Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Horsegirl

Good job, Bluedog! Glad you are feeling up to posting. That's a good sign.

Ringelle: I had two 2 hours of mammos & ultrasounds after my first surgery - they were looking at the margins. Not a picnic. She may be one of us with dense breat tissue, making it harder to get good images. That initial wait is so tough. Hugs for your friend & you supporting her. Sounds like her doc is being very precise and getting the best for her.

Encourage your friend to do something sweet for herself while she waits. The weekend I was waiting for my biopsy report (& my sister-in-law had just been diagnosed), I planted pink petunias all over my front yard. Pink has never been my color, but I decided to own it! These flowers have been flourishing since May, a cheerful reminder that my SIL & I share hope in this HER2 story.

Molly50

Ringelle, I've been thinking about you! Sterio static biopsy is usually done by a radiologist. Are they thinking lumpectomy instead? Sorry your friend is going through this. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

queenmomcat

Stretching my memory back to my baseline mammogram: It started with a bog-standard baseline mammogram, then processed to further pictures of the suspicious area, then an ultrasound...hope your friend does OK? Why did the doctor want a surgeon to do the biopsy rather than a radiologist?

Reader425

Outrunning, I used your surgeon, hospital also. in my humble opinion you're in good hands. I had Dr. Wright for RO and Dr. K. Smith is my oncologist. Very happy with all.

Haven't been posting but have been reading and thinking of you all.

HUGS particularly to Peggy at this time.

Outrunning

Hi reader425

RO I'm seeing Croog instead of Wright but also at Sibley. But I am seeing Smith. Glad to hear you were happy with her. So hard to know if one should just take the recommendation and how much the docs work together or not in the same practice.

bluedog

Thanks, Molly50 and horsegirl.

MaggieCat

Ringelle - I have been there, done that several years ago - very similar to what your friend is looking at..... with the breast surgeon in charge, etc. Was right breast and no cancer was found. Maggie

Nash54

Blue dog so glad everything went well for you today!!!  Take it easy for the next couple of days and keep the area iced.  

mustlovepoodles

Saw a lymphedema specialist today, at my BSs recommendation. She noticed how swollen my breast is right off the bat. The LE specialist took measurements and after getting my history, she said that she thought I might be an higher risk for LE. Most people who have sentinel node biopsies are low risk, maybe 8%. But due to all the trauma my breast has had--2 lumpectomies, large hematoma, seroma, infection--she feels that LE could easily set up. So, she showed me some exercises and did a bit of breast and underarm massage, which was a little weird but didn't hurt. I wasn't really a believer, but to my amazement my breast was softer when she got done and she felt that it was not as swollen. I don't know about that, but time will tell.

She is going to call my BS about getting me a compression bra and a sleeve. She wants me to wear the bra until my breast returns to normal size, however long that is. And she wants me to wear the sleeve for about a YEAR. Also, no BP or blood draws in my right arm for at least a year. Erg. Not looking forward to all that, but better to treat this preventively than wish I had later.

Molly50

Most people recommend no BP or blood draw ever on at risk side. I had alnd so I will not allow anyone to touch that side.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, sounds like a very worthwhile visit to the LE specialist. So glad that you are softer (and oh so much more cuddly). I'll bet you felt better emotionally, too.

HUGS!

keepwalking

Hello everyone. This is my first post on this forum, but I read back a couple of months of posts and I feel like I am getting to know you wonderful, brave warriors. I was just diagnosed on Sept 6 and have decided to do Oncoplastic Lumpectomy with SLNB. I don't have a surgery date yet, but it should be between 2-4 wks from now, as here in Israel it is the big holiday time for the next couple of weeks.

These past weeks, waiting for the biopsy results, knowing that chances were >95% of it being BC, and now after the diagnosis trying to set up doctors appointments and learn as much as I can, have been such a hurricane of activity, with emotions running the gamut of stoic, upbeat, let's get this done, fear, denial, numb, overwhelmed and everything in between. Reading what some of you are going through in life challenges in addition to BC humbles me.

I just met the MO on Wednesday, and just being there in the oncology ward perhaps made it hit home that I really do have cancer, so since then I have felt this gnawing emptiness in my stomach like when you first wake up in the morning after some major negative life event and realize that it really was true and not a dream. But so far the clinical signs are good, so I can take some comfort in that, while realizing that nothing is for sure at this point. I like both the MO and BS that I was fortunate to get, and feel like I can communicate with them and be heard and understood. They are both extremely kind and gentle, while being upfront in laying out all the issues. Thankfully they both speak English. The Breast Cancer Center here at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has a good reputation and that gives me some confidence.

My DH is also just starting a 6 month regimen of treatment for an ongoing medical condition, so much of the last couple of weeks have been spent with appointments, paperwork, and bureaucratic mixups dealing with that, in addition to making sure that everything is in order with meds and times for him each day. Add on to that having to navigate an unfamiliar medical system and all of this in a language that both of us only superficially understand/speak. Needless to say it has been stressful. (Still, it seems minor in comparison to the additional struggles for many of you, and my heart goes out to you.)

I have learned so much from reading all the wonderful advice on this forum. I hope that I can contribute and join in the mutual support that is so evident here.

One question I have for now (I am sure there will be many others!) My BS did not mention anything about wire localization, but in reading posts it seems that everyone did have that. Did anyone here not need that part? Does it depend on whether the lump can be easily felt? Mine is at 12:00 and near the surface, so it is pretty evident. He did say that I would have "radioactive dye" for the SLNB and they would be located by geiger counter (so not sure if that means radioactive + blue, or just radioactive).

I am in a much different time zone, so my posts will probably always be out of sync with everyone else, unless one of us are having trouble sleeping :-). Thanks in advance to all of you and wishing you all the best for today.

Rina

keepwalking

Nash54 - I grew up in Nashville (Madison, actually).

Peggy and all the Michigan ladies - I lived 10 years in Kalamazoo.

My heart weeps for you, Peggy. If I could take some of the heaviness off your shoulders I would.

I forgot to add that I am not on the computer on Shabbat or Holidays, so don't feel like i am ignoring you all when I am off for periods of time, especially in the next couple of weeks.

Outrunning

hi Rina. Welcome. Sorry you have reason to be here with us, but glad to share the journey with you.

My surgery was last week. The SNLB was both blue and radioactive. I remember them telling my husband I might apprar a tad green from it. But not that my per would look like toilet bowl cleaner for the rest of the day-which it did.

I had wires on both sides this time. But in 2000 I had a benign lump removed, much the same as the thing I had on the right this time. In 2000 it was at 6:00 and easily felt. I had no needle loc then. Not sure if that was due to now out of date practices, or ease of location.

L'shana Tova.

I'm Christian but have found receiving this greeting particularly meaningful this year.

PontiacPeggy

Rina, Welcome. How hard it must be for you being in unfamiliar places and coping with DH's medical issues, too. I can't imagine. Have you moved to Israel or working there for a limited period? Appears you have found a team that you are comfortable with and that's vital. My RO goes to Israel regularly in a medical capacity as well as a personal one.

I think that most of us have wire locators done. It helps the surgeon so they are not operating blind. Perhaps because your tumor is palpable you may not need it. My first wire locator during an excisional biopsy was terrible and I swore I would never have another one. Obviously that didn't work. But the one for my BC was a much better, different experience. I had nurses and doctors who knew what they were doing and did them many times a day and for my first one I suspect it was the guy's first one. So while it sounds terrible, you'll be numbed up and it is worse in your head than in reality.

My BS injected the dye for my SNLB which I gather isn't common. I did not pee blue.

My youngest son went to college at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo and we have one member here who DOES live in K'zoo - Mary59G.

Thank you for the kind words of support. You will find that everyone here will prop you up when you need it and I've needed a whole lot of it the past couple weeks. DH still clings to life and is non-responsive. We've tried everything we can think of to ease his mind so he can let go but nothing has worked. It is hard because his body is declining rapidly and we don't want him to suffer. We have the best hospice nurse in the world and that helps. So when you need comfort, a very safe place to rant, questions that you need answered, this is the best and safest place to be. You can really bare your soul here.

Best of luck to you as you embark on your journey. You have the right (positive) attitude and that helps immensely.

HUGS!

gypsyjo

Rina - I'm glad you found us. This thread does have the most supportive group of women through whatever the challenge. I'm glad you are pleased with your team.

Peggy - You are still in my thoughts. I started writing a couple of times knowing how painful this stage of Parkinsons is, but keep finding myself with conflicting feelings. You so want what is best for them but it isn't always clear what that is. Just waiting is painful for all involved. Hugs.

PontiacPeggy

Jo,, thank you. But really DH's Parkinson's is the lesser of his issues. He has pneumonia and a lot of other things going on. Congestive heart failure. A horrid bed sore that, even if he were able to recover, would likely never heal. The Parkinson's IS making him very rigid and causing him pain when we move him. Dilaudid does help with the pain along with other drugs (Atavan, e.g.) he is getting to ensure his comfort. Hope to see you the 26th!

HUGS!

KittyL

I am scheduled for lumpectomy Sept. 28, 2015 for <2 cm mass 2:00 high and outside in tail of breast. I'm 125# and have thin mature (ahem) breasts and there's not a lot of breast tissue up there. After surgeon examined yesterday, it is just below the surface and extremely palpable, he said we could skip the wire placement. He was actually able to pull the mass away from the breast and isolate it. I also assured him that I saw the post-biopsy mammogram (told him to refer to it) and that the tiny marker coil really was dead center of the mass. I think wire placement depends on how deep the mass is (palpable or not). I appreciated that he was judicious in skipping an unnecessary step instead of ordering just because it's "standard of care".

Nash54

Welcome Rina! No wire localization for me. They put in a titanium marker when I had my biopsy and BS used ultra sound to find it. I never peed blue so not sure what I was injected with to find the SN. I had no problems during or after my LX....wishing you the same. I rested for 2 days and kept ice on the site. Of course for several months after there were zingers and weird sensations but nothing that caused alarm.

How long did you live in Madison? I love TN!!

Molly50

Welcome Rina and Kitty. You both have found an amazingly supportive group of women. I had 3 wires locators placed for my Lx and the radioactive isotope injection which did not cause me to pee blue. The radiologist who did my wires was very experienced and I didn't feel any real pain. I have very dense breast tissue and on the morning of sx they repeated all of my imaging and found LVI as well. Glad to welcome both of you to our group.

octogirl

and welcome to Rina and Kitty from me as well.

Rina you mentioned the oncoplasty and I had a bit of that too...my tumor was right below my nipple at six o clock and because of the location they had to take the nipple also. When comparing my surgery to a standard Lx and other's experiences there didn't seem to be much immediate difference in recovery. the oncoplasty part is fine. I did have one suture that popped and *still* isn't fully healed, though it is getting there, but I confess that probably had more to due with the fact that I picked up something heavy too soon (hey, I saw my two year old grandson for the first time in five months and got a bit excited and picked him up without thinking. Who can blame me?) than with the slightly more complicated nature of the surgery than some. That said, you will want to take it very easy after surgery.

Hugs to all!

Octogirl

mustlovepoodles

Peggy, I'm sure you're hospice nurses have told you this, but you and your boys can tell your DH that it's okay to go. We had to do that with my dad--he was just clinging to life by his fingernails, with everything he had. One afternoon I told him that his mom would be coming in a few days and he must go with her (he was extremely close to his mom.) After that, he seemed to relax and was at peace.

I have to tell you one weird thing about his passing--As my father lay dying, I believe his mother's cat appeared. Well, not that I could see the cat, but I could see his footprints on the bed as he traversed from the foot of the bed to the head of the bed--this cat was 1/2 bobcat, so he was a big cat and had enormous paws. I could clearly see the depression where the cat lay down at Dad's shoulder. Now, I am not a believer in ghosts and I wouldn't have believed what I was seeing, except that my sister and my Dad's girlfriend also saw it. The truly weird thing is, when his mother died his father saw the cat--literally saw the cat--standing in the doorway. That cat had been gone at least 15 years when my grandmother died, and at least 35 years when my father died! After the cat "appeared", my dad relaxed and let go within a matter of hours. Is that the weirdest thing you ever heard?

mustlovepoodles

Rina & Kitty, I'll be thinking of you this weekend. I know how hard the waiting is. It seems like all we do is wait from one thing to the next. I fully understand that feeling of numbness and disbelief--that feeling of denial is what protects us from bad news and enables us to get with the program without falling completely to pieces. It may take a few weeks for you to settle in, during which it will become very clear to you that you really are going through this life-changing event.

I am not an expert in breast cancer or bad news feelings. All I know is what I have gone through myself. My DH has stage 4 lung disease and has been close to dying at least 4 times. So I have had my share of bad news. But this breast cancer thing has really taken over our household. Both of us are just walking through life right now, seeming not to feel anything. We're waiting for the other shoe to drop. Suspended animation. It has greatly affected my ability to do my work, so I just stopped trying this week and hope to do better next week.

keepwalking

Thanks SOOOO much for all the greetings and words of encouragement - feeling warmth and support right now. :-)

I want to thank you all and address your questions properly, but right now it is only a few minutes until Shabbat, so it will have to be later.

Hugs to all,

Rina

pennsygal

Hello all -

I've been lurking on and off on this thread for quite a while. (Can't remember if I posted here before or not!!) I'm now officially joining, because it turns out I will have a lumpectomy after all. I'm scheduled for September 30th. I'll have SNB, and possibly ALND, as I had several positive nodes at the time of dx, but they now look normal as a result of chemo.

Rina - I will be having radiation seed localization, as well as the injection during the surgery. I've got a few clips in there as well from biopsies.

Peggy - thinking of you and your family.

Barb

mustlovepoodles

Greetings, Barb. I hope your lumpectomy goes well and there are no surprises, at least no bad ones.

queenmomcat

Pennsygal: welcome to this group as well, though I'm hardly its doyenne.

StillSurprised

Hello all - I've lurked a bit but first time posting (hope I'm doing it right). I'm a month post-lumpectomy for DCIS and about to start radiation. Treatment has been very smooth so far, except for one thing. In last week I've been feeling more fatigue/shortness of breath than right after surgery. Wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar?

Thanks,

Mel

Molly50

Hello StillSurprised,

I don't think shortness of breath is normal. Please give your doctor a call. I am going you decided to post!

plumster1

Welcome to all the new posters!

Still surprised, I think Molly's advice is good. I would think that would be best to be checked out by your doctor. Keep us posted and I hope everything is ok