MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

sheila888

Few months back i developed a weird pain on my lumpectomy breast. I called the oncologist

He said that wasn't related to BC that I should call my BS. It happened he was leaving for vacation that day. He called me from home at 9 PM (I love My BS) we talked and the next day I made an appointment for 2 weeks later. Few days passed I was so nervous and scared that my girl friend took me to ER and I asked for a US. They couldn't deny because I was DX with BC. Everything was clear.

Came home the dull pain continued for days.......

On the appointment day there was no longer any problems but I did go and see him this is what he said to me

<I cut you twice than they put poison in your body and radiated your breast for 30 something time of course you will have these symptoms here and there.>

All I needed was an explanation and I got it.

Sorry for the long story. I hope it helps

♥

NativeMainer

Funny, my rad onc said the radiation would kill the cancer cells that might be there, but the normal tissue completely recovers after a few weeks.  And he wonders why I was confused and upset when, a week after rads started, the nurse told me that the skin would be permanently discolored, I might have heart damage and would have lung damage, and rib damage wasn't unusual.  And the rad onc wonders why I reported him to the state medical board.  3 years later and still waiting for the board to investigare. . .

Meece

My skin didn't stay discolored, did yours NM?

NativeMainer

Yup, right up until the PS removed it during recon.  The PS had to remove that skin because it was so damaged and discolored.  He said that't typical radiation damage.  My rads were done 3 years ago.

Meece

Hmm, Maybe I ought to look at my boob closer.  Not one of my favorite passtimes.  The texture of my skin is definitely different.

Carrol2

Hello I am new to the board and felt the need to connect with people close to my age, of 45. 

I am on day 27 since my surgery. Still waiting for my onocytype to make the big chemo decision results no radiation is required.  

I am doing pretty well. I started the flexibility exercises right away so I have good range already.  I even took a zumba class yesterday. I may go again today if I feel up to it later. Seems like afternoons are the hardest time. I am unemployed so not dealing with work now. Trying to do some things at home for my husbands business. Right before my surgery, a few days before, we made a DVD on how to paint a motorcycle. Got 500 of them delivered last week and we already sold about 20 of them. So making labels as the orders come in. I have to write a letter and send them to the magazines to try to get them to review them in print. Tat is on today's agenda.

The pain is never really bad just lingering. It's just so constant it makes me crazy. I think when I am tired it gets worse. Like if I don't sleep at night or do too much during the day.

I did not get any reconstruction yet. I am dealing with how I look ok but it does bother me a little. At first I was almost happy, I seemed so skinny without my huge DD boobs, but now I am feeling like I have these prunes on my chest. When I look down at them I get sad. I keep telling myself it is only temporary.

I really hope I don't need chemo, it scares me. I am afraid of being sick and of any long term side effects from it. There are so many things they don't tell you when you are dealing with all of this. But if it is necessary i will do it. 

Hoping for a low oncotype score! 

low oncotype score!  low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score! low oncotype score!  

CherylQ

Welcome Carrol2 - too bad we all have to join this club to meet.  My sister's BC was like yours, she had rads and did well.  I on the other hand will be having both chemo and rads starting this coming week.  Everyone is different and response differently, so hang in there, we are standing by your side each step of the way.

Praying for a low oncotype score for you too!

Peace and laughter

Cheryl

elimar86861

Welcome Carrol2!  I have a question for you.  Did a mammo find your lump or did you?  I'm asking because your B/C (which is Grade 3, therefore agressive growing) was caught pretty early...you are lucky on that.  Our Dx are similar, but I went with lumpectomy, radiation & Tamox.  My Onco score was 18, but chemo would have only lowered my risk of recurrence 2-3%, so I did skip chemo.  Will be hoping you get a low score; but whatever is next for you, you've got some B/C sisters right here ready to help you thru' it.

About the rads-tan, still have mine tho' it has faded a lot.  I would say I got 6-8 shaded darker during rads and now the area is still 1-2 shades darker, so maybe in another year I will be all blended in again.

Kleenex

My rads area - mostly the boost area, which was a sort of oval - is barely different from the skin around it. It's got a lovely divot from the lumpectomy in the midst of it, and I'd have to say that THAT is more noticeable than any skin discoloration. I think some of that depends on your skin type and how it reacts to the radiation process. Mine just got a bit pink. I'm surprised, because I'm fairly pasty, but it's recovered pretty well. That area tends to be drier, though, and if I don't keep some lotion on it, it can get wildly itchy...

My latest thing is that my left hand's index finger is twitching periodically. I think I perhaps have some sort of nerve pinching somewhere along the line from my shoulder to the end of my finger...

Seyla - that's my thought process: my poor boob was slapped around, they rooted around inside in two places looking for stuff and then rearraged it and sewed me back up, and then they toasted the area with radiation. THEN I added Tamoxifen, which changes the skin and annoys my joints. I'd be surprised if I DID feel normal.

It's always something, isn't it?

barbe1958

Kleenex, google "trigger finger" it's a real phenomenon.

Wintermoon623

Hi. I'm 51...was 48 when diagnosed.  I had lumpectomy, two follow up surgeries (one cause we didn't get it all and one to remove a hard, mean fat necrosis), chemo and rads.  Needless to say my smaller, radiated boob looks like it belongs to a 25 year old....my other boob looks every bit of 51. I thought about plastic surgery to even them up but none of the recommended surgeons are in my insurance network (of course!) so I've just decided I'm gonna lean to the left a little from now on...LOL.

Meece

Wintermoon, I can relate to the dual generation boobs.  I have had two surgeries trying to even mine up and my non-BC side is still larger and is effect by gravity more.  I remember going to the BS after y lumpectomy and teasing that I'd love to have him to do the same thing to the other side.  hat was when I was still swollen, but perky none the less.  Then the divot began showing and radiation took it's toll.

leisaparis

Carrol2, Hi there! I'm 45 also and live just @ 2 1/2 hours away from you. I live in the upper northwest part of Missouri. An hour north of St.Joe. I had a bi-lat mastectomy in April. First had chemo(12 weeks), another round of chemo(12 weeks), surgery, radiation and am now on Herceptin for a year (will end at the end of May 2011). Didn't plan on having any kind of reconstruction, but the surgeon didn't take off all what he was suppose to. So now will have a plastic surgeon remove what the cancer surgeon left behind. Hoping to do that sometime in November. Sorry you had to join us, but glad you found your way here. This is a really good place to laugh, cry, bitch, moan, groan. Whatever you need to make you feel better. These women are wonderful. Good luck and God Bless. (((((HUGS)))))  Leisa

Wintermoon623

Meece: Dual generation boobs...LOL.  That is my new term for them! 

gingersfavorite1

ummm.....  wow.    No thanks  

Meece

Ladies, it appears that the post by mtlelt has been posted in many threads, and the (Edited to say) "Community has"  already begun to remove them.  edited to say :Boy that was quick!!!!

Meece

NativeMainer

When I had rads my entire breast blistered, burned, seeped fluid for weeks during and afterward.  Some of the skin discoloration I had was burn scarring, I imagine.  At one point one of the rad center workers said she'd never seen anything as bad as my breast looked, and that was half way through.  It got a lot worse after that. I would like to have a dime for every time a doc or nurse has told me "that's really unusual."  I'd be a rich woman.  Oh, well. 

Cancer treatment, the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving and giving.. . . . 

Meece

At least your health care team would talk to you.

Eph3_12

Happy Labor Day my friends.  Here's how I feel about all of you-my unfailing support system!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK9Xj7eY0UU&amp;feature=player_embedded

Meece

Here's a link:      Lean on Me

Your link didn't work for me, but I found the video and love it.  Always loved the song anyway.

Meece

Duh, I feel stupid, you weren't trying to make a link, just an address.  Sorry, joni.

silverwingcat

I was wondering what do they mean by stage 3 beni

silverwingcat

last friday the nurse called and said I was a stage 3 be. there was some cal. returning the radologist thinks i should just stay on the 6 month mam. but the nurse was sending over the diag. to my surgent, and he may call me about what he thinks i'm just lost on what to think

barbe1958

Sorry I can't help you silverwincat as I don't know what you're asking.

To the rest...at my work when a delivery goes bad, we always say "oh that NEVER happens!" to the poor lady with a fridge through the floor or something. We like everyone to feel special...ehehehehe

When nothing does go wrong, that's the exception unfortunately....

elimar86861

Greeting, to women posting for the first time on this thread.  Silverwingcat, our B/C is "staged" by size and lymph node involvement, or spread.  I am not sure of your question either.  Are you saying you have something benign (B9) that is Stage 3...I have never heard of that.  That does not sound right.  Are you asking about microcalcifications?

Nice new (avatar) look Eph!  Enjoyed the video you posted.  Thanks for the testimonial.

sheila888

Silverwingcat...I think the result of your mammogram reads

BIRAD 3 Benign Here is more information for you if Im thinking what you are asking...

BIRADS Scores

Category	Diagnosis	Number of Criteria
0	Incomplete	Your mammogram or ultrasound didn't give the radiologist enough information to make a clear diagnosis; follow-up imaging is necessary
1	Negative	There is nothing to comment on; routine screening recommended
2	Benign	A definite benign finding; routine screening recommended
3	Probably Benign	Findings that have a high probability of being benign (>98%); six-month short interval follow-up
4	Suspicious Abnormality	Not characteristic of breast cancer, but reasonable probability of being malignant (3 to 94%); biopsy should be considered
5	Highly Suspicious of Malignancy	Lesion that has a high probability of being malignant (>= 95%); take appropriate action
6	Known Biopsy Proven Malignancy

sheila888

Silverwingcat...I believe they are talking about BIRAD 3 Benign

Did you get that info after your mammogram?

I will find a link and post it for you.

If this is your question.

sheila888

BI-RADS Assessment Categories are^[1]:

• 0: Incomplete
• 1: Negative
• 2: Benign finding(s)
• 3: Probably benign
• 4: Suspicious abnormality
• 5: Highly suggestive of malignancy

Carrol2

Nice to meet you Bonnie cute kitty! I have three cats, 2 that are 10 years old and a 1 year old. Yur right this is a good place to come I have found lots of info and comfort here.