Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

ayr1016

I got a call from my surgeon this morning. She agrees that it would be better to shrink the tumor prior (2.7cm) via hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) to surgery. This freaks me out a bit. I had my mind set that surgery would happen in the next couple of weeks. I made a post on the hormone therapy area hoping others have had this type of neoadjuvant therapy before and could chime in with some experiences. I guess my mind keeps telling me that when it comes to shrinking a tumor, it is usually chemo that does it. I know it is ultimately my decision, but I want to make sure it is the right decision. I was asleep when she called so I didn't ask her more questions like I should have. But, I guess it is a little black and white. Do I want to shrink it prior and get a better result (less taken out) or get it over with now. What would you do? I feel so emotional now not knowing what to do. I trust my MO. My surgeon said that my MO does not suggest this to many ladies so she feels that I am a good candidate for it working well.

1step: cute hairdo!

edit: spelling, ugh!

PontiacPeggy

MLP3, I wasn't referring to blood sodium levels. Sodium intake. Good idea to ask.

1step, don't rush back to work. Your body is telling you that it is not ready. And it sounds like you aren't ready mentally either. Love the hair!!

HUGS!

HappyHammer

1step-Wonder if you are developing a seroma? I didn't get one until about 2 weeks or so out from lumpectomy...after going to a yoga class. And, whenever I was in the car- after that- had to hold or support the bad girl because it hurt to bump and slosh around!!! It did get better but took about 4 weeks or so (I think) to reabsorb and for it not to be painful to ride in or drive car. Then, in Jan. during rads- the bad girl got in a bad mood and again, riding and driving were painful. You get the visual of me holding the bad girl all of the time in the car. Lovely! haha. Peggy is right- don't rush back to work if at all possible to take some more time...sounds like your body and mind need it- and, that's OK!

Great haircut! Looks so hip and manageable. Cute furry friend, too!

DisneyGirl16

Hi, Ladies!

So glad to have found you all. I am new to this whole bc roller coaster but happy to have others to follow. I have only had time to read the posts for the last month or so in this thread and a couple of others, but I am amazed at what a bunch of strong, caring, beautiful, and funny women you all are. I like to think I am a strong, stoic woman but this diagnosis really threw me for a loop. The hardest part has been telling my children and other family members. My husband's side of the family has many women who have gone through bc, including his mother 26 years ago, and they are my inspiration. There is no family history on my side so I never saw it coming. My bs gave me the option of lx and radiation or mx and I have decided to take the lx and rads road. My surgery is scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 4th. I've never had surgery before (with the exception of my recent core needle biopsy) so as the day gets closer, I get more nervous. The other part of me just wants the *%&# tumor out of me so I can get to the next phase of my treatment.

A big "Thank You!" to all of you wonderful ladies who take the time to share your experiences with the rest of us. You have been an invaluable resource to my mental health and well being.

mairew

Ayr, I think you should consider a second opinion.

1Step, great style. it suits you you have lovely hair. Jealous.

MLP, I am going to be at least 9 weeks post surgery, before I start next treatment (Rads). Ugh.

HappyHammer

Disney- sorry you have to be here but welcome! This group is AWESOME and awe-inspiring. Will be in your pocket Thursday. If you get too nervous- may want to ask for something like Ativan so you can get prepared without having lots of anxiety. Hugs!

MLP3

1step- love your hair! Right before surgery I got a keratin treatment so I didn't have to worry about styling it. Best thing I did.

Ayr- if I were you, I'd get a second opinion. If my tumor removed was about the size of a quarter, that's 2.4cm. I have a large C cup and I'll have a minimal dent post lx healing, from what I see so far. I think I'd be worried about having it still in there, nodes, etc... Maybe your surgeon isn't too worried with growth due to the grade 1...? Second opinion is what I would do.

mairew- why so long? I'd look at the bright side I guess and do things that you may not be able to do during rads. How many weeks are you scheduled for? They said 7-8 weeks for me but WHO THE HELL KNOWS BECAUSE I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING YET😡

Welcome Disney! This group is like a life/stress saver. I think we posted a bunch of pre and post surgery shopping and to-do lists last Thursday... Valuable info.

mairew

MLP3, this long phase of non treatment is due to scheduling conflicts: me taking a holiday overseas at Christmas, waiting for an apt with my MO in the new year, who didn't run my oncotype until I requested which delayed me another two weeks, but at least I got out of chemo. And now the RO is going on vacation and I have to wait 3 weeks for my SIM appoint, and they wont start me on Rads until Feb 22 or so. I will do the Whole Breast 33 sessions. It kinda feels like a vacation from my troubles until the next shit storm hits (Rads). That's an incredibly long time for you to wait on path results. Do they have them yet? Will they release the info over the phone to you. My path results were always in by two days. I know you have called them, you are very patient I could not deal with that long a wait. I was calling Genomics after a week to make sure they got my sample and were processing it.

MLP3

My core biopsy was 7 days too over Xmas. Completely different hospitals.

Hopefully I'll get a call later today. If not and if it's not on my patient portal tomorrow am, I won't be as pleasant when I call tomorrow.

Enjoy your long vacation until the 22nd. Great way to look at it

PontiacPeggy

DisneyGirl16, Welcome to the best place you don't want to be. I'm glad that you've discovered what a wonderful, caring, comforting, informative and zany group we are. We all can understand how apprehensive you are. You might consider asking for something to easy your anxiety. You're wise to do an Lx now. If things change you can do an Mx down the road but you can never un-do it.

Your day will be long. If they offer you a Valium or anything else when you arrive at the surgery center, take it! Wear something that buttons/zip in front. And easy to put on pants. Plan on staying home for a couple weeks if you can. This is major surgery - no matter what anyone else might say. And you body needs for you to rest to heal. You don't need to be a couch potato but easy does it. Do make sure you stay on top of any pain you might have - take the pain med that they prescribe or Tylenol. No time to be a martyr. Ice is also your friend.

My surgery center had HEATED gowns and that was heavenly. I also walked to the operating room giving me the feeling of being in control. It's all doable.

Keep asking your questions. We're here for you. And we'll be in your pocket Thursday!

HUGS!

Peachy2

Hi Disneygirl1! We will be happy to ride this roller coaster with you! (Though I'm more of a Universal Studios kinda gal. ;-) ) My lumpectomy was my first surgery too, unless you count having my wisdom teeth out when I was in high school. It wasn't too much more difficult, and a whole lot easier than childbirth. My family is similar to yours: my in-laws were very experienced with dealing with cancer, and they were so very helpful in propping me up and helping out during treatment. I bet yours will be too.

MLP3 - Still no word? You asked earlier about how long after surgery chemo started. I met with the MO between my lumpectomy and re-excision, and she planned the first infusion a little more than three weeks after the re-excision to allow time to heal.

MLP3

I just emailed my bs secretary and he checked and said pathology still hasn't signed off on the report. Wtf?? He said my bs will call me after noon time tomorrow with HOPEFULLY some news.

HappyHammer

MLP-in your pocket tomorrow, too!

mustlovepoodles

I am so hopelessly behind here. Welcome to all the new gals. Sorry for your diagnosis, but glad you found us.

I got really sick this past weekend. Really sick with a stomach virus. I won't share the gory details, but suffice to say, I ended up in the ER. Which if you knew me well, you would know that going to the ER is quite unusual for me--I've been a nurse for 38 years, so I can take care of almost anything short of a heart attack or compound fracture at home with my trusty first aid kit. I was very dehydrated and had a high fever (almost 103`~). They fixed me up with 3 bottles of IV fluids and some Zofran, drew some blood, and sent me home. Yay!

I felt pretty awful yesterday, but today hasn't been too bad. Just don't have any concentration. But I did manage to go to the GYN today, to discuss ovary removal. I really liked this gal. We discussed my BC, the gene mutations, and my wicked family history and she thinks it would be best to go for the full hyst. I agree with her. Two sisters and a grandmother have had uterine cancer; one sis and GM also had BC. GMs sister had some kind of "female cancer"--they didn't talk about that kind of thing, back in the day, so we don't know if it was cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer. Anyway, I just need to get through the mastectomies now, scheduled for Thurs, Feb 4. I'll put off the hyst until sometime later this summer.

My 81yr mom called me today, all upset--my brother told her I had been hospitalized with a temp of 104 and they didn't know what was wrong with me! Sheesh. Thanks, bro! So, even though I calmed her down, she is aaaaaaaalll upset and wants to run right up here to "take care of me." My DH does NOT want her up here (we live 450 miles away) because she can barely take care of herself, she'd be bringing her 80-lb dog, and DH doesn't have the stamina to deal with all that, plus me being post-op a very major surgery. Heck, I've asked my 22yo DD to step up and help her dad this week and next (she's a chef.) I do understand how Mom feels--if MY daughter were having BMX, I'd want to take care of her, too. I have actively discouraged Mom from coming up here ,but she's going to do what she's going to do. I did tell her that she'd have to get a hotel, because I have no available beds at my house, so that may slow her down. One can only hope. The last thing my DH needs right now is MORE STRESS.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, damn! Glad you're improving but not what you need at all. I assume it was awfully difficult to restrain yourself so you didn't murder your less-than-dear brother! I can see where having Mom would not be very good. Glad you told her she can't stay with you. Don't change your mind on that! You and DH have more than enough on your plate. You don't need to care for her, too, and, of course, you won't be able to anyway. It certainly appears that having a hysterectomy is a very good idea in your case. Good luck Thursday. I'll be in your pocket.

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Poodles- glad to hear from you and happy to hear you are recovering from what sounds like an AWFUL weekend! Hoping yor mom respects your wishes and doesn't come if you guys don't need her to as more stress isn't what y'all need but- at least she will be at the hotel if she comes?

Take good care and try to rest. Will be in your pocket on Thursday!

MLP3

Yikes poodles! Glad to hear that you're feeling better.

That's hard with your mom, but you need to do what's best for you and it sounds like it may cause more stress with her and the dog there. Hopefully she understands.

In your pocket Thursday! I've been known to spill my coffee a bit in there;

mustlovepoodles

Thanks, HH. It *was* a truly awful weekend. My ribs, neck, and shoulders still hurt every time I move or cough. Ugh.

I'm really hoping that my mom will be realistic about this. Honestly? If she comes up here, it will only complicate matters. She gets around with a cane or rollator, so the stairs in my house are BIG problem for her. She has very low energy these days, so mostly she likes to sit around and talk and nap. Our big joke in this house is "I was fixin' to do that!", her famous last words for EVERYTHING. So, rather than helping set the table or chop up vegetables or fold up the towels she sits around, and every now & then shouts, "I was fixin' to do that!"

Brightsocks

Update...

So I had my meeting with my RO this morning for 2 hours. It did go well I did have an intern first and thought Ugh! But she was very nice and had great listening/presentation skills. As much as I felt this is going to be like a time share presentation. I kept my ears open. Then came in the head RO he was calm and even funny at times when required. He did listen and understand my fears of heart and lung damage. We talked about my type of cancer and came up with the plan. I will have 15 treatments, no hormones and no chemo. The reason for no hormones are the side effects and the odds are making a 1% difference with my type of BC. Since I had a calcium deposit in 2003 I felt if this breast can now be blasted and I am okay with it. My big struggle has been reading the odds and feeling like there are major choices to be made when I am not a MD. Feeling like in the past 6 weeks I am studying for a exam that I have limited knowledge yet make in informed choice with impacting results. I have to look at benefits and long term treatment concerns. So tomorrow I will get my Tats and on the 17th I will start the process.

HappyHammer

Well, Poodles, even though she wants to be of help, sounds like that's not realistic- especially in the first few weeks after surgery. Maybe you could make a plan with her now to come at the end of the month and stay for a bit and help then? That way- she could feel useful- but you won't need as much then? That way, she's part of the team. Hugs!

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, good luck with however it turns out with your mother!

HH, It appears you are fairly comfortable with your treatment plan. It is extremely difficult to make decisions when you don't know or understand everything since you're not an MD. Now with your tats you can be a biker like me and several others (That's what I told my biker, tattooed son anyway!). Interesting that you can skip hormonals as well as chemo. Good for you.

HUGS!

Sloan15

1step - nice hair cut! It's fun and sassy to have short hair, isn't it? My hair was short to begin with, so my pre-chemo cut was down to 2 inches--eeek! But, it did prepare me for short hair!

Disneygirl- welcome. Those of us who had an lx and rads are very happy with the route we choose. If it feels right to you, it's right for you.

Poodles - whew, what a weekend. I'm glad you are feeling better. I'm glad your like the GYN. It seems that once we have a plan for things, like gets so much easier. Now all you need is a plan for your mom and her dog...

ayr- The latest research is talking about the need for neoadjunvanct therapy before surgery; sometimes it's chemo, sometimes it's the meds. It gives the doctors a good idea how your tumor will respond to the meds, too. Once the tumor is gone, they can't test the effectiveness of the meds. Your biopsy came back Grade 1, very slow growing and well-differentiated, so that is probably why your doc is so comfortable with meds first. Someday they think we won't need surgery, just shrink it and kill it with the meds. My surgeon didn't talk to my MO first, so it's a good thing yours are talking! With that said, I would still get a second opinion from another MO who is up-to-date on research.

My dad just had a clean bill of health on his cancer test. He had cancer 2 years ago, my mom died of ovarian cancer last year, then I got cancer...geez. Terrible Trifecta. I think he just needed to hear that he's okay and cancer free. I think we all need to hear that! I was reading that cancers and recurrences happen more frequently in people are under a great deal of stress. So, do whatever works to reduce that stress ladies!!!

Molly50

Poodles, in your pocket for Thursday. Are you getting TE's? Immediate reconstruction with implants?

Molly50

1st step, beautiful hair cut! Welcome Disneygirl! Glad you found us. Remember ice packs are your BFF post lx. I agree with Peggy that starting with Lx is best as you can always have more but not less removed. Sloan, wonderful news about your dad! Sometimes enough is well...enough.

MLP3

Great news about your dad Sloan!!

1step

Thanks all! I really love the new 'do. I hate wearing the higher compression bra, but it does feel better. HH I am worried that it's a seroma.

Disneygirl- welcome. This is a great place to keep your spirits up and to learn a thing or a thousand.

Poodles- sorry you had such a rough weekend, but glad you're doing better for Thursday. I'll be in your pocket.

Brightsocks congrats on your treatment plan.

ChiSandy

1step, your hair looks great! Don't worry too much about the seroma--I have a HUGE one and it's still more of a minor annoyance than it is troublesome. They usually resorb in a few weeks (I'm a bit of an outlier when it comes to many things, it seems). MLP3, we're definitely in your pocket--and on your doctor's case!--hoping for official surgical path results tomorrow. Poodles, once a mom, always a mom. My mother, in her mid-80s, on oxygen & home hospice, and stuck in FL using a rollator, kept insisting whenever my sis or I had a bad cold or injury that as soon as it was safe we take a flight down there so we could stay with her and SHE could take care of US! Sloan, fantastic news about your dad!

We seem to be dodging one weather “bullet" after another here in Chicago. For the third day in a row, we made it into the high 40s--couldn't even see our breath. IA and most of the Plains are getting slammed tonight & tomorrow with blizzards, but we're only going to get downpours. Tomorrow is my last LE PT appt., and I'm hoping the therapist will ask the specialist (Dr. Feldman) to diagnose Axillary Web Syndrome so Medicare will authorize another six sessions. At this point, it's exquisitely painful to raise my outstretched arm, and when I dorsiflex my wrist I want to hit the ceiling--it feels like everything beneath my skin is ripping. (Supposedly, the more I stretch and the longer I hold it the greater the chance the knots will eventually pop--sure hope so). The only visible signs are that the charms on my (loose) bracelet are making slight divots on my skin, and my right hand looks a couple of years “younger" (though still somewhat wrinkled) than my left. My properly-sized Mediven sleeve is arriving tomorrow via FedEx, so I can (hopefully) wash my Juzo sleeve & gauntlet tonight after my resistance-band and hand-weights workout. Still no word from LympheDivas as to when my replacement set will ship, though the original too-long set arrived without notice via regular mail 48 hrs. after I ordered it. I have to take my beloved Martin guitar into Hogeye Music tomorrow after therapy (the hospital & shop are only a mile apart), so I hope I can get some help carrying it down to the car tomorrow--it's in a heavy, airtight flight case that weighs about 15 lbs. I've learned my lesson about storing guitars in cloth “gig bags," no matter how sturdily padded and closely woven--that's how the instruments cracked in the first place once the IRH dropped and my console humidifier croaked. (Would love a whole-house humidifier, but not willing to pay several grand for the necessary ductwork--we have hot-water, not forced-air heat). Might look into getting carbon-fiber or closed-cell cloth-over styrofoam cases instead--anything that can protect my investment AND my lymphatic system.

Thanks for the compliments about the weight loss, but the truth is that since last summer I've regained 20 of those 50 lbs and am terrified of gaining more. I would be deliriously happy to drop 30 lbs and get back down to “overweight" rather than “obese." (Nothing is going to get me down to “normal," much less “desirable" weight, short of bariatric surgery, some horrible digestive problem or worse, until I'm done with AI therapy).

MLP3

chisandy- lets do a diet! I have 10 but I'm sure it will take a while. Anyone else want to join in? A friend of mine is doing a vegan 3 day cleanse with Shakology and she loves it. Kinda reboots your system. I might start there.

I'm compiling a list of questions for my visit with bs, nurse and mo on Thursday. Anyone have any good questions that I should ask? So far I have...

Should I get a flu shot? Haven't had one in 15 years.

Should I have my ovaries removed with such a high % of ERPR+?

Dizziness

Why Tamoxifan over newer drugs?

Exercise and can I ski??

This bo on my lx side is wicked! Nothing on the other side.

HappyHammer

Hey, Peggy...skipping hormonals and chemo isn't me. Not sure who that was- I did chemo May til Sept and start hormonals after follow up with RO on Thursday.

HappyHammer

Sloan- great news for your dad! Whew!

Sandy and MLP- YES! I'm "in" on helping support one another to get to a healthy/ier weight. AM doing the 10,000 steps with the FitBit crew so having some accountability with food would be a great fit for me. I already do a shakeology shake for breakfast. SO, I can just start logging fod on FitBit and go from there. What are you thinking about MLP and Sandy?