Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Amhess, I had a huge seroma, sounded like a water bottle sloshing in there, was so weird. Surgeon let it resolve on its own, and it mostly has. My lumpectomy was 10 cm X 10 cm, so another big one. It never got infected or anything, was just the weirdest sound and feeling. 14 months post surgery I had an MRI done and there is still a small seroma in there, like 2.5 cm or something. Surgeon said it can take up to two years to go completely away.

Just watch for redness or heat to monitor for infection, but mine never got infected. I had a small area open up on my sentinel node biopsy and some fluid leaked out, kind of reddish clear, but I had a stitch that was exposed and that's where my sentinel node site opened up and oozed. Just don't squeeze, poke, or anything, be gentle with the area. I did have to take a prophylactic antibiotic course after surgery, surgeon gave me Keflex

I just ignored the sloshing, and used the compression chest bandage they sent me home wearing. I worked out through everything, never had any issues with working out. Rode my bike over 3,000 miles last year during all treatment, and walked and hiked 10-15 miles a week. I have done weights a few times but they make me nervous because of the fear of lymphedema. People aren't that observant. When I wore my wig, I got tons of compliments on my new haircut, nobody even suspected. So you may hear the water sloshing sound, but other people just aren't very observant.

The sloshing went away in about a week or two. The residual seroma is something I can't even detect, it was only seen on the MRI

Doctor called today and informed me that the nodes were positive. I am devastated by the news. My tumor was small (<2cm) and caught early. I really believed that i would only need radiation. I haven't even looked at oncologists yet. I planned to have two opinions, one at Sloan where I had my surgery and another doctor that EVERYONE recommended. It was a no brainer. My surgeon recommended that I don't go to Sloan, she said I really want one more local to me. The doctor that everyone recommended isn't taking new patients and even if i did, can't see me till June. He gave me the name of someone else in the practice and I made an appt but I want someone tried and true. Not even sure where to begin. Just a really rough day overall....

April1964, You're welcome. I bought the book right after I was diagnosed and then bought the new edition in September. And I've read both cover to cover. It's been my "bible." BTW, It really helps us if you put all your diagnoses, treatments, planned treatments in your profile AND make them public. You've got down adding a signature And we would like to know where you live - we often connect in person with others in our area.

HUGS!

NJNancy. Shit. That's a bummer. You've a right to feel blind-sided. Go with an MO who makes you feel comfortable and whom you trust. I would guess that if you find such a doc close to you that would be a plus. Do your research (read Dr Susan Love's Breast Book, articles on this site). Make your list of questions. Weigh the pros and cons, decide what's best for YOU. My DIL had colon cancer and had chemo. She had the most positive attitude about chemo of anyone I've ever heard of. Every chemo session she told those drugs to KILL CANCER. And they did! She even had her niece and nephew shave her head when her hair started going and made a party of it. My point is even if you have to have chemo, it is doable. Not easy or fun. Doable. And keep in mind the goal: KILL CANCER. That can help. Keep asking questions here and we'll try to answer. We have many ladies who've been in your shoes and they will be glad to share their experiences with you. (Please update your profile and make it public with your surgery and path report - that helps us too).

HUGS!

i'm sorry Nancy. I also had a very small tumour and everybody (BS, et) told me the nodes would probably be fine, however some swelling was on the ultrasound that they kept telling me could be anything. It turned out to be node-involvement and I'm doing chemo now. Although it certainly was not what I wanted, it is not as horrible as I anticipated, definitely doable. We are here for you

thank you Peggy! There's been some bad days, but also lots of good normal days!

thanks Peggy! how/where do I type in my treatment diagnosis info? also please tell me where the dr love articles are on this site. thank you so much

njnancy, if I could give you a real hug, I would! Your experience is almost the same as mine: I went into lumpectomy with two surgeons saying that there was 10 - 15% chance of lymph node involvement. Then BAM! Cancer in the sentinel node. As the surgeon who gave me the news said, "It's a lot to absorb." In this whole process, that was the only time that I truly felt discouraged. As Peggy said, find an MO that you trust, and just that you are here means you've done more research than I did. I'll also echo LTF's feeling that although chemo wasn't what I wanted, it was nowhere near as awful as I expected it would be.

Edited to add, in reference to Molly's wisdom in her following post: It is worth the aggravation to travel a bit farther to get the best care. For me, that means driving 50+ miles and fighting Boston traffic to get to Dana Farber. I have not once regretted this choice. It is wonderful that you have Sloan as an option.

Jan, congratulations on finishing radiation! Time for a new hobby now. ;-)

Thanks Peachy and Molly

April1964, To populate your information, go to your PROFILE. Fill in everything you can. You have to make it PUBLIC in order for us to see it. And it does take a bit of effort - not quite intuitive.

Dr Love's information is in her book The Breast Book. You can get it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or perhaps your local library. The articles on this site are easily accessible. At the site's homepage, type in what you're looking for in the search box and VOILA! Dr Love is also on Facebook. Dr Susan Love.

HUGS!

Jan, YIPPEE! I also got a certificate. No bell to ring. I was kind of disappointed. But the staff made me feel so special all the way through that it was hard to say goodbye to them. DH was very sick with post-surgery pneumonia and almost didn't make it at that time and they inquired about him every day, knowing I was coming from the hospital to the rads and back to the hospital. I was lucky had virtually no issues with rads but I'm not fair either.

HUGS!

Jclc83 CONGRATULATIONS!

Prep work for class has kept me hopping plus I have been preparing for the son's visit next week. There is so much to do and so little time.

Welcome Grazy, LovingGrouches, beachw3, Gami, tbalding, numb and amhess and any other newbies I missed.

LovingGrouches, glad to hear your margins were clear. Fingers and toes crossed that your oncotype score will be low.

Poodles, congratulations on having your story selected for the newsletter. Glad your GA conference was productive and fun. Hope your upcoming conference goes as well.

violethope and Jclc83, congratulations on completing rads. That's one more thing that is done and out of the way. Hope you both do something momentous to celebrate the occasion.

Moondust, hope that shoulder gets better. Did the RO offer any help or referrals to PT to help get the shoulder back on line? I'll be starting rads soon so I have added shoulder issues to the 'watch out for' list.

Sandy, hope your elbow is on the mend. Thank you very much for sharing your photos. High tea looked divine.

Happy Hammer, so sorry to hear about your kitty. My fur baby has been gone for 2 yrs now and I still tear-up when I think about him. Once I get rads behind me, I will be actively looking for a pooch to rescue.

Sloan so glad to hear your good news. What a welcomed relief for you.

MLP, sorry to hear about your knee. Congratulations on your son getting into his new school. Any idea how long the anti-nausea effects of the acupuncture last? That may be something to explore if nausea from rads becomes an issue.