Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Dizzybee

Celand, I have mostly gone braless since I started rads, it doesn't matter at home and when I'm out I wear loose sweaters and scarves. If anyone's noticed they've been too polite to say so! If I do wear a bra, I wear my usual underwired ones.

I expected to have problems with my skin because I'm pale and freckled, and burn very easily. But I've had almost no reaction after 13 out of 15 sessions, just a bit of pinkness and a couple of spots under my boob. And I haven't used much cream, my unit says use it sparingly twice a day, so I use E45 after the session and at bedtime.

It's so hard to know who will have problems and who won't. When my oncologist examined me before my planning appointment, he told me he didn't think I'd have a problem. So now I wish I'd asked him why he thought that, what makes the difference?

ArtyMom

Day two on tamoxifen, so far so good!!!! Dry run for radiation on Friday, 33 sessions starting on the 27th. Called for a Reiki session today! Feeling ready to fight this thing!!! And I've got apps for pt for cording issues. Mydoctors are great!!

PontiacPeggy

Molly, I totally mis-read your post. I thought you were giving a Dx of "LOL." I get that you don't care anymore.

DizzyBee, YES for doing so well with your skin. That's fantastic!!

ArtyMom, did you get tattoos? You'll do well!!!!

HUGS!

ArtyMom

four dots for tattoos, no biggie

Lorri70

I got my tattoos for radiation today as well starting on January 4th, I'm feeling very emotional sine this evening I don't know why feel as bad as I did the first night of my diagnosis when I cried for hours in the middle of the night hopefully I'll be better in the morning

PontiacPeggy

ArtyMom, I think we all envision a REAL tattoo rather than little dots.

Lorri, you're entitled to be emotional. It doesn't matter why. Probably because you're facing something new again and the tattoos made it real. We all have ups and downs. Usually it evens out. But don't hesitate to ask your doctor for help if your moods don't stop swinging. A lot of us find we are fighting depression because of our Dx. Or anxiety. Or both. Don't try to tough it out. We're with you!

HUGS!

ElizabethAM

I asked for Butterflies or Unicorns and got turned down. Only choice was a dot or a dot or a dot and finally a dot.

My setup session was on the 15th and I will start Rads on Jan. 3rd.

PontiacPeggy

That's the only way I would have gotten butterfly tattoos Too chicken!

HUGS!

ArtyMom

I asked when the bearded guy named Earl was gonna come in to do the tattoos

PontiacPeggy

ArtyMom HAHAHAHA!!!

HUGS!

ChiSandy

I feel deprived—didn’t even get offered any tats, just Sharpie-drawn dots & Xes covered by heavy-duty clear tape that stayed put all the way through daily showers till they took it off.

Had a brutal evening trying to get a straight answer from my Medicare Part D plan, (in)Humana, as to why certain of my generics were mis-labeled as "brand," and why one (letrozole) was—according to their records—covered 100% by them but I still had to fork over $27/mo. to the pharmacist (with whom I'm gonna have a little talk). I spent 90 (!) minutes being turfed from customer service rep to pharmacy rep to benefits rep and back again—getting disconnected twice, and the sound quality getting poorer and the voices more indecipherable the deeper down their telephone-tree I went. Tried going online, but their chat reps aren't on duty, their website won't let me enter my whole ID (and won't recognize any shorter versions thereof), and whenever I try to send a secure message, the site crashes or gives me a "404." I got one phone rep to admit that not only didn't she have the info to answer my questions, neither did anyone else—and couldn't tell me whom to write or call who knows how certain drugs are assigned tiers (and why two of my generics are listed as "non-preferred brand"). Obviously, the mantra "delay, deny, until they die" is universal across the entire health insurance industry.

They finally did robo-e-mail me that they received my tirade….er, message.

Good news is that my LE doc (aka The Lymph Whisperer) says I am in remission from even Stage 0 LE and wants to see me next Nov. (would’ve been Dec., but didn’t want to have to reschedule because of winter weather). Despite gaining weight, my arm & hand measurements are down. Still says I should wear my compression for flying, rapid ascents to high altitudes, and repetitive resistance exercising, and use my left arm for all BPs and needle sticks (unless I need another trigger thumb shot). In other words, basic LE-prevention precautions I was told about even before my surgery.

tbalding

Sandy, very frustrating call, but at least you got some acknowledgement. Hopefully they can get it straightened out soon. Nothing worse than getting caught up in a customer service loop where you either can't talk to a real person (all automated) or you keep getting passed around. Great news about the LE being in remission!

Celand

Pontiac Peggy,

Too hot here most of the year to wear a sweatshirt, so I won't be able to go bra-less! Although it is very cold here now for a few days of a cold snap, so that could be possible for me!

Celand

Celand

Dizzybee, I just have gotten to where I can not wear my bra - was wearing it all of the time while recuperating from surgery, but before surgery, didn't wear it at night. Hopefully, I will go back to that when life gets back to "normal" whatever that may be!

Celand

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, I'm sorry you didn't join the "tat" club. You could always get a cute one done What crap about your fight with Humana. Don't you suspect that your pharmacy was the cause of the error? Were they getting greedy? Still, Humana is basically operating like the jerk most health insurance companies seem to these days. But Humana doesn't realize they are dealing with a pitbull and you WILL prevail. Terrific news about your LE!!! All your hard work paid off.

Celand, wear sweatshirts when you can Maybe a Genie bra or sport bra might work for you if you need the support.

HUGS!

Caligirl55

Sandy...I have the heavy duty tape..X marks the spot...I wondered how long I was going to have to wear it

Celand....what part of Louisiana do you live in...my DH is a Louisiana boy!! I hope I can wear my bra to work. I will have to check out that Genie bra.

mustlovepoodles

Foo, Sandy! I completely sympathize with you. Dealing with insurance companies, even Medicare, is so frustrating. As if we don't have enough to deal with, having cancer, being irradiated & poisoned, losing our hair, parts or all of our breasts or other body parts, and all the mental fatigue a cancer diagnosis entails.

I just had a little phone pow-wow with the hospital that is still dunning me for $93,000+ because they don't want to take the negotiated rate. I finally just broke down and told her that both me and my DH had had cancer in the past 18 months and we cannot pay this bill. I must say, that did seem to thaw her a good bit. I sent off copies of all my bills and records of phone calls to Cigna's Appeal dept and the State of Georgia Insurance Commissioner yesterday. We'll see what happens from there.

Sandy, I hope you can get your pharmacy issues straightened out quickly and easily. I don't know why healthcare has to be so difficult to navigate.

Celand

Caligirl55,

I am from South Louisiana, Lafayette, about 2-1/2 hours West of New Orleans - the Heart of Cajun Country!

Celand

DaraB

Cali, what a wonderful tribute to you.

Celand, congrats on the onco score. I'm at #30 of 36 rads. My skin didn't really get too irritated until about a week and a half ago. Now the whole breast is red, like a sunburn, and the only really sore area is under the breast. The RO gave me a prescription for Silvadene. The skin is very blistered and gross, but it's not super bad as long as I keep the cream flowing! I'm now into boosts, so it should start healing. Fatigue hasn't been too bad. Every couple of days I need a nap, but I was also coming right off chemo. I also used the Dove for sensitive skin which was recommended by the dr.

PontiacPeggy

I've used Dove Sensitive for years. It is fragrance free and gentle - lack of fragrance is the most important. I tried using Tom's of Maine deodorant (that doesn't contain aluminum) and was allergic to it, so didn't use anything (I rarely sweat or stink).

Dara good luck on your remaining rads!!

Poodles, I hope you can get that correctly resolved. It's really shitty how everyone is treating you and refusing to cover/accept agreed upon payments and hassling you. Keep at 'em, Girl!

HUGS!

Caligirl55

Poodles...hope you can get some help with all this. It's just not right.

Celand....my husbands from Denham Spings area ...he still has lots of family down there.

Molly50

Merry Christmas lumpies! I am trying to make myself scarce for a few days. I hope you all have a wonderful, warm, joy filled holiday.

IHGJAnn49

Merry Christmas Molly... Have a Great time

PontiacPeggy

Molly Merry Christmas. Lots of love and joy to you and yours.

HUGS!

Caligirl55

Merry Christmas Molly! Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season! I am finding its hard to take it easy this time of year. 3rd radiation down today!

tbalding

Merry Christmas Molly!

ILSunrise

Merry Christmas everyone! I've still got a couple presents to buy and a wee bit of wrapping left to do. So, I guess I better get on that soon!

I haven't been doing too bad since the first round of chemo. So, far I've only had one really bad day of fatigue and a bit of the gastro issues. I did develop an extremely annoying rash on my back, sides, shoulder's thighs,etc. Went back into the cancer center so they could take a look and came home with an RX steroid dose pack and some cream. I also have to go back in today for my one week post chemo appointment to have my blood work checked. I did notice an unusual bruise on the back of my left thigh. So, we'll see what they say about that latest development.

Celand

Caligirl55,

Denham Springs is about an hour from me. My husband has lots of family (I do too through marriage), but my only relatives left here are my husband and daughters. My parents were not from here, we lived in New Orleans for a number of years.

Celand

Celand

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Although it will only be my me and my husband at home this year (can't travel to where family are because of my daily radiation treatments), we will make the best of it. My husband mentioned having steak and baked potato for Christmas dinner instead of traditional Christmas dinner - now that is the 1st time that we have ever had steak at this time of year!

Celand

PontiacPeggy

ILSunrise, glad you've been doing okay with your chemo and that your rash was "easily" treated. Take it easy!

Celand, steak for Christmas is good. DH and I did that for a several years on Christmas Eve.

HUGS!