Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Just gotta call from DHs doctor--its high grade prostate cancer, very aggressive. I am devastated. He needs a bone scan to look for mets. We have an apot to see the doctor in Fri to discuss treatment.

I'm all theses years of multiple crises--severely disabled child, severely disabled DH, my own trials with bipolar and cancer, I have never asked "why me?" I always felt like "why not me?" But this time feels different. It just seems like we've been dealt such a difficult hand. It doesn't seem fair.

Oh well. I suppose it could be worse. We could live in a third world country with no insurance and poor healthcare. In that respect, we are very fortunate.

I'll let y'all know how the Dr visit goes on fri.

mustlovepoodles - sending you very warm and best wishes to deal with the hand you and your husband have been dealt. Life just keeps delivering blows, doesn't it.

brandford - good luck today

Ozpoppet, Welcome. You certainly at the right place for information. We have several Aussies hanging around here. I can't speak to your radiation question but I can on Tamoxifen. Here in the States, anyway, Tamoxifen would not be the first choice for someone your age (or mine 70). Usually it is an Aromatase Inhibitor such as Arimidex since you are most likely postmenopausal. However, there are always exceptions give your particular circumstances.

Please help us help you by filling out your profile and making it PUBLIC, then it appears after each post. I know that I have a hard time remembering each person's particular Dx etc. And that also helps those who may have similar Dx's and treatment paths answer your questions.

HUGS!

Brandford, good luck! I'm in your pocket jumping around (that's called dancing )

HUGS!

brandfird and tbalding - I'm in your pocket when you go in for surgery!

Peachy - great picture. I'm glad you had a fun time. As an old rocker myself, I'd love that trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! My son said to me there other day, "How come I know so many old songs and my friends only know pop music?" I had to explain the type of music we listened to as we did chores or took family drives. Haha

614 - Oh, my. To see your family history of cancer is heartbreaking. So much cancer. Does it ever freak out the young people in your family?

Poodles, Damn.

brandfird and tbalding- in your pockets for the surgery.

Can't remember who asked about when you can do more than walking type exercise after a lx but, I did a yoga class about 3 weeks out- gentle stretching and the very next day started developing a seroma. I do not think it was coincidence. My BS had said it was ok and everything. Had to give it up for another 6 weeks.

Poodles- I am so sorry about your DH. Am glad you are getting in to the doc so quickly. Sounds so overwhelming- am hoping getting a plan and some deep breathing will help calm you some. Am sending big hugs your way!

Poodles - Well, shit. Not for nothing, your own experience has prepared you to deal with this and understand what's going on. Also, you'll be the best support your husband could ever have. Sending you good vibes and saying a prayer for strength as you head on this new journey with him.

PolkaDotPurse - So sorry that you need to be here, but glad we can help you get through this. It's been almost a year now, but I can remember not being able to articulate that I had cancer. Telling people is so hard. But, you move on, and I promise that you will feel better and stronger once you've had surgery and have a treatment plan.

Ozpoppet - Welcome! Hooray for clear margins! Your Medical Oncologist can best advise on hormone treatment. Usually post-menopausal treatment is an Aromatase Inhibitor.

Brandford - Hope all goes well! You've got this.

Sandy and Molly, glad there are more Cheap Trick fans here. Sloan, we have raised our sons right. When mine names a Police song in the first 10 seconds it's on the radio he makes me proud!

If anyone would like to chant "We're all all right" it starts at around 3:20 on this video of Friday night's performance:

So many posts... I can never keep up!

Peachy2 I LOVE CHEAP TRICK! It sounded like a blast! What a treat, you work with some very very special people.

I just went and saw Chic and Duran Duran last week, it was so fun! Here's a story,... between songs Nile Rodgers brought up his prostate cancer diagnosis, and when he heard that he was asked to make "preparations" he decided to write as much music as he could, and ended up producing this:

The place went nuts. And now he's NED. I was bawling for joy.

Peachy, so wonderful for you co-workers to do that for you. How fun!

Brandford, Good luck with your surgery!

Poodles, so sorry about your DH's cancer. Sending hugs to you both.

Nancy- I second what LTFly said- I'm 6 mos out and still the bad girl is sore and off limits.

Hi Maeve - I'm fairly new to this site as well and do find it so helpful. There is nothing more encouraging than hearing the experiences of those who have gone before you.

MaeveK, Welcome! We're glad to have you here. There are quite a few of us who have had seromas. I'm not one. Nice that your RO is likable. However, brushing off your concerns is not good. Perhaps you should contact your surgeon. That seems to be the person who is most likely to take seromas seriously. Good luck!

HUGS!

MaeveK - I had a seroma for quite a while - .. my incision burst and it drained for a few years... This January I had the incision closed and now I still have a seroma - its pretty big but the breast surgeon said it will go away but could take a year.. I do have to get an ultrasound now and again to make sure it is getting smaller but no one is worried about it.

I have a large seroma in the tumor cavity, which was enlarged further and encapsulated by the radiation treatments. I expect to have it another year or more. I had an orange-sized one in my SNB site, and its incision burst three weeks post-op, gushing about a half-cup of fluid. The other surgeon in the group expressed the rest of the fluid and sutured it closed. The stitches held and were removed after another couple of weeks. What’s left of that seroma is about the size of a grape.