Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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JDFly, Welcome! I also didn't have problems similar to yours. Sounds really icky and miserable. Hope your breast returns to normal ASAP!
614, I don't know how you manage those 15 hour days. I'm glad you can - I'm worn out just thinking about them. I also missed the Suzy Homemaker gene so keeping the house in ready to show shape has been extremely painful. I miss my messes. Things seem to be falling into place for the memorial for DH. Then I'll concentrate on packing the stuff I can pack for my move. So much going on. At least it is positive stuff. And you are so right - HUGE pockets needed for both of us dancing in them (I'm surprised no one has had bruised ribs
). You and I are lucky not having problems with our various treatments!Sandy, glad your gig went well even if there were a few blips. Shows your human. I think AI-brain is real. Probably varies in how bad it is but I know gals who have experienced it. Don't know if I have it or not. When you get to be my age other things come into play and pinpointing a cause gets to be difficult. Have a great time in Hickory!
Molly, Interesting that your BS didn't go into detail with your DD like Poodles' did. Forewarned is forearmed. Not much consolation though. Sorry about your sister but glad the tumor was benign. Given your history probably a good idea for her to have a BMX as you are doing. How are YOU doing?
My heart goes out to all of you suffering SEs. May you feel better ASAP!
HUGS!
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Hi Peggy, I am doing pretty well. I am 3 weeks into exemestane and so far tolerating it well. Anastrozole was so awful for me. It's funny how these meds are so different for each of us. My not lump lump seems to be scar tissue. It's right at the incision of my alnd. It's hard, tender and sometimes I just ache all day long but MO said there's no lymph node there. I have my first mammogram this week. I also scheduled an appointment with BS because nobody is returning my calls to schedule surgery. I plan to call PS office on Monday to push from that side since BS scheduler is hard to reach. I hope your plans for the memorial are going well.
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Molly, glad your non-lump lump is a non-thing. That has to be a relief - even if it is bothersome. Damned LN sites are such a pain for many of us. And very glad that you are doing well on Aromasin. Hope you can get your Mx scheduled when you want it. Good luck with your mammogram. Take care!
HUGS!
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Hi all...I have been off the board on vacation, but just had to share this photo I took of the Race for the Cure held today in Rome! DH and I were taking a tour of the Colloseum as the streets filled with supporters. Just a reminder of the challenges and support shared by all of us...
Sue
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Katz, hope you enjoy your vacation! I've never been out of the country!
614, I don't know how you juggle all of that AND type so much to address everyone! HUGS!
Molly, so glad your lump was JUST scar tissue. I worry also since the surgeries and radiation, knowing I won't know my new normal for a few months. I also have hard ridges from the 2 surgeries around my areola, nipple, and from sentinel site. The sentinel site finally got softer and I could wear regular bras until the radiation ruined that, it's hard again and peeling- Oh well lol!!!
Jdfly, welcome! Hope the swell spot works and you get to feeling better!!!
Created, sure hope the pain is MUCH better today!
Hugs to everyone else!!
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Dear JDFLY: Welcome to our wonderful group. I had an 8cm hematoma from an MRI guided biopsy and my breast swelled immediately after the biopsy. My doctor told me about the hematoma before I left the operating room. It was 3cm at the time of the biopsy but it grew to 8cm overnight. I went to my MO 4 days later and the NP measured the hematoma. She called it a "giant hematoma". Thankfully, it went away on its own and it was not visualized on my next round of imaging tests 6 months later. I am assuming that your bleeding is internal and not external (from your stitches). Yours seems much bigger than mine. I would keep checking in with your doctor since the blood coagulated and she could not drain it completely. Good luck with radiation. I am sending you hugs and prayers.
Dear Molly and Poodles: I am thankful that your sister's lump was benign. I am sorry that your daughter will be on this roller coaster too due to the genetic testing results. It is so interesting how different doctors give different tx plans. Your daughter's plan is different than Poodles daughter's plan. I am praying for your daughter and for poodles daughter. I am also praying for both of your families. You both have endured much more than your fair share yet you are both positive, giving people. You are both amazing. I am glad that you are tolerating exemestane well and that you are no longer on anastrazole. Good luck scheduling your surgery.
Dear Sandy: I'm sorry that you will be having stressful weeks coming up. I'm glad that your concert went well even though you flubbed some lyrics. I bet that no one noticed. Enjoy performing.
Dear Katzplay: What an inspiring photo.
Dear Peggy: My lack of house keeping skills, coordination, and athletic ability are truly unbelievable! I was walking the other day and almost tripped over absolutely nothing. My boyfriend asked me if I was ok and then told me that he was speechless. I think that I need to wear bubble wrap! lol.
Happy Sunday to everyone.
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jdfly- so sorry you have so much swelling. ChiSandy seems to be our resident expert on the swell spot so hopefully, she will chime in. Many of us have had seromas- most seem to take care of themselves over time but some gals have had to have them drained
Please take it easy. Hugs to you!Molly and Poodles- I hate that your girls have to deal with the thoughts of bc- and so young. Molly- Hope you can get your surgery scheduled. Sounds so frustrating- and the non lump lump being so painful has to just drag you down. Glad your sister is ok- does she live close to yo? Can't remember- but with both of you have surgery am hoping y'all have some good support!
Sandy- traveling mercies- looking forward to next Sunday in Hickory with you and Poodles
*****The invitation is still open to any of you who might decide on a roadtrip next weekend. Poodles and I will be meeting for dinner Sat. night and then we will meet up with Sandy for lunch on Sunday and get ready for the concert. Come on if you can! Still have a few comp rooms at the Courtyard thanks to my dear, dear sister Meg.*****
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Sue- sure hope you are enjoying your vacay! Great photo of the run. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Peggy- hoping you get things in order for the big house sale so you can make your move soon. thinking about you as you get ready for DH's memorial. Hugs!
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HH, thanks! So much going on. It's crazy but the stress level has gone down a bit since I'm optimistic the sale will go through. Lots to do but it all feels positive to me. I'm looking forward to honoring my DH with family and friends and also looking forward to moving. All hectic! Have fun this weekend!
HUGS!
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614, don't worry too much about your house. I have never been a great housekeeper. I mean, I have often had clutter, but not dirty...until now. I haven't really cleaned good since October and my house looks like a pack of wolves live here, I swear. I think I'm going to have to call in a professional to whip things back into shape. It seems like I can deal with the clutter or the dirt, but not both at the moment.
jdfly, I had a huge hematoma following my initial lumpectomy. My breast turned purple-black and swelled up larger than the size of my head, no exaggeration. It was a wonder to behold. When the surgeon finally tapped it, she got over 300ml out--that's 10 ounces! It continued to seep for another week until she did the re-excision to get clean margins. She vacuumed all the blood out and when I woke up, my breast was back to normal color (for the most part) Unfortunately, after the re-excision I developed a sizable seroma. The hematoma had left a large empty pocket that filled with fluid, lots of fluid--500ml (16 ounces!) I had to have it re-tapped every 2-3 days because it just kept filling up. Then it got badly infected. After about a week of Cipro, she decided it was safe to put in a drain, which I had for about 2-3 weeks. I hope you don't have to go through all that--it really isn't common to have such a large hematoma. Seromas are very common--breasts don't like to be messed with.
Guess I better get up and start cleaning again. Our financial guy is coming over tomorrow at 10am and I don't want it to look like I've totally given up. But first, to make some potato salad for DH. I found some ham and cooked collard greens in the freezer. I thawed them out last night and I plan to surprise DH with an old fashioned ham-collards-potato salad-corn-and-Hawaiian roll dinner tonight. He's napping right now and he'll be down for the count for about another 90 min. Plenty of time to get the dinner all made, and maybe get the kitchen floor cleaned.
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Sue, what a terrific photo of the Race for the Cure! Glad you are having such a good time.
Peggy, I'm glad to hear the plans for the celebration of your DH are going well. It will be a relief to get all the house details sorted and be on your way!
Molly, sorry you are having problems getting calls returned. Seems par for the course, everywhere.
Poodles, I'm so sorry your DD had an episode like that. Sure hope she is doing okay now. What a nice meal you made for your DH! Mine would like that too. I'm making bean soup now.
Peachy, what a wonderful DH you have!
Sherri, radiation recall is what can happen (although rare) if you have chemo following rads. The skin reaction sometimes returns as though you were still having radiation. Annoying. But my RO assured me it is rare. He said it happens more often with Adriamycin than the other chemo drugs.
Jdfly, I hope your hematoma improves quickly!
My thoughts go out to everyone, and I hope you all are having a good weekend. I'll report back about my second opinion experience once I get home from it.
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Thanks everyone for your support and for your posts. I appreciate them.
Dear Moondust: Thanks for educating me regarding "radiation recall". I hope that your second opinion goes well. Good luck.
Dear Molly: I am sorry that you are in pain but I am glad the the "non-lump, lump" is nothing serious.
Dear Peachy: How are you feeling on Ibrance? How is the study going?
Dear Poodles: I am not worried about my house because I have accepted that it is cluttered and messy. It is not dirty, aside from dog hair, which is an ongoing battle. If people who visit have a problem with the way my house looks, then they can send me/pay for a cleaning service. lol. My boyfriend doesn't complain so, I guess that it is all good!
I am thinking that Melclarity is off enjoying her life and that she is doing well. I hope that she is finally feeling much better. Has anyone heard from her? I know that she will be having her (b)mx at some point in her future. If you read this Melclarity, I am thinking of you and wishing all good things for you.
Have a wonderful week everyone. Have fun next weekend to those of you getting together in Hickory. I wish that I could meet all of you and hear Sandy perform.
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Poodles....how did your DH enjoy his southern supper (suppa' in southern jargon)? While my house is clean...cluttered is another topic. Am starting to "de-clutter". Some things are just going to GoodWill...but some things will be boxed and labeled for the children to go through- pretty sure they don't want it either but feel like they need to at least be given the chance. I am seriously about at the point of getting rid of most everything and just strting over with very simple functional furniture. We have so much that has been handed down for generations- well made but just not what we want...We will see.
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I had a large seroma (about the size of a tangerine) at my SNB site--even though only 4 nodes were removed. It burst, but having it sutured rather than steri-stripped closed for two weeks did the trick and it shrank to the size of a grape. I had a “huge” seroma in the tumor cavity (the RO’s description after the initial planning CT scan) that grew even bigger--an entire cup and band size--during the course of radiation. The tissue over it got tanned and hardened. But a few weeks of a steroid ointment from my dermatologist and a Swell Spot in my sleep bra softened the radiation fibrosis and the seroma seems to be shrinking. But over the past couple of weeks the nerves in the skin over the SNB area have awakened, and I am getting some discomfort--like I have a soft pea in there. I will be having a followup exam when I get back from NC (and hopefully, after Bob’s lung scan shows no growth of the 2mm blip they saw in Nov.), but I was told to expect this and not freak out and think I have node mets. They are still talking August for my next mammo--“diagnostic” for the R, “screening” for the L. Have to try to get in to see Dr. Feldman, the Lymph Whisperer--I’ve been getting a little forearm cording again. (Amazing how I can feel it through the flab).
Light dinner w/Bob some time in the next hour or two, depending on the traffic from Evergreen Park (where he was finishing up rounds). Then wash two compression sets (despite my LE therapist's advice to machine-wash and tumble-dry them so they’ll shrink, will hand-wash and air dry them because they have silicone top bands--and I’m afraid they’d get lost in the washing machine). Mani tomorrow morning--Carrie is off this week dealing with major dental work, so I won’t have a lift; and my appointment is exactly when the prep-school moms hog all the parking spaces to pick up their toddlers, so it looks like Uber again. Hoping against hope my suitcase handle is fixed in time for me to finish packing early Tues. night so I can get good sleep--these conferences always start with early breakfasts and showcases go till 2 am! I also hear that the TSA lines at Midway are getting insanely long (3-4 hrs)--I am not above taking my cane and asking for a wheelchair.. As soon as I get back, Bob & I will have to apply for Global Entry so we can speed through security when we go to Italy in July!
Speaking of Italy, what a wonderful pic of the Race for the Cure! What part of Rome? Enjoy!
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Dinner was extra yummy, with my delicious homemade potato salad. The ham was leftover from Easter that I found in the freezer. Fresh corn in the cob, so much yum. DH thought he had died and gone to heaven.
I also got a LOT of cleaning some while he was sleeping. Got the hall bath scrubbed--it was truly horrifying. Got the floors swept and mopped. Got the kitchen counters cleaned off and got the MOUNTAIN of papers off the table. Now I'm tired and ready for bed! Our finance guy better appreciate all this cleaning, LOL
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Sandy- I did the Global Entry thing. Only helps on your return to the US, not entering other countries...my misunderstanding. Still, I found Italy much more organized than London when we connected and had to go through security. Passport control moved very smoothly in Italy.
Poodles-you deserve a medal for your domestic marathon! Ham and potato salad sounds fantastic right now.
Peggy-hoping the sale of your home goes smoothly and that you have a wonderful celebration of your DH.
Moondust-anxious to hear the results of your second opinion. Hugs to you as you wait.
Peachy - Clearly your DH is a keeper!
Molly-hoping you feel better soon!
The picture? I made a wish at the Trevi Fountain for all of us. It was for peace, healing and strength as we conquer breast cancer. #cancersucks #kickcancersbutt
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Katzpjays, how pretty you look! And thank you for the wishes - we all appreciate them (and need them)!
Sandy, wouldn't PreChek be helpful? I know it doesn't help with re-entry from out of the country BUT it might with the TSA lines. My poor niece had lines from hell. She flew from Atlanta to Chicago for her graduation with her doctorate in psychology. Then lines from hell flying back (don't know which airport).
Poodles, I'm proud of your cleaning! Wanna come here and clean too?
HH, De-cluttering can be hard (voice of experience). I don't have much in the way of ancestral furniture so that isn't an issue but I had all the photos and other stuff from both sides of the family. I assumed I would have grandchildren so the kids would want all that stuff. No grandkids so I foisted it all onto my brother! There was stuff I would have liked to keep but just no room in my new house for everything. You know, it would have been much easier to just stay here and leave all that sorting out to the kids after I die
It would have served them right for leaving all their stuff for me to go through! Oh well.HUGS!!
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Katzpjs - What a gorgeous photo by the Trevi Fountain - it's been many years since I stood at that spot! Thank you for thinking of us all as you made your wish. Divertiti! Enjoy yourself!
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Thanks for sharing about Seromas. I thought the swelling under my armpit was just expected swelling-DH was concerned because it constantly appears as though there's a large orange bulging from my armpit at the sentinel site. Ice doesn't seem to reduce the swelling and the skin feels tight and burns. I'll be contacting the Dr today to see if that's what's going on. They never mentioned this that I recall (although I went to all my appointments alone and was a bit overwhelmed so things are a tad fuzzy!)
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Created, sure hope you get some relief soon, sounds very painful. You should definitely be feeling better each day, not worse!
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My surgery is on Wednesday. Should I plan on sleeping in bed or on a recliner? I'm short and my bed is a little high to just get in for me.
The picture at the Trevi Fountain looks really nice.
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EJMann44, you will likely be tender but climbing into bed shouldn't be a problem. Sleep wherever you are most comfortable. I slept in bed. Make sure you fill your prescription for painkillers and take them if you need them. Don't let pain get the upperhand. Some, like me, need only Tylenol; others are very happy to have something a lot stronger. We're all different and our surgeries are all different. Keep ice or ice packs on hand. You may be happier with zipper or button front tops and pull on pants for a couple days. Plan on relaxing and letting your body heal - don't overdo even if you feel fantastic. This is major surgery and your body is working very hard to recover. I'll be in your pocket! Keep us posted.
HUGS!
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Sue, what a wonderful picture! Thanks for your lovely wish for all of us. Even, welcome. I slept in a recliner the first two nights after my lx because my bed is high and my side of the bed requires use of my bad arm. After that I slept with a small pillow under my arm to keep it elevated because I had a drain.
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614 I got intermittent for 1 year. I believe it is 6 weeks total so I can use it for doctor appointments. I used 1 to 2 hours for radiation.
Sue I love the photos. I want to go to Rome. I was born in Naples but don't remember anything from there. I would love to go there also.
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Hi 614! Sorry that the end of the school year is taking such a toll on you. And you are still so sweet to check in with everyone! The Ibrance (Palbociclib) trial is going well. I had to take a week off between the first and second 28 day cycle because my white cell count was a little low, but am just now finishing the second cycle with no problems. (My MO said the best way to "trick" the test is to run beforehand, so I've taken the stairs instead of the elevator.) I've not needed to reduce the dosage, and I haven't had any of the fatigue or other side effects that I was told to expect.
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ejmann, I usedbrecliner AND bed with no problem. Don't for get to ice on and off. Good luck and we will be thinking of you! Let us know how your doing!
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TSAPre used to help me breeze through security (it's automatic with business or first class, but SW is only one class--and its relatively pricey BusinessSelect fare doesn't guarantee it). I've had good luck being randomly assigned TSAPre despite never having formally applied (we will apply for Global Entry--getting back through ICE at Detroit was horrendous last Dec. because we didn't get a wheelchair at any of the airports--it embarrasses Bob). But even the TSAPre lines are insanely long now, far longer than I can walk or even stand with my carry-ons. So I called SW this afternoon and reserved a wheelchair. Might not get me through any faster either, but at least I'll be sitting down. (The wheelchair helped me breeze through Passport Control in London and ICE in Chicago last month) I'd better leave home before 10am (maybe closer to 9) for a 2 pm flight--even though Midway's only 40 minutes away.
Couple of weeks ago, Gordy left home at 5:30 am for an 8 am flight out of O'Hare to New Orleans. O'Hare is a little closer to us than Midway but the traffic to O'Hare is much worse. He got there at 6am; no curbside check-in for Spirit (it's a toy airline) so it took half an hour to check his bag & get his boarding pass, and 40 minutes in the TSA line....yup, that early in the morning. Made his flight only because boarding was delayed. (The longest TSA line I'd ever encountered till now was 20 min. at Dulles). People are sleeping on cots because they're either missing their flights, or getting there 12 hours early and staying overnight in the terminal!
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Oh gosh, Sandy! I can't imagine sleeping in the airport just to catch my flight in the morning. TSA has got to do something about this. We always fly from Atlanta and we rarely encounter more than a 30 min wait for TSA. When we were in the San Diego airport I was pretty shocked by how backed up their were. Thankfully, DH was in a wheelchair so we zipped right on through, but I felt sorry for the people with small children that were standing in that long line.
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EJMann44 I have my 2nd lx tomorrow. I didn't have any problem with 1st. Took Tylenol and applied ice for 20 minutes probably every hour at first. I was able to sleep in my own bed, just make sure you don't roll over on surgery side. Heard someone say they put a towel or pillow behind then to keep from rolling. I plan to do that this time as well as ice & Tylenol. I'm having SNB this time as well as lx, so hoping I don't have any problems with it. Sending prayers your way. We can compare notes.
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Trish, in your pocket tomorrow. Hope all is perfect!
HUGS!
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