In shock

Hi, When I was diagnosed in 2007, I also felt like it was the end, and I put myself in Gods hands and said, Lord if you need me now, give me the confort to accept, and if you want me to fight, give the strengh that I need for whats ahead, and you know what, he gave me the strengh, and here Iam 5 years later, bitterweet situation, because just when Iam celebrating my 5th year, my daughter gets diagnosed, so Iam being very strong to help her with her fight.  I just want to let tell you that I understand your fears and emotions, and that you have come to the right place for support.

God bless you and help you also in your journey.\

Angie

Angie, your daughter is also in my prayers.

Jean and Angie .. You are both in my thoughts. Angie how terrible for you to now see your daughter go through this. Jean ((hugs) .. You have been through so much and to be now starting this. Know that we are all here for you.

Joanne

Prayers for both

Edithester I am thinking of you today, tomorrow is the big day for the pathology results from your surgery. We have sure come a long way from our dx to telling our kids to now getting on with treatment. You are a strong woman, and I am praying for great results for you.



Bonnets I am so sorry about the loss of your daughter at such a tender age. I can only imagine how crushing that was to go through. We are here for you, ((hugs)).



Angie what a beautiful picture of you, I am so sorry you now have to watch your daughter walk this path. I am sure you are very inspirational to her. ((hugs)).



Benny how is your arm doing?

@bennymuffins, good idea to keep your mind in the moment. About that pain, I am wondering if you have been pushing too hard or using your arm on the affected side too much since your surgery. After all, it hasn't even been three weeks! You are probably not completely healed yet. I had mastectomy, not lumpectomy, but I was told not to lift anything heavier than ten pounds for six weeks after surgery. Did your surgeon tell you anything about weight limitations? From your description of your activities I would guess that you have exceeded 10 lbs multiple times. A call to the surgeon's office or a quick visit with the surgeon's nurse might reassure you about the pain. Also, you might be able to get a copy of your path report without waiting until next week. They may not be willing to give it to you before you talk to the doctor, but it can't hurt to ask.

Benny it could be a bit of fluid buildup or just part of the healing process. 2 weeks after my surgery DH and I went on a week vacation and on the way home mine also felt like that. It did slowly ease up over several weeks. When I did see the surgeon she thought it was fluid drying up??...also pain in the ribs that went away. I thought maybe it had something to do with a doctor or nurse elbowing or leaning into me during surgery??...your pain will go away please try and not worry. Do talk to your doctors about it on the 10 or try and move the appt. up like NSJ2 suggested. If it is an infection they may want to get you on antibiotics. I am praying for a great path report for you.

I feel terrible for the barn owner whose wife passed so quickly. She must have caught it so late she had extensive spread to her abdomen or she died from some uncontrolled infection. So sad......hang in there Benny, enjoy Diamond today.

Curveball is right!  Call the surgeon's office and ask who is covering for him while he's gone. Then ask the nurse or staff to please ask if they can get you in to see him/her (coverage) or at least have a conversation with them.

Bennymuffins,  I have been reading along off & on for a while.  That hard knot could be what is called a Seroma it is a pocket of fluid that forms from the plasma (clear) part of the blood after surgery when the many tiny blood vessels are disrupted.  I had a small one & they can be very painful.  I have read several women on here that have had them & have had them drained.  If this is what it is it feels so much better to have them drained.  On the other hand it really needs to be checked out to make sure it's not the start of an infection also.  Your surgeon who is on vacation WILL have a Dr. on call for him.  They ALL do that.  If he doesn't call your regular family Dr. & see them ASAP! 

As for the remark of that gentleman about what happened to his wife.  That is RARE & it most certainly was so advanced!  This fear even happens to US who know more about our disease & it is hard to escape sometimes!  But with that said....I am gonna tell you about my friend from church.  4 years ago she went in for Gallbladder surgery....when they cut her open they turned around & closed her right back up as they found cancer.  Shortly after they found that she had extensive breast cancer in both breasts that went all the way down to where her Gallbladder was.  The BC was 2 different kinds of BC in each breast.  They gave her Chemo before they did her double mastectomy.  She also had very extensive radiation treatments to both mastectomy area's.  It is now 4 years later & she is ALIVE!  She is doing well & will see her last child graduate from High School this year.  Yes she has been through much & has glitches from time to time.  But the cancer remains gone!  No breast cancer is not a walk in the park.  For some it is easier than others.  The NOT knowing is the worst kind of fear....when you get your path report & have a plan of action the fear will start to ease.  Some days will be harder than others but as time goes by it will be easier.  I'm glad you found us, WE KNOW as no one else does.  We have each others back so to speak & some Day you will be that OTHER for some one else!  But for now don't lift anything more than 10 pounds & no repetitive motions (over & over again) even if less than 10 pounds. Yes you should move it but not for hours on end!  I am a CNA & went back to work 5 weeks after my Lumpectomy & Sentinal Node Biopsy.  That was May 22....I am still sore at times & they say the Radiation treatments can aggravate it.  Time Benny....time it's hard but our bodies need it to heal!  

I hope this helps.....PLEASE CALL THE DR"S OFFICE!  Let us know how your doing!  Julee

Benny, 

Tried to post  2 times and the message didn't go thru. I'll try again.

I agree with the other ladies , that you need to call and try and get in to see your surgeon early. If nothing else to  feel more at peace. I have a seroma, started out as a lump about the size of an egg. Have a friend who had one the size of an orange. She had hers drained for several days. MIne has shrunk some in the last few days. I cud actually sleep on that side  for a while last night.

O also noticed you dont sleep in your bra. My dr. told me wear one 24/7. Don't like that but am doing it, s it offers the breast support. You may feel better if you try that.

Hope things feel better, hugs, Jean 

Very nice response Julee. Benny you are dear to my heart. This is all so scary, I know bit so far you have had good news. Chucking bales of hay 3 weeks out is likely not well advised so just take it slow.



Sometimes you just have to get firm with folks. I did two things right away with people:

1) I told people I absolutely did not want to hear about people who died of breast cancer PERIOD. I already know people die of breast cancer and staying in a positive head space would be a critical piece of my healibg and survival - no exceptions

2) I told people I wanted ZERO unsoliscited advice about how this person or that person treated their cancer PERIOD. I trusted my medical team I needed to believe in my course of action and there was no room for second guessing or shoulda woulda coulda.



That was it I just laid the ground rules with EVERYONE right away and if people could not abide by those 2 simple things I just did not associate with them. You DO need love and support right now not negativity. Some people just don't k ow so I made it easy on them I set the ground rules.



That and I did not want folks to minimize the hair thing, but I already ranted about that.



Carrying clippers and waving them menacingly at folks with hair and a roll of duct tape in the other hand to temporarily restrain them can be very powerful, wink wink



Have a great weekend ladies. Be gentle with yourselves



Benny no slinging hay. I had that same pain after a surgery weeks out just from swinging a golf club ; (



Oh and I almost forgot. Susan G Konen in my town this weekend and they hosted their first ever survivor dinner Wed for Survivor and one guest. It was very lovely and they had us stand for years of survival. The amazing woman who founded our group is an amazing speaker, THREE time cancer survivor, breast twice and one other different cancer she dis not specify and she is in great shape THIRTY years after her first breast cancer - Thoss are the stories I want to hear and focus on!!!!

Hugs

Lesley

Benny?  Don't mean to be a pest, but hoping you'll let us know how you're doing when you can.

NSJ2

Benny,  your lump is likely either: Seroma, hematoma or infection.  None of these are cancer.  Go to the doctor immediately, get seen quickly and they can put you right.  Meanwhile do as little with that arm as possible.  It's very important.

Since you had clear scans, it is unlikely that your rib pain has to do with cancer.  It is from your surgery, which can produce myriad pains in unlikely places.  Cancer is usually slow growing.  Your barn friend's wife probably had cancer for many years before she was seen and suddenly died.  You are not in the same situation.

Give yourself the time you need to heal and try to take it easy as you can.  (((hugs))) 

Now wait just a minute there, Benny!  You were pitching 50lb bales of hay???  I thought it was "flakes" of hay. 

Tsk tsk ..... I'll let you off this time but only if you share a molasses cookie with me too!

Bennymuffin .....



First ... I wore a bra to bed for at least 6 weeks ... That was the instruction from the surgeon

Second ... No lifting over 10 pounds ... You are only asking for trouble



I had an infection in the lymph node incision ... It was painful and I let it go. If it get really bad go to the ER. You can try heat or ice but be sure it not directly on your skin.



Take care,of yourself. You are just at the beginning if this "journey"



Joanne