Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Oh that is a great photo, Cindy! Wish I could jump in there with ya!
Debster, I did not have chemo but did have rads and I had few SE's, no skin issues at all, just a little darkening, a little fatigue - I worked full-time the entire time I went through the rads - and at the end some rib pain and soreness, but I was pushing myself and doing too much, so I was careful to take it easy the two weeks after I finished. Everyone is different, but I was anxious too and was pleased to find I did not have many issues at all. The treatments are painless and your RO and nurse will tell you how they prefer for you to care for your skin. Hang in there and congrats on completing chemo -- do something nice for yourself to celebrate!
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Hi Debster, sorry to hear you are having some medical issues. Once you get the all clear and start rads, there are some really good resources on this sight you might find helpful. I did. Take care.
P.S. I agree….do something nice for yourself.
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Do you get dimpling of skin after surgery?? How long afterward do you get scar tissue?
Cindy I wish I was at that beach!!!
Debster, yay you finished chemo!!! 1 hurdle down.
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Cindy, will be thinking of you on Monday. Your pockets will be very heavy :-)
Debster, glad chemo is over for you. Rads are more a mind game. It's just having to get there everyday and then fatigue for most. Try to rest when you can. Hope your SE resolve soon.
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I was referred by breast surgeon for pt- and she was a LE specialist. I had 6 nodes total out. Was very glad I went, she really helped with ROM and with some minor cording that I had.
The link for the gentle arm excercises is good-- if drs dont talk about ROM and how to improve it- push for info.
The arms get numb because nerves are cut during snb procedures. For me it was a weird, sorta painful,sunburny feeling. After 10 months now, Im back 95% to normal. You might have 'zaps' in the area, and where you had surgery on breasts, thats the nerves regenerating themselves, so its a good thing!
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You got me too for Monday, Cindy: a "best of all possible MRI outcomes" to you. Leelee
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Cindy, make some room, I'm in your pocket tomorrow too!!
Debster, I agree, make some time to celebrate finishing chemo before moving to rads. You deserve it!
Here's to a great week! Hugs to all!
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Hi ya Lumpies!
Ooo who, what fun on the beach...thanks for being in my pocket! Thursday results, but very confident..RO said we would do mammo/MRI every 6 mos. But I do want to confirm 3rd spot was zapped to oblivion.
Lina, Leeleepan, Jo6202, dancing diva, BigD, L2girl, cakes, debater...flirting with the lifeguard shamelessly
)) playlist was great today & drowned out that click clack noise...luv pocket parties 
Debster - yippee, chemo done! Take a mini BC vacation break to heal, renew, and restore your mind body and spirit. Really, a no c break to regroup. It helps so much. You did good gf! Rads don't hurt, they are more mental...showing up each day and jumping on the table...zip zap over in seconds...for now rest.
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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I agree, RADS are mental! I was prepared for the worst but think I had a pretty easy time of the 30 RADS. And I met some amazing women at the cancer center - The first 22 RADS I had to hold my breath so I struggled with that until it clicked with me that all I had to do was PRACTICE holding my breath for 30 seconds so it became a game - gotta find the fun in RADS somewhere, right?
My breast is sore though - for a little while, feeling of "scabs pulling away" and now I have a low grade constant pain like right before a period (although I have not had a period in over 12 years, I still remember!). Contemplating some reconstructive surgery and meeting with a surgeon on August 5.
Hope everyone is doing well and tolerating all the SEs.
Hugs!
Donna
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Thanks RMlulu! I believe I will just take a little time and restore because I sure do feel defeated right now. Then I will be ready to do Rads and move on.
Dogsneverlie, thank you so much for the information. I will start practicing holding my breath so when it is time I will be ready! (grin). Good luck with your surgeon and what ever you decide to do.
Hope everone has a great week. Hugs and love to all!
Deb
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charusa...I have just visited this board but I am on a few others...I had my lumpectomy back in January...general surgeon I who I really like...nothing much said re: lymphedema / chording...I didn't have drains and had no problem...kept my arm raise up a lot, ice packs on my boob....but I used my arm without really knowing I shouldn't?? Just did normal things without overdoing it....I had 3/ 11 nodes positive....
After reading a lot on here, I asked my RO for a pt referral...so glad I did!! It's a woman's group LE specialist....I asked why surgeons don't really talk about LE possibility and exercises and she said they don't want to overwhelm us in the beginning....so here I am, 5 months past surgery, finished chemo a few weeks ago and starting rads...only NOW just getting PT! So you are in a good spot to start asking for referral now....since this post is a week out from when you posted you may already have had that referral!! LOL! I hope you got it as it helps and taught me a lot!! Rosie
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Rosiesride, I am going to see a LE PT specialist next week. I had to ask for this referral and as you can see, my lumpectomy was done 7/16/13. Like you, I wish I had been informed long before now. I had only one SN removed and do have cording and lymphedema. I didn't think I could or would get lymphedema by having only one node removed. I was so wrong. On the bright side I am taking care of the issue and will conquer or at the very least learn how to manage it.
Have a wonderful weekend Lovely Lumpys.
Big Hug,
Cakes
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cakes...glad you will start PT!! So much to learn and thanks to BCO we are enlightened!!
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Hi Debster - yes the holding of breath is quite the mental challenge! I started after my shower - would hold it in increments of 10 seconds until I got as close to 40 as I could. Holding the breath when you take a DEEP breath is a lot easier than the breath you take for radiation so don't inhale all the way - it is MUCH more challenging to hold a "partial" deep breath but truly, you have to practice every morning and by your Wed or Thurs RAD, it will be a piece of cake. If you don't practice over the weekend, it will be like starting over again on Monday! MAMA MIA.
Donna
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TGIF Lumpies!
Cakes - yeah, PT for LE! And compression...make a big difference...I also wear under armor men's short sleeve compression top when I work out or fly. Helps stay on top of it. Again, Lebed DVD is great to use at home.
Rosiesride - hydrate hydrate hydrate and free boobing! Keep your mind light and think healing light! Emu oil & 2.5% hydrocortisone helped joy skin???I always showed my rad area to nurse before gearing out on Friday...did not want an over the weekend surprise...fair skin burn easily and did very well.
Charusa - hope healing is going well and you are recouping! A long crazy roller coaster.
Debster - breathe and relax...you so deserve a mini vacation from tx:)))
Donna - luv Mama Mia sing along...hold your breathe...reminds me of Lamaze breathing...guess that dates me haha!
Thanks for being in my pocket Lumpies! MRI was all clear...rads zapped the 3rd area to h€££! Yippee...happy dancing:D
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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Cindy...thanks for the input...do we need to hydrate as much as chemo? It was so hard for me to get those 100 oz in!! How is 64 oz??? I will try try try!!
Can you tell me more about compression sleeve? Pt gal mentioned it...I won't see her til July 3 rd...I don't think I have LE yet...do you wear a sleeve when active? But how active??? Thanks Rosie
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Rosiesride - contact your BC center. They should refer you to a fitter...yes, I have a chick filet that fits in my bra to support girl. Fitter also measured for a compression bra and sleeve. Ask your BS for an RX for LE stuff...insurance should pay. Purchase 2 sleeves so you can trade off...I've got a nude and a dragon tatto ...haha heads turn...going for measure but week...thinking so ething a bit wilder...check out shopping on the main site here and le divas ...but get fitted don't want to guess at what us appropriate fir your arm..
Hav a great weekend!
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thanks! My PT mentioned that they have sleeves there...I do want a tattoo one and I already asked her about that!! She will probably sete up with one next week..said they run about 50-60.00?? Just wanted to know when to wear it ...when do you wear yours??
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Rosiesride - do ask BS for RX so insurance will reimburse expense $60-80. At first wore when I worked out and traveled...now wear most of the day...sometimes at night if swelling is bad. Ask for directions for massage...so you can move LE on your own...best wishes!
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Yeah Cindy! Celebrate this weekend…you deserve it!
Thanks for the tip on the t-shirt. Rosesride - I have the cutest sleeve I wear when I work out and the trainers at the club thought it was a real tattoo sleeve. It has flowers and hummingbirds on it and is very comfortable. At age 58 they were so surprised that I would go out and get such a tattoo. I eventually told them it was for lymphedema and rolled it off. I was fitted and then it was shipped from LympheDIVA. It was about $99 but I love it.
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Had my post-surgery visit with my medical oncologist. So happy that I don't have to have chemo, due to an oncotype score of three. Will have 33 rad session; go Wednesday for my "mapping." Will start 5 years of Femara in mid-September after (hopefully) effects of rads have cleared up.
All good news, but I am dreading the Femara. Hoping that the side effects aren't as common as they seem to be from the postings.
I have am surprised to hear of LE appearing so long after surgery. Any advice on how to avoid it?
Love to my BC sisters!
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cybermab: Join us on the Femara thread if you like. Lots of info there. Chrissyb is a great source of info, she has been on Femara a while and has had many se's each of which disappeared for her after a couple of months usually. I have been on Letrozole since February and have had very few se's and the ones I have had are totally tolerable, like crazy dreams and few hot flashes that have stopped now. Otherwise, nothing. It has been kind to me, and I have to be on it for ten years, so hoping it stays this way! My best to you. I had no LE after my surgery so I have no advice for you on that, but I am sure others will come along for you.
Cindy, HURRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! So glad you are clean and you better go and do a little bit more celebrating this weekend. Big relief for you!! Hope hubby is well too.
Have a super weekend, everyone!
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thanks RMlulu...I will ask for an rx for sleeve on Monday... Didn't think about that!!
Cakes....I would love a tattoo sleeve and already asked my pt about that! I am 54 and chickened out on getting a tattoo at 50...after the dot tattoo at rads, glad I never got one and never will! My kids however are a different story...lol!!
Thanks for the info!! Rosie
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Just catching up on here and something popped up at me....the tattoo you get for rads is a real tattoo? It's permanent??? All my kids got them and they keep telling me to get one but I bowed out really b/c the places I would put one are the most painful areas especially for the first one. So if these are real tattoo's with real ink we live with them?
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charusa...I have only one little tee tiny blue dot on my chest that is visible...my one 20 year old daughter thought it was cool...lol...her twin wants to be a tattoo artist so she will probably tell me to get one on the spot...lol...but it's permanent... Hardly noticeable.
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Charusa,
Yes, they are really tattoos but very tiny. I had three. One on each side and one between the girls. I read somewhere on one of the threads that some ladies had semi permanent ink that was renewed each week but it was kind of a new concept.
Jo
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cakes and rosiesride- good info. I had 2 SN removed and they gave me pamphlets on LE but not much more. I was told I could have a PT consult so I'm going on 7/22 to learn about signs of LE, massage, cording, scar care, etc. It will ease my worries. I am looking for more info on Vit E. the stuff I bought this week is super sticky. shoild it be? My RO told me to apply 3 x a day before I start rad in aa couple weeks. any advice is welcome!
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mripp - I would really appreciate hearing what you learn in your session with the PT and I will be happy to share my experience as well. I will be going to my appoint on Wed July 2.
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cakes- yes I will definitely share after my PT on 7/22. I'll look for others posts as well!
I have a post surgery mamm tomorrow a.m. then they'll be scheduling my CT/simulation and then onto summer rad's. I am on vacation this week. Today spending the day with my 10 yr old granddaughter & her Mom, taking her birthday shopping and for pedicures! Company coming Tuesday for the week, having a bbq, then off to the beach for the 4th and a long weekend. So good to have some "timeoff" away from thinking about all this "c" stuff! Have a Happy 4th all!!!
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mripp ~ The ladies on this thread and others on this sight will be very helpful when it comes to rads and other questions. In the mean time, have a wonderful time with friends and family!
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