Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

Well, Poodles, that doesn't sound real good. I think you might even want to call tonight or tomorrow. Hope it's nothing. The leg that is numb is where they took stuff for your reconstruction, correct? Remember your SLNB? Yup, nerves haven't gotten around to regenerating. Ugh.

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Awwww, Poodles, so sorry for the issues! Peggy is right- might just call tonight or in the morning..that is the reason they have an "on call" doc...it's prob not an emergency but then again..don't chance aggravating things.

Moondust

Annie, I will second Sandy's cautionary advice about the antioxidants. All three of my oncologists, (BS, MO, RO) took complete lists of all supplements I was taking and told me DO NOT take high doses of antioxidant supplements. The ones from a healthy diet are plenty. Folate has also been implicated in helping cancer cells more than other cells. My MO felt the most important supplement was Vitamin D.

Poodles, I also think you should call about your swelling and stitches sooner rather than later! It sure would be helpful if doctors gave us more complete information about what to expect for side effects of surgery - what is normal and what is not.

Sloan, you were just a few steps behind me in the Workweek Fitbit Challenge. That's really moving, I know! I notice I spend a lot more time on the computer since I joined this board. Last night I finally noticed the time at 11:30 pm and jumped up to try to get to my daily step goal. I made it mere seconds before midnight. (Yes, I know I'm nuts).

Praline, I think you got two new friends -- the bear and the cute five-year-old! Very sweet

mustlovepoodles

No, I didn't have traditional reconstruction. I can't imagine what they could have done that would have affected my leg this way. It's definitely nerve pain.

The large lemon-size lump isn't red or anything and the drainage all looks normal. It's in the non-zombie breast side, so no lymph nodes were taken. I'm not running fever, so I will just wait it out until Mon morning, unless it changes.

Arrgh~ I knew something like this would happen. I had so much trouble with the right breast after the LX, then the re-excision--huge hematoma, huge seroma, huge infection. Out of work for 4 weeks for a simple lumpectomy!

ayr1016

I have never been a stuffed animal type of person. Never. However, when I was done with my MRI, my radiologist (who has also had breast cancer) came in to give me the results with a stuffed lamb named "Faith". This radiologist is the person who called and told me I had cancer. I love this little lamb so much. She sleeps with me every night. I will take her with me for my surgery and if I get Chemo. I am no longer someone who is not a stuffed animal fan. She has a tag on her ear that has her name on the front and the doctor (radiologist) signed it "Dear Angela, Love Dr. J". There is a poem on the back of the tag that says:

"Cancer is so limited, It can not cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot destroy peace. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot suppress memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot steal eternal life. It cannot conquer the spirit." ~ anonymous

Here is my girl, Faith:

ayr1016

Poodles: I agree with all above, I would call tonight just to be on the safe side.

Fitbitters: I am getting one tomorrow. A lady at Bunco last night had one and I am ready to join in on the challenges.

So much knowledge within this group. So thankful for you all. I am trying to retain all of it for all of my upcoming stuff.

Praline: What a sweet boy ~ and yay for new stuffed friends. I have my stuffed lamb nearby every single night. She gives me such comfort.

iammages: I was lucky in that I received my MRI results immediately. But, I was given the results from the radiologist. But, I'm not sure if that is normal or not because I think the fact that I received my results immediately is not the norm either.

HappyHammer

Ok, friends...I am a BEAST and not in the sense of doing something really well....like, beast as in bitch! And, have had a hot "flash" for about 20 hrs straight....not a "flash" in my book. Soooo, am thinking it's the Arimidex. Haven't had ovaries since 9/13 so this is a result of too many fat cells holding on to or making estrogen or whatever the frick (see the bitchiness?) is happening. All the more reason for me to detox (lost 4 lbs) FitBt and, and, and....hope it all settles out. Day 8 of Arimidex. Damn BC.

Praline

ayr- That is so sweet!

HappyHammer

Just sharing a reminder someone else sent....our medical bills may be tax deductions....money paid out, monthly premiums ( if paid with pre-tax dollars), mileage to and from doc/medical appts, etc. Be sure to check on all of this w your tax preparer.

Sloan15

HH - Yikes on being a beast! Give your body time to get used to the meds. I also heard that sometimes a doc will take you off for a month to reboot and put you back in them to get rid of SEs. This what happened to a few women in the Tamoxifen thread, so maybe it works with AIs, too.. I think exercise will help with the crabbiness eventually, so keep moving like you are. You can do this!

Moondust - I walked and talked politics with my son. It was great. Tons of conversation and steps! But, today my butt and Achilles Tendon are sooo sore! This morning we went down to the Getty museum for lunch and walked. That was the only way I was going to get my steps in today! Seriously, I am sore!

Ayr - Yay for joining the Fitbit club!

Praline -I'm glad your chemo was uneventful (and that you have a new friend).

Annie - I second what chisandy and moondust said about not taking antioxidants during treatment. Just wait. You can take them once your treatment is over and you talked with your MO.

HappyHammer

Sloan- sorry you are having some muscle issues...you have been rocking the steps challenges for sure! Thanks for your help abt mood and bitch issues....usually am pretty easy going and funny- um- not so much this week. We shall see. Life is shor T. Want to make the most of it not dread or bitch about things for sure!

LovesToFly

I've been having shakeology shakes for breakfast!! I wonder if they have enough antioxidants to be a risk. I cannot find anything on Google. A bit freaked out now!!

Sloan15

No need to freak out LTFly. Just not have it tomorrow or until you can talk to your MO. Remember, people took supplements with chemo for years before the research suggested otherwise. The supplements are NOT harming you; you just might get a bigger bang for your buck, so to speak, by leaving cancer cells more vulnerable to chemo. Just ask your MO and be ready to tell him what is in your morning shakes.

ChiSandy

I had a bad LE day today, despite wearing compression. The gloves are tight and uncomfortable despite my having been measured for them; the gauntlet is pushing fluid into my middle knuckles. I have a roaring sinus headache over my right eye. Was going to blame the hand discomfort on sodium or weight gain, but the scale says no and my L hand is fine (except for the wound, which is now covered by just a band-aid). And I was going to blame the headache on letrozole, but I’m not getting any other symptoms. Just checked the barometer--it’s plunging, in advance of snow coming through by dawn. Oh, joy--and we have to walk to Valentine’s Day dinner. At least there’s hope that once the snow is gone and the weather is drier my LE may ease a little. Hate to think that the next step is going to be having to get night compression (ugh).

LovesToFly

Sorry sandy

True, no use to worry about it now, I'll just have to ask about it. Luckily there is another smoothie I also have, it is Vega and it's a protein smoothie and doesn't say anything about extra antioxidants I'll just switch to that for now (I've never been a meal replacement smooth typeperson, but now that I've gotten into it for breakfast would like it)

Peachy2

Sandy, what a challenging day. Hope today is better

Praline, oh my heart! What a sweet new friend. Ayr, I love your radiologist's sweet gesture. How kind! The poem is wonderful.

When I was first diagnosed my ten year old son had some perspective since he'd seen his aunt go through treatment five years ago. I was able to tell him "But I won't need chemo like Aunt Amy." When there was cancer in the sentinel node and chemo was added to my treatment plan he took it really hard. Before my first infusion he had my husband take him to the mall so he could make me a bear at Build A Bear Workshop. He gave her my middle name. Meet Denise:

HappyHammer

Peachy- what a sweet, sweet boy! He did a great job with Denise.

LTFly- Sorry you are worrying about the Shakeo. I suggested it to you after using it myself during chemo and beyond. MO approved it here. Glad you have your other one until you can talk with your MO.

Sandy- am really sorry about the LE challenges...and, the sinus headache. Hope you get relief soon and can enjoy your Valentine's Day dinner with DH.

Poodles- how are you feeling/doing today?

MLP3

I have a whole food supplement that's organic that I was going to take if I didn't feel like eating real foods during chemo. It's literally made from whole, organic foods from farms in NH.Can I continue to take them if I'm too nauseated to eat? My vegan diet is plant based... How can I avoid antioxidants??

I've been juicing oranges lemons apples and ginger to help boost my immune system... Is this a no- no too during chemo? My comfort food is organic peas with tomato sauce(replaces pasta). I do avoid most fruits to keep sugar at a minimum.

Red wine is ok during treatment? I'm not planning to drink it, but if I need a glass to relax, I'd rather have it than take meds. I'm not a big fan of meds and loading my body with toxins is just bumming me out. But... Gotta do what I gotta do!

I have some whole food, protein shakes in case I'm not up to making a meal... Are these ok? I found the shakology to have a lot of sugar. I like the Vega chocolate with an added banana or almond butter. I've never been a big fan of the shakes but I want to be sure I nourish my body during treatment if I'm not finding the taste for some of my normal foods.

The antioxidant thing is worrisome for a vegan like me!!

MLP3

Happy Valentine's Day ladies❤️

Molly50

Peachy, Denise is adorable. What a sweet boy you have. ChiSandy, sorry about the LE. Peggy, how much progress are you making with decluttering and packing? I'm really off my game this weekend with both walking and eating. I need to get back on it.

LovesToFly

during my chemo class they said antioxidants in food were fine, but we should not be taking extra supplements.

Happyhammer don't feel bad, I read about a lot of people using it during chemo and have not found anything thst says not to. It's just that the bag specifically says on it that it contains antioxidants, so I want to be extra careful. I've been alternating it with vega choc-o-lot protein shake, I actually only use half a scoop when I have the shakeology because her full scoop is too much for me...so I'm sure it's fine! If not, I will just pack it away until I'm done chemo.

LovesToFly

card from adam. He's not usually so good at finding/giving the perfect card. He was today though!

PontiacPeggy

Molly, I packed away all the photographs I had hanging and sitting around. Let me tell you, the house has been depersonalized. It looks barren. But I've made great progress. Two weeks and the house will be up for sale!

MLP3, love the valentine!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Jill, that's lovely. Sigh.

HUGS!

Sloan15

Jill - What a sweet sweet card. My husband wrote mine in French (as we are taking a French class). It's going the extra mile that means so much.

MLP - You'll be fine on chemo. Like Jill said, no supplements, but food is fine. I also read id you eat fat-based foods (like a 1/2 avocado) and avoid sugar and carbs it helps the chemo go to the cancer cells. There is a study out about fasting for 3 days before chemo to shut down your body and when you have chemo, the cancer cells really absorb it. That way, the healthy cells aren't as affected. My doc said no way to fasting (The research is too early) but he was ok if I didn't eat after 5 pm and had a1/2 avocado at 9 when I had chemo. So, it was a 14 hr fast and then no carbs so the cells were ready to absorb the meds. It worked for me.

Chisandy - When you cut your hand was it your LE hand? If so, your LE will almost always be worse for a few days as the lymph is going to the cut. I sprain my wrist a while back opening a jar, and my entire arm swelled and my fingers ached. I wore my glove duri.g that time. If you do have to have a night garment, there is a new velcro one out that I really like that I would use if I had to night wrap. With that said, is your LE as bad if you wear NO gauntlet or glove? Try massaging the fluid out of your fingers and up the arm (gently with brush strokes) without a garmetI and elevate arm for an hour. Then, try a different sleeve and make sure it is tightest at the bottom so fluid is pushed up. (Forget what the measurements are and stick your fingers in there to deyermine tightness. Haha, okay, that one is for the book, but seriously, check it yourself.) I had a bad glove and it made my fingers ache. GOOD LUCK.

Molly50

Okay Jill, now I am weeping. So sweet.

mustlovepoodles

HH, I'm doing about the same today. Im going call in the a.m. and try to get in to see the PSs NP.

trudys

I had my lumpectomy and 3 sentinel nodes removed 3 weeks ago. the area under my arm is extremely sore and sometimes the muscles ball up like I have golf ball there. I have been massaging like I was shown and started my exercises. How long is the healing process and does anyone have any ideas for the pain? I also this this week have been having extreme fatique the last 4 days and depression.

LovesToFly

Trudy by three weeks after my surgery I was feeling pretty normal, the incision spots were a bit achy/itchy and that was it. Are you icing the swelling? when is your post-op? It might be worth a call to the surgeon.

Katja23

Trudys, everyone is different. I had a lumpectomy and 3 nodes removed, and while there was discomfort under my arm at the SNB incision significantly more and longer that the breast incision, but by 2 1/2 to 3 weeks post-surgery discomfort from that incision was almost gone. I think it might depend on how the skin folds there. It might also depend on how your incision was sealed. Mine did not have external stitches (maybe internal), and just steri-strips. Also, how big is your underarm incision? I measured mine at 3/4 of an inch. I am not entirely pain-free though, as I have a mysterious muscle tightness pane under my shoulder blade/back ribs when I bend down and reach with that arm to the floor. But just sitting, I feel nothing.

Meanwhile I have something new myself (which I also posted to the January surgeries thread, but this thread has more readers): a dermatitis type of rash covering about a third of my breast appearing just over 3 weeks post-surgery, and it's itchy. (I had also had a much smaller dermatitis inflammation after my core need biopsy appearing only several days later, after I removed the band-aid. I thought it might have been irritation from the band-aid. but the area was a little larger and not exactly matching where the band-aid stuck. It went away.) This dermatitis is similar in appearance, lots of little pink dots that merge together in middle of the area. I'm pretty confident that I can tell the difference between dermatitis and an infection. I've had dermatitis before, and I once long ago I had a breast infection when I was nursing (swollen, firm, evenly red, warm, fever). I'm not really worried, but I was wondering if anyone else who is prone to dermatitis experienced the same thing post-lumpectomy.