Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

mustlovepoodles

My lumpectomy was anything but easy-peasy. I definitely took the Percocet. And sleeping pills. As far as the burning, the only other thing that helped me was ice packs and sitting still. No reaching for anything. Boring, yes, but the combo of ice, Percocet, and rest helped more than anything else.

MLP3

ladies...!!!! NEGATIVE NODES AND CLEAR MARGINS!!!!!🎉🎉🎉

Going out for vegan sushi and saki to celebrate!!!!

I'll check back later and give details... Quick facts... Size is 1.3cm and tumor is T13... What ever that means. But 0/3 nodes is wonderful news.

Gemma12

Great News, MLP!! Woo Hoo!

mairew

Tami, node biopsy is the most painful. It does get better eventually.

MLP. Great news

Gemma, thats a tough score. Sorry. It will be interesting to hear what your MO thinks.

bluedog

HH and ChiSandy, wow, the get-together sounds fabulous! Thanks for organizing. I'll look into flights. It would be so great to meet everyone (or some, anyway).

Gemma12, sorry for the inconclusive score. One more damned decision to have to make.

MLP, woot!!!!!!

ayr1016

MLP: AWESOME NEWS!!! So glad to hear!!!!

Gemma: That is a tough # - and decision. Hoping you get clarity tomorrow at your appointment.

LovesToFly

Tami sorry. Take your painkillers and hugs!!

Yeah mlp!!! So happy for you.

HappyHammer

Awwww, Sloan, sorry it conflicts with your trip but, hey...maybe we can come out your way in the fall of something.

HappyHammer

What a HUGE relief MLP!!! Celebrate!

HappyHammer

Come on down, BlueDog- and Poodles...husbands are welcome...does you DH play golf? Maybe if some hubs come they could get in a round or two of golf and/or hike or fish? My DH doesn't play golf but loves to fish...and, he will probably be with me just because he is so great at getting things organized, makes coffee, is a great driver- he is the absolute BEST....so, yes, bring DH if you want.

614

Dear MLP:  YAY!!  Congratulations.

Dear Gemma:  I would ask your MO many questions.  Please take someone with you to the appointment.  I agree with everything that Peggy said.  You may even need to go for a third opinion.  Don't second guess yourself once you make your decision.

Dear Tami: The SLNB is very painful.  Take time to heal and don't push yourself.  Use the ice and pain killers.  Good luck.

HappyHammer

Tami- so sorry you are in pain. Take the meds- use the ice- take the meds- use the ice- give yourself room...and, take Colace or something like it to keep digestive issues to a min. Rest, rest and more rest! Please keep us posted.

Damn, Gemma....it's a royal roller coaster. Hugs to you as you meet with your MO and come up with a plan. Then- get a second or third opinion!!

Peachy2

Gemma, so sorry that your results put you at a fork in the road. Hoping that you get some good answers and direction at your appointment with the MO.

MLP3, clear margins and no lymph nodes - Yay! (I had neither, so am wicked happy for you!!)

violethope

Hello lovely ladies! Got good news today 0/4 nodes were positive! So relieved. They said it would take 4 weeks to come back but it only took 10 days. Only found out because I went to see about some "cording" under my arm and asked if the path report was back and sure enough it was. Otherwise would have had to wait until the 16th.

Also have my appointments to see both the RO and MO between now and early March so feel like I am making some progress.

MLP3- congrats; great news!

Tami4965- did you have a SNB along with our lumpectomy?

Wishing everyone a peaceful evening! I find lots of support with this group even though I don't have time to reply very often.

Will be sorry to miss your get together whenever you have in planned but if ever anyone visits Halifax, Nova Scotia would love to see you!

Cheers, Violet Hope

mustlovepoodles

Happy Hammer, my DH doesn't play golf or any other sports. I always say I'm a lucky woman--I never have to endure football, basketball, or baseball games. The extent of our sports-watching is the Super Bowl (for the commercials) and the Olympics every other year, LOL.

My DH would probably come up with me just for the ride, but I doubt he'd want to join us. He has pretty low stamina due to chronic lung & heart issues. He'd probably rather read in our hotel room.

MLP3

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! And I found out that an oncotype was NOT ordered by my MO. So my bs emailed her while she was on the phone with me.

HH- if I'm not knee deep into treatment... I'm all about seeing sandy perform and meeting you;)

CV- I'm not into the pink thing either but it has brought more meaning to me. I think as far as I'll go is the socks but I totally get how some embrace it more than others.

Melclarity- a great principal can make all the difference. Do great that you have extra time to rest up and ease back into teaching.

Bright socks- omg too funny!!

Gemma.... That's a dilemma. I'm not totally sure about the oncotype numbers do i can't really advise. Maybe a third opinion and take the best of ?

Welcome Tami! I'm 12 days out of lx and SNB and my SNB is still sore. But be sure to move that arm little and little each day. Don't let your shoulder freeze up and don't let a lot of scar tissue form.

Violet- great news!

Sorry if I missed anyone!!

mairew

violet hope, great news on node negative

HappyHammer

Poodles...that sounds great- we can have a meal together or whatever with the DH's or whomever comes along for the ride. Plus, we can all have supper at the Alehouse on the 22nd for sure and enjoy the concert.

MLP- Hoping that you will be able to join us- even if in treatment- maybe this will be in an "off treatment" week.

VH- SO happy for your node neg report....happy dance!!

mustlovepoodles

Happy Hammer said: "- we can have a meal together or whatever with the DH's or whomever comes along for the ride. Plus, we can all have supper at the Alehouse on the 22nd for sure and enjoy the concert."

That sounds great! I really hope we can do this.

HappyHammer

Poodles...we ARE doing it so start making your travel plans. We can probably get a reduced rate at one of the local hotels once we have an idea of how many may attend.

mustlovepoodles

Good deal!

Molly50

Gemma, go with your gut. Get more than one opinion if you are uncertain. I got a second opinion which helped me accept the no chemo decision. Mlp3, Hooray! Mel, great you get to cut back your hours. Tami, welcome and ice is honestly what worked best for me. Don't be afraid to use your pain meds. This is the time to let others take care of you. Violet Hope, great news! I hope you all have a great time together. I wish I could pull it off coming out there but my life is too complicated. Peggy, how's the decluttering going?

HappyHammer

So, one of my least favorite things right now is realizing at around 8pm that I still need about 1500-2000 steps to get at least 10,000 steps in for the day....I usually make a big deal about it as I start playing some funky music on Pandora and....one of my very favorite things right now is that my precious husband dances around the house with me so I can hit my goal. He is truly the best guy EVER! (Kevin doesn't even like to dance and does NOT like FUNKY music. He is the best cheerleader!)

Sloan15

HH - Aww, and we play golf, too. I so want to go. Yep, I'll meet you guys eventually!

Marie - Yes, let's meet up in Texas! That would be awesome. I sent you a PM with some info. Anyone else in Texas this month?

MLP and Violethope- Yay for neg nodes!!

Tami - My SNB burned. Wrap it tight tight! Take meds to take the edge off, too. I'm like Peggy in that sometimes my SNB still irritates me.

LovesToFly

hh that's so awesome!! I make my kids dance with me. Adam never would (but he's always up for a walk).

Iusually put on music and dance while I'm folding laundry, seems weird but it works!

Sloan15

LTFly and HH - Oh, I so want to be lazy right now, but don't let me! You both are motivating me, and I appreciate it! I'll go get on my bicycle and read.

PontiacPeggy

MLP3 YES!!

Molly, I was doing good until I came down with a rotten cold. This is Day #4 and I feel less than wonderful. But overall I am doing pretty good. Have 4 weeks until the house is to be on the market. Cross your fingers that it will be ready!

I won't be able to make the Carolina gathering but I know you all will have a grand time!

HUGS!

MLP3

Peggy- knock on wood that I haven't been sick in over a year! Lately I've been drinking an immunity boosting juice that I really think helps keeps colds away. It also helps colds get better faster. Orange, Apple, carrot and ginger. I know it's not easy but even buying organic orange apple carrot juices could help. Mix equal parts and add a small amount of ginger purée. You can find it in the spice isle.

And it can help with energy for packing;)

ChiSandy

I am so pumped to be meeting HH and whoever else can make it to the NC gathering & concert. It's for a great cause--our well-being is not just about treatment, but also about feeling good and looking good without products that can endanger us.

MLP3, yay on the clear margins and N0 status. Violet, fantastic news for you too. Amy, that 18 score is frustrating--but still gives you a little wiggle room. Your MO will take into account, among the other factors in your dx, your age and general health before advising you regarding chemo. And you're not required to take it as gospel--might be a good idea to get a second or third opinion from an MO at a different health system. Tami, my SNB incision was the real troublemaker--the lumpectomy site didn't bother me until well into rads. I found that ice and cushioning between upper arm and breast/lower axilla helped immensely--but it took a long long time before the burning turned to itching, then to feeling like I was walking around wearing a shoulder holster. My BS' nurse gave me a “P3"--aka Protective Pillow Purse, which was a pillow hanging from an adjustable Velcro shoulder strap, which went between breast and bicep (like a shoulder holster morphed into a pillow). It had a pocket, which contained a smaller cushion to place between the shoulder harness and my chest when driving. There's a local volunteer organization called Protect the Girls which makes them once a year to hand out to bc surgical patients in the North Shore area. Unfortunately, they don't have a website or FB page and they're not on Etsy. But if you go to the various bc clothing and accessory sites such as those listed on BCO and type “breast pillow" into the search box. Most of them are heart-shaped, which is anatomically the most comfy. I think there are also patterns if you're handy with a sewing machine.

I'm pretty bummed out right now--went to my LE therapist today and she says I not only have cording but that my LE is now Stage 1 (mild) rather than Stage 0 (subclinical). The fibrosis over my tumor-cavity seroma seems to have shifted forward--so I had to switch to a full-breast Swell Spot to wear beneath my sleep bra.I have to wear compression now all day for the next two weeks to see if it helps; but the gauntlet is making my fingers swell (though paradoxically, my thumb is flexier than it’s been in weeks). If I switch to the glove, the fabric is way too stiff for guitar-playing. Thus far, I won't need night garments, but who knows? My LE doc has authorized another 6 sessions of MLD and observation. Under normal circumstances, I'd draw myself a bubble bath (now verboten bec. of the LE), have some wine (now extremely limited) or some type of comfort food--now also out of the picture. Closest thing to comfort food now is some Paleo granola with almond milk or Greek yogurt....unsweetened. Maybe I can still have my one square of very dark chocolate, or a decaf almond-coconut milk cappuccino. (Only now I have to tamp with my L hand--the R palm feels bruised like I've been doing one-handed handstands). I think maybe I'll pull on the glove and distract myself by restringing one of my guitars that needs it....remembering to hoist the case with my L hand, of course. Thursday I’m going to ask my therapist to measure me again--especially finger length--in case I can get a more comfortable glove or properly-fitting gauntlet custom-made.

In the grand scheme of things as a post-op bc patient (especially knowing what so many on these boards are going through), I realize things could be SO much worse and my kvetching is the cancer equivalent of First World Problems (to use the more socially considerate term). But, dang........

1step

MLP and violethope congrats on happy test results.

Gemma, hope you get the information you need to feel confident in your decision.

Sloan- what part of Texas and when?

Swelling is better today, but 5000 steps and going to the grocery store wiped me out. I'm so glad that I didn't work today. Tomorrow is my visit with the MO to see what he recommends in terms of chemo or no chemo.