Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Katzpjays

Ce4758 - know that like so many others here I am praying for a smooth surgery and quick recovery from your surgery. In your pocket tomorrow

PontiacPeggy

MLP3, Thank you. Take care!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

NoUGo-Ca, haven't heard from you. How are you doing? Healing well? Ready to start the next segment of your BC journey?

LovingGrouches Good Luck! The adult coloring book sounds like a wonderful stress reliever.

HUGS!

614

Dear LovingGrouches: I had trouble getting pregnant with my son so I had many tests to see what the fertility issue was. One of the tests was a uterine biopsy. The uterine biopsy is very quick and it is not bad at all. It is done in the doctors office. (That is if my biopsy is the same as your upcoming biopsy.) I felt totally fine. I was just tired afterward. I will say prayers for you.

Dear Tennis and Ce4758: Good luck, hugs, and prayers for your surgery.

Dear Grazy: I am sending blessings to you for all that you are going through. Good luck.

Dear Nash: Both you and your dog are beautiful. (I am a dog lover.) What a great picture.

Dear MLP and LTF: Good luck with rads.

Dear Kaneli: The hospital in my town does the radiation procedure that you had. It is a great option. I would not have been a candidate though due to my bifocal tumors.

I am wishing everyone else well and saying hello to all. I must walk my dog and then go to bed because I have to get up so early for work.

However, first, I have to tell everyone here that I am so thankful for all of you. You are all so supportive and helpful. I really appreciate everything that you have done for me. I don't know you but I feel like I am close to all of you because we all understand each others feelings, worries, concerns, and issues. I also appreciate all of the information and the links.

mustlovepoodles

Peggy, your stress this year could absolutely cause hair loss. It hasn't been a year yet that your husband has been gone, and I daresay that you had months and years of distress prior to it. That's enough to shut down your hair follicles for a while.

Best of luck to the ladies who are undergoing surgery soon. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well and no complications with recovery. You know I mean it, too~!

HappyHammer

Peggy- good call on getting the thyroid checked for hairloss...big, big SE of under active thyroid and such an easy fix! Keep us posted. Hugs.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, I think it is either stress or Arimidex or both.

Happy, not thyroid unless my PCP thinks .91 for TSH is too low (it is at the bottom of normal). T3 and T4 numbers were smack dab in the middle of normal. One website says that my TSH number is definitely below optimal levels. I'll discuss it with her. Easy fix would be wonderful. Good Morning America did a piece on a new hair restoration process that involves your own blood plasma removed, then whirled around and injected into your scalp - $400-$5000 a session. Not happening. But they mentioned trying Keronique shampoo. May do that.

HUGS!

tbalding

CE4758, Good luck with your surgery. Praying for good margins and speedy recovery.

Lovinggrouches, praying for a good report.

Hugs & good thoughts to all

Molly50

best wishes to our surgery sisters. Peggy, I hope you find something to thicken your hair again. 614, we are all family. At least that's how I feel about all of you. I pray for you all and think about you even when I don't visit the forum.

createdonpurpose

hey everyone! Just an update...surgery is scheduled for Mayy 11. Hubby has started to come around and says he'll support my decision. (That's a giant weight off my shoulders)I met the surgeon yesterday and feel really comfortable with the decision. I've had quite a bit of pain recently from the tumor. I'm ready to get this out of me!

PontiacPeggy

Molly, you are spot on: We ARE family here. Nobody but nobody "gets" us like our friends here. I also hope I find something that helps my hair. It's obviously not the end of the world or even close but if I can improve my hair, I'd like to.

CreatedOnPurpose, Only two weeks left. I'm sure you ARE quite ready to get that damned thing out. Glad your hubby is now on board and helpful. That makes your life much better.

HUGS!

Grazy

Good morning everyone! I've decided to carve out 7 a.m. for my "Lounge" read, to get caught up on all of you - too tired at night when I get home from the hospital. So much is posted in one day that it's hard to keep up with all of you! I wish I could mention everybody by name - you're all so wonderful and I learn so much from each of you with your experiences and observations.

Peggy, I can imagine that you're under a lot of stress with your impending move (not to mention all the stress you've endured over the last year) - people underestimate how stressful selling a house is, probably because so much of the process is not under your control - it's probably a combination of that an the Arimidex. If the move-stress is indeed what is contributing to your hair loss, I hope for its sake and your peace of mind that you sell quickly. You have so much good stuff to look forward to - so exciting!

CE4758 and Tennis - good luck to you both with your surgery - first big step out of the way.

Thinking of you, LovingGrouches, with your upcoming uterine biopsy. You've had your share of stress too! I chuckled when you mentioned the coloring book - my girls gave me one too when I was diagnosed "Calming Therapy - an anti-stress coloring book" - I brought it up to Mom's this week and thought I'd take it to the hospital, but I have yet to crack it open! I'm too stress to color. haha Maybe we can both start coloring and see if our stress levels actually go down

Iammags, I was thinking the same thing about radiation treatments, that it's a lot of hullabaloo for 5 minutes - so much preparation goes into radiation planning and then *zap* - reminds me of Christmas dinner, prepare all day and consume in 15 minutes.

Thanks to all who have sent me hugs and good wishes this week for my mom as she recovers from her surgery, and for my brother and wife for what they're also dealing with. It's definitely been a trying time.

I will say that it's been interesting spending hours and hours a day in the hospital with my mom and the rest of the cast; it's much less stressful than Emerg where my brother has had to hang out with his wife's family - I have code names for many of the patients and medical staff on mom's floor, because there are definitely some characters up there, and I have managed to entertain myself quite well when my mom is sleeping or out having tests. Unfortunately (or maybe I should really say "fortunately") my brother's dad passed away in Emerg yesterday - he never did get his wish to go home to die - so we're all very glad his horrible suffering finally came to an end. It was quite something watching how it played out with my sister-in-law's mom who has Alzheimer's.... when the doctor said the word "cancer", she looked stricken and said, "He's has CANCER?!?". So tragic, for these five girls to lose their dear dad and then have to deal with their mom in this condition. She won't even remember today that he died. We Grays are all doing our very best to keep our sense of humor, and to keep our spirits light, as it really does help.

My mom will remain in hospital for the remainder of the week as she had quite an infection in her gallbladder and abdomen (pre-surgery) in addition to the enormous gall stone, and she is being monitoring her very closely to watch for further complications. We're warned that she's not out of the woods yet - she hasn't grasped the gravity of her situation and isn't always being compliant with the nurses' instructions, so dealing with her is a challenge at times, but we'll get through it. Selfishly, I hope we can get her situation under control soon so that I'll be able to go home and start radiation in another week or so (not quite sure of the exact start date yet).

Good luck to everyone starting radiation and to those who are in the midst of it - I will follow your progress in preparing for my own treatment - I've been keeping an eye on the 2016 Spring Rads board too. Sorry, I have blathered on this morning.... Best to everybody for a good day xo

PontiacPeggy

Grazy, Thank you for the kind words and support. I'm glad the suffering of your brother's father-in-law is over. I'm rather surprised they kept him in emergency all that time. And how tragic that his mother-in-law won't remember. That will keep that wound open and festering longer than it might be normally. I'm sure he's glad you are there for him.

Argh, your poor mother seems to be having a rocky road to recovery. It's tough when the patient won't comply with vital directions. And really worrisome that she has such awful infections going on. Will your mother go to a rehabilitation center when she is discharged? That would be common here. Whenever DH was discharged from the hospital the past 5 years, he went to rehab. The weaker he got over time, the longer I had him stay (well as long as they would keep him). I hope that's what will happen with your mother. That will give you peace of mind for a few weeks. You are NOT being selfish for wanting to get on with your treatment. This is one time when you have to think of yourself first (since we tend not to do that most of the time). Do blather away. That's what we're here for.

HUGS!!

Molly50

Grazy, I am very sorry for your family's loss. It is so hard to deal with loss of a parent and now your sister in law has to figure out what to do with mom as well. My mom is late stage Alzheimers. I worry everyday about my step father passing before her.

Grazy

Peggy, he was kept very comfortable in a private 'room' in the Emerg area as the family was having a hospital bed and care set up for him at home (via a gov't agency) where he had wished to die - in-home hospice, basically. They didn't formally admit him at the hospital because he was to have been transported home at 4 p.m. yesterday (he was in hospital for about 24 hrs total). He suddenly took a turn around 2:30 yesterday and passed away an hour later. The community home care agency was fantastic in getting the resources to the house in less than 24 hours and, in the end, it was all for nothing.

We'll have to see how mom recovers - if she recovers well, she'll come home and we'll arrange home care to supplement the care we're able to give her until she fully recovers. She had planned to sell her home (the agent was to come by tomorrow to set up the paperwork for that) and move to a lovely seniors' facility in September (it's a graduated system - independent living - assisted living - longterm care) so we do hope she can move forward with her plan. Normally, she's "Betty White 92" - has lived quite well alone since Dad passed away 9 yrs ago, still drives, is very active, so this setback has been a real shock to her and everyone who knows her. My dad was a WWII veteran, and our Veterans Affairs still provides her with housekeeping, lawncare, snow removal, etc., so she's been very able to stay in her own home all these years. In fact, the housekeeper is arriving in half an hour, so I'd better get in the shower, get out of her way and get to the hospital!

I'm sorry about your mom, Molly. Alzheimer's is such a horrid disease. You sound like my sister-in-law - her dad always cared for her mom and now that he's gone, they need to have the mom institutionalized, but they hate to do it - just a nightmare. Our government allows for what's called a Family Medical Leave - an unpaid, but job-protected leave of up to eight weeks so my sister-in-law had just completed week 2 of her leave, trying to arrange care for both her parents.

PontiacPeggy

Grazy, I had gotten my timelines all messed up. More brain farts. The hospital certainly did do right about your brother's FIL. I'm amazed that community services could get things set up so darned fast. I can't imagine that happening here. I would guess that brother's MIL will be safer in care than at home. You might mention that.

It must be awful for your mother to be hit with being so ill since she's been so "Betty White." Since she's been so active she may bounce back and be just fine. Praying for that. Smart of her to have planned the move to a senior center that has all the transition care she may need. Get those papers signed. The agent can come to the hospital if your mother is alert enough to comprehend what's going on. I'm impressed with the services your mother has had through veterans' affairs. That's wonderful. That has to have been a huge help for you and your siblings.

HUGS!

iammags

Grazy, I love your sense of humor, or have I already said that? Well, it bears repeating because while I'm incredibly sorry about your mom and the situation you and your family are in right now, I'm so enjoying reading your description of it. That sounds pretty selfish of me, doesn't it? I do hope that your mom starts to feel better soon.

Peggy- I have a friend with thinning hair and she bought this comb, thingy, that is supposed to help with new growth. If you are at all interested I can ask her about it.

Lovinggrouches- I'm thinking of you and really hope that you feel better soon. What a trying time you are going through!

Createdonpurpose- I'm so glad that your DH is supporting you now. Maybe he's started to imagine what life would be with out you. Wishing you all of the best.

Did you see this article ?

Letters Telling Women About Breast Density Are Often Too Darn Dense

Very interesting read and worth checking out.

BTW, I met another RO yesterday and he was tall and thin. What is up with that???

Happy Wednesday!

PontiacPeggy

Iammags, Sure. Do ask your friend and ask her if it actually works.

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Someone posted the name of a cancer center in Spokane that is tied to Seattle hospitals and centers. I can't remember who or the name of it for the life of me. I should have bookmarked the danged thing! Help! And thanks.

HUGS!

ChiSandy

My friend has been in surgery a little less than an hour--2-1/2 more to go. They're doing bilateral SNBs, but the prep was different from mine: EMLA cream, aqueous solution with the tracer, then warm blankets to get it flowing to the nodes. Her nurse navigator says that at Advocate Christ, they don't issue the strict lymphedema precautions my surgeon at NorthShore Evanston did--since compression is a treatment for LE, blood pressure cuffs are okay; and short needle sticks aren't a problem either, so long as sensible anti-infection measures are followed. They won't even prescribe compression unless they notice increases in her arm measurements. They say she will be in a lot less pain than from, say, abdominal surgery, and they'll start PT/OT tomorrow morning, and she'll see OTs every week or so for exercises and monitoring. Quite different from my experience: I had to call an LE specialist when I noticed cording, and was given no post-op exercises. Every breast surgeon has her own preferences, I guess

Molly50

created on purpose, I am so glad your DH is being supportive. Sandy, very interesting how your friends hospital does things. I hope her surgery and recovery go well.

Peachy2

Createdonpurpose, good to see you posting, and so glad that your husband has started to come around.

Katzpjays

Hey Peggy...it was me. The name of the group is Summit Cancer Center in Spokane. All groups associated with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance are listed on their website - Seattlecca.org. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance includes Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital...a top notch collaboration

Katzpjays

Peggy - have you tried Nioxin shampoo? My hairdresser recommends it for her clients with alopeciaand those growing their hair out after chemo.

PontiacPeggy

Thanks, Katzpjays! I thought it was you but I wasn't willing to go back through a few hundred pages to find the post. I just bookmarked it so I can remember .

Blonde joke of the day: Why does the blonde have her hands over her ears? She's trying to hold onto a thought.

I obviously took my hands off my ears

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Katzpjays, no I haven't tried anything other than biotin. I check out Nioxin - THANKS!!

HUGS!

Katzpjays

Grazy - So sorry about your family's loss. Prayers for your mom. Hoping she turns the corner soon.

Lovinggrouches- You are in my thoughtsand prayers as well.

ChiSandy

My friend is waking up in Recovery, and I can see her in a half hour. Surgeon says it went smoothly, she did fine, no surprises. Nodes negative. Will know more when the final path is in

Molly50

Wonderful news, Sandy!

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, that's wonderful to hear about your friend.

HUGS!