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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited November 2010

    *Update* I went for the biopsy on Wednesday, and the doctor decided to do a fine needle aspiration after looking at the lump on ultrasound. He did get some fluid back from it, but decided also to do a core biopsy on it to take a chunk. While he was looking around he noted something deeper in and also took a chunk of that! The good news is since I haven't had feeling from my boob to my elbow since my surgery...I felt nothing, not even the "bee sting" from the numbing shot. I also have no bruising what-so-ever! The doctor that did the biospy said " I don't think you have anything to worry about", the same thing the BS told me. I almost hate hearing that, for some reason I wind up thinking, now I have been double jinxed! The biopsy dr. said we should have the results by today, but I'm not going to call. I have an appointment with the BS next Wed. to go over the results. He said he drained the very small lump, but when I took the bandage off yesturday, I can still feel it, although it feels different and smaller. So I will let you all know as soon as I hear! {{{HUGS}}} Donna

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited November 2010

    Cording, I had this on my forearm for awhile after surgery...it literally looks like a cord twisted under you skin. I have no idea what it's from but mine eventually went away. I remember it was painful, felt like the muscles in my arm were wound up to tight to move.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    From Step Up, Speak Out -- a great website about Lymphedema (and other related issues including cording) that was started by some BCO members:

    "Axillary web syndrome is a common complication that occurs when there is trauma to the lymph nodes in the axilla--usually after surgery to remove lymph nodes. It has been studied and the cords/webs have been found to be thrombosed lymphatic vessels. The cording can be located just in the arm pit/axilla area, or it can spread down the arm, all the way to the thumb and onto the chest.

    Axillary webs look like cords, and the symptoms are pain and tightness, and limitation of movement."

    So cording is related to Axiillary web syndrome apparently.  If you go to this link you can see pictures of it.

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

    Donna -- I hope the doctors are right and that it is nothing!  PLEASE let us know when you know.  How goes the diet?  Did you go on your cruise? 

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited November 2010

    Donna - things seem to be looking good so far! Yeah!! Keep us informed. Have a good weekend everyone. We have had our first snowfall this week - not much but enough to remind us winter is just around the corner. Now off to lunch with a friend and preschool is closed for the week :)

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2010

    Donna - So happy to hear the news is still good on your lump!   Here's hoping that by this time next week you'll have the official "all clear".   Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

    Lilah - I didn't get a bump after the port came out, I got a little crater.  I think my port must have migrated inward because as she was removing it my surgeon muttered "Gosh, I'm just going to have to dig this thing out".   Then she laughed and said "That doesn't sound very professional does it?"   Indeed not!   Mine was removed in May and there is still a discernible dent in my chest but the scar is fading every day.

    Weety - I think the herceptin might slow down the hair growth so it ought to take off now.  I get tired keeping up with one kid, can't imagine you with all your little ones.  I hope your vacation from work is great!

    YoYo - Good luck with your surgery on the 16th!   What a great Christmas present...two boobs!

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

    Patty

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Patty -- that's funny.  When my surgeon was digging it out (and it took an hour so you can imagine the aggravation she radiated -- she kept saying: WHO put this in?  And: WHY did he do it like this?  So reassuring when you've been cut open and you can smell your skin burning (thank god you can't feel it).  Anyway she said that a capsule had formed around the device -- kinda like the capsule the body makes around implants -- and I suspect the bump I can feel is what remains of that capsule.  What I can't figure out is why she didn't remove it?!  It does seem to be getting smaller though... so I'm thinking that there is swelling around it still (as well) due to the digging she had to do.  My scar is looking good though!  The bump is about an inch or so lower than the scar (which is about where the port was).  If I had not actually SEEN the port after she removed it I swear I'd say it's still in there!

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited November 2010

    Keeping good thoughts for you Donna.

    Hello to all you Amazons......

    Navy

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    Donna - I'm glad to hear they think it'll be okay, but am still saying prayers and crossing fingers until we get the final results.  Ouch...sorry to hear you have some cording.

    Lilah - thanks for the info on cording.  I had an idea of what it was, but wow....looking at the pictures gave me pain. 

    Patty/Gill/Navy - hope all is well and hope that today was good.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Jenn -- I think that some people get much milder cases of cording.  I actually had some very minor cording after my SNB surgery, thanks to the fact that my stupid ex-BS never told me to exercise my arm after the surgery... so that I was unable to raise it above my head!  Thank goodness my ONC told me what to do and I stretched through the problem.  In fact, whoever it was who said they have cording, have you tried stretching?  (Sorry I am too lazy to scroll back and my brain is dead at almost 2 AM :)

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2010

    Lilah -  My surgeon showed me my port after she removed it as well.  MUCH bigger than I expected!  Had I seen it before it went in I might have opted for the PICC line.  But I'm glad I had it and now I'm glad it is gone!  Hope your bump goes down soon.

    Donna - still thinking good thoughts for you this week.

    Patty

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Thanks Patty.  Mine was sort of cute (and purple -- my favorite color).  It was a little bigger than a quarter (except round, not flat) and had a purple tail (which I guess went down into my vein -- ew).  The bump is getting smaller so I think it's swelling around the capsule... but I think maybe I'll always have a small bump there.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    I asked to see my port too, it was also purple and was about what I expected. 

    Went to see Harry Potter this morning, enjoyed it very much, but would have rathered the whole thing at one time, with an intermission rather than two parts.  I also finished up my Thanksgiving shopping.  I am responsible for making the turkey, stuffing, mirliton w/shrimp casserole, baked macaroni and am also doing stufffed artichokes for an appetizer.  By the time the rest of the family brings dishes we'll have more food than what we need.

    So.....what are y'all doing for Thanksgiving?  Cooking?  Leaving town? Family? Friends?

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    I'm going to my Uncle's -- no cooking for me!  (Though I'll be bringing some home baked cookies). 

    I agree about Harry P -- I really enjoyed it but am disappointed to have to wait now for the rest of the story.  Any idea when part 2 gets released?  I will probably have to see part 1 again!

    We saw MORNING GLORY tonight and I LOVED it!  What a great, funny movie.  Perfectly told story.  Great actors.  I laughed so hard I cried!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited November 2010

    Hi ladies. I have not seen any of the Harry Potter movies, nor have I read the books. When the first one came out DH read it out loud to the boys before bed time. Our younger son was really struggling with reading at that time, and that summer I listened to him read it to me, helping with the words. It was really hard work! :) However, I credit the HP book with turning him into a reader. After that, whenever a new book came out, younger son always got to read it before his brother as he did nothing but read until it was done - much faster than older son.

    DH is in Australia right now teaching a workshop. He gets back on Thanksgiving day and we are going to friends for dinner. So no cooking for me either.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    Gill - funny you say that about your son becoming more interested in books after the HP books came out.   That was how I started reading them.......my youngest (now in college) hated to read with every ounce of her being.  Her teacher started reading the books in class and she was so anxious to learn more she started reading them outside of class - she now loves books and reads all of the time. 

    Australia, that sounds exciting, hope DH gets a chance to be a tourist.  Glad he'll make it home for Thanksgiving though. 

    Lilah - not sure when the next HP movie comes out, but something inside tells me maybe summer 2011???

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    I love that the HP books have inspired a generation of readers.  They truly are wonderful tales!

    Well Summer 2011 is not soon enough Jenn!

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2010

    I bought the first HP book for my God-Daughter who lived in Germany at the time.  They hadn't come out there.  Before sending it I decided to check it out and got hooked!  Had to read the whole thing before I sent it.   She also loved it and when the second one came out she insisted her mother fly to England to get it. 

    We are having a small family Thanksgiving at my house.  Decided to get a turkey breast instead of the whole thing, but since I got one with the bones in it looks pretty much like a whole turkey whose legs have been amputated.  Poor thing!

    Decided to up-date my Avatar.  Not the best picture, but my hair is making progress!

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    Patty - I love your picture, you look great.  I so need to update!!!!

    My hair is so incredibly curly, as in Shirley Temple curls.  I do need to get it shaped up and trimmed again.  Maybe I'll get a good picture over the holidays.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Love the new picture Patty!

    Happy Thanksgiving ladies :)

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited November 2010

    * UPDATE*

     First I want to thank all of you for your support over the last few weeks. I could never explain how much it means to me! I really rely on you guys alot! And even though I can think of better things I could have been doing this past year and a half besides fighting cancer, I am so thankful that I have all of you! We all can feel each others pains and worries, because we have been there, which is sometimes difficult to explain to my family and non-CA friends!

    "NOT CANCER" Yeah!!!!! He said the one I can feel is cystic in nature and the other 2 are scar tissue, none of them CA! He said I could leave it in and monitor it or he could remove it "if it bothers me"...are you kidding, of course it bothers me! Next month I'm going to the office and he will remove my port and the lump! We have alot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Have a great holiday! {{{BIG HUGS}}} D

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Waaahoooooo Donna!!!! Great news for the holiday!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited November 2010

    Donna -great news! Yeah!!

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited November 2010

    Wonderful news, Donna!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    Donna - wonderful news!!!  I'm doing the happy dance.....

    I apologize for my tardiness, but I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2010

    Donna -  Excellent news!

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2010

    We normally, or should I say DH starts outside decorating for Christmas on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Yesterday was cold and rainy, so he started today and............the Griswold's have arrived.  I am now trying to get motivated to get my inside stuff done, but for some crazy reason don't feel like it.  Maybe a good ole Christmas movie or some music will work......

    I didn't shop Black Friday, too crazy for me.  However, my DD and I went out this morning for a little while and it wasn't bad.  I guess everyone was still recovering from the day before .  By 2p it was getting crowded so we decided to head out have lunch and come home. 

    Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    I confess I have never understood the appeal of Black Friday... are the deals really THAT good?  I always see it as a bait and switch thing... where only a small small percentage benefits and the rest are left crazily grabbing up goods they aren't even sure they want.  Please correct me if I'm wrong!

    Hope the house is looking lovely Jenn!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited November 2010

    I don't "do" Black Friday either. Not that there are that many shops in our little town. And we've had so much snow this week I would not consider driving to a bigger place to shop. I have told my kids this year is going to be a minimalist Chrismas gifts-wise. None of us actually NEED anything so, just little things I think. (But both sons and DH still like getting chocolate in their stockings!)

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited November 2010

    Aw that's sweet Gill!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2010

    I don't get the whole Black Friday thing either.  The items that they do advertise at deep discounts are so few that the chances of getting that item are slim to none.  And....they somehow seem to lure people in to buy things that aren't needed.  Why would I want to buy a television when I have more than I need, or a computer when I have one, etc.....  Then the things that they have on sale at regular prices will go on sale again, stay on sale or difference is so small it's not worth the hassle of the crowds.  There I go again, rambling on and on.....

    Today I got to work early to get some stuff done.  As I drove in I noticed a lot of street lights were out, then I realized that all of the buildings were dard - all of the electricty was out in the downtown area due to the bad weather.  Because of the bad weather I had to sit in line with everyone else on the street waiting to get into the parking garage.  They didn't want to open the gates because it was pitch black in the garage and the elevators weren't working.  Once the back up lights were one were we able to get in.  Then we got into the office and couldn't do anything because we had no phones or computers and the back up lights aren't enough to really do work with.  So.....we got to sit around for a little over an hour and talk.  What a way to start the day. 

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