Lumpectomy for IDC: Calm but as the date approaches, getting nervous

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join❣️. You are certainly getting some great advice and support from other members here, but I wanted to welcome you as well, and let you know that if you scroll up to the left there is a breast cancer heading and that will take you a very long list of discussions on breast cancer here on connect. We are quite a large and active community and most of us have gone through our own version of the BC journey.
I find it helpful to focus on the next thing and not get anxious about what comes after that. There will be time when it is the next thing. I do like to make very informed decisions so I read a lot.
I will be thinking of you tomorrow while you get your surgery, and praying there is no need for drains and a simple recovery. I will be here when you get back, just tag me or reply to a post (actually for any of us)😁.
Please come back and let me know how you are doing after surgery, you got this.

Thank you for the welcome and for your support and prayers. I agree that taking things one step at a time is best. I also like to read and get as much information as possible so I can make the best decision. I will definitely be back to let you know about my surgery.

Similar situation- I’m 61, 3 children and 6 grandchildren…HR/PR+ HERs- DCIS and invasive. Lumpectomy and reconstructive on 4-4-23, missed margins, another surgery 4-16-23. Idc was 1.9mm ( too small for onco test) DCIS 4cm. Grade 1. Took 3 lymph nodes all negative. 15 days radiation with booster. Now on AI drugs. Anastrozole was a nightmare for me. ( if you want more info message me) taking exestamine (sp). And it’s agreeing with me okay. I walk, do a healthy yoga and pranayama and acupuncture and added strength training due to having osteopenia.All which help with side effects and the side effects have lessen too. I also have friends that have had no side effects at all. Tamoxifen wasn’t an option I was given

The easiest part for me was the surgery. It’s taken quite a while and new routines but I’m good with my “new” normal. My next mammogram and sonogram are in January 25.

Be patient with yourself. You’ll get there. It may take a little longer than you want or think. But you’ll get there.

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate all the support and information. I’ve been reading that exercising helps with the side effects of the medications, and I’m glad to hear it has helped you with the side effects. I feel like my world has been tinned upside down, but I am determined to do what I have to do to get through this. I, too, hope that I will learn to be good with my “new” normal.

@carolinab I know just how much anxiety you have today. All the unknowns really pile up in your mind, it gets so loud in your head. The nurse navigator was invaluable to me. I called or emailed whenever I had a question and she responds so much faster than many doctor’s offices can. Try as best you can to just prepare for the next step, I know it’s very hard to do, but it made me feel like I had some control. I had the same diagnosis components and had a lumpectomy and 2 sentinal nodes removed. I had 20 rounds of radiation and am now on Anastrozole, estrogen blocker, for 5 years. I personally have had few side effects from the Anastrozole. I won’t speak to radiation, as you have no treatment plan yet. So let that go for now if you can.

As for surgery recovery, pretty sore, needed pain meds for a few days, then Ibuprofen was fine with cold packs. Compression bras are great since movement and stretching is uncomfortable. Sleeping on my back with a U shaped pregnancy pillow was a game changer as it supported my arms so I didn’t roll on my surgical side at night. A body pillow on both sides will work too.

Best thing I can tell you, is let people help you, drink plenty of fluid, eat what tastes good, don’t read ahead until you know what you’re going to be dealing with and most importantly, be kind to yourself, really. Cry, pray, yell, scream or just sit with yourself. They caught it and there is a treatment. You can do this!

Thank you for all of your helpful tips! I agree that the nurse navigator is the best. Your whole post was so helpful, but the last two sentences really meant the world to me. Thank you.

Good luck tomorrow!

Thank you! I’m showered and ready to climb into my bed with clean sheets! I’ll be back when I’m home and functioning!

UPDATE: Had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy surgery today. Reported to the hospital at 6:30 a.m. Got checked at pre-op and then taken to get the injection in the sentinel node. The injection wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. I wouldn’t want to do it every day, but it was tolerable. Was taken back to pre-op for final preparations before surgery. Surgery started at 9:15 as scheduled and took about an hour. Spent some time in recovery to wake up, then transferred to discharge. I was home by 1:30 p.m. I do have a drain, but so far it’s been ok. Surgeon said the pathology results should be available Thursday or Friday. I’m ready for whatever the next step is.