Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Moondust

HockeyParnt, Created, and Tsoebbin all the best of luck today!!

Peggy, what great news about the house! Just do what you have to about the garage and be done with it!

Here is a recent study about PR- that has me concerned. Not just because of my own low PR receptor percent, but because my MO still lumps all ER+ cancer together in her mind. It seems like a lot of MO's still do. I hope my second opinion doc is on the cutting edge of all this stuff and will shed some light.

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, I am just biting the bullet and taking care of the garage that is more like a shed. I want the house sold so I don't have to worry about it when I move next month. When is your 2nd opinion appointment? I hope it is very satisfactory.

HUGS!

Moondust

Peggy, thanks, and my second opinion will be next Tuesday, the 17th. I'll probably post about it the following day, since I'll have a 4 hour drive home afterwards.

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, I would guess if the 4 hr drive each way didn't wear you out, just the stress of getting the second opinion would. And you'll be ready to collapse. We can wait. But we'll be with you!

HUGS!

froggie

Woohoo, LG! Congrats on finishing your rads tomorrow. Prayers for you too and everyone else that we can move forward in good health and have uneventful followups through the years.

Lovinggrouches

Boy, lots to catch up on in one day, hockey- prayers for clean margins. I remember all too well the anxiety I had about my second surgery too! Peggy, hope the sell goes through! Froggie, thanks for the congrats on rads. Grazy, keep on keeping on, time flies and before you know it- it will be over. I'm actually sad in a way to be finishing, because I have gotten in such a routine and LOVE the people at the cancer rad place, that it feels like they are family-friendly , I won't miss the rad part though lol!!! Loves to fly, I guess ill start tamoxifen in a week or two when I go back to MO. I wish I would have started it before rads for piece of mind because I feel like the estrogen has had 5 months to grow something else since my diagnosis. I will deal with what I have to deal with. Hugs to any I didn't mention!!!!

stellamaris

Moondust - thank you very much for the article. This issue has been bothering me ever since I got my Oncotype back (27). My MO said if it had been 28 he would have gone the chemo route. My ER is low and I am PR-. The only reason, I think, that he is resisting chemo is that the tumour is ILC. I would love to see a study on ER+/PR- between IDC and ILC.... In any case, they did have to remove the 'bad' girl, so now all I can do is hope nothing comes back. Good luck with your 2nd opinion. I am very interested in hearing what they tell you. Hugs

tbalding

Hockyparnt good luck with second surgery, prayers that for good margins and an easy recovery. I too have to have a second surgery next week because did not get good matgins. Pathology also found a tiny tumor near initial area.

Peggy, congratulations on selling house. Hope it doesn't take too much to fix garage.

createdonpurpose

surgery went well. They removed both tumors as well as some lymph nodes. I'm back home now. They did a muscle block to help with pain but the pain is so intense I can hardly breathe. Vicodin helps but only for about 2 hours and the dosage is every 4...is it normal to have intense pain

Moondust

Created, I'm glad your surgery went okay! I'd definitely give the surgeon's office a call first thing in the morning. Everyone's experience is different, but I don't remember anything I'd call intense pain. Is the pain in your breast or under your arm, or can you tell?

HUGS!!! and hang in there!

createdonpurpose

moon dust -underarm is worse than breast. I'm calling in the morning. Maybe something else is bette

Molly50

created, did they say you can ice the area ? I was told to use ice and boy did it help!

createdonpurpose

Molly,

They said no ice because the block numbed the skin and I wouldn't be able to tell if it's being frostbitte

ChiSandy

created, if you put a cloth between your skin and the ice pack and do 30 min. on/30 min. off, you will not get frostbite. (I am an icing maven--not just my bc adventures but two knee arthroscopies, a gazillion ankle sprains, and two total knee replacements). The skin may be numb but the tissues beneath sure aren’t. Everyone’s pain experience is different. They gave me a bolus of Fentanyl in my IV in the recovery room, but then a couple hours later, just a pair of REGULAR (325 mg) plain Tylenol. That night, I took a 5/325 Norco left over from Bob’s summer surgical adventures, and I took it with an extra-strength (500) acetaminophen; but after that I managed with just 2 extra-strength acetaminophen TID for the next few days--the worst pain was extreme upper body muscle soreness from the succinylcholine they give you once you’re “under” in order to prevent laryngospasm when they intubate you. Just before your trachea and larynx go limp, the muscles from the neck to the waist and even the upper arms go into severe sudden spasm. The effect is like a gym newbie getting to the Nautilus pec-and-lat machine and starting out at 100 lbs.--at breakneck speed. It’s called “scoline syndrome” and it goes away in a couple of days. But everybody’s pain threshhold is different, especially proportionate to how much cutting was done, what was removed and how, and even the location of the incisions. Some folks need just Tylenol; others need an opioid for a few days. But call your surgeon’s office anyway--perhaps they can tweak your Rx’es for better relief.

In your pocket, Hockyprnt, for clean margins and no surprises.

Peggy, it’s always a crapshoot what the ROI will be on major home improvements. We’re going to get a special central A/C system installed, for older homes like ours that, using steam heat, lack ductwork. We were told by a realtor friend that it’d bring half again its cost in ROI because it costs less to run than a bunch of window units. OTOH, some things like updating kitchens & bathrooms are a wash, most interior paint/wallcovering/window treatments cost more than they bring. But repairing or replacing a dilapidated garage is a no-brainer: not only would failing to do so lower your offers, but might even cause some prospective buyers to take a pass. Amazingly, the biggest ROI comes from a fresh exterior paint job that harmonizes with adjacent homes, and simple improvements in landscaping.

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, it's not ROI that I'm after. It's passing the FHA inspection. The buyers are completely fine with the garage as it is. I'm just hoping I don't have to spend much to get it up to snuff. Chuck and I have never done anything to the house to improve ROI. We've done what WE liked. The wife of the couple grew up 3 doors down from me so she knows the neighborhood etc. Her dad lives 2 doors down now - he's thrilled to have the grandkids REALLY CLOSE! And I'm very happy to have someone I know buy the house and who seem to love it as much I do. I'm not sure but I think DH and I were either the 2nd or 3rd owners (probably the latter).

I can imagine that it is challenging to put in central air with a steam heat system. My friends living in Portugal have those Mitsuibishi type units that mount high on the wall for each room and each is independent. They don't have central heat either. Do it for yourselves not ROI. BTW, do you actually like steam heat?

Created, do call your surgeon. I think you should not be in intense pain. My experience was the exact opposite of yours and I used Tylenol only. And ice. Those did the trick. But each of us is different and each surgery is unique. Still think you shouldn't be totally miserable. Very gentle hugs!!!

HUGS!

Bmg

I'm having chemo first I had 4 Treatments of Ac and one of taxol 3 more to go then 6 weeks off then a lumpectomy then radiation mine is pr and er

Molly50

Welcome BMG, sorry you find yourself needing to be here but glad you found this wonderful group. Do you have a surgery date yet?

tsoebbin

I cried for hours yesterday morning before my lumpectomy. It was my first real breakdown. I think I needed it and feel much better. I was so stressed the night before that I broke off part of my tooth from grinding my teeth! Thank God it's not painful.

Surgery went well and everyone was very kind. I'm tired and sore but feeling good.

Glad this first step is behind me. Next step will depend on the pathology report.

Hope you're all doing well today.

Molly50

Hugs, tsoebbin! Sometimes a good cry is just what we need.

Grazy

tsoebbin - everybody has that good cry at some point - stress and fatigue catch up to us all eventually. Hang in there, and take care of yourself over the next few days. Sending you a big hug.

mustlovepoodles

tsoebbin, that sounds terrible! It's bad enough to have BC, but now you broke your tooth, too? NOT FAIR!

Hello to all the new ladies. I go away for 3 weeks and look what happens! I am hopelessly behind here ,so please forgive me if I forget your stories. Chemo brain is a real thing, ladies, and being 59 isn't helping, either.

We have a date set for DHs prostate surgery: July 15. Yeah, so that means WE WILL BE AT THE PARTY IN HICKORY!! *happy dance* Thankfully, prostate is one of those slow-growing cancers where waiting for 2 months doesn't make too much difference. Two things are holding it up: A) the robot has to be shared amongst several robotics surgeons at the hospital and it can only do 2, sometimes 3, in a day; and the first available date is Jul 1, which is DHs mother's birthday. His mother died in Jan so this will be the first birthday without her. We had already planned to go down there to be with his only sister that weekend and I was not about to change that for some stupid surgery that can be put off another 2 weeks.

The only slightly downside of this surgery date is that I had thought to take my son, Christian, to a sleep-away summer camp July 17-21. It's a Christian camp sponsored by Joni & Friends (Joni Eareckson Tada ministries) which includes the entire family, not just the person with disabilities. They host the camps all over the U.S. I took Christian to one in NC several years back and it was a blast! Each camper gets their own counselor/helper, who assists them in having a real camp experience. The parents are then free to do other things, like go to Bible study, go fishing, get their nails done, play in the pool, play cards, or just eat and sleep. The counselor/helper returned him to me around 8:30-9:00pm, by which time Christian just about had to be poured into bed, he was so tired.

Oh well. Camp will always be there. We can try again next year. This year is shaping up to the Year of the Cancers. Got get the priorities straight.

PontiacPeggy

Traci, so glad the surgery is over. The stress of BC is overwhelming. Not surprised that you cried. I'm sure you felt better afterwards. Now to get the danged tooth fixed - totally unfair! Hope you are comfortable and taking it easy!

Poodles, So glad that you can go to NC!! You have plenty of time to plan for DH's surgery. I'm surprised that the robot can only do 2 or 3 surgeries a day - it can't get tired, can it? Whatever, it works out perfectly for you. And now DH and his sister can comfort each other on the first birthday without their mother. Firsts suck. I'm sorry that Christian won't be able to go to camp since you all had had such a good experience before. Definitely your priorities are straight - getting rid of cancer. BTW, my DIL who had chemo 3 years ago agrees with you on chemo brain. She still has difficulties because of it. Since it killed off her cancer she doesn't regret doing it but wishes the SEs would go away.

I am getting the #$#$%#@ garage repaired next week to (hopefully) make sure FHA will pass us on the inspection and appraisal. Oh well, it's just money, right? And I do want to sell and I want this particular couple to buy!

HUGS!

mustlovepoodles

Oh, Peggy! I just read that you have a bid on your house. Things seem to be moving apace. Now to get that garage-shed-thingy taken down so you can pack your bags for Spokane!

As for your question about the robot: It's not that the robot is incapable of doing more than 2-3 surgeries--it could do surgery all day and all night. It's scheduling the surgeries with multiple doctors. Those robots cost millions of dollars, so not every hospital has them and they certainly don't have TWO. The robotics surgeons have to share their time. So if the urology robotics surgeon needs 3 hours and the GYN surgeon needs 4 hours and then a brain surgeon needs 9 hours, well, you can see how problematic it gets. Coupled with the fact that all these surgeons have multiple surgeries to perform, plus office hours during the week, it's not unreasonable that the more urgent matters (life-and-limb) get pushed to the front of the line and the stuff that needs to be done but won't worsen in the next 2 months would go to the back of the line.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, Ah...hadn't thought about that. At least there is a robot to assist the surgery and DH is able to wait until July!

Garage (which truly is a shed now) is NOT getting demoed. It is getting squared up (it droops on one corner) and painted. What really gets me is the buyers are totally okay with the shape it is in now. You can't get a car in there unless it is tiny and you don't want to get out of it. The squirrels winter in there (and I suspect other critters). The roof is fantastic! So one thing is good. I'm so ready to move!! And anxious to have the Celebration of Life for DH here at the house. I need nice sunny reasonably warm weather so I can have it outside. I *can* have it inside but outside would be better. Move date of June 17th is coming!

HUGS!

froggie

Welcome, Bmg. Sorry you have to be here. but glad you found us. The ladies here are great.

Created sorry you are having so much pain. I agree with everyone else - call your doc and hopefully they can tweak your pain meds. I'd apply ice in the manner that Sandy suggested. It will help, especially with swelling.

tsoebbin, thanks for letting us know how you're doing. Nothing wrong with a good cry now and then. Glad your surgery went well.

ChiSandy

Peggy, the detached, allegedly "1-1/2 car" garage that came with our house was so dilapidated that it wasn’t perpendicular--viewed from one side it looked like a rhombus! (We financed conventionally, so FHA didn’t factor into the equation). It held only one full-size car, so one of us always had to park on-street (and one night a drunk went careening car-to-car and half the folks on our block had damage to the driver’s side of their cars). We put up with it for a year, and then found out that due to a storm that made its roof leak we could have the city condemn it and pay for half of the demolition. We got a new one built for $9K, and the demolition was included but not itemized--so it cost us only $4500. We’ve had to replace one garage door 15 yrs. ago. And we now can fit my Outback and the rental Santa Fe Bob’s driving while the Fusion’s in the shop--plus various sound-reinforcement gear along the sides!

Poodles. so glad you & DH will be able to come to NC. Not sure how many of us there’ll be, but it’ll be fun and I’ll play as much as I can dig up from my repertoire. Hoping some of the SERFA attendees heading east can come by and sit in for a song or two--we’ve got competition from other SERFA-connected shows in Asheville & Hendersonville, but we’ll still be able to pull it off.

Traci, the surgery’s behind you, and the healing begins. Take it easy, and get to the dentist ASAP! (Maybe also get fitted for a mouth guard so it doesn’t happen again). I grind my teeth at night, but not out of nervousness. My particular “stress tic” used to be picking at my thumb cuticles, but that had to stop when my manicurist called me out on it--and the danger of causing cellulitis in my lymphedema arm is no joke. I vent a lot by doing crosswords and acrostics, going online, yelling at TV pundits, cooking, (good) shopping (sometimes good), and eating (bad). Whenever “the rabbit starts running around in my head” (as my friend who went through a diagnosis of scleroderma puts it) I try to find something distracting--hopefully, not self-destructive.

mustlovepoodles

Yikes, Moondust!~ I just read that link about the single HR cancers. I have read other research docs that back this thought up, but I haven't read one that puts it so succinctly, and might I say bluntly, as this one. According to this link, single HR cancers, particularly PR- cancers, have similar statistics to TN breast cancers. Not too reassuring for my ER+PR- HER2- breast cancer, is it? Guess I'll just sit here and be glad I took the chemotherapy, after all.

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, that's exactly the problem with my "shed." Not perpendicular anymore. it didn't bother us since we didn't put cars in it. The critters were happy. The squirrels had a nice place to store the black walnuts from next door. And it was DRY. Nice that you had help getting it demoed and replaced. Can't imagine that happening here. Pontiac has no money and can't demo the condemned homes that are on the list now. (Maybe tonight's storm will bring down the tree on the garage - a couple decades of praying for that hasn't produced the desired results).

Have fun in NC. I'll be thinking of you all.

HUGS!

iammags

tsoebbin- Hang in there. I remember feeling so overwhelmed at first. Everyday is something else, a surgery, a test result..something. At first it's so new. All of it. And life is so full of doc appts and telling friends and family and being so worried. I'm not saying that it all stops but I promise that it slows down a bit. Or maybe it doesn't slow down but you come to terms with what's going on.

I've had so many procedures and diagnoses and traumas that I feel I've had BC for a very long time but I was just diagnosed in late February. Time flies when you're having fun, right?

Created- I hope you're feeling better. I'm a wimp and needed pain meds. I took Vicadin and Percocet (not both at the same time!). Never be in pain. I'd call your doc or the after hours surgery line if you need to. And an ice pack.

And Grazy, this one's for you #CANCERCANKISSMYASS # radiateTHIS!

Grazy

Iammags