Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Thank you MLP3 for your kind words. What kind of spray? I will pick up some and wipes this weekend.

PontiacPegg thank you for your help. I will be happy to have you all along in my pocket.

Welcome LaNena, If you friend one of us on FitBit you will probably find the rest. PM me if you want my name. justmaximom, my rads tech told me when my skin was getting really red to let someone else do the housework. I am laughed in his face but since I liked him I only laughed on the inside Do take good care of yourself.

MLP3, your pups are adorable! Welcome Krista and ladyhumps. Karen, in your pocket for Monday! I second the idea of button up shirt and also easy to pull up pants for surgery day. Ice is your friend. Have some ice packs on hand for icing your incisions. Krista, it sounds like your anterior margin was not clean. Have you seen your BS for follow up yet? What are Margins in Breast Cancer?

Thanks to all who replied to my request for joining a Fitbit group. I'm amazed at the support and care of this incredible group of ladies!

(((HUGS))))

Krista - not sure what that means, but like Molly said, it sound like the margins weren't clear. A lot of ladies on this site didn't have clean margins. These tests results always give us a "WHAT NOW?" feeling, but we get through it together. Give your doc a call--he/she works for you!

ladyhumps and justmaximom - Welcome. You'll love these ladies!

PFP (Peggy for Prez)

Krista, like Sloan said. Give your surgeon a call. It may or may not mean you need re-excision.

Thanks, Peggy. Chemo has been tolerable so far, some SE but not too bad. Had to delay treatment Wed due to low wbc. Started on neupogen shots and hope to be back in the cancer-killing business next week!

Thanks Molly50. I do want to be prepared and have the things I may need on hand. Thank you also for being in my pocket.

When I received my first mammo report that mentioned a “focal asymmetry,” the radiologist said “focal” meant it was within a precise and clearly defined area--small and easily discernible. Same thing when Bob got the report of his followup lung CT--the original large 2cm nodule was gone but there was a tiny 2mm spot “focally present” in a different area. “Focal” beats the heck out of “diffuse” or “ill-defined.” If something is present, “focal” is better.

Justmaximom- hahaha...too funny. Have you tried cabbage leaves? They really helped me!

Karen- also, a very small pillow helped- you can wedge it under the affected breast or use it to sort of "prop" it up for icing and sleeping...You will get through this and crying is often a good thing. Holding back the tears and feelings can be exhausting! Crying can be a relief. I'll be in your pocket as well!

Thanks for cheering on my WBC!! Had my 3rd shot today, trying to give them a good kick-start! Great bunch of cheerleaders here.

Being a side sleeper, when I went to bed I'd put a rolled up sock in my bra between my boobs for a little more support. Helped to keep the incisions from pulling. Just improvising!

Mmmmm, pie!!

Karen: emotional response is part of the deal. Don't worry about it. Cry, break dishes, scream. Your oncologists will understand! (They better!) So will we. Trust me on this one.

General thought: I confess i'm still bemused about what different oncology teams suggest and what different women have found helpful! I had straight DCIS--sentinel node biopsy was never on the table--and not only did I use my (gasp! shh!) alcohol-based gel deodorant through treatment, I walked out of both lumpectomies wearing the bra I'd walked in wearing. Go figure. But in retrospect, the nice cooshy bra woulda been nice for the first week or so after those surgeries. Certainly I appreciated it after my reduction.

Justmaximom - haha! I remember when I was beginning rads someone further along in treatment talked about going shirtless and spending the day with her hand poised on her hip like a Greek goddess statue to cool the hotspots. That image cracks me up.

The little pad my LE therapist gave me is called a Swell Spot. It comes in several sizes and shapes (from the small oblong one I got all the way up to a hollowed-out large round one to fill in and even out a post-lumpectomy smaller or irregular breast) and is filled with little foam beads. You wear the gray ridged velour side against the skin overnight (you can wear it during the day too but if it’s not covering a sunken area it might create a bulge beneath your clothes). . I stuffed mine into my sleep bra last night, atop my lumpectomy scar and radiation-fibrosed area; the area is considerably softer today. It’ll take awhile to break down the fibrosis as far as it’ll go, and the seroma will still be there, but at least it’s not rock-hard and it feels normal inside my everyday bra....sans pad!