Nurses with Breast Cancer

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited December 2011

    Hi Donna,

    I am contemplating having a BMX and am wondering if in light of what has happened to you, do you regret not having it done initially?  I hope you don't mind me asking.  I'm really leaning in that direction, but it always helps to talk to people with similar DX.  I hope all goes well for you with your upcoming surgery.  Happy Holidays!

    Carolyn

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited December 2011

    carolyn-have you had MRI/pet scan yet? 

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited December 2011

    Hi Fran,

    I had an MRI on Tuesday which showed the DCIS on the left and a lymph node of 6mm on the right.  I was told the lymph was small and nothing to worrry about, probably just a normal function.  They recommended a follow up MRI in 6 months just to be sure.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited December 2011

    I've been meaning to ask you'll what you do at work as far as LE sleeve/glove? I havn't returned to work yet, but work in IR-interventional radiology.

    I don't know much about LE yet. I know I'm going to be a risk for it. 17 axillary LN removed/radiation to follow chemo.

    I suppose I would wear LE sleeve daily, but I've read that you should wear glove whenever wearing sleeve. but then you wouldn't be able to wash hand/glove frequently. I'm confused.

    can someone tell me what they do?

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited January 2012

    fredntan--I remember from the lymphedema threads that there is woman who is an NP who wears a LE sleeve at work.  I can't remember her name, but if you scan the LE threads I bet you can find her.  She'd be able to answer your question. 

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  • donnajrn
    donnajrn Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2012

    Carolyn, sorry I just read your note.  My first surgery for DCIS, a mastectomy wasn't even mentioned.(it was very small)  I am still not sure what will happen to me this time.  I have my surgery tomorrow for LCIS and depending on the path report...............will go the 6 month check-up route or BMX..........Even if they say 6 month check-up............it scares me since this is the second time I have "something"  I was told I would be eligible for tissue sparing, nipple sparing surgery if I need a BMX...does that help???? not sure.  Guess for me it is a wait and see.............just do not want to say...why did I not do it?? 

    Good luck with your decision.........what ever you decide..........will be the best for you.

    Donna

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  • HantaYo
    HantaYo Member Posts: 280
    edited January 2012

    Namaste!

    fredntan:  About the LE sleeve and work.  I work in pre-op and recovery and we are required to wear hospital laundered scrubs and NO PERSONAL CLOTHING IS ALLOWED TO SHOW.  So if someone is chilled easily and they wear a t-shirt under their scrubs it MUST NOT show in either the neckline or below the sleeves.  In the same way in regards to me and my LE sleeve it means that I must always wear a long sleeve scrub jacket (I am always too hot). On appeal, my only recourse was to move to a department that didn't require full coverage by hospital laundered scrubs.  I didn't want that. I am NOT ALLOWED to wear my gauntlet.  This would apply in all nursing departments. Anyway, there is no way any type of decent universal precautions can be maintained with a gauntlet unless you would continuously wear a rubber glove over it and treat the rubber glove as your skin and then wash and apply a second glove when gloves were appropriate.  Not workable in my opinion.  Soooooooooo what I do is on the days I work, I wear the gauntlet before and after work and then at night wear a solaris glove to reduce the secondary hand swelling from going without the gauntlet.  Seems to work for me but right now my LE is in my upper arm/axilla/chest area and is very stable so someone who has LE in lower arm this might not work for them.  My hand swelling comes from the compression of the sleeve and not from LE so it reverses easily at night with the solaris glove.

    Karla

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2012

    Hi Donna,

    Thanks for the response!!  I wish you the best of luck with your surgery tomorrow!!!

    I'm feeling pretty comfortable with my decision.  I really don't want rads or tamox and that would be my only option otherwise.  I think with my family HX this is probably my best choice.  Can't say I'm really looking forward to it, but it will be good when it's done and about 6 months down the road:>  I'm looking at surgery in February, so if you choose that route eventually and I can pass down any info, just let me know.  Thanks again!

    Carolyn 

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  • donnajrn
    donnajrn Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2012

    Carolyn,  Thanks for your thoughts.

    My oncologist told me she had a patient that had nipple sparing/skin sparing mastectomy and she asked her when the surgery was scheduled........not realizing it had been done...said it was hard to tell she had surgery.  Makes me feel a bit better.

    Donna

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  • topless
    topless Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2012

    Another nurse here!  I worked as an RN since 1973 but had to take early retirement because of worsening MS.  In 1974 I developed sudden onset fulmanating ulcerative colitis with toxic megacolon and had a panproctocolectomy and have lived with an ileostomy ever since.  I was diagnosed with MS in the early 80's and kept working until 2001.  Last August I underwent BMX for invasive mucinous breast cancer.  So I like to think I cured my ulcerative colitis and breast cancer but can't get rid of this pesky MS.  Sigh.

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  • nurseronda10
    nurseronda10 Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2012

    Fredntan- I work 7P-7A as a floor nurse.  My LE is mainly in my thumb and wrist.  Bicep area measures 1/4  inch larger than unaffected arm.  I always wear my sleeve.  Wear glove while getting ready for work and when I get to work, I take it off and leave it off until I get 9 p.m. meds passed, then I put glove back on.  I have it on and off so many times during my shift.  I try not to wear it when I go in a patient's room.  I would like to go to dayshift, but at night we usually have down time so I can keep my glove on for longer periods of time.  If I have my glove off too long I feel lymph fluid getting in my hand because it starts hurting.  So far, no one has said anything to me at work regarding the glove.  The radiology tech at work has to wear a gauntlet and she had to get a statement from her doctor saying it was medically necessary.  

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  • nurseronda10
    nurseronda10 Member Posts: 209
    edited January 2012

    Fredntan- I work 7P-7A as a floor nurse.  My LE is mainly in my thumb and wrist.  Bicep area measures 1/4  inch larger than unaffected arm.  I always wear my sleeve.  Wear glove while getting ready for work and when I get to work, I take it off and leave it off until I get 9 p.m. meds passed, then I put glove back on.  I have it on and off so many times during my shift.  I try not to wear it when I go in a patient's room.  I would like to go to dayshift, but at night we usually have down time so I can keep my glove on for longer periods of time.  If I have my glove off too long I feel lymph fluid getting in my hand because it starts hurting.  So far, no one has said anything to me at work regarding the glove.  The radiology tech at work has to wear a gauntlet and she had to get a statement from her doctor saying it was medically necessary.  

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  • Neli143727
    Neli143727 Member Posts: 86
    edited January 2012

    ayone going thru Taxotere Cytoxan chemo?

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  • nehson123
    nehson123 Member Posts: 36
    edited January 2012

    Hi Everyone, I am so glad to see this forum. I have been a nurse since 1977,worked mostly Peds my entire career,mostly Peds ER in a large regional pediatric center, I now am faculty at a nursing school where I do theory and clinical peds and med-surg. My diagnosis was aa shock.I am 8  weeks s/p Bilat. Mx.I am going back to work this wek. My energy level is pretty good. I still have TE's which I hate,very painful especially at night.Sleeping has been difficulty but I take benadryl every night to help. I was pleasantly surprised that even though I was a nurse I received so much guidance and information from everyone caring for me. I am barely numb except for my armpits which made my fills painful.My PS used EMLA at my request because I was such a mess at each  fill. My exchange is scheduled for 2/17.I am nervous  because it is another OR experience even though everyone says it is so much easier than the MX. Still worried about pain etc... Hope going back to work keeps my mind off of it for a while. Take Care Everyone Andrea

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2012

    Hi Andrea,

    Welcome.  I'm a peds nurse and have been for my entire career, which is rather short.  I graduated @ 40, and having been working in a university peds hospital ever since.   I'm still a midnighter, mostly by choice, but I'm afraid I'm going to need to make some changes after my surgery which is Wednesday.

    I'm starting to get nervous as it is getting close. 

    I actually work on an acute care floor and love working with the kids.  I'd love to chat sometime if you're interested.

    Carolyn

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  • donnajrn
    donnajrn Member Posts: 154
    edited February 2012

    Carolyn, Good luck with your surgery.  I understand the nervousness..funny, our whole career we have been sending pts to th e OR, very hard when we are on the other side.

    By the way, I am a peds nurse also, working in NICU at the present time.

    Donna

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited February 2012

    Im so excited to get back on the march work schedule. Im going to skip into work

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited February 2012

    Hi Donna,

    THX for the well wishes!!!  I'm home and doing well.  Still have my 4 drains, but I think I will get to lose 2 on Thursday!!!  Everything going much better than anticipated @ this point:>

    Have you always worked NICU?

    Fran,

    Skip away!!!  Congrats on going back to work!!!  I hope all goes smoothly and you can get the kind of hours you want!!

    Carolyn

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited February 2012

    Went to see RO yest. Ny birthday is tomorrow. Had my little pity party this morning..better now

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  • sj29
    sj29 Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2012

    I'm so glad to find this thread! I am 26 and dx with bc 4 weeks ago. I had a nipple sparing umx with negative nodes and clear margins. I am coming up on 2 weeks out. Waiting on oncotyping and meeting with my MO on Monday to talk chemo or not. I have been off work for 4 weeks now and am nervous to go back to work in a few weeks. I am an RN at a children's hospital in one our PICUs for the past 4 years.. I am so nervous for lifting and using my arm. They aren't really thinking I need PT but I think it would be a good idea.. any thoughts?? Also, if I have to do chemo I am worried about going back to work in a hospital.. Did anyone do this??



    I am also scared I won't be able to handle the emotional and mental aspects of caring for people when I feel like I can't even care of myself..one side note: I just got my second JP drain out 24 hours ago and the skin above where both the drains were are hard. Not red and no s/s of infection. Do you girls jyst think scar tissue or what???

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  • Janeybw
    Janeybw Member Posts: 199
    edited February 2012

    Sjensen-  Probably scar tissue.  I was told to do a lot of massage and that seems to help.  I also think the skin softens over time because I haven't always been so compliant with the massage and the hard parts have softened.  I am also curious about others going to work in the hospital while on chemo.  I am nurse faculty and have students in the hospital.  I was lucky and didn't need chemo, but I was already thinking I wouldn't go to the hospital at that time--too many bugs!  Do you have good support--someone to talk to?  You are so young and I would think your peers may not have the right resources for you.  Support groups are a great thing.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited February 2012

    I stayed off work entire Sx and chemotherapy. Getting back on sche.dule in march. I work prn.im just too afraid of germs. My MO said I could go ackh during tacxol. My wbc s have been fine.

    Left message last week on NM phone. Out sick though. But I yexted the schedule nurse. Said she'd start me out slow. So I guess I still have job.

    God I've missed not going to work. Going to hug all my patients first dsy

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  • sj29
    sj29 Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2012

    janeybw: I do have a very good support system, huge family, great in laws, and friends. It is just hard because no one I know has ever gone through it. The few people that have are much older than me. I don't think if I do chemo that I will work because my health is number one over my job. Sad to say it that way, but it is true at this time in my life.

     I have thought about support groups, but they seem overwhelming to me at this time. I am thinking about going to see a health therapist because large groups of unknown people to me just seems to much. I don't know why. I guess my way of coping with it. I definitely think I will at some point, but not any time soon.

     About massaging the skin, they didn't say anything to me about that or Vitamin E that I keep hearing about..any thoughts? 

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  • Janeybw
    Janeybw Member Posts: 199
    edited February 2012

    I know what you mean about support groups.  I always thought I would be a support group person, but it turns out that I'm not!  For me it was because I was lucky enough not to need a lot of treatment and I guess I felt I wouldn't belong.  My PS has told me about massaging to prevent the hard scars, but she told me not to do the Vit E or any other scar treatment until the scars were well healed.  So, you will need to wait a while for the drain holes.  My drain holes leaked for about 2-3 weeks after drain removal--sometimes it was pretty funny.  I am now about 9 months post BMX and the drain scars are starting to fade well.

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  • sj29
    sj29 Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2012

    So my oncotype came back today at 14. My MO suggestion was to do Tamoxifen for 5 years and did not think chemo was neccessary. My reoccurence rate with doing soley the hormone therapy was 9%. Doing chemotherapy combined would bring it down about 3-5% more. I want to do everything to bring it down to the lowest number without compromising my health. At this point it appears that chemo isn't in my favor. The side effects seem to risky, but I just feel like I want to do everything..I am so conflicted. I have no children and would like to someday. Doing chemo would obviously cause a huge road block in this. Fertility is my main reason for NOT wanting to do chemo..I don't know. I know the numbers are so low and they are in my favor, but it is hard to believe that when I got BC at such a young age and my risk for getting it was like 2%...

     It makes it hard for me see such "low numbers" as good when the numbers for having breast cancer were in my favor already. I don't know. I just keep going back and forth. I know the MO is saying it is safer not to, but how do I be sure? 

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  • Kcrab
    Kcrab Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2012

    I was able to work full time thru my chemo -TC x 4 and then radiation. I work night shift in labor and delivery so don't take care of too many "sick people". It was very doable and it helped me to feel sane. My coworkers were great and helped me avoid really bad germy situations. Sjenson29, I am glad to see your oncotype came back in the low range. Mine was 21. It is hard to know what to do, isn't it? I am thinking about you.

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  • Kcrab
    Kcrab Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2012

    I was able to work full time thru my chemo -TC x 4 and then radiation. I work night shift in labor and delivery so don't take care of too many "sick people". It was very doable and it helped me to feel sane. My coworkers were great and helped me avoid really bad germy situations. Sjenson29, I am glad to see your oncotype came back in the low range. Mine was 21. It is hard to know what to do, isn't it? I am thinking about you.

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  • donnajrn
    donnajrn Member Posts: 154
    edited February 2012

    Hi Carolyn, glad you are doing so well.

     I was a pediatric nurse for years before going to the NICU.........think a maternal-child nurse has a different personality than an ICU or Med-surg nurse.........all good nurses, no doubt, but different.  Funny, adult nurses say, there is no way I could work with kids...and ped nurses say, ther is no way I could work with adults!

    I have decided not to do surgery and will do the other option for the time being.......that is, 6 month follow-ups of mammos and MRI's.  My BRAC testing was negative.

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  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited February 2012

    Hi Donna,

    It is definately true about the peds/adult nursing!!!  I find it sooo much easier working with the kids, I think because I am a big one:>  They get my silly sense of humor:>

    I will keep you in my prayers!!!  Yeah on the negative BRACA testing!!!

    I go back to PS on Thursday and will probably get the last 2 drains out then.  I'm feeling like i'm back to baseline for the most part.  I think it is a good things I had the pedicle Tram as it keeps me in line!!!  I have the tendancy to overdue, so having my back start to hurt, reminds me that I'm supposed to be taking it easy!!! 

    I have to say, I'm really pretty happy with the procedure.  Not too uncomfortable, and I think my PS did a great job.  I'm not sure how long it will take to see the true results (swelling gone), but they look good right now and I think the ABD incision will be nice.  He used a new type of glue/tape combo that should leave less of a scar.  Time will tell...

    Take Care,

    Carolyn

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  • Janie-bug
    Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2012

    Hello everyone my name is Janie. I am so glad I found this thread. I found out 11/11/11 about the Big C. Had a NSBMX with TEs on Dec 9th and am having the exchange this thursday. I am a house supervisor and work the weekend night shift. I worked MS, and ICU for several years before doing house. I just wanted to say Hello to everyone.  

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