Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

MLP3

Chisandy- glad you breezed through check in and comfy cozy in the lounge. We flew Air France two years ago and I thank you for the visuals. I just grabbed a glass of champagne... Cheers! Have a wonderful trip😘

614

Dear Grazy:  I forgot to add that size of tumor and lymph node involvement also figure into whether one needs to have chemo.  Good luck.

614

Dear MLP:  I would not send your daughter on the trip.  It is too dangerous to be affiliated with a USA team and to be in stadiums. 

614

Happy Purim to everyone on this site who is Jewish.

Happy Good Friday and Easter to everyone on this site who is Christian, Catholic, or Protestant.

Moondust

Korky, I am very sorry for the sadness you and your family are going through. My mother died of metastasized lung cancer, which ended up in her bladder. In any of its forms, cancer is a terrible disease. My thoughts are with you.

Sandy, I'm sending along waves of peace and safety as you fly to Europe!

Grazy, I am going to have chemo based on my Oncotype score of 26. It is an intermediate score, at least right now. Recent studies may or may not change my rating to High. In any case, I decided to have the chemo even though my tumor is Grade 1. My belief (as a lay person only) is that the Oncotype test can determine things about future risk that the pathology alone cannot.

To everyone who is told "you can beat this" because you are strong, etc. You can tell them that being healthy and strong is great, but it is not the biggest factor in "beating" cancer. It's all about the chromosomes, and about undetected cancer cells which may have already started floating around in your blood. I get that line too, and I don't want to be a downer to these well-meaning people, but after all, I'm the one with cancer and I can be a downer if I want to! So there!

My shoulder has a painful impingement from the daily arm position for radiation. Before rads I had regained full range of motion and had almost no shoulder pain. Now it hurts to lift my hand over my head. Hope it will resolve after rads. It's limiting what exercises I can do to get some of my muscle back before chemo.

PontiacPeggy

Grazy, you got everything just right making your profile and location public! We have found that there seem to be differences between US and Canadian treatment protocols (as well as Australian) but we have a strong Canadian contingent to help guide you through the maze. We're good at hand-holding, providing strong shoulders when needed.

Sandy, Nice going on getting to the lounge. I have the worst time packing to fly. I really want to take everything I own and that doesn't work so well Sounds like you got it figured out. I have a huge tote that holds my laptop, tablet, phone, cords, wallet on a string, medications and assorted junk. Plus a roll-on. I managed to pack in the smaller of my 2 big suitcases (for which I was very proud!). Have a wonderful time. And keep us posted on all your fun doings. I'm still off wine since I still feel crappy - but less so. My brain is screwy enough without wine addling it

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, that shoulder issue is a bummer. I hope it resolves quickly. Maybe your radiation techs can suggest some exercises that could help. Hang in there!

HUGS!

ChiSandy

The attendant just brought me a champagne from the first class lounge. Trying to nurse it--it's a full flute, and these days I'm just a sampler. Good thing I know where the gate is and someone else is flying. On the downside, the milk steamer on the cappuccino machine isn't working. First world problems, anyone?

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, it seems really nice to hear about first world problems. They are rather comforting, aren't they? Enjoy the champagne! Smooth flying (I'm glad you're not piloting the plane too! )

HUGS!

Molly50

bon voyage, Sandy. Be alert and safe my dear. I look forward to hearing about your adventures. Welcome Grazy. I had two positive nodes, lvi and grade 2 IDC but my oncotype Dx was 13 so no chemo.

violethope

Crazy- your Ca. sounds very similar to mine except mine was a bit smaller and grade 1. I had 4 nodes removed and all were negative. I too live in Canada and I only had a lumpectomy and Rads. Do you mine me asking your age? I am 61 and have the typical "older lady breast cancer" which is usually slow growing and both ER/PR positive.

Sorry I don't have a chance to read all the posts but sending warm thoughts to everyone!

I finished 16/16 whole breast Rads today and got to ring the bell.

Sending along this horrible pic that my friend insisted he take...LOL!

PontiacPeggy

VioletHope, YEAH for finishing up your rads! Love the picture.

HUGS!

Molly50

woo hoo for ringing the bell, Violet Hope

614

Dear VioletHope:  The picture of you ringing the bell after finishing rads is much better than the picture of me ringing the rads bell (my icon).  Congrats on finishing.  By the way, what is "typical old lady cancer?"  You are not an old lady.

Dear Moondust:  I am so sorry about your shoulder.  The rads positioning is not comfortable.  I hope that you can find some exercises that will give you back your ROM and take away the pain.  Good luck.  I am sending you hugs.

Dear Sandy:  Have a great time and enjoy the champagne.

Brutersmom

Grazy, I had a very fast growing cancer with an oncodx score of 24. I was given a choice. I got a second opinion at a cancer hospital and they leaned toward no chemo. One thing that was unique with my cancer was there was no vascular involvement and not evidence of lymph involvement. The Dr.s could not agree 100%. There are so many variables that come into the decision making process.

614

Dear Brutersmom:  It is so hard to make a decision when your doctors do not agree.  However, going to a doctor at a "cancer hospital" definitely gives one peace of mind.  I am glad that you are doing well. 

Grazy

After an ice storm knocked out the power in our area almost 9 hours ago, I'm now back up and running and want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my post from yesterday - I will take time to read them all carefully.

VioletHope, congratulations on ringing the bell! What a fantastic photo as it seems to really capture your joy - wishing you all the best as you go forward. And in answer to your question, I'm 56. I will add a little more descriptive information to my profile at some point - I'm just starting out here on this site and will figure it out over the weekend.

PontiacPeggy

Grazy, Yuck. Nothing like no power to make life really challenging. Glad it's back on. To me, the profile, making it public, etc, was one of the most confusing things. Once I figured it out, it made sense. Many of us put pertinent information or quotes etc in our signature, like our age (or not!), or something else that matters to us. At 56 you are young but not "young" in breast cancer terms.

We all are constantly amazed at how differing our treatments are. I suspect that for chemo, MO's often go with their gut feelings as well as empirical data. Remember, you can always get a second opinion or change doctors (at least in the States) if you are not comfortable with treatment plans or the doctor himself.

On a rather sad note, I just got a letter from my RO that he has a bone marrow cancer called Myelofibrosis and will be getting a bone marrow transplant next month. He's late 50s early 60s and I adore him. He's has a nice sarcastic wit and is no nonsense. It looks like I won't get to see him before I move (I wasn't scheduled until October when he may be back to work). I did write him a card thanking him for his care and wishing him the best. Life just sucks at times, doesn't it?

HUGS!

Grazy

Peggy, I can only imagine how it would throw a cancer patient upon hearing that their doctor has cancer himself! Wow, I'm sure that was shocking news to hear. Life sure does "suck" at times for some people, as you say.

A little more background for me, I am receiving my care at our cancer center and feel great comfort and security in knowing this is what these doctors do all day every day and I only have to travel 15 minutes to get to them for appointments/treatment. My husband works in the world of oncology in the US (in a corporate, not physician sense) and reminded me at the beginning that if one has to get cancer, breast cancer is a good one to get as it's so treatable. He's forever Mr. Practical. That was beyond helpful in allowing me to proceed with calm and optimism. To be honest, the only thing that has caused me stress so far is dealing with the reaction of loved ones - it's really less stressful (for me) to keep the news private and live my life normally until I can't. I'm not one who likes to be coddled so very few people know of my diagnosis except for my husband, children (17 and 20) and three close friends. I'm keeping this thing under my hat from a wider audience until I know my treatment plan - chemo would "out" me, of course, but I'm hoping I can fly under the radar for the most part with only radiation. I rather enjoy having lunch with friends, attending my daughter's sporting events, etc. and everyone treats me as they always have because they're none the wiser. I'm feeling a little "Nora Ephron" haha.

As this is the "lumpectomy lounge", I would like to ask how long the tenderness lasts in the breast post-surgery. My incision was about 2.5-3" long for the tumor and sentinel nodes removal. I do find that some days I feel a wee bit of discomfort (twinges, tenderness) and others, none at all. There is a bit of a seroma, but the surgeon at my followup wasn't concerned. The numbness has subsided somewhat since the surgery 4 weeks ago, although it is still quite significant in the end of incision area close to the armpit and in most of the armpit; I'd say only half of my armpit is numb, and the incision has healed beautifully - so I do see and feel progress, but it's slower than I expected. Will there come a day when I can actually feel the razor as I shave my underarm, or wear a bra ever again with an underwire?? lol Aren't I lucky that these are my current pressing questions

PontiacPeggy

Grazy, yes, there will come a day when you can actually feel the razor when you shave your underarm. It just might take a year! Mine was over a year. I didn't have any nerve zingers at either incision site. My actual BC incision rarely bothered me. Both healed uneventfully. I didn't wear a bra most of the time through my rads. And definitely not underwires because they can irritate. However, sometimes comfort has to trump doctor's orders if you are nice and curvy (I sure am not).

My surgeon said the same thing to me that your husband did about my BC. That was reassuring. It's wonderful when your cancer center is close - mine was, too. Makes it very convenient. I wasn't working outside the home when diagnosed, I was caring 24/7 for DH who had Parkinson's and heart issues plus short term memory problems. He could not be left alone and needed help getting in and out of bed (as many as 6 times per night) and chairs and the toilet. Those things occupied my mind more than BC did. By the time I could contemplate all that had occurred with my BC (when DH was in a nursing home), my treatments, except Arimidex, were done and I was fine.

I shared with my family, friends and on Facebook. I found BCO early on and it was a godsend since I couldn't get out. The ladies here are THE BEST!

HUGS!

MLP3

yay Violet!

Sandy- I'll take champagne over cappuccino any day;)

Moondust- I hope your shoulder issue clears up soon!

Grazy- I like your dh's outlook on cancer:)

Peggy- sorry to hear about your ro

Molly50

Grazy, I still have tenderness where my axillary nodes were removed and it has been since July 29th.

614

Dear Peggy:  Sorry to hear about your RO.  That is awful.

Dear Grazy:  My kids are 20 and 17 also.  It is great that your husband works in oncology and that he is such a support for you.  I did not have any pain after my surgery.  I was fine immediately. I had a double lx plus a breast reduction and a breast lift so I had surgery to both of my breasts.  I had extensive surgery because they removed approximately 12 cm of breast tissue with my double lx.  However, I still do not have feeling back and I cannot feel the razor when I shave.  (1 year and 5 months later.)  I do have feeling in my nipples.  Yay!  My sentinal lymph node surgery was much worse than my lx surgery.  Good luck.

LovesToFly

hi all.

Grazy, I'm in Toronto too!!! Thornhill actually, but close enough (treatment st NYGH, I guess you are at PMH?). I had my surgery late November, my lymph areastill gets tender sometimes.

Heathet

wishing everyone a Happy Easter weekend and safe travels! Yesterday I had my implants drained to prepare for my mastectomy. Talk about looking different but I like it ! I have also been keeping my diagnosis to family and close friends but there is no doubt Monday morning at work my co-workers I haven't told will know something is up! Lets just say I'll be noticeably flatter chested! I hear different people mentioning oncotype? What is that? I saw my geneticist yesterday too - she said I had a 91% of NOT caring the BRAC1/2 gene. I'll know in a few weeks. She along with my BS believe it is just a "random"cancer - some genes out of whack. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if my implants played any role in my diagnosis. My surgery is the 19th with a sentinel dye injection the day before. I hope the cancer is contained and not in the lymph nodes. Sending good thoughts to everyone.

PontiacPeggy

Heathet, Here's information on the Oncotype Test .It is performed on the cancer that is removed from your breast during surgery. It takes a couple weeks and is expensive, often requiring insurance permission ahead of time. It is used as a tool to determine the necessity of chemo. Other factors are used too. Most of us here don't have implants and we still got breast cancer so don't blame yourself. It's called: Shit happens. And it happened to you and me and all of us. The BRAC1/2 genes are an exception and a few other genetic markers. Wishing you good results!

HUGS!

Heathet

Thank you Peggy!

bluedog

I'll offer a slightly different take on traveling to Europe. I think Brussels itself is likely to be relatively safe, as the security will be very high now. In fact, the security is likely to be heightened everywhere. On the other hand, no amount of security can prevent suicide bombers. I'm not sure I would send my child there right now, either, but it's probably no more dangerous now than it was a week ago, and maybe a little less so. The truth is that we're all vulnerable, but it's statistically extremely unlikely that anything will happen to any one person. As a side note, I grew up in Brussels (teenage years, 1970-1976), so it's been a very sad week for me.

And, now for something completely different. If you want to see something amazing that will take your mind off cancer, check out the DC Eagle Cam! Baby Eagles!! http://www.eagles.org/dceaglecam/

Molly50

That's why I love Peggy! "shit happens"

Bluedog, sorry about Brussels. It must make you very sad.

PontiacPeggy

Molly, did you think I didn't know 4-letter words? HAHA!! I worked in a very small office with 4 men (father, 3 sons, not relatives of mine), one with an explosive temper. When I interviewed for the job in 1987, the father asked me if swear words bothered me. I replied my ears had lost their virginity long ago. Of course, I learned new ones when my son joined the Navy

HUGS!