Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Tough cookie, ,my sister was diagnosed with DCIS quite by accident. She was very lucky, because it was fairly small, but thoroughly contained. She had LX, plus radiation, and has been on Arimidex for 5 years with virtually no side effects. Her scar is so small, she has to point it out to her doctor.
0 -
I'm pleased. My regular semi-yearly check-up with my MO went beautifully. I discussed with him about taking Arimidex beyond 5 years. He said that for him, the jury is out. Keep in mind that AIs are for postmenopausal women and we are older and die of many different things. He said when I hit the 5 year mark we'll make a determination then (I'm at 3 years). He is extremely concerned about its effect on the bones and I have osteopenia. Whatever he says to do or not do at that time, I will follow his advice. I adore him and respect him. I lucked out when I found him when I moved to Spokane. Anyway, feeling mighty good!
HUGS!
0 -
Woot, Peggy! I know that semi-annual MO check-up can be a bear. It's interesting how different doctors feel about the use of AIs beyone 5 years. My 59yo sister, who had a very small (millimeters) DCIS, has been on Arimidex 5 years and she just found out she has to take it an additional 5 years. My MO told me at my 2yo check-up that he would only have me on Femara another 3 years due to it's "small size" (damn thing was big as a cherry!)
0 -
Peggy, glad all went well at your checkup. I am in the same position as you with osteopenia. My doctor said we will discuss continuation at my 5 year checkup in August 2018. I will try to remember to let you know how that discussion goes as I'm just a little ahead of you in treatment. My oncotype was also 13.
J
0 -
Great news Peggy. I'm very happy to read this.. You a such a source or inspiration and information to this group. Thank you for everything you do.
0 -
Poodles, My MO feels there hasn't been enough study of the long term effects of AIs - as in 10 years with several years follow up after that. I think it depends on each patient's particular stats. Crazy!
Jo6202, we Are pretty much alike, aren't we? It will be interesting to see what your MO says next summer. Mine is very worried about bone loss for me. I take Fosamax with no problems.
MollieFish, thank you for the kind words. I hope that I can be a positive influence for everyone here.
HUGS!
0 -
Congrats, Peggy! My MO hasn't mentioned whether I'll be on Femara past 5 yrs--my tumor was a bit smaller than a jelly bean, and I'd be almost 70 by 5 yrs.out.
0 -
hi Blair2, I was just diagnosed with DCIS directly behind my R nipple, from a small area of calcifications, no lump or mass The stereo biopsy sucked out everything and no calcs could be seen on the follow up mammogram. Would you be able to share what surgical steps you had to go through, since it sounds like your bc was also right behind the nipple?
If anyone else out there had bc right behind the nipple, I would love to hear from you also! The dr who did the biopsy had a very hard time because she said the area was so close to the surface. So this isn’t an area deep behind my nipple, it is right up by the surface.
At this moment, I definitely want a lumpectomy (lx? Still learning the lingo) so I’m looking for advice from others who had similar situations.
Thanks very much
0 -
Sandy, thanks. Since I'm 72 now, I'd be 74 when we re-visit extending my Arimidex beyond 5 years. Right now I suspect the answer would be no. But who knows?
HUGS!
0 -
Tough Cookie: Our situations look similar. I chose lumpectomy and radiation, and I'm glad I did. Right now I'm on the fifth of 15 scheduled radiation treatments and it's going very well. Your doctor is correct that recurrence rates are the same as they would be with a masectomy, but you need to be at peace with your choice. I decided "less is more."
DanceSmartly, I think you can safely assume your nipple won't be affected: my tumor was roughly in the same place and I ended up with a small one-inch incision near my nipple and another one-inch scar under my armpit from the SNB. That's pretty typical for both efficacy and cosmetic reasons. But don't hesitate to find someone in your doctor's office, like a nurse or hospital nurse navigator, to ask if you feel you need to know before you check-in. Best of luck to you.
0 -
Almost 2.5 weeks ago I had lumpectomy number two. On Wednesday my bresst started hurting, figured it was the swelling of the lymph incision again. By Friday my breast has swollen to 4 times the other! ER doctor says it's a hematoma and something else. Breast was warm so they game me antibiotics. I am just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and sould I be concerned? It hurts like a bugger.
0 -
Peggy, we are very similar. I also take Fosamax without any problems. My last dexa scan showed an improvement with my osteopenia.
Jo
0 -
Jo6202, My dexa scans couldn't be compared since I had the first one in Michigan and the 2nd one in Washington. Apparently too many variables to make a comparison valid. Good for you having an improvement!!
HUGS!
0 -
Vampeyes, I had a lot of trouble after my lumpectomy. My breast was very swollen and it turned black. I mean BLACK black. When my BS saw it her eyes bugged out. I had an enormous hematoma in there. She tapped it and got at least 300ml, not counting all the blood on the table and floor. It looked like a hog killing in there! I was already scheduled for a re-excision in a few days anyway, so she cleaned it all up during that surgery. Less than a week after the 2nd surgery I developed a huge seroma (collection of fluid) in the vacancy where the hematoma had been. That was a huge mess! It broke open the night before my follow-up appt and she STILL got 150ml out. And the fluid kept coming back, so I had to go in about every 3-4 days to have more removed. I was wearing incontinence pads in my bra because it kept leaking all the time. Of course, then it got infected and that was a bugger. Had to have a drain placed, multiple antibiotics, and everything. All told, it was a 6 week ordeal. Hopefully, your experience will be a lot better than mine.
0 -
ChiSandy - cudos for comments to Chronicpain. I was at a loss for words.
Mustlovepoodles - I hope you reach out to your Dr. I've had family members with depression who stop the meds because they feel ok. But the reason they feel ok is from taking the meds. You have a high number of stressors going on right now. My best wishes to you.
Toughcookie- like its been said, I feel less is best. Healing time from MX is much longer than LX.
DanceSmartly- ease your mind, call BS office tomorrow and ask about nipple.
PontiacPeggy- great news on your check up! HUGS to you.
My only news has nothing to do with my breast cancer. My step son's wife had a baby boy this morning! We're loving him from afar, he's in TX we're in NY. We'll get to see him after all my treatments. Still hoping for a low Onco type score!
0 -
Mazel tov, Grandma Cindy--you must be "kvelling!"
Since my first DEXAScan, which revealed osteopenia--just before starting rads and a month before starting letrozole--I've had one Zometa infusion followed by two Prolia shots. My followup scan last month showed improvement in both femoral necks & lumbar spine. So bone treatments are definitely indicated for those on an AI!
0 -
DagnyT - I'm sorry, I missed your question as I've been going through some rough times with my chemo these last few days and posting on the November chemo blog more than here.
After my biopsy, my breast surgeon thought the best approach was to have a breast reduction. Which is what I had. Prior to surgery, the plastic surgeon thought the tumor would be too close to the nipple to save it. Both surgeons asked on day of surgery if I wanted both nipples removed if they couldn't save it. Well, it was saved, but because of the tumor area being removed, my left breast is slightly pointed with tissue added from right breast - I think called oncoplastic reconstruction. (No plastic, just tissue from what they took out from other breast). Not real pleased with results, but having to go through radiation, will shrink it slightly too. So until that's done, won't know where I'll stand. The breasts are otherwise even, with a little more tissue on the cancer side that will need the radiation.
With your diagnosis being DCIS, it shouldn't be as complicated as my case. You may need a simple lumpectomy, and only your surgeons will know how it effects your nipple if your mass is that close to it. If they haven't warned you about it, I don't think you need to worry. Hope this helps.
0 -
Anybody have cording after lymph node dissection? I've got tightness in my arm from the elbow to my wrist. Are we having fun yet?
0 -
I did, Meowmumy. It was really bad, affecting the whole right chest wall and extending all the way to my right thumb. You could see the cord from across the room and I couldn't use my arm much due to pain. It felt like the skin was adhered to the chest wall. I was well on the way to a frozen shoulder because I just wasn't using the arm right. Enter my amazing massage therapist: She is well-versed in myofascial release and was able to free up the muscles between my ribs in the first session. I saw her once a week for about 8-10 weeks to get the rest of the muscle/fascia released. I'm telling you what, this was like a miracle. My insurance didn't cover it, although it probably would have if I had been willing to drive all the way to Atlanta for PT (my massage therapist is about 7min from my house). It was worth every single cent.
0 -
mustlovepoodles... mine isn’t nearly as bad as that, but I’m going to ask about pt, and get this under control early
0 -
I developed cording a couple of weeks after finishing rads. The cord wasn't visible, but I definitely felt a sharp "pulling" pain sensation when extending & torquing that arm (such as reaching for my nylon scrub puff in the shower). I made an appt. with the top LE doc in town (a founder of LANA)--earliest I could get was a month out. Just before leaving on a cruise, I felt a "pop" and the cord was gone, replaced with a little bruise. When I did finally see the LE doc, he diagnosed me as Stage 0 LE (based not on measurements but on my description of symptoms) and ordered 12 therapy sessions. My LE PT noticed another cord in my armpit--she was able to massage it out.
0 -
I have pain when I stretch my arm above my head in the armpit area near the SLN incision. It’s slightly sore to lay on that side in bed at night. At times it feels slightly warmer than my “healthy side”. I tried stretching it out but it seemed to make it sorer. I’m not sure if this is from the radiation treatment causing a tightening in that area or if could be lymphedema. I finished radiation towards the end of August. I am going to make an appointment. In addition, there is a pea sized bump at the end of my SLN incision that the nurse practitioner said was scar tissue forming. I don’t like it because it feels like a lump which makes me think of you know what.
0 -
My surgeon's NP warned me even before surgery to expect scar tissue lumps and sharp zapping nerve-reconnection pains, but to take precautions against and watch out for signs of lymphedema--of which cording can be a precursor or another side of the same coin. Contrary to prior conventional wisdom, removal of any lymph nodes (even via SLNB as opposed to ALND) increases the risk of LE and radiation increases it even more. And the risk is lifelong--it can appear decades after you think you're home free.
0 -
Mustlovepoodles, that is a lot to handle at once. I’m sorry about the loss of your mother. I lost mine suddenly this past June as well, and now I have breast cancer at 33 years old. My father is so stressed out he is loosing weight and it breaks my heart.
Please take care of yourself. Your mental well being is just as (if not more so) important than your physical health. I apologize if I’m overstepping, and of course this isn’t my field of expertise, but maybe after all that is going on it might be a harder time to go off the medications? There are better days ahead!Sending you hugs!!!
0 -
Hello all you BEAUTIFUL, STRONG Ladies,
I am hoping to get some information for anyone who has had a similar situation to mine. The lumpectomy i had on my rt breast made my already smaller (by nature) breast minuscule next to my left. I asked doctors, family and friends to recommend a plastic surgeon and overwhelmingly was told the same one. So earlier this year I went to this plastic surgeon who was supposed to be the best of the best. He is even so regarded and unique in his field that my insurance covered him even though he is not on my plan. I considered myself very lucky to be in his hands. After my first reconstruction i was patient (yeah right) to let everything heal and settle into place. i had chosen the more natural looking breast and at first was very happy. The my left side (no rad) started to droop and since he had to move my nipple up to be cemetrical that started to stretch out and would up being bigger than before recon. Additionally, my rt nipple was much smaller due to rads. My surgeon agreed we needed to tweak things and back in August he lifted the left side, made the nipple smaller and added some more fat to the rt to even things out.
Sorry this is sooooo long. My issue is my rt side is ok breast is a little saggy but nipple is normal sized, but the left side is way more saggy (can hide 3 fingers under there) and my nipple area is 3x the size of the rt side. Every time I go see my doctor he and his nurse right away always say how great they look (they must be joking).
I don't need perfect boobs, there's no such thing, but am I wrong to be upset about this? I don't know where to go from here. Do I give my PS another chance to make this right or do I find another PS? And if I need a total redo is that something insurance covers?
I'm sick of crying over this. The past 5 years I had multiple blood clots in both lungs, then lost my dad, had a miscarriage, fractured a bone in my spine and just when things started looking up....cancer shows up! I'm just so damn over this crap already. Thanks for reading this! xoxo - Suzann
Dx 1/14/2016, DCIS Rt Breast
Surgery 2/4/2016 Lumpectomy: Right Breast
Radiation Therapy 3/17/2016 - 4/28/2016 Rt Breast
Surgery 2/8/2017 Reconstruction Rt Breast implant & Fat Transfer - Lt Breast Implant
Surgery 8/23/2017 Revision-Rt Breast fat transfer - Lt Breast lift & Nipple reduction
0 -
Suzann, we can't post photos here, so let me just describe something to you. Breast symmetry is the exception, not the rule, in nature. Almost every woman who has breasts has one bigger or smaller than the other. Even before my surgery, "Thelma" (R) was almost a cup size smaller than "Louise" (L). Radiation and a seroma briefly made the R one bigger, but now that the seroma's been resorbed, it's once again the smaller of the two by nearly two cup sizes. But it is rounder and perkier--while the L one is saggy & floppy like a hound's ear, with the nipple so far down it's hidden from view. No way my surgeon had any control over the L, since it was not the breast with the tumor. Besides, in a bra they look pretty much even. I look at myself in PJs or a nightgown without a sleep bra and wince--it's pretty apparent that they are very asymmetrical. But in the grand scheme of things, there are far more pressing things about which to worry.
0 -
catching up just a bit...
Yay for good news Peggy! and I'd like to echo Molliefish's words of thanks to you.
Dagny, my tumor was right next to/below the nipple. The radiologist who first diagnosed me told me that he wasn't sure I was a candidate for lx given the location. However, he referred me to the best BS within 100 or more miles from me, she did the MRI, etc., and said that lx would be no problem. And it wasn't: they did remove the nipple as well. I am very glad to have gone that route. I've sometimes thought about having a nipple tattoo to replace the one I lost, but have decided that it is probably more effort and money than I want to invest. It is good to know that good nipple tattoos are an option, however.
Hugs to all,
Octogirl
0 -
CancerSux, i don't blame you for being unhappy with your breasts. I would be very distressed if mine were so asymmetrical (actually, i am distressed--my PS did a horrible job on me.). It sounds like your PS isn't listening to you. Have you considered a second opinion from another PS? Lots of women need 2-3-4 surgeries to get the result they want.
0 -
Mustlovepoodles - I see you’re on same chemo drugs as me. Our DX are nearly the same except PR-. My question is - (not knowing how many rounds you have), have your side effects been pretty much routine during each treatment, or different? In other words, has your body reacted the same after each treatment? I know doses vary, although each dose might vary per person? Don’t know. Have the side effects been consistent with minor variances? Just wondering.
Now that I have gone through round one, I can be better prepared for my last 3. However, I was thinking I could have different side effect symptoms each time
0 -
ChiSandy,
I totally understand there is no symmetry with breasts, that's not what I am looking for. You may be ok with how you look in a bra, so am I. However, I still would like to look at myself in the mirror and not be mad at what I see. I came here to see if anyone has had a similar situation where I could get some advice. As for there being more pressing matters to worry about, I felt you belittled my situation which I would never do to anyone who has been through this disease. This is my journey and my body. I came here for support and I must say your last comment upset me a great deal. I know there are more pressing things in this world. I almost died from multiple pulmonary embolisms in both lungs from 5 blood clotting genes and now have to worry about them coming back, or my mother developing them, or my children. I live every day as the precious gift from God that it is. But I also have every right to feel confident with my body with or without a bra.
0
