Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

iammags

Peachy- Funny, I have an almost identical photo of that head sized doughnut! It was really delicious. We went to Universal Hollywood just a couple of weeks ago. So fun!

I met with my PS today to talk about my upcoming surgery. She told me that the surgery she and BS are going to do is called Oncoplasty or something like that. She said that it is popular in Europe but just starting here. I'm confused about the details and I'm hoping that one of you are familiar with it. On Wednesday I will go in for surgery. My BS will remove the cancer and the PS will work with her to help her set up the breast for reconstruction. They will not complete the surgery until the 9th when they have seen the pathology. I guess the PS will work alongside the BS every step of the way. It's a fairly large piece that they are taking out of me and they are not sure that it won't turn into a mx. The PS will make sure that the BS has set up the area for the best possible reconstruction, I guess.

Have any of you had experience with this?

ChiSandy

Remember my friend who had severe respiratory distress and then broke her hip, and she was placed in the hospice wing of a posh assisted living facility? I just got off the phone with her--she sounds great (better than in the past two years). She is out of hospice and in active rehab, having graduated from bed to wheelchair and now a wheeled walker. She and her husband sold their Lincoln Park greystone 3-story and bought a ranch house in Oak Lawn, to be nearer to his medical practice. The original plan was for her to remain in assisted living, but by summer she’ll be able to move into the new house in Oak Lawn. Since it was her left hip that broke, she’ll be able to drive an automatic transmission after active adaptive driving instruction. She’s still taking her meals in her room and occasionally the facility’s dining room, but once winter is over she will be able to go to neighborhood restaurants like McCormick & Schmick’s and Morton’s.

Moondust

Sloan, I'm glad you are switching MOs. Although I hope he has an explanation for the elevated markers that makes sense. No end to worry and stress!

Poodles, congrats on needing new clothes! That is such a great feeling! Like when my MO said I was such a slim person I might be at risk for osteoporosis. All I could think of was, well you didn't know me for the first 50+ years when I was a big chunky overweight gal. Fantastic results with the wound vac!

ChiSandy, you sure get to travel a lot! What a rich life you have.

MLP, you are doing so well with your walking! I admire your determination.

614, hooray for job security!

LTF, when do you get your first treatment of taxotere?

Peggy, a move like this is exciting. I'd be nervous. I think you'll like Spokane (even though I've never actually been there).

Peachy, great going with the 17K steps! I think walking is the best all around exercise for people who want to do something moderate. I believe in resistance training too, so we don't lose muscle as we get older.

I talked to my RO today about wanting to do chemo. He reviewed all my reports and said he does not think I'm crazy for wanting to do it. He agrees that there are some things that don't add up, like the Grade 1 tumor with a Ki67 of 30%. And the Onco score of 26 which most MO's would say needs chemo. He volunteered that a lot of patients ask "what would you say if it was your wife or mother", and he said if it was his wife, he'd want her to have chemo. Then he said his wife wouldn't want to and who knows what would happen He said I can do the chemo after rads and he'll send a note to my MO that we talked about this.

Molly50

Moondust, great job standing up for yourself. Sandy, sorry about your friend but what a miracle she turned out to be!!

Melclarity

Sloan - So glad you got the 2nd Opinion, the 40mg I think from a few months ago you mentioned it never seemed right. Glad you are changing MO! and Anastrozole is Arimidex and Peggy is right, surprising you were on Tamoxifen and that for pre menopausal women. Anastrozole or Arimidex they call it is for post...it is also a completely different drug to Tamoxifen and I dont know why but MO said and research shows is more effective too, maybe because your post menopause has something to do with it. Once youve had BC, you'll never go longer than a yearly check up, depending on your circumstances, Ive got meetings every 3 months currently since June last year. These will become less as time goes on. BUT Scans etc ONLY once a year unless I have symptoms that are not normal to me...that he may think something is wrong. With BC twice...I NEVER had lumps for either, this was detected by yearly scans.

Melclarity

LTF - I switched half way too! 12 weeks of FEC then 8 of Taxol. Taxol was actualy the lesser evil, even for me LOL, you know how sick I was. Its not as hard hitting and lower dose as is weekly. You'll do fine, Steroids I only had 2 mornings of, just made me shaky and off, out of 7 really only had 1 good day before the next infusion. I put it down to though, Id been through the ringer already with Chemo, being cumulative my body just couldnt keep up. Super lucky too, no problems with neuropathy, I got ZERO and keep in mind not everyone gets it...everyone is different. Youve tolerated AC really well, I think you'll handle this too. So deep breath...nothing to be concerned about. Just keep going and listen to your body...thats key!

Sloan15

Awake in the middle of the night here in California... I think I'm just nervous about my tumor markers and trying the new medication. I think my imagination is getting the best of me: After the doc felt my armmpits today, I noticed that the affected side is more swollen than the other side. Maybe it was "thicker" after the surgery anyway and I just didn't notice it until now.

Thanks 614 for the encouragement. Yay for the new job! It's not job security; it's a new adventure!

Peggy, Sandy, MLP - I think my other MO wanted to make sure I was definitely in menopause, but seriously, 40 mg Tamoxifen?. I'm glad, though, that I'm on the AI's now. I hope I'm like Peggy and 614 and don't have SEs.

PontiacPeggy

IamMags, from what I've read here, the approach being taken to your surgery is quite common with the BS and PS working together. Hope it goes well for you!

ChiSandy, that is truly miraculous about your friend.

Moondust, I've been to Spokane three times. It's very nice and very different from Pontiac where I am now. And there NO IKEA!!! In fact, a company in Spokane makes a run to the Ikea in Seattle every so often. You place your order with Ikea and this company picks it up and brings it back for you for a reasonable fee. Spokanes DOES however a fantastic minor league baseball team. DS has season tickets and I hope to go a lot. Small town America in a city of 250,000. It will be different but good.

HUGS!

1step

Poodles- Yay for weight loss AND wound healing. You deserve lots of good news. FWIW, Texas also didn't take added assistance from the federal government, but it's still worth having your kids look into it. If they contact an insurance rep, they'll do all the work. I finally got covered middle of last year because I was going to need sinus surgery. For my DH and I, we paid less than $100/month, but with a $5k deductible. This year, we are paying more premium to get a $1200 deductible and OOP. My parents are helping make our medical bills, but it's a lot lower this way.

MLP- your friend's note and gesture are so moving.

614- I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Prayers that things will turn out well for her and her family. Congrats on the new job!

Peggy- I'm happy to hear that you will bring a small urn of DH's ashes with you. I think it's wise and not at all gross. You sound ready to start your new adventure.

Spideroo- welcome. I hope your test comes back saying no chemo necessary!

LTFly- I'm so glad to hear things are looking more positive on the job front. It's crazy how much we rely on texting, but so much can be misinterpreted. Sometimes there's nothing like a phone call or face-to-face.

Peachy- what a fantastic way to celebrate. Your DS is truly dear.

Sloan- cancer stress is something else, isn't it? I hope that yours has been, at least, partially eliminated with your new MO. Nothing ever seems cut and dry for us.

Sandy- I'm so glad to hear your friend is doing so well, so inspiring!

Moondust- what a tough choice to have to make. You sound relieved, though, and that's so important.

Chemo one is done. I felt tipsy, then hungover, and I didn't even enjoy the "wine." The next day, I just felt unmotivated to do anything. Bad idea, Sunday was just awful for me. I'd get nauseous and light-headed just trying to do things like shower and brush my teeth. I'm definitely going to have to do the several small meals throughout the day, big meals are a no-go. Yesterday, I had DH drive me to a Look Good Feel Better seminar. Getting out and about, did help me feel better. After, he took me to Waffle House, and I ate a peanut butter waffle and some eggs. Yay! After that I took a little walk, then a nap. I'll be heading in to work in just a bit. We have a noon meeting, then I'll see how long I can manage to stay.

MLP3

1step- I felt the same after my first chemo. I do suggest to have some Prilosec on hand in case your stomach acts up. That and Tums helped me a lot with the steroid reactions.

Chisandy- great news about your friend!

Moondust- it's really great to hear that your decision has been validated by your mo.

iammags- sounds like a good plan for surgery and treatments. I don't have any info or advice on that type of surgery, but I'm sure that someone here must.

I have a very mild sore throat coming on, felt kinda run down last night. I got up early today, downed a glass of oj and had a spoonful of organic honey for the throat and antibacterial properties. "Napped" after that and I'm keeping the throat soreness at a minimum. I'm nervous to head out to grocery shop as my immune system may be struggling.

Also, should I remove the orchids in my house? Fresh flowers are a no no for us during tx...

Sloan15

Moondust - I was wondering how it would go with chemo after rads, so I'm glad your doc said it wasn't a problem. Good luck Moondust!

1step - Waffles always make things better! Glad infusion 1 went okay. Keep walking. I really think it helped me.

Took my new AI today. I think I was expecting some kind of "feeling" after 30 min. Haha!

Peggy - Drunkin Raisins? Haha! I'm PM you.

zinny

Moondust - I am doing the chemo after rads route. My initial pathology was DCIS/LCIS/ILC grade 1 with no LVI ( 2 indep pathologists) I had a "free" second opinion through my insurance, and they looked at all of the path and images etc - and thought that there was also a grade 3 IDC in the 5 cm mass of unholiness My path has been reviewed again and they still feel the first diagnosis is right, but with all that question, we opted for chemo.

I finished rads Dec 8 and started chemo Jan 4. My skin was intact all along so it wasn't really an issue at all.

HappyHammer

MLP- YES about taking the orchids out of the house- not you, though...maybe DH?

ChiSandy

It's not just the fresh flowers as it is any raw plant material, including potting soil or other growing media, because they harbor fungal spores that are harmless to non-immunocompromised people--but chemo patients are immunocompromised and can get serious fungal infections that they have difficulty fighting. So I would have DH take out the houseplants as well (or have him tent them in clear poly sheeting and then have him or someone else tend to them until your WBC and T-cells are back up to a normal level). Paradoxically, if you normally get an allergic reaction to pollen, you might find you won't during chemo--allergies are essentially overly-intense immune reactions and if your immune system is asleep at the switch your normal allergic symptoms may lessen or temporarily disappear. (But don't tempt fate and try foods to which you know you're allergic).

And the warning about raw plant material also extends to produce. Organic is not enough--you need to make sure they are well-washed, or otherwise you need to cook them thoroughly. Raw juicing is okay if you can control how clean the fruits & veggies are--but you can’t be sure of that at even the most trusted juice bar. Avoiding even salads or fruit cups when eating in restaurants till chemo is long over is a prudent (though frustrating) choice.

Vicks1960

Kaneli. I had the interior, balloon brachytherapy done in Nov. 2011. It went just fine. My RO happened to be one of the team that developed the procedure. We live 70 miles away so we took our motor home up there since I needed to be there for 2 times a day treatment for 5 days.

I am glad I was able to have that type of radiation...

Vickie

MLP3

Thanks for the advice on the flowers! I'll have my son bring the orchids to my neighbors to babysit;)

Melclarity

Hadnt heard that about flowers before...I love them, I didnt have any problems through chemo with them. Strangely as immun compromised as you are with it...I got a chest infection after first infusion. that was it! I contracted no fevers, no illness at all...go figure as I was working in a special school with sick kids too. My Nurse actually said, you can pick anything up from anywhere, I was no higher risk being with sick kids as going to the supermarket. So very odd!!!! LOL Im talking obviously just flu/colds...not dramatic illnesses. Just be sensible I say, don't overthink too many things.

brithael

Had my simulation today for radiation and got four tit "tats." Don't have a start date on the rads yet, but should know within a few days.

Sandy - what a great deal with your friend - hope she continues to do well!

Poodles - Gratz on the weight loss, but it's a tough diet, isnt' it?

MLP3

mel- I guess the fungal spores on plants can do a chemo patient some harm. My dad had leukemia and contracted a fungal infection in his lungs that had to be operated on. And during chemo! They gave him a 25% chance of making it through surgery and the stubborn Irishman came through with flying colors!

Brit- love the tit tats comment;)

A little yucky/dizzy coming on with the throat again. I'm going to get cozy and take a power nap;

mustlovepoodles

Moondust, I think you've made a wise decision. My first MO was a nutjob, very silly and joke-y. He literally gave me a prescription for Arimidex and said, "See you in 6 months." I kid you not.

Well, I had already done a done of investigation, read probably 15 research & analysis papers, all of which pointed me to chemo. I found another MO who looked over my records and family history and immediately said, "You need chemo. And a BMX. And ovaries out." Strangely, I felt relieved and vindicated. Not that anyone looks forward to chemo, but I knew in my heart and soul that it was the right treatment for my luminal B cancer.

And chemo wasn't all that bad. Hair loss, taste changes, a lot of fatigue. I did run some fevers and had to go to the ER twice (admitted once.) But really, it wasn't anything like you see in the movies--vomiting, ghostly gray complexion, bed-ridden. I worked part-time throughout chemo and probably missed 5-6 days of work, total. Thankfully, I have a very understanding boss.

Good luck with your chemo. Here's hoping you sail through with a minimum of side effects~

ORknitter

So, I hope it's okay to change the subject here but thought with all the medical knowledge here someone may be able to help me a bit. We have just been told that my DH has to have open heart surgery to work on his mitral valve and maybe his aortic valve. Anyone have any experience with this?? Recovery time?? Pain??

Molly50

ORknitter, my dad had triple bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement. He sailed through the surgery but unfortunately with his propensity for TIA's, he most likely had a minor stroke the night before surgery and never was able to walk on his own again. The recovery time in theory was 3 days in patient and then transferred to a SNF (skilled nursing facility) for rehab. The doctor told me typically it is two weeks before they are strong enough to go home. His pain was minimal. The doctor did a great job on him.

ORknitter

Molly, thanks for the quick response. We were hoping this would be the year without medical stuff! Do you know if your dad went to the SNF because of the TIA or the heart surgery?

mustlovepoodles

ORknitter, my DH had mitral valve replacement in 2014. I have to admit, it was pretty rough in the beginning. He had a good bit of pain for the first 4-5 days, but he rallied fairly well. They had him up walking the 2nd day after surgery, just a little bit in the halls, and I think he was able to get a shower that day (sitting on a shower chair). He had to be able to walk around the entire unit twice before they'd let him go home (about 1/4 mile.) DH also has severe lung disease and of course, the heart surgery didn't fix that. I think I remember that his main issue in recovery was fatigue. How much of that was from surgery and how much was due to his low lung function is a toss up. Just be prepared for how it will look after surgery. There will be about an 8-10" scar along the breastbone. DH had staples there, but I guess some people have traditional stitches for wound closure. It has healed up beautifully.

After surgery, DHs doctor put him in Cardiac Rehab. It's PT for heart patients, run by nurses. They hooked him up to monitors so that the nurses could see what was happening with him at all times. They started out slow, with walking on the treadmill and riding the stationary bike for just a few minutes. Eventually he graduated to using some hand weights. His sessions started at 30min and increased to an hour over the course of a couple weeks. I think he was in Cardiac Rehab for 16 weeks, total.

I am very grateful that DH had this done. He was so sick with the lung disease and his heart decompensating that they really didn't think he would live. We had no idea what the future would hold, but it has turned out so much better than predicted. His mitral valve works perfectly and his heart surgeon estimates that it will probably last at least 15 years (a cow valve.) His congestive heart failure is under control with medication now that the valve is working right.

MLP3

Sorry to hear ORknitter. But it seems that heart surgery has become as effective and as safe as it ever has been. ((Hugs))

Moondust

Sloan, oh I hate when our thoughts won't leave us alone! If the doctor didn't mention feeling anything in the armpit area, it's probably just an artifact of surgery. And none of us are symmetrical anyway. Hope you sleep better tonight. {{Hugs}}

ORknitter, I agree with MLP. Your DH is living in a good time for having heart surgery. I think recovery time really depends on his physical health and fitness going into surgery.

Poodles, thanks so much for your support! I'll be done with rads first week of April, then on to new treatment adventures!

I'll be back later, but it's time to head home from work now.

Molly50

ORknitter, he went to the SNF because of the surgery. They didn't know he had a mini stroke, they thought he was just weak from the heart attack and surgery.

HappyHammer

MLP- not trying to over-react to your ? abt the orchids BUT-I had a HUGE infection from a TINY splinter (From an innocuous garden vine) I got while picking Hydrangeas of all things in Aug...near end of chemo. (Think it was right after 4th infusion) Ended up having major antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention on my finger- almost lost it- after 5 days from first time I got the tiny splinter.- was on antibiotics/ oral and IV plus office surgery. That was Aug '15 and still do not have full feeling or function of the finger. I could post pics but they are ab.so.lutely unreal and disgusting...they make pics on the internet look tame- I had NO IDEA this could even happen. SO, with that all said- I encourage all of you to really be careful about flowers/plants indoors and also- please do not do anything in your yard as spring is almost upon us- or with indoor flowers/plants if you are doing chemo or any immunotherapy! It is not worth it.

614

Hello everyone.  Sorry but I am too tired to respond individually except to say, I love the "mass of unholiness" title.  I wish your DH well, ORKnitter.  One down, 1Step!  MLP - thanks for teaching me about flowers with chemo.  I did not know about that.

Thanks for the well wishes for my new Guidance Director position for next year.  I do not want the job but I feel that it is prudent to take it.  We are losing students and I am afraid that since our numbers are down that we may be losing a Guidance Counselor position next year.  We have numerous Migrant students so the count is never accurate at the start of the school year because these students don't return until after the day of the count.  However, that is the time when the # of teaching units for the year is determined by the Palm Beach County School District.  As Guidance Director, I would think that my position will be safe.  I hope so.  All of us in the Guidance Department are terrific and I believe that we are all well liked by Administration.  I don't know how Administration would choose who would be the one to be let go.  I am hoping that this situation will not come to pass.  However,  I am not a gambling person so I want to protect myself as much as possible. 

As for why I don't want the job... it is 50+% more work and TREMENDOUS stress for about $40.00 more per month.  I already work too many hours.  However, having a job is better than not having one.  I am psyching my self up to be positive about my decision.  As everyone says here, "Make a decision, embrace it, and don't look back."  That is my new motto.  I KNOW that I made the right decision.   Being Guidance Director may also help me in my future because a leadership role is valuable experience.

I was asked to be Guidance Director last year and I turned it down.  I was asked again this year and I turned it down for a second time.  Now, I agreed to be Guidance Director for next year.  I got cheers for my decision.

Picture the commercial where the kid tells his mom that he does not want to go to college because he wants to become a magician.  He holds up a blanket, waves his arms, and says, "Invisibility Now!".  He drops the blanket.  His mom says, "I can still see you."

We were all in a meeting and the Assistant Principal said that someone has to agree to become the new Guidance Director for next year.  The tiny, waif of a Guidance Counselor, shrank down even smaller than she already is, if that is even possible.  The other Guidance Counselor turned her head around 360 degrees like an owl.  Her body language said that, "If I can't see you, you can't see me.  PLEASE don't call on me or notice me."  The other Guidance Counselor stared down the A.P. as if daring the A.P. to ask her why she does not want the job. 

I agreed to take on the job. 

Everyone can stop laughing now!

The guidance counselor who stared down the AP said to me afterwards, "What were you thinking.  Why would you agree to take the job."  The owl Guidance Counselor asked me why I looked like a "deer in the headlights."  I said, "didn't you hear what I agreed to?"  She did not hear my response because she had stepped out of the room.  When I told her that I agreed to take the position, she belly laughed and said, "I'm glad you took the position and not me.  Good luck."  The other Guidance Counselor works in a different building and I have not seen her.  She is paid through a different funding source than we are though.

Regardless, I know that my decision is sound.  That, plus dark chocolate and a drink or too!  lol.

ChiSandy

Suzanne, I’ve heard the expression “tit for tat,” but I guess you had “tats for tits.”

I’m pretty frustrated right now (no, not a health issue). We had about 2-3” of snow today. Gordy’s 12-yr-old TV finally gave up the ghost a few days ago, and I ordered a new one plus Geek Squad setup from Best Buy three days ago. Yesterday, per instructions in the e-mail from Best Buy, I called Geek Squad to coordinate installation and delivery times. They assured me the TV was arriving today and that I had a noon-4pm installation window and would NOT be the guy’s first appointment. I had a 2pm LE therapy appt. (perhaps my last) scheduled, and wanted to catch a little of the “Chicago Fire” filming down the street, weather notwithstanding. Well, I awoke to an e-mail from UPS (!) that the TV would be delivered sometime between 11am-5pm! At noon, I got a call from the installer asking if the TV had arrived yet, because I was his first appointment. When I told him it hadn’t, he said he’d call back after the next two appointments, but that if it didn’t arrive before 3:30, he might not get to me at all because he had a full schedule in the 4-8pm window and couldn’t move any of those up because the customers wouldn’t be home from work yet. So I reluctantly moved my LE therapy to Thursday (and did my own MLD).

At 5:30, I heard a thud on the porch--but no knock on my door. So I opened it only to see the TV in the box sitting on my snowy porch, and the UPS deliveryperson--a skinny young millennial woman (definitely not my regular UPS guy) heading back down the stairs, dragging her hand-cart with her, to her truck. I asked her if she could please bring the TV into the house, as I am not allowed to lift anything nearly that heavy, it was too risky to leave it out there to be stolen (which happens a lot around here), and the set couldn’t safely be plugged in ice-cold. “Sorry, we only deliver to the porch, and don’t come in,” she said curtly. (That’s b.s.--my regular UPS guy always knocks first, gets a signature, and sometimes steps inside so that cold air doesn’t blow into the house). And away she went. Gordy had to get into his boots and haul it indoors. I called the installer back, and he said he had to do his first two calls (one in Des Plaines!) and might not get to me before 9 pm. I told him I wasn’t going anywhere. So I went into the kitchen to prep some veggies for dinner, and sat down with a tuna-stuffed tomato for a snack. I barely got through half of it when I heard a knock on the door--it was the installer--seems his first evening appt. was in my neighborhood and they hadn’t yet gotten home.

So he dragged the new TV back into the den and tried to lift the old one (2” smaller) off its pedestal--it wouldn’t budge. Gordy had to help him lift it. He asked me what I planned to do with it, and I told him “get rid of it.” (Best Buy’s order page asked if I wanted to keep, recycle or discard, and I checked “discard” because “recycle” cost an extra $54). He told me I had to dispose of it myself, because it was too heavy to haul out to the alley and he didn’t have a hand-truck anyway--there was no room in his minivan even if he did. I told Gordy to work with him and tell him which components he wanted hooked up and how he wanted to network it. The installer left at 6:30, and didn’t even take the packaging with him. So now I’m stuck with a humongous inner & outer carton (the latter razored-open so I can’t even nest the boxes) in my living room and a useless 46” flatscreen blocking the loveseat in the den. I can’t wait for Best Buy to follow up with the customer-satisfaction survey--they’re gonna get an earful. And I didn’t even get to see any of the filming.

At least Gordy loves the new TV, and can finally watch Netflix & Amazon content on a 48” screen instead of on his MacBook.