Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

BrutersMom, yes, she does. She has a ruff and a thick neck so a nice mix. I have this photo in my screensaver rotation.

ChiSandy, thank you. I think she's pretty special. Your outing tonight sounds great! It's been a long time since I've been downtown Chicago. Used to go in for the Gift Show at McCormack and stay at the Palmer House when we owned our floral shop. That was nearly 30 years ago. I have cousins littered around the area but haven't been able to see them in sometime. Take care and definitely have a good time. Uber sure does fulfill a need. Used it in San Diego when I had dinner with my DS and DIL - they both enjoyed some good wine and whisky and whisked me off into an Uber to get back to my hotel

HUGS!

MLP3 - In couple of days, If you find that you are swelling under your arm, my BS told me to roll up a sock and stick it in my bra strap. Both to provide compression to my underarm and to remind myself not to do too much with that arm. Too funny about the blue pee. I forgot I was getting the dye and actually made my 12 yo come in the bathroom to see the Papa Smurf pee, LOL!

Bluedog & Brutersmom - the snow looks so pretty! I love a good snow storm if I have no where to go. It gets dirty and ugly fast, but the first day is so beautiful! Stay warm and safe!

Brutersmom - your pups are adorable. My Augie (Jack Russell) was a rescue too. We think he wandered away from a puppy mill in Amish country in IN. Smart dog! My friend who has a sister in the area he was found put him on Facebook.. that's how I got him! He doesn't mind the snow, but can hold his pee forever if it's raining out!

LTF - Have fun tonight!

Brightsocks - My RO gave me the choice of a 6.5wk, 4wk, or 1wk protocol. The 6 & 4 week deliver the same total radiation, it's just a bigger dose per session with the 4 wk. The 1 week one was the one Peggy mentioned and my RO said I'd go through my BS and come to the Rad dept. 2x/day for a week. She did not suggest that one for me. Good luck with your treatment, whatever it is.

Amy

Ayr1016, ah, that's different about the chemo. I'd be lost without my dog and cat. They are great companions.

Jackqueline, welcome! You already know that we are comforting, warm, informative and funny. Please fill out your profile and make it public. It helps us so much when answering your questions. However, this one I can answer. The zingers are normal - your nerves are very unhappy at being disturbed and are going nuts. THAT will eventually calm down. As for the numbness? Well, my BS said whatever feeling I had after a year is what I would have forever. Luckily I regained most of the feeling under my arm after that. I never had zingers with this surgery but I had them big time with other surgery. They really will go away.

HUGS!

JacquelineM, your profile shows up just right! It IS very nice meeting people here who have been there, absolutely understand what you are going through. And some of us even meet up and make our virtual friendships "actual" ones. Ask away. We'll answer. Rarely does a question stump this group. Usually someone has had the same exact thing happen.

HUGS!

JacquelineM, Be prepared! We discuss EVERYTHING. Frank discussions on surgery, chemo, anti-hormonals, and, yes, sex. Plus even some "fluff" and fun stuff. This is the place to be for what you want to know.

HUGS!

LoveToFly, you look FANTASTIC!! You clean up really good Bet you felt just as good.

HUGS!

Jacqueline, I am one year from surgery today, and I still have slight numbness. But I adjusted it and don't notice it anymore unless I go probing around. Most feeling has come back, but not all, but it's different than how it first feels, kind of like I adjusted and this is my new normal and I don't pay attention to it anymore, if that makes sense

LTF: WOW!! You look amazing! Love the choice of style, wig and threads! Looks stunning.

...and is that a sucker in your hand? lol

I am too tired to post individually to all of you.  I just want to wish everyone well.  I love all of the pictures.  Stay safe in the blizzard.  I am so glad that I moved to Florida!!!!  I just hope that my cousin can get home to NY tomorrow because she starts rads on Monday and she has her 1st appointment with her MO on Tuesday. 

LTFLY- GIRRRRRL....you look GOOOOD! Seriously, who would ever know that was a wig?!?! Hope you have as much fun as you LOOK like you should have...then, the evening will be great!

yes, italychick, it does make sense. It's such an indescribable sensation. I don't know half the time if it hurts or if it's numb. I tried shaving with an electric razor but I didn't have much luck. I think I'm still scared to touch my arm pit area.

HappyHammer The last time I measured we were at 25 inches. We had more snow after that. The moon is full tonight and it is out. Everything looks beautiful right now. To tired to go take a picture. We will be doing more plowing shoveling and cleaning tomorrow. I don't think I will see my front side walk until spring. LOL. The pups have their space cleaned out. I was doing that every 2 hours while it was snowing. The snow is light and fluffy so it is easy to move. My husband is from NY where they get more snow and believes that you need to keep after the snow and not let it build up unless it is going to turn to freezing rain. If the sun is out tomorrow it will be very pretty.

ayr1016 -- I hadn't heard of getting Tamoxifen first in order to shrink the tumor, but that would be interesting to see if it worked. I had to have chemo, and had it before surgery, so I waited 6 months after DX before surgery. Although it wasn't the reason for having chemo, I think it was mentioned that shrinking the tumor might help a bit, because I had a B or A size and a 3cm tumor and they did tell me that a LX could leave my breast a bit deformed.

There was also the idea that having some sort of treatment first could also be good because you would know how effective the treatment was, whereas after surgery there was no tumor to show any shrinking, so you don't really know.

In my case, the chemo did not get rid of my tumor (as some people actually experience). Mine only shrunk maybe 1/3. So I know the chemo wasn't super-effective on me, but at least it did shrink a bit. My breast was still in danger of looking kind of bad, but as it turns out, so far it's pretty close to what it was (maybe because I got a seroma that filled the tumor bed, and that got hardened a bit in radiation...) anyway, no divot so far, just a slight shallowness since the tumor was on the top side and a bit more visible there.

Anyway, I wouldn't be worried about having surgery later. For one thing, there is time for your genetic tests to come back, if you had those. And they will check to see if your tumor actually is shrinking. If it's NOT, then they'll stop and probably go to surgery. But if it does bother you, then certainly go for the surgery first.

LovesToFly-- Love all your styles and your wigs!

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So nice to see all the cute puppy photos, and the beautiful fresh snowfall photos.

Gemma, thank you for the kind words.

MelClarity, I totally get why you are a mess about your visit tomorrow to your MO. I'll be in your pocket! Hope I have a bouncy pocket too during my stress test and echocardiogram tomorrow.

HUGS!

good luck melclarity.

Thanks for all the nice comments. It was nice. We went for dinner, then to my friends house to watch Netflix. I took off the wig between the two but it was nice to feel completely normal at the restaurant.

so not looking forward to Tuesday, now I don't want to go back to more chemo! It wasn't even that bad, but still. Oh well! Chemo is a badass cancer killer, ( I guess that is my new motto)