Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hi ladies, it's five years down the line for me so my good boob is very south. You can't tell when I wear a bra but I hate what it looks like naked. My mother-in-law says" where sun glasses or dress in the dark lol" I'm going to have a Mastopexy on both sides and was going to have it last year but couldn't face more pain. My SE from Cancer are so much better and I feel ready now. My family are against it but it's because I had stage 3 and they worry. Ali x
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Hello everyone, this is my first time to post in the Lumpectomy Lounge and I hope I am doing this right. I had a lumpectomy and one sentinel node removed June 22, no drains, and everything went smooth until 5 days later when my breast suddenly became HUGE and tight and turned bright orange. When I went for the post op, the nurse practitioner studied it, declared a hematoma, wrapped me in an Ace bandage, handed me my files and basically said goodbye, we are handing you off to the MO and RO. No worries.
I called them a week later when it wasn't any better and expressed concern that I had an issue that should be addressed before I saw the RO - they told me to put warm compresses on it. Sure enough, when the RO saw it, he backed up and said, "I can't touch this yet, come back in two weeks." Now it has been a month and my breast is still swollen and angry red, hurts, and I am still wobbling around with unusual fatigue and shaky legs. Totally not like me at all. The RO called last night to see how I was doing and ended the conversation with, "you need to go back to your surgeon; it sounds like you have an issue that needs to be addressed before we can begin radiation".
So now, I am unsure of my surgeon, unsure of my RO (is he over-reacting?) and feel utterly cut adrift. I was under the impression that radiation after lumpectomy needed to start within 6 weeks in order to have the best chance of eradicating microscopic cancer cells that linger in the breast after lumpectomy. For the first time, I have lost confidence that I am going to be okay. I am Stage IIA, Grade 1, but don't feel too good now about what should be a pretty positive standing.
Can anyone help? Is the hematoma that stretches across to my sternum normal or not? Can I begin radiation before it is gone? The RO says it is growing scar tissue around itself and beginning to become a permanent thing. I am freaked out.
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thanks all. For some reason I am not as nervous about the surgery, as I am about The recovery. I think with all the tests and poking and prodding I've had so far, I've gotten really good at dealing with short-term pain, but I'm worried about the misery of long-term discomfort ....but here's my real question is it really impossible to sleep in any position other than on your back and if so for how long? Or on one side I'm just having a biopsy the other the whole deal, lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy
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Sarah, my surgery was on my right side (my preferred sleeping side). I was able to sleep on my left side. -protected myself with a pillow. I usually end up rolling onto my back during the night.
MJ
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I had my surgery on Wednesday and it was very easy. I took the pain meds until Friday morning, and kept a bag of frozen peas on my surgery side until Friday evening. I didn't have a hard time sleeping, but I think the pain meds also help put you to sleep.
The pain was almost nonexistent when I was laying down, but when I would stand up it would kind of hit me. I have a small travel pillow that I've kept under my arm and that seems to help, especially when I'm walking.
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S12, listen to your RO; and NO, he or she is NOT overreacting. you need to go back to the surgeon AND go see your MO right away. I'd call them today. You absolutely should not feel adrift; if you see them and still feel adrift you need to find new ones. But first, see them and tell them just what you told us, including that you are not feeling yourself.
I had chemo first and then Rads, but the chemo was delayed due to healing issues following my lx. During the healing process my bs saw me at least once a week, during the worst of it more often than that, and your situation sounds more serious, or at least more painful :-( (in my case I popped a stitch; probably from picking up my grandson even though I'd been told not to do heavy lifting...as soon as surgeon saw it she took responsibility even though I thought it was my own darn fault: first words out of her mouth were: 'darn, that was one of my stitches!'
Good luck and let us know how it goes. Hugs, Octogirl.
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S12, if you're a month post-op and your breast is angry red, swollen and painful, you may very well have an infection. That could also explain you fatigue and shakiness. Call you surgeon tonight or tomorrow morning. And if you are running a temp over 100, go to Urgent Care or the ER this weekend. Don't let this continue.
(I got a really bad infection about 2 weeks after my LX. It took 6 weeks, 3 antibiotics, and a new drain to get rid of it. I felt pretty bad.)
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Sarah - we have a sectional sofa. I found propping up in the corner with arms on pillows To be the most comfy way to sleep for a few weeks. A recliner would work just as well. Pain is minimal - took pain meds forst night and next day, but then tylenol was all I needed. Most of these ladies had the same experience. It is more discomfort than actual pain. You will do great!
Ali68- I had a mastopexy at time of LX and SNB. Very happy with results. Doing radiation now, so not sure exactly how it will all end up after it is all said and done, but things are very symmetrical at this point.
Prayers and hugs all around!
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Sarah, I slept on my lumpectomy side with the strategic placement of a bunch of pillows, kind of creating a pillow cocoon around my surgical site, which was at 2:00 so towards my armpit. The lumpectomy was on the side I like to sleep on and no matter what I did I ended up rolling over and sleeping on that side. Where will your lumpectomy be, outside towards armpit or inner towards breast bone? Location may play into how well you can sleep on lumpectomy side. Sorry if you already said position of lump.
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lumpectomy is at 11:00 on my left breast but also a sentinel nose biopsy. On my right I have lcis which they are biopsying -- is that similarly uncomfortable ? But got it on laying in supplies of pillows and ice packs ! And Tylenol..
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So fed up ! Family are so against it saying please don't talk about it. I'm thinking I've done enough for my family it's time for me .
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Quick question... a friend had multiple DCIS in both breasts, had lumpectomies in both breasts, is now having 36 rad treatments, and then was told she'd be put on Tamoxofin. She's 62 and long past menopause. I thought post menopausal women are prescribed one of 3 AIs. Any ideas why the change here? Is it because it's DCIS and non-invasive? She had no genetic mutations. Thanks
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Dara, does your friend have any health issues? Sometimes that contraindicates an AI. Or maybe the MO just likes Tamoxifen better.
HUGS!
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28 weeks pregnant, lumpectomy being scheduled. I don't know what to
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missarmy, big hugs to you!!! This is a great thread with very supportive members. There are some threads specifically for pregnant women which you might want to check out as well.
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missarmy take it one step at a time, don't project too far forward. Once you have data, then you can process that information and proceed. What have you been told so far and what testing have you had done?
Hugs.
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Dara, that’s truly weird. Is her MO old-school, or not at a major cancer center? Tamoxifen can be more dangerous for seniors because it causes blood clots (and cataracts).
(((missarmy))). Knowledge is power, and there are forums here for young and pregnant patients. Don’t be afraid to grill your doctors about your diagnosis and your options.
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M lump was discovered two years ago. bi-rads 4. They tagged it, told me to go in yearly. I didn't. After getting pregnant, it changed drastically. So I went in for an u/s, they did two and a mammo. Told me it's cancer. Now I'm meeting with a surgeon and oncologist this week.
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Sandy, the interesting thing is that it was the surgeon who told her this. She is the same surgeon I had at the City of Hope and is still head of breast cancer there. She is now with an RO but as yet hasn't even seen an MO. I know she thinks she"ll wait till she finishes rads to meet with an MO. I know how much you need to be your own advocate, but don't like to impose my feeling to someone else. I've mentioned that I was surprised about the tamoxifen. Maybe my friend only heard Tamoxifen when the surgeon was talking and will get something else from an MO.
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Dara, like your friend I am post-menopausal & was told by my BS that I would be taking Tamoxifen after radiation. My MO, however, prescribed Anastrozole & seemed almost amused that my BS (& my gyn) had both assumed I'd be taking Tamoxifen. You're just being a good friend (not imposing your feelings) if you suggest she familiarize herself (in a general way) with hormone therapy before seeing her MO. That way, she'll be prepared to discuss the issue with her MO, regardless of the drug prescribed. Hope all goes well for her!
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Even my shrink knew I’d be getting an AI—when I got my dx and expressed my fear that I’d have to give up Wellbutrin because of Tamoxifen, he reassured me, “Don’t worry—you’re too old for Tamoxifen. They’ll give you something that works better anyway.” When I first saw my MO, she confirmed that.
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missarmy, sorry you’re going through this. What is your diagnosis (e.g., invasive vs. in situ, and hormone-receptor/HER2status)? Hope there is a way you can safely treat your bc without endangering your pregnancy. If not, maybe you should have your OB-GYN consult with your surgeon & MO to discuss freezing your eggs for future pregnancies before proceeding with treatment.
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Movers come in the morning to get the piano, oriental rug, China cabinet, camping gear, and about 25 boxes. Gotta get the floor cleared for refinishing on Thursday. I can't believe how much bigger my house looks already. Even my basement!
We sorted through 6 boxes of Christmas ornaments that havent been touched in at least five years. Great googamooga! Someone at the thrift store hit the jackpot today!
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Poodles, this is for YOUR house? You've completed your mother's? Are you getting close to selling yours? WOW!!!
HUGS!
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Yep, MY house! We still have some things to do, like painting the front porch, cleaning the carpets, and doing a deep clean on the house. But we are very close to putting the house on the market, maybe a month or less.
My mother's house is on hold for a bit, until we girls can get another weekend to go paint and clean up the yard. It sucks being 8 hours away. One sister has a Mon-Fri job; another sister is a teacher and lives 3 hours away. So, it will take some finagling to get us all together on a weekend. I figure we have about 2-3 weekends work there. Hopefully, we can complete it by the end of September. Luckily, there is no mortgage, so we have the luxury of taking our time.
Now if I can just get my kids to come sort through their crap. They have about 12 boxes between them and I'm hoping they'll pare them down to about 6-7. If they decide to have their stuff stored, THEY will have to pack it into their cars and take it to the storage facility. I figure that might help them shed some of their stuff. It's almost 100 here with the heat index. We are too old to be moving stuff in this heat.
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Hi everyone. My lumpectomy is scheduled for August 10. I have IDC, stage 1, but everything else is up in air.
My original pathology was done at a different medical facility and some of my numbers don't add up. My new consult today brought all my other numbers into question. I had an updated ultrasound after meeting the new team today and it appears my tumor has not grown since the first ultrasound as had originally been thought. Whether I'm ER/PR -/+ is in question and whether I'm her2 + or - is in the air. I feel very pleased with the new team, like I'm finally going to get accurate answers. At this point, the plan is definitely the lumpectomy, then they'll start fresh by doing a pathology and determining my numbers, thus my treatment plan.
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Hi Brightness -- I'm at a similar place, with surgery scheduled for August 8. Screening mammo showed something the week before I went on a long-planned 3-week vacation abroad, so we did the biopsy in the morning, took the flight that afternoon, and got the results of invasive over the phone (difficult with the 6-hour time difference!). Tiny, just 0.5cm. ER+ 100%, PR+ 69%, HER2neu- The screening place scheduled me for MRI the week I returned, then with a surgeon a few days after that. The MRI showed 4 more possibilities needing biopsy, but my surgeon and a friend who is a breast radiologist both told me the place where I had the screening done is known for interpreting MRIs in an extremely careful way -- in other words, I probably did not need all those biopsies. But, of course, the findings could not just be ignored. BS and her radiologist looked over the MRI and said probably one should be biopsied. But, to be safe, we decided that I will go for MRI-guided biopsy to the hospital my BS uses, and the radiologist there will look carefully and decide how many (up to 3 in one day) biopsies need to be done. Coming on Thursday!
BS sent off my core biopsy samples for Mammaprint, as well as a saliva sample for genomic testing.
So glad to find this forum! Reading through old posts have brought up things I am really glad to know about before surgery!
My question: I understand the recommendation is to do mastectomy if there are 2 lumps. But I know there are at least trials using lumpectomy for more than one small lump. Does anyone have any info on these? I would really prefer lumpectomy, even if it leaves things looking odd. I have small breasts, so BS said it would look funny, but that really isn't much of a concern for me or for my husband. Thoughts? Thanks in advance for being here!
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Whether mastectomy or lumpectomy are preferable for two lumps depends on the size of the breast, the size of the lumps, their location on the breast, their pathology, and their distance from each other. If they are distant enough to be removed separately, a decent cosmetic result would probably require that they’re each very small (the second one would need to be even smaller than that first 5mm one). If they are very close to each other, one large “scoop" might be enough to remove enough total tissue to get clean margins. It probably takes some truly “mad skillz” (as millennials say) when it comes to oncoplastic surgery to get a pleasing result in either case. Mastectomy is probably easier to do, and get clean margins to boot. (And if the nodes were clear and the tumors not close to the chest wall or clavicle, radiation might be avoidable after mastectomy).
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Poodles, you have been exceptionally busy! From thinking of selling in a year or two to in a month? WOW! Have you decided for sure where you will move to? Good luck on getting the kids to go through their stuff. But when you give them no choice they may come through. You've accomplished a lot on your mother's house. So much in so little time. Impressive.
Slimslug and Brightness, Welcome. I know you'll both get answers here from people more knowledgeable than me. But wanted to let you know you are in the best place for answers, caring and a bit of laughter!
HUGS!
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Thank you both for the welcome and for the info. Does anyone have recommendations for pictures so I can see what a lumpectomy looks like I'm not very good at visualizing. The only picture I've seen so far of a post-lumpectomy breast doesn't look actual, I think it was some kind of constructed picture, and doesn't help me understand what to expect. My surgeon does use oncoplastic technique, and from what she said, I anticipate a scar and not much else. But is that realistic?
Some good news today -- my salivary genomic analysis showed I have no genetic predisposition for BC, so good for me and for my daughter!
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