Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

marijen

Now I know why they call it a lumpectomy - my lumpectomy is looking very lumpy! : (

Nash54

This is Radnor Lake in Nashville TN.  Took a great walk with the hubby and dog this weekend.  Weather has been great.  

Sloan15

Oh, that is so beautiful!

Molly50

Absolutely beautiful, Nash

PontiacPeggy

Nash, very serene.

HUGS!

CyndiNic

Marijen - I am right there with you. The swelling post surgery was hiding the end result but now I have a noticeable difference. My BS is going back in next week because she is not satisfied with the margins as well. But I also try to keep in mind how lucky I am that this was found and can be treated

PontiacPeggy

CyndiNic, good luck with your journey. It is all worth it to get rid of the cancer.

HUGS!

Nash54

Meme2006....good luck at your Onco appt today.

I see you're from Georgia.   I grew up in Augusta....I'm a Georgia girl at heart!

meme2006

Thank you Nash54! All of a sudden this morning I am filled with anxiety and just feeling so scared. Maybe that's normal....

keepwalking

Meme - I think it is perfectly normal to feel anxious and scared when you are faced with such decisions that can affect not only your life, but quality of life. You will make it through the appointment. Thinking of you and hoping for the best possible outcome. HUGS

keepwalking

CyndiNic - So sorry that you have to have another surgery. You have a good, positive attitude and you will do great! HUGS

marijen

Hi CyndiNic, Thanks. Yesterday it mattered, today it doesn't so much. Thinking the same. I go in Friday for margins as well. I won't be complaining.

mustlovepoodles

Nash & Meme, I have lived in the metro-Atlanta area for 32 years. When I was a little girl, my family moved from Virginia to Alabama. We hit Georgia on a late afternoon, after a sudden but brief rainstorm. The road was wet and the red clay was vibrant. I thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world and I told my mother that some day I wanted to live in Georgia. Of course, she just smiled and indulged me.

After finishing high school and college in Alabama, I married a guy from Florida. I fully expected that we would settle down in Florida, near my DHs family. But then one day in late July, DH got a phone call from a school system in Georgia, offering him a teaching position. He turned to me and said, "Wanna move to Georgia?" I immediately said yes, didn't have to even discuss it, and the rest is history.

Brutersmom

I saw the RO today. He thinks that the red bumps are inflamed follicle damaged by radiation that are trying to grow hair but can't He thinks that it will resolve in a couple of weeks if it does not become infected. He thinks the tenderness under the arm is nerve and muscle damage from Rads and should improve over time. There is some slight swelling but he didn't feel any lumps and does not think it is lymphedema. We discussed follow up testing. Apparently this hospitals protocol is no testing until the one year from surgery unless I develop a lump somewhere or pain etc.

Nash54

Meme2006.....totally normal to feel anxious when we don't know what lies ahead.  Most of the time once we know what we need to do we just get on with it.   It's hard to believe when you are in middle of it but once treatment is behind us things slowly get back to normal.  We have all been there and it sucks but we manage to get thru it somehow and come here to encourage others beginning this crappy journey.  

I'm a year out and life is sweet.  ❤️

Fearless1956

Thanks all for the many comments and encouraging words. I am now almost one week postoperative and doing well. Yes, I did have a binder on for 48 hours and it felt good to have that pressure and keep the girls from moving.  I bought front closure bras before surgery and those have felt good the past few days.  I haven't had major pain, just a soreness since after the first couple of days. My energy level has been what has taken the time time to recover just as some you mentioned. 

I do wish I had known more about the needle localization procedure.  Because I also had a benign tumor removed from the opposite breast, I had to have needle loc on both breasts. In all actuality, that was worse than the surgery itself. Extremely painful and a feeling of being so very exposed and degraded.  When I got back to my Preop room, my husband knew immediately that something was wrong as I was still distraught.  I hope I never have to go through that again.  Seeing my incision for the first time was also upsetting. It brought back the reality of cancer and the understanding of forever being scarred by it. 

I return to see my breast surgeon tomorrow for postop check. She will also share path report with me and determine if I'm candidate for Mammosite radiation therapy. I plan to return to work on Wednesday. It's a desk job so I should be ok to work. Going stir crazy anyway! 

PontiacPeggy

Fearless, I had a needle wire locator done about 15 years ago and it was TERRIBLE. The guy doing it must have done one (maybe) before and really was clueless. I don't recall even getting any lidocaine. I swore I'd never have another one. Of course, I did. But this time I started with a Valium and then lots of lidocaine. So it really wasn't bad. I was quite surprised. The lidocaine shots weren't too bad but I didn't feel the wires. I was taped up so they weren't bouncing around. I was so impressed with my center. Everything that could be done to make me comfortable was done. None of the "grin and bear it" philosophy. Want more lidocaine? Fine. I had a heated gown which was heavenly.

I'm sorry your experience was so awful. It shouldn't have been.

I didn't mind the incisions because it meant that the cancer was out of me!

Hope your postop is uneventful!

HUGS!!!!

brithael

My needle loc was not painful at all -just feeling the pressure. The worst thing was that they couldn't find the lump at first on the ultrasound. I said, "False alarm, I'll go home," but they did find it eventually. They did give me lidocaine. About to look at the incisions for the first time, cause I get to take a shower!!!!

mustlovepoodles

Peggy said: " Fearless, I had a needle wire locator done about 15 years ago and it was TERRIBLE. The guy doing it must have done one (maybe) before and really was clueless. I don't recall even getting any lidocaine. I swore I'd never have another one. Of course, I did. But this time I started with a Valium and then lots of lidocaine. So it really wasn't bad. I was quite surprised. The lidocaine shots weren't too bad but I didn't feel the wires. I was taped up so they weren't bouncing around. I was so impressed with my center. Everything that could be done to make me comfortable was done. None of the "grin and bear it" philosophy. Want more lidocaine? Fine. I had a heated gown which was heavenly."

My experience mirrors your most recent experience. They gave me something, probably Valium or Versed, and sent me off to have the wires put in. I vaguely remember the lidocaine shots, then a mammogram (don't know how I stood up for that, but I must have). The only other things I remember was being wheeled back to the pre-op area, and when I got onto the operating table--I remember saying "I don't think this stuff is working", and then I was out like a light.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles. I got to sit down for the mammogram that they used for positioning the wires. I'm not sure I could have stood. It was back in pre-op where the surgeon gave me more lidocaine and injected the dye. Then I WALKED down to the operating room - that was empowering! I was NOT sick!

HUGS!

meme2006

So I had my first oncology appointment today, I really loved her! She sent for an oncotype test on my samples. I should hear in a week or so. If my numbers are good, she said I may not need chemo. I return to see her December 3. Praying all works out, however I've come to the conclusion I will do whatever I need to, to rid my body of this cancer. She also advised not to have the other lymph nodes out, since I will be doing radiation. She said they will be radiating my lymph nodes also and that should take care of anything if it was in there. So.. I am waiting for the results, praying they come back soon so I can keep my scheduled surgery date to go back in and get clear margins. Thanks for all the responses from everyone! It really is a wonderful place to be able to hear all of your success stories and get advice. It makes things so much more bearable when you have so many people pulling for you! So glad I found this site Blessings to all!!

PontiacPeggy

Meme, what an encouraging appointment. Nice to know that you don't need more nodes removed. That will make your next surgery a bit easier. Fingers crossed that your Oncotype comes back good.

HUGS!!!

pennsygal

Marijen - I hear ya! Now that my swelling has gone down, I have a giant dent over the lumpy scar. Not lumpy, denty! But, very grateful to be here and feeling good!!

Fearless1956

I did have local anesthetic for both sides during the needle loc.  The radiologist must have stuck me 8-10 times on the right breast, all while having it being compressed at the same time. It was still bruised from the MRI biopsy and also had a hematoma so that didn't help any, but the left side was almost as bad when it was being injected.  I also was in a chair that was raised and lowered to position me for the mammography.  And Peggy, you do have a point.....the incisions are the first sign of cancer being gone. I agree. I think it was the initial time of seeing it but as time goes on, it will be more of a positive reminder. 

PontiacPeggy

Fearless, I also had a nice big hematoma left from my biopsy 7 weeks prior to my surgery. In fact, the tumor board thought that my cancer might be more widespread than initially diagnosed but my BS said no, that it was just the hematoma. Even an MRI didn't clarify things. Of course, my BS was right. Too bad she hadn't done the initial biopsy.

You were stuck a lot of times for that wire locator. Even if it didn't hurt, the thought of being poked that many times would do anyone in.

It IS hard seeing incisions for the first time. Mine is from just below my nipple straight down for about 1-1/2". So I really don't see it, just my downward facing nipple. If it were on top or the sides perhaps it would make a difference in my perception. And I can barely see my SLNB incision.

HUGS!

Waterstreet

PontiacPeggy,Well I started the radiation treatments today. I was tired of hearing them apologising for hurting me. I finially just said "Lets just get it done". My appt. was for 9 am they kept taking other people in front of me, I asked the nurse why they even set appointments, just tell everyone to come on in we will put you ahead of the new people. I finially was seen at 10:40 am then the RO explained that there had to be six hour intervals between the treatments and then because my time was given away several times his fix was" oh well its been almost five hours lets get it done we all want to get out of here". I was the last one taken today. Big difference in the morning rads and the afternoon rads, the ones in the afternoon burned and they are using seven catherters. Of course I have that sernoma and it had drained and the yellow drainage was thick and was stuck to the device and she pulled on it and the other nurse yelled and said to be carefull your going to pull out the device and then we can't do the treatments.I don't think it would have come out because the baloon holds it in place. So some of that could have been caused by the seroma. I just prayed to our Father to let the time go quickly. All of a sudden every treatment session is with a different RO. The one I had the consult with was not there, he was at a different facility today. I asked about the sernoma and he said call your sergeon about that. They also changed all my appointment times today. Tomorrow I have to be there at seven so add a 45 minute drive to that. I said well thats okay early in early out and she said to look at the times again. for the next three days it is seven hours between treatments. Puts me fighting heavy traffic on the freeway to get home. Of course it is supposed to rain all week I left up there at about 4 and I got home at 5:35 pm. I did ask God to work on my temperment, but I don't feel this was his doing. The device is rubbing a hole through at the base of my breast, I'm not kidding, there is a big red lump and it is gross looking or I would take a picture of it and post it. When I first got to Texas my son chose that medical facility group for me because that is where they have gone since they got here. I think for those with cancer its how fast can we get them in and out. I am in to far to change now. I think I can go to another RO somplace else for the Chemo and medical pill part. My son may be getting a new job in Florida so that would get me away out here. I am going to live where my kids are. My son's job interviews are keeping him busy so I stopped all pain meds and am taking myself to the treatments. The government laid him off after they sent him home. Praise God I didn't want him overseas again anyway. If the seroma isn't better soon I will go to another doctor for it and I will tell them why, loudly. Forgive me for this post but every word is true. I woke up last night at 1:12 am and have been going all day so I am going to go lie down,can't take a hot bath or shower but I can lay down. Please pray for me to keep my cool, and may God bless all on this site.

octogirl

as I mentioned on another thread, my younger sister let me know today that she has just been diagnosed and is having a lx in early December. This sucks!!! I will let her know about the support here, but mostly just sad about this... :-(

Octogirl

mustlovepoodles

Oh, Octogirl! I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. Your right--that DOES suck. Have you or she had any genetic testing? It just seems suspicious that both of you have BC.

Invite your sister to join us, if she'd like.

mustlovepoodles

Waterstreet, your experience sounds just awful and unfair. How long does this go on? If it's just the 5 day brachytherapy, well, I guess you'll just have to suck it up and deal with it (foo!)

PontiacPeggy

Waterstreet, That's terrible. I can't understand why your appointments are all over the place and why you had to wait (at least you got 2 in today). Mine seemed to be about the same time. And not seeing the same RO has to be challenging. Not much continuity. Looks like sucking it up is about the only way to deal with it, which is really too bad. Your MO will deal with any possible chemo and hormonal medications - not the RO. Hopefully Florida will be kinder to you. And yes, get that seroma taken care of. Yellow gunk doesn't seem real good to me. And that the RO would be so blase about it is unconscionable. Maybe you'll wind up with a better RO tomorrow who cares and will be helpful.

Octogirl, I'm so sorry about your sister. Did you have genetic testing done? If not, I agree with Poodles that it might be a very good idea. At least you can help her get through this, and, of course, we'll be glad to do everything we can, too.

Waterstreet and Octogirl, I think you need hugging all night long (gentle ones for you Waterstreet) - so consider it being done!

HUGS!