Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Gemma, I'm moving to Spokane Washington in June (I hope). I attended Interlochen 2 summers for 2 week band courses. I loved it. Hoping your daughter gets in. If you're this way before June, let me know. I'm right off I-75 in Pontiac, so convenient! Maybe you could make one of our SE Michigan (which includes the whole country BTW) get togethers at the vineyard in Jackson! Not during winter I suspect. I have cousins littered all over the Chicago area, especially Homewood.

HUGS!

Gemma - What a wonderful story and friendship!!!! Beautiful!!! yes I believe God puts people in our lives at the right time..for different reasons. Ive had some wonderful friendships like that too, then suddenly it was gone...you just have to cherish what you have when you have it. Sydney is very expensive and faster pace than Melbourne.

Brightsocks - Hope you're ok...sounds like you'll need both radiation and hormone pill. Id just go open minded to your Oncologist and hear what they have to say then step at a time.

Gemma - Wow!!! She's so angelic!!!!??? what a beautiful energy! It is hard on kids. My first time round 4yrs ago my Son was 12 and daughter 14 and I had my sons confirmation but was only doing rads. My daughter had her confirmation only after my mum passed a few months later...the beautiful thing was her final conversation she had with my Mum she sai Nanna...Im taking the name Joan after you...my Mum was proud with tears!!! she passed suddenly. After this dx and oncologist visit in July, I picked up my son and when he asked how I went I burst into tears!!! Chemo!!! he said!!! so you'll lose your hair?? I thought...he was embarrassed about that!!!!! NOOOO he said Im proud to walk down the street bald if you want!!! Id sooner have you bald than lose you Mum!!!

bright socks-glad you got some good news. Hope the rest is too!

Gemma-your daughter is gorgeous! My daughter is in grade 7. Her bat mitzvah was one week before my surgery...before I had my plan I was worried I'd be in chemo, but there are great wigs out there! It'll work out somehow!

Gemma, your daughter is beautiful. Try not to worry too much about chemo. I was rather pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Oh, sure, I was really fatigued and I still have diarrhea. I lost most of my hair (but hey! I haven't needed to shave my legs since Oct!) I ran some fevers and had to go to the ER a couple times. But I never once threw up and really didn't feel nauseous. My taste changed after each treatment for about 10 days, but after that it went back to normal. I didn't gain any weight, despite the steroids. I have only missed about 6 days of work in the last 4 months.

Hopefully, you won't need chemo at all, but if you do I hope it goes as well as mine has gone.

Sorry Peg, 7 weeks of rads will take me through St. Patty's day. Which is worse?

Peggy: the Azelastine I'm taking is twice a day. I would love once a day, but ah well.

I finally heard from the pre-op nurse about 4 this afternoon after calling them twice and my BS's office calling twice. All along, I've been told this would be an outpatient, but the pre-op nurse said there was a possibility that I would be admitted. Really, you tell me 18 hours before I have to be there that I might have to stay!?! I'm glad my dh is so good at rolling with punches, because he's helping to keep me sane. Ready for this to happen, and be home again.

Hi. I'm supposed to get a lumpectomy plus radiation. What is the itching caused by? Trying to decide if I should just get masectomy.

MarisaRose, Welcome! We're the best place you don't want to be. You'll find us warm, comforting, informative and funny. We'd love to help you but we need a lot more information. Please fill out your profile and make it PUBLIC so we know your diagnosis. Your age can make a difference too. Have you had genetic testing? Do you know the hormone and HER2 status of your cancer?

I think that most of us would agree that in many cases, going with a lumpectomy is the best choice. If later a mastectomy is needed or desirable, you can do it. But you can't un-do a mastectomy. So we tend to recommend be conservative.

What itching are you referring to? Did someone here reference itching or do you having itching now?

Give us a bit more information in your profile (since that information is always displayed; if you put it in a post then it gets lost quickly as this is a very active forum).

HUGS!!

Dear Brightsocks:

I was diagnosed with Invasive Tubular Carcinoma.  I also was diagnosed with pleomorphic ILC which gave me 2 primary breast cancers.  Just for fun, I also was dx with bifocal pleomorphic LCIS and numerous atypias.

My MO said that Tubular Carcinoma is very slow growing and it is the "best" invasive cancer to be dx with.  It is good news that you have pure Tubular Carcinoma and not "Standard" Invasive Ductal Carcinoma as well.  My MO told me that if I was dx with only Tubular Carcinoma that my tx plan would have been just a lx and nothing else.  I am hoping for you that you will not need to have rads or anti-hormonal therapy.  I hope that you get your oncotype score back soon and the Her2 status back soon so that a tx plan can be worked out.  Good luck.  I wish you the best and an easy tx plan.

Dear Hawaii:

I am glad that you have no node involvement.  I was dx with pleomorphic lLC.  I was extremely lucky to be dx early.  My radiologist saved my life.  Lobular is so hard to detect.  I am always worried that more lobular may be lurking and that it will not be found.  It is very scary for me.  I guess that it does not help that it has been 1 year since my tx ended and I had a biopsy at 6 months and another biopsy at 1 year.  I always try to stay positive though.  I was told by my doctors in Florida that I should have a double mastectomy.  However, my bs at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas told me that a double mx was not necessary so I had a double lx, a breast reduction, and a breast lift.  Luckily, I did not need chemo so I had rads and I am taking Arimidex/Anastrazole.  I had an oophorectomy too.  I trust my doctors in TX and I also trust my MO in Florida who supported my decision to have a lx.  I wish you the best of luck with your decision.  It is a hard choice to make.  However, if I were in your shoes, I would have a mx due to the size of the ILC and the fact that it is bifocal.  Good luck.

Dear Melclarity:

Good luck with your decision.  Take all the time you need.

Dear Mairew and Ary:

I hope that you don't have to wait too long for your genetic testing results.  I did not have my results back in time for my lx.  It took 5 weeks for me to get my results back.  It took much longer than expected.  I should have had the results back prior to my surgery.  Luckily, my results were negative so my lx decision was a good one.  I do have a variable of unknown significance (VUS) but since nothing is known about this, there is nothing that I can do about it.  Good luck.

Dear 1Step:

I need a LOT of practice.  I loved your comment.

Dear Blamoms:

I am glad that you are node negative.  Good luck with all of your tx.

Dear Poodles:

My office is directly across the hall from our school nurses office.  All of the students go directly from the nurse into my office.  I keep a lot of lysol and Purel in my office!

Dear Gemma:

Good luck with the oncotype results.  Sometimes you just need a good cry.  I hope that you feel better.  Your daughter is gorgeous. 

The RO's (I went for 2 opinions) in Florida both told me that I would need 6 weeks of rads.  My RO in TX told me that they would use 1 amount of radiation but that I could either have that amount given in 6 weeks or the same amount of total radiation given in stronger doses for 4 weeks.  They called it the "Canadian Study".  My RO told me that the Canadian Study 4 week plan would be better for me so that was my tx plan.  I was not a candidate for the one week rads or the IORT rads.  I needed whole breast radiation and more rads due to my dx.  Good luck with your decision on rad tx.  My cousin is starting rads on Monday at Sloan Kettering in NYC.  She will be having the Canadian Study 4 week whole breast rads too.  She was dx with DCIS in two areas that were next to each other and she had ALH but the tumors were less than 1cm.  However, her RO said that the study was from London.

Dear Peaches:

I desperately need St. Martin de Porres!

Dear ChiSandy:

I desperately need to see Bruce Springsteen!

Dear HH:

I desperately need a cute near sighted pig!  lol

Dear Molly:

I am appalled at your misfiled tests, the results of which may have changed your tx plan.  Unacceptable.

Dear Marijen:

Good luck with chemo.

Dear MLP:

I am glad that you have no node involvement.  Enjoy Boston.

Dear AMaree:

I really hope that you can get tx quicker.  Good luck.  I wish you the best.  You are so positive.  You are an inspiration to me with your wonderful attitude. 

Dear ShopGal:

I love your positive attitude too.  Good luck.

Dear Brit:

I am so glad that you are feeling ok so far.

Dear Jclc and Peggy:

My brother lives alone.  My mom and I are always worried about my brother because we are not near him to check on him.  He lives in Colorado and we live in Florida. 

I am sorry for you Jclc that your insurance co did not pay for the genetic tests.  My insurance company told me that my surgery was cosmetic surgery and they refused to pay for my right breast.  Ultimately, they paid the bill but that was after a long fight.  I hope that your heart tests go well on Monday Peggy.  You will be in my pocket.  Good luck.

Hugs to everyone.

Please say a prayer for my cousin who will be starting rads on Monday.

I will be going to a breast cancer retreat in February.  I cannot wait.  My other cousin from Maryland will be going with me.  She was dx with IDC.  My cousin from NY cannot go because she will be in the middle of rads.  One of the teachers whom I work with will be going as well (she had bc years ago and then a recurrence) and so will some ladies from my "Living with Breast Cancer Support Group".  I went on the retreat last year and it was terrific.  I am so lucky to be able to go again. I wish that all of you could go too.

Gemma....the good news is you guys have a little time for your AB.SO.LUTELY GOR.GEOUS daughter to deal with the things that go along with chemo....and, maybe she can go with you to pick out a really cute/hip wig? At that age they are usually just embarrassed to HAVE parents, you know?

614 - You are absolutely right re: lx v's mx thats of course if you have a choice based on your dx. I too was told that by my BS, I had nothing to gain from a mx...the talk now is purely precautionary and if Id prefer not worry about it anymore. I see my BS early feb to get more details to think about...but am in noooo hurry after what Ive just been through. Im feeling so good each day post chemo and starting to enjoy my life again. Of course if it was necessary Id do it tomorrow

Molly - Its an incredibly emotional journey isn't it?? The thought of it I too have tears down my face right now...its emotional getting to this point...I couldnt have done this journey without my kids...their love, support, acceptance, sensitivity and courage for so young humbles me. 3 muskateers

Molly - Its the little things isn't it?? in the darkest moments, you find hope and solace somehow. I'll never be the same and in a strange way isnt that a good thing? Id hate to go through this journey the last 4yrs and learnt nothing...about Me..my kids...my beautiful man and life. So much doesn't matter anymore. So great to have this place and support of such equally amazing women who just 'GET IT' how blessed are we all..