Waiting for ER/PR status, tx options

Hi Libby - I honestly don't know the percentages of IDC that is ER positive - I know it's a large number but don't know the specifics -  I'm sorrry that I don't have data to help you. What I can do is hold your hand while you're waiting for your surgery and the pathology from the surgery. When is your mastectomy scheduled for ??

ER/PR negative responds really well to chemo -   ER/PR positive has hormone therapy (and sometimes chemo - and you're right - the oncotype DX test to help determine if you will benefit from chemo or not).  

The waiting sucks ...  it's the part of this journey that was the hardest for me .. thinking of all the what-ifs   - that not very productive though as our minds seem to want to focus on the worst possible situation ... don't know why that is.  

Take a deep breath, then another one - and tell yourself the worrying doesn't help ...  focus on what you need to do before the mastectomy and prepare for that .. 

Hugs,

Doreen 

Hi Libby -  I had a lumpectomy - so sorry I'm not able to help you with how you'll feel 4.5 weeks after your bilateral mastectomy.   I'm sure that you'll get responses from those that have had that surgery though to help you plan for what your recovery will be like and how you'll be likely to be feeling after the surgery -  that trip to Europe sounds awesome -  I hope you'll be able to join your sister and see some beautiful sites. 

Gosh - you sitll have a couple of weeks to wait before your surgery - and then the wait for the pathology from the surgery ...  I think I'd be pulling my hair out! 

Hugs,

Doreen 

Libby...I forgot to mention.  You will need a lot of pillows!!! I still sleep with them.  I have 8 pillows on my bed.  I sleep in a propped up position, and I have pillows under my arms.  After the drains were taken out I was able to sleep the entire night without waking up every 3 to 4 hours. 

Someone suggested from this discussion board to use pillows, and it was like a miracle for me! 

Also, I did not lift a finger when I came home  from surgery. You will need someone to help you.  I have a strong support system.

Blessings,

Carolyn

Hey there - I just sent you a PM.

In the meantime, I bought a Softee at Nordstroms (actually they dont carry the Softee, but they have an equivalent, and they will handle all the insurance paperwork) and it was fantastic for the week with the tubes (it really does help keep all that stuff under control); and pulling it up from the bottom (as opposed to over the head) was a godsend.  However, once I lost the tubes, I also stopped wearing the softee -- something about the elastic around the middle just starting to irritate me, and I was comfortable wearing my regular clothes with just a regualar tanktop underneath

Libby - no worries, this site gives me fits sometimes too. If all else fails, you can click on a members name and there should be a link on the right side that says 'Send a Personal Message' or something like that.

Yes, my softee, while good for recovery seems too much now. I think it is the 'shelf' that I just found irritating. Plus, if you don't have the tubes, then these little pockets just add unnecessary bulk. I am not comfortable, however, just with a shirt (must be all the years wearing a bra), so now I were a tank top under everything - whether its a blouse or a sweater.

You will find yourself gravitating to tops that have buttons or zipper up the middle because pulling anything over your head is a bit of a challenge. Post surgery, they will tell you to start doing arm/shoulder exercises and its because your instinct is to protect your body, you will hold your self rigid, and your arm/shoulder muscles get really tight. Or so says both Harrington (who checked me out of Overlake the day after) and Clarfeld. 

Hope you can get some gardening in before the weather turns again Although I have heard there is the possibility of snow this Sunday, we had freezing, slushy rain here today in Bellevue!