the med more so then just SE so doesn't want me to get in to trouble with it. I have to say I appreciate how she is right on top of it and making sure I am ok.
I hope all of you are doing well and know you are not alone. Have a wonderful evening Hugs and love to all!
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wow debster. that sounds pretty much like no fun, but it sounds like they are keeping an eye on you, though. have they reduced the dosage at all?
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Hi kathec, Yes they have reduced it by 50% and that is why she is so concerned. She said by it building over 4 treatments it could make it bad for me by then so we will just be extra careful. Hugs and love to all!
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Debster - good to know that your MO is on top of your reactions&ses. Geezz:(((. Hoping you tolerate your remaining treatment and SEs go away. Will be in your pocket. Yikes the devil we dance with...here's to a calm easy weekend!
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Dear Lumpies,
Have any of you had issues with scar tissue causing the remainder of your breast to pucker? My scar is finally healed, with the help of a revision and HBO therapy, but that girl isn't very attractive. The radiation raised havoc with my healing as did several seromas. Overall I am feeling good but I have tightness under my armpit and swelling (lump) on my ribs under my BC breast. I had a breast and chest MRI and the lump will be observed as "nothing" showed on the MRIs. Any thoughts?
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hi cakes,
I remember we went through rads at the same time. Funny you should ask about the puckering, because I have some weird puckering type lines on my right breast. Not near either scar. But they are only noticible when I raise my arm. And I have had a very painful lump on that breast for the past nearly 5 months. I forgot to ask my SO about the puckering lines, at my 6 mos. follow up last week. He did order an ultrasound for the lump, though, so maybe in a couple weeks when I follow up after that, I will ask him about the puckering. I don't know if this is the same type of puckering you are experiencing, though. I hope you can get tot the bottom of it.
Well everyone, last week I finally had my first diagnostic mammogram since surgery. For those of you fearing yours, it wasn't actually as painful or scary as I had built it up in my mind to be. In fact, I was kind of a basket case the month before, I think I had some PTSD because it had been a year since my mammo found the first breast cancer, and I kept remembering everything. But, once I finally had the appt. made, I stopped worrying about it. Of course the day of the appt., I was a nervous wreck! But one thing I really liked was that the radiologist came to talk to me directly after the appt., so I did not have to wait a week or more fore results. The results were normal. But I am glad my SO is ordering an US anyway, because the lump area is so far to the side, they said it may not have been in the range of the mammo.
Another thing I was relieved about is that my SO told me that I will be getting alternating MRIs, so I will have one in 6 mos. I was hoping he would request MRIs, because I have dense breasts, strong family history, and of course a personal history of bilateral BC.
Anyway, just thought I would check in, since it has been awhile since I posted here. I do read to keep up with you all the time, though.
Happy weekend!
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Dear Kathec & RMlulu: thx again for your presence here. I hear you re: speed & getting it all over with asap. But because of longer healing process (bilateral reduction) I woudn't be starting rad until early August or so anyway,(Breasts still hard and sore, Under-breast scars haven't "sat down" or fully healed yet, etc.) Haven't gotten oncotype & BRCA test returns yet, Am scheduled to return to Euro-side of my life for July/August. Kids. Exercise. Relaxing. Work (am writer). So would only be "postponing" any potential start of treatment for about a month. Docs seems more or less OK with this. Kathec: I appreciate your asking the Asian member of your BC group with iffy English what her docs reason was for refusing (?!) treatment was. Sounds awful & punitive unless her situation is now way out of any control....I 'll check in again tomorrow. (Thx, also, for imputting help....getting the hang of site.) Take care all and hope you're having a good weekend.
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Hello all: I think my basic info should finally be on this site now....
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i am 3 months short of two years out, and i have a golfball sized lump in my breast, i guess it is scar tissue, and from the "tissue re-arrangement" that they performed. i heard one lady describe it as a "rock in a sock", thats exactly what it feels like! So, now, my new bs had ordered a mri in february, because my last bs was only ordering mammo's. but there is a kind of softer bumpy lump just south of the actual scar, and it did show up on last mammo, with architectural distortion, that was never mentioned before. i felt it myself, because i do have arm LE pretty bad, and a slighter case of LE in breast and trunk, so i am always familiar with what my breast feels like, altho its funny, it feels like it has lots of lumps all the time! So, i had mentioned it to mr rad onc, and about a week later, to my med onc, who, when i asked him why i never got a follow up pet/ct scan, cause i knew lots of women's dr's ordered them, he put in a request for me. And also, my bs has moved up my next breast mri two months. So, on the 27th of june, i do the pet/ct scan, and the mri on the same day! So, i am hoping that i do get a clean bill of health, and then i think i will be able to relax and just do normal follow up, and get on with the rest of my life, without being so concerned about it.
the reason i really wanted the follow up scans, is because i did have mediastinal nodes that had lit up on imaging done before surgery, and i also had right renal uptake, and my pelvis had lit up, too. i know that they did not want to take out those nodes in the middle, for some reason, and i am wondering whether those things are gone from chemo or hormonals. Also, it did say i had lung nodules. Am i really stage four, is what i am wondering. dont want to be, but. what exactly were those things? And how are they now? And what is that fresh bump in my lumpy breast?
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leelee! That is so fantastic! No nodes! Yay! It sounds like you were a good girl, and stayed on top of things. were you doing regular mammo's, or did you find a lump yourself? I had given up on mammo's, because it kept being nothing. And then 8 years later, i found the lump myself, and i knew in my heart, that this time, it was cancer.
Leelee, i saw that women from my go-to bc group, she is so sweet! she still hasnt told me how big it was, and i am not sure that she even knows what stage she is. i know she gave me her phone #, but i seem to have misplaced it, it is on my to do list today to find it. her doc had recommended chemo, but she told me again, she just really really did not want to, and then when the other ladies made her feel she should have, then he said it was too late! i tried to find out where she went, but she kind of didn't tell me, she changed the subject. she is ok with that though, but is currently hating arimidex! so that is good. What she is really not liking, though, is that none of her docs warned her of lymphedema. or measured her before hand. it is mostly in her upper arm, and i guess in her armpit and on the mastectomy breast. she asked me to feel it through layers of clothes on thursday, and i tried and got sad cause she was so lumpy and bumpy....I did tell her, she is on medi-cal, that the place where the group is held, has an LE therapist, and they do accept medi-cal, and urged her to call them. i have gotten to know the facilitator of the group quite well, and she has all the phone #'s, and am going to ask her to call her and urge her to come there for an evaluation. in the meantime, i did show her very simply, the node clearing sequence, that my LE'ist gave me. And i am kicking myself for not bringing two books about LE that i have, to her, i completely forgot. She reads and comprehends very well. So, she is going to a tai chi class that is free, and is urging me to go, i think i will, but i really need to know where it is, my mind did not retain that! so i am looking forward to getting to know her better.
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L2girl ~ I am wondering if we have cording. I have noticed the puckering issue more when I raise my arm as well. I am going to see someone for lymphedema in the next week or so but I will also go see the PS as she mentioned scar tissue on my chest wall. I don't plan on having recon this summer as I am done in. Maybe next summer as the BC breast is about 2 cup sizes smaller that the other girl.
Side note to give you all a laugh. My husband told me my scar is cute and looks like a smiley face. I wanted to kick his a**. LOL!
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Ok the suitcases are in the car and we are ready to go. To Italy. OMG - Rome, Venice and Florence. I can't believe I'm going.
hugs'n'kisses to all.
Deb
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