Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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I'm experiencing these pains too, sometimes I feel like I'm getting stabbed from the incision straight down to where the tumor was.
Yesterday at work, a co-worker gave me a really strange look and I realized it was because I was holding my boob without realizing it.....I guess I should be a little more careful. LOL
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I can also predict a coming storm when the ring on the hand of my LE arm tightens up, and my sinuses ache and sting. Guess that's how they forecast the weather before Galileo invented a crude barometer.
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Chisandy,
I really had not put together weather fronts and the changes in breast pain! I should have as both my father and son said they had/ve a "weather fore casting knee"--from football injuries in high school. Thank you, I feel a bit less of a wimp.
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ChiSandy,
So that is why I couldn't get my rings off yesterday (they usually twirl all over they are so loose) on my LE side. Makes perfect sense.
J
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Anyone taking Tamoxifen? I’ve been taking it since September. About a month and a half ago I started experiencing knee pain on one side. Went to the doctor and she said I strained my medial ligament and to lay off walking thru the weekend. Well, I stopping walking for 3 weeks and it’s not better. Had an X-ray taken and my knee is normal. No damage or arthritis. I asked the doctor if it could be from the Tamoxifen and she said yes. Anyone have joint pain on just one side or joint pain in general? I ran into a lady at my last oncology appointment and she said she could not tolerate it because it gave her joint pain in her fingers. She said the aroma tase inhibitors did not cause that.
One other question, it seems like a lot of women had genetic screening to check for mutations. Kaiser would not perform the test because my family history didn’t indicate the presence. I do ha e a first cousin who had breast cancer in her forties also.
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I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy yesterday. Aside from being the last surgery of the day and having to wait quite a long time in pre+op, the whole procedure went much better than I had anticipated. I had a lumpectomy nineteen years ago with the removal of all of my lymph glands. This time was MUCH easier. Lumpectomies have come a long way. Even though the injection of the nuclear dye was uncomfortable, compared to having all of your lymph glands removed this was a piece of cake! I arrived home about six in the evening and lounged around. I didn't sleep very well, I think my circadian rhythms are all messed up. But I woke up this morning feeling amazingly good. It just feels so good to know that the cancer cells are out of my body. Of course we need to wait for the pathology report, but things are looking up! I declined the pain meds and am relying on Tylenol. It seems to have worked, I have discomfort but not severe pain. Comparing this surgery to the previous one has been interesting. There seems to have been much more waiting around for tests and reports. The time from getting the call back for the mammogram to surgery is longer than before. And I suspect there will be more waiting for the final oncology plan, but considering the results, I am happy to trade the waits for the improved quality.
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Happy for you, Prariedog, Now you can move on with your recovery
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Prairiedog, if your Luminal A dx (ER+,PR+, HER2-) holds up and no more than 3 nodes were positive, they’ll probably run an OncotypeDX on your tumor cells to determine whether to do chemo. With a grade1 tumor only 1cm or so, they may even skip that test and go straight to radiation and anti-hormonal therapy—I’d be extremely surprised if they recommend chemo.
Shocked, do you have Ashkenazi Jewish heritage? I ask because even though I had no family history, current ASCO guidelines are that a breast cancer diagnosis and Ashkenazi heritage are criteria for genetic counseling and testing for BRCA 1& 2 and PALB2 mutations—and insurance should cover them. My surgeon never asked my ethnicity but after surgery, at my first oncologist appt., my MO did and immediately sent me over for genetic counseling & testing. I tested negative (whew!).
Also, hate to burst your bubble, but joint pain and more “vulnerable” structural soft tissue are much commoner with aromatase Inhibitors than with Tamoxifen (and they’re fairly common with the latter). Tamoxifen blocks tumor cells’ access to estrogen, but AIs drastically reduce circulating estrogen by curtailing its synthesis. Estrogen deprivation accelerates symptoms of aging. So switching to an AI likely would not help. Of course, you can suffer orthopedic symptoms well before menopause—I first blew my knee out at 39. I never had arthritis in my hands or wrists (though I did have to have both knees replaced) before letrozole, but I do now. When it comes to effective bc treatment, “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” I’d rather have to deal with orthopedic problems than have my cancer come back (or come back sooner).
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I started Anastrozole 3 weeks ago. The hot flashes are horrible...much worse than when I went thru menopause. Now, my feet are killing me, and my Achilles tendons feel ready to snap. I work 12 to 14 hour shifts on my feet, and I'm ready to cry by the time I make it home. Does this get better with time?
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The sweats have gotten milder for me but the joint pains and soft tissue vulnerabilities are beginning to worsen.My hand surgeon suspects my wrist pain may be only partly due to having injured it but also an exacerbation of OA (which I've had in various locations since my early 30s). Wish I could tell you it gets better but my PCP says the side effects are cumulative. I am getting some relief from bracing the wrist & ankle (I have an old metatarsal stress fx), using Voltaren and arnica gels and Bio-Freeze, and running the AC and ceiling fan at night. Halfway through my 5 yrs on letrozole—it’s still at the annoying, not debilitating stage. I think the further you are past menopause when you start on AIs, the longer it takes for the SEs to reach the dealbreaker stage
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Today is surgery day for me - May 7, 2018. Lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy scheduled for 11:30, checking in at 9. I’m focused on getting the cancer out - that has to be my mental image. And then of course awaiting the pathology results and moving on to treatment which fills me with some measure of trepidation. But for this moment I have to stay with now, today.
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Prayers for a successful surgery for you today, Patsy. Agree, take it one step at a time. We’re here with you
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“In your pocket” for today, Patsy
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sorry I haven't posted after my re xcision till now...everything was going along , they got clear margins this time 😊and my follow up appt with surgeons office was that day. Stepped out of the shower and noticed my incision leaking. Headed to the doctor, they had to drain it and pack the gap. So I ended up with a 1 and 1/2 inch deep hole that needs re packed every day. So I have a visiting nurse that has been coming, my husband is learning how to do it cause our son graduates from law school Saturday and we will be gone all weekend.
That was a week ago, measured the pit, as I call it today and it measured 1 inch ...so yay it's healing!
Met with med oncologist Friday, said that he didn't think I needed chemo, but wanted to send my tissue for oncotype testing, so a three week wait. Appt with radiation oncologist is the 22nd, but can't do anything till the wound heals. I'm eating and drinking protein like crazy, since it helps with healing
Prayers out to all
Maryan
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Hope all went well for you today Patsy. Major step completed. Praying for clear margins and as favorable a pathology report as you can get. Let us know how you are doing.
Jo
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MAC58- I feel bad for you with this "pit" happening. But as you stated its healing, and soon this pit will be behind you. Adding in, congrats to you for having your son graduating law school, enjoy his graduation. HUGS!
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maybe you could help with your experiences. I had an excision biopsy Oct.17, for intraductal papiloma found via needle biopsy. Then pahtology came back for that as focal atypical lobular hyperplasia, fibrocystic change, proliferative type associated with calcifications, columnar cell change. I'm scheduled to see BS in 1 week. My breast has been hurting for a while, i kept thinking it's from the excision, does it make sense to hurt so long after?
Als othe stich itself, it's diagonal about 3inches, it hurts when pressed just lightly. I do think i feel a bit of the incision line that is there. The reason i would like to know all this b4 i see doc, is i wanna know if it's normal. I spoke to his nurse, and she told me over the phone that it could still hurt.
If i was not clear, ask away and i'll try to explain better. Thank you all.
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You had, for all intents & purposes, a lumpectomy without sentinel node biopsy. No wonder you still hurt. Nerves were severed and were reconnecting, you probably have a seroma in the cavity where they removed the mass, and it can be quite sore until it shrinks—which can take a year or more. The incision line you feel is likely scarring. Dirty little secret of breast cancer (even the process to determine you don’t yet have it) is that nobody gets out unscathed: even with precancerous or benign changes, much less early-stage bc, there are unpleasant long-term side effects—some of which are permanent. It isn’t just the chemo, radiation, mastectomy & reconstruction patients who are put through the mill.
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Jo6202, ChiSandy, JosieO, thanks for the good wishes for my surgery yesterday. All went well - very happy with my surgeon, the doc who did my wire localization (same doc who did my biopsy), the surgery center and everything. 2 sentinel nodes taken as well, as the tumor & margins. I will get the pathology report either later this week or at my follow up appointment with the surgeon a week from today. We live 2 hours from Phoenix, where I had my surgery, so we stayed overnight the night before and the night after surgery - good decision, as the ride home would have been very trying for me, loopy and nauseous as I was. Instead, we were in one of our favorite upscale hotels (fortunate to be able to do this) close to a Whole Foods where my husband picked up plain yogurt & crackers completely settled my tummy. Had a light supper & good night's sleep. No pain or discomfort until today and so far it's manageable so I'm leaving the pain meds alone.
When we returned home today I made my follow up appointment plus meet & greet appointments with a radiation oncologist and medical oncologist, both in Phoenix, and both of whom work with my surgeon and come highly recommended. I'm weighing my options - having my oncologists based in Phoenix or up here; mostly we want quality and great communication. We'll sort out logistics later.
So I'm feeling optimistic and hopeful. Fingers crossed for clean margins and clean nodes. And THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!
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ChiSandy you are the best. There you go. I think the same. He is a very respected surgeon. But i also think he would (will) take it very personal if adn when I suggest that this pain has something to do with the surgery. Even if it's not something he could have done differently. I know he cares a gr8 deal about me. He knows my fam History. If you remember, i mentioned my daughter, he was her BS. So I am gathering info. Yes, sometimes i feel sharp pains in the nipple (like 10 sec), it's all bearable, but it's there. I'll try to keep you posted what he says. Thanks so much for your response.
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PatsyKB- congrats for getting this first step behind you, so glad it went well. Rest and heal, hugs to you.
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Rocking my Post-Op look: blue tube top wrap and what I think of as my Yes! tattoo... my cousin, a musician who is heavily into Yes and who has MANY Yes tats, is highly amused.
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Nice "ink," Patsy! (My son, soon as he turned 18, got a small tat of the Who's logo on his upper arm high up enough for a T-shirt to cover). Glad you decided to turn your surgery into a mini-getaway. A little luxe never hurt anyone. And your game plan going forward--BS followup, initial MO & RO appts.--was exactly the same as mine. Nice that you can fit into that velcro tube-top--I bought two in 2X and they wouldn't even close over my belly, much less my chest. (I have two--one blue, one pink--never used. Free to whoever wants them).
Momallthetime, your surgeon would not be offended if you opined that your pain was caused by the surgery, since it comes with the territory. It's not like you'd be accusing him of doing anything other than standard-of-care. This kind of stuff forever changes us, and he is well aware of that.
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Very common, HapB. You are still reconnecting severed nerves, and there's probably still a seroma in the cavity where the tumor used to be. Rads can also cause residual swelling and pain. Let's not forget that a lumpectomy, while an ambulatory same-day surgery, is still major surgery, with considerable scraping and cutting, plus inner sutures. It's not like getting a cavity filled. The insides of our breasts have been messed around with by scalpel and radiation beams. Most of us here have had some pain more than a year out.
And both your surgeon and medical oncologist monitor the condition of your breast (radiation oncologist too, if you haven’t been discharged by him/her)
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HapB- Had an RO appointment yesterday, and told her that of my 3 surgeries (c-section, oophorectomy and lumpectomy) I considered the lumpectomy the least invasive, yet it is the only one that almost a year out I still feel the after effects. She told me that this can continue well past a year due to severed nerves and other things. She said it is common to have shooting pains as well as a stretching/pulling sensation when you extend the arm among other things.
In my case the RO seems to be the one monitoring the breast- just saw her for the first time post treatment and she did a cbe. I have seen my MO many times, and he has not monitored the breast. Have not seen my surgeon since the post surgery follow up, and not sure if I will. Maybe you should check with RO or surgeon. Hope this helps.
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Thank you ChiSandy. I went back twice to surgeon because by the scar it was very painful and he had to drain, but he or his nurse never mentioned that there will be or might be pain, and for sure not that it will last for a long while. And he did pooh pooh (if that's how it's spelled), it that it's no big deal surgery. Yes for him. Anyhow, i think it's from the wrong mentality that if he won't say it we won't feel it, or worse yet we'll feel guilty that we are feeling like this. That is how I was feeling until the good people as yourself enlightened me, and i did some digging and was able to find literature that these things do hurt for a while.Capecodgirl had the same question, so many others probably do too.
You know just a story, my mom had carotid artery surgery, she was not a young woman, anyway she hated to complain but months after she started feeling such ichiness in the area and pain, of course her bigggg surgeon said it's in her head, i kid you not, 3 more surgeons in the holy NYC told her it's in her head, until finally one doctor told her sure you have these feelings, we cut nerves, when people sever their limbs they could still feel like it's there etc...she was a different person after that, just by a doctor acknowledging that her feelings are legit.
Just saying i feel it's the same story with all of us here. Docs believe we the lay people are too stupid to understand the wiring, but if explained properly then it could be a plus for the health not the other way around. Bless you.
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ChiSandy - I had the "surgery" this past Monday. I have a 2 inch stapled incision on my breast. He also cultured for Aerobe+Anaerobe with gs on top of an ultrasound guided biopsy. No punch biopsy was done. He also did needle aspiration on the bottom of my breast. I didn't see him after the surgery and my friend didn't see him either. I can look on line for the results however, it states they won't be available to me until after I see the surgeon on Tuesday. He told me he may have results in today so I called his office. The person who answered told me she was so busy she hadn't checked to see if anything came in and would give him my message ( I wanted to scream at that point), but I was very nice to her and explained my anxiety and practically begged her to get back to me. I'm only assuming he removed the cyst/abscess for such a large incision. And yes, my breast was very painful up until today. Am glad they put me out. Still have swelling. What is strange is that my breast doesn't look red in normal light, but when I look at it in the bathroom it is somewhat red. It's back to the waiting game again.
Thank you for being here for all of us.
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Quick report - my surgeon called this afternoon with the results of my lumpectomy: 5mm tumor, clean margins, all the nodes were clean. So, good news and now I can breathe. Next up, visits with the radiation oncologist and medical oncologist in Phoenix (where my surgeon is) 2 hours away - all 3 appts next Tuesday.
Stay tuned.
Out of my blue tube top wrapper and into a bra now and feeling more like me again.
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Good news indeed, Patsy. With a tumor that small and grade 1, even though PR-, it's highly unlikely chemo will be indicated. May not even bother ordering OncotypeDX.
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