Blue Ink on my Breast
I had a lumpectomy on Dec 2/14 and I still to this day cannot get the blue ink off my breast. Its like 4 spots around the nipple and I've tried rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer , peroxide , and of course, soap and water. Nothing helps and its now 4 mths. Has anyone has this hard a time getting this stuff off? If you have any ideas please let me know!
Comments
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I guess no ones experienced this!
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Could it be the permanent marks that are often put on for radiation treatments?
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Hi Terry, all of my marks were made with a sharpie and came off with alcohol. They did give me small wipes to remove the marks from rads. Try looking in the December surgery thread, they may have some ideas. Call the surgeons office and ask the nurse, she may know. Or you could try the local drug store pharmacist for some ideas. Look in the bandage section for a OTC product. Sorry I am not much help on this one.
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Hello Terrimarie:Since I shall be seeing my Dr. tomorrow, I will ask her about it. Is it just ink on the surface of your skin around the nipple?
If I get an answer, I will write you again. Take care.
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Hi, I don't have a problem with this, but I was curious. I googled this using the words "how to remove surgical ink from skin". A variety of suggestions came up. This may lead you to some solutions or things to try. I also found advertisements for surgical markers. It occurred to me that you could also track down what type and/or brand was used and then google the specific product for trouble-shooting suggestions. I hope you aren't stuck being blue for long. We have enough permanent marks that come with this journey already! Good luck.
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Hi, and thank you for your responses! I assumed its blue marker that was used for the sentinel node biopsy, I havent had radiation yet so it's not that. Actually that's what concerned me because I'm assuming i'll be marked when its radiation time and im already marked!
I've tried everything I can think of but I was considering calling the surgeons office to ask them if they know. I figure anything alcohol based should get it off but its not budging it so far.
I'm in the middle of chemo , 6 rounds , round 4 next week. Radiation starts the end of June.
Addendum:
The more i research this , the sillier i feel , its obviously the dye from the sentinel node biopsy and not blue marker and i guess it has to fade on its own. I feel like there isn't enough information given to patients about what to expect and how to deal with things. I see that people here have filled out the type of surgery, the size of tumours, the meds, the diagnosis , info about markers , all sorts of things ...this stuff was told to me shortly after my lumpectomy and I absorbed none of it. I was given the info and then the apptmt was over and it all was a swirling terrifying blackness in my head and I feel stupid about my own health situation. I feel that the doctors think that we should not dwell on what was found but rather to just move forward and hope for the best. My doctor when asked about how effective all this treatment can be told me to focus more on healing and not what may or may not happen. It left me feeling more scared than before, I'm looking for encouragement and reassurances and I guess that's not realistic. Anyway , I went off track. Thank you again for your responses.
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I understand just how you feel about that the things in your last paragraph. If you want your stats, see if you can get them to give you a print out from your file. I get one after every visit for a binder they gave me when I started. I agree that the docs don't tell you enough. I think that's why this web site exists and we can all help each other along.
FYI--If you are like me and don't like the permanent marks, then ask if they have invisible ink for your radiation tats. I have five. The three down the middle of my chest are only visible with a black light. They frowned at me for asking, but they did comply. Good luck getting that ink off.
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I also have the blue from the dye... It's been more that 6 months since surgery and it's still there, although now it's almost gone...
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Mombie, that's interesting about the invisible ink for your tattoos. Thanks for the heads up!
TerryMarie, you are entitled to copies of all of your test results and pathology reports. If your clinic hesitates, you can always tell them that you want them in case the originals are ever lost or destroyed.
Most clinics will give you copies on the spot if you ask while you're there. Knowledge is power and being assertive about your needs is also powerful. Good luck.
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Thanks for your responses , I feel.better about the dye being still there and won't worry about it, now that im sure its dye and not marker, I'll patiently wait for it to fade. Mabs, thank you.
To Mombie Zombie, I may ask for a print out of my statistics when I see the Doc next week. Part of me wants to stay in the dark and be taken care of by the doctors until im told im fine and the intelligent part wants to have all the facts. By the looks of your details , they look awfully close to what i recall the doc telling me about mine.
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Terry--Hopeful is right. Knowledge is power. They will continue to give you many choices in this journey. You'll want to know yourself very well so you can make the right choices for yourself. I understand the fear of knowing though. I have a fear of NOT knowing ironically. So I have done a lot of research and learning. The price was learning some very scary things. This carried me into some real panic, but I pushed through so that I could find all the good statistics too. I have a very full picture now, with all the parts and pieces. Now I can plan for a long life, but know how to recognize if this monster ever tries to eat me any further. The other blessing is that you will be able to turn around and help the next sweet gal behind you. For me, it's part of the healing that I can reach out like others did for me.
If you are her2+ like me, I'll tell you that I met a gal in my chemo center yesterday who is like us. She is now ten years out and going strong!! Made my day. I hope it makes yours too.
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Oh that's good news about the 10 yr woman, yes its HER2 , good to know there are good news stories out there. Youre right about learning scary things, I opened one website and promptly shut it after the first 3 lines of reading and I was annoyed at the person that gave me the link in the first place. Stupid, I know that knowledge is power but I sometimes feel that ignorance is bliss because I don't feel that I can change the outcome. My family kept telling me that the stats were great but they didn't understand the HER2 part of it. Game changer, is what I was thinking. Was, I don't feel fatalistic now , I feel hopeful and grateful that there is treatment for me and that I'm not alone. I will slowly educate myself more on this , I know it's smart.
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Thank you Hopeful, youre right about getting records for sure.
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I've shared this in a few threads and there might be some who think I'm a broken record, but this is a motto that my DH follows that I've decided has value: "Don't worry about what has not happened yet."
Easier said than done. But I'm learning to think this way. Maybe it will strike a cord with others too. In the meantime, I hope you don't mind if you are in my prayers. I hope you find peace and comfort soon.
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I agree with that 100% , no one has a crystal ball. Thank you for your prayers , I will do the same.
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Hello TerrieMerrie:
As mentioned in my earlier post, I saw my Dr today on a follow up visit from surgery + SLND last Wednesday, March 25, 2015. I got my 1st good news since I got news of my cancer in 2/26/2015: That my histopathologic report came back with Clear Margins and a Negative SLN. Boy, was I relieved !!!
Anyway, I asked my Dr. about the four spots around your nipple as you described. She said those weren't ink marks, that they were dyes that were injected into your breast when you had the SLND. She said some patients continue to have them. I told her yours had been there for 4 months, and asked how long it will disappear. She said in a few more months, and for a few could be rather slow...she said not to worry as they will eventually disappear. Hope this put your mind at ease.
All the best, NS
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Ohh that's good news Nat! , thank you for asking for me , that was very kind and considerate of you and I'm very glad you got good news!
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Thanks for sharing your good news, Nat!
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Nat that was super thoughtful of you to do that. Good information.
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You know, I have to be honest here , when I read that Nat in Singapore, used part of her doctors visit to discuss the blue dye on my breast, I actually cried a bit , what a caring , thoughtful thing to do. My daughter was also very touched. Thing's like this make me truly grateful to find a site like this as it makes you feel that youre not alone , it can ease your fears and it gives you a sense of community. Kindness is magic.
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I know what you mean Terry. I am stuck in bed a lot, as many here are. Before I found these threads I often felt useless with everyone doing for me and so little I could do for others. The chain of support and caring here has changed that for me. We all have a chance to come to each other's rescue here and I'm always learning a new way to help or care as I go along.
My only sadness is when someone lives far away and they need something I can give but distance stops me. I'm grateful for the friendships I've been making though and I'm grateful for the sweet and tender things.
I finished radiation today. I hope something good is happening where you are too.
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I agree, TerryMarie. This is an extraordinary community that you have joined. I'm glad we have you, although not that you need to be here.
Mombie - I agree with you about how hard it is to feel helpless to step forward to help some of our friends here. But we both know that our words of encouragement, our prayers and good thoughts do lift spirits. Kindness IS healing, although it doesn't get the grocery shopping done!
I hope you're enjoying your first day post-radiation. Is it as stormy and cold up there as it is down here? What a weird spring we're having!
I wish you all a very blessed Easter and/or Passover.
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Hopeful--I'm flattened by effects from herceptin treatment, but doing a happy dance in my head, relishing a day with no radiation. DH came home to pamper me and my mom and brother are taking my kids to the movies. I have much to celebrate!
We aren't stormy today, but had hail Wednesday and Thursday. I don't like being out in it, but I love how the sky looks when it's stormy. Yes, this has been an interesting spring. Each day is a grab bag--will it be super sunny? or super wet? or both? LOL
Happy Easter or Passover in return.
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I'd forgotten you're still dealing with herceptin; I know it can be tough, but thank God for it anyway, right?
It's ironic that now that you're done with radiation and can stay in, the hail stops, temporarily at least. I do love watching it and hearing it fall...
I'm waiting for the Hot Cross Buns to rise - my traditional contribution to our family's Easter. My dad still makes (and hides!) Easter eggs for us!
I'm glad you're having a celebration, enjoy - and feel better.
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Sorry to hear that the herceptin is causing problems, especially considering I'm starting it next week! I have finished 3 rounds of chemo and have 3 left , next week I'm gettin herceptin. After the chemo , my radiation starts. I don't know yet how long the radiation will go for, from what I understand , it will be either 3 or 5 wks. I had a lumpectomy last Dec and my chemo started the end of Feb. There was a delay because my incision failed to heal properly. I'm apprehensive about the drug change next week but I'll just have to hope for the best.
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Don't panic about my reaction to the herceptin yet. I know a lot of gals who don't have trouble with it. Normally, I get bone and joint pain and mild nausea that only lasts two days--oh, and a drippy nose--you might need lots of tissues around. Usually my symptoms are very manageable, and only just annoying, with the occasional day of it being harder to move around than normal--that part comes and goes. I think it was bad this time because I was at the end of radiation and my body was stressed in too many directions. I got a solid day of rest today and I'm thinking I'll be well on the mend by tomorrow.
Herceptin is hard on the heart, I'm sure you've been told that. Are you set up for echos to monitor your heart function?
Herceptin is magic in my opinion, so no matter what, I believe you will find it worth taking.
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Good morning! Yes I had an echo before chemo started and one just this past Thursday. I believe I will be sent for the echo every 3 months.
The doctor told me to expect flu like symptoms with this next round of drugs but the heart issue scares me. The technician doing the echo told me that some women have to cease treatment for a while until their heart looks better. My body has tolerated the chemo fairly well so far but I'm apprehensive about the different drugs I'm getting next week. Just fear of the unknown , freaks me out watching all this stuff being injected into my arm. I just keep telling myself that without it I'd be in a big heap of trouble. I guess its also good to know that millions of people go through this and live to tell the tale for a long time afterwards.
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Terry--I understand your worry, both about heart damage risks and about having to pause treatment. I did fine through the 6 rounds with chemo. I had a herceptin only treatment in January. My echo after that looked a little off. So I was ordered to miss a round. That made me super nervous. My next echo (one month later) looked fine. So I returned to treatment. I've had two more rounds and things are going fine so far. This last one hammered me because I was also at the end of radiation. I had a full day of rest yesterday and I'm on the mend for sure.
Is you MO having you take CoEnzyme10? This has been proven to help protect the heart from the effects of Herceptin. All of our MOs prescribe it. My Naturopath directed me to a more effective form call Ubiquinol. Since I switched to that, I've been doing a lot better. It has antioxidant properties, so some docs don't want to have you take it during chemo. Antioxidants work against chemo. But our MOs here feel that taking this one when a patient is on Herceptin is worth it. If you already know all this, then disregard, but let me know if you want to hear more.
I understand how you feel about having all this run through your body. It's scary. But I am SO GLAD because I currently have zero cancer cells. You are going to come out a winner when this is through. Hugs
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Hi, I'm not familiar with Co Enzyme 10, I'm seeing the Doc next Thurs before Fridays treatment, she's giving me more information then , she'll also have the results of my echo. Far as I know I'm getting steroids to take for 3 days each cycle this time and the neulasta injection. Apparently these meds do not cause nausea, we shall see. Thank you for the encouragement!
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Terry--The steroids and neulasta are typical. The steroids made it hard for me to sleep. I'm an insomniac, so that might have just been me. The neulasta shots, if they didn't tell you, are a white blood cell booster. They can make you feel flu-like and you can get pain in the bones. They told me to take Claratin one hour before the shots. They said that it helps with neulasta SEs. So that might be something else to ask your MO, or the chemo nurses. The nurses know or say stuff that the docs don't say. The neulasta and steroid do not typically cause nausea.
If you are interested in the CoEnzyme 10, you can google it along with herceptin and you'll find articles that talk about it. The Ubiquinol is a form that the body can absorb better. (It's more expensive too.) I take one called UBQH produced by Integrative Therapeutics. It's supposed to be a reputable brand with higher quality.
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