Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

mustlovepoodles

Beautiful doggy, nash. I bet you could knit sweaters when he is blowing coat, LOL.

Waterstreet

NASH 54, how precious, a beautiful dog.

Outrunning

I'm WAY behind. Too crazy this weekend to keep up. I

Waterstreet. I did see what you were saying. I have a friend who is a sort of expert in the patient rights area. She sent me these links.

"these are lovely links for her to have: http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2015/09/25/patients-file-lawsuit-against-two-d-c-hospitals.html

this letter reminds folks the office for civil rights will sue them http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/righttoaccessmemo.pdf

PG County's huge fine for data withholding http://www.fosterswift.com/publications-Civil-Monetary-Penalty-HIPAA-Privacy-Violation-Municipalities.html

I'm pretty exhausted this week. Trying to work half days through rads. Having a deadline right now is just making it extra hard.

But home now to pack for a family weekend in Annapolis. Tomorrow is our 11th anniversary. Usually we'd got away without the kids, but since I wanted to do this race this year they get to come too. Send me fast thoughts Sunday morning from 8:40 until about 9:55.

Molly50

Nash, what a beautiful pup!

marijen

Molly, I just read that petrolatum can contain cancer causing impurities.

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2010/whats-inside-shoppers-guide.pdf

Waterstreet

Outrunning Thanks for the links. Don't overdue this weekend. Happy Anniversary!!!! I'm praying a safe trip, lots of fun, and be well.

Hugs to you!

ChiSandy

Brithael, I just did #5 of 16 radiation treatments. I don’t feel them while I get them--just hear that whirring from the linear accelerator. Was told I probably wouldn’t get any side effects till I was nearly done, since with the conventional 33-zap protocol the irritation doesn’t surface till after the third week and fatigue usually doesn’t hit till week 4 or 5. Well, no fatigue yet. But the morning after the second treatment I noticed my irradiated skin (they’re aiming first at the outside bottom, then straight at the lumpectomy scar, and then in front to the right--towards the outside--of the nipple) had developed a faint pinky-tan blotch. I started applying the Aquaphor they gave me immediately after the second treatment, and aloe and Aquaphor at bedtime. First couple of nights I used Jason’s 84% aloe cream, but it smells like stale cheap perfume. Third night, mixed CVS aloe gel with coconut oil, then Aquaphor--but the radiation therapist thinks I might actually be sensitive to coconut oil and I shouldn’t use it before I check with my RO at our next weekly consult. So I went to Kellogg’s pharmacy and found pure aloe gel--no dyes, alcohol or fragrance. So last night I used it and then a layer of Aquaphor on top of it--the discoloration seems a bit fainter today. Still follow each treatment with Aquaphor before I get back into my clothes.

But my irradiated breast has swelled up to a J cup (thank goodness I have a few of those bras left over from before I lost weight). RO says probably due to a very large seroma in the tumor cavity (which cavity begins less than an inch below my skin). Might actually have to pad my left cup (left breast had been the larger one pre-op)! And last night, directly under my SNB incision from which the sutures were removed last week, I noticed a hard knot--most likely scar tissue. They do X-rays before every session for positioning, but didn’t see anything abnormal under my incision.

I have the weekend off from RT, but not from activity--gotta spend all day tomorrow in Downers Grove hosting a song circle at a coffeehouse’s 45th anniv. party. No sleeping in, either--Sunday a 10 am voice lesson, then visit a sick friend at NWM. (See CrazyTown thread for info on that).

brithael

ChiSandy - glad to know about the right kind of aloe gel, of course I won't need it til sometime next year since chemo is first. I ordered another of the Playtex Zip sports bras since the first one seemed to do fine. I also have some other looser, softer bras that I got in case I need them. It's hard to know what size is needed, have just a small lump, but who knows about margins.

Is the seroma you're talking about the same one that ruptured?

We've just been spending time trying to get things done around the house before surgery. We were in the middle of a kitchen remodel - changing out appliances, new floor, backsplash, painting when all of this happened, and it got put on hold. Got the floor tile and backsplash picked out, so waiting to get on the schedule now. I was doing the painting, but have nixed that and am having someone come out for an estimate to finish what I began. I was going to faux finish both the kitchen and bathroom, but will leave the faux til next year. Hopefully the rest of the remodel will be finished before Christmas as my daughter and her family will be coming. I will have had my first chemo round before then, so who knows what kind of shape I'll be in.

Hope to get another blog up this weekend detailing Temp's latest. She is a piece of work.

Good weekend to all

Sloan15

Brithael - My advice is to do the kitchen now. You might feel crappy, but the kitchen will be done! There are days during chemo when you won't want to be up and around in the kitchen, but if you don't have a kitchen, it all works out! I finished chemo and am half way through rads, and now I'm wishing my kitchen was completed so I could start enjoying it now that I feel better.

HappyHammer

Britheal- the Playtex front zip has worked well for me so far. I am 2 1/2 weeks out from LMP but still cannot wear my reg bras. I tried it Thursday and couldn't wait to get that thing off after having it on about 2 hours. Our Belk store had them buy 1 get 1 so they were cheap, too.

ChiSandy- am sending healing mercies your way- that damn seroma,,,you need a break from that thing! Thanks for letting us know about the Aloe.

Sloan- You are funny- "if you don't have a kitchen, it all works out!"

Hope y'al will share before and after pics of your kitchens at some point.

meme2006

I had a lumpectomy and SNB on November 4th. Today I have noticed my breast is making a "sloshing" noise. Is this a normal thing and/or should I call my surgeon. Really freaked me out! Also, I teach in a Pre-K classroom (4-5 year olds). I know each person's experience is different, but any advice on the timeframe I may try to return to work? Thanks in advance for the help!

PontiacPeggy

meme2006, Definitely call your BS. Sounds like fluid has accumulated. Your surgeon can determine if you need to have it removed or if it will go away on its own. But you don't need to freak out over it. Here's an article on it Seroma Info.

When you return to work is based on several things: Will you be doing lifting? My BS said nothing heavier than a gallon of milk for 2-3 weeks. I know I find I still don't do heavy lifting with my bad girl arm. Also, right now you need to rest. Your body has gone through a major assault with the Lx and is working very hard to heal; that means you resting. If you can take at least 1 week off, that would be okay. Two weeks would be much better. Do not rush back to work. If you were doing a desk job you probably could return to work sooner than one that requires lots of physical activity and, perhaps, lifting.

HUGS!!

octogirl

Yes, I'd say teaching a preschool class that should be considered a fairly active job, and I'm with Peggy: I'd say while everyone is different, I'd take two weeks and would consider three. I took 2.5 weeks with my desk job and probably could have used a bit more....

Hugs!

Octogirl

mustlovepoodles

Meme, it sounds like you may have a seroma, a collection of fluid in a small pocket. They are very common after any kind of breast surgery. Sometimes the BS will leave it alone and let it reabsorb on its own, if it is not too big. They usually don't get infected.

I had a large seroma myself. Unfortunately, despite the BS withdrawing fluid, it didn't go well. It got massively infected and I was on strong antibiotics for about 4 weeks. Due to having the infection I was out of work for 6 weeks! Yikes!

Thankfully, most people do not have my experience. My BS had advised me to take at least a week off after the lumpectomy. Had I not had complications I could have easily gone back to work then.

Good luck! Call the BS in the morning.

ChiSandy

The seroma in question isn’t the one that had burst (that one was at the SNB site) but rather inside the breast itself. Nature abhors a vacuum, so it filled the tumor cavity with fluid. Not about to get it drained--before the SNB one burst the surgical nurse said they prefer not to drain seromas because of the danger of infection. Last thing I need is a nasty case of septic mastitis--ugh. I know that rads can cause seroma formation or enlargement, but wasn’t prepared for it to happen this soon--especially since the skin reaction itself is pretty mild. It’s probably a combo of the higher rads doses, the already-large breast size and the fact that the tumor was only 2 cm below the skin so the cavity is closer to the surface. I’ll manage, even though it means wearing (and singing) “tanks for the mammaries” for the foreseeable future. Guess I have more in common with Dolly Parton than I’d thought.

Funny--I’d always assumed that having a lumpectomy in the smaller of my two breasts would make it even smaller. Maybe in a year or two.

Midgiemoon

Hi Ladies,

I am 6 months post op in a few weeks, and see my surgeon for a visit on 12/1. Overall I am feeling great, and adjusting to tamoxifen. I have a concern about pain and pulling under my right arm (surgical side). My nerves started regenerating and I have been feeling the usual twinges. In the last month, I am noticing a lot of tightness when I raise my arm up. over ,my head. I am a stomach sleeper, so i really notice it because, well, my arm is my pillow! . It's not my shoulder, definitely my underarm. i am so sore in the radiation field from the SNB site and around to my back. and I have been done with rads to 10 weeks. My breast is a little achy, but the underarm pain is impacting my day to day tasks. I don't have any noticeable swelling, but my underwire bras are bothering me again, which makes me sad...

Is this worth a call to my surgeon, or should I just wait for the appointment?

Thanks, and Happy Monday!

~Midgie

marijen

Better to go back to surgeon now. You might need PT or something. He will take you more seriously if you don't wait. IMO.

Outrunning

midgie sounds like you might have some cording going on.

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws

But regardless of what it is, if you don't have full range of motion you should be able to get PT to make sure you get it back.

Yes call your BS. The wait to get in for PT where I go is long so you want to try to access that sooner rather than later.

mustlovepoodles

Midgie, I'd call the BS now, rather than wait another 3 weeks. It's possible that you have a bit of LE going on and may need to see a therapist who specializes in LE problems.

Midgiemoon

I got myself an appointment tomorrow at 215!. I'll let you know how I make out!

HappyHammer

Midgiemoon....SO glad you were able to get an apt tomorrow- hope it goes well and that you get answers and a plan for how to deal with the issues you are having. Please keep us posted! Healing mercies being sent your way!

Scsa

hi everyone. I had a lumpectomy today for the first time. I was reading some of your posts and had some questions. I was planning on taking one week off from work. I work with preschoolers through 4th graders and do a lot of walking at work Is a week not enough?

Also- will I need different bras? Will it hurt past a week to wear underwire bras?

Has anyone not had radiation after? Will be waiting for pathology report for dr recommendation but she made it seem that there was a good chance I won't need. Has anyone else not needed for DCIS after?

Thanks!

PontiacPeggy

Welcome Scsa! We're glad you found us. You'll find us helpful, comforting and great support! You may find that you need to take more time off work, especially if you are doing lifting at all. Most of our surgeons recommend not lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk and really babying our "bad" side for 2-3 weeks. Remember that even though a lumpectomy sounds not so major, it IS major surgery. Your body is in shock and it needs rest for it to heal.

You probably will want very soft bras. Without your profile showing, it is hard to know what you have had done. (We recommend that you fill it out as completely as you can and make it public). If you had a SLNB done, you will not want to wear underwire bras for awhile - they seem to rub that spot. Otherwise, it depends on where your Lx incision is. I would hold off for a couple weeks. If you are well-endowed that may make it more challenging for you. I'm under-endowed so I wore Genie bras and then during my rads, wore nothing.

That pathology report seems to determine a lot of things. I can't speak to whether radiation will be needed for DCIS or not. I had both DCIS (which was a surprise) and IDC (which wasn't a surprise).

Take it easy for as long as you can!!

HUGS!

Molly50

Praying for you, Midgiemoon

Molly50

Welcome Scsa,

I Went back to work after two weeks but mainly because I was going to have a mastectomy after healing from the Lx so I figured why not. I am not sure I could have done it with little ones to look after.

Scsa

thank you PontiacPegg. I will try to figure out how to add my profile. I had a right side lumpectomy for DCIS found during routine mammo and biopsy. Incision is around outside of nipple area. No nodes were tested or taken.

PontiacPeggy

Scsa, You may be fine with your underwire bras after a week or two. I still think that you will want to take off as much time as possible to heal since you are working with little kids and they require more movement than if you were doing a desk job. BTW, you'll figure out the profile!

MidgieMoon, good luck tomorrow! You'll feel much better knowing whatever it is than wondering and worrying for a couple more weeks!

HUGS!

Fearless1956

Hi all, I'm new to this thread, finding the topic name interesting since I am facing lumpectomy tomorrow afternoon. I was diagnosed last month with DCIS and then underwent two additional MRI biopsies (scared to death!) that thankfully came back negative. Prior to my diagnosis, my 80 year old mother was diagnosed in September with invasive ductal cancer stage 1, that turned out to be stage 2 after her lumpectomy and lymph node dissection (2 positive lymph nodes). I am a registered nurse with a surgical services background, so I understand the generalities of surgery. It's different now that the nurse is the patient. And one who knew very little about breast cancer. Since my mom's diagnosis---and then mine---I've tried to learn what I can so that I can help my mom and so that I am as prepared as possible for my surgery tomorrow.

I haven't taken the time to read all 295 pages of posts, so I'm wondering if those of you who are active on this thread have any last minute pointers and/or tidbits of information that you would like to share. I'm sure that there are things that I haven't thought about in planning, especially post-operatively, Are there things that I should be aware of that I perhaps haven't thought about, expected or anticipated? Thanks for any helpful info that any of you can offer.

Sloan15

Fearless - Good luck tomorrow. The doc will tell you not to lift your arm above your shoulder, and they will wrap you real right in a huge ace bandage- the tighter the better to keep down swelling. I found that a sports bra or Genie bra felt good, and I wore a tshirt UNDER the bra so the edges didn't dig in anywhere. That's my tip!

PontiacPeggy

Fearless1956, welcome. Sorry you had to find us but glad you did. My recommendations for tomorrow are a step in bra (Genie bra or front close sport bra - larger than you usually wear so they don't bind), button blouse. If the staff offers you a Valium - take it. If they offer you a Dramamine, take it! Try to take as much time off work as you can. It IS major surgery. Two weeks is good. You probably won't be uncomfortable for that long but your body needs for you to take it easy so it can heal. Don't lift anything heavy with your "bad" arm.

A book you may find helpful for both you and your mother is Dr Susan Love's Breast Book. It is a wonderful source of information on BC, and all the various treatments, stages and stuff. Well worth the time and energy.

I'm sure others will chime in with helpful hints. Good luck tomorrow and the best to your mother.

HUGS!