Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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48 hours since surgery and my ice pack is my best friend.
I did not realize just how much walking around with that thing inside me was weighing on me. I know i have a ton of things ahead of me (like all the oncology stuff, all the treatment decisions.) but im just so relieved that they took the thing out.
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Boyd, so happy for you! 🤗
Pcranky, I feel the same way as you. Are you wearing a binder/tube top? I hate mine.
Cindy
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Cindymb - Sports Bra. I hate it. Particularly for sleeping but I hate the feeling of it being off more.
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surgery is behind me. So happy! Took about 3 1/2 hours. The surgical team was jovial, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Some pain - obviously lots of pain meds still coursing through my system. I'm moving well. Appetite is there. And my.arms are.moving perfectly. While I know this will change.once.meds.wear off I am content. And sooo happy this step is now behind me.
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Congrats on putting the surgery behind you!
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It looks like 3-4 of you ladies have had your surgery recently and seem to be feeling good. Congrats to having this step over. Onward ladies!
I've spent a day on a plane so please forgive me on your names. One of you got the good news of benign! Having a mammo every 6 months to cover yourself is a blessing.
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The surgeon decided to skip the cast and go straight to an EXOS removable/adjustable hard molded brace with a thumb spica. But my fingers are so short that I don't have an opposable L thumb now—chimps & raccoons can do more than I can. Dressing, typing, opening stuff w/o scissors is difficult at best. In NYC right now for a trip I couldn't cancel. Monday I will revisit the ortho clinic to have the thumb spica re-molded to give me better use of the hand. Am in this thing 24/7 (except to shower and eventually PT/OT) for the next 8 weeks, and I am too young to be helpless.
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Chisandy. Sorry to hear you a one-thumbed. Really incapacitating. I'm high school, a teacher had us all bind both thumbs to the palm of our hand. I truly relate.
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pcranky- I had my lumpectomy and node removal this morning and I don't think I realized how much anxiety I was carrying around with having the tumor in me. I feel sooooo great just knowing it's out!
Cindymb- binder tube top for me too. I do not like it. Was told 48 hours for it and then could move to sports bra
Prayers of healing to all you lumpie ladies ;)glad to be part of your group!
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ChiSandy,
Sorry to learn that you are unable to use your hand. Hoping that when you return home you can get the needed adjustment. Hope as well that the time goes quickly for you and that you gain full use. Best Wishes
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I agree wholeheartedly. From Feb 5th when I got my diagnosis, til my surgery April 5, I was subjected to four procedures in a row. I wouldn't be healed or recovered from one procedure before I had to have the next one, the last being the night before my surgery, which was 5 hours long. I'm still struggling & having wound-healing issues. I feel the entire paradigm of BC treatment regimens are flawed, even barbaric. It's already been determined that for certain types of BC chemo is no longer mandatory; Radiation therapy is also being bypassed for certain BC's.
I think one day in the not-distant future, Medicine will regard the treatment we're all being put through now as barbaric as blood-letting was regarded, after having been the go-to Medical treatment of choice for many decades in world medical history. I think we can do much better and I say that as a (ret) Critical Care RN with 31+ yrs of experience.
NPR did an article on the routine overtreatment of BC in Oct 2016, I believe it was, talking about how Drs order more treatment than is actually needed because they don't want to be accused of "not doing enough". The punch-line is, as many lives as are saved each year, even when a woman adheres to every aspect of prescribed treatment, she can still have a recurrence. That speaks clearly for itself, I feel.
We can do better.
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@ CindyMB & PCranky ---HATE these surgical bras!---I have a scrip to get a custom mastectomy bra but can't go for the fitting until my incisions are completely healed, which they are not yet. I didn't have a mastectomy but that's what the bras are called that my surgeon orders for his patients. Praying it will be more comfortable and easier to live with than these surgical bras have been. I've never slept with a bra on in my 67 (nearly 68) years. Tough to get used to, ain't it?!?
I agree---uncomfortable to wear but worse when you take it off. *sigh* No happy medium there yet. A girl can dream, though. Are most of you guys wearing one of these surgical bras or are most of you wearing your own sports bras? I honestly don't know the answer to that ; which is more common--? I was told I can't wear anything but a surgical bra until I get the custom mastectomy bra made.
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They crammed my 38 I girls into a Royce surgical bra, size XL (that’s only a D cup). Velcro front closure, stark white, back band went nearly to my neck. It was that or ACE bandages. (Binders don’t fit over my gut).After 2 days, I switched to a couple of wire-free regular bras during the day and Leading Lady sleep/leisure bras at night. Just before rads I got the green light to go back to my underwires.
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Got my drain removed and bandages off today. I switched to a soft bra from the surgical tube top. How is everyone else doing?
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im 48 hours pist surgery. I too felt a tremendous feeling of happiness knowing i have that behind me. I had gauze pads, surgical bra and ace bandage. No drains. Took shower today as per doctor and am now in sports bra. I find it annoting wearing bra 24/7. I am to do this for four weeks.
Wishing everyone a comfortable evening.
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So.. healing ok, still pretty sore..
less than desirable results tho.. The good news - clean margins
the not good news? the one node they took had cancer in it.so it looks likely that chemo is in my future.
I'm not sure why they don't need to test more nodes - but presumably once its its lymph nodes it can be anywhere in that system ?
She still seemed pretty positive about treatment, just that chemo was much more likely now.
I'm choosing to be positive about it.
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One node doesn't necessarily mean chemo if your tumor is ER/PR+ and HER2- and Grade 1 or 2. If so, ask about an OncotypeDX test on the tumor tissue. It used to be only for node-negative patients, but now is appropriate for up to 3 positive nodes. If you are under age 50, any score of 15 or lower means you wouldn't benefit from chemo; If older than 50 (especially post menopausal), any score lower than 25 means no chemo necessary. (Used to be that 18-25 was internediate risk, but now they seem to have divided OncotypeDX scores into just low or high-risk—per the TailoRx trial results released this past spring).
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Thanks, she's doing the Oncotype test, but given that I'm ER+ PR- Chemo is still likely.
She staged me at 2B.
I'm waiting it out tho. Will do whatever needs to be done.
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diagnosed via needle biopsy with IDC in left breast in June. Tumor is very small, ER and PR +, HR2 negative. Negative for BRCA1/2, breast MRI showed only the 1 tumor in L breast, R breast is clear. I’m opting for oncoplastic lumpectomy with bilateral reduction and lift. Probable radiation to follow. Surgery scheduled for August 9th, and I would love any advice on what you wish you had known at this stage, how to prepare for surgery, what helped you most post-surgery, etc etc. anything you think might be helpful.
62 in N
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Hello Ladies! I’m a couple of days out from lumpectomy and healing ok. Not much pain where tumor was removed but snb area is pretty touchy.
I was supposed to have hidden scar surgery originally but couldn’t get clean margins so when I removed the binder needless to say I was shocked at my incision. Pretty depressing really. My husband keeps reminding me that the cosmetics can be repaired.
Right now the toughest part is finding a comfortable sleeping position! I’d give anything to lie on my sides
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pcranky. Positive attitude. Way to go. I am still awaiting post surgical pathology and will also follow docs recommendations. Otherwise I will live in doubt.
Flag1818. I'm thinking they can address any cosmetic issues as well. I had discussed with my PS before surgery and he reassured me that it would be addressed even after radiation. Hope this is the case. Maybe give a call and ask to put your mind at ease
Ring. I'm 4 days out of surgery. I would find sports bra that's comfortable and buy a few. I asked for each step of treatment and met all docs before surgery. I don't like unknowns and am more relaxed when I know the plan and the docs. Sorry you are going through this. Feel free to ask questions to us and your team
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ChiSandy---- Your bra sounds like mine---it goes way up my back, impossible to wear summer-y type clothes unless I just want this harness to show, LOL.
:):) Does that Leading Lady bra give you sufficient support?? My surgeon sez I have to have the prescription custom bra----I'm wondering if anybody else here has had to do that, and if so, how well do you feel the bra works for you in terms of comfort etc ? It feels like additional torture that I have to sleep in this thing; goes way up the back almost to my neck, hook closure in front, taut dense elastic. I've never slept in a bra in my 68 yrs. I guess that extra bit of discomfort pushes me over the top sometimes---I'm just so weary of pain/nerve pain/numbess in my armpits, lymphedema,Dr visits etc etc. Everybody copes differently , I realize, but some days it's all a bit much. I say what I really feel & think here, not trying to maintain the facade I do in the rest of my life so I don't upset those who love me & would worry. Hoping it's ok to vent here; it's the only place I can.
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Phoenix, It is OK to vent here! We've all had times when we would like to be able to wish it all away, including me who has had a relatively easy path through surgery and radiation. The realistic me says to take it one step and one day at a time but the wishful me gets impatient (and, to be perfectly honest, part of it is an issue of control--were I really in control cancer wouldn't even be on the radar!)
Take care of yourself--the advice to not wear myself out and to rest/take it easy was done of the very best advice I got. Our bodies do need energy and time to heal.
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I didn't need a prescription bra but Im just getting started so who knows.
I needed a few different brands of sports bra tho becuase any one type worn for too long causes rashes. Must be because of hot flashes while sleeping. Ain't the 50s glorious?
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oneof7, how do I know what size to get? I’m a 38G now, hoping to end up a 36D, but don’t I need to allow for swelling
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I had LX on 7/11. After removing the hospital surgical bra and bandages, I switched to a Danskin zip-front sports bra that I wear 24/7. I find it's super comfortable, the semi-rigid removable cups give me peace of mind protection from dog paws and claws, and the slight compression feels good. I've only had a small spot of swelling (which my BS says will help her pinpoint the re-excision in a few weeks!). Since the left side is smaller now, I'm using a rolled lightweight cotton sock in that cup for extra compression, and that feels good. I may have to use two socks after the BS re-excavates. Oh, and the slot for the cup removal is perfect for inserting the small ice round left from my biopsy! I usually wear a 38 or 40 D or DD (depending on brand); for the sports bra, I got 2XL full figure and it's perfect. I'm wearing front button shirts, polos, or crew-neck tees with no problem of the bra showing. Health and healing before fashion for me.
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Flag6818, I had my left lx on 7/11 and that night slept on my right side with no problem. I used a big fluffy pillow angled from in front of the breast (protection from hubby elbows and dog encounters) to my left ribs/hip, resting my left arm on that pillow. I sleep in a snug sports bra, so that keeps gravity from pulling the breast over. It's comfortable enough that I've slept like that ever since. I'm not quite ready to sleep on my left side where both incisions are. I've rolled onto my back a few times, but it's not my best sleeping position and I wake up stiff, cranky, and with a headache. As long as the booboo breast is held firmly in place, you can sleep on the opposite side.
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Anyone here regret not having a masectomy or bilat masectomy. I need to make some decisions in the next couple weeks. Thx!
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The Leading Lady bras provide only minimal support--with 40F/G breasts nothing short of an underwire or those stiff and scratchy Elila bras gives me a decent profile. But the Leading Lady bras do hold the girls in place, hide the L-R disparity under clothing, and prevent the skin-on-skin contact and heat/sweat rashes that going braless causes me.
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And I don't regret the choice of lumpectomy over mastectomy or BMX. I do regret not having reduction oncoplasty done, but it's a crapshoot as to attaining symmetry when the tumor breast waxes & wanes (surgery & radiation) before settling down to its eventual size & shape.
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