My Bubble Burst Today!
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Sunrae
Member Posts: 808
This afternoon I had an appt. with my surgeon. My tumors have not shrunk as much as she would like. She said I don't have an option to have a lumpectomy since I have 3 tumors in my right breast and there's no question, at least 10 lymph nodes will be removed when I have a masectomy. I'll be having another 3D Ultrasound next week so see if the tumors have been reduced much. She said she was sorry for bursting my bubble since my onc thought I might only have to have the lumpectomy. Surgery is scheduled for Feb. 11, so I have time to go on a trip with our kids to Florida which we're all looking forward to. Thats the good news. Then she told me the rest of this story. I will still need radiation and possibly chemo and I'll be on the Femara for the next 5 years. OK, so my question is have any of you had radiation after masectomy. Probably lots but I just thought if I had a masectomy that would be it. At this point I'm not even considering reconstruction or a double masectomy. She thinks I have about a 10% chance of bc in the left breast. I've been so upbeat thinking I would miss a lot of the worst but tonight I'm down thinking about it all. I'm sure I'll bounce back and I know I'll have plenty of questions between now and my surgery. Thank you all for listening to me.
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Comments
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I had radiation after
I had radiation after mastectomy the first time was a year after the diagnosis because of a local recurrence. This time I will have it because of the type and size of my tumor. I think with it it is important to clean up any residual. as there are 3 tumors and perhaps hard to get margins? since the tumors did not shrink as much as they wanted them to. The good thing it for local control and you just want to get rid of it for good!!!!!0 -
Sunrae
I'm so sorry about your news. I don't have any answers for you since I haven't been through this yet. I just want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sure others will post things to help answer some of your questions soon. I hope you and your family can have a good time in Florida. (((( Hugs ))))0 -
Sorry Sunrae
I am happy that you can take your kids and go to Florida. But, I am so sad that you can't have a lumpectomy now and that you have to have rads and chemo and Femara. You are one of the most upbeat and sweetest bc survivors on this site. I always love what write Sunrae. I had a lumpectomy with rads, so, I can't offer advice on what you will go thru, except rads. I will help you in anyway there that I can. I pray that you feel better. Others can help with your questions. Vent anytime!
Hugs, Sue0 -
: (Ritzy said:Sorry Sunrae
I am happy that you can take your kids and go to Florida. But, I am so sad that you can't have a lumpectomy now and that you have to have rads and chemo and Femara. You are one of the most upbeat and sweetest bc survivors on this site. I always love what write Sunrae. I had a lumpectomy with rads, so, I can't offer advice on what you will go thru, except rads. I will help you in anyway there that I can. I pray that you feel better. Others can help with your questions. Vent anytime!
Hugs, Sue
Sorry about your bad news. That is awful to expect a lumpectomy and then be told that you can't now. Hope you can go away and have fun on your trip and not worry about what will be in the future. We are here for you Sunrae!
Angie0 -
Does it seem like someone
Does it seem like someone played a cruel joke on you? This is rotten news, Sunrae, and you should take some time to grieve for the loss of the path you thought you'd be taking. Then, with a deep breath and a picture of your kids in your mind's eye, pull your shoulders back and forge ahead, knowing you can face whatever is needed for you to be free of disease. My prayers for your strength and courage.
Connie0 -
I did not have the same
I did not have the same diagnosis as you but yours sounds a lot like my sister. She had chemo (don't know which) and herceptin before surgery to shrink multiple tumors. It did shrink them some but not enough to avoid a mastectomy. She had surgery, then more chemo, then radiation. Then she resumed her herceptin (every 3 weeks for a year) and started arimidex for 5 years. It was a lot more complicated than mine but she is doing well. Her hair is back and she is back working full time. It is doable. She had node involvement but I don't remember how many. She didn't do reconstruction and is not sure if she ever will. There are many ladies that also had mastectomies and still did radiation. They will be able to better answer your questions. I just wanted you to know that my sister did it all and is going strong.
Stef0 -
Sunraenatly15 said:Sunrae you are in my
Sunrae you are in my prayers. Enjoy your trip to Florida.
I am not in your situation Sunrae and I understand how you feel. I had chemo which greatly reduced my tumor..it was large and aggressive..and had all but disappeared after chemo. I then had surgery and margins were clean but went ahead with radiation. The hospital I am at is very aggressive in their treatments and I looked at it all in the light...well I have done the best fight I can and no reason to give myself a hard time if it returns.
I'm sorry, that was not written very well..haven't had my first cup of coffee yet. It will all be over soon. The body has an amazing ability to shut down and get you through when times get hard. Keep in touch.0 -
Bubbles
Hi Sunrae, Try to think ur bubble just has a leak instead of bursting. I love my bubble, but occasionaly it leaks. I had a right mast w 18 pos nodes, so they all came out too. Started the chemo, 8 rounds total, now in radiation, 8 down 20 to go. Stage 3 ductal. Mine grew in 2 months. Surgery first. Mine was big and standing out from my chest ( it was in the 1200 position). I wanted it off. It's like I could watch it grow.
I didn't know what to expect from one day to another, like most of the sisters here. One day at a time.
Please stay upbeat, but at the same time there's nothing wrong with a little "pity" party. Just don't stay to long at it. Good luck with ur journey, I'll be w you in thoughts and prayers. Katz0 -
roller coasters used to be fun
sorry about the bad day
when we got negative news from a test it bummed us out, first we're down then up then down again, the trick is to end up on the up side,
our surgeon took all the lymph nodes out because one had a trace of cancer, and told us it was manditory to do chemo, the question was how much,
my wife had a mestectomy and because of minor lymph node involvement the doc said we shouldn't need radiation, that made my wife happy,
why not considering reconstruction??0 -
Ok. So not what we wanted.
Ok. So not what we wanted. Now let's focus on the new reality. It sounds like you and your doctor have developed a very sound plan. Let's get rid of the tissue with the tumors, zap with radiation to make sure there are no residual cells left behind, and move on to the next thing. You may change your mind about the reconstruction... Either way, you need to feel confident that you are doing the best thing for you so that you can "move on with your life" in the way that all of us on this site "move on" - with cautious optimism.
I think your plan for a trip before your surgery is FANTASTIC! Come down here where the sun is shining, the air is warm on your face, and the attitude is relaxed. Enjoy your family, rejuvenate, and go back Tanned, Relaxed, and Ready!!!
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Sending you warm wishes and big hugs, Pitt0 -
Hey Sunraepitt said:Ok. So not what we wanted.
Ok. So not what we wanted. Now let's focus on the new reality. It sounds like you and your doctor have developed a very sound plan. Let's get rid of the tissue with the tumors, zap with radiation to make sure there are no residual cells left behind, and move on to the next thing. You may change your mind about the reconstruction... Either way, you need to feel confident that you are doing the best thing for you so that you can "move on with your life" in the way that all of us on this site "move on" - with cautious optimism.
I think your plan for a trip before your surgery is FANTASTIC! Come down here where the sun is shining, the air is warm on your face, and the attitude is relaxed. Enjoy your family, rejuvenate, and go back Tanned, Relaxed, and Ready!!!
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Sending you warm wishes and big hugs, Pitt
I actually had a
Hey Sunrae
I actually had a lumpectomy and ended up having to have a mastectomy a month later cause the margins weren't clean.I had an expander put in at the time so that I could have an implant put in later. I had chemo and then radiation.I'm now ready for that last step, reconstruction. It is all pretty standard treatment and it is all doable. Hang in there.
Dee0 -
not radiation just chemo
hey sorry to hear that but i know you will get through this you sound in good spirits and thats what you gotta have through this!!! be strong i know somewhat you going through.. prayers are coming your way and we all need those!!
i had bc and a mastectomy on april 20 2009. no limpnodes involved but took 3 to check. i went through chemo 6 rounds and finished on oct 1 2009.. it was a rocky road but it was worth the fight.. i am taking treatments of herceptin as a preventive every 3 weeks..
hope you the very best!!!
prayers & hugs!!
brenda0 -
so sorry
I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your news. My situation is different so, I can't really put myself in your shoes but, want you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy your vacation! Vent all you need---we'll be here for you.
El0 -
I had a simular diagnosis. I
I had a simular diagnosis. I had three tumors, 6cm and 3cm and a smaller one. I had to have 4 cycles of A/C to shrink them before surgery. Next was a modified radical mastectomy which also removed 15 nodes. Then 4 cycles of Taxotere and then 6 weeks of radiation. I was disappointed because before surgery he said after I'd go straight for radiation but I guess the first chemo didn't shrink the tumors enough and he added more chemo after. So I know how you feel. It's a bummer.0 -
Sending good thoughts and
Sending good thoughts and prayers your way. Have a wonderful vacation and hang in there. This journey is sometimes long and hard and takes a toll on both our bodies and our minds. We are stronger than we think. Take good care of yourself. Marilyn0 -
Praying for you Sunrae!marilyndbk said:Sending good thoughts and
Sending good thoughts and prayers your way. Have a wonderful vacation and hang in there. This journey is sometimes long and hard and takes a toll on both our bodies and our minds. We are stronger than we think. Take good care of yourself. Marilyn
Praying for you Sunrae! Have a great trip with your family!0 -
Thank you all for your postsKathiM said:I'm sending warm hugs...
I'm sorry you got the news you did, but enjoy the time with your family.
We are here for you, dearheart...please keep us posted...
Hugs, Kathi
Thank you all for your posts and support. I feel better knowing that some of you have been in the same situation and have made it thru ok. I know I'll be fine too after its done, it just made me a little sick to my stomach when the dr. told me I had no other options than the modified radical surgery plus radiation. I was kind of in a fantasy world thinking I might just skate thru it, even tho I was told by the surgeon the first time I saw her that my tumors were scattered around plus the lymph node positive biopsy and would probably require the masectomy. You just build yourself up too much. You're right, my bubble didn't burst, its just leaking a little. As far as reconstruction, I just don't see myself having that. With all my other health problems I just don't want to have to deal with more surgery, possible infections, etc. so I need to find out more about prothesis forms. Have any of you had experience along those lines? Thanks for all your help. Love you all.0
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