Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Molly50

Shirley, get the cancer taken care of first but make sure you discuss the blue dye and the CT with contrast with your kidney doctor. I believe both of those can be issues with kidney disease but I could be wrong. The hysterectomy and repairs are not life threatening and can wait until you are through treatment. A pessary can hold things up in the interim.

I had a hysterectomy with repairs nearly 4 years ago. It's a tough recovery. You need to be sure you are recovered from all this cancer stuff before tackling that. ((hugs))

Sweetmamaj

Waterstreet, I'm sorry that you have so many procedures clustered together--I imagine it can be very overwhelming at times. As far as a plan of action, I agree with Peggy that a coordinator would be very helpful if you can get one. Or, if one of your docs will take the time to listen, then ask for his/her advice. Maybe that would be your next appt (nephrologist?)---it's nice that your docs are all aware of the other issues, but I would write down all my concerns to take to the nephrologist on the 14th.

My dad recently passed away while undergoing dialysis and I seem to be at greater risk for kidney-related problems. A couple of things that I've learned: blood pressure really needs to be under control !! Most people know that high bp begins to damage blood vessels, but it's usually the smaller (smallest?) vessels that go first, and the kidneys not only help to control blood pressure, but they (kidneys) have many small blood vessels. So high bp=higher risk of damaging kidneys=higher bp, etc.

The other thing I'v learned is that too much gatorade is not always a good thing. I'm guilty of chugging gatorade and other electrolyte-enhansed drinks, especially during the summer and now while undergoing rads. But too much of those electrolytes (I think mostly sodium & potassium) can cause some kidney patients problems, which is why you might be prescribed/given a certain dietary guideline. Protein is also something that your doc might have you make adjustments re the amounts in your diet. The kidneys can be fussy, but I have to keep reminding myself that they filter an awful lot of stuff that I sometimes ingest, but could really do without (like wine ( , ibuprofen, high protein smoothies, etc)

So I'm afraid I can't help with a plan of action for the different procedures, but at least you can start to think about your diet (if you hadn't already filled out a form) and give that info to your kidney doc.

keepwalking

Good news to share - the biopsy at the second site was negative (hooray!). The surgeon wants me to go for another ultrasound tomorrow to locate the clip that was put in at the second biopsy and make sure that it is still in the correct place. Perhaps I will be able to get a surgery date after that. I will be very happy to be moving forward (even though it is scary).

Hugs to all.

Sweetmamaj

Keepwalking, YAY!! doing the happy dance for you! Moving forward is a relief, and it can be scary, but we are right here to support you. Sending lots of hugs your way.

PontiacPeggy

Keepwalking, that IS great news. Even though I had a chip placed during my biopsy, they still did a wire locator. I thought the chip eliminated that but apparently the wire locator is more accurate (at least in my case) and it had been 7 weeks since the chip was implanted. Anyway, it is always better to get things moving. Waiting is awful!

Sweetmamaj

Keepwalking, remember I had the youngster ("oops" 2 incisions and migrated clip), and you had cloris?

keepwalking

sweetmama - haha, yes, I remember well. I get to see her again tomorrow

Thanks to you and Peggy for being happy with me!!

octogirl

keepwalking: I am joining the happy dance for you!

Octogirl

keepwalking

great! welcome Octogirl! Breaking out the wine - let's party!

PontiacPeggy

Hey! How come you're breaking out the wine and not inviting me??????????? Now I'm hurt (LOL). I like wine. And I like parties! And definitely, Keepwalking, this is time for one.

HUGS!

keepwalking

Peggy, of COURSE you are invited!!! And Sweetmama and everyone else!!! The more the merrier!

I did forget that perhaps it is a little early in the U.S. for wine - it is almost 8 pm here and my husband is away tonight at a support group for men. The way my emotions have been lately I am sure he can use it!

PontiacPeggy

Only 7 hours difference. I'm game, Rina! I'm glad there's a support group for your hubby - all too often they are the forgotten victims of BC. Most are so supportive of us and we just aren't able to support them.

HUGS!

octogirl

Peggy: it wouldn't be a party without you!

HUGS!!!

Octogirl

PontiacPeggy

Thanks!, Octogirl

HUGS!

Molly50

I'm doing the Happy Dance for you, Rina!

keepwalking

Thanks Molly! I haven't been around much for a few days, but wanted to say congratulations on your second opinion and feeling more confident in the decision to not do chemo! Doing the happy dance for you as well!!

Sweetmamaj

Keepwalking, I'm sure Peggy agrees with me that it's 5:00pm somewhere and since it's 8pm in Israel, we have some catching up to do! Octo, Molly, (good morning to you west coast ladies)...join in the happy dance soon!

Keepwalking, picture Marty Feldman lurking behind the drapes with a tray of bread loaves, and then try to keep a straight face!

keepwalking

No straight faces here, sweetmama! Thanks for the laughs!

Yes, you do have some catching up to do. As for me, boy am I a wuss! One glass of wine and I feel like going to sleep! Must the the relaxation after a couple of weeks of stress.

PontiacPeggy

I really don't need to wait until 5PM! After all we Michigan BCO girls meet at a winery for lunch and, yes, we actually do drink it! We are going to have ourselves a nice worldwide party!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

You're not the only wuss, Rina! Only one big glass for me, too!

HUGS!!

keepwalking

The worldwide party sounds great, Peggy. And, who's counting, anyway.

HUGS to all of us!

Nash54

Keep walking....glad things are moving forward.  I had the clip and I guess it stayed in place, no wire locator for me.   

Outrunning

worldwide party it is. lord knows I could use some wine right now.

Meanwhile radiation simulation yesterday was fine. Tried me both ways. Decision was face up.

I know it is petty but I'm annoyed by my tattoo. It might be freckle size, but blue black in my cleavage. Looks like a massive black head. High enough it will show if I wear anything vaguely low cut. And in place I'll have to see it everyday forever. And not in a place I want to turn it in to something pretty.

Already contemplating if I can get it removed later.

That's on top of the fact the new shapes of my breasts are apparent now that swelling is gone. A long valley from under my arm pit to under my nipple on the left. Plus a saggy nipple on the right from the excise biopsy.

Glad I've still got them, and problems won't show with clothes on. But I have a glass walled shower stall that faces counter top to ceiling mirror. Impossible not to see myself naked for much of my shower. And not happy looking at them this week.

zinny

Waterstreet - that is a lot on your plate.

Couple of thoughts. You could request a team teleconference to get all of your docs on board for an overall treatment plan including the kidney function bit with the rest. Preserving that through your treatment and beyond is really important, but I agree, treating the cancer comes first!

As for your hysterectomy, they have started doing them laparoscopically in some places, though as a new skill it takes longer and so sometimes they prefer to do it the other way. However, it shouldn't be too hard to find!! With all of your prior abdominal surgeries, they probably would rather stay away from the other scars. Not sure if this is an option, but definitely worth asking about ( from what I understand they go in vaginally and you get out the same day:) )

A few little thoughts...

K

PontiacPeggy

Outrunning, what a crummy place for that tattoo. Mine are below my bra line so not likely to show in most any situation I'm likely to encounter

HUGS!!

queenmomcat

Outrunning: my sympathies about the tattoo clashing with low-cut tops! Different aspects bother different people, but it's a garauntee that we're all going to be bothered by multiple aspects of our treatment,

Outrunning

Peggy - Yes the RO totally indicated below the bra line when we talked. I think that's why I'm annoyed. But by the time I realized where they were marking it was too late to object.

Waterstreet

Molly50

I had a Coaptite implant last Friday my urethra was kinked almost completely shut by the uterus pulling down on it. The uterus fell out all the way gyn said it was inverted.She said that made it easy to do the cone biopsy. So today I got fitted with a pessary I feel so much better. So those things are good for a while. The Coaptite prosedure can be repeated if necessary it doesn't feel good while they are doing it but it is over before you know it.I bled for a while afterward but it eased up after I stayed off my feet for a while. I think this will stop a lot of unnecessary UTIs. My GYN said the results from the core biopsy still have not come back. She was having her nurse call about that and said she will let me know as soon as she get the results back. She told me on the 28th it will take two weeks and that will be Friday.and I see the kidney Doc a week from today and the radiation Oncologist a week from Friday. My GYN is checking in to see if they can replace the nurse naviator. She went and checked the call message list and saw for herself that there were several calls from me concerning the pain in my breast after the biopsy and it also showed no calls were returned to me.My PCP left for the Bahamas on his vacation. My next appointment with him is December 2. After the surgery is over. I have to admit two and three hours sleep is not working and is beginning to ware me down. Things are looking up I just have to get it all put in place. I just can't sleep I went to bed last night around nine I woke up feeling so good thought I had finially slept through the night and looked at the clock and it was 12:39 so at most 3 hours sleep. Thanx Hugs for you!

PontiacPeggy

Outrunning, you'd think that they could tell the difference between above and below the bra line wouldn't you

HUGS!

Nash54

I'm rsvp'ing for the world wide party!!!  🎈🎈🍷