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Marla, I noticed during my revisit of former posts that I believe you mentioned a lumpectomy, then a reduction of both breasts. Is that true? That is what my surgeon is recommending for me saying it is not as radical as a double mastectomy, and half the recover time.
Please clarify what route you took for post chemo. Thanks.
I have two more of the super doses. One this Wednesday and the last the first week of July. Then need pet scan, mammogram, mri and such. Hope to have the surgery the end of August.
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Thank you for asking, I had a lumpectomy and then radiation. Changed my mind after I saw the plastic surgeon regarding breast reduction and the healing seemed to be a problematic concern for me and not worth it. Happy with my decision for now. I am 71 and not wanting a mastectomy and a long healing time. Hope this helps you.
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Love reading from you ladies. I only had the lumpectomy surgery. No reduction or lift surgery. Because I have small breasts, and at my age, I decided not to do anything to try and even it all out. My lumpectomy side is now a little larger than the right side. I'm not sure what the radiation treatment will do either. I've read it may cause hardness in the area the tumor was removed. It's already hard due to a small seroma as seen on my Radiation CT simulation images. My Radiologist Oncologist said it takes time for this to go away, for the body to reabsorb the fluids in the tissues there.
That said, since I don't wear a bikini swimsuit nor do I wear tight revealing tops, I tend not to worry about the minor size difference of my boobs. I'm an old hippie and I don't really care at this point in my life. I'm just glad to still be alive. Although I'm single now, I would hope a man would understand and care about us as people rather than fret about our boob sizes. I hope I didn't offend anyone.
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Didn't mean to ignore you Pat. Here's a really good recap article on ADCs that are used for various types of cancers. Some are cross-overs in that they cover multiple types of cancers. It will depend on your subtype of Breast Cancer and the tumor specific DNA/RNA. Check to see if there are trials at Cleveland Cancer Center. Also, the use of Proton Therapy instead of traditional radiation. It's a really good alternative. I think it's available at Cleveland.
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FWIW, my sister has stage 4 cancer that was in her breast, then lung and bones. She is doing extremely well on Ketruda. It has held everything in check with no progression. The lung and breast cancer are gone. It's still in her bones. Something to ask about.
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yes, i was wondering how radiation works after breast surgery also. Don't want to mess it up. So many questions and options. Wonder if your route with the lumpectomy and radiation may be better route. Then do breasts after treatment all done. Radiation was brought up for first time when I meant with cancer surgeon last week. Need to talk about oncologist about that.
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Good morning my beautiful ladies!
Here I am talking to you from day 3 of my stay at wonderful Warren general hospital to which I was admitted for pneumonia once again.
RocDoc thank you so much for that article! I believe I go home today so when I go I will sit down with my husband and we will go over the article and our options. Thank you again.
I really didn't think that I had two cents to add to the conversation on lumpectomies and radiation as my treatment for that was 10 years ago and many things can change in that amount of time. So far however I am a little surprised that it all seems to be just as it was back then with no new technologies. After so many chemo treatments they gave me a lumpectomy with a sentinel node biopsy. The sentinel node came back clean which I suppose made sense as the entire cancer was contained in one of my ducts. My radiation came out better than some of my sisters only because I did not get radiation sunburn like they did. I still vouch for CeraVe after each treatment. The CeraVe kept the breast from burning and only gave me a really nice tan while keeping my skin from drying out. After the radiation treatments it took a while for the swelling to leave. Afterwards I only have a divot in my breast but like RocDoc said I'm a little too old to care lol. I remember when I first started radiation they took me in a room and had me lay down on a big "bean bag" for lack of a better term. Once they got me in position they opened a valve or plug or something and it immediately turned the "bean bag" rock hard. That was so they can maintain the exact same position for each treatment to my breast. I don't know if this helps anyone on the board but at least you have one more opinion on a lumpectomy. If it were my choice I would have done it again however my cancer seems to have exploded through my body. That's why I'm hoping that the article RocDoc gave me will offer me more solutions for my stage 4 cancer. Right now the oncologist has put everything on hold until we can get this recurring pneumonia under control once and for all. It would be nice because hospital food is terrible but the guy that takes my order is pretty funny. He recites different areas of the menu like a maitre D so I guess that kind of offsets the meatloaf with gravy LOL.
So today, on my release from the hospital I was woken up early a little before 6:00 a.m. to get my blood work and breathing treatments before breakfast. Looks like I'm going to need 1% air while sleeping and while exercising but not while I am just sitting around. It doesn't sound like much does it? I'm just following orders in the hopes that this is not a repeat of another repeat in the near future. Got to get the cancer back under control. I find it weird that the last time I did a PET scan nothing had changed, and that was after I did not do treatments for a couple of months. This time I did treatments and the whole thing just exploded into my body. It's gone through the PEC muscles into the wall behind my breast and into my bone. It has also expanded in the supraclavicular region. It is also in the lymph nodes in my armpit on the opposite side of my breast cancer as well as on the liver, the space between my pelvis and abdomen and the space between my abdomen and my chest wall. It has expanded through more of the lymph nodes on the right side and up into my shoulder muscle. Yeehaw. That's why your article was so important to me RockDoc. My brain MRI was put off because of this also, so I have yet to get that testing done to see if there's anything new there also. I don't think there is but that's just me looking at it from my side. And if anybody wants to know it's easy to look at it from your side because if you close your eyes you're seeing the inside of your head LOL. Sorry had to add some levity to this mess. They also said I have congestive heart failure but it's weird because congestive heart failure doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your heart. My husband was telling me about this and I really need to sit down with him on this also so I have a better understanding of what all this means. The poor guy is so worn out! I really worry for him, even more than me. He's gotten to the point where a simple decision is like climbing a mountain to him. The good news is we're going to be closing on the 21st of June and we have until July 7th to move out. The husband and wife will be arriving next week. Her name is Tuesday which I think is an awesome name lol. She said when she gets into town she wanted to do my care, i e the cooking etc for me so my husband doesn't have to worry about me while he's wrapping other stuff up at the house. I'm feeling blessed right now!
That's about it for me ladies. I pray that each of you find peace in your journey.
Sadiej
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I thoroughly enjoyed your post Sadie and especially liked how the new owner of your home is going to help you while Don packs your goods.
I've been under the weather the last 4 days, sleeping 20 hours a day from the red devil. Today is a little better, but still very weak.
Nothing would be better to hear than "you don't have to do the last chemo!!"
I appreciate the info about the CeraVue.
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Oh Claoh I'm sorry you're getting slammed so hard! I really don't like seeing that happening to you or anyone else on this board or anywhere else for that matter. But you're almost across the finish line with the chemo and that is a very good thought to hang on to as you go through the last of your treatments. Then comes radiation and then you're done. Yay!
I was laughing with my husband about the cream (CeraVe). When I used it it gave me such a beautiful dark tan. Unfortunately it was only on my boob LOL. That's when I started calling it my targeted tanning treatment. :-) I suppose it really isn't anything to laugh about but we all have to find laughter wherever we can.
Had a video conference this morning with my oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. We discussed upcoming chemos and how hard or aggressive they are on your body and your red blood cells. Each chemo may add just one month or 6 months to your life. Having a really hard time right now keeping myself from having fatalistic views about those facts. My best bet is to go find something else that will bring me laughter. Maybe I should go horseback riding LOL. Problem is with that is with my neuropathy advancing like it is I can't even get up stairs. So if I can't do one step how the heck am I going to get this body up onto a horse? Maybe I will just go visit them and sing renegades song to them. Or maybe I will just take a fishing pole and go sit down by the water and watch it slowly flow by.
I had a very healthy breakfast this morning. I had a huge bowl of angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. I told my husband that that was my healthy breakfast. It wasn't healthy for my body but it was healthy for my emotions and as far as I'm concerned that counts. :-)
I really pray that none of you have to go through what I'm going through and that what you are going through is a lot more easier on you with much better results. I pray that God bless you and keep you in peace. Keep on walking the walk.
Pat
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My oncologist gave me the joyous news that i don't have to complete the last chemo scheduled for next week. That is because the last two have landed me in the hospital. The first stay was because of low blood pressure; this stay was because of low oxygen. Still weak and without any desire to eat. It's going to be a long battle to get better.
Take care all
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I need to have a girlfriend snap some photos of my hair. It started to come in fast, but since I'm back on Herceptin and Perjeta targeted drugs it has slowed down. It likes to stand straight up on the top of my head unless I use hair gel. It tends to lie more flat on the sides and in the back of my head. I still have salt and pepper hair. No curly hair as others have reported after chemo.
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Claoh I'm so sorry that you are running into complications with your chemo. How long were your hospital stays? Did they give you air to take home with you? Make sure you have an oxygen meter and check your oxygen often. You definitely don't want this to turn into pneumonia. Also make sure you check your temperature daily — something I am seriously remiss on. A body temp of 100* should require a trip to either your doctor's or the emergency room. There are different symptoms like confusion that you should be aware of. That's all they taught me. The only thing they did when I had low blood counts was hold off on my chemo for a week or two. Maybe the other ladies have inputs?
Eating and I have not been friends for quite a while, although my daughter got me to eat by providing me with fruits and vegetables and other finger foods. I was definitely not into eating any kind of a meal. They also wanted me on a protein shake like Ensure. I can't stand the taste of Ensure but my daughter introduced me to one called Premiere that has really good tasting protein shakes. I got the latte one and use it in my coffee to make a coffee latte. Three of those give me a full days requirements for protein. The second thing they did is give me an appetite helper that actually makes me want to eat. It is a pill called Olazepine (sp.)
RocDocVic I always liked color of salt and pepper hair when it first grows back from chemo. Mine did that also and I think it looks really cool with short hair. I got a little bit of curl from my last chemo but not much. I'm going into a chemo that is supposed to be very aggressive. That's where I will lose all my hair cuz I haven't lost any yet. Like Claoh, I definitely can't wait to see a pic!!
That's it for me girls. Y'all have a good day. I really appreciate your inputs and support on this board!
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Yes, I anticipate RocDocVic's picture also.
The first was just an overnighter, the second was from Thursday thru Monday. Sadly, the weekend was mainly waiting for an oxygen machine.
I am eating a little better, but not like a month ago. Had decent appetite then.
Hope to see you on board soon.
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Continuing to think of and pray for you, sweet ladies. I continue to be in survival mode and still haven't managed a full 40 hour work week since coming back from this last surgery. I have developed another hard area in the abdomen. The first time was upper abdomen and they installed a drain for a month but didn't follow up with more imaging. This spot is lower abdomen and I suspect that the abscess wasn't fully drained and just "relocated". My PCP ordered a CT scan that, of course, insurance denied. Now I am scheduled for back-to-back ultrasounds (pelvis and abdomen) this coming Tuesday. Deep down, I really believe that I will end up needing more surgery. If I am correct, I want to know and get it over with. I know you all are dealing with much more significant issues. I hope my venting doesn't offend. Please check-in as often as you can.
Another great post from Nancy:
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Sadie, this is your big weekend. You've been on my mind daily and I hope all goes smoothly.
I'm doing much better. Off oxygen and starting to eat normal again. Plan to weigh myself on Wednesday as that will be one week since last weigh in. My last chemo was supposed to be this past Wednesday, but as stated before, that was cancelled. I will still do Keytruda once every 3 weeks for six months. Need to contact my surgeon tomorrow to set up a pet scan.
Still hoping to see a recent photo Vic : )
Hope everyone one is doing ok. Keep us posted.
Love, Cindy
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Haven't been to my girlfriend's house for hair photos. Both she and her husband came down with Covid. So I'm staying away so I don't get it until they test negative for at least a week.
It's been about 2.5 weeks since I finished up my 16 radiation treatments. My boob turned a dark pink to light-medium red, but no severe burns. No burns or significant discoloration in my armpit area either. I've been using pure ALOE gel and RemeVerse cream, plus a good anti-itch cream my Radiologist prescribed. Itching and some minor pain associated with tightening of tissue especially where the tumor was removed.
Still struggling to eat enough calories. Doing well with PT exercises for my arm mobility and restrengthening the muscles. Had targeted chemo drugs infused just before July 4th. So far all is good here other than occasional diarreah. Lomotil knocks that our quickly. Will meet my new Oncologist next infusion date. My current Oncologist is on maternity leave. Hoping he'll approve the use of circulating DNA tests to make sure Herceptin and Perjeta targeted drugs are working and consider it for long term monitoring for recurrence. My HER2 positive cancer likes to return unfortunately, usually in 3-5 yrs. I'm consider high risk. Both MRIs and mammograms yearly going forward. Probably 6 months apart.
Wondering if acupuncture may help with my neuropathy. Anybody try that? Will post hair photos of my hair as soon as I go to my friends house.
Be well everyone. Take care. Sending love to all pink sisters here.
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Hi, all! I miss hearing from you but I know I have been bad about checking in. I saw the surgeon this week and I am scheduled for surgery in 3.5 months. I feel like surgery is the right call; he will remove necrosis/scar tissue and reinforce my abdominal wall. BUT I'm so sad it's not happening sooner. I am so ready to be past all the surgical treatments. We are on a waitlist for an earlier date so praying that something comes open.
Not much to report other than that. I keep on keeping on. Please let me know how you all are doing.
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Good to hear from you love and glad you are getting surgery to help with issues. Yes, doctors are so far out. It's hurry, hurry for us for a long wait for some appointments.
I am done with the chemo, the end of June. Had 15 rounds but the pet scan shows some residue cancer in left breast and nodes. Surgeon said she would get it out the end of this month.
My hair is starting to grow back, but you really have to look up close as it is the pale color I had, if not silver.
Last Saturday I tested positive for covid, and again this morning. Ordinarily I wouldn't be too concerned but with the surgery at the end of month I want it gone! Contacted my Oncologist today to see if I could get the shot that builds up my white blood cells but haven't heard from him yet. Also contacted the surgeon and hope this does not delay the surgery!! I'm in a tight window to heal in time for my sons wedding in October.
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