Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Molly50

Abass, you might try the Lymphedema forum as well. Welcome and I hope you find some answers.

april25

Ah, but what explains the cats who always go sit on the people who hate cats the most, or who are allergic? I swear I see that happening all the time!

I'm still in a turkey-coma. Been eating left-overs all weekend! I feel like I'll have to be rolled out of my sister's place (where I'm still hanging out). Thanks all for the congrats on finishing my year of Herceptin!

Of course, now I'll have to get my port out--or remember to go in to get it flushed... Not looking forward to getting it out. I now have a fear of getting it out and having to put in in again... but I guess that's just life, right? who knows what's ahead. Just need to keep up with exams and deal...

I need to pick a new insurance (my old one is no longer covering individuals only groups)... Do I want to pay more up-front for less out-of-pocket later if something happens? Getting DX'd with something like this just makes me feel like something could happen at any time. And it will as I age, I know that. I already have thyroid nodules that mean I should look into getting that taken out at some point. Decisions, decisions!!!

Molly50

I have a cat that is not very friendly except with people who either don't like cats, are allergic or are wearing nice suits. I swear she just KNOWS!

april25

My sister's cat just zooms right to those people who don't like cats! They definitely DO seem to know!

ChiSandy

Hi, Anna. Maybe your Frankenboob should meet my Teenage Mutant Ninja Tit--looks like they both had seromas enlarged by radiation. (Hey, didn't the actual Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gat that way via radiation exposure)? Not sure why they went ahead with a full axillary dissection if your sentinel node biopsy was negative (as was mine--so they didn't go into the axilla proper). My TMNT, acc. to my surgeon & RO, is a seroma, not necessarily lymphedema. They both confirmed it could take at least a year before it resorbs and my breast assumes its destined shape. (I call my two Thelma, on the left, and Louise, on the right; Louise is the problem child, and was a cup size smaller pre-op. During radiation she swelled to slightly larger than Thelma--and now although still swollen, she's full on the side whereas Thelma hangs lower, so they both fill their respective cups evenly). Your doctors say you're doing great because in the grand scheme of things, you are. You're alive.

It can be so frustrating, especially for those of us who were feeling fine, never had any lumps, and after years of normal annual mammos got blindsided by that first abnormal one. Until surgery, I was paradoxically the strongest and fittest I'd been in awhile even though I was really sicker than I'd ever been; and we can get resentful that we went into this healthily “intact" and came out “damaged," with souvenirs of our cancer. You're not alone. Rant away. We can throw stuff to break against that virtual wall together.

And the reason why cats gravitate to ailurophobes or feline-allergic folks? Paradoxically, it’s because they find such people the least threatening, since they won’t look the cats straight in the eye (to a kitty, a gesture of aggression) and basically aren’t sending off signals that they’re looking to pick a fight or get territorial. That trait is also what makes so many dog-lovers think cats are antisocial and unfeeling.

PontiacPeggy

ABass, welcome to our wonderful group. We're caring, comforting, informative and a bit wacky. I'm so sorry you are having problems. I can't speak to your issues but some ladies have found help through physical therapists who specialize in lymphedema and perhaps that might help.

While waiting for suggestions, it would help us help you if you would complete your profile AND make it public. Then we know your diagnosis and treatments. Again, we're glad you found us but sorry you had to.

HUGS!

ABass

ChiSandy - thank you so much for the laughter this morning! My docs and nurses thought I was crazy to name my cancer boob - now I feel better. Just so you know, they did the full axillary dissection because the other procedure didn't produce a lymphnode to test..... My radiation doc said I should have bought a lottery ticket because that rarely happens and taking of 21 nodes during the dissection is way more than usual.

Thanks again and have a great day!

PontiacPeggy

ABass, I'm quite surprised at the number of nodes they removed. I would guess your surgery was quite different from mine or some of the others here.

HUGS!

mustlovepoodles

Abass, my MO called my right breast Zombie Breast. I love it! Zombie Breast perfectly describes my feeling about it.

PontiacPeggy

Gee, I don't call my left breast anything but my bad girl or bad boob. I'm so mundane

HUGS!

HappyHammer

April25- congrats on finishing Herceptin. That's great! Looks like we are very similar in DX but you are a 6 months ahead of me. Sorry you are having to change ins...that can be so confusing!

brithael

Drain Free! I'm so happy! Also saw the therapist for lymphadema since I am in the high risk category. (27 nodes removed, LARGE arms, radiation coming) Feels good to be proactive on this front since no one seems to know who's going to get it. She feels good with me flying next week without a compression sleeve, so I'm good to go for our Vegas trip. Meet with the MO when I return.

ChiSandy

Woo-hoo, Brit! I’ll have to wear my sleeve & gautlet prophylactically, because my flights between JFK & Rome/Barcelona & JFK are about 6-7 hrs. each. (Will probably put them on at ORD because I have less than an hour to change planes when I get to JFK). Make sure you make others hoist your heavy bags--feel free to play the cancer card. I sure plan to (she said, ending a sentence a preposition with)! Unfortunately, for me that means no more exit row seats, but oh, well.

Enjoy Vegas! Where will you be staying? PM me for some restaurant suggestions--we have a timeshare on the N. Strip (but prefer staying at the Elara mid-Strip) so we go at least annually. If you’ll be there a week or more, strongly suggest renting a car for a day to go to Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston or Hoover Dam/Lake Mead.

I bought some cheap fake-tattoo sleeve covers, but they stink of printers’ ink, alas!

PontiacPeggy

Brithael, Fantastic! I'll bet it does feel good to get rid of that drain. Put a quarter in the slots for me! I love Vegas!

ChiSandy, those ARE long flights. You are very wise to wear your compression sleeve. I didn't wear one when I flew Detroit to San Diego to Spokane (Wash) and to Detroit (not in one day ). Didn't feel it was needed nor had any of my docs suggested one. But, as with everything else about BC, each doc is different. Have fun!

HUGS!

brithael

ChiSandy - We're staying at the Bellagio which is our go to place. I can sit in the window, turn the TV on to fountain music, and watch the fountains for hours.

We've been going to Vegas for our anniversary for years! On our 40th, we got remarried by Elvis! Several years ago, we took a scooter tour of Red Rock Canyon which was one of the most fun things I have ever done!

Love the idea of the fake tattoos, sorry they smell. It's a great idea.

ChiSandy

Love watching the Bellagio water show! We had a great view of the fountains from our suite at the Elara. IMHO, center Strip is the best--easiest to walk to most other attractions. Last Feb. we ate at Prime House in the Bellagio; years ago there was a really good French restaurant/art gallery--think it changed hands and became a branch of Todd English’s Olives. Nearby in the Aria is a fantastic tapas bar (Julian Serrano) and in the Cosmo, a wonderful Greek osteria--reasonable, very fresh seafood.

HappyHammer

Woo-hoo, Brit!!! SOOO happy for you. EN.JOY that Vegas trip...you deserve some time away to play!

ChiSandy- you always have such great suggestions! Love seeing what you have to "say". So sorry about Tom Paxton retiring! Did you or do you ever play with Janis Ian?

Molly50

Congratulations Brit!! Enjoy Vegas.

ChiSandy

Never played with Janis Ian, though I got to meet her one year when she was keynoting at Folk Alliance Int’l. She lives in Nashville, and as a Jew in the Bible Belt was rather amused when folks asked her “how do your people celebrate Easter?” So I told her what I always answer: by diving under the bed and screaming “The Cossacks are coming!!!” She said she’s gonna use that next time.

PontiacPeggy

ChiSandy, boy aren't some people clueless? Probably whoever you said that to didn't get the deeper meaning behind it. But a good response, nonetheless. I'd think it would be hard, too.

HUGS!

april25

ChiSandy -- That makes so much sense about cats going for the people who are trying to NOT catch their attention! Although I'm not sure it's a great instinct since if the person is truly a cat-hater or very allergic, they might bat the cat away from them... definitely won't welcome them, at any rate...

HappyHammer -- Yes, our DXs do seem similar... and treatment, too. Hopefully the remainder of your treatment will pass quickly and easily! I found everything easier than chemo! Glad I got through that first. I was really surprised how quickly the year of Herceptin passed.

CyndiNic

I had a second surgery due to positive margins a week ago. Still have a good amount of fluid just sloshing around. I don't remember nearly as much fluid from surgery #1 just 4 weeks ago - but I was also in more pain overall from the lumpectomy and SNB so I'm wondering if I was just distracted by other things. I see my surgeon next Tuesday but am scheduled to start chemo Monday. Is it worth saying anything or am I obsessing over nothing?

PontiacPeggy

CyndiNic, it's your body! Of course, say something! Much better to get any problems taken care of now rather than later. Never ignore things going on with your body. It could be nothing or it could be a seroma and easily drained or left for the fluid to be absorbed by your body. I'll be thinking of you as you start chemo Monday. Perhaps it will help to tell those drugs to KILL CANCER!

HUGS!

Brutersmom

Cindinic. I had two surgeries as well to get clear margins. I had them 2 weeks apart. My choice due to some work issues. I had a lot more pain ans swelling with the second surgery. Check with your doctor. Hope all goes well with you chemo.

octogirl

Brutersmom, I only had to have one surgery to get good margins, but I did have healing issues, and my bs did ask the MO to postpone chemo about two or three weeks until I was healed. Definitely remind your BS and your MO that you are scheduled to start chemo and when and tell him or her about the issues you are having.

Just re-read this and realized you don't see bs until after you scheduled to start chemo? If that is the case, I'd call your BS' office and ask them if they can take a look before chemo starts.

My MO felt that the surgeon should be the one to make the call on whether I was healed enough to start chemo.

Hugs!

Octogirl

marijen

I have third surgery in two weeks, one more margin to clean..... but I'm glad they are being thorough.... second one healed in a week, doctor was pleased.

mustlovepoodles

Well, i talked with my MO today to ask her clarify her reasons for having a BMX. She said she recommends it 100%, due to my having two gene mutations. i see the breast surgeon Dec 16 to discuss pre-op and maybe set a date for 6 weeks after the final chemo, which is on Dec 22.

I'm pretty okay with this decision. A little sad. I mean, nobody wants their breasts removed, but I really, really don't want to go through this breast cancer again, if it can be helped.

Shoot, i forgot to ask if she wants me to have the ovaries out too! Guess I'll ask tomorrow when i go back for my fluids and Neulasta.

Molly50

mlp, that's why I am getting a prophylactic right mx. Do you have an appointment with a PS yet?

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, I don't blame you. When you have several negatives hanging around, it often makes sense to get a BMX. Of course, it's a hard decision. But for you, I think you've made the right one.

HUGS!

mustlovepoodles

Molly50, I do not have a PS yet. I will address that when I see the BS. It's not too urgent and I really want to talk with the BS and the MO and get a referral from them.