Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Sportymom, you certainly were blind-sided by the new diagnosis. We understand why you are worrying about everything new that crops up. I would, too. I have no experience with peeling like you are doing so can't help you there. But please get an appointment quickly with your favorite oncologist to discuss your new Dx. Write all your questions down. I suggest paper mostly because it's easy to add answers and tick them off as you go along. Keep a running list.
Also, please fill out your Profile as completely as you can. Then go to SETTINGS and make it all PUBLIC so we can see what's going on and remember when we read your posts. Note how mine are listed below.
Sending you hugs and positive thoughts. Fingers crossed for good results on your tests this week.
HUGS!
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Shocked, your ordeal is a heads-up to us all. We must advocate for ourselves - vigorously! I wish all the best for you!
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Hi, CindyNY. Yes, my skin felt sunburnt, but I had a bad case of nerve pain. I could not even lean over slightly or make small positional changes without activating the nerve pain, which would start as a quick searing pain - like an electrical shock - in the back of my left arm. This pain was so sudden and severe, that I would cry out in pain - startling my daughter, who knows I have a high pain threshold. The "shock" sensation lasted only a few seconds, but it was followed by a throbbing, aching pain that radiated to my underarm, breast, upper back, and chest. This throbbing pain lasted for several hours. This is a worst case scenario and typically does not happen in this severe a form. Gabapentin helped calm down the angry nerves. But I also needed 10 mg oxycodone whenever I "activated" the pain by a change in position.
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Dear Sporty Mom,
I react with a bad rash and skin sloughing to some adhesives, others just leave very deep bruising. I asked them at my 2nd surgery to please use cloth bandages and tape, and they did, and that worked beautifully. No rash, no skin sloughing, minimal bruising. That might work for you as well in the future.
You may think you are going crazy, but I guess you know by now that this kind of crazy is normal. So is fear. So is rage. Intense rage, even. In other words, there is no normal way to feel about what you are going through. I hope your loved ones understand that and are supportive of you as you continue your fight.
Get by yourself and let out the biggest and loudest scream that you can.
Then look at yourself in the mirror and say, "I am a survivor." Because you are. Believe that.
Big hug to you.
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DonnaleeNC- my "rug burn" was nothing compared to what you went through.
SportyMom- you are tougher than you know. I kept a note book - my questions, all their answers; plus any research I did on my own. Best wishes to you, we've got your back.
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Hi all. Glad this thread exists. We just got patho back for my mom's lumpectomy today.
I had a question about margins. The needle biopsy saw invasive cancer but her lumpectomy didn't find anymore. I guess they got all the invasive stuff in the biopsy, so what's left is DCIS. The patho report gives mm to the margin from the tumor. One margin says "negative inked margins. Focus of DCIS is 4mm from border." Buuuut the other margin just says "Focus of DCIS is less than 1mm from inked final margin." There is nothing to indicate that that is clear, and based on what I read, it's cutting it pretty close since a lot of doctors seem to want a 2mm clean margin. But her surgeon says it's fine, as far as she's concerned, she is cancer free now.
Insight? Do I question this? I don't want to...but I also inherently don't like it...could the doc be poopoo-ing close margins it because it's DCIS and no more invasive stuff?
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Relax. The current standard for "clear margins" according to both ASCO and the SABCS (the annual BC meeting in San Antonio) is "no tumor on ink." (For both DCIS and IDC). Docs who insist on a 2mm margin are being overly cautious--and subjecting women to the risks of a second surgery--including seromas, hematomas, granulation tissue, infection & lymphedema.
And radiation will follow anyway--even partial-breast to the tumor bed (what I had) treats a larger area than tumor plus >2mm.
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Good morning!
I wanted to post and give back a little, after all the positives and reinforcement I have received here.
Yesterday was my SNB and lumpectomy. I was sent to the nuclear medicine lab for injections of tracer fluid for the SNB. (the blue dye was injected post anesthesia in the OR)For all I have read, and all that I was afraid of, it was not bad at all. Two bee stings for the lidocaine/numbing agent and I didn't feel either injection of the tracer fluid at all.
After i was released there, i was sent over to the ambulatory services unit, and prepped for surgery.
Today I have minimal pain, more like a soreness, and I was able to sleep decently all nested up and propped with pillows.
As a funny note, I do pee blue(lovely shade of smurfette) and I am stained orange from just below my chin to my belly button and down both arms.
My new nickname will be Smurfette the Oompa Loompa!
Be strong all, You've got this!
Catherine
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Today I am celebrating my FIVE YEAR NED anniversary.
I want to give another shoutout to BCO for being there for me when I needed it most. Without the support of the great women here, my journey would have been vastly more difficult. My friends here are definitely "bosom buddies."
Thank you to each one of you who helped me survive and keep my sanity (when it was in short supply).
What a special group this is!
HUGS!
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Catob - so glad the lumpectomy went well. Hope you feel better each day.
Peggy -I am new to this thread, but want to say congratulations on 5 years!!! Hooray
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Catob1969 , I'm so glad you're home and feeling pretty good (if a bit blue and orange).
PontiacPeggy, I'm celebrating your NEDiversary! And I agree with you, these boards and actually the entire site have been a lifeline for me as I looked for good, scientific information about what I had, what was coming, what all of this meant.
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Catherine - so glad your lumpectomy went well and don't worry about the blue and orange they go really well together as summer colours. Ice Ice Ice trust me you will appreciate it. Feel well and take it easy.
Peggy - CONGRATULATIONS awesome milestone really happy for you.
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Thank you everyone!
HUGS!
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Catob1969, glad you made it through in all your Technicolor glory!
PontiacPeg, Congrats! That's quite a special number.
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Peggy, so very happy for you! It's LIFE. Since I'm just at the beginning of all this, NED for 5 years, seems like, and is, the hugest accomplishment. Congratulations. If I achieve it- I' ll be 90.
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KeyWestFan, You look great for 85! Very young. You can do it! Five years seemed a long time when I started. And so much has changed since my BC Dx. Hubby had surgery, declined, went to a nursing home, died September 2015, I decided to move to Spokane, sold my house and moved here June 2016. And now a five year survivor.
HUGS!
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Congratulations, PontiacPeggy! You have been one the anchors on this site who have guided me through this adventure. I have so appreciated your advice and your wisdom. Go out and celebrate!
MJ
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Congratulations Peggy!! And thank you for your input over the years. I was in the 2014 club and benefitted so much from the collective wisdom here also!
"Smurfette" glad you're through that! I had heard bad about the tracer injection, but also just felt it a little bit, not horrible.
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ChiSandy, I wish I had read your post about the margins. I was told mine were negative, but I questioned whether it was significant that the pathology report showed remnants of DCIS (the original tumor) on one of the margins. They pushed me into a 2nd surgery. The results were not good. I'm beginning to catch on that I can say "no." Great post!
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Thanks, MJ. Glad I could help out. There's so much we don't know when we start this journey and we don't even know what we don't know.
Reader425 - hang on! You're almost in the 5 year club!!
HUGS!
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Peggy, I don't post often on this thread anymore, but had to come say, yay, yay, YAY for your NED anniversary!! you helped me so much, along with so many others, that it is very nice to celebrate this milestone with you! Have some cake, or wine or whatever...
I'm just a year behind you...
Octogirl
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Octogirl, thank you! I'm glad if I helped you. But I'm the one who should thank you for introducing me to your step-mother's sister! What a fantastic friendship that has developed into.
It will be wine!
HUGS!
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Peggy Congratulations! 5 years is a great milestone, here's to 5 more.
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Thanks, MyMomsGirl!!! I sure hope so too!!
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Peggy, I love having (step) family connections to you. And we WILL meet in real life one of these days!
Enjoy that wine. My clear mammo was today, and I am having a margarita!
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Octogirl, Yes we WILL meet in real life sometime!
Congrats on the clear mammo. Always good news, isn't it?!!! Margarita works! (Clinking glasses!!).
Take care, dear friend!
HUGS
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Octogirl - congrats on the clear mammo. it is always great to hear good news. May you have only clear mammos from here on in.
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Congratulations Peggy on the NED anniversary!!
Catob - glad your lumpectomy went well!
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Mazel tov, Octo & Peggy! (No wine for me--still gotta watch the carb calories, had a wine pairing dinner last week; and a big lunch & dinner out Fri. with Bob's high school friend & his wife, in from CO).
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Catob- good news on the lumpectomy, you've got this behind you. I remember the blue pee, I was so drugged I wasn't sure if it were from me or blue toilet bowl cleaner. 😉. Onward!
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