Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Lisaj514

um, fish, oh yay that's what we were doing...but no. But was very close to catching a large king salmon. We were working on it but it didn't want to be caught. It's catch and release. Also ladies, it was so great to immerse yourself in something new and exciting and not think about cancer. We had good gear and clothing so I was ok, so cool to be standing in the cold water, with snow, with waders and fishing...? We were out there for about 2 hrs. So much positive energy and the river guides (aka River boys, or River studs or River muffins!)loved us. Definitely a cool experience. Once you're recovered do it if you can. There is only 1 a yr in your area so apply because you may not get in initially but they take women any time after treatment, 2,3,4 years even.

Water street, there's a great cfr in tx I hear.

Sloan15

Great pictures. Looks like fun! What a great idea to have a camp for people who have had cancer. It's such a life-changing diagnosis, and being around others who "know" what it's like is priceless.

Waterstreet

Lisaj514 Thanks I will see if I can find it. I love to fish. Don't mind taveling to do it.

Lisaj514

Sloan, yes definitely! I found theses kind of things so healing. Needed just as much as the medicine. Just like these discussion groups!

Waterstreet, Good! There's a thread for Texas folks on these boards also. A few were in my December 2013 chemo group

Waterstreet

Lisaj514

I just found it and I just missed it for this year. There are several planned for 2016!!

Hope I can get to one of those.

Thanks!

Molly50

LisaJ514, thank you for posting about cfr. I just applied and hope to be chosen. It looks like fun!

Catfurr

MissBee-our dx is the same, even the diagnosis date. My last chemo is tomorrow (YAY!!) , MRI on the 27th then decision making with BS on the 29th. She has said lx from the start, but I just don't know if that's what I want. (I don't want any of it actually!!) I guess it will all fall in to place.

CFR looks like a blast! Will look forward to doing it after tx. Googled BC retreats and was surprised at the options! Especially liked Pink Houses since it's a week in a furnished beach house...free!

mustlovepoodles

Oh my gosh, Lisa, that looks like so much fun! I'd love to do something like that, if I could do it sitting down.

zinny

My kids' dojo, Warrior Martial Arts. They are doing a kick-a-thon to raise money for breast cancer research, and this is what the instructors are wearing til the end of October. That's my daughter on the right:)

Thought that was worth a smile or two!

ChiSandy

Coming late to this thread.

DX Sep. 9, 2015 at age 64 (going on 65) w/stage IA IDC. Had my LX + SNB Sep. 23. Because of the smallish (1.3cm) tumor size in a humongous (size 38I) breast--and its location at “10:00", I figured LX would be a snap. Neg. nodes (removed 2 sentinel, 2 non-sentinel), clean margins, Oncotype DX 16, BRCA-neg. Developed a seroma at the SNB site that by a week post-op had grown to the size of an orange, but the surgical nurse said it'd resorb and it was inadvisable to drain it lest it get infected.

Well, the LX incision is healing very well--RO last week at my initial RT consult said to go ahead and remove all the remaining steri-strips. 2 days afterward, was leaning over the sink to check my teeth in the mirror when the SNB incision blew wide open, with the seroma beneath gushing like the Deepwater Horizon oil well. Soaked my blouse & bra and made hissing squishing noises--best way to describe it was as if my armpit was peeing itself! Had to slap on a giant band-aid, washcloth, towel and the ugliest, softest sleep bra I could find (had just gotten comfortably back into my underwires the day before--the incisions were nowhere near the wires) and hightailed it back up to the breast center (my housekeeper drove, thank heaven), where my surgical nurse said I'd just have to keep it covered, and express it and change the dressing daily while it heals from the inside out. Say what? You mean I have to walk around with a gaping weeping hole in my pit for weeks???

She went to get the surgeon (mine was still in the OR, so I saw her partner). He squeezed some more bloody fluid out (that gooshing spritzing noise was disgusting), sterilized the field and agreed with me that it should be sutured to avoid infection. (Steri-strips obviously would have fallen off). No antibiotics. So far, the stitches are holding, it isn't oozing, and the remaining seroma is pretty small. But being able to go ahead with the RT sim session this Wed., the sutures need to stay in another week & a half and the SNB incision needs to heal before I start RT (partial-breast accelerated, 16 treatments) even though the SNB incision is not part of the field to be irradiated. Surgeon says no reason I can't take the Mediterranean cruise we booked for Dec. 12-22, but I'm getting nervous. Meanwhile, Thurs aft. after my surgical and MO followups I have to drive out to Iowa City for a music conference and a gig.

Here's the kicker--the surgeon who sutured me says the main cause of the SNB incision rupturing was probably the weight of that very large breast. Had I (or my own BS) known that would have been a problem, I would have opted, instead of just the LX, for one that included bilateral breast reduction. I had been considering it years ago--but since I was not getting back or shoulder pain, my insurance considered it purely cosmetic and would cover neither it nor any complications from it. You small-busted gals (and your daughters)--be careful what you wish for. I hear of women wishing to be augmented (or reconstructed) to DDs. I'd be deliriously happy to be REDUCED to a DD!!!!

marijen

Ok well that's a halloween horror story for me! Why on earth do they use steri strips instead of sutures in the first place. I 'm checking to orrow to see how they close up my incision next week. And that nurse telling you to go home. If it doesn't make sense an alarm should go off. Chisandy maybe you could stay home and take care until all is well?

Will be thinking of you.

octogirl

ChiSandy what a horrible story and glad you were insistent!

I am also large breasted (40DD) and had issues with healing, but a very different response. I did have sutures to begin with and popped one or two anyway, on the wound where bs took the nipple (so it was a bit more than just a lx)...but it was probably not the large breast, given where the popping occurred : I forgot about the weight lifting restraints and picked up my grandson at a family reunion...

Anyway, bs saw me WEEKLY until it was fully healed, and really watched me like a hawk. She was really a perfectionist about the whole thing...and I love her staff, and am certain they'd never have let me get out of there without seeing her personally, every time. And now it is fully healed. Finally, yay! I am still in chemo so don't have to postpone rads (chemo got delayed a week until bs agreed it was ok to go ahead). MO took a look yesterday and agreed it won't interfere at all with rads when I get there. The SNB incision still hurts sometimes but reading on this thread I've realized that is normal (or at least happens to a lot of us).

HUGS!

Octogirl

PontiacPeggy

ChiSandy, What an story. That must have been horribly fascinating when the seroma popped. Ugh. I have small breasts (barely an A) and I had steri-strips. Some fell off in the shower, but most on the Lx incision stayed on for 3 weeks until I peeled them off. Can you still get a bilateral breast reduction? You might inquire if you are interested. You might get lucky and your insurance would cover it. Soon you'll be on Medicare and that should be a help. I'm still shaking my head that they would drain the seroma, which was obviously large at that point. I understand wanting to avoid an infection....but geez!

LisaJ, your fishing trip sounds like it was great fun. DH loved to fish but rarely caught anything. DS just went fishing and caught a 30 lb 44" King Salmon - it was NOT catch and release. He was really pleased since his was the largest fish caught on the trip. Lots of good things for BC survivors to do!

We're having Indian summer right now. Good. I'm tired of cold weather already

HUGS!

octogirl

Zinny, I love the idea of a kick-a-thon! Your daughter is adorable.

Do you know which organization or organizations they will be donating the money to? Unfortunately, all too many organizations that say they raise money for cancer research don't spend much on research. You would be doing a good thing to suggest organizations that put the money where their mouth is, so to speak. As a starting place, Charity Watch rates top charities in cancer (including breast cancer) and gives some great information about how those organizations are spending your donated dollars (they also have information about the ones that aren't as highly rated). Check it out here:

https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities

Hugs!

Octogirl

Nash54

Lisaj.....beautiful pics.  Looks like so much fun!

Sloan15

zinny - what a cute pucture! The dojo is sending lots of good messages by wearing pink and doing the kick-a-thon! Your daughter looks so happy in the picture. This is her way of helping you.

Chisandy - I would have had the same reaction: "Say what?! Walk around with an oozing hole in my breast?" What a story! I'm a 38 DD, and I thought about a reduction surgery, too. It was so hard to schedule, and I just wanted the tumor OUT. I'm hoping, though, that the rads will shrink the breast tissue in my left breast and I can resize her girlfriend later on.

Octogirl - grandson? Lol. I really thought you were in your 20's! Two thumbs up for you being a SCUBA diving grandma! BTW, are you following the I-5 mud stories? The "next time it rains" comments will make me check weather before I head over the grapevine! The worst part was the first part of the trip (southbound) from the outlets to Ft Tajon, so you can call Cal Trans and turn around or shop at the outlets if it's raining and stay out of it.

octogirl

Hah, Sloan! You made my day about my age! :-)

I am 61, and have two grandkids: my grandson will be three in December, my granddaughter is seven (yes, my daughter started fairly young...) But you'd be surprised how many scuba diving grandmas there are out there: it is actually an aging sport for a variety of reasons..(but great fun regardless of age, so tell your younger friends and relatives, and your older friends for that matter, to try it!) Those who get really claustrophobic in MRIs might not enjoy it, but otherwise, it is one sport where age is not much of a barrier (yes, the gear is heavy but you can put it on in the water, where gravity or lack thereof is your friend...or just tip the dive boat crew nicely, to help you :-))

Yes, I've been following the Grapevine stories with a close eye. Heading to LA for Thanksgiving...get to see those grandkids and get my dose of being Grandma, without having to host! Yay! But if it is raining hard, we may cut over to the coastal route....

Octogirl

HappyHammer

Hi all, Lumpectomy and SNB scheduled for tomorrow. Nervous, but ready to check this off of the list of things to do to get rid of the cancer! Finished chemo/targeted therapy 5 weeks ago- feeling pretty normal again so am hoping the surgery tomorrow goes well and healing is a smooth sail. I did buy zip-front sports bras and have button front pj's and shirts for first few days. Anyone have any other tips for the first few days/week? Thanks is advance. It is so nice to "talk" with folks who know the journey.

MJS1266

Mary Mallette, Good Luck tomorrow. The best advice is to rest and not do too much even if you feel good. Especially, don't lift anything heavy. You may want to think about getting a PT referral at your first follow-up with BS to be sure you don't loose any range of motion. Best wishes for speedy recovery.

PontiacPeggy

MaryMallette, Welcome! You've found the right place to be even if you wish you didn't have to be here! To my way of thinking, you've gone through the hard part - chemo!

Tomorrow at your surgery, make sure you take every single drug they offer you. Valium? Yup. Dramamine? Yup (works great for anesthesia nausea). No time to be heroic. More important to feel calm. And do fill the pain pill prescription. Don't hesitate to take them. You don't want pain to get the upper hand. Soon you'll be happy with just Tylenol or nothing. MJS is right - rest and rest some more. Even though the surgery is out-patient, it IS major surgery and your body is in shock from it. It needs rest to heal. And do NOT lift much of anything with your right arm until your BS says it is okay. Do the stretching exercises they give you. Ice is your friend for the first couple days. If something doesn't feel right, call your BS. Don't wait until it gets worse. You know your body - listen to it!

Above all, keep visiting here and asking your questions, or just cry on our shoulders. We've all been there. Good luck tomorrow.

HUGS!

stormy5210

HI MaryMallette,

I had my lumpectomy last Friday. I'm feeling fine, but like MJS1266 said don't lift anything too heavy. It's very painful. Take your medicine regularly. Don't be ashamed to ask for help. It's more painful when you hurt yourself lifting something you're not supposed to. Good luck!

Sloan15

Hi marymallette. I found it most comfortable to wear a soft t-shirt UNDER my bra, esp at night tbe first 2 weeks. It just made it so nothing rubbed or dug in by armpits. Good luck!

Molly50

Welcome Mary, I used ice both on my Lx incision and my alnd incision. I couldn't tolerate a bra only camisoles because of the location of my drain. Best wishes on your surgery.

Molly50

What a great photo, Zinny!

Liza12345

HI EVERYBODY I am not sure I am on the right site but here is my question. I had a great biopsy and it came back with atypical cells. I go to my dr. in 2 weeks. After all the reading I have done I think he will probably do a lumpectomy where i had the biopsy but I just don't know what to expect or how to feel. My lump nodes do ache some so if anyone has any recommendations I would appreciate some feed back. I didn't even know what atypical meant until a few days ago. thank you Liza12345

Liza12345

Hello everybody, I am not sure if I am on the right site but maybe you can help me. I had a breast biopsy last week and it came back, no cancer but atypical cells. From all the reading I have done it seems I would need a lumpectomy and possibly lymph node surgery . Has anyone had this type problem? The reading is really scaring me because I have never heard of atypical cells. Any help would be appreciated. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you Liza12345

Liza12345

Sorry for the 2 posts. I think I an crazy ! ! !

Moderators

Hi Liza12345, Welcome to the community. We are thinking that you consider posting this in the Benign Breast Conditions Forum. This link takes you to the forum. Be sure to review the first topic that offers additional resources and links for those with benign situations. You might review other topics to find others who are similar or post a new question to those who have experiences like yours. Let us know if you need help. The Lumpectomy Lounge is for those who have a cancer diagnosis already and are facing or recovering from Lumpectomy. We know that it can be confusing so feel free to PM the Mods if you have questions. Keep us posted. The MOds

sas-schatzi

Many here have donated . Thank you !........Wandering around and cheerleading again

Donate today, make a difference directly in all our lives. By supporting BCO, we support each other. Thanks and Hugs

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/834331?page=1

Link to the mainboard donation page

https://secure3.convio.net/bco/site/Donation2?df_i...

zinny

Octogirl, good point! The money is going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - their operation costs are far higher than I would like, but they are the biggest game in town and do spend a lot on research in the end...