Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited April 2016

    Molly, I'm so happy for you. That's wonderful. You must feel like a new woman. Praying that exemestane does the trick for you.

    Many HUGS!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited April 2016

    Molly- Yay- your message made me smile for you- you are getting your joy back and I am so happy for you. Here's to hoping you continue to feel good on this new med!!!!!

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited April 2016

    Froggie and others- thanks for the info about bone mets...I was a bit too nervous to look it up- nothing like "head in the sand" reaction, right? Anyway, when I called today for an appt it seems that the best thing to do is see both docs on May 5 and see what they say. I can wait- I really don't have that "panic" reaction or gut feeling that it is bad at this point so am ok.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited April 2016

    We're here in Savannah on a business trip. Got to spend yesterday at the beach, so I have a little light sunburn on my face and a little "farmer's tan" on my arms. It was great to relax for a while. And have I said lately how much I am enjoying not wearing a bra? Of course, I'm flat, so there's that. But I'm finding that I mind less and less. I figure I'm 59, nobody really cares about my boobs anymore. I don't even get upset when I see them in the mirror now scarred, wrinkled, and unattractive as they are.

    I have never wanted to get a tattoo, but yesterday I saw one that I would consider. This lady had a huge tattoo on her back of a family tree, with all her kids and grandkids names on it. I think if I stay flat, I might want a smaller version tattooed over my heart, with just my DH and my kids' names. I could have it done on the left side, over my heart, and have some dandelions and butterflies over the right side, to symbolize the toughness of the weed that refuses to die and the gentleness of the animal who re-invents itself to live joyously, however long its life may be.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited April 2016

    Poodles, sounds like you are feeling very mellow and content to be in your skin. That's good. Those are interesting tattoos. Not sure I'd get them but go for it if you want them. I especially like your butterflies and weeds on the right. The symbolism is perfect.

    HUGS!

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  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited April 2016

    With apologies to Les Miserables

    ♫One More Rad!

    I never thought that I would see the day,

    That they would finally take the burn away.

    This radiation that they send

    Will now come to a freaking end♫

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited April 2016

    Yay Brit

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited April 2016

    HH, I am glad you are being calm about it! Yes, I guess you are right. I have my JOY back! Poodles, I love your tats ideas. I guess after all the infections flat is the way to be? Ha, I love your version of the song Brit. Congratulations on reaching the finish line.

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2016

    Hi MLP - have been out all day and just saw your post asking how my radiation planning was -- it wasn't that long, actually.... they did a little 15 minute chat/review with me beforehand of what to expect and then they had me change into a gown and head into the planning room. I was probably in there for 35-40 minutes maybe (?), so an hour total. They were careful to make sure I was positioned comfortably and I did speak up when I felt the least bit uncomfortable (advice from this board!) especially when it came to my neck and positioning my arm above my head because I do have a wonky shoulder. They drew on me a little bit and I could feel stickers being placed all over, and it all ended with the three little tattoos. They were little sharp "pinches"... they looked like a ballpoint pen dot, but they spread ever so slightly overnight and now look like a small freckle.

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2016

    Glad to hear you're feeling much better, Molly! What a relief that must be.

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  • Katzpjays
    Katzpjays Member Posts: 237
    edited April 2016

    Molly-So glad you have that spring in your step back! Brit - happy for you to have just 1 more rad😀

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  • Lovinggrouches
    Lovinggrouches Member Posts: 530
    edited April 2016

    Grazy, you crack me up! Reminds me of planting about 36 tomato plants, digging all the holes myself, 3 days after my last surgery because my mom wouldn't quit going on and on about how my uncle had ALREADY planted his!!!!

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  • Lovinggrouches
    Lovinggrouches Member Posts: 530
    edited April 2016

    I haven't posted much lately. Went for day 8 of rads and electricity went out, so start over again tomorrow. Driving 2 1/2 hours a day , go home and crash every day- fighting extreme fatigue. Finally got to not crying anymore, and have had abnormal bleeding for a few weeks. 2 ultrasounds later, shows 4.5 cm cyst on right ovary and thickened lining of uterus, so go for biopsy on 3rd and find out results of prolactin and ca-125 test. Am I crazy to worry about having ANOTHER cancer? Hubby just thinks I'm trying to find something else to worry about, he isn't being mean, he just doesn't understand and he thinks that if we don't talk about it, then everything is fine and changes the subject quickly when I talk about anything related to my problems. I think it's his way of trying not to worry. Anyway, hugs to you all. I read every post, every day and pray for you all!!

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  • 614
    614 Member Posts: 851
    edited April 2016

    Dear Grazy: I hope that your mom will be ok. I'm glad that your DD is home. My DD comes home Thursday night from college. I hope that your rads go smoothly. I am glad that your brothers will help with your mom. You did a good thing by keeping your bc dx from your mom. She would worry too much.

    Dear Brit: Yay for being about to finish rads.

    Dear Molly: I am SO HAPPY for you that you are feeling better and that you are joyous and energetic again.

    Dear HH: Can you get in to see your doctors sooner than May 5? There is always waiting, anxiety, and wondering with bc. I hope that the bumps are nothing. I have no idea what your bumps are. I do not believe that bone mets are visible though. I wish you health and good luck with this.

    Thanks for the article Froggie. It was interesting.

    Dear Iammags: Thanks for your post. I hate leaving anyone out and I know that I always miss some people.

    Dear Peggy: I can't believe you know as much geography as you do near your new house. You still have so much to do in Michigan. I hope that you sell your house soon and that you get more than your asking price. Good luck and enjoy your memorial for your DH.

    Dear Moondust: I hope that you get in for your second opinion soon. I want you to be able to know your correct tx plan that YOU are in agreement with. Good luck.

    Dear LovingGrouches: I can't believe that you planted so much almost immediately after your surgery. I hope that your tomatoes were absolutely delicious.

    Dear LTF and MLP: Good luck with Rads.

    Dear Poodles: I like your tatoo idea. Enjoy them if and when you get the tattoos. I have permanent eye makeup which I absolutely love. It was a great decision for me. My mom, my aunt, and my aunt's friend also got permanent eye makeup after I got mine. Although I love this tattoo, I would never consider getting any other kind of tattoo. I love other people's tattoos when the artwork is lovely.

    Dear MLP: I do not know why you sternum hurts. I hope that it is nothing serious. However, I am glad that you will be having rads in that area. That should hopefully, stop you from worrying. At least your MO is aware of your symptoms and your MO will keep an eye on the area. Good luck.

    I seem to have developed a lipoma just below my sternum. It is rather unsettling. I am feeling some pain but that may be due to my hiatal hernia and my gerd. I informed my NP in my MO's office about this last week. My MO will be watching the area. I have another appointment with my MO in one month.

    Dear Katzplay: I whole-heartedly agree with your statement that almost everyone (who has had a bc dx) worries about bc at times. I know that I do.

    Have a good night everyone. Hi and hugs too.



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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited April 2016

    Lovinggrouches.....so sorry you are having these additional worries! WIll say, I had similar issues in 2013 and it was due to ovarian cyts- had the ovaries removed and all was fine. Hoping you get good results- hugs!!

    Brit- love your Les Mis song- one of my favorite shows of all time and goodness knows the whole BC thing is a fight! Keep on singin' friend!

    MLP/LTF and others getting ready for rads...I really DO suggest being brutally honest about comfort as you get in position when making the molds....16 rounds or 33- if you are uncomfortable in the position- you are uncomfortable...and, rads is stressful in itself so you want to be as comfortable as possible.

    MLP- not sure if the RO read the MO's notes and decided to add the mid chest and other side to your rads protocol but I would ask before getting things set up- it doesn't make sense that they would add an area just because you had some concerns....am I not understanding this right?

    614- so sorry you have that lipoma spot needing to be watched...it's worrisome and disconcerting. SO glad we have one another to share these things with...sending you big hugs!

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  • 614
    614 Member Posts: 851
    edited April 2016

    Dear LovingGrouches: I am so sorry that you have a cyst on your ovary and a thickening of your uterus. I would be worried out of my mind. (I have a tendency to be a worrier though.) Your husband is probably scared too and he does not want to talk about it. He wants you to be healthy and totally fine. It is very hard for others, especially those close to us, to really understand our fears after having a cancer diagnosis. Your DH doesn't want to talk about your feelings and fears because he doesn't know how to help you with this. Men like to help and have answers to problems. They like to fix things and to have solutions. I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am sending prayers that you are ok.

    Are you on hormonal therapy? If you have a thickening of the uterus then you should not take tamoxifen.

    Good luck with your test results. (((Hugs)))

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited April 2016

    614- I thing you are right on the money for Lovingrouches....our families and DH's want us to be ok and not talking about things makes them possibly not real concerns. We are here for you- hugs!

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  • 614
    614 Member Posts: 851
    edited April 2016

    Dear HH: Thanks for your post. I am sorry that you had lipoma's too. I am hoping that your bumps are nothing. Good luck again. I agree with you - I am so glad that we have each other to share these things with. Thanks for your hugs.

    Dear Loving Grouches: I am sorry that you drove so far just to have the power go out during your rads session. That is disconcerting. I hope that the power went out prior to your rads tx. for day 8. I am glad that you are not crying any more. I am so sorry that you are feeling so much fatigue. Fatigue is so difficult to deal with and it really sucks. I hope that you have good news from your test/lab results and from you doctor.

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  • froggie
    froggie Member Posts: 92
    edited April 2016

    Thanks, Dorothy:-)

    Poodles, what great news.

    Welcome, tsoebbin! Sorry you have to be here but glad you found us. I agree with what everyone else has already said. I wasback at work a week later. The LX was easy for me but my one SNB was a nightmare and ended up being the rate limiting step for me. Everyone is different. Just listen to your body.

    Thanks, 614. My husband thought I was harsh. If a doc can't deliver bad news to a patient directly maybe they need to find another line of work - just saying. Sorry about your lipoma. I have a small one on my foot and behind my knee. I had them before BC but now I monitor them more closely just in case. I've been trying really hard to not let BC define me or rule my life but sometimes, it's just hard.

    Grazy, sorry to hear about your mom. Any kind of surgery on a 92 yr old is rough. Hopefully they were able to do the surgery laproscopically so the recovery won't be quite as rough.

    Moondust, what a fun weekend. The gourd art classes sound interesting.

    Jill, thanks again for the tip on the BH brow trio. It finally came and I can see why you like it so much.

    Molly, glad you are getting your groove back:-) My MO goes to exemestane for those who do badly on arimidex too. Assuming my bone scan is alright, I'll be starting on arimidex. If not, then it will be tamoxifen.

    Yay, brithael! You give me hope. I've only had 6 rads on the left and 4 on the right and I'm already quite pink.

    Lovinggrouches, if you haven't gone through menopause yet, it could be a functional cyst which usually resolve on their own.If it's a corpus luteum cyst, it would pump out estrogen causing the uterine lining to thicken. They usually resolve in 2-3 months on their own. I've had two through the years and the symptoms can be disconcerting. It's good that they are checking your prolactin level and biopsying the lining to make sure everything is OK. My gyn did the same.



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  • Lovinggrouches
    Lovinggrouches Member Posts: 530
    edited April 2016

    614, I am not on tamoxifen yet, still have a few weeks of radiation left. I'm hoping that they will agree with total hysterectomy. I really don't want another d and c again at 42, especially since we've never had children and don't plan to. I just want it all out!!!!! No more constant pain and bleeding on top of the breast pain, fatigue, sensitivity and itching from rads. Thanks all for your concerns and advice. I really don't talk to anyone, friends and husband don't understand and the more I talk about it to my mom, it just worries her! If I seem worried or cry, it just makes it worse for her and her health already isn't that good. I will continue to pray for you all even though I don't respond often I have a hard time keeping up with everyone lol!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited April 2016

    Lovinggrouches, I do understand your frustration. It's really hard when you can't share your fears and pain the people closest to you. Women often process things best by talking them through. Men aren't as likely to do that--they want to swoop in, fix things, and swoop back out again. But breast cancer is one thing they can't fix. So, if they decide to not talk about it, then the problem won't exist, you see. And that leaves their women feeling like their feelings are being minimized and not taken seriously.

    I'm guessing that your husband is very scared and doesn't know how to handle his feelings. He doesn't want to upset you and he sure doesn't want to let you see how upset HE is!

    Hang in there. You know you can always come here to vent when you need to. Hopefully, your husband will come around to see things from your point of view.

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  • Katzpjays
    Katzpjays Member Posts: 237
    edited April 2016

    Grazy - I can totally identify with deciding not to tell your mom. My mom is 92 as well, and I waited until I had the pathology report before I called her. I was able to e-mail her information helped her understand my diagnosis/prognosis. (Can you believe she uses an iPad and Facebook?) I am fortunate she is in good health Had she been ill, I wouldn't have told her either.

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited April 2016

    MLP, I didn't feel much fatigue going through rads. A few times I felt sleepy in the afternoon, but it might have been from not sleeping long enough the night before. I never felt like I was dragging. Of course, you are starting rads after having gone thru chemo, and that might make a difference. Just take it one day at a time and don't assume you will feel any particular way.

    Hugs to everyone - I need to go to bed. Getting to bed late is one habit I am trying to change.

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  • Ysr5761
    Ysr5761 Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2016

    hi there!!

    Ok I have DCIS STAGE 0, my lump is 1.8 cm I'm 55 yrs old, high nuclear grade ( my lump grew .6 cm in 2 years) I wanted to have the mammasite with a lumpectomy but I was told I'm too young and my tumor is too wide it's deep behind my nipple.

    Do you think I should just have the 5 week external radiation done? I am not sure. I definitely want to take Arimidex for 5 years and hopefully I won't suffer from Osteosporosis!


    Thank you for any info and guidance:)

    Yolanda

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited April 2016

    614, I've been to Spokane a few times and when I was there in March buying my house, I really paid attention to the geography. I'd known the broad areas just from talking to my son. Still lots to learn! I'm planning that the memorial will be positive rather than a weepy experience. Now to make that happen. Still no nibbles on my house although I had a showing yesterday. I'm very tired of having to clean all the time.

    LovingGrouches, it is very unhelpful when spouses aren't supportive. Before he was sick, DH was supportive but he was extremely pessimistic and that was not helpful at all. So for most of our marriage I filtered what I told him and put a very positive spin on most everything. That was hard since it meant that good discussions were also avoided :(

    HUGS!

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited April 2016

    Hi all - I just had a quick read through all of yesterday's posts and wish I had time to acknowledge what everybody is going through individually. I leave my laptop here at Mom's (by the window!!) and send my email update to all her friends/family when I get home from the hospital and that's about all I have the energy for at night. Still don't have wine, but I don't think I need it ;) I don't bother with it when I'm at the hospital so that I can be fully engaged with my mom and everything going on around me. My younger brother's father-in-law came in by ambulance to the same hospital yesterday morning (he's in the final days with cancer) so with his wife and her four sisters who are understandably full of emotion - and their mother who has Alzheimer's - it was some day, I tell ya. I don't think I've ever seen my brother tear up - he adores his father-in-law. Oh, and his 60 year old brother-in-law has Parkinson's and the dementia is becoming an issue so they've also had to arrange care for him (Peggy would sure get that - I think your husband had Parkinson's? This guy was diagnosed at 57). After all of that going on yesterday, going back and forth between Mom's room and Emerg with my sister-in-law's family, well, I was pretty spent yesterday. Pretty sure I was asleep by 8:30 last night and I'm going back up shortly to spend the morning with my sister-in-law who slept there last night, before spending the rest of the day with Mom. At least the hospital is only a 35 minute drive from here. Honestly, I thinking starting radiation soon will be peaceful compared to this. What some people have to endure - my life is a piece of cake.

    The mystery woman behind the curtain revealed herself yesterday - "Gloria" still remains quite the character. I caught a glimpse of her sitting on her bed yesterday leaning sideways to hear us better, lol. I've decided now that she's more like the behind-the-scenes mother on Big Bang Theory who was always listening in and hollering from another room. hahaha She kept hinting that she surrrre wishes I could go and buy her a little bag of Hickory Sticks (didn't know they still made those) while the nurse would stare at me and shake her head no. Have to keep my sense of humor in times like this.

    Loving Grouches - your tomato story was so funny - how in the world did you do all that digging post-surgery??? I hope those tomatoes were so good they'd have won a ribbon. And re your husband, I think some people have short "water glasses" and they overflow very easily while others you could fill and fill and never a drop would spill. He probably can only take so much in before he spills over - that's why you need this site - get what you can from him and come here for the rest. At least, here, everyone understands what you're going through and many can relate to specific issues you're having and give you comfort and advice.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited April 2016

    Grazy, OMG! What an awful time for your family. That's way too many people having way too many issues. I hope your mother is recovering uneventfully - that looks to be the lesser of all the problems. So sorry for your brother and his wife's family. I hope the hospital has good hospice care - it's invaluable. I thought I wanted DH to be at home in hospice but then realized I didn't have the energy to do everything necessary so was quite relieved to have DH in the hospital. 60 year old BIL with Parkinson's needing to be in care? Oh. That's depressing too. That seems far too fast for someone that young. But I certainly know how much care is involved and it is overwhelming. A hard but wise decision on his family. Parkinson's seems to be rather like BC in that it is different for everyone.

    I know what you mean about needing to be clear-headed at the hospital. You have to monitor everything, make sure the right meds and not the wrong ones are given, that care is done, talk to those elusive doctors who like to come in the middle of the night or wait until the minute you leave for 10 minutes.

    Rads will definitely be easier!! Try to take time to decompress every night.

    HUGS!!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited April 2016

    just popping in to give hugs to Grazy.

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  • froggie
    froggie Member Posts: 92
    edited April 2016

    Welcome Ysr5761! A fast growing DCIS needs to come out. It is just a matter of time before it busts out of the duct and becomes invasive. Radiation in and of itself, it not sufficient to make it disappear. If your doc is telling you that you don't need surgery then you are not being offered the standard of care. Is there an academic breast center nearby where you can go for a second opinion?

    Standard treatment options for DCIS include:

    • Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy: This is the most common treatment for DCIS. Lumpectomy is sometimes called breast-conserving treatment because most of the breast is saved.
    • Mastectomy: Mastectomy, or removal of the breast, is recommended in some cases.
    • Lumpectomy alone
    • Hormonal therapy after surgery: These treatments, which block or lower the amount of estrogen in the body, are typically used if the DCIS tests positive for hormone receptors.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/treatment

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dcis/basics/treatment/con-20031842

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  • froggie
    froggie Member Posts: 92
    edited April 2016

    Grazy, speedy recovery for your mom and prayers for both of you. Hang in there - being a caregiver can be exhausting. Make sure you take care of yourself as well.

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