Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

thank you Peggy.

Nite ladies!!!

I am glad so much mileage was had by the "Prone" position spellchecker error! I chuckled at a few of the add on comments. And since we're (sort of) on the topic, I agree that intimacy can be so bonding if possible and agreeable to both. My husband also follows my lead and was initially concerned about hurting me but things have normalized over time. Take heart those who are struggling now in that area.

I also wanted to say a thank you to Peggy. Your kind and detailed observations and suggestions are so very, very helpful.

Reader425, I'm glad that I've been able to be helpful to you. It feels very good and gives me a new purpose with my very new and different life. Becoming a widow in September and now planning on moving to Spokane, Washington (probably in June), downsizing and decluttering from being 48+ years in one place - huge. Everyone here supported me when DH was ill and I was down. I'm so glad I can pay it forward.

HUGS!

Peggy, you are the best!

Hi lovely ladies,

I was just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position. I had a partial masectomy on the 9th of December due to is being New Zealand summer holiday my follow up appointment was 7th January. Based on my results and that I am only 26 my surgeon wants me to have the BRCA test done first. My treatment plan will then be established once we have those results. I have just found out my letter has arrived at the genetic testing place but has to wait for approval then its 60-90 days after approval on the waiting list before I will get seen. I completely understand that it is a busy department but at that rate it will be 3 1/2 months since my surgery before I establish what my treatment plan is. Is that normal? how long after this type of surgery until treatment usually begins?

Feel bad for moaning when there are so many other people in situations worse then mine...

Was going to go to the gym today, my first time since the surgery but feeling flat

I love all of the pictures. 

Sloan and Molly:  It is great that you were able to meet.  I'm jealous.

ChiSandy:  You are gorgeous.

LovesToFly:  I am so happy for you. 

Dear Peggy:  You are the absolute best.  Thanks for everything. 

Dear HappyHammer:  I hope that there is nothing wrong with the spot that you noticed.

To everyone else:  I know that I want to answer many people but there are so many posts that I have forgotten what I intended to say.  Sorry.  So many of you are going through so much so I wish you the best.  I am sorry that I am not being more specific.

As far as I go:  I will be going to a breast cancer survivor retreat during one weekend in February.  I can't wait.   I went last year and will be going again this year.  It is through the Lotus Survival Foundation.  They are the most amazing people (aside from all of you guys).  I am so lucky to be able to go. 

I found out that a group of teachers walk during the 25 minute lunch time that we have.  I always work through lunch and eat while working.  I am so excited because I will be walking with these ladies from now on.  It will force me to take a short break, to walk, and to spend time with some great colleagues. 

Things have been rough for me.  I detached my ACL and tore my meniscus while playing in the student/faculty basketball game  in November 2013. I fell in front of the entire school.  Fun times!  I am totally uncoordinated.  I was diagnosed with bc on the last day of my physical therapy in June 2014. I was looking forward to not having appointments any more.  Little did I know what was in store for me!  I was forced to stop exercising due to my knee injury.  I never got back into exercising. My fault.  I was medically induced into menopause and I am taking Arimidex/Anastrazole.  I have gained so much weight now.  My resolution is to exercise.  I must get back into shape.  I am so disgusted with myself.

Amaree08, I have to agree with you that that is a REALLY long time to start any further treatment. I'd think they'd start radiation at least. And put you on Tamoxifen. Is there anything you can do to have your oncologist hurry things along or to get your other treatments started? I'd call your BS and ask him if you can't start radiation before the BRCA tests are completed (and you hit retirement age?). That would be my recommendation. Perhaps someone here has run into your situation. I'm sure they'll post.

HUGS!

I think the porn position is legs over the head right?

Amber, I’m with Peggy on this--way too long to sit & wait and do nothing. Ask if you can start Tamoxifen (or ovarian suppression) in the meantime, since you’re ER+. (As much as I wish the USA had a single-payer health system, some of these wait times I read about in the UK, Canada, Australia & NZ do give one pause). Because despite my “advanced” age at DX and lack of family history I’m Ashkenazi Jewish, I too had to await BRCA-testing results before starting rads (Oncotype was low enough to avoid chemo). A positive result for either mutation would have meant both BMX (and if followed by reconstruction, had I undergone rads first I could only get autologous, aka flap-and-fat, reconstruction because implants are contraindicated for irradiated tissue) and oophorectomy. Because I tested negative, I was able to proceed with rads.

Peggy, Girl & the Goat was amazing. Some of the dishes may sound bizarre (or even disgusting), but they were delicious. Started with wood-roasted oysters in bacon cream. Then duck tongues with tuna poke, cracklings and arugula salad. Next was roasted pig face over veggie hash, topped with a sunny-side up egg; then confit of goat belly with vermicelli, crab and lobster, edamame & black beans, in a bourbon cream sauce. Dessert (my cheat for the week) was “Blood Orange Surprise:” a frosted half-dome of blood-orange-infused sponge cake accompanied by a Greek yogurt mousse studded with chunks of blood orange and candied pistachios. Small portions designed for two to share, so we walked out satisfied but not uncomfortably stuffed. (At no point did we need to cry “uncle” and ask for doggy-bags....oh, who am I kidding, “people bags”). We’ll go back, this time taking Gordy if he’s free for the evening. I had tried for three years to get a table there on a weekend or special occasion, to no avail. Secret is to go very early or late (European dinner-hour) on a weeknight.

hi ladies,

I'm pleased it's not just me who thinks it's strange. My treatment so far has been through the public sector and has been fantastic so far. I hope that once the letter referral gets in front of the right person to approve getting tested for BRCA will change how long I have to wait to get things moving forward.

At my hospital appointment when we got the pathologist results the doc said they want me to see 4 different specialists, genetics, fertility, radiation and chemo people. He said that the genetics test is the first before I see any others as based on those results will determine how aggressive they want to be with my treatment.

We have contacted my breast care nurse and just going to be a bit more patient see what happens in the next week. They are so busy I just have to wait my turn but they have made it clear they want to move quickly and aggressive but that was coming from the surgery team and essentially I have been handed over to these other specialists so who knows... Hopefully I will know more in a few days time

Thank you for your feedback

Marijen, You've re-read Fifty Shades of Gray too many times

HUGS!

Amaree, It's good that you have confidence in your team. Do tell them how concerned you are about waiting so long to start any treatment at all. Tamoxifen shouldn't interfere with any other treatment, even a BMX if that should unhappily be needed. And, this is important too, YOU will feel like you are doing something to prevent your cancer from coming back. All of us on hormonal treatment feel that way. Hope things move quickly for you.

HUGS!

I've often heard that socialized medicine was better. But waiting months for treatment would be so hard. I like our U.S system!

mairew, Not really comfortable when you don't like your MO. Is there another one you can see? You might consider shopping around. You have to be able to trust your doctors and if you don't you'll wonder if you are getting the best advice (perhaps you will be but without trust, you get a bit skeptical). When do you get your Oncotype test results? How old are you? That can be a huge influence on whether chemo is recommended. It appears from what I have read, that the younger you are the more apt chemo is to be part of the treatment plan. BTW, I didn't have porn position either (I do love it!).

HUGS!

Peggy, I am 42. Oncotype should be back in a week or two. I am at a univesity hospital which is NCI accredited or whatever. After I get the oncotype results I will see how I feel. I might go back down to Md Anderson in Houston for a second opionion if I fall in that dreaded gray area