Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Sloan,

Back in April I consciously cut out sugar and Breads/crackers. I lost 25 lbs in 3 months. Also increase my exercise. I felt better than I ever had and then the routine mammogram changed everything. I had a highly aggressive fast growing cancer with a lot of necrosis and it has a high rate of spreading to the lymph nodes. The Dr. at my 2nd opinion thinks my change in eating habits may have saved me from worse diagnosis. I have continued that pattern of eating although I will admit the holidays have been a bit of a challenge.

Oh My Gosh! I can't keep up with this thread LOL, I admit all you guys are posting in a different time zone, so I miss alot, hard to keep up!

Loves to Fly - You are so incredibly prepared, I too was like you, I dont think there is more you need to buy etc., I found until I started Chemo I just wasnt going to know how I'd be and what I'd need. I bought some scarves from hatsforyou.net and I bought a good wig! Strangely, I only wore scarves to treatment, used my wig relentlessly, nobody could tell was amazing! They do get irritating so you may find you'll mix it up a bit. The picture of me on my profile is a WIG! One thing to mention is make sure you rinse morning and night with salt water, thats to help with mouth ulcers. My Oncologist said Id be off the first week of treatment but able to work the 2nd two weeks before treatment again. Ummm NO out of those 3 weeks I worked 1 week, unfortunately I wasnt well and was in hospital for 3 days after each treatment. I had ALWAYS been in control of my weight am slim, I put on 11lbs, this is due to steroids, mostly I found I was off food alot, apart from when given steroid I ate everything lol. The nausea was the toughest part for me, until we got that under controll. That was 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart, the 2nd course Taxol was weekly which was completely different. I was told again Id be able to work 3days out of 5, I worked ZERO, and yet I was determined to work through it all. I actually sat back and realized I had to listen to my body, and believe me it really wasnt an option as Im a single parent of 2 teenage kids, its been super tough, with hardly any support and the biggest support Ive missed is my MUM and have no sisters. You will find your Rhythm, and have a feeling you'll sail through all of it!! I've been super positive all the way through..

Gemma - Welcome! I've had 2 lumpectomies in 4yrs, the last one removing nodes as well, both times went fine, no problems or complications, hoping it all goes well for you, and hoping for clear WIDE margins and no node involvement, thankfully this was my pathology results.

Brightsocks - You could take a calm pill, though you will be having a general anaesthetic?? so not necessary. Your surgeon will prescribe your meds for you and recommend over the counter ones as well. In terms of working out, you'll have to wait and see how you feel, again your Surgeon will be able to tell you exactly how long before lifting as you dont want to cause complications. Be guided by your body after surgery, then you'll definitely know what you feel you can and can't do and when you can. Good luck!

Brightsocks - Will you have someone with you? that will drive you? if you are anxious, then yes I'd take a pill, just something mild. The wire is quite quick and they give a local, then twirl the wires up under a bandage, so no problems popping on a jacket. Are you staying in hospital?

Brutersmom - Amazing story and a testament to healthful eating. Ultimately most of us will never know what caused our cancers, but I sure don't want to aggravate nor encourage it! I struggled over the holidays with sugar, but fortunately I didn't gain weight last month. But, honestly, in the back of my mind I get scared that the cancer was growing before I could get on the Tamoxifen. I guess that's why I'm not objecting to much that I'm on 40mg/day...

Sloan - Gosh I'm like you, Ive struggled with sugar through the holidays so far, I have bought a Ninja and have started healthy shakes, and on a mission to cut sugar out of my life too. You know none of us know, I guess we do all the right things and pray we're on top of things. 4yrs ago I had a lumpectomy, clear margins, did rads and tamoxifen for 4yrs and checkups yearly. I had a recurrence in the same spot, was a devastating blow in June this year. I'm waiting to see Oncologist 25th Jan for my new hormone pill as Chemo threw me into menopause. Am praying I've beaten it this time..but am positive and doing all the right things especially with diet..theres no rhyme or reason, but its how we rise to this challenge...and boy don't we!!! Amazing women!!!

I call myself cancer free, though!

I earned it!

thanks melclarity. I am planning to work take off my chemo weeks, and work the two weeks after, but of course I will reassess if required. The oncologist says many people are able to do that, but some aren't, so I will see what happens. Luckily for me it's not really a financial issue, because I am unionized I have excellent benefits and sick time it's more because I tend to get very depressed when I get lonely, and if I am feeling well enough to work, I will be better off doing so. Your wig looks great!!

Brightsocks: I started walking right after my surgery, within three days I was back up to 10,000 steps a day. A week after my surgery I got back on the spin bike. I did not do any weightlifting with my right arm until my post op appointment (11 days after surgery). Once I got the OK, I started with later than usual weights and am back up to my 15 pounds. Went to yoga last week, I was a bit nervous because of all the planks and downward dogs, but I had no problem at all, I even rocked a handstand!

I am in the best shape of my life right now, in the spring I started really limiting my sugar and upping my strength training (I'm a runner and I've always done a lot of cardio, but not enough strength), and lost the 10 pounds or so that I wanted to before our summer vacation and my daughters bat mitzvah (it was November 21, less than a week before surgery, and incredible!) I know I won't be able to keep up this level of fitness throughout my chemotherapy, but I'm hoping to be able to keep it up enough, and my weight down enough, but I won't have a huge struggle getting back here when I am done treatment!

I'm sharing a picture of my family at the bat mitzvah, I hope you guys don't mind I feel so close to you already. As you can see, I've got a lot to fight for! As we all do!

(((hugs))) brightsocks. Waiting for surgery is so hard! Somebody told me that they will give you Ativan in the waiting room for surgery and procedures, I never asked for it so I don't know if it's true or not, but a lot of people say it helps so why not?

Brightsocks - Loves to Fly is right...Ativan believe it or not was the ONLY thing that worked for me through Chemo and its purely a relaxant but they also use it for nausea. I was allergic to Maxolon lol. Am super drug sensitive, but Ativan worked a treat!

One step at a time absolutely great attitude Brightsocks!

Loves to Fly - You are so on it!! and your attitude is everything. I like you didnt want to be at home at all, I love working and never had time off, and it was so great that I too was so organised and I had a plan going into it. As the time went on, I just had to keep readjusting to the plan and what I found for me was through it, my most valuable lesson was putting ME above everyone else, something I have never done. The fact I couldnt work in the end was my bodys way of saying to stop...strange how life works and it gave me time to reflect and really spend time with myself. A valuable journey, Im a selfless Mum, and my Kids saw the ups and downs through Chemo..but they saw a strong positive resilient woman who got up every time. It gave them a chance to be selfless too through this, made us even closer..being their Mum you are their world and tough on my kids 2nd time in 4yrs and on our own. Am super proud how we all came through it. Im 3 weeks post chemo and really starting to feel better. The other thing was though, I wasnt able to exercise not even walk through Chemo at all, another thing I planned on doing staying on top of. You are going to do amazing!!! keep us posted!!

BrightSocks, I walked to the operating room!! THAT was empowering. It said that I'm not sick!

HUGS!

BrightClarity: (laughed out loud) I'll keep that thought in mind, should *I* need surgery again. Thank you, and may things go smoothly tomorrow.

so those of you that have done chemo, were you able to drive home afterwards? My husband will be taking me for my first infusion, he will take me for all of them if needed… But Id prefer he not miss much work. He is an accountant and tax season is coming

I know my mother would be happy to take me, but she is kind of anxiety provoking, I would actually rather find a homeless person with a drivers license that's looking for a warm spot and a cup of coffee than have her with me

Loves to Fly - I couldnt drive for the first hard hitting chemo which was once every 3 weeks, but drove for Taxol when it was weekly no problem. My Oncologist did say thats how it would be, that generally you cant drive for the first round. x

LovesToFly, call me crazy, but I drove myself to and from chemo, and even rode my bike the days I had infusions. The steroids had me so jacked up I needed the outlet to release my excess energy so I could sleep. But that's me. I chose Thursday mornings for my infusions because the third day after seemed to be the worst day for me. My employer was nice enough to let me work the Day of infusion and the day after from home.