Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Life is strange and unpredictable. After my pity party on here the other day about friends and family being uncaring poots, I got nice, supportive messages from my niece and nephew, and an as-good-as-it's-gonna-get series of well-intentioned ramblings from their mom, my only sister. I guess it helps to scream into the vastness of the universe occasionally. 😏
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Oh, my gosh. I hear ya.
My sister took me to my 1st post op visit, where I was told that the margins came back from pathology showing more cells and that I need an additional breast surgery. I started crying (though, I tried hard to control it) and my sister didn't say a word. No words of encouragement or comfort. During my time healing, she's never called or dropped by to see if there's anything i needed, even though she's around the block, about 1/4 mile from me.
But, this isn't anything new. She's kinda in her own world and, frankly, very selfish. I'm SO lucky I have great friends that are always concerned for me!
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Jch955, I guess we both got iffy sisters. Ifsters. 🙄 I'm kind of bummed about friends and other family not being supportive, but I finally realized that I haven't let them know what's going on since my lx on 7/11. I have a REALLY hard time sharing personal stuff because I don't want to look whiny or needy, and I overcompensate by downplaying anything serious. I've done that for so long that I even fool myself and don't take my dx seriously enough. Not sure if that's good or bad. I feel like I should have cried or freaked out at least once; on some level I know breast cancer, an lx, a re-excision, a node spot, and kidney cancer should elicit a giant reaction from me, but so far I'm just irritated about the timing and logistics being so complicated. At least when I had endometrial/uterine cancer ten years ago, I felt crappy and was bleeding all over the place, but this time I feel fine, so it's harder for me to react. Sigh. It'll all hit me one of these days and I'll have a humongous breakdown, probably in some embarrassingly public place.
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I had that "breakdown" at home, fortunately.
When I went to my primary physician for my pre-op tests, she informed me that my EKG was "abnormal" and that, at some point, I'd had a heart attack. All I could think of was my surgery getting delayed because I needed to go to a cardiologist for a full work up! I lost it. I cried, screamed, hit the wall and door...just lost it. But, that was the first fairly good night's sleep I got!
There's something to say for having a mental/emotional breakdown.
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Holy cow, what a nasty surprise! I guess it couldn't have been a major one or you'd have known?
When all these surgeries are done, I'm going to treat myself to a Monty Python "It's just a flesh wound" tee shirt.
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jch, a nasty surprise indeed--but the EKG can't tell exactly when you had that heart attack.
My sister is wonderful. But she lives in VA. When I had my lumpectomy she came in to help me out--but is so allergic to cats she had to be based in a hotel and spend practically all her time at home with me out on the deck...and still she was wheezing. My husband works long hours and most weekends; my son moved out to his own place a couple neighborhoods south, and doesn't drive. Most of my close friends have their own health challenges. I am lucky to have a housekeeper who has been practically a family member for 33 years, and is not allergic to cats.
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Hi glad I found this lounge,,,so much to read, finishing radiation tomorrow, 21 treatments, last 5 were boost. and they were trying, some swelling, some discomfort under the arm. I am starting Letrozole the day after and hope this is not too much of a roller coaster ride. You all keep up the hope...love and need your input..
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jch955,
Is the doctor certain you had one or that its a possibility? The reason I ask is because mine was abnormal at my pre-op appt. After a couple of extra tests at the Cardiologist, doctor said I was ok. I do completely understand breaking down though because I did the same thing! Praying for you.
🤗 Cindy
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Anyone have or had soreness when touched, right under the ribs on both sides (in line with my breasts).
Im three weeks out from my lumpectomy with reduction/lift on both breasts.
Thanks!
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My kidney surgery is scheduled for September 18th. The breast re-excision is this Wednesday, the 8th. Hope I have time to heal and get through rads in between. Ugh, seems like tricky timing. Rads will be the 21 day schedule, but the set-up appointment has to be squeezed in there somewhere. And I'm STILL waiting for oncotype results. And my one node had a spot, so.... looks like I'll be on the phone all day tomorrow trying to get answers. Crap.
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Alice, wow...you have a lot on your plate for the next two months. I amglad that the pieces of your treatment plan are coming together.
Sending {{hugs}}.
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Thanks, Bella. At least wrestling with the schedule is a distraction from those pesky cancers!
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Hello everyone,
I am 9 months out from my lumpectomy and I'm wondering if it's normal to still feel tight everyday and also to feel soreness and sometimes pain when I press on parts of that breast where the scar tissue may be. Not sure if soreness and pain is from surgery or radiation. Has anyone else experienced this?
thank you!
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,the short answer is yes.
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how in the heck do I get the steri strips off?! I had a small/ minor hernia repair done at the same time as the lumpectomy and it was hard enough to get those steri strips off (and that’s tougher skin).
I have soaked them in olive oil, water, I’ve used a little lemon essential oil too, which is known for dissolving adhesive. I have one strip pulled off the breast and the others seem to be stuck to the incision a bit. (Its 3 weeks)
Suggestions
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Emily, it seems to me that I did gentle stretching exercises for months after my lumpectomy. I'd lie on the floor (or bed), put my arm over my head, and gently turn away. Probably, I'd do this about twice/day.
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Sarainthemountains, I've never tried to remove them, just let them fall off when they're good and ready.
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Two surgeries down (lx in July and re-excision today), one to go (kidney removal in September) in my Tumor Trifecta of Turdiness! Looks like rads will be in October now, which I guess is better than rushing it before I'm healed, and trying to go into the major kidney surgery with the possibility of raw skin -- I'm convinced the urologist will use that boob for an armrest at some point. And good news, oncotype score of 17 means no chemo in spite of spot on sentinal node! MO says radiation will catch any strays. What a relief since this year is complicated enough right now.
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Alice - Yay for the good Oncotype news - and for ticking off one more surgery! Best of luck for a swift, smooth recovery from today's re-excision...you could certainly use the downtime to rest up for the next round!
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Alice, good news that you have the re-excision behind you and really good news on your Oncotype Score. What will be involved in your recovery from the kidney removal
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Alice- happy dance for you!💃
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Alice, yay! The hardest part is behind you now. I assume no chemo after the kidney is out, either?
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time will take them off. If you don't have an infection let them b
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Alice: Congrats on no chemo
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My RO took off the few steri-strips that hadn't fallen off in the shower. To put things in perspective, I had my hand/wrist/arm surgery a month ago--and only one steri-strip has fallen off. Last week, the surgeon's P.A. didn't see any need to remove them.
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Thanks to all of you for your kind responses. ChiSandy, although the kidney tumor is pretty large (just under 6 cm), there's no sign that it's spread, so no chemo anticipated. I don't think it's used much for kidney cancer, with some possibly unique exceptions, unless it has metastasized. And apparently a radical nephrectomy is easier to do and to recover from than a partial nephrectomy, which is initially confusing after dealing with the opposite in Boobworld. I hope your recovery is going well; I know you've been having problems for such a long time. I started reading this forum from the first post about a month ago, and I'm up to July 2016. I'm glad that a few, like you, are still active here -- it's a bit like reading a novel and getting attached to some of the characters, and I miss those who no longer participate.
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Alice, my husband had his kidney removed due to cancer 4 years ago. The surgeon had thought to just remove the tumor and leave the rest of the kidney. However it wasn't coming off easily. After removing the kidney, the surgeon tried again to remove the tumor and it was virtually impossible. He was rather surprised. Hubby had an uneventful recovery from the surgery itself. But he got pneumonia. He already had Parkinson's and congestive heart failure so he didn't bounce back. I'm sure you'll do well since you are healthy. Btw good for you for reading the whole thread. That is what I did but that was 4 years ago and there weren't that many posts like now.
HUGS!
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Hi PontiacPeggy! I must say that I missed your Detroit area connection once you moved, because I have a cousin in Rochester Hills, and my late aunt lived in the western part of RH -- we even stayed in Pontiac a few times when visiting them. My urologist explained some of the problems with partial nephrectomies, enough to make me relieved to have the radical. I think (hope) I'm unlikely to get pneumonia since I've had several surgeries with no problems post-op from anesthesia. And I'm a smoker! I won't be by that surgery, though, as I've just got my prescription patch pack to start next week. No stressful tests or appointments in the next few weeks beyond a routine post-op follow-up, so it's the perfect time to finally do this. Buy stock in celery since I'll be buying it by the crate to help me through!
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Alice, you did have close connections to my old stomping grounds. I'm sure you won't have problems either. DH had issues with eating and drinking due to his Parkinson's and he got aspirational pneumonia. Good luck quitting smoking. I quit cold turkey 20 years ago. Glad I did. Take it easy and let the poor body heal.
HUGS!
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Thank you, Peggy. It's been an interesting year. I won't complain about boredom after all this. 😀
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