Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

MLP – I'm glad you have a plan. Once we girls have a plan, it's hard to believe that we would have made any other decision. You will rock that bald head. I have boys, and it seems that they didn't really understand the depth of cancer scariness until my hair fell out. My boys have always been kind and gentle (and we've always been very close), but there's something about a bald little head that makes children understand that their mom is really special. As hard as it will be to see you without hair, you all will begin to fight this as a team, and that always pulls people closer together. Now go kick some cancer butt!

Marie – My oncotype score was 12, but remember, I didn't have it right away. My first doc didn't order the right test, and I was coming up on the time when I need to have chemo. So, my new doc ordered the test, and I started chemo with the idea that I could always quit if the SE's were bad and my score was good. My "plan" was that if my score was 19 or lower, I wouldn't do chemo. But, I had no guideline, so I felt that chemo was the best option for me (because of the ki67 and my mom's aggressive cancer). I'm glad I did the chemo. But honestly, I wish I had known my score ahead of time, and I probably would have picked no chemo. Don't second guess yourself, Marie. Lay out all the facts, and then go all in with your decision. When I come to Texas, do you want me to go to your first day of rads with you? I'd be willing to do that if you are scared.

Ayr – I got my ki67 on my pathology report. That is the reason I wanted an oncotest.

What is a Lupron shot? I heard some other people talking about it, too.

Praline, my goof--I meant to type “surgery." Those of us with ER+ cancers are advised to strictly limit or avoid alcohol, as it impairs the liver's ability to clear estrogen from the system. For ER/PR- women, estrogen is not a factor (though many docs feel that limiting alcohol is good general health practice for everyone). That's what I meant about "getting sloshed" on Mardi Gras (as opposed to just having a Virgin Hurricane).

I figured, being in NOLA, that you were probably Catholic, but I've learned never to assume.

Genie bras are not an option for anyone bigger than a DD. The Leading Lady ones go up to F/G/H (they stretch) and are front-hook. I believe that Brithael did fine with a Playtex DD front-zip sports bra. I couldn't squeeze into one even three band sizes too big!

Jill, Molly, I too felt that getting bc was karma for spending so much money on pretty bra-and-panty sets for my "giant girls" and being too vain about wanting them to look pretty. Jill, Freya used to make one sheer, lightweight ribbon-bedecked one called the “Arabella," which I bought in every color combo they made--black/pink, lavender/purple, hot pink/orange and brown/yellow--and wore them till the bands stretched too much to be supportive, (Strategic cutting & seaming + underwires can make even a single ply of the sheerest fabric incredibly supportive). Alas, they stopped making that model.

Also thought that my LE was caused by spending so much on charms for my Pandora Medic-Alert ID bracelet (got every charm of significance in my life except the Italy flag--for my new second fave country to visit, Chicago Water Tower--representing my current hometown, and Seattle Space Needle--interim hometown bet. NYC and here. No scales-of-justice charm--never had an emotional attachment to practicing law. The two “tower” charms are in the mail).

But the jinx may have been broken: today was a good-LE-day. Decided the new Mediven sleeve I received (with the X-wide band) was still too narrow (my “regular” Juzo was larger) and at least 3” too long--the band reached to the crest of my shoulder and kept rolling down, cutting off circulation. My therapist agreed. And Mediven makes only one length of sleeve. So I said the heck with it, returned the Mediven sleeves to Luna, and went back to Second Act in Lincoln Park for another Juzo, this time with a matching glove rather than gauntlet. The Juzo glove is much flexier and the fingers are the right length for me to be able to play guitar unhindered. Saved me the expense of getting custom sleeves (need at least two to wash one while wearing the other--they need washing after every use) and the P.I.T.A. of trying to find a large pediatric glove. And my therapist was finally able to find that pesky axillary web “cord,” and is trying to break it up. Seems most of the “tight” range-of-motion pain is cording rather than stage 1 LE. Finally, the fibrosis over my breast seroma has softened at the bottom edge. Hoping the rest will do the same, to facilitate resorption of the fluid so my breast will settle down to its eventual post-op “new normal” size.

Or, to put it euphemistically, vous avez un surtension (“power surge”).

Sloan: Lupron is an ovarian suppression drug (injectable). MO wants to "turn off" my ovaries for a few years along with taking the Tamoxifen for the normal 5+. I am bracing myself for all kinds of menopausal symptoms.

I had a MIB-1 index on my biopsy pathology report. Is that somewhat similar to the ki-67? I need to remember to add that to my questions for tomorrow.

Alcohol!! There has been so many days I have wanted a glass of wine (or two or three....wait, no, ...a whole bottle!!) since diagnosis. {wishful thinking}

ayr - okay. So, it sounds like you will need to learn my French expression! hahaha

While trying to quell the freaking out- am lol at Sandy and Sloan re: hot flash in French...)

Too tired to post anything meaningful tonight but those needing prayers have mine.

Another supporter here of lovely matching bra and panty sets, also larger sized.

Molly- my prayers for you your friend and her family.

Sloan- I can help with the French. lol

Peachy2- I did not grow up in Louisiana. I was born in New Brunswick, Canada, next to Maine. I have been living here since around 1980.

Molly- The BS this morning commented at my post op appointment that he was surprised that the MO recommended chemo because usually they don't recommend chemo for women over 75 or older and I am almost there.

Just heard from my newly-diagnosed friend with DCIS. No surgery date yet--because despite obesity her breasts are small & dense so they want to do bilateral MRIs to make sure nothing unseen is lurking in either breast. Because the DCIS is located in the center, the plan is to do a central nipple-sacrificing lx rather than a mx, without oncoplasty or reconstruction. She’s 70, widowed 16 yrs and feels her late husband was irreplaceable--so she has no interest in dating and has nobody she’d be ashamed to have view her impending asymmetry. Her attitude is “I want it out yesterday, and take as much as you need to.” Despite the high grade (her surgeon called it “particularly virulent”), unless IDC&/or node involvement is found she won’t be getting chemo or herceptin (most DCIS is HER2+ but if it becomes IDC it usually stops overexpressing HER2). But she will be getting the standard 33 rads protocol, in the prone position to protect her heart & lung.

Technically, boufee de chaleur is a heat puff. You prounounce it boo-fey and anyone who has had one knows it's a whole smorgasbord of heat symptoms. So, like me, you'll remember it by thinking of a big buffet of hottness!

(The things you'll learn in this chat room...)

I'm three weeks out of surgery tomorrow. The swelling is not bad or painful, but it shows no sign of going away. Is this normal? At what point might I expect the swelling to start diminishing?

Molly, I want to add my condolences. It makes me feel very sad to hear about your friend.

Sloan and MaireW, my Ki67 is 30% and I am awaiting the OncoType score, maybe in another week. My MO also thought the Ki67 was not a great test to base treatment decisions on. She didn't even mention chemo until I brought it up. My tumor is Grade 1, but with the high Ki67 I want to make sure we cover all the bases before I go farther.

MLP, having the plan is so good. You'll come out fine on the other side. Sorry you can't ski yet. I'm going to try a hike with a few hills on Saturday.

ayr1016, glad to hear you have a plan too!

1step, I hear you about injury while handling animals. I deal with my own animals every day (2 dogs, 7 cats, many chickens, 20 sheep) and I'm taking precautions even with them.

ChiSandy, it's good to hear you can play guitar with a glove on for LE. I never imagined that could be done!

I met with my RO on Tuesday and feel I'll be in very good hands with him. He will set me up for respiratory gating even though the tumor site is on my right side. This will protect the lung. I don't want to lose any lung capacity because I hike and backpack at high altitudes all summer. This RO is not a fan of the prone position.

Good Morning, Dear Friends! Thank you for the French lesson. I am sooooo glad I don't need it! But those are great expressions.

I never asked my MO about my glass of wine with dinner. I don't think it caused my BC nor do I think it will influence it coming back. My only concession is popping a folic acid pill daily. I've never been vain about my small girls so I didn't have that to cope with. However, I still strongly believe that the great amount of stress I was under for 4 years DID play a huge part in my getting BC.

Regarding the use of cold caps, someone on BCO posted that chemo is killing cancer cells and that hair falls out because the chemo is doing its job. So why would you do something that prevents the chemo from doing its job? I'm sure I've worded it wrong but the gist of it was that by leaving hair in place you were making yourself vulnerable to stray cancer cells. Whether it's true or not I have no idea. I just think it makes sense.

Foggie, another twist-and-turn bra person. Now I'm wondering if my bustier friends twist and turn while us under-endowed just hook in back? On the high cut sports bras - I'd stay away from them. I found I wanted bras that were really low cut under the arm. I had tank tops that were a little smaller in the armhole that I had to give up on because they annoyed that damn site even a year later (it just keeps on giving).

Praline, interesting that they don't recommend chemo based on age. I guess I could see it if you were 90. But you sound like a very young 74. You'd think they were take a look at the WHOLE person in deciding chemo. If you're in pretty good shape with no other major health issues and chemo is indicated, then why wouldn't they recommend it? I think we all want to do what's necessary get rid of the cancer.

Sandy, wishing your friend good luck. While I had a wonderful husband I certainly do hope to date down the road. By the time we've hit 70 most of us have bodies that are littered with things that mean we won't be vying for a Playboy centerfold, but those don't change what's inside which is what I look for. The skin is just keeping all that wonderful personality and person in one place for you to enjoy.

Moondust, if your swollen girl bothers you (even to just look at), ask your BS. My bad girl is still larger than the other one but there's nothing wrong with it - I asked.

I am finally on the road to feeling better - about time. Very tired of feeling rotten.

Good wishes to everyone having surgery or appointments today.

HUGS!

Love the "buffet of hotness" - about to experience it again since I start up the "Dex" on Sunday in prep for infusion #3.

I have the softest peach fuzz all over my head now. Hair growing? How weird is that?

I have sworn off all alcohol at least during treatment, and maybe beyond. I will miss Margaritas and Swirls with Tex-Mex. I did however have a really great virgin Pina Colada in Vegas, so maybe that's my future.

I'm still wearing the Playtex zip front sports bras. They are comfortable although I do get tired of the uni boob. I think I might look into some of the places Sandy talks about once I'm through with radiation and have a clear idea of what size I actually am. I think there is about a cup size difference between left and right, but if it doesn't get more than that, I don't think I'm going to look at any PS for symmetry. I just don't want any more surgeries or hospitals in my future, if possible.

When does hair start to grow back after the last chemo treatment? Anyone had AC chemo?