Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Jonsey22

Made it through lumpectomy and SNB/ANB and on the mend. Thanks for the words of encouragement Melclarity, April25, and Pontiac Peggy. Sounds like we are in the same boat blamoms, best of luck on the 19th. What people say about the blue tracer injection is totally true. It was blinding pain! The surgeon says that he thinks things went well. It came out okay and he thinks margins were good. Unfortunately I won't find out anything further until my follow-up with him on Feb. 11th. Is it typical to have to wait 4 weeks for results on this, does anybody know? Any tips about recovering? My lumpectomy and SNB/ANB they only used one incision for from 3:00 on my left breast up to my armpit. I am thinking that this will be a bit icky to heal.

LovesToFly

thanks Peachy!!!

well done jonsey. My best advice is give yourself time to rest, take pain meds as needed, start moving that arm regularly in the next day or two and do all the exercises they told you about. My postop appointment, when I got my pathology results, was 10 days after my surgery. Four weeks sounds like a long time to me, because I've been told that generally the next stage of treatment, whether it is chemo or radiation, should start 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. That said, you're still in line for six weeks, and surgery is the most important treatment! So I don't think it's ridiculously long, but I do wish it was a bit shorter for you

Because we were talking about this a few days ago and it seems relevant now, I would like to say that we have universal healthcare in Canada, but my wait times have not been bad at all! I had my first ultrasound a week after I found a lump (o could have a bit sooner but thought it was "nothing" and chose the best day for me), a mammogram a few days later, breast cancer clinic visit the next week, and my biopsy about three weeks after I found the lump. I was officially diagnosed a week after that, and had surgery almost 2 months to the day from the day I found the lump (could've been about a week earlier, but I waited because of my daughters but mitzvah which was all planned for two days after the first surgery date I was offered, bs said one week delay was fine.)

PontiacPeggy

Jonsey, I'm so sorry that your blue dye injection was so awful. My BS did mine and gave me lidocaine first and then the dye injection did not hurt. At least you survived. I was very lucky and got my path report 2 days later - my BS called me at home at 6PM on a Friday night! Glad your surgeon is so positive!

Keep icing your incisions. Take pain meds (whatever they are) before the pain gets the upper hand. Sleep/rest a lot! Gently move your arm with the exercises you were given. Don't overdo. Your body needs rest for it to heal. Probably the part of the incision under your arm (most of it?) will be the most annoying. Everything will rub on it. Just be prepared. No underwires!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

MelClarity, I went through quite a few of my clothes again today and this time following the "spark joy" edict. Clothes that DH liked but didn't look good on me (I don't do well in black and he loved it), went. And I didn't feel guilty. It feels really good!

ChiSandy, I've worn a MedicAlert bracelet and/pendant for 50+ years. I don't have LE but I'd put it on my bracelet. Since I am sensitive to nickel, I mostly wear a nylon/cloth type sport bracelet. It has my antibiotic allergies on it and my Sulfa one. MedicAlert is challeging at times to update your record. I have TWO antibiotics that I can take (yup, only 2) and there was no way for me to enter them, so I had to call and have them enter it on my record. (Sorry for the extra wrinkles - awkward taking the photo ) Now I don't break out. I have a sterling silver one for dress.

HUGS!

Melclarity

Loves to Fly - I honestly think you're doing more than ok, I so wanted to be like you and I too figured the same, I suffer a bit here and there so couldnt be any worse. Just remember one thing, be kind to you and listen to yourself..which you are doing. You are alternative LOL I love that!! I wouldnt be surprised if you said you were spiritual too.. I loved that pic of you and your friend!!! and what she said!!?? that's exactly!! what I say, think and feel when someone asks me how the hell Ive got through this again. My concern 4 weeks PF#ingC LOL was how am I going to live my life not knowing if its coming again...then I realized after talking with my Partner, I cannot live that way because then I will miss every blessed given moment of my life. So I will remain diligent as I have for 9 years stay ahead of it and enjoy every damn moment!!! LOL

Jonsey - Glad it all went well, Oh gosh!!! yes the SNB I haven't said about it, but yes you are right it is blinding pain! 4 weeks seems a long time to wait, I would have thought 10days post surgery. You could always check with your BS? It certainly won't affect anything.

LoveMyVizsla

They gave me a wallet card and grey band to wear on my wrist for my port, anyone else have those? I put my pertinent medical info on the medical tab on my cell phone, like my sulfa allergy.

I didn't like Caring Bridge because of all the donation solicitations, so I'm using MyLifeline.org. I also have an accordion folder for all the bills, path results, parking receipts, etc. a friend gave me a hard bound to use as a journal. I've written down names of friends to call for help, dates I've seen the doctors, etc.

LovesToFly

Melclarity i'm sorry you tolerated chemo so badly, I'm glad you are over it, and hope you never have to do it again! I think youve got an amazing attitude, just live and enjoy your life (I know sometimes it is easier said than done, but if you do that more than you don't do it, I think you're doing great!)

ivy2

Shamisen - I keep a spreadsheet workbook with different aspects of treatment so far. I have sheets for procedures, costs, medications, other treatments and one for photos of the avalanche of paper documentation that comes with all of this. The spreadsheets enable me to create graphs of all of the results so I can track progress over time. But, I'm an archivist so I have these tendencies anyway...

MLP3- I can understand your son's apprehension but the way he expresses through those loving gestures is so wonderful. My kids are 16 and 19. My son researched everything and worked out probability and that's how he copes (he likes math) and my daughter copes by seeing her friends and slowly adjusting to the new "normal". Before we knew whether or not I was going to have chemo (I won't) she offered to get her hair cut to make a wig for me!

LovesToFly- My heart is with you as I read your posts. We were in Canada for 8 years before we moved to Australia and Toronto is such a great place. Take care.

A quick question. How long has the numbness lasted for you? I had surgery on the 7th of december and I still have a small numb patch where my arm meets my shoulder.

Thanks

Sloan15

Lovestofly - Oh, your story is a tear-jerker, but true: We can't live in constant fear! Whatever it takes to move forward, we have to move forward. Molly said it last week, and your client understands it: Sometimes we just need a break from all things cancer. She had to block out the cancer to find happiness, and I can totally relate. I call it focusing on the positives. (Rule your mind or it will rule you. -Horace). Such a sweet picture if you two.

April- Any day is good for me! I'm going to stay at the beach all week and one day I'll drive to SD. No real plans is my plan. I'll PM you.

I'm going to give an alternate view of records, journals and bracelets to document health issues: I don't do any thing. If I needed a medical alert bracelet like Vizsla andPeggy, I would, but I don't do anything for my LE or to note what I did for bc. I'm right handed, so do everything to my right side is how I think of it.. If I'm in an accident and I can't speak, just save me any way you can. My PT said one of her patients broke her LE arm, and it swelled out-of-control. They couldn't do anything to prevent it, but once the bone starred to heal, they could get the LE under control.

BTW to anyone having LE issues, mine is so much better. Give it time after chemo and rads. I only wear my sleeve when I exercise (and I actually RAN today Lovestofly!)

Jonsey22

Nobody gave me exercises to do. Can anyone tell me what type of exercises I should be doing?

Sloan15

Hahaha! An archivist vs. me. Ivy and I are like matter and anti-matter. We are such opposites that if we ever touched, we'd both disappear!

So, there you have it folks. Keep records, or not. Lol!

Brightsocks

It seems that most ladies did have an increase from the ultra sound. I am trying to prepare myself for less surprise when I get my results. If I did not ask this last question I would then think it must have increased in size over Christmas and why did they not remove it sooner. Was there anything else that was different for anyone? I know the size and its hormone status and stage but nothing else at this point.

MLP3

Abdomen MRI is negative!!! But I do have "a lot" of cysts on my liver and pancreas, but nothing that concerns them at this point. Finally some positive news😀

Sloan- in a strange way I'm actually hoping for chemo so it zaps everything. The hair loss doesn't bother me one bit either!

Melclarity- my son is my baby too and he's so hypersensitive to me and my emotional and physical needs lately(feeds the dogs, grabs laundry if I'm tired). But as long as I'm strong and positive, he's less stressed.

Jonsey- happy to hear that surgery is behind you now. I'm jealous!

Ivy- sounds like we have some great kids! The wig suggestion for your daughter is just so sweet and kind.

Going to hit up dh tonight and ask what he thinks about staying a night in Boston next week... I don't think he will decline my offer😬 Let's hope the Patriots win Saturday because that always keeps him in a great mood too!

Going out with the family tonightI'm getting champagne tonight to celebrate my MRI... Cheers!

Jclc83

Brightsocks, size and grade and stage can change when the actual tumor is sitting in front of the pathologist. They have a ruler in their hand and measure it in three dimensions. Then diagnosis is made by looking at several samples of the tumor under the microscope. Depending on the size of the facility it should only take two or three days. I found out I also had DCIS and my grade and stage changed I wasn't discouraged. The size is not as important as node involvement and stage and grade. Once you know the facts then you can form a plan of attack and start fighting.

Good news MLP3

LovesToFly

yeah mlp!!

HappyHammer

Peggy- love the fact that you have a casual AND a "dress" medic alert bracelet...2 antibiotics you CAN take...not so much! You are a great example of the way to go through our stuff and things....keep what makes you FEEL good..."sparks joy"...otherwise, don't hold onto it because, because, because...you don't need, love, want it and someone else can USE it...my dad died unexpectedly almost 3 years ago, It has taken my mom almost 3 years to get her new place the way she wants and needs it to be....just WISH I had the knowledge then that I do now....if it "sparks joy"....keep- otherwise....know I will share this with others for sure! (Peggy- I get the whole responsibility thing to keep things for others and all- but you have helped shed light on why that isn't needed...always teaching, Peggy...always teaching- thank you!)

PontiacPeggy

Jonsey22, I would "walk" my hand/arm up the wall in the shower. Then everyday, without it hurting, would go a bit further up the wall. I really didn't have any trouble stretching my arm. Underarm incision healed well. Just the damn nerves stayed number forever. I finally got full feeling back in December. My BS had said whatever feeling I had at a year was what I was going to have. Proved her wrong Just be gentle. You don't want to pull out stitches or whatever. But you also don't want that to tighten up.

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

MLP3, HOORAY!!!

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Jonesy- you are rocking this whole surgery thing...so sorry there was so much pain involved...but am SO glad it's O.VER! Hate thazt you have to wait so long for results....maybe next week, when you have given yourself time to rest and heal, you can all and ask about that? Hugs and healing mercies sent your way!

PontiacPeggy

HappyHammer, thank you. I really was having a hard time with my clothes. The first time through was easy. But the dress I wore for one son's wedding - keep or go. I realized that I was never going to wear it again. I didn't feel the need to have it in my life now.

The "dress" and "casual" MedicAlert bracelets came about because even with nickel-free metals, if I sweat under a metal bracelet, I'll break out (so wonderful). When MedicAlert came out with these 10 years ago, I grabbed a black one, then I got purple, then I got the flag one. I never break out (no metal touching skin). So it has worked out well for me.

HH, I had kept so many things that I thought my future grandchildren would like to see. Well, I'm not going to have grandchildren so the baby clothes can go, the kids' stuff that they don't want can go. I think that letting go of that dream of grandchildren was the hardest thing and we've known this for quite a number of years - just hadn't gotten rid of anything.

HUGS!!

HappyHammer

Oh, Peggy...yes, the dreams we have for our children and beyond are the hardest to come to terms with, I think. My niece..she is the only girl of the 5 first cousins, made it very clear about all of the things we were holding onto when she said...."so when you guys die...I am going to get a big greenbox and we are just going to throw all of the stuff in the attic/basement in it...and go from there"....gave us a freedom that I know my mom never had in terms of being responsible for keeping it for the next generation(s).

I now have 3 precious grandchildren and NOT one of them has worn any of the precious clothes I kept from our babies...lesson learned.

HappyHammer

to you ALL, tonight and every night! Such an active thread recently....just cannot keep up but, CAN send each of you hugs!

Shamisen

The biopsy on my 2nd mass came back clear, benign, so we should be back to IORT!

Also my her2 came back positive. I'm not sure, but that sounds like good news bad news?!

PontiacPeggy

HappyHammer, besides the really cute Carter's infant stuff, I had a dozen terrycloth diapers that we'd bought in Cardiff, Wales, whilst there for 5 weeks (DH was on an exchange working for a florist there). Disposable diapers were just barely on the radar (1974) and the ones in the UK were AWFUL. So I invested something like $100 in TWELVE terrycloth diapers. They were great. And, of course, I saved them. Now I will use them for other purposes. Baby clothes get done tomorrow. It's comforting to know that your grandkids didn't use the baby clothes you saved. I don't feel so bad

HUGS!

Sloan15

MLP - Yay! Great news!

Jonesey - Glad it went well. No exercises yet! Just heal. Eventually, the doc will ask you to "walk" your fingers up the wall I u get range of motion bak. But for now, I don't think you're supposed to even put your arm above your shoulder. Keep your bandage tight!

PontiacPeggy

Shamisen, YIPPEE on the good biopsy news. Your HER2+ status isn't quite as positive. Here's an article for you to read on HER2 and all the stuff you should know. Towards the bottom, treatments are discussed. HER2 Status. I don't know much about HER2 since I'm HER2 negative. Other ladies will chime in with what it REALLY means to you.

HUGS!

LovesToFly

great news about the 2nd mass shamisen!!

I am her2- negative so I don't know much, I believe it does tend to be a higher risk of recurrence, however there is also very good treatment (Herceptin) that very significantly lowers that risk. I'm sure some of the women can tell you a bit more. I can tell you that I have had chemotherapy with a couple ladies that were at the Herceptin stage of their treatment, they said that although Herceptin was a longer treatment, it was very easily tolerated and their hair is growing back through it!

Sloan15

Shamisen - Yay for benign in 2nd mass!!! That's more like it!!! Also, HER is no longer good or bad; it's just what it is. Docs used to call it a more aggressive trait because there was no medicine for it, but they now have a specific medicine just for HER+ (if u do chemo). So, with HER+, doctors now go for the cure--yeah, they actually use the word cure. You are triple positive so you can ALSO get the meds for Er+/Pr+.

Jclc83

HappyHammer you always have such an upbeat attitude

Peachy2

Great news on the test results MLP and Shamisen!

MLP, we will all be hoping for a Patriots win.