Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Kathec: Am still here and read about your current troubles & about your BC group Asian lady acquaintance and hers....Is she doing any "chinese medecine" or acupuncture? .Ask her. Despite her sad-making lumps and bumps, she may be onto something useful to you as well as to herself --at least as a complement (or, possibly, a palliative) to any treatment ......The LE trouble you're experiencing sounds like the sort of problem that Chinese medecine can help with...
I strongly endorse the Tai Chi.suggestion. I am not an adept at this but have done a little and it is one of the activities I hope/plan to do this summer. .A very profound & transformative "martial" art....useful at any level of experience:.thoughts and gestures relevant and "healing" to the various vital organs and areas of the body; and beautiful-to-visualize, strong yet fluid concept-movements.....Positively transcendent.
I am not New Age-y. But methods other than Western ones can sometimes "work wonders," whether on their own (for certain types of trouble, especially glandular/endocrine, or spasmodic/rhythmic, or pain-related), or in conjunction with more typically aggressive and/or toxic Western "cures." They are in any case being taken more and more into account by American and European docs -- as I'm sure you know.
The diagnostic mammo was the first I'd ever had. Like you (though without the years of "nothing" results) I knew "in my heart" that the time had come. Maybe the tumor would have still been entirely "in situ," and would almost certainly have been a little smaller (ergo a Stage 0 or 1) had I had one a year ago, as I meant to...but hey. (Ok call the cops!) I got lucky with the nodes...certainly hope to be lucky re: chemo. as well. I should know about oncotype score (also BRCA & FISH) in about a week. If results not what I hope, I would.certainly be asking you (and others here) a lot of questions about chemo pros and cons....(Radiation & estrogen-receptor blockers, as I've mentioned, are definitely in my near-future.)
Do you like/trust your med onco? Why are you seeing a new breast surgeon? Are you planning another excision? You said you were almost "two years out"....I am assuming that means you're done with chemo & radiation, and still taking Tamoxifen and Herceptin. How have you followed up with docs over this time? By this I mean how have they been monitoring your "condition"? I am sorry you're having a difficult time. I think "in your pocket" is how you ladies here put it when you mean "thinking strong thoughts for you"& " I am available (if a little erratic) for empathetic commiseration and potentially helpful suggestions." So yes, Kathec: consider me in your pocket. I'll check in again later.
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leelee, i have been interested in tai chi since i was 12! just where i lived, there was no-one doing it or classes, i found a book in the library, though. i am 54, now, time to start? for sure! and there does seem to be a "real" chinese medicine/acupuncturist not far from my house.my only constraint is i have no income now, only savings, and i was trying to wait to do those things when i have money coming in again. but maybe i should get there sooner. i do need to update my stuff on the bottom, i have been on femara for over three months, my fatal flaw is procrastination. actually i have been pretty busy getting caught up on other things. What kind of writer are you? how do you make a living at that? i have boxes and boxes of writing to go through and edit. essays, poetry, biography, the story of a friend, etc. i just dont pay too much attention to punctuation! wish i could, for a living.
OMG!!! RED!!! please have so much fun! I am so proud of you! Take lots of pics and see you here and on haiku when you get back!
talk with you soon some more, later, leelee, i better get SOMETHING done, today!
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Oh Red, that is wonderful! Have a great time. I know you will!!
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Hi ya Lumpies!
RedReading...not eating any carbs so I can squeeze into that pocket on your carry on...so excited Italy! But please no Vespa...I've seen how they drive over there...lots of pics please! Have too much fun
BigD - ((())) got you GF!
Leeleeleepan - Ooo who euro-side for a few weeks and BC team says GO! Healing renewing time and oh some writing! Again, lots of pics and colorful stories...we will live vicariously abroad:). Be gentle with self it's a long marathon...
Kathec - in your pocket...yippee counting months out! Tai Chi do it! So much fun and really makes you so aware of your breathing and body...it's an art...my BC center recommends...hey I started at 59...part of my surprise journey to 60! Besides their just numbers...I'm younger than my ds
L2grl - yikes the 1st mammo post tx...I had major melt down in the room...it was where my wire localization too place also passed out when it was over ugh...so major anxiety returning...yippee your RO came out to discuss results...mine did too! Very thoughtful...it is nice it have time on our side.
Cakes - cording, puckering, all questions to ask LE specialist...Off and on I've done PT for LE and it does make a big difference and does improve look, heaviness, and feel...go for it. And DH with smiley face hee hee...get some stickers and make a silly face. If your LE offers for DH to come learn how to perform massage bring him...it helps so much:)
My BC team is on rotating every 6 months mammo and MRI...my MRI will be 6/23 with results 6/27! Hoping the hard tender lump at SND is just scar tissue that I've not been able to soften up with massage! Celebrating 1 yr on AI so Ben density to see if I've pounded my bones enough...I'm terrified of SEs of tami...gosh it seems that this marathon is all about the devils we know and the devil we don't...want to dance with NED forever!
Gosh, I better look for my passport...we've got places to go...:)))
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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RedReading ~ Here's to a wonderful trip. Please fill us in when you have time.
RMlulu ~ Thanks for the info on LE and great advise. I only had one sentinel removed. ??? You are so helpful. Thank you thank you.
Question…..I was DX June 28, 2013. Is that the date on my cancerversary? If not, what constitutes a cancerversary?
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people do it differently. i know my treatment center said you are a survivor beginning today! (time of dx). but i kinda feel like it might be when the cancer was out? or, after finishing treatment? but then i wont be a survivor for four more years! so loosely, i think i am going with when the surgery was, but i wonder when other women celebrate? interesting question. but. i try to celebrate a little each day!
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I'm a little lost on these forums and forget where and what I posted so I am sorry if I am repeating myself here but noticed someone ask how I was doing. Had my surgery a little over 2 weeks ago. Lumpectomy had clear margins and 15 nodes that were taken out were clear. Still have the drain but noticed the last 2 days draining considerable less. Of course the more I do the more I drain. Seen 1 of the surgeons last Wed. and he removed the stitches. The only big complaint is the numbness in the back of my upper arm which I have been told may or may not go away due to nerve damage. I hope at least some of it goes away b/c it really kind of hurts. My original surgeon rushed and squeezed me into his schedule and is out on medical leave and his partner is not very friendly so I have gotten no instructions on moving my arm except the origIinal not to raise it for 2 weeks. I am doing a little more with my arm so I do not loose ROM. This week I get to see my PCP just b/c she prescribes me my regular meds and has not seen me since Nov and told me she will not renew them until she sees me (which I think sucks but have to do things their way I guess...not like I am not seeing enough doctors) and then on Thurs back to surgeon. I guess once my drain is out and everything is healed on to rads....the final frontier (???)....I have read some are doing an exercise, walking the wall???? The other thing I have been seeing is something regarding cording....which I am clueless about. Hope everyone is doing well....envisioning healing for us all!!!!
Char
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gosh, i really wish i knew how to help more with that! i do know that you can find examples of wallwalking on you tube. Did you get to see an LE therapist before your surgery? i know some places still don't do that, and it is a shame, because there is always a possibility for it to develop. i am not trying to scare you, but i really wish your surgeon could have prepared you a little better, with after care instructions to follow to at least try to avoid any issues. Do you have his nurse assistant to talk to, to ask her if there is something that you should or should not be doing. I was told not to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. me? i was lifting 80 or more regularly,before, skeptical me, i may have inadvertantly lifted 12-15 lbs one day, idk. please be careful, and just let your body rest and heal, but do look up wall walking on youtube, easier to see and follow, than explain it. for me anyway. in anycase, not to worry too much it has only been two weeks. maybe pcp has info? or your ob? or go to the search funtion to the left and search for wall walking. i am gonna go look in my bookmarks, and i hope somebody smarter than me comes along for you! careful on youtube! easy to get derailed by cute cat vids!
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almost two years out, and the numbness/pain on back of arm seems almost gone,somedays. i am keeping my fingers crossed, it is much much better though. you are doing great!
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Char - good to hear from you! Congrats on your path! Happy Dance! Your BS should have a handout to give on your arm exercises...call the office and ask...or your BC center. Press for PT for LE ...with more nodes and rads you need to be aware and prepared...best to nip in the beginning. So ask...and yeah on the drain coming out soon.
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bumpin for a newbie, whose question i cannot answer!
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Char ~ RMlulu has given you wonderful advice. I didn't think I would get lymphedema with only one sentinel lymph node being removed. Boy oh boy was I wrong. I self referred to a lymphedema message therapist and paid out of pocket because I was out of network and away from home. She educated me and helped me so much! I love her! Now that I am home again, I have asked my MO to refer me to a edema/lymphedema clinic. I am hopeful they will help me with a few residual issues but surely wish I would have know in July 2013 what I know know about cording, lymphedema, etc. We are so fortunate to have this site as a resource. Take care and good luck to you.
Cakes
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Thank you all for your advice. Saw my PCP today and got information on rads and came home to cancel my appt with the surgeon tomorrow since I am still draining about 60m per day but they told me I had to come in that there may be a problem....??? I don't want them to take it out prematurely and have problems but I don't want there to be problems either. It will be week 3 tomorrow post surgery. Now I am a nervous wreck...ugggg
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Hi ladies I have a question. I'm hoping someone can answer.
I had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy in April. They removed one node. I'm having rads now but my underarm has never returned to normal. It still appears to have edema. Is that normal? I'm also still numb on the backside of my arm. No pain just totally numb.
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the totally numb arm back of the arm thing happened to me, too, but i had lots of nodes out. it is finally getting better lately, the numb spot seems to be getting smaller, it used to be almost the back of the upper arm. i didn't know that it could happen with one node out. perhaps it might be a seroma. can you call your dr's office or treatment ceter,or talk to your surgeon about it? do they have a lymphedema specialist there? i did develop a seroma after surgery that persisted after the drain was ou,. even tho i had the drain longer than usual, due to the quantity of fluid, altho not nearly as much as charusa(sorry to hear of the interruption in the plan for you, charusa). so i do hope you get some answers and relief soon.
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Hey all,
I think of you all often and keep up with your posts. I am having trouble trying to fit rads into my normal schedule though and still get things done. Today was rads treatment number 7 out of 33, YAY! Minimal SEs, just really tired.
RedReading- ENJOY! Your trip sounds wonderful.
Charusa, Leeleeleepan, BigD and others, sending you positive thoughts and big hugs!!!!!
RMlulu, thanks for being a constant strength and positive influence. You keep me going and looking forward to a healthy future. I know I have a healthy future when this is all done, but sometimes I just need a nudge to be reminded.
Sweet dreams to all!
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Charusa,
try this link:
http://cancer.ca/~/media/CCS/Canada%20wide/Files%2...
It's on the Breast Cancer canada site. I've had a pretty big lumpectomy and ALND and these are the exercises I was told to do plus while facing the wall or at the side of teh wall, slowly walk with my fingertips as high as I can go.
Hope that helps,
DD
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thank you for those, dancingdiva!....it' says the page cannot be found....
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Sunshine ~ I was told by my surgeon to massage the SLN incision to prevent scar tissue. No one mentioned the wall walking and massaging until I was well into my radiation and had a seroma and cording. Ask lots of questions and use this sight as a guide; the women here are very knowledgable, kind and will help. If you think you have a seroma or edema, seek help right away. Regarding the numbness, sometimes the nerves are moved around and become irritated. More often than not they calm down and numbness goes away.
Big Hug,
Cakes
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dancingdiva, the link didn't work for me but thank you for your help.
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TGIF Lumpies! Ooo who
Sunshine -Welcome! Congrats on lx&snd done and now in rads...moving forward. Ask your RO...mine hedge around until I finished rads at which time acknowledge LE. Not sure if the plan was to get through rads and then do PT for LE, but that was the path I did. Also you can always just drop by your BS and have the swelling checked...especially for seroma.....always ask. It did take my girl so time to calm down after everything but the LE required professional help... and Lebed exercise.
Charusa - frustrating
my BS and BC center had the arm exercise ...my PCP would not have a clue. So keep asking and push...pray your drain can come out soon. Cake - yes, massage with vit E to prevent scar tissue...softly
not too hard...Hot here 110+ headed to the beach
GS will join us Sat/Sun )) very excited the world through the eyes of a 3 yr old is fun and adventurous...Shout out to all! Keeping y'all in my pocket for MRI Monday...make some noise:)))
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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I have looked for vitamin E oil or cream but undoubtedly I don't know what I'm looking for because I can't find it!
I don't have a considerable amount of swelling but enough to be irritating. I'm battling a shoulder injury. Thank goodness my MRI came back as an injury and not BC related! I hope to have a cortisone shot soon!!
Have a great weekend! Good luck with your MRI Cindy!
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Sunshine - ask at the health food store or Walmart ...swelling hee hee I had a 3rd girl ugh! All better now...time...yes time does bring healing...fingers&toes crossed...go laser tag warrior!
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Well maybe that's why I couldn't find it lol! Two places I haven't been! I never go to Wally World!
I don't have a 3rd girl, I've got half of one though. 😁
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Charusa,
It keeps chopping the links.
Go to cancer.ca, Breast Cancer, Supportive Care,Rehabilitation Exercises
that should do it....let me know if you still don't find them.
DD
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Cindy, reserve a spot in your pocket for Monday! Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for everything clear! I am glad you are having such a fun time. It is hot and muggy and muggy and hot in Dallas! You are going to do great, I just know it. Have a great weekend!
xoxoxoxox
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y'all are having a great time at the beach!
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Cindy,
Enjoy the beach! I will be in your pockets for your MRI Monday, too. How is DH doing? Hope both of you are holding up with all your medical appointments. At least you get to enjoy Sunny California again.
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Cindy ~ I'm in your pocket Monday.
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Hi all, I seen my onc. yesterday due to some SE earlier in the week and while I was there we decided I will not be taking my 4th treatment so I am done with chemo.. I am very happy about that but a little ancious about Rads coming. I have a couple medical issues that are not stable right now but as soon as they get stabalized I will have the all clear to begin. Have a great week end everyone...
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