Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

Heathet, it is very hard to not get ahead of yourself. We all do it. But DH is right. Be armed with all the information you can gather but don't do like many of us do and think we have every disease known to man when we research something like "headache." Know your options. Ask your BS and MO their recommendations. Decide what is best for YOU and what you are comfortable doing. Then do it and don't look back.

HUGS!

MLP3

iammags- I guess I'm a spitter too! I had a blue stitch show up 2 months after surgery and my mo just scratched it off!

Molly/ I'm done researching too. I'm putting my faith in my team of doctors and just taking things one step at a time.

Heathet- I had a suspicious node too but it turned out to be negative.

So... Here I am. In this brace 24/7 1-2 weeks, then during the day for another two weeks after that. Crutches until I can put weight on it without pain. I strained my mcl and it's a bit loose at the top. Follow up MRI to make sure it's healing n I don't need surgery. This is a big WTF heading into chemo tomorrow.

ChicagoReader

MLP, those are seriously cute shoes! Hope you don't need surgery and the MCL heals quickly.

MLP3

Thanks Chicago! They were a big hit with the X-ray tech and nurses;)

mustlovepoodles

Iammags, when people ask i tell them that i HAD cancer. Thanks to lumpectomies and then BMX i no longer have any cancer, as far as we know. I am looking forward to getting this experience behind me.

614

Dear HH: I am so sorry for the loss of your cat. Losing a pet is awful. Sorry about your fall and your mom's foot.

Dear MLP: I am so sorry that you hurt your MCL. Good luck. I fell and hurt my knee so I bought a brace like yours. The urgent care center said that I was totally fine. I have a high tolerance to pain so they did not think that I was hurt. They told me that I did not need any follow up. It turns out that I had detached my ACL and I tore my meniscus. I'm glad that I followed up and had an MRI. Ultimately, I had surgery. My bc was diagnosed on my last day of PT. Anyway, it turns out that I was allergic to the knee brace because I am allergic to neoprene. What fun! I hope that you feel better soon and that your chemo goes well. Good luck with your decision regarding your daughter.

Dear Iammags: I am allergic to adhesives too. The rash and itching is awful. I am so sorry that you are a "spitter" and that you have the fungal infection. I hope that the doctor can give you meds for this and that it goes away asap. I had a stitch come out. My doctor tried to "dig it out" but that didn't work because it was too deep. Eventually it healed on its own. It really scared me though. You have really "been through the ringer". Good luck.

Dear Sloan: Hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, positive thoughts, and prayers. Sorry that you have to go through this.

Dear Sandy: I love Wedgewood and high tea. I hope that your injury heals. You may need to take the Keflex. Please see a doctor. Enjoy Geneva.

Hello and positive wishes to everyone else. I had to read too many pages so I can't remember who needs an answer to their post. Sorry.

iammags

Sometimes I say I'm in treatment but mostly I don't say anything to anyone about my cancer because it always leads to a larger conversation that most times I'm not interested in having.

Yea, great shoes MLP! I love cute shoes.

Bluedog- you're right.

mustlovepoodles- I'm looking forward to putting this all behind me too and I've just started!

njnancy

Interesting read about Jancie Dickinson and her public revelation of breast cancer

http://butthatsnoneofmybusiness.com/janice-dickins...

mustlovepoodles

Wow, Nancy. It just goes to show you, anyone can get breast cancer. No one is immune. Janice has already battled anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and alcoholism, all serious conditions. You just have to wonder how much a human being can take before they truly fold.

HappyHammer

MLP- Oh no- so sorry you fell. That is no fun at all with the crutches and all. No words...just hugs!

justmaximom15

I have got to check in more often, I can't keep up.

Sloan, I'm so happy for your good news.

My son and I had a wonderful time in New Orleans last week. If you ever need one on one time with your teen, just go on a 10 hr road trip! I'm already missing the beignets.

My hair grew super fast while we were gone and it actually has a part now!! Woot woot

MLP3

got some acupuncture during the beginning of chemo #3 today! They have an oncology healing center here and an acupuncturist visits the infusion rooms. It took away my initial nausea;)

MLP3

oh.... My mo said my mcl will take longer to heal now during chemo:(

LifeOfBabbs

I was due to have my radiation education appointment tomorrow, but the nurse just called and said they are putting that on hold because my insurance approved the Oncotpye Dx test. She states if the test comes back high, I will have chemo for my DCIS instead, because it is high grade with Comedo Necrosis. I didn't think anyone ever got chemo for DCIS. I sure hope the results come back soon!

MLP3

Good luck Lifeofbabbs!!

beachw3

Hi, New to forum and to breast cancer.  Diagnosed with DCIS in right breast, Stage 0, high comedia nucleas and don't know grade...how do you know that? ER+, don't know HER??? how do you know that?

Had lumpectomy and now just began radiation.  Wanting feedback on radiaition with lumpectomy vs mastectomy.  for some reason I am still unsure I did right thing with lumpectomy instead of mastectomy.  I am 49...not sure that matters, but.... sentinal lymph node biopsy negative. tumor in left breast benign.

made my decision quick just talking to surgeon....almost decided on mastectomy but called him night before surgery and he recommended lumpectomy, but was ultimatley my choice.

anybody else have indecision and why?

thanks!

HappyHammer

MLP- that is so wonderful to be able to get accupunture during infusions...hope it continues to help. Boo abt the longer MCL healing time. I did find that to be true of any issue during chemo though...hugs to you!

LifeOfBabbs

Thank you! MLP3

BEACHW3

I have high grade DCIS with comedo necrosis and my surgeon thought mastectomy was overkill. I had two lumpectomy's bc she didn't get it all in the first one.

Moderators

Welcome to our community, beachw3. Indecision is not unusual, even after the procedure. Was your surgeon confident with the surgery results?

PontiacPeggy

BeachW3, Welcome! We're sorry you are here but very glad you found us. We're warm, welcoming, informative and funny. Have you gotten your pathology report yet? When did you have your surgery? Most of us have about 4-6 weeks between surgery and that start of rads. You should have gotten your pathology report which will give your ER/PR status and your HER2 status. It will give you grade and stage of your BC. If you've seen your BS for follow up appointments and haven't gotten the report, insist upon it. You should be given the complete report, not just a verbal synopsis.

Most of us here feel it is better to go with the least amount of surgery possible. A lumpectomy and radiation is often as effective as a mastectomy. And keep in mind once you have a mastectomy, your breasts are gone. With a lumpectomy you still have your breasts. If it becomes necessary later on you can always have a mastectomy.

It would be very helpful to us if you would fill out your profile on the diagnosis, treatments you've had or will have, and make it PUBLIC. We find it hard to remember what you have had done etc even though you posted it here. This thread moves fast and with it included in every post, we can refer to it when answering your questions.

HUGS!

beachw3

Thank you Peggy!  I am really happy to have found you'all!  It is nice to have support of friends that have been diagnosed.  It's also helpful to be abIe to chat.  I did receive a sheet, but do not have it with me at the moment.  I went back and completed my profile and could determine more from that.  I will look at my sheet again too.  I don't recall the HER status, but will ask.  What is the HER status?

I had surgery in February and today was first day of radiation.

Thanks for your support!  I thought the same initially about less invasive surgery being better, just heard of a lot of people going the whole way...meaning mastectomy so started having second thoughts. 

beachw3

Thank you.  Yes he was very confident with the results; said he had good clear margins and gave me those results as well.   I initially called him day before surgery expressing my indecision and he was nice enough to call back and let me know that he thought that was the best approach and he said if it were his wife he would have chosen a lumpectomy, but it was still my decision and there was no bad decision.

beachw3

Thank you and good luck lifeofbabbs....what is that test?  I had not heard of that...

PontiacPeggy

BeachW3, HER2 status can sometimes change your treatment plan. You mentioned you are ER+, most likely you are HER2-. One thing most of us have learned is once you have made a decision, don't re-visit it. When you start second-guessing yourself you quickly go batty. You made the decision with the best information you had and what felt right for YOU. Move on. It seems you trust your BS, so trust him! He's given you his best advice over many years of dealing with breast cancer. If he thought a mastectomy was a better option for you, he'd have told you. Now breathe and relax. I found rads easy. I got a little tired but had no skin issues.

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

BeachW3, here is the information on the Oncotype Test Oncotype Test. It is used to determine the need for chemotherapy. It would seem that your BS did not think it necessary. It is expensive and sometimes a huge hassle to get insurance to pay for it. But it is another tool to help figure out each person's best treatment course, though not always needed.

HUGS!

beachw3

Thank you Peggy.  I appreciate the info....and the hugs!  I do trust my BS.  and ......You are so right....I will stop second guessing.

 

Moondust

MLP, I'm so sorry you injured your knee!!!! That really sucks and I'll be sending healing waves to you, to aid healing even with chemo going on. We need to get you hiking again asap!

Beachw3, welcome to the Lounge. The HER2 status can take some extra time because a different lab usually measures that. When your final pathology report is available, you should make sure to pick up a copy. It will give you ER%, PR%, HER2 status, Grade, Size, and any other information that was noteworthy. Some reports give Ki67%, which measures how many of the cells seem to be dividing. The Oncotype score takes a few weeks to get. A low score is good, a high score means you'll have to make the chemo/no chemo decision, because chemo could possibly reduce the risk of recurrence. You will start learning a lot about breast cancer if you hang out with us! From everything I've read and heard, lumpectomy with radiation has the exact same outcome as mastectomy, plus there are fewer complications from surgery.

I was one who did change my mind about chemo. My score was right in the middle of "intermediate", neither high nor low. I made a snap decision to not do chemo on the day I received my score, then I re-thought it after I had started radiation and changed my mind. So I am having radiation now, and when I'm done in another week, I'll get going on the chemo. Part of my change of mind was because my fear level went down once I became friends with all the wonderful women here who are going through it. And I really think it will significantly reduce my recurrence chance. I will get through it and I'm going to keep hiking as much as I can! I hope you do not need chemo and don't even have to decide!

Heathet, my BS thought my nodes felt suspicious at the first meeting, but they were all fine. She said sometimes the biopsy can cause them to act up.

MaxiMom, hooray for a part!!

614, funny how our health problems seem to be chained together. I got the call with my bc Dx while I was sitting in the dentist chair having a crown prep last December. So my dentist was the first to know. I finally told my 22 y.o. son last Saturday when we did a video chat with him. He is Army, stationed in Korea.

I hope everyone is having an okay-to-good week! I am a bit sore from working out, but very happy that I CAN work out!

justmaximom15

iammags - my incision from my port removal was not healing the way I thought it should and at my 2nd follow up last week, that's exactly what my doctor told me was going on. My body was spitting out the stitches.

stellamaris

LovingGrouches - so sorry you have to go through this. I don't know if there is a 'standard'. I had 1 re-excision on the recommendation of my BS, and I chose to have a 2nd re-excision because there was time before the scheduled mx and I wanted to give it one more try. My BS said she does not generally do more than 2 anyway. My bc was multi-focal (the bad girl had to go).

Molly50

babbs, that's very unusual to do chemo for DCIS but good for your MO for being cautious. Welcome beach, they don't always do HER2 testing on DCIS. Ask your MO or BS if they did. HER2 testing in DCIS