Heading in for surgery on 8/30

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Hi, everyone! I was diagnosed in the beginning of August and was completely caught unaware. I had some type of traumatic reaction and literally shook for two weeks. I am much calmer now and am planning activities for after the lumpectomy. I was wondering how long it takes to recover and be able to do any activities. I want to watch some high school volleyball, but I don't know when I will be ready. The area was detected on a mammogram and the radiologist did a thorough ultrasound (which said looked really good) and a biopsy. At the time that she was telling me what was going on, my mind wandered and started thinking of funeral caskets. I kept thinking, how did I go from having an annual mammogram to picking out a casket? I was in such disbelief and shock. Luckily, it is a small area, and hormone receptive. I am 54, have taken prometrium for years when my body stopped making it after the birth of my daughter, and don't smoke or drink alcohol. Primarily a vegetarian, I keep thinking, is this really happening to me? Any responses will be appreciated. Oh, it was a bit over 1cm, Estrogen and Progesterone Postive, Her2- and sits right under the top part of the nipple just under the skin.

OrcaPorkka · August 2016

Michelle, I am sorry. I went with a BMX, so I don't know the recovery time for a lumpectomy, but I wanted to give a virtual hug. Take your time to process your feelings about it, but don't beat yourself up. I exercised, breastfed for a total of 40 months, etc. These things happen. I am glad they caught it. PTSD is not uncommon after a BC diagnosis so you aren't alone.

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Thanks OrcaPorkka, I used to be an athlete until I had my last child. I ended up on zoloft and progesterone and now I am overweight and working on it. I breastfed for a year, had two children. I am going to start moving again. I want to go out, but here in Illinois there is alot of dust and pollen from the corn. I am hunkering down until surgery on Tuesday. I am a beader, so I have something great to help pass the time. I feel bad for others that go through PTSD, because it was horrible. I had to be with my sister, who cooked for me and let me crash on her couch. I have a very nice home, equipped with great husband, kids and a dog. I just wanted to be quiet to get my mind focused.

Deaconlady · August 2016

Hi Michelle. I had a lumpectomy and the recovery was fairly easy. I had mine over Thanksgiving, so I had a 4-day rest period. I was fine when I went back to work on the Monday following. I have a desk job so it really wasn't an issue. As long as you don't do any heavy lifting you should be fine. Best of luck!

Charlene1 · August 2016

I had a lumpectomy yesterday. I have not had any pain today

the area is a bit tender but other than that I feel great arm movement is restricted a bit

due to SNB but other than not raising it above my shoulder I have a full range of motion

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Thanks girls for your support and information. I really appreciate it.

Cinnamon68 · August 2016

Hi Michelle,

I had surgery on July 29 2016 left breast and one lymph node sentinel taken out did you have lymph node removed I need help with this anyone. I'm not sure what to do

my surgeon her specialty is breast and melanoma cancer she does hundreds a year surgery that is on the breasts. And my chemical oncologist the one prescribing CHEMO and Hormonal Therapy well both have discussed the lymph node and they both want me to have the full removal of lymph nodes -ALN.

So I'm just confused with this study the Z11 done in 2011 can anyone tell me the chances of the lymph nodes having more cancer if they are higher compared to not having anymore cancer invading the lymph nodes when one is found to have cancer?

I don't want to take a chance and don't get the right treatment plan but the treatment plans can be so scary and a bit much. It just seems like things have to get worse before they get better in order to KILL this EVIL WEED THAT WON'T STOP GROWING UNLESS YOU CUT IT OUT AND DOUSE IT WITH CHEMICALS!!

I suffer with depression and anxiety and OCD and I was in the hospital 2x prior to being diagnosed and now this. This has truly been the worse year of my life. I cry a lot and I'm angry and I want to go back in time and make all this GO AWAY and get a do over!!

I'm usually an up beat fun person, I'm a LEO, I'm the party starter and I love to dance and have fun, love music, people and children are drawn to me, I always get them dancing!. And animals we go to ZOOS, I've been to 19 different zoos in the USA our goal is to go to all the ZOOS in the USA. And we've gone to a lot of State Fairs we've been to IOWA STATE FAIR, WISCONSIN STATE FAIR this one we go to every year, MINNESOTA STATE FAIR this one we've gone to 2 years in a row and wanted to go to it this year but not sure about this year, OHIO STATE and Milwaukee Summerfest we go to every year. But this year we haven't done as much as we usually would because of all of this and I'm just not into it. My relationship has gone through a lot this year it's been very hard on my man, I'm surprised he still wants me in his life. We've been together for 13 years, not married but we are in my eyes. But with the hospital stays 2x for my mental problems and my body beating me up the RA/Lupus that has taken its toll at times and now CANCER it's been a rough road lately.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis/Lupus and Ulcerative Colitis and other auto immune diseases that come in and out of my life. And I've had RA/ Lupus since I was 13 yr old and we think that I most likely got it through a viral infection when I was around 8 or 9 years old. So pain has been a part of my life and that's mental as well a physical and I not sure if my small body will tolerate the chemicals they want to pour in to chest. I've been on METHOTREXATE and I had to have it adjusted due to having severe reactions to it being to high of a dose. I'm more scared of the treatment plans then the surgery!!! I'm so scared and sad.

Most who know me aren't used to seeing me like this and its almost like they expect me to snap out of it and make myself be happy and positive or else it will kill me they say. Most don't know what to do but say, stay positive, eat healthy, find something to make yourself happy and this is all nice and most likely right but not always as easy to do at times.

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Wow, it sounds like you are having a rough time of it, Cinnamon68. The only area of concern would be the use of Methotrexate with Tamoxifen. Methotrexate is an anti-cancer drug used off label for R.A. Methotrexate is a recommended to treat breast cancer, not prevent it. Lupus and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune deseases. You need a psychiatrist that is also a medical doctor and they do exist. The good news is that your bc was found early and is hormone receptive. What are your other choices for R.A.? You need a good gp that can break down all of your conditions and meds. When you had your initial radiation, your doctor most likely target your lymph node area and chemo would have caught it there too. You need a breast cancer surgeon and not a general surgeon. You are doing everthing possible to stop and prevent futher bc. Just knowing that you are "all in" is the best that you can do. Trust your doctors or get new ones.

IHGJAnn49 · August 2016

Hi Michelle.. I'm going in for surgery Sept. 2. they told me it would be in day surgery, go in at 6am and home about 1pm. and about a week for recovery.. other then that this is all new to me too.. i wanted to go back to July, skip Aug. altogether and go right to September... Right now, I'm believing the Lord has already taken care of it and when they go in they will find NO Lump!

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Thanks IHGJAnn49, It is the morning of surgery at 4:15am. We have to be at the surgery center at 5:30am. I want to skip August myself and would like to go back to May, skip the summer and go right into September. It has been a difficult summer. Trying to stay calm and will take meds at about 6am for anxiety. I will let you know how it goes.

Michelle_in_cornland · August 2016

Fresh off of the surgery bed, 6 hours ago, and I am still feeling the effects of versed. I had bad anxiety during waiting period, so they dosed me with versed. If you are worried about the injection into your lymph nodes, it is a piece of cake. So, don't spend time worrying over that!! I had not had any versed before that time. If you are worried about the guide wire, another simple task, similar to stereotactic biopsy. If you are worried about the surgery, don't worry. The worst part is the waiting for the different procedures to get to surgery. I have a little pain, but mostly a raw throat and coughing up stuff from my lungs. I have some asthma, so being put under general usually causes some irritation. Hopefully, will not be in pain to any great degree tomorrow and can start picking up the pieces of my wrecked life of August. Worst month, worst year, worst fear of my life. No one should live in this kind of fear. I feel like a great weight has lifted from my shoulders and I have lost 3.5 pounds since diagnosed (which I am working on losing anyhow.) Diagnosed on 8/8/16 down 3.5 lbs. on 8/30/16.

Heading in for surgery on 8/30

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