Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Nightcrawler and Sandy - Prior to surgery my surgeon mentioned "possibility" of drain, depending on how many nodes were removed. Something they don't know until they get in there during surgery.
SweetPea - Welcome to the forum. I had two lumpectomy's at same time on same breast. One was cancerous (1:00) position and the other was benign (9:00) position.The benign was a mixture of some strange cells, but all benign. But my benign lesion was smaller than yours and I have very large breasts. There is the very slightest difference in my breasts in before and after the lumpectomy.
I considered heavily on reduction at same time of the lumpectomy (oncoplasty), which would have required plastic surgeon and surgeon to work together. I can't say for sure but my surgeon was pretty confident that he could predict the outcome of just the lumpectomy on its own ( and he was correct as I did go that way) BUT I also had this feeling when I was discussing the possibility of a reduction that he wasn't completely on board with that decision. Although I also believe had I desired to go that route he would have worked with the plastic surgeon also. I say all this to just put a bug in your ear that you may want to speak with a plastic surgeon also. The other issue is, if it were me I would seek a surgeon and plastic surgeon that work together well, as basically ones work will overlap the others work. And one surgeon might even recommend another to you in your consult. It doesn't hurt to ask. Your on the right path and asking all the right questions. Best to you.
iz1999- I cannot answer your question, as I just had my surgery last month. With the amount of nodes removed I would imagine there was a lot of nerves cut. I am curious have you felt an improvement since your surgery? If so, I would think that would provide you with a gauge as to how things will continue. Nerves are very slow healers. Hopefully someone will come along with some experience in this to answer more directly to your question. I have had nerve problems in the past outside BC. Out of frustration of no medical assistance available I sought to self medicate with foods. You may look into anti-inflame foods to assist in reducing pain. Possibly eating foods religiously that contain B12, folate to assist in nerve growth. Its an easy search on the internet for you to read up on what foods are good for our nerves and certainly worth the consideration when you can't get relief.
Monkeysmom - love your name. I can't answer about the no radiation. But was surprised to read of your hesitation. Forgive me, I am rather new at all this but just always had the impression that chemo would be the worst as its treating the whole body and that radiation is on a specific area. And so I wonder you have taken on the worst of it, why radiation puts you off? Hopefully someone will come along to help you with your decisions.
0 -
Sweet_Pea, sorry can't, mine was less than 2 cm @ 9 o'clock position. I think it was closer to the chest wall. So other than scar not much change.
iz1999, Wow, 17 nodes. I only had 3 removed. While it was annoying and had some discomfort (felt raw & sore), it never hurt. My tricep and armpit went numb after a couple of weeks, which I was glad since it got rid of the raw, sore feeling. Just starting to get feeling back after a year. Hope your pain gets better soon.
Nightcrawler, my LX was outpatient, followed by re-excision to get clean margins and removed 3 nodes (also outpatient). It was less than 2 cm. I didn't have drains for either surgery. Maybe you won't either.
0 -
Poodles- so sorry about the passing of your mom and that it was so hard. Her suffering is over but that doesn't make the loss easier. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs to you!
0 -
For those that are taking Anastrozole I've a question. I just started taking it on June 1st. Two days ago I noticed I'm having something similar to a bladder infection. But I'm not feeling the bladder discomfort. I have this burning feeling only at the end of urinating. Its sensitive. Also have detected the slightest of blood. I have appt with doc tomorrow to check urine. Meanwhile I have searched for side effects on Anastrozole, but most do not list uretha or bladder problems. But I have found some on another forum that stated that Anastrozole causes vagina and uretha drying. So just curious if any of you ladies have found similar side effects. And if so, what was your fix?
0 -
Hello my favorite boob gurus. I will admit I am merely a "taker ". I have no wisdom to pass on. Still learning, still being inspired by the way every person here is lifted up by the whole community.
So... as always, I come with a need for advice. Tomorrow is day 26 of thirty Radiation treatments. I have been incredibly lucky with the lack of severe "burning". But today I turned s corner. Really purple red and feels like a bad sunburn. I can handle it everywhere except right under my breast where the bra goes around my chest. Going braless is not for me. As Trump says, Believe Me.
I have been keeping a piece of flannel between my bra and my breast and, with emu oil, have felt pretty good. Until today. Right now I am sitting with no shirt and no bra and a fan blowing cool air on it. And I have to hold up my heavy breast so the underside is exposed.
I have read conflicting thoughts on using cold for the pain.
Any brilliant ideas out there?
Thanks in advance.
Red Red Robin, or Robin Red Breast. My name is very fitting right now! LO
0 -
Well, that's alarming, Robin. I've been feeling quite smug as I've done 16/33 with no skin problems. Just like that? So sorry. Do you have aloe vera gel? It's very soothing on sunburns. I really don't know what else to suggest. Sure hope one of the sages can help.
MJ
0 -
nightcrawler - I did not have drains either, maybe you will get to skip that part. I am almost 3 weeks out and still find sleeping propped up with pillows is the most comfy. Will be praying all goes well for you!
Sweetpea - my tumor was 2.8 cm so can't really be of any help. I would talk with BS and also a PS and see what type of cosmetic results you will have with a LX. Prayers you get clear direction.
Kim - so glad you found a wig you like. Do they want you to drink that much during infusion? Not sure I could have done that. I did hydrate well the day before and morning of chemo. Sorry about information overload .... it really is too much.
Robin - so sorry, does not sound fun. Following as I see RO to get started next week. Prayers you find something to help.
Barbmak - yay!! For a great report
Would be grateful for prayers today. My sweet boy has his yearly MRI today. He had a brain tumor when he is 4. Thankfully he is 15 now. This is the hard part about cancer .... the journey never ends, always the big question mark hanging over your head. A bit on edge tonight.
0 -
Prayers sent, ML.
0 -
Robin, so sorry you're in pain. When I was going through rads, some ladies used cold cabbage leaves. Have you checked the rads forum?
ML, praying for good results. Sending positive vibes.
0 -
ml209 - Prayers for your son and those that love him. May that question mark be replaced with what's in the past, remains in the past.
0 -
ML, You know my heart feels for you. I pray as you wait for results you can trust that all will be well. I have a colleague diagnosed with a GBM at the same time I was diagnosed with BC. She's had surgery but we know she has a difficult road ahead.
To answer your question, I think they wanted me to drink that much on chemo day. There would be NO way I could do that during 1.5 hours...ha I just made 4 copies of my daily schedule for A&C. I like the way it says what to take/when. I have filled in the dates for this first cycle. It has little boxes to check off when I have done it. (That's super helpful.) My pharmacy is still waiting to get Nystatin in (Rx mouthwash). I can take Biotene (otc) on week 2, but they want me to have the Rx during the first week. I definitely don't want mouth sores, or nausea, or fatigue, or diarrhea, or...
Hard to believe in 48 hours, I will be done with my first chemo. Deep breaths. This was me before my 2.5 mile walk this morning. I actually have two shirts like this that cut low (bought them big last year for knock-around-the-house comfy shirts). Who knew they'd come in handy for future port access?! Honestly, while I am still yellow from bruising, it really doesn't feel too bad now. Whew! Mind you, I am not happy I won't be able to sleep on my belly until 2018! Ugh!
0 -
Sounds like you have things under control as much as possible, Kim. I'm sorry about your colleague. That's rough. I'll be thinking of you Friday!
HUGS!
0 -
Kim, I love your positive attitude. Will be thinking of you Friday.
0 -
hello i havent posted waiting for my results. The Oncotype was 34 so without doubts chemo for me. And i Am ok with that. I had my first one last Wednesday., FECD a tough one for 6 cycles and then Radiation for one month. The day of the chemo i felt very bad of nausea. But it was because i didnt take the pills before. The following days i felt fine only weak and strange, i got back to work last monday. Today i had a headache and my seroma is hurting. But honestly i thought it was going to be very bad. I cannot complaint at all. Hopefully i live in Canada and i haven't pay a cent of anything. With all the stress of this tragedy the issue of the money is a relief.i decided to cold capp not loose my hair. So that was a lot of work. I hope it is worth it. Now try to be normal for 2 weeks and then again. The red Devil.
Well It is what it is. !
0 -
Sorry my picture is so GIANT! I am so thankful I found these boards soon after my diagnosis. Each of you have been so helpful and gracious with your time and replies.
0 -
Viv - Sending you uplifting thoughts as you enter this next phase of the BC journey.
Kim - Not to worry about the big pics - I cannot figure out how to make them smaller, either. You have such a lovely face. Ouch about those bruises. Thinking of you on Friday, also. Kill the beast!
0 -
Kim - you ARE shooting for the stars. I love the Nike . . . "you can do it!" hat.
Vivian - You are a trooper. Some had said the cold cap was burdensome, but I have also read of good results. Hope you get good results. You've got this!!!
0 -
Thank you all so much for the warm thoughts and prayers. Long day for my guy - now the wait. They also mentioned that they may do genetic testing on him since I have been dx. One more thing. I had the testing and it was negative, so not really sure why he needs to be tested.
Vivianlu - you got this! I finished chemo in April. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined either. Prayers your way!
Kim - I have a good friend whose daughter has GBM. Things are not going well for her - heartbreaking. Love the checklist - great idea. Magic Mouthwash is wonderful. I used faithfully and only got mouth sores on my very last round of adriamycin and cytoxan. And yep - I got lazy and didn't use those first few days. I also rinsed with baking soda, salt and warm water in btwn and that felt so good and made my mouth feel cleaner. I always felt like a had a thick coating those first few days. If you take zofran - watch out for constipation. Be proactive
. My port stayed bruised looking the entire time ..... go figure. So thankful to be deported! The sleeping issue has been a struggle for sure. Prayers your way! You look great!tbalding- I will have to remember the cabbage. I was a NICU and maternal newborn nurse for 23 years - we used cabbage when mother's would become engorged. It did help, but had to be careful as it could decrease their milk supply.
How do you add a picture anyways
?0 -
Vivianlu, keep up the positive spirit, you've got this! Sending positive energy to you!
0 -
Best wishes for your son, ML.
0 -
ML, different genetic tests look for different gene mutations. For instance, my doctor recommended that I be tested for BRCA 1 & 2, due to strong family history of breast cancer. However, once I sat down with the genetics counselor she recommended that I do a 19 gene test, due to equally strong history of colon and other cancers (>20!) The BRCAs were fine, but the other test revealed two rare gene mutations that can cause ALL of the cancers in both side of my family. Indeed, one test does not fit all.
0 -
ML, My plans are to follow this medicinal chart by the book. If I do that and get any symptoms, I can't say I didn't follow orders! I will watch out for constipation. That is NOT fun.
Sleep and positioning. I can't sleep on the left (port tugs) or right (still healing from LX and SNB). Quality of sleep is what we need/deserve the most through this. They have prescribed Ativan at night for sleep to combat the steriod they are giving me on days 2 and 3. Oh, this should be wild. One day at a time!
0 -
Poodles, Sorry about your loss, Know you are in all our prayers.. it hasn't been that long since my brothers passed, the first year is the hardest, it's all the firsts without someone that's always been there.. Happy to know you have your sisters to help share this with... not something you want anyone to go through, but we all do eventually.. You're in a lot of 'Pockets"
0 -
I was hoping to have my first mammo this month, but my mo called and canceled my appointment, so have to see her nurse practitioner and hope she knows what is going on... I like to see the actual dr. and don't really like the others, usually the dr. has more information and now.. will have my mammo in july.. and I'm stopping the arimidex.. so will see how it goes
0 -
This week & next is my “Medi-Dental-Fest.” Tues. I had my 3x/year dental cleaning, and the dentist talked me down off the ledge: the grit I’d been feeling didn’t come from either my jawbone or the molar itself, but from a chip in the porcelain-coating of the 45-yr-old (!) crown on it, and the gold in the crown is intact and protecting the tooth. So no ONJ and no need to pull or re-crown that molar!!! (Whew). Tomorrow I see my PCP—mid-afternoon, so glucose testing will be either random or postprandial (no way am I fasting that long) but we will still see how much (if at all) Crestor has raised my a1c and/or lowered my LDL. He will also determine if I need to wear a Holter monitor or to buy an AED for my home (Bob dismissed that as paranoia, but considering I had a few brief arrhythmias over the past 5 yrs, he might relent). We will also have the “metformin talk:” Bob wants me to go on it because it’s a “miracle drug” that has anti-dementia effects, my PCP says if I need any control other than diet & weight loss he prefers Invokana or Jardiance. And next Tuesday is my mammo & BS visit.
0 -
Sandy, wow, that is quite the "Medi-Dental-Fest"! Hope you get good reports all around.
0 -
Sandy, good news on the dental front! I'll be very interested in hearing what your PCP says about metformin. I've heard some good things about its use outside of diabetic control. I am concerned that it's one of those things like they said about statins - that everyone should be on them and turns out that's not necessarily a good idea. Hope the Crestor didn't foul up your a1c readings. I wouldn't fast that long either. Good luck!
HUGS!
0 -
Sandy - love the name of Medi-Dental-fest. And you certainly are packing in the appts. Good news on the crown.
Kim - here is hoping for you to have a quick heal on the LX and SNB so you can add a few more sleeping positions into the mix. Don't forget to try a pillow or even a towel to assist in positions. Tomorrow will be one month from my LX and I can sleep in all positions now. Oh how I felt it would never come about. I slept in recliner for three weeks : ( When I mentioned pillows or a towel don't limit yourself to protecting/supporting your breasts but use them under your knees if sleeping on your back. And between knees when you can roll over toward your right side. It seemed like one day I couldn't and the next day it was do-able. "one day at a time!"
0 -
Ugh, Sandy. I dont envy you a bit. Have you ever taken metformin? That stuff made me vomit several times a week and have persistent diarrhea. I gave it a good college try. But after 4 months I was DONE. I'd rather have dementia than live like that!
0 -
NED - my three most favorite letters of the alphabet
. My son's MRI was clear. Always overwhelmed and humbled as I know not all received this amazing news today. Grateful for every breath - it truly is a gift. Thank you so for your thoughts and prayers.KB870 - thanks for help with pics. I see the mountains
. Did you swim during radiation? They have told me no chlorine. It is summer and we live at the pool .... not happy about this. Mustlove - they are looking at testing my son for TP53. That was included in my panel and was negative - no mutation. With my daughter having Down Syndrome, my son have medulloblastoma, and then my being diagnosed with BCI was very concerned that maybe we did have something going on. I was always holding my breath wondering if something was going to happen to my youngest .... but then BAM it was me. My BSO did the genetic testing, but told me it would most likely be that we just have had some crazy things happen. Continued prayers for you!
Kim- I have always slept on my left side. Could not after port. Then the lx and snb so can't sleep on right side. I am thinking of trying it tonight. I had no issues sleeping with the A and C. Not sure if it was the compazine or what, but I slept well. The Taxol was another story. I felt almost wired on that. Took benadryl every night. Will you be doing neulasta? I took Claritin everyday and never had any bone or joint pain at all. I waa really dreading that. Senna - s worked well for the constipation for me. Praying for you!
Sandy- you have a busy week. Prayers for good reports. I am guessing it is interesting going through this with a husband that is a physician. I am a nurse and my husband always says I know just enough to be dangerous. I really have tried to be a good patient.
0
