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Breast Cancer

Archives for July 2010

Went to see surgeon
Went to see surgeon today. It's been 5 weeks since bilateral mastectomy. He removed all the steri strips and said my incision looked good. I asked about the lumps of skin under my arm and he said it's skin from my back. He told me it will either flatten on its own or he'll do a simple procedure later. He also told me the…
2nd leg of the journey...MRI today
Well, today I had my MRI so I am nervously awaiting the results of that. The procedure wasn't bad and they made me quite comfortable. Next week, I meet my oncologist for the first time to discuss my MRI results and treatment options prior to surgery...This sure is a multi step process....
Bought hats
I bought a couple of hats online from Hats with Heart. I bought a couple of them at the hospital boutique on Monday also. I don't plan on wearing a wig so the simple pull on turbans will suit me just fine. Char
Yahooooo! And you wouldnt believe!
WHOOP! WHOOP! Bloodwork hasnt gotten worse or changed so the good news is that my surgery is on for August 12th. I get to get my boobies!!! Thanks for all the prayers. I never thought i would be excited about having a surgery, but dangit, its been over a year since my mastectomy. I have to share this with you guys though.…
Reconstruction
I had a double mastectomy last June and am considering reconstruction. I had thought that the saline bags were the way to go, but now am looking into the abdominal flap. Has anyone done this type of reconstruction? If so, how was the surgery, how are you coping, what was the pain level afterwards, how do they look????
Sisters... Is there something one can do to prevent lymphodema?
Was wondering... is there anything I can do to prevent lymphodema? Would appreciate any pearls of wisdom you all might have on the subject. Thank you, in advance, for your input. BL
I read this and I wanted to share.
with so many newbies, newly diagnosed, and starting treatment, I saw this and wanted to post it. It is such a shock to the system and psyche to be diagnosed with cancer, I dont know what is worse the emotional or physical battle. but we are here for each other. "Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change,…
Tamoxifen or Arimidex???
Hi I have been taking tamoxifen for about 2 1/2 weeks. At first I was having headaches when I took it so I switched the times I take it. But, I'm back to taking it in the morning and I don't feel the headaches. But, yesterday my dr called me and said she was looking over my bloodwork and said I am post-menapausal. She…
Theraputic exercises
Thank-you so much M-Star for posting the list of exercises. I have been doing them regularly ever since. I am doing pretty well with them and it feels good to be doing something good for myself in my recovery. It is odd though, that I still have gotten no instruction on this from any of my doctors. I saw my plastic surgeon…
A Reason A Season A Lifetime
I have always loved this poem-author unknown. People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you…
Port Surgery
Evening sistas - wanted to check in, I had my port surgery today and I know there were about 3 or 4 other ladies posting about having your surgeries right around the same time. Wanting to see how it went for you all, so check in & let me know how you're doing! Mine was a piece of cake -other than my dr being an hour late &…
Do you hear the music ??
Its NED and I dancing up a storm.... Mammogram today showed no evidence of disease. Also saw surgeon and he said he'd see me next year. I was expecting to have to see him in six months, but he said, 1 year. Visit with oncologist will be on Friday. So one year ago this month, July 09, I was told I had a 2.5 cm lesion in my…
Just had a mastsecomy 4 weeks ago, need input about chemo
So, many names and abrivations, my head is spinning, I have triple negative breast cancer, had the mastsectomy 6 weeks ago but, all the tissue died around the incisson so they had to redo the surgery, now that it's healed the course of treatment is call ACT with Avastin. Has any used these chemo drug before, what am I…
I spoke too soon
Well, I went for my 4th expansion today and since the 1st 3 had gone so well I was bragging. Well this last one is about to get me. 1st two were 60 cc's in each breast. 3rd was 120 in each for a total of 240. Well today I got 120 in the left breast which is not bothering me much at all. But oh the right breast, put in 120…
Exchange surgery
Hello sisters!!! I think I am approaching the end of my fills and was reading some posts that the new implants seem to be smaller than the expanders we all have grown to hate. My skin is stretched so tight I feel like I'm going to explode!!! I thought I was nearing the end, but after reading, I'm not sure. I don't want to…
First rad today
Well I had my first radiation trt. today. As many of you know it was very quick and easy. Took longer to get set up and positioned than the trt. took. I have 29 more to go, Any words of wisdom on what to watch for or how long it took for any side effects to show up would be welcomed. Thank you. God Bless (((Hugs))) Janice
blood work prayer
Ok sisters, i get my blood work redone tomorrow and pray that its ok. Last time the live enzymes were up, red blood count low and GFR marker for the creantinine level is close to renal failure. There were a few other things off, but if its not better im going to be dang mad!! My reconstruction surgery had to be soon! I…
Everyone is going NAKED...Im having hair troubles!
I have been reading posts lately about those of us going naked and i want to also. Its not that im not becuz of what others might think, its more of what i think! I would love nothing more than to be able to go naked before my road trip in September ...so that gives me roughly a month to do this but what do i do with it?…
What to say -
or do I say anything or let Hubby talk to her? A friend (well have known her for years and she is more than an aquaintance but not really a 'best buddy') was at the barn last night. She has a new boyfriend and we were asking her about him. She told us that he is a widower and his wife had died from breast cancer. She…
Found my courage and went "Naked"
Last week I remember reading how some sisters wrote about finally not wearing their wigs or scarfs or hats in public, and I thought, I wish I was that brave. Then this past saturday I bumped into one of my sister-in-pink, we shared the same Cancer center, Radiation center and even the same therapist for our lymphadema. She…
What is the average time between surgery and starting chemo?
Hi, all. Have a sister who was newly diagnosed and making decisions re: surgery. What is the average wait time between the surgery and the start of chemo? Thanks. Btw...I am so glad that I found this site. What a wealth of knowledge and support. Linda
Am I crazy ?? My breast are NOT as perky as my tissue expanders - New exchange sisters -- is this
okay .. pain medication has wore off and I've taken a shower everyday since Wednesday, 7/21 the day of my exchange. My issue is that my breast don't seem to be as perky, as my tissue expander verison that I've lived with for over 6 months .. Anyone else there feeling the same way, or am I just being picky? Standing out in…
My skin burns after mastectomy...is that normal?
I had my bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) 2 weeks ago. My skin around my breast and under arms is so sensitive. It feels like a really bad sunburn. My cloths hurt to the touch. It's funny because it still feels numb too. Is this normal? Someone please help! Thanks so much, Genie
Need your support
Hi Ladies, I was finsihed with active treatment last September for DCIS. Had all the 6 month imaging done and the MRI saw something fishy so I have another scheduled soon, as well as a bilateral mammo and ultrasound, then follow up visits with oncologist and rad onc. But I'm going to have to put those off a bit. New job,…
Today is Sam726's Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SAM HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! AND MANY MORE...!!! Hope your day is filled with love & happiness & may all your dreams come true! ♥ Cat
Foot/ankle/leg swelling
I've had two of my four taxotere/cytoxan treatments. About a week after the second one my right foot,ankle, and leg became swollen. My onco sent me for a vascular ultrasound to rule out a clot (no clot) and now I am taking lasix which isn't doing much. It's pretty uncomfortable and is limiting my activity. Has anyone else…
genetic testing for breast cancer
I was going to do the genetic testing for breast cancer. However, a friend of mine recently told me that she had heard if I test positive for the gene, my daughters could have a difficult time getting insurance. I live in Ohio. Does anyone know how I can check this out?
Not everyday you get to witness a miracle
I wrote a post last week about my gpa and how the doctors had us call all family members to his bedside in the hospital because they were taking him off life support. He went in for emergency surgery for a gallbladder the size of a baseball and it didnt go so good. He had a heartattack during this, bile backing up into his…
Is it possible to skip chemo ??
Hey ladies...I am 2 weeks past my bilateral mastectomy, they offered a lumpectomy, but I just wanted it all out, and did immediate reconstruction, my nodes and margians were clear. I don't have the brca gene, all the other receptors were the good kind, is it possible to skip chemo, or is it pretty much the standard....how…
does anyone else feel this way?
I have friends / family that try really hard to have me enjoy things: going out to dinner, going to a theme park, shopping, etc. Unfortunately, I go through the motions and "pretend" to have fun and feel good. The truth is I can hardly wait to get back home and just relax and be alone. These outings make me really tired…

Breast Cancer

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