Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Lovinggrouches

created, so glad your having the surgery!!!! Remind us before you go in and ill sure be praying for ya. Grazy, I'm determined to start my coloring soon, I might even buy the glittery pencils to make them even prettier, pull them out of the book, and post them on the wall above my desk in my office. My administrator said that I'm an "inspiration" to her, but all I feel like is inadequate, I'm tired all the time, can't keep up with my work. And just generally never have felt this bad in my life, but I try to keep positive in front of everyone at work the best I can. I always try to be a good example even when it's hard or I want to bite someone's head off lol! Grazy, we have to see if the coloring book works!!!! Love you all and thank you all so much for your encouraging words and advice. Thanks all about the advice on the biopsy, I was kind of scared, but you all have eased my mind a bit!

614

Dear CreatedonPurpose:  I am so glad that your husband is being supportive of you.  That is the best news of the day.

Dear Grazy:  I am so sorry for all that your family is going through and I wish your mom and relatives the best.  You are a terrific writer.  You are not blathering.  Please keep posting.

Dear Molly:  You are such a sweetheart.  You have so many family issues to contend with plus your upcoming mx.  You really are an inspiration to me.

Dear Peggy:  I hope that the new shampoo works.  Good luck.

I had such a long day today at work.  I am too tired to post anything else.

I hope that all of the surgeries, rads, and chemo tx's are going well for everyone.  I am also saying prayers for those about to start a new tx.  Good luck.

Thanks again for all of your support.  I love the fact that we are "family" here. 

614

By the way, since we are family, you might as well know my name.  (I posted it once before but I don't think that anyone saw it because it was under a picture.)

Sincerely,

Sherri

Molly50

Thank you, Sherri. You really touched me with your kind words.

MLP3

created- that's wonderful news that your husband is supporting you!!! So happy for you.

Grouches- I had a uterine biopsy for severe endometriosis. It was a quick pinch(if that) and mild cramping. I ended up having a hysterectomy as a result.

Heading into rads mapping tomorrow... Marching on

MLP3

Great news Sandy

tbalding

Sandy, glad your friends surgery went well & nodes were negative. I have to have surgery again and am having them check my nodes. Can they tell right away whether the nodes are negative or positive? I just assumed that I would have to wait for pathology to know.

Createdonpurpose, so glad that you are able to move forward and get it taken care of and that your DH is supporting you.

Grazy, I'm so sorry loss & hope your mom bounces back so that you can take care of you. I also find that humor helps.

Lovinggrouches, let us know if coloring book works.

I just got back from work conference that I had committed to speaking at last fall before bc. Public speaking isn't my thing. At the time, I did it to force myself out of my comfort zone. But as it turned out, it added to my stress. But I'm determined to continue with my life as much as possible. I made it through the speech in front of about 60+ people without embarrassing myself. So now I'm glad I went through with it. Part of the conference events was at Ford Field in Detroit. They rented it out for the evening for our entertainment. We were given a tour. Even though not a football fan, it was pretty neat. This is me on the left with arms raised running out onto the field with coworkers. Most of my co-workers don't know about my bc, so I'm able to act like all is normal. (Now I'm rambling, but thought I'd share) I too appreciate all of you on here

HappyHammer

Peggy- your numbers are OK but some folks are more sensitive than others to the highs and lows so please do ask your docs. of course, as you and others said, you have certainly been under stress..

HappyHammer

Grazy- prayers and hugs your way!

Molly50

Tbalding, what a great photo!!

ChiSandy

Tbalding, looks like you're having a blast! My friend's surgeon likes to send the nodes to path right away before closing, in case they have to harvest more or do an ALD--they'd rather not have to wait and then go back in a week later. It's different with margins--there are marking, staining, and multiple-layer views to be done and it isn't always apparent right away. But with BMX there were no margins with which to be concerned. (And this surgeon told me I don't need to be hyper vigilant about my own LE, just use common sense and keep up the MLD and exercises and avoid infections and extremes of temperature and altitude if I can't don compression right then & there).

Jclc83

Hi Sherri! Hi Trish! Nice to meet you.

Grazy sorry for your loss and dealing with your Mom. It's not only stressful but exhausting too.

Hi everyone. I've been working lots of overtime now that I'm done with treatment. Work is crazy. There's talk of us merging so the future is uncertain. One of my coworkers is being forced to leave after 37 years. So much for loyalty. I wish I could retire.

Saw my RO today. He wants to see me every six months for a year and a half. Then once a year for three more years. That's alternates with my MO. So I see someone every three months. I still have to go in occasionally to have my port flushed. Thank goodness for the calendar on my phone.

I've been tossing the idea around about reconstruction. My breast is smaller now that the effects of radiation have passed. But I'm not sure if it's worth it, how long I'll live etc. I do have a practical side lol.

I did get fluid drained off my knees and cortisone shot in each one. All those years of horse back riding have taken their toll. I can now add arthritis to my resume. It's getting pretty impressive.

Good luck to all with surgery, chemo, rads and life!

PontiacPeggy

614, Sherri, I had sticker shock when I looked at the Nioxin shampoo. It apparently is the women's version of Rogain. On Good Morning America they had recommended Keronique - another sticker shock opportunity. I'll have to think very hard about $100+ for shampoo.

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Trish, Awesome photo. You look great. Congratulations for doing something that is out of your comfort zone - quite the accomplishment. Being normal is NOT under-rated!

HappyHammer, I definitely will talk to my PCP about my numbers. She's out of town until next but this is certainly not an urgent problem.

Jan, what industry do you work in? I was thinking nursing but my thoughts aren't necessarily rooted in reality Hard working a lot of overtime and worrying about your job. I hate to be the one to tell you but just getting older seems to add to the list! But isn't it nice to be done with active treatment? How come you still have your port? I would have thought they'd take it out when you were done with chemo.

HUGS!

Jclc83

Hi Peggy. My MO wants me to keep my port for a year.......just in case. It's really in an annoying location, right below my bra strap, where the seatbelt goes and where I put my purse. Most of the time I don't know it's there, but sometimes...

I've been working in a specialized field of Pathology for more than 40 years. I am the one that gets tissue from biopsies and mastectomies, sentinel nodes and everything else. We cut the slides ( @ 1/25,000 of an inch) and stain them so the pathologist can make a diagnosis. We also perform the IHC stains like the ER,PR and HEr2neu and hundreds of others. It's all very interesting. But now that I've had BC i have to admit that I get a little sad when I see a positive case because I know what's in store for them.

It's interesting being on the patient side of things. Everyone from nurses to radiation techs to the oncology teams and surgical team are amazing, caring people. I felt like I was doing undercover work lol.

Katzpjays

Peggy - I checked the price of Nioxin shampoo on Amazon.com and it's 20.99 for a 33.8 oz bottle. Better than what you have seen. I'd balk at $100 too!!

Jan, the nurse at my RO's office is a breast cancer survivor. She is awesome....she insists that having been a BC patient made her a more empathetic nurse.

Trish - great photo! Looks like fun (and a nice distraction.)

Sandy - glad your friend got some good news. Here's to her speedy recovery.

Molly/Grazy - thinking of both of you and keeping you in my prayers.

By the way, Katzpjays is too many characters...my name is Sue

MelancholyInNC

Hello everyone,

I went back to work this week. I worked 3 @ 12hrs shifts in a row. I am soon tired after being off for 2 weeks after my surgery. But, it was so good for my mind to be at work. This left less time to sit and worry about things! Got some good news today! Onco score is 13! Next step is seeing my Medical Oncologist next Friday. My Breast Surgeon said that they would not recommend chemotherapy for me. I will make sure that my MO agrees with that. Then, radiation therapy, then Tamoxifen for at least 5 years. This is definitely a journey. Not one that I wanted to take! However, I am very thankful for all the favorable results.

#cancersucks

MelancholyInNC

Katzpjays

Melancholy - Congrats on your Oncotype score! I'm sure it's a big relief...

I saw my RO yesterday and my Oncotype test results still aren't back. He decided we would take an optimistic approach and went ahead and scheduled my rad simulation for 5/19 when I get back from vacation. (Will be gone 5/1-5/17) He said to call his office the day I get back. He will consult with my MO when the score comes in. We ca always cancel and reschedule if I get a high score. Keeping my fingers crossed. I see my MO on 5/23.

ChiSandy

Melancholy, good news all around! Getting back into life--even the soul-sucking mind-numbing parts of the daily grind, is an affirmation that we are more than our diseases.

I too had checked out Nioxin and Keranique in advance of going on letrozole--the $100 price is for the particular multi product system targeted to the hair type and to the problem one is trying to treat. IIRC, Keranique doesn't include minoxidil in its regimen. My stylist doesn't want me shampooing with anything that might strip the keratin from my hair--I use the shampoo & conditioner that are compatible with the keratin treatments I'm using (used to use Organix when I had a different brand of treatment, now using the Brazilian Blowout line to match that treatment, since it enhances the keratin already deposited. (Please, no lectures on the safety of it. It's my and my stylist's decision). I was told that at the very least to avoid sodium and sulfates (including sulfonate) as they can strip not only keratin deposits but color as well. So no free hotel shampoos (except the "Lather" brand some boutique hotels supply). I will ask him about both product lines for thinning hair, but I'm not sure he'd approve.

BTW, Organix is a supermarket/drugstore brand, with an even cheaper generic version made by CVS. I've found the brand-name version on sale occasionally for $5 for the large size. It does deposit keratin temporarily, which can add volume to the hair shaft even as it fights frizz.

brithael

Sandy - glad to hear about your friend, hope everything continues to go well

Jan- I've been thinking about reconstruction as well now that I'm through with rads. My affected breast is beginning to look a good bit smaller than the other, but I don't know if I can make myself go into the hospital again! I do have to have a colonoscopy at the end of May (it's been 10 years since the first, and my diverticulitis in Feb.makes things suspect.) I am so not looking forward to that, but at least it's outpatient. Reconstruction would mean reduction of my "good" boob, and I have a divot in the "bad" one. I think I'll mull this over and wait til I meet with my BS in September. I was wondering about the port, but I guess I'll ask my MO when I meet with her on Monday to discuss hormonal therapy.

PontiacPeggy

Jan, thanks for the explanation. Must have felt weird, especially at first, when you went to work doing lab work on specimens that were similar to yours.

Katzpjays, I was reading the comments on Amazon about Nioxin and the ingredients and decided to try Vitamins For Hair Loss Shampoo and Conditioner. It seems to not have ingredients I'm not allergic to - always hard to tell. One thing in their favor is that the ingredients are listed using both upper AND lowercase letters! Much easier reading. I got both for $55 from Amazon. One reviewer said that Nioxin had not stopped hair loss (lots in the shower) and the first application of Vitamins for Hair Loss did. I don't expect results that dramatic. Any results will be fine. Thank you for the suggestion. I'll let you know how it works out . Fingers and toes crossed for a great Oncotype score and have fun on vacation!

Melancholy, YIPPEE on the great Oncotype score!

Sandy, as I said above, I'm giving Vitamin s for Hair Loss Shampoo and Conditioner a whirl. I also needed something for color treated hair (why would I want to know what my real hair color is???). This seemed to be right. We each have to figure out what is best for us. No judgment from me on what you use!

Brithael, It is hard to face doing surgery again. You'll know more after you've lived with your "new you" for a few months. Have a good appointment with your MO Monday!

HUGS!

Peachy2

Jan, you don't look or write like someone who has been in the workforce for 40 years!

Love the photo, tbalding! Our city's hockey team also has a lion mascot an inflatable lion head for the team to skate out of, but that one is much nicer.

I've been going to some of the Facing Forward After Breast Cancer sessions at Dana Farber. Last night's topic was "Sexuality and Intimacy After Cancer" and the psychologist who specializes in sexuality led the session. It felt a little like seeing that Your Body and You film strip in fifth grade.

Let's see if I can share the key points without having to type any of the body part names!

• Loss of estrogen creates a need to increase flexibility, blood flow, and moisture. She passed examples of devices that help with this around the room. I have not seen a purple glitter vibrator before.
• Lubricant and moisturizer are not the same thing. You need moisturizer down there, just like you need it for your face, and should apply it before bedtime as well.
• Moisturizers that include estrogen should be used for severe cases of dryness, though there is not a concern for those with estrogen receptor positive cancers. The estrogen stays in that area.

PontiacPeggy

Peachy, I can assure you there was no Your Body film strip when *I* was in 5th grade in 1954/55! Luckily, we can discuss intimacy problems here. Where better? Everyone seems to have a different experience with their hormonal therapy and it's nice and very helpful to get different takes on resolutions to the problems. I thought the jury was still out on use of estrogen containing products for vaginal lubrication. Maybe the jury came in. Thanks for sharing what you learned.

HUGS!

Brutersmom

Peggy, What size bottle were they selling for Nioxin. There are different types. They have a version for thinning hair and then a Rogain type product. I bought the thinning hair product back in December and I still have over 1/2 bottle left. I maybe payed $45 for it. There are two different products for different issues.

PontiacPeggy

BrutersMom, I don't recall what size bottle of Nioxin. Have you found it helpful? I have color treated hair and that seems to make a difference. As mentioned, I went a different way. We'll see if it works.

HUGS!

JuniperCat

Hi! This is a bit off topic but is the use of Estrace safe for those of us with ER+ tumors? Thanks!

Molly50

JuniperCat, the ACOG has said that vaginal estrogen is safe in small quantities for those of us who are estrogen positive. The problem is convincing an oncologist to let you have it. My gyn is not going to prescribe anything with estrogen without my MO's consent and he has said absolutely not to me. That being said, I have 3 tubes of Estrace at home and yes when I got desperate I used it . I did not tell MO. Maybe I should have but he has not a lick of sympathy for my plight or any suggestions. *eyeroll*

JuniperCat

Thanks for the info Molly. It would be nice if some of these professionals were on the same board about this. Sheesh

PontiacPeggy

I would think that it would be hard to document whether cremes containing estrogen are harmful for those with ER+ BC. How would you test? So mostly likely the MOs prefer to say no rather than take a chance. Not saying they are right. Molly, nothing like an MO who is not sympathetic. That's a pisser.

HUGS!

Molly50

I know, Peggy. But without ovaries and using AI's and my estradiol levels in the negative numbers a tiny bit of estrogen in my v tissues should not be a big deal on rare occasion. It is not like I was asking to go back on my HRT. I only used the Estrace on the days that I was so dry I could not pee. My bladder does not cooperate when the atrophy is bad. I try to use something everyday now to avoid those extremes. I alternate between Gynatrof and Key E vaginal suppositories. I am planning on adding organic coconut oil into the mix as well.