Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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  • Musosgirl
    Musosgirl Member Posts: 387
    edited December 2015
    Keeping an eye on this rash. My cold kept me asleep till this afternoon so I never ot around to calling the PS's office. I am going in Wed, anyway, right? DH thinks the rash is a touch better today. Who knows...

    But I have a new question. My surgery arm has been cold. Not cold to the touch, but goosebump chilled. It is so weird having goosebumps on just one side! But it feels cold more and more. Anyone else experience this? I haven't noticed any swelling on that side.
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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited December 2015

    PPeggy- Knew you were in my pocket and....GOOD news! (Thank you!) You were right! Bumps and all at breast and underarm area are due to rads. The RT's nor the BS are worried about my skin and say it's doing great where I am in treatment.

    Enlarged node did not present during ultrasound or physical exam. BS said that all of the soreness and little bit of swelling could be from the "rooting around" she did when checking out nodes during surgery..and, the rads irritating the area. Am at 15 of 30 rads sessions (quiet woohoo!) Put me on a script for antibiotic cream for the rash- SO glad not to be on a big hulking oral one if not needed. Still on Herceptin every 3 weeks so am glad not to make the digestive system mad. (For those who know how hard rads has been....I highly recommend using headphones with music during waiting room time, etc. It was the BEST today! Strategies....just need good strategies to deal with all that has to happen.

    ALL- if you are having trouble during this ride....tell someone- this group, your group, all...there will be a strategy to deal with it..I just know it!

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  • Annie88
    Annie88 Member Posts: 196
    edited December 2015

    I received good news MO said labs and appearance of everything indicate no traces of BC. It is a relief to hear his report.

    Musogirl- I am sorry you are experiencing these symptoms. Maybe it's just some sort of infection or virus. I hope you get to the bottom of it.


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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    HappyHammer - that's great news! So glad for you. Interesting that you were put on an antibiotic cream for the rash. I just used Aquaphor. I suspect you may be a bit more irritated than I was. I'm sorry you're finding rads difficult.

    Annie, What wonderful news! Always a relief, isn't it?

    HUGS!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited December 2015

    Musosgirl...I think it would be a good idea to call your BS NOW to let him/her know about the cold on the surgery side..today/tonight. It's prob fine but want to be sure you aren't having any kind of circulatory issues....please call. Let us know what they tell you, please. Thinking of you!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    Musosgirl, I think you should call the BS, too. That seems really weird to me. I don't recall anyone ever mentioning goosebump-cold on their surgery arm. Yes, even late at night - please do call! And let us know what you find out.

    HUGS!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited December 2015

    Queenmomcat - How many mg do you take? They are giving me 20mg in AM and 20mg in PM. That sounds like a lot.

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited December 2015

    ChiSandy- hope you can rest and recuperate and enjoy your houseguest...!!


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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited December 2015

    PPeggy- the antibiotic cream is for the funk on my abdomen not the rads rash. They aren't worried about the rads rash except to try to keep the abs funk away from it. :)


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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited December 2015

    Sloan: (whistles) That's a high dose, but not wholly unusual, I think--Mayo says 20-40 for treatment of breast cancer (presumably invasive), 20 for prevention/treatment of DCIS. I'm on 20 mg, which I take in the morning.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    HappyHammer, whew. I feel better. Do try Aquaphor for the rads rash. It's really sticky/gooey so put it on at night and wear jammies that are capable of coping with it. Hope the antibiotic cream takes care of the tummy turds.

    HUGS!

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited December 2015

    Don't worry Molly - I'm not afraid of crazy making. Did you see the new test I posted for hormonal therapy not working?

    here it is again http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151111170739.htm


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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited December 2015

    Musogirl - I remember having a similar experience of like chills, goosebumps down the arm of the side Id had lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed. It did eventually stop, My last lumpectomy was in June, and I still have a little numbness in the armpit but overall pretty damn good lol. I put the shivers goosebumps down to the nerves in my arm and as they recovered things settled.


    Big hugs

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited December 2015

    queenmomcat - Your explanation makes me feel a little better. I'm terrible with my word of not going on the Bottle o' Tamoxifen thread. I was just over there reading to see if I could find out any info on dosage. Ha!

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited December 2015

    Hey! Sloan!

    I was on Tamoxifen for 4yrs,. I too was on 20mg but that was only ONCE a day..I'd double check why you're taking it am and pm?? I've not heard of that, but there could be a reason :)


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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited December 2015

    Peggy, I've had Emend with the three previous chemos and never had a problem. Wasn't expecting one today. I knew I felt itchy, but I have dry skin so that's not so unusual for me. Nobody noticed the rash until I went to the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, holy cow! I looked like I'd been slapped on both cheeks, I was wearing a bright red 6" bumpy collar around my neck, and I had bumps going down both arms, on my stomach and my back! So I walked back to the nurses station and said, "Hey, I think i'm having an allergic reaction." That got 'em moving!

    Not that they weren't already moving pretty fast. A lot of people took a break from chemo last week, so they were all trying to get in there this week. I've never seen it so busy and the nurses had to call in backups to assist. And they had no sooner started checking my vital signs and hanging more Benedryl, than the patient next to me had an anaphylactic reaction! One nurse stayed on me, and three others swung into action on the other patient. They had her on oxygen, a doctor at her side, epipen in her thigh, and 911 called within 3 minutes! Really impressive work. When they left my nurse said to me, dryly, "Let's not go there ,okay?"

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited December 2015

    Sloan: don't let Bottle 'o' Tamoxifen scare you--it's not so comforting a thread as Lumpectomy Lounge. When are you due to start? MelClarity's got a point in that discussing the matter with your MO makes perfect sense; I'd add the question "If I can't stand the side effects of 40 mg/day, can we drop to 20?"

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited December 2015

    Melclarity - I will check tomorrow. I know they said AM and PM, but I didn't think it would be 20 and 20!

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited December 2015

    Sloan - Great idea, certainly doesn't hurt, oh by the way, I had ZERO side effects on Tamoxifen in 4yrs too, honestly nothing :)

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    Poodles, that was quite the eventful last chemo. More excitement than I'm sure you wanted. That was some reaction you had to the Emend. Wow. Has the redness gone down yet or is it lingering? Very scary about that patient with anaphylactic shock. And extremely quick response. Nice being done??

    HUGS!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    I did read The Breast Book, it was helpful. Some of the things she talks about aren't done at my cancer center though.

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited December 2015

    Melclarity and Sloan, thanks for the posts.

    I picked up my script for Tam today, 20mg, once a day. The only thing the pharmacist said was make sure to take it during or after food due to the possibility of nausea. Nothing about any other side effect and no fact sheet with it. Strange but true. I had hoped to take it each night before bed like I took my birthcontrol oh so may years ago.

    Mel, I'm happy to hear you've had no SE, and I am expecting the same. I'm  not a meds person, even with the surgery or my craniotomy in 2010 did I take any meds.

    I've been in menopause for 2 years (give or take) and have had hot flashes up to today, so that will be nothing to adjust to.

    I'm not really nervous but for some reason, I am waiting until after the holidays to start.

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  • Melclarity
    Melclarity Member Posts: 388
    edited December 2015

    Molliefish - you know I'd have times I'd forget to take it in the morning and would take it at night, made no difference. I know each year checkup with my surgeon he'd ask of any SE and I just didnt. Unfortunately though as I had a recurrence after 4yrs, chemo has thrown me into menopause and will be starting a different pill late January. I must say on top of chemo hot flashes and night sweats have been quite severe right now. Had I of gone into menopause naturally I most likely wouldn't be like this though they said.


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  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited December 2015

    Thanks for the good wishes everyone. Chemo went swimmingly. Other than the winter storm which popped up yesterday, but didn't cause near the problems it could have, and a glitch about where to get my blood draws through my port, I was feeling no pain.

    No SE's yet, but I respond to every little twinge as if it is something. Still taking dex and anti-nausea through today; dex crash may come tomorrow. Was not scheduled for neulasta, did not get benadryl or ativan (and didn't need it.) My chemo nurse was fantastic.

    Trying to get errands done today before another snow event tomorrow, plus the possible "crash." Hoping I can use my tickets for "Beautiful" on the 5th. Looking forward to that. Dr. says it's OK if I feel up to it.

    ChiSandy - hope you get over that sickness, and when you and I are well - we WILL get together!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    Viszla, not every center offers everything but it is nice to know what's out there and you ask about something that seems pertinent to you.

    HUGS!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited December 2015

    Peggy, I'm okay today. Just a lutle itchy on my face and neck. About to go in for two rounds of IV fluids, standard procedure for this doctor. Then Neulasta after that. Im glad to have chemo behind me now.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    Since I don't know anything, Poodles, what are the IVs for? I don't recall my DIL mentioning going back the next day for anything like that. Time to take it easy and know that chemo is in your rear view mirror!

    HUGS!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited December 2015

    Peggy, they give me 2 bags of IV fluids the day after chemo, as preventative against getting dehydrated and having nausea/vomiting. Between the anti-nausea meds and the IV fluids, I have had no vomiting with chemo and limited nausea. Win!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2015

    Poodles, that's AWESOME!!

    HUGS!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited December 2015

    Poodles, I am glad you noticed the rash! One of my friends had an extreme allergic reaction to her first chemo tx. It really scared her. Well I am happy to report that I think the nausea/food aversion was indeed....wait for it...RADS! I am 3 weeks post rads and I am not getting sick now. Smells are not as bad but still some slight aversion to some smells. I truly thought it was the anastrozole.

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