2012 sisters

Anonymous

chrissera and jpmom - hugs to both of you. jpmom - good news on the chemo!

For those of you with lymph node removal and the new rule of no needles, bp, etc in the affected arm - if you are looking for a bracelet - try checking out creativemedicalid.com. I just ordered from there and got a lot of nice help from someone on the phone. You kind of have to be willing to spend some money - but I figure I'm stuck wearing something like this for the rest of my life so I might as well treat myself. After all - we are going through some crappy stuff and we are worth it - right? Happy shopping!

tazzy - hope you're coming along

happy day to the rest of you!

Soyaandpepper

jpmomof3-So sorry you felt anxious about your app with your MO today, so glad that your tumors had a decent response to chemo. So no more chemo for you, and yayyyyy to you keeping your hair from now. Hope that radiation gets the rest of the cancer. This cancer roller coaster really sucks, just when you think its over, there's another hill! Hope you enjoy your Thai food! 

Soyaandpepper

Tazzy-Missing you! Hope you're well and speedy recovery!

chrissera

I am sitting AARP chemo next to an 88 year old woman... She is great! This is her second DX with bc ans third round of chemo... Don't know if I could do thus at that age.

I have a question for those that had chemo before surgery... Did u work during.chemo? If not did u go.back to work beforw the surgery? I have been out of work for a month and was not planning on.going back until after surgery. Wondering how long after chemo is finished do they schedule it? I miss working terribly but can't go back due to the extreme.fatigue... Any thoughts are welcome!



Hugs to all!

Aruba

Only hearing about no bloodwork, blood pressure readings on arm after node removal on this site (no dr has mentioned up to now). I only had 1 sentinal node removed. Could this be why and what rules apply to me now? Thanks!

Anonymous

Aruba - if you only had one or two nodes removed, you should be just fine. Folks with all or most nodes removed are the only ones who need to worry about this (as far as I know). I didn't know about this until I started having all my pre-surg appts. Every nurse that worked with me asked if I had any arms that shouldn't be used - so I started asking questions. And after surgery - they put a bright pink band on my left arm noting the arm precaution. So in an effort to avoid lymphedema at all costs - I plan on making sure any medical professional that comes in contact with me gets the message loud and clear.

Cindyl

I had 7 nodes removed.  My arm swells up whenever I think about lifting something heavy.  My trunk is always so swollen that I still can't were bras that were loose before my lx and 23 lb weight loss. (the bands are a good two inches too small)

 Everyone who has had even 1 node removed should educate herself on the signs of LE and should at least think about what precautions make sense.

Aruba

Thanks ramols and cindyl! More educating needed on my end!

juneaubugg

Soya if with you... Missing Tazzy. Hope she's healing well.



JP. Good news. I so wish I were on the other side of chemo already. I hear you about the beautiful healthy people who pass us by... I'm still trying to find some peace in my decision.... But in still uncomfortable from surgery and it's starting to pass. Now I am going to get sick again!



Ladies- why do you need lidocaine

cream for a port and where do you get it?

lisa2012

Mine was OK- they made me comfy with pillows, they put nice big headphones on. I took an Ativan before I went it. It was a very cold room but other than that it wasn't too weird. I had just had the MRI 2 weeks beofre so at least I knew about the IV and contrast dye this time! Good luck, Dakota..

Anonymous

adding to juneaubugg's question - what determines whether you get a port vs just have your arm veins used each time you go?

Anonymous

Ramols...get my port Monday and I had the same question. Dr told me that the veins in our arm are not as big as the one used in a port. He said makes chemo, meds, and blood draw easier on the patient. But the person that mentioned the lidocaine....do I need this? Should I ask for a prescription?

Anonymous

thanks tpoloychron - one more question to add to the list for my 8/17 MO appt. Guess I should start writing this list down instead of keep it in my head...

Tazzy

Wanted to check in and say hi and I'm home.  Haven't the energy to read through all the posts at the moment, but will do over the weekend. 

Well I must say the SNB hurt like a bitch.   I was told that they didn't use numbing cream or pain killers as it had been proven that women reacted the same regardless of whether they had it or not... Oh! yeah I said to the tech... and who decided that the docs or women .  So there and then I apologised for any swearing that may occur during the process... And by the time I had said "OUCH.... FUCK THAT HURT LIKE A BITCH" the pain was over... that happened 3 times.   

And really, the surgery wasn't as bad as I was anticipating... and as everyone tells you eh?   Even the drains aren't that bad. 

My BS was very happy this morning before he discharged me - now just wait for the path report and fingers crossed for clean margins - also find out how many nodes he took.   I even looked at my wound when he checked it over... I just thought "ok lets do this" and you know what ladies... all I could think of was that the tumour was gone from my body and not that I had lost a boob.

I am grateful for good pain meds and hoping for a good nights sleep in my own bed.. or recliner.

I will for sure read through your posts over the weekend.  Just a little weary now but doing OK.

Thanks for being there with me and wishing each and every one of you good positive vibes for whatever you may be going through.

Love you ladies xxx

chrissera

When I got my port they have me a prescription for lidocaine cream. I put it on the port area about 45 min before chemo. It numbs port area so you don't feel.them put the access needle in.each time. I would definitely recommend it. If u don't use it it hurts only for a minute or two kind of like if u hit a bruise with a stick.

Other than when I forget to use the cream I have mo issues with my port once it healed from the surgery to pur it in



Good luck nd hugs to all!

liefie

Welcome home, Tazzy! So glad this is over for you, and hope you feel much better every day.

lisa2012

Yup, Tazzy, you made it through. Hugs.

What does SNB stand for? Sentinel node something?

Stressing about my surgery next Tuesday. Feel optimistic yet worried. 

Anonymous

Nice work, Tazzy. And you said it right. Surgery is about getting the cancer out - not about losing a boob.

2FriedEggs

SUPER TAZZY Youre home YAY. So glad it's over with and wasn't as bad as you anticipated. One more step toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Take care and enjoy the meds.

Soyaandpepper

Tazzy-So gald you're home and recovering, speedy recovery and BIG (((((HUGGGGS)))))))))). Rest up!

Chrissera-88 year old woman doing chemo for the 3rd time and econd cancer, wow she's one strong woman!

websister-Glad your port insertion went uneventful and ENJOY your vacation!!!!!!

So I started tamoxifen last week and went to get my first ovaries suppression injection, ouch!!! He didn't tell me I had to get a local before the injection! I thought it was going to be like a flu shot! It really wasn't that bad but I wish he told me before hand so I would prepare for it mentally. I'm afraid of needles and before this cancer I hardly get injections or anything to do with needles. I know that the injection is nothing compare to the surgery I went through but I'm still afraid of needles. 

bevg49

welcome home, Tazzy. Glad it wasn't as bad as anticipated (it usually isn't ..... 

SNB stands for Sentinel Node biopsy which many of us have had and as for LE, my breast surgeon told me than gave me a booklet to back herself up that the risk is still there even if you just have the sentinel node out of 2 or 3. Of course, the risk is greater if you have many nodes removed but it is, unfortunately, there for all of us and it's there forever . Go on an LE website (cancer.org., breastcancer.org, mayoclinic.com/health/lymphadema.... there are many good ones).... They will give you info and how to avoid, how to treat right away before it becomes bad and they even have listings of therapists by zip code onm some of the sites. I am scared and watching even though I only had a sentinel node removed. They could not get a vein in my good arm after my third surg. (1 mx, 2 emergency hematoma).... surgeon overrode the order not to use cancer side. Some nurses would not do it even though he wrote an order. They tried phlebotomists... They tried everything. I was a human pin cushion and they did use the cancer side on more than one occasion so I have my fingers crossed.... 

chrissera

Tazzy -- glad things went well today. Here's hoping for a good night for u! Happy weekend to all!

2FriedEggs

Soyaandpepper you took another important step agaist this bc crap by starting the Tamoxifen! yay. I started my Arimidex a couple months ago and since I'm not experiencing any side effects, I'm feeling kind of relieved that I have something working inside now to starve any stray cells that could sneak around. I don't know any thing about the ovary suppression shots. (I don't have ovaries anyway-lol) How often do you have to get those and for how long?

Websister So glad everything went ok with the port-I'm learning thru all this BC bullcrap  that if I am offered some type of pain meds or sedatives for a procedure to take them. Chances are if they are being offered I'll probably need them-no more being stoic for me either. Have a great vacation. Time for a mental and physical get-away from this crap.

Aruba thanks for sharing Lindalou53s post-it's encouraging as well as inspirational

Chrissera so sorry you are going thru these tough times with the chemo. I hope you get a reprieve from the se's so you can go to the engagement party.

JPmom hope your lunch was good-Thai sounds pretty good to me;one of those meals I'd love to go for but I'd have a tough time getting my DH to go . Glad you got good news re no new chemo and can keep your "pixie" coming in. Boy that term took me back to my childhood when my mom would tell the hairstylist (or should I say beautician since thats what they were then) to give me a "cute pixie" for the summer months.lol

Lisa 2012 good luck on Tuesday. You're getting your squishees right?

Juneaubugg wish you were on the otherside of your chemo.Dang BC!

Ramols glad you could come to a decision about your chemo and your sons shots. It's not ideal but guess it's better than it could be. ( I sure find myself saying it could be worse alot with this BC.)

Hope everyone has a mental and physical reprieve from this  cancer bs this weekend.

Soyaandpepper

2FriedEggs-I feel good that there's something inside fighting and starving any stray cancer cells too. My doctor said the injections are monthly for at least 2 years and then he'll review and see if I need it for another 3 years till the end of my tamoxifen. The injection has to be injected in the abdomen area (he said somewhere around the stomach that has some fat is ideal). Well, not much fat here for this 110lbs girl, and plus he cleared me to run, do spinning and abs in the gym, so I'm not sure he'll get any fat next month to inject. LOL! How's it going with you? Are you all filled up? Are you just waiting on the exchange now? Any idea when it could be?

Dakota212

Tazzy~

Yeah!!! Glad it went well!!!

Dakota212

Websister~

Glad Ur insertion went well, time to enjoy ur vacation.

Dakota212

Chit town~

Sorry u found us but it is a wonderful site to get information and vent to those who have been and are going thru what u r. Good luck with ur decision

2FriedEggs

Soyaandpepper Do you need a fat donor? lol I'm not fat but I definitely have some to spare. I have to get exercising again. Good for you though that you got cleared for your workouts. I think I will have my exchange sometime during the beginning of September. Can't wait as these over-filled things get in my way and the top of my arms collide with them all the time-they are rock hard and just weirdshaped too . I actually scheduled myself for one more fill just to be on the safe side. I have had so many skin-healing issues that I want to make sure there is a little extra skin and that I can get a decent size implant. I'm not trying to get greedy with the size but don't want to be too flat either lol Glad all is going okay with you now. I bet you are really relieved as well to have made your treatment decision and you are moving on with everything you like to do. That's great.

Dakota212

2friedeggs~

I am sore today feels more like a big bruise but at least it's done. Saw the pc today, and then the bs and pc again on Tuesday. Just want a date, feel like this is spreading by the minute. They want to take a sample of the right side if I choose lumpectomy on the left, I am really leaning towards bmx so thatcsidecwont be an issue. Ughhh tooo many things to think about. Hope U have a great night

Anonymous

Soyaandpepper - sorry to hear those shots were painful. What are they for? I too will be getting tamoxifen at some point but since I haven't met with the oncologist yet I don't know the details. Curious if this should go on my list of questions...

Wishing you all a good night.