Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    so weird brightsocks. I did not ask for one before surgery, but on many of the bulletin boards I have been on and it, a lot of people have talked about it, it seems to be quite standard!

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  • Brightsocks
    Brightsocks Member Posts: 159
    edited January 2016

    Tomorrow will go by very fast. Another person called her cancer a "gift". I also think of it as a gift but because it does not fit correctly I will be at the hospital tomorrow returning it.

    I hope I don't sing as I wake up for Simon would not be handing me a gold ticket.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited January 2016

    Brightsocks, when you get to the pre-op area, tell your nurse that you're feeling anxious. They may not want you to take anything ahead of time if you need to sign any papers. When the anesthesiologist comes in to see you pre-op, tell him also that you are nervous. ASK him if you can have something. A lot of times they'll go ahead and give you something through the IV, once your prep and papers are signed. They WANT you to be comfortable. The last thing any of them want is for you to be upset or scared. I've been a nurse for a long, long time (38 years! ye gods!) Believe me when I say, the medical team wants this to be as easy an experience for you as it can be. Don't be afraid to speak up.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited January 2016

    LovesToFly, one glass of wine tomorrow night isn't going to matter. You already have BC. I personally still drink wine. But that's an individual decision. My BCO friends that I meet with every few months - well, we meet at a winery. And most of them had chemo and mastectomies.

    HUGS!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited January 2016

    VioletHope, do not get a mastectomy unless there are compelling reasons. Get your lumpectomy. See if the nodes are clear or not. You can always get one later if there is a need. But you can't get that breast back once it is gone. Start conservative. Molly50 here had 2 or 3 recisions because they couldn't get clean margins but doesn't regret having lumpectomies first even though she wound up needing a mastectomy. And please fill out your profile and make it public. We really do read and use that information when we are answering your questions. Thanks.

    HUGS!

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited January 2016

    pontiacpeggy- I am doing very well, thank you !! I still would love to meet all of you one of these days if the date works out :) I am on tamoxifen but will likely switch to an AI in the next couple of years, they check my hormone levels twice a year to see when I reached that point.

    Brightsocks- Make sure you talk to the doctors about your worries about nausea after surgery. I always tell them I get easily nauseated and they gave me ALL the meds and I felt fine !! Good luck !!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited January 2016

    Brightsocks....I never felt sick after Lump...did take pain meds as prescribed for first 18-24 hours...and, iced like crazy...wanted to be ahead of any pain and/or nausea....after that, used ice again, like crazy and took Alleve. Had no issues. Walked around neighborhood day 3....napped as needed.....bed by 9pm and up by 9am....was not working at the time, Lumpy really went well....did take about 2-3 weeks to feel back to norm....did a yoga class 2 weeks in and then, seroma started so would suggest not pushing yourself too hard.

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2016

    Brightsocks - Good luck tomorrow. We're here for you! I had never had any kind of surgery or anesthesia until my lumpectomy, so I was really nervous. I told the anesthesiologist of my nervousness and he said in his best Texas drawl, "This isn't my first rodeo." It was so dumb that I couldn't stop laughing. I think realizing that this was routine for him really helped me with anxiety.

    VioletHope - I went back and forth with my decision between lumpectomy or mx, and I'm TOTALLY happy with my lumpectomy. I think the trauma of bc was enough, and not having breasts after surgery would have been more stressful to me. If I needed to have them removed, then fine. Actually, they were only going to remove one, so that would have been harder for me to ignore. My doc said she could make a case for either one and said the lumpectomy would be less stressful on my body. So, for me, the lumpectomy was the right choice. Your choice will be right for you.

    Peggy - Well, if I win the lotto, I'll fly you out! (But I guess I'd have to buy a ticket for that to happen!) Let me know when your next winery event is. We talked about it before. Who knows, I might just need to go to it!

    HappyHammer - Well, winter is not really my East Coast travel time.... haha. We have family in Chicago, want to visit Boston then go to Arcadia National Park in Mount Desert Maine, and we get to NYC occasionally. My DH has never been to Niagra Falls, so that's on our list! So, you never know!

    To me, cancer has made me re-think my retirement. I retired in May and found out I had cancer 2 weeks later. I've become the office gossip: "I know this woman who retired and then got cancer 2 weeks later!" What am I waiting for? I've decided to live life, spend all my money, and give my kids a good education so they can make their own money. haha


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  • Annie88
    Annie88 Member Posts: 196
    edited January 2016

    I am very behind on posting here. Today was my first day back at work after our winter break. It was a long one!

    Bright socks- Hugs and positive thoughts for your surgery tomorrow. Keep us posted!

    Cancer is an eye opening experience. It makes you realize how precious life and small things are. I look at my kids and husband differently now. It makes me motivated to live my life to the fullest in all aspects.

    It is great to have found you ladies!

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    Good luck Lovesto Fly! You'll be in my thoughts;)

    As for sex... What's THAT?? I can't even think of going there. My poor husband is so into my girls... I feel like I'm letting him down. I know, weird. But I can't even be a good doobie for him because I just feel so... Like, how can he find pleasure in something that is causing all of us so much angst? Does that make sense? And he would find pleasure because it's been over a month for the poor guy since I rediscovered my lump.

    At the same time... I'm just not "there" and he just needs to deal

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    Well said Annie!

    Good luck tomorrow brightsocks💪🏻

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited January 2016

    Sloan, I'd love to have you visit here! I hope to move West in June/July to Spokane. I think my group may get together this month. I wouldn't come East in winter either! We can work on spring though!

    HUGS!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    mlp I understand. The girls (both) have been hands off since I found the (now gone) lump, and they've always been an important part of sex (except during early leaky bfing). I also feel like I've let him down even though I know that's silly and stupid. DH would never complain about a dry spellfor this reason, but I still hate it. We've worked hard on our marriage and improving our sex life has been a part of that. I don't want to lose that too.

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  • Musosgirl
    Musosgirl Member Posts: 387
    edited January 2016
    I am 3 1/2 weeks out from surgery and my boob just started bleeding. Out of nowhere. Around 9:00 tonight. It's the lumpy incision so we called the BS and she thinks it is blood tinged fluid, not actually blood. Of course this started after we had JUST bought tickets to go see Star Wars and now I have to call and go in to her office tomorrow. I hate mornings but I am scheduled for the afternoon--Star Wars is serious business ya know! But it is soaking bandages. I guess I am sleeping on a towel tonight...

    She said keep it clean and put pressure on it. Any other advice to get me through the next 12ish hours?
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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited January 2016

    Oh geez, Musosgirl!! The pressure should help. Try to stay calm, deep, slow breaths.

    Violet, I had two lumps (they happened to be next to each other), had a lumpectomy and no node involvement.

    Bright socks, I always get sick after surgery. Always. They gave me the scopolamine patch behind my ear and it did the trick!! The first time I got up to go to the bathroom while still in recovery, I had about a 30 second period of time when I didn't feel great, but it passed quickly. Heck, I am concerned about nausea after the port placement tomorrow. The nurse tried to reassure me it will be fine, but said to tell them I get sick.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited January 2016

    MusosGrl, YIKES!!! That certainly is scary, upsetting. NOTHING should interfere with seeing Star Wars! Your priorities are in the right place. I have no advice for you except listen to your BS. Good luck seeing her today.

    HUGS!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    Oh wow musosgrl, hope you get that fixed up ASAP and get to that movie. We all saw it last weekend and loved it.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    Musos, it’s probably your seroma (we all get one in the tumor cavity) leaking through the incision. Sounds and feels much scarier than it really is. See your surgeon ASAP, of course; but (s)he may or may not decide to suture it, My breast seroma never blew, but my SNLB one did, and suturing did the trick. Great big Band-Aids (skinned-knee size) or gauze squares, and a clean washcloth inside a very loose bra or tight tee or tank should be pressure enough till you get seen.

    I was given Zantac orally by the anesthesiologist just before surgery. Also had Versed (a liquid tranquilizer) in my IV. Never had any nausea. I had also been warned that afterward I would experience profound fatigue, be unable (or it would be imprudent) to climb stairs to my bedroom, and would need to wear button-up tops and PJs for a long time. Well, after that first night sleeping downstairs on the daybed--after pulling my PJs on overhead--I realized that I had blown a fortune on those tops & PJs. I slept upstairs in my own bed, and had no trouble walking to the grocery & restaurant with my sis, who came in from VA to take care of me--care I really didn’t need, but it was great spending time with her (she’s cat-allergic, so we had to spend most of our time out on the deck, at her hotel, or going out for meals).

    Jill, I found that Leading Lady makes front-close knitted leisure bras in F/G/H cup size, so 40F/G/H works fine for my 38I or J breasts. I sleep in them. Available in several pastels plus black and beige at HerRoom.com. About $25 or so,

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited January 2016

    Wow....I cannot possibly keep up with this thread: gone for one day to go to a work meeting, and there are four pages I haven't read!!

    Just a few random thoughts that may not make sense since they reference stuff from three pages ago :-)

    -If Sloan comes to visit, than I really should too! After all, she and I only live driving distance apart from each other....

    -nail and four round C/T chemo: that is what I had and I did have some problems with my nails...nothing huge, but some discoloration. I use coconut oil daily and it does seem to help. Just spread it on in the am.

    -someone asked about hubby working the day after Lx: the day of Lx hubby took the day off and spent it caring for me (and in the waiting room). However, by the day after he was able to go back to work, and in fact I found it more restful to be alone, with my teddy bear, my ice, my pills and food nearby. I wasn't in much pain at all. Granted, hubby only worked about 15 minutes away and had flexibility to leave if need be to come home and care for me, so it was comforting to know he was nearby if needed.....

    -Hugs to all of you; especially those waiting for surgery!

    Octogirl


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  • Peachy2
    Peachy2 Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2016

    6 degrees when I left the house this morning. Sloan, wish I could click my heels together and be in southern CA!

    Thought I'd repost here some information that I shared in the winter rads group:

    Just wanted to share a product that has been helpful. A co-worker finished her radiation at another facility and shared with me some samples of My Girls cream that I've been using. It's not as heavy and greasy as Aquafor. Not sure if it's because of the cream, but today my RO said that my skin is at the better end of "good." I mentioned the cream and he said that the hospital gives out Aquafor because the company gives them tons of samples, but a lot of women really like MyGirls. It's available at their website and on Amazon.com. The company is based near here in Wellesley, MA, so there are a some more local northeast retail outlets listed on the website.

    http://mygirlscream.com/

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited January 2016

    "Anyone want to meet up in Pasadena, CA next Mon, Tue or Wed? The weather should be sunny and 64 degrees. Yay! It's my b-day next week (51), and my DH and I are taking a few days to visit the Norton Simon Museum, see Neil Tyson-DeGrasse, go to Bullets on Broadway at the Pantages, and wrap it up with a walk in the Huntington Gardens. If you'll be in LA and are going to any of these places or just want to meet at a coffee shop in Pasadena, I'd love to meet.

    Molly - I know you're down that way. We talked about getting a coffee once before! :) Also, I can add you on Fitbit if you PM me your email address. That is the only way I know how to to do it! Otherwise, I'll have to wait for my son to come and visit and do it. Haha"


    Sloan, yes!! I would love to meet up! I will PM you my cell phone number. You did manage to add me to your Fitbit. I am very impressed! If you plan on visiting DTLA, I work at the Music Center and I would be happy to give you a tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Otherwise, coffee would be great. :)

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  • MJS1266
    MJS1266 Member Posts: 222
    edited January 2016

    Bright Socks: Thinking of you today, Everything will be fine. Good Luck.

    VioletHope: I had a second lump found during an MRI. It turned out to be a benign Pappiloma. BS removed it at the same time as the cancer, so in effect had two spots removed although I guess they were relatively close a few cm apart. I did have node involvement but still had a Lumpectomy. I did do chemo first and had a complete response so still only had an SNLB with about 3 or 4 nodes removed.

    For Rads Ladies: Calendula is also a recommended lotion, my RO considered Calendula and Gold Bond Powder to be the gold standard for skin treatment during rads. You can get it at target. I did get a prescription for a medication cream towards the end can't remember what that was called but if you need they'll give it to you.

    Good Luck today ladies, MJ

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited January 2016

    Brightsocks, I get nauseated from anesthesia so I told the anesthesiologist and he put anti nausea meds in my IV and a scolpamine patch behind my ear. I only threw up once and that was on the way home. I think they discharged me too quickly. I felt better as soon as I was home and that was the first time I didn't throw up for hours and hours. I even threw up for hours after my colonoscopy.

    VioletHope, I do not regret for one minute trying to go conservative by having a lumpectomy first even though I needed a mx later. They did not expect the extensive LVI or the DCIS that was hiding. Even with positive nodes they would have been fine with a lumpy if not for those other factors. My BS tried and tried to get clean margins but there was just too much affected tissue. The problem with mx is you then need reconstruction which brings another host of isssues. I know some women get mx to avoid radiation. Unfortunately I am one of the ones who still needed rads post mx.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited January 2016

    Today is my first day wearing a real bra again! It has been about 7 weeks since I could wear anything but the loosest and softest bra or cami.

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    Yeah Molly!!!

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    After hearing that I should prepare for surgeries within the next week after my visit with my new onc team tomorrow... I made some calls. I got into Dana Farber and Brigham and Women's in Boston next Tuesday with two of their top docs. I actually feel so much better😀

    I'm still meeting with the team tomorrow at MGH, but not letting them do anything. The liaison at Dana said the more info I have, the better. And Dana Farber is actually having a nurse call me back today to review my path report in detail and give me some direction. I was never offered that at mgh. I already know that I'll go with the second opinion next week;)

    I'm 15-20 miles outside of Boston... And very lucky to be! Just never thought that I would be this happy to go to Dana Farber😳 Another week of waiting but I'm actually ok with it

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited January 2016

    MLP3, Good for you. It seems to be the best decision. And I can tell how pleased and comfortable you are with the Dana team.

    Molly, happy bra day!!!

    HUGS!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited January 2016

    MLP3- that IS great news! Happy that you are feeling stronger and more confident in your choices! Gives you some control. Warrior on!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2016

    Molly - just messaged you again. Yes, we'd LOVE a tour of the concert hall! Text or message me!

    Happy bra day -haha Peggy

    Octogirl - can u get to LA next week? That would be fun!

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  • Jclc83
    Jclc83 Member Posts: 246
    edited January 2016

    Speaking of chemo brain...last week while lying in bed I realized that my glasses weren't on my head DUH. I always put them in the same place on my nightstand. But I wasn't ready to go to sleep so I wouldn't have taken them off. Anyway I have searched high and low and still can't find them. They have vanished into thin air. I never lose things.

    Well. I have been wearing the other pair that I got at the same time, same prescription. But in the last few day my eyes aren't focusing very well at all. I am having vision problems and it doesn't seem to matter what pair I wear. I am not sure if it's from the chemo so I don't want to run out and get a new pair. Hopefully it's temporary. Anyone else having vision problems? Hope I spelled everything correctly :)

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