Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

Marijen, I like "Fifty Shades of BC"!! Good one.

Mairew, That sounds like a reasonable plan. There's nothing worse than being in that gray area. I think we all prefer our results (for whatever) to be black or white, making it easy to decide what to do.

HUGS!

Brightsocks

A question about Oncotype. If your nodes are clear then they run the test?

Sloan15

Re oncotestDX : They actually have more than one mathematical model for the OncotestDX. One is for no node involvement, the other is for 1-4 involved nodes. That's the way my paperwork came back.

HappyHammer

Marijen- Hahahahaha...50 Shades of BC! Never read the book or saw movie either but that is so funny!

I am glad that we have this thread- it is so open, full of good advice and lots of funny women!

HappyHammer

MLP3-

marijen

Should we write our own book Happy Hammer? Fifty Shades of Breast Cancer - bco.org Gone Wild

How about a coffee table book Madonna (Truth or Dare) complete with graphic photos? hahahaha

HappyHammer

Marijen... and all-

50 Shades of BC- from beginning of the journey onward...so much could fit into that title...you may be on to something.

Any authors out there? We could share our stories, etc. SO much great info, detailed advice, "listening", solace and humor on this thread....it could be a best seller.

PontiacPeggy

We ARE on a roll:

Fifty Shades of BC

Porn position

Any others we should add. I second that book. I'm no author but I know we have some lurking here!

HUGS!

marijen

Fifty Shades of Breast Cancer - would get a lot of media attention and educate the public! Talk of the Town - names changed to protect the innocent.

PontiacPeggy

HAHAHA!!!

HUGS!

MLP3

Liver MRI this am after they saw a spot on ct scan but guessing it's a cyst... Fingers crossed! 3 contrast mris and ct scan in the past week... My veins are toast!

My lx and snb scheduled for Jan 26 with seed implant on 25th. they are still trying to get me in sooner(which is a bit concerning, but I'm not letting it get to me). Mgh wanted to do a wire guided, but now that MRI shows 1.8cm, Dana farber surgeon is doing a radioactive seed implant. She said she's been doing them for 4 months and not one woman has had to return for clearer margins.

And I cannot believe that I just bought Genie Bras today... lol!

Questions... Has anyone had a seed bx?

Has anyone had an MRI show the tumor twice the size of the original US? Would the core biopsy inflame it that much?

LX vs MX... It's 100% up to me to decide on either. When I first found out, I was of the mindset to take both. But now that I'm more informed, sometimes the very low % of risk of reoccurrence and life expectancy between the two doesn't make sense to make such a knee jerk decision to go the mx route. And my med onc and bs both said that they don't know much until it comes out for staging, oncotype, node involvement. And I'm still waiting for genetic testing results to come back.

I know it's a very personal decision. But being at Dana Farber, loving my genius doctors... I'm thinking baby steps. Take it out, check nodes, get genetic testing back and go from there. If it doesn't come back all positives... Then mx, here we come! And new boobies and tummy tuck because this has set me back a bit on the crazy exercise regime I was in;

Thoughts...?

LovesToFly

I had seed for my lx. It was easy and I did get clear margins.

HappyHammer

MLP3- Just "Damn!", about the spot on your liver- just something else to worry about. Imagine it is a cyst but know you will be relieved to get good news from doc! Sending positive energy your way. Know after all of the MRI's and CT you have to be exhausted.

About the LX vs MX....I think taking baby steps is a good choice- not that an LX is a baby step- it's major surgery! Sounds like you are becoming more and more informed but still have important info to get to nail down the plan best for you. You can always do further surgery but you can't take it back. I'm sure more folks will weigh in with great ideas and advice.

Thinking of you while you are waiting. Keep us posted. Hugs.

JerseyRenee01

MLP3:

I think back to where I was back on Oct 21 when DX. I right away was at a BMX. 1st place I went werent even trying to change my mind especially more so for an early cancer. I think how far I have come. Allowing my emotions to go up & down, the time I really needed & most importantly the knowledge I have gained myself.

That decision changed as I did need time & also with the help of Penn in Phila. I believe things happen for a reason & I was meant to leave the first place.

So here I am the night before surgery. Going forward!!!!

Take time & really think it through! {{HUGS}}

HappyHammer

JerseyRenee- thinking of you as you get ready for your LX tomorrow! Sending positive energy and healing mercies your way. Let us know how you are doing when you fell up to it. Hugs!

MLP3

Hugs jersey😊

JerseyRenee01

HappyHammer:

Thank you so much!!!! I am trying to block out the "C" word and put the breast lift as the reason I am going.

Arrive 7:25 am. MRI 8:10 am, followed by Mammo then surgery.

I took the Ativan last night & 2 hrs after i was passed out! Seemed more like a Tylenol Pm to me. So I dont think I am going to take it before tomorrow. I dont want to be fighting going to sleep.

JerseyRenee01

Thanks, MLP3!!!!! 😊

ChiSandy

MLP3, I had the radioactive seed placement rather than the wire location. It was even less traumatic than the biopsy (which was pretty much a snap). The highlight came when, after the seed was placed (by the same radiologist who did my biopsy), the nuclear med team scanned me with the Geiger counter. “Yep, she's hot," said the radiologist. I said “thank you." In retrospect, shoulda been “that's what HE said!” Got clean margins the first try.

And though I never had an MRI, the surgical path report revealed the tumor was nearly twice as big as the US and core-needle biopsy had indicated. (Still t1, though). It's a crapshoot, though--just as often, the final tumor will end up being smaller, either because the US measured shadows or so much of it was removed by the biopsy. As to the liver stuff, it could be inflammatory, from stress and a change in meds. Or you might have an occult gallstone. (Had all three 20 yrs. ago. Out came the gallbladder--via laparascope, out went the spot and down went the liver enzymes).

Had a bit of a scare last night. A couple of hrs. after returning home, I started feeling and then hearing my tummy gurgle. Suddenly, I had an urge to go to the bathroom, and.....Hershey squirts. Ugh. Kept racking my brain as to what might have caused them--I had had much less to eat during the day than Bob did, and we ate EXACTLY the same thing (small portions, split down the middle) at the restaurant. Heck, he'd had two cocktails and two glasses of wine to my single flute of bubbly. Could it have been the MLD, pushing the lymph fluid into my colon rather than kidneys & bladder? Certainly not another bout of norovirus like I had two years ago--no fever or sharp pain, nothing at the “upper end" of the system. Then it hit me: at 10:45 pm at the restaurant, after a full meal, I'd had TWO cups of strong hot black coffee, That had to be it. After I reassured myself I wasn't going to get nauseated, I took my evening meds but no supplements (certainly not the fiber gummies or Colace)--and instead of the half-Norco I occasionally take if I may be too wound-up to otherwise sleep 7 hrs., I took a full one, knowing its SE is constipation. Success! Woke up this a.m. to a couple of entirely normal poops. Still, I went for a boiled egg and an espresso rather than a full cuppa joe.

Peachy2

JerseyRenee you have an excellent rationale for your surgery.

MLP3 you will get excellent guidance and information on potential outcomes. One of the things that I have appreciated at D-F is that the doctors are compassionate, yet dispassionate. Questions about what to do and why things are done are almost always answered with data on studies so that you can make an informed rather than an emotional decision.

The only time this fell short for me was when I learned about cold caps online, and after my first infusion so it was too late. When I mentioned them to my MO later she said "They are only successful in maintaining 50% - 75% of hair, and only 50% of the time." I would have liked to have been informed of this beforehand when she was writing me a prescription for my wig. At least it's just hair.

brithael

Hey, I'm back feeling pretty good -just in time for 2nd chemo next Monday, but maybe I'll get a few good days on the next round. Not like this last one. Too many people to comment on, but Sloan/Molly - great meeting IRL, isn't it? ChiSandy (great pix, BTW) and I had the chance when we were both recovering from knee replacements. She's just as talented as she is beautiful and funny.

My hair is coming out in handfuls. Just tug slightly, and it's gone. I have an appointment with my hairdresser on Friday to shave whatever is left off. I had a wig consult today, so here are my new looks -

PontiacPeggy

MLP3, Fingers crossed that the MRI shows a cyst. I think you're very smart to do an Lx. You can always do an Mx if it is indicated. You seem to be in good hands!'

JerseyRenee, a Valium won't knock you out (if you can get one). Good luck tomorrow! I'll be in your pocket!

HUGS!!!

Peachy2

Very pretty, brithael!

ChiSandy

Brit, were it not for the fact that these wigs are straight rather than wavy (like I remember your own locks when I met you), I’d never have guessed they were wigs! They all suit you, but I like #3 the best!

PontiacPeggy

They ARE pretty, Brithael, and they DO look very natural! A good idea to get the hair gone on your terms! I hope you feel better too.

HUGS!

Jclc83

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow Jersey. You will do great!

Pretty wigs Brit. I think the last one is my fav.

I hope your MRI goes well MLP3. You don't need anything else to worry about

JerseyRenee01

peachy2, Patty, jclc83:

Thank you all!!! 😘😘

Brit:

My vote is #3 too! Looks great!!!

Brutersmom

Brithael great looks. They all look great. My favorite is the last one.

Molly50

Jersey, in your pocket for tomorrow. You will do great. Brit, you are so beautiful. I actually like #2 best. Yes meeting in person is amazing and emotional and and and... Sigh. Mlp3, in your pocket for your MRI.

mairew

MLP, my mass measured 1.5 cm during US, then3.5 cm on MRI. It turned out to be an area measuring 2.8 cm (primary tumor, smaller tumor and a couple tiny ones).