Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
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(((Mel))) nice to see you. I am glad you have so much support! I eat well and try to exercise as much as I can but really need to step it up even more. Let us know when your pbmx is scheduled.
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Peggy (((HUGS)))
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Thanks, Traci!!
HUGS!
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Ejmann, glad you came out of surgery ok! They didn't numb me and tracker shot in nipple was so bad, I couldn't breath and was shaking so bad!
Traci, I've found that's all you do, wait, wait, and wait some more!
Poodles, so glad for good news!!!!
Balding, there's not much greater feeling in the world than knowing you have clean margins and nodes!!!took me 2 surgeries to get clean margins, but at leAst they were clean!!!
Katz, the time will fly by before you know it!
Peggy, hope all goes well with the garage and sale!
Had my bone density scan today and start tamoxifen next week, waiting on call for schedule of when I will have hysterectomy. I don't know how I will handle 4 to 6 weeks off of work! I've never missed more than 8 days in MY LIFe and that was for vacation! I'm getting nervous!
Hugs to all!
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My tracer shot was very painful and that was AFTER the doctor numbed me! I yelled OW!, which is not usual for me. I think she was in a hurry and didn't give the lidocaine any time to work.
I will start chemo the week of June 6. My meeting with my MO was not enjoyable, and I get the feeling I'm on her sh*t list. At one point we were discussing neupogen shots because the second opinion doc had recommended them to me, when she suddenly said "I know you will fight and argue until you get what you want, so tell me what you want." And she put her clipboard down very firmly. I don't think she likes patients who try to participate in their own care, especially when the second opinion (which I didn't request - she sent me for it) didn't agree with her. There are no warm fuzzies happening between us at a time when I'd really like some. Is this normal for MO's? Changing MO's would further delay treatment, and I will mostly be seeing the nurses anyway, so I'll just stay where I am.
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Moondust, I really like my MO. She and her Physicians Assistant are very supportive and take a lot of time to educate. She made recommendations and explained why but let me know that it was my decision. Sorry yours doesn't seem to have any bedside manner, ugh. I had neulasta shots and wow are they expensive but they arranged for patient assistance no questions asked and I only paid $25 for each. You may want to have chemo and then research a new MO as you will be seeing them while on hormonal therapy for at least 5 years and probably 10. Good Luck MJ
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Thanks, MJ. I do intend to change MO's when chemo is over. I sure loved my BS and RO. They were nothing like this MO! As far as the neulasta shots, she says my insurance probably won't pay for them and she does not think I need them. But she did agree that if I get in trouble with fever or infection during the first chemo round she will order them for me.
Ejmann, I'm glad your surgery went well!
Mel, it's so nice to hear you have embarked on a healthy life program. It sounds awesome!!
Tbalding, such good news on the margins and nodes! Hooray!
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Oh, Mel...SO happy for you and your good results! Sorry for the needed surgery but sounds like you will be ready- strong emotionally and physically, for it. Great hearing that you are living your life and seems it is going well!!! So glad. Take good care.
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Moondust, I should have added that I only had 4 during AC. They seemed to work as I didn't have any problems with my bloodwork or infections. I did get some cellulitis during Taxol and was on Anti-biotics for a month at the end. MJ
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Moondust, so sorry about your MO. I have a feeling that if I questioned too much with mine, he would be the same way- but luckily, I have only seen him twice for about 5 minutes each time and am going back next week for him to look at my bone density results and give me my script for tamoxifen and will probably only follow up after that. He doesn't have much personality and spoke to me like I was a child while asking his opinion about hysterectomy and told me "you STILL have to take tamoxifen, even when you have your ovaries out" in a stern voice. I wanted to tell him, "no SHIT Sherlock!" Lol!!!!!!!
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Mel great to hear from you.
More later...so tired!!!
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Moondust, sorry to hear that your MO appt didn't go so well. The first appt with my current MO didn't go so well either. I felt like he was really trying to push chemo on me and wasn't thrilled with me questioning it and conveying what my BS and RO said regarding my breast cancer, etc. He requested the oncotype test and when the results came back, he agreed with no chemo and that appt went much better. However, when I go back in a couple of weeks to talk about hormone therapy, we'll see what his attitude is like. :-) I want a doctor who will present me with the facts and allow me to ask questions and voice my concerns/opinions, etc. I don't expect them to agree with everything I say but I don't want to feel belittled either. At my first appt with my BS, he really empowered me when he told me that this is my journey and that the doctors work for me. Therefore, if I need to find another MO, I will. Even if I won't have much interaction with him/her over the next 5-10 years, I need someone that I feel confident in and will work with me while keeping my best interests in mind.
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Totally agree with you, Disneygirl. I didn't click with my first MO at all. Well, I though it was just ME, at first. You know, maybe I just wasn't getting it. Went back for a 2nd visit and, NOPE, it was him. I pitched him like a hot rock and found another really great MO who just happened to be located bout 4 miles from my house. Score!
It doesn't matter to me whether I see my MO once a year or every other day, I want to know that she is listening to me, that she is responsive to me, and that she and her staff just want to help me with this battle. The first MO basically wanted to give me a prescription,pat me on hand, and tell me not to worry my pretty little head about it. Erg! The second MO took a closer look at my records, my family history, and my gene mutations and came up with a more aggressive plan that I was willing to pursue. I feel much more empowerd by the second MO than the first one.
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Hi all. I'm wondering when those of us who have had a lumpectomy along with rads and chemo will be considered cancer free or NED? I have a friend who was diagnosed a week after me. She opted for a double masectomy and was considered cancer free immediately.
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mltdd - Ive had lx's twice, rads 4yrs ago and chemo last year. If you have a lx and it is contained...you are cancer free from surgery. If it is nowhere else. After surgeries or treatment, medically they look at a 5yr plan, so once you hit that, they say is good. Obviously everyone is different with very different diagnosis, so mastectomy isn't necessary for alot of people. Very personal choice as well, having said that the U.S.A. has one of the highest statistics in the world for mastectomies, as more women opt for it, this doesnt take into account women who medically HAVE to have it.
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mltdd, although I ended up having a BMX in the end, my BS and MO agree that I was "cured" by the 2nd lumpectomy (actually, re-excision to get clean margins.) I had chemo because my tumor was considered to be more aggressive, and I had the BMX because I have 2 gene mutations which cause breast cancer.
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mltdd - my MO told me I was cancer free post lumpectomy since I had clean margins. He said since they got the whole tumor out the cancer was technically gone
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I was considered cancer free after my umx.
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since it was in my node I guess it'll be after rads?? After 5 years??
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Just dropping by to say hi and hope everyone is well. I don't get on these boards much anymore but they were a lifesaver in the beginning.
Katzplays.....LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics. My DD and I toured Italy 3 years ago and made memories for a lifetime.
Peggy... always good to see your smiling face....so excited for you and your impending move! On to your next chapter of life!!
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Hi Everyone - I'm scheduled to start chemo in the next few weeks - just waiting to heal a little more from the BMX with reconstruction. My regimen will be carboplatin, taxotere and Herceptin. I'll get 6 treatments over about 4 months (every 3 weeks I go in), I guess I'm just feeling a little anxious about the chemo. I understand it is different for everyone but what can I expect? I've been to the chemo class and they gone over all the side effects and what to do and not do but I want to hear from others that have been through it. My biggest fear is infection and I hate worrying about something that hasn't even started yet! Consumes to much of my time and I just want to be happy and relaxed!
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Heathet my suggestion would be to go to the different chemo month forums and read through them. I did it prior to my chemo and it was really helpful. There is one for each month. I am just completing my 6th treatment on Tuesday coming up and then I will be on to radiation. I am just competing my Taxotere/Hercepton portion and then will be just on Hercepton until next April. I found although not pleasant, it was doable. Drink plenty of water, very important, and take any meds they give you as prescribed. It isn't easy but it was much easier than I anticipated.
Good luck
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Hello everyone, hugs, health, happiness, and all good things to all of you.
I just typed a response to everyone but my browser closed unexpectedly, I was logged out, and my post disappeared. I am sending positive wishes to everyone but I am not going to retype my long post including everyone's name. (I was not able to look at this site for more than a week so I had many people to respond to.) I am just going to respond to a few people instead of to everone. Sorry to those who I missed.
You can rent a recliner for one month from a medical supply company. The recliners that medical supply companies have will actually stand you up so that you can get out of the chair. They deliver/pick up the chair. It is a great option to consider and it is easy. Medical recliners are much better than regular recliners. Good luck.
Dear Moondust: Change MO's immediately. Do not stay with a MO who chastises you. You need to feel comfortable with your MO. It is vital for your psyche. However, it may be difficult because your MO must release you and your new MO must accept you as a patient. MO's do not like to take patients from other MO's. Ask your nurse navigator for referrals. If you do not have a nurse navigator then go to the local bc support group and ask people in the group for recommendations. Good luck. I am glad that your second opinion went well.
Dear Tsoebbin: I am so sorry for the news that you received in your pathology report. Good luck.
Dear Peggy: Enjoy your memorial for your DH.
Hi Mel. I just sent a message to you in my last post apporximately a week ago wishing you well.
Dear everyone else: Welcome and good luck with your surgeries, recovering from surgery, chemo, and rads. Also, I hope that you will not have to wait a long time for pathology reports/results.
I crocheted the above phone holder/small pocketbook for my MO. I have an appointment with her tomorrow. I am so fortunate that she is my MO and I want to thank her for all that she has done for me. I hope that she likes it.
Unfortunately, I think that my son has relapsed and that he has mononucleosis again. He went to the doctor on Friday and had bloodwork done to retest for mono and for Epstein-Barr virus. His throat is bad ("mono throat") and he has all of the symptoms of mono again. I hope that the test results come back quicker this time than when he had bloodwork done in March when he tested positive for mono. I hope that he feels better soon. I am worried about him. He has 2 weeks left in his junior year of high school including final exams. This has been a terrible semester for him. He needs rest and recovery time, not school work stress.
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Heathet, You'll do great, don't worry too much. I had a different regimen but the basic ebb and flow is similar. As you know, you'll have a schedule of meds to take for anti-nausea and other side effects. Take them before you are nauseous. If your stomach even feels unsettled let them know and they will adjust your meds. The big thing is any problems call the office don't wait until your next treatment. One of the most common issues is thrush which is a mouth throat thing, it is pretty common, I had a bout of it and they give you a mouth wash to take care of it. I had a yeast infection on my skin under my breast of all places, gave me a lotion cured it no problem. During the 12 weeks of Taxol, about half way through I had some infected cysts, I don't think this is common and was on anti-biotics for several weeks. The steroids may give you some sleepless nights. I found that I was pretty fatigued days three and four as I came off the steroid high. I had AC for 4 infusions every two weeks. First week would be a little rough but the second week I would feel pretty normal. I used Bioteen for dry mouth and saline spray for dry nose. I kept a bag with a pillow and blanket, reading material and snacks to take with me to chemo. Don't forget to drink lots of water during and after treatment. Good Luck, MJS
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(((614))) I hope your son feels better soon.
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Still on cloud nine after doing the Vital Touch benefit that HappyHammer and her sister Meg set up here in Hickory, NC. Mustlovepoodles and her DH came along, and by the start of the second set the room was rapidly filling up. Had a blast playing and singing, as well as meeting with HH and Poodles. Food was wonderful too, and I am getting to relax in a real hotel with a humane 12:00 checkout time....not to mention a TV, hairdryer, and coffeemaker! (Montreat, where SERFA was held, was lovely--a huge stone lodge with good group meals--but it was a bit sparse in the amenities department). Sleeping in, and have a 5:25 flight from Charlotte-Midway, so I get a little breathing room. Checked with Bob--the house is still standing; the cats have neither committed vandalism, had their friends over to snort catnip; nor plotted world domination. Wore compression up in the mts. all day and for playing; here in Hickory I didn't need it except for playing.
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Heathet - There are quite a few of us on here that have done Chemo and all very very different. So Im sure they'll all chime in. My suggestion is to take each step as it comes. I only had a chest infection after the first infusion, that's it. No other infections at all and I worked with Autistic children, in fact my immune system was great. I was drug sensitive so the Chemo over 4.5 months was tough, but Lovestofly for instance managed really really well. Your medical team keep you well versed on every step and what to expect and when, rely on them more than anything. You absolutely will be fine, you'll do better than you think you will. Deep breath and step at a time.
614 - Hey!!!! thank you for the message. I do hope your son is ok??? and you are doing well!
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614, Mono is a bitch. I hope your son feels better soon. My brother had it in college decades ago. For years afterward he would have relapses. I think because he got so run down. Make sure your son doesn't overdo.
Sandy, glad the gig in Carolina went well! I'm so envious! Have a smooth flight home.
I'm fighting allergies with fevers - quite ready for them all to go away. I'm sure stress is part of it and not getting enough sleep. I'll live but it would be nice to feel really good.
HUGS!
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Sandy, HH and Poodles so happy you met and the concert was well attended. Peggy, I hope you feel better soo. I have my first diagnostic mammogram on Wednesday.
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