Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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My mom took metformin for the last couple of decades of her life, and she had no side effects. It’s truly a crapshoot to figure out who will be hypersensitive to a particular drug—there’s no way to tell. Although a dear late friend of mine was a canary in a coal mine when it came to prescription drugs—he got all the side effects & then some. Unfortunately, he didn’t suffer any side effects from recreational drugs…until one killed him. (We’ll never know—his wife wanted him cremated ASAP, and declined an autopsy, probably to spare his mom the anguish of knowing what gave him that stroke).
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I saw my gyno who is apparently a surgeon too (?!) but he surprised me in a good way by explaining the biopsy results better than the breast pathology place did. He said the cells were pre-cancerous, that the worry was that it was quite active (I'm 41 and the worrisome change in size and form occurred from one year to the next -- thank goodness for yearly screenings) and that perhaps there were cancerous cells lurking where they hadn't taken samples with the vacuum-assisted, MRI-guided biopsy. He's taking my case to a tumor committee where oncologists, surgeons and plastic surgeons sit to see what they recommend.
He did a physical exam and confirmed that the area to be removed is so large (one size is 6cm, and they'll have to clean up around it just in case) that it will leave my right breast quite "deformed" so some type of reconstruction will be in order. He even wondered aloud whether they would recommend a masectomy with reconstruction to leave the area "clean" of the pre-cancerous cells. I have a follow-up appointment on Monday with him to find out what the committee said and hopefully move foward.
I also scheduled an appointment at the breast pathology center where I had all my testing done (and where they also do surgery and treatment) for a second opinión. That's today.
I'm really hoping that this can be left at a lumpectomy with reconstruction -- even that is a lot for me to get my head around right now, I'm having trouble falling asleep at night, worried about them finding out at work (I just got a new job and don't want them to feel like I'm "sick"), and wanting to find a good surgeon/plastic surgeon team to do this.
You are all so strong, it's very inspirational!
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Sweat Pea - waiting for answers or getting a good explanation is so troublesome, so good to hear your gyn/surgeon was able to explain. I pray your second opinion appt gives you the confidence in what is recommended AND what you want to do.
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ML, Hooray for NED for your son! Great news indeed! Yes, to Neulasta. That will be tomorrow. I have all the OTCs lined up, except I forgot Claritin. We will stop and get today, since I don't start that until tomorrow. Thank God for the chart they gave me!
Sandy, Great news on the dental issues. And all the best next week with your Mammo and BS visit!!0 -
Mustlovepoodles: Very sorry to hear about your mom. May God bless you and your family and give you peace.
(I've been away from here for so long, I need to read more before I make any more comments)
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Sweetpea- glad you dr was able to explain things a little better. My BSO was amazing at explaining and making sure I understood each step. He even gave his cell # and said to text any questions that I thought of after I would leave my appointments. He would text back or call back. Not many surgeons are so available.
KB870 - I am having 6 weeks of radiation. Really bummed about the swimming. I enjoy being in the pool with my kiddos so very much. Yes ... after watching my son go through his treatment so bravely, I could never complain. I have always said that these cancer warriors will give you an entirely different understanding of the word hero. My son is definitely my hero.
Kim - I just took the Claritin everyday so I never forgot
. I have always taken Allegra, so just thought would do that in place of. Thinking of you. 0 -
Poodles...so sorry to hear about your mom. You have been through so much. Hugs & prayers
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Kim.... Hope your doing well. I always did fine the first few days after chemo. I took my Claritin longer than needed just to be safe and rinsed my mouth with salt & baking soda 4 times a day for quite a few days .. Did not want the sores in my mouth.
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Sweetpea, glad you were able to get answers. It helps to know and understand what you are facing. How did the second opinion go?
Kim, thinking of you, hoping you're doing well after your first treatment.
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Well day one is at least over. I did well through the treatment, but I got very tired, very fast last night. We watched "Zootopia," and it is perfectly clear I could play a sloth at the DMV. My rest was interrupted to go to the bathroom, but they said to not let urine linger. I am trying to play by the books here. I was finally able to sleep a small bit on my left side (port), so I am hopefully that will help my mouth from gaping open on my back. That's new for me!
I feel pretty groggy this morning, but I am eating some toast. I had 3 seconds-long stomach pains, like nausea wanted to be a part, but that was it. I am staying on top of all meds for all things. I would rather be tired than nauseous.
I have my Nuelasta shot at 12:40, so after that, I will just relax the rest of the day.
Thank you for thinking of me.
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Kim- I play by the books to! I pray you have a restful day and no nausea!
I got in the pool on Sunday. We just had it installed. It took a few days to fill and the water was only 75 degrees. Needless to say...I will be going to PT for 5 more weeks now due to the cold water blowing my surgery side breast up, my SNB arm and back swelling from the lymphedema. ..duh...I should have known better.
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In your pocket for the Neulasta shot, Kim (remember the Claritin or generic loratidine—the other non-drowsy antihistamines don’t help for bone pain)!
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Update, So after my morning shower, DH and I headed to Skokie to get my Nuelasta shot. Easy breezy. We then went to a wonderful Jewish deli for lunch, which I tolerated very well. Then off to see the new Kellogg School of Management building at Northwestern, (DH's grad school) and walked around quite a bit. Then a quick trip to Starbucks for DH, I was drinking my H20. I came home and cut a few roses and pulled only a few weeds. I feel pretty well normal! Probably the steroids have me a tad hyped.
Sandy, Had the Claritin, so I do hope that staves off joint/bone pain.#thankfulforthisdayIf I feel this good tomorrow, after church, I am going to attempt horsebackriding with DH and my youngest stepdaughter. I will see what tomorrow holds. (As long as they have an Old Nellie, I will take her!)
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Glad it went so well today, Kim! Love your go-get-em attitude. But be sure to give yourself some resting time as well!
MJ
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Vargadoll Curious as to why you couldnt get in the pool? I thought that was forbidden only duri
ng radiation.0 -
Kim, do whatever you love to do whenever you feel like it! You’ll have at least a couple of “good” days after each round. Were you at The Bagel in Old Orchard (down the street from Skokie Hospital, where I’ve had my knee surgery)? I try to stay away from it because their potato latkes are as big as my head and addictive! Northwestern’s campus is beautiful. When our son was in grades 1-12, he went to Roycemore School, which was across from the NU campus (it’s since moved to a bigger more modern building a mile or so southwest—the NU Art Dept. on Colfax is the former Roycemore building, built in 1906). Will you be going riding in Morton Grove, near Harms Woods, past the courthouse? Lovely country & a riding club there, IIRC. (Just stay out of the stable stalls themselves—your immune system needs extra TLC while on chemo, and you don’t want to catch anything from the horses’ droppings. If you have a pet, have someone else pick up the dog poop or clean the cat’s litter box).
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Sandy, We went to Kaufman's Deli. It was running over with people! Delish, too. Since we are almost to the WI border in Northern Lake Co, we are going just west to a stable at the Chain O'Lakes. Good point about the stables, as I usually don't go in them, and have ridden there before. Didn't think about my doggie's poop scooping. I will gladly tell my DH. He will have to.
Tappermom, I plan to be in bed by 9, and that is usually early for me.
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Susie 2017- because the water is cold. We just start filling in up 2 Sundays ago. It took 3 days to fill. Then we had rain (that would be day 4 and 5 after installation ) Saturday the water was in the high 60's and Sunday we got in and the water was about 75...which was cold! The cold water is just as bad for lymphedema as hot! My boob is huge from all the swelling. My forearm is swollen and around my shoulder blade. Plus the golf ball pocket of fluid in my arm pit. I was told no pool for 6 weeks after radiation and I finished rads on May 5th. I was good on timing just not water temp. My boob also has what kind of resembles stretch marks going across it from the fullest part to the bottom. It's just my radiation side that looks like that.
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Vargadoll Thank you for explaining that to me. Hope you recover and get to use that pool soon without worries!!
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Vargadoll- so sorry! Does not sound fun. I was able to get in pool for the first time since surgery. It was so nice. I sat on the side of the pool though and pushed up with LX arm without thinking. It is not feeling so good. I hate I will not be able to get in the pool once I stsrt radiation. Is it possible to get in waist deep and just wade around?
Kim- wow!! So proud of you. I had chemo on Thursdays and slept pretty much until Sunday. I think the compazine played a big part in that, but without it the nausea kicked in. By Sunday I would start stirring around. Did you have to go back for your Nuelasta shot? I wore it home and it would inject 24 hours later so I didn't need to make a trip back. I faithfully took the Claritin daily (they said day 1 thru 5, but I just took it everyday) and never once had bone pain. So thankful. Take are and rest when you need. I am so happy that first two days have gone well. Prayers continue!
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ML, I have to go to a different hospital to take my Neulasta (I've been spelling that wrong...oops) on Saturdays (day after chemo), because they are closed at my cancer center. It's fine. No joint pain yet. Religiously going to take the Claritin.
Getting ready for church, I will forgo communion and sharing of the cup, and I will give a peace sign instead of shaking hands. After, I am planning to go horseback riding, unless I start feeling bad. I will make sure to snap a picture if that all works out.
Have a great day all! God is good!
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Happy Trails (no trials) today...
THE END
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What fun, Kim. Horses are good for the soul.
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Wow - you look like you're having a great time, Kim! Good for you! I like the trail through the woods - pretty!
MJ
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Lookin’ fine, Kim! Good call on the hat!
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Kim - Great, great to see you enjoying the day.
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Kim, so glad you were able to go riding! You go girl!
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Kim - so great you are feeling good!!!! keep swimming! You might want to check on the Neulasta on body injection. It attaches to your arm and injects 24 hours later. Would save you the extra trip maybe.
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ML, Thanks for the suggestion. I am fine with going the next day, because I don't want to take any chance of anything malfunctioning on my body.
Thanks for all the support. It was a great day. I did wear my hat in the sun (except for photo op) and had on sunscreen.
An aside, I have noticed lots of reduction in swelling post LX has caused a noticeable change in size in my right breast. I will get used to it, as it may still have changes. It's exactly one month since my LX! The scars are healing so nicely. My concern about riding was more about being bounced around and causing pain to that area, but I had on a very supportive bra. I felt no effects there from the riding, so that was good.
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I meet with my RO tomorrow. Would be grateful for any advice, do's and don'ts, best bras etc. that you wise ladies have to offer. I have been stalking the boards some
.Kim - I never had any issues with the on body injector, but always fo what is right for you. So happy you are doing well and healing is going well! Wednesday will be one month for me. So far, things seem to be the same size. I do have a Biozorb prosthesis though that is supposed to dissolve over the next year, so who knows where this will all end up
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