Infected seroma...yuck

In early February, I noticed an area just above the site of my biopsy was getting "inflamed."  Over the past few weeks, it continued to get angry looking and increased in size.  I did a little research and determined that it was likely a seroma (think about the fluid in a blister - that's what was developing).  Most seromas resolve themselves after a while and rarely have to be aspirated, so I didn't rush off to the breast surgeon.  Plus, I already had an appointment for today so I felt that I could "wait and see" what happened.   I also knew I had an ultrasound scheduled for Monday, so this thing was going to get plenty of attention.   The technologist confirmed on Monday that it was a seroma and the radiologist recommended it be drained.  They knew I had an appointment with the breast surgeon so I was dismissed with the recommendation but no immediate action.

Now for my little adventure...my breast surgeon took a look at it this morning and determined that it was infected and I am now on Levaquin (pricey stuff!) for the next ten days. They sent me immediately back to Radiology and the radiologist withdrew two large syringes of fluid and tissue. One will be sent for culture to be sure we've got the right antibiotic at work, and the other will be sent to Cytology to look for abnormal cells. She really wanted to do a full biopsy but we agreed it was too risky because I take a daily aspirin and meloxicam. I really didn't want a repeat of the bleeding that I had from the first biopsy. She thought she could get enough tissue with the needle so I was glad that we settled on going just that far.


After the procedure, they put pressure on the site for several minutes, then took me to another room, applied antibiotic cream and a steri-strip, then wrapped my entire breast area with a tight ace bandage. And they inserted an ice pack. I have to wear the ace bandage until tomorrow. My breast surgeon advises wearing a tight sports bra for a while, to try and help close the pocket that seems to want to fill with fluid. She did say it will probably fill up again...oh yay.

I left the hospital feeling pretty good; but I didn't get very far before I started to feel the stinging as if she was still poking around with a needle. By the way, it was a big needle...the size used for blood donation. I headed to my mom's and stopped at the store for a fresh supply of extra-strength acetaminophen. I took a couple when I got to mom's and made the immediate decision that I wasn't going anywhere else except home. I stayed and had lunch with her, marched her in to get a haircut at the onsite salon, then left for the pharmacy. I picked up my prescription and now I am home, in my recliner, with a fresh ice pack.

It will all be fine, but I could certainly do without the complication. It's not the seroma from the Mammosite that's causing the trouble; it's the initial biopsy that keeps on giving.

I have to go back to the breast surgeon on March 31st and we'll see how things are going. Any other decisions are on hold until this is resolved.

Michelle

Latest research and interesting stuff

Every day I receive an email from the "Science Blog" that contains links to interesting research studies.  The studies are about all kinds of topics, including cancer, diabetes, etc.  I am going to start posting links and comments about some of these studies as I think there is some interesting stuff going on.  I also think some of it is less than scientific; so as time moves forward, we'll see what pans out and what doesn't.

Today's blog has a link to an article entitled "Further research needed to develop evidence-based nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors".  It states an interesting statistic...4% of Americans are cancer survivors.  That seems like a staggering number; the US population is just over 307 million.  So 12 million of us have fought cancer...wow!  The article goes on to state that cancer patients die of non-cancer related deaths at a rate much higher than the general population.  The hypothesis is that good nutrition would prevent some of these deaths.

http://scienceblog.com/42883/further-research-needed-to-develop-evidence-based-nutrition-guidelines-for-cancer-survivors/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scienceblogrssfeed+%28Science+Blog%29

Well, how about this idea...

In the article it lists cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteopenia and osteoporosis, functional impairment, and other endocrine disorders as leading causes of death.  Go figure...

• Chemo agents such as adriamycin and herceptin are known to cause heart damage in some patients;
• In order to minimize side effects, chemo patients are pumped full of steroids, leading to soaring glucose levels and weight gain thus triggering diabetes in some patients;
• Anti-hormone therapy administered to breast cancer patients is known to cause osteopenia and osteoporosis in up to 22% of patients, it also raises cholesterol and blood pressure, and can cause weight gain;
• The taxol chemo agents cause neuropathy in up to 74% of patients and it doesn't always go away after chemo treatment has ended;
• Chemo brain is real.
• Chemo agents can ruin a person's immune system and lead to leukemia years later.

Good nutrition is important, don't get me wrong.  But thinking that lack of good nutrition is the big problem with premature death of cancer survivors seems just a little simplistic, and it seems to place the blame on the patients without regard to the unavoidable side effects of treatments that are supposed to save their lives . 

Finding cancer treatments that target cancer cells while leaving the rest of the body "intact" seems like a better place to spend your research dollars.

Michelle

What I want for Christmas

Peace, happiness and good health in 2011.  Honestly, I am ready for this year to be done and I am looking forward to an uneventful new year, healthwise.  As my breast cancer sisters like to say, I am currently dancing with "NED" (no evidence of disease) and I am hoping NED is my partner for life :>)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends, family and followers of this journey!

Elizabeth Edwards - Gone from this world

I think many of us were taken by surprise to learn that Elizabeth died the day after the announcement that she was gravely ill.  A whole community of breast cancer survivors were hoping for some kind of miracle.  Perhaps from her death the miracle of a cure will soon come.

And now comes the news that Fred Phelps and his so called "Christian" Westboro Baptist Church followers will picket her funeral because she was a supporter of gay rights.  What a disgraceful act of hatred!   If you believe in God, who is supposedly all loving and all merciful, how can you even think like this? 

Perhaps this is the final unforgiveable act that will drive a stake into the heart of this hateful group.  I can only wish.

Please keep Elizabeth Edwards in your thoughts and prayers

Elizabeth has shown us all how to deal with the pressures of life and death during the past few years.  And her prognosis is a kick in the gut for breast cancer survivors who are reminded that there is no cure.  We must never give up the fight to end this disease that will have taken 40,000 women just in the United States in 2010.

She issued a very moving statement yesterday:

"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces -- my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know"

Words to live by.

The biopsy from hell just keeps on giving...

Today I had my first post-lumpectomy mammogram and ultrasound, which took a really long time. As usual, waiting for results are stressful. And the last thing I wanted to hear was "the radiologist would like to review the results with you." The ultrasound showed 3 or 4 small "nodules" close to the skin surface, at least one of them with vascular involvement. And she recommended doing a biopsy. We then discussed my previous biopsy and the huge hematomas that resulted. And I told her that the surgeon had intended to remove them during my lumpectomy but decided against it because she saw they were being fed by arteries. According to the surgeon, it will take a year for them to be reabsorbed. So, with that knowledge, I said no to a biopsy and agreed that we will do another ultrasound in March just before my next followup with my breast surgeon.


I was mentally prepared for those hematomas to show up and cause concern. I'm glad I was aware of what was going on so that I could actually reassure the radiologist that we could take a "wait and see" approach. As long as they don't get bigger, there's no reason to think there's any trouble brewing. Everything else looked good.

Glad that's out of the way for three months!

So much to be thankful for!

On this Thanksgiving Day, I want to take a minute to reflect on the last few months...

I am so lucky to be here, feeling healthy, body parts relatively intact, and able to enjoy the holidays.  I am so grateful to my family and friends who have been a source of continuous support as I have traveled a path I didn't choose. 

To all of you who have supported me with financial donations to support breast cancer research, your cards and letters, your thoughtful gifts, your well wishes, prayers and postive thoughts - I am truly grateful. 

To my husband and children, you have all been there for me in ways I am sure you never imagined.  Having all of my children, their friends, my wonderful son-in-law Paul and adorable grandson Alex walk in the "Race for the Cure" for me is not something any of us would have expected to do.  I cannot express how proud I was of our family that day in Boston. 

To all the other family and friends (including my sister Mona) who supported "Hall Ass for the Cure" - I can never thank you enough.  The entire experience was beyond my wildest expectation.

I am thankful for my primary care physician, Dr. Elizabeth Dexter-Manade, who had to break the news to me that I did, indeed, have breast cancer, for her referral to an absolutely fabulous breast surgeon, Dr. Christa Balanoff.  I am forever grateful to Dr. Balanoff and her nurse Michelle for helping me through the process, acting as the "project manager" for my team of excellent doctors, and ensuring I got the best possible medical care.  The coordined efforts ensured that my tumor was evicted quickly, that I was properly prepared for Mammosite radiation and then moved on to the medical oncologist.  The Mammosite team at Kansas City Cancer Center took excellent care of me, ensuring that the radiation went perfectly and my catheter site healed without any sign of infection despite my protests about an over-abundance of caution :>)

And to our friends John and Donna... Donna - you are my hero, a true warrior whose best words of advice were "you don't have a minute to waste on negative thoughts!"  For those of you who don't know, Donna is a 3 time breast cancer survivor and has just recovered from her second mastectomy.  When I see a pink ribbon and think of what it represents, I think of Donna.  And John - thank you for being there for Rick.  He needed someone who had been through this and you were a huge help. 

And most of all, I am thankful for my husband of 30 years, Rick, who has been my rock through all of this.  Yes, he worried with me, and comforted me, and kept me sane when I thought for sure I would "lose it".   He supported my treatment decisions, took me to every doctor appointment and treatment (until I made him stop).  I can't imagine my life without you. 

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season blessed with good health and the love of your family and friends.