Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Freebee, thank you. Rads was a rough path for sure.
ChiSandy, thank you for the recommendations! I am heading over the site now and am much relieved. I too rely on underwires for everyday wear, so have been gobsmacked by the bra search for this new cancer.
All, thank you for support. What a difficult path for each of us.
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Moving, by the time I was halfway through rads I was able to wear my underwires again!
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I only have two more boosts, but I've worn my underwire bra when I go out throughout radiation. Just get a bigger bra and it works fine --- at least it did for me.
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I've never been able to wear an underwire. I've been lopsided my whole life, and if I got one to fit Little Sister, the wire dug into Big Sister. If I got it to fit Big Sister, the loose wire on the other side dug into my armpit or the inside of my arm. Now I'm more lopsided than before and at some point I'll have to get a few new bras (yeah, I wear them until they unravel 😳) and I have no idea how to shop for my bargain bras anymore. Dang, maybe I should have gone for the matching boobs.
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I hope you all dont mind if I hang here a bit. More bad news. Ugly pet scan. More tests, but not looking good. So much for an oncotype of 3.
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Oh, movingsoccermom, I'm so sorry to hear that - and I empathize as I'm waiting for biopsy results after a shiny PET scan on another part of my body. Let's just sit here and hold hands and come up with a positive way to pass the time. Hugs to you.
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I feel for you Soccermon. I had a false positive from an MRI in the opposite breast. Even my RO was convinced we had a double as the “ovoid” was “enhancing”. What a nightmare.
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AliceBastable:
My two lumpectomies left me not only cup size challenged but nipple challenged (long story) on the left so I had to switch to a bra where the nipple was not apparent. Bali makes Comfort Revolution wire free (or with wire if you choose) which has some slight shaping to hide imperfections. You can find them reasonably at One Hanes Place online and right now they are about $18 each. I only buy them when they are on sale. They wear like iron and are pretty much true to size. You can buy the standard colors but they also carry them in pastels. I do throw them in the washer but not the dryer. Hope I did not break any rules about posting this.
I miss the pretty, lacy, underwires I could wear pre-BC but they are no longer an option due to nipple issue, size discrepancy and breast LE. Just another one of those difficult sacrifices we make to this beast.
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MovingSoccerMom and AliceBastable, Sending you the warmest of hugs and hope for great results. What a bummer
HUGS!
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Hi everyone. I go in for a lumpectomy tomorrow. My BS and MO both wanted the other to start so an MRI decided it for us. My tumor is still relatively small so the BS thinks she can get good margins. And lymph nodes still look clean. I was all ready for chemo to go first - looking at things to cover my head when I lost the hair.
Port on one side. Lumpectomy scar on the other. I'm ready for bathing suit season!!
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DogMomRunner, we're in your pocket tomorrow for your surgery. We all dance (and not necessarily well) so be forewarned! Good luck to you. Hope you find the right things to cover your head later. Your attitude is great and it will help you get through this!! You'll look great in a bathing suit - go for it!!!!
HUGS!
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Betrayal, it's funny, I was just looking at the Hanes site yesterday! I was looking for cheap summer tee shirts and the realized, duh, underwear!
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Thanks, PontiacPeggy! It's always something, it seems.
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Thank you PontiacPeggy! Surgery went well. I had 4 lymph nodes removed and we'll see what the pathology report says. I'm hoping that there were clean margins and no lymph node involvement so my chemo will be less harsh. Now to figure out a bra for work on Tuesday. I don't think I'm ready to let it all hang out.
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DogMomRunner, you might consider a cotton front closing sports bra. Not gorgeous but can be kind to your new surgical site while providing support.
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Leading Lady "leisure" bras. Stretchy cotton-blend knit, front closing with 7 hooks. Everything from 30 A/B up to 42 F/G/H. HerRoom.com and BareNecessities.com have them, as well as Roaman's. If you're small-busted enough, Target or Wal-Mart have cheaper versions.
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Thank you Beaverntx and ChiSandy- I will take a look at Walmart and Target
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I wear Warner's No Side Effects Banish Underarm Bulge at JC Penney's. I'm thin and small breasted but the sides are high enough to cover the Sentinel node scar and that sensitive area. There's no underwire and I find them extremely comfortable. I'm two years out from lumpectomy and started getting more stinging, aches and itching. Anyone have this happen to them so far out? Wearing my Camis again which are less irritating. All my docs say it's scar tissue and nerve healing and aren't concerned.
Heading to my 1st surveillance MRI and highly claustrophobic. Taking a Valium to help get me through. Need to pretend I'm on a massage table. Being face down helps a lot. Please send good thoughts. Blessings all.
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DogMomRunner, glad the surgery went well. Hint: Many of us find the lymph node removal site more of a pain than the actual lumpy. You definitely do not want anything that will come even close to that incision.
Fingers crossed for a good path report.
HUGS!
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I liked the Danskin front-zip sports bras during recovery from my lumpectomy and re-excision. I also liked using a soft cotton sock rolled or folded to keep pressure on the incision area, which prevented swelling. The sock is also good for cushioning the node incision, which can be quite sensitive, as Peg said.
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If you can't find a post-surgery pillow (or set of pillows) to protect your incisions from shoulder belts in cars, then Alice's rolled-up sock idea is terrific. In fact, cheap cotton tube socks are better used for that than on feet, because cotton socks retain sweat, increase friction and promote formation of blisters on the feet. Cushion your incisions with them, but put polypropylene or acrylic on your feet if you can't wear sandals.
The Danskin bras are great...if they come in your size. Even the largest one didn't fit a size 38H/I (at the time; I'm 40F/G now, which is still too big for those and the cheap bras but will fit some Wacoals and Playtex non-wired. (However, to accommodate their actual volume of their largest offered cup size designations, which don't exceed DD for Wacoal non-wired or DDD for Playtex, you have to go up a band size or two but lose support unless you alter the bands to make them shorter--not worth the trouble of DIYing or the fee to a seamstress if you can fit into a Lane Bryant F or G or wear an underwire and afford Wacoal's underwire, one or two of which offer a G cup in underwire; or Elomi/Goddess/Glamorise--both of which offer some non-wired bras in DDD+ sizes, ThirdLove or Chantelle; all those are more expensive than Bali/Olga/Warner/Maidenform but cheaper than the pricier >$70 Euro brands like Prima Donna, Panache, Freya, Fantasie, or Empreinte). PourMoi is the cheapest Euro brand that offers DDD+, but available only online from specialists like HerRoom, BareNecessities, or FigLeaves, especially the latter's UK site.
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ChiSandy, since I started knitting socks 2 years ago, I've discovered I *can* wear some wool socks (not all though). I knit mostly 75% superwashed wool/25% nylon and so far have done very well in warm weather (we'll see about hot). And I finally have socks that fit. I still find wool I can't wear (and a lot of it) without something between me and the wool item. I never had trouble with mostly cotton socks - just can't find them to fit that I will pay for and are the weight I want.
HUGS!
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DogMomRunner glad to hear your surgery went well! I'm seven months post surgery and still wearing my surgical bra as its the only one that fits the best and covers the node scar. I've purchased several bras that don't fit right. I was stressing over not having a good fitting and pretty bra, but put that on the back burner until I have my corrective surgery in July. Anyone have corrective surgery after your lumpectomy? I have an appointment on Tuesday with a PS for his second opinion and then my original PS in June to determine who and what will be done to get a better results. This has been so frustrating when my BS, PS, and RO all told me that I would have a good outcome, so I went with their recommendation. Things definitely didn't go well, my BS, RO and the second opinion PS all acknowledge my concerns and said things can be addressed to correct my issues. My initial PS gave several reasons why my cosmetic outcome is what it is now and my response was were you able to predict those issues prior to surgery and he replied for the most part yes. I told him that I should have been informed of the possible results and given options for additional procedure for good cosmetic results. Initially I liked him, but now not so much. The other PS is much easier to talk with as he hears what I'm saying, so there is a brighter light at the end of this process. Prayers to all!
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Hi Stella - I am 5 months post lumpectomy and just finished rads. I will consider reconstruction once everything settles. I will probably go for a breast lift to the other boob - even things out a bit. I was advised to wait at least 6 - 12 months
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During my initial consultations with my BS & PS they stated that I would have all procedures at one time and would be done! They said I had plenty of tissue for oncoplasty for my left breast once the tumor & margin were removed then reduction for the right creating symmetry. I went from a 44b/46b to a 44a which is impossible to find a bra that fits right. I'm staying hopeful that my cosmetic results will be what I initially anticipated my breasts to look like. I’m not crazy about going under again, but will do what needs to be done so I can heal physically & emotionally. Freebie thanks for sharing your story I appreciate knowing I’m not the only one with additional surgeries.
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Stella good luck with everything, it can be very frustrating when they don't give you all the information up front. I fired my first MO because of his attitude and thoughts that I would need chemo way before we got all the facts. I did oncoplastic surgery as well, my PS said that she would leave the affected breast a little larger because radiation shrinks things and boy has it. My left breast is now a little smaller than my right, when I met with my PS she said we would wait a while before deciding if I need more work done. Unfortunately radiation works for a year and things can keep shrinking. She did say she has to do additional work on about 10% of her patients, which I didn't think was too bad considering there are factors like swelling and radiation that are a little difficult to predict. Overall I am happy with my results being 6 months post op and 3 months post rads. Second and third opinions are always good.
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Dodmomrunner (and anyone else who's had a lumpectomy): I keep a smallish suede-covered sponge in the car, originally purchased to pad my elbow on the armrest. I started using it tucked into my waistband after I had a robotic nephrectomy to keep my clothes away from the main incision. Now that warm weather is here and I don't have the cushioning of a winter coat or heavy clothes, my breast seems sensitive to the seatbelt pressure, so I've found a third use for that sponge, tucked under the belt. I think this type of sponge is supposed to be for washing cars, so they might be available in automotive centers.
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Hi Salamandra,
Believe it or not, right after I posted my last question I went into the hospital with staph infection in my lumpectomy area. Just my luck. Drain was put in again for 12 days and 14 days of a double whammy of antibiotics. A bit of a set back but that's how I roll.
2 weeks behind schedule but I go for my CT Scan and get all tatted up tomorrow to start the dreaded RADS.
I'm ready to get going on this.
Thanks.
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Oh no Mellaniemc, that sucks!! Staph can be dangerous, I'm glad it was found and treated and you're ok!
Good luck with rads! F
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Thanks for the advice. I am planning on keeping some small towels in my car to pad the seatbelt strap. My port area on the right side is healing up in time for my lumpectomy/node removal incisions on the left to get special treatment
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