TraciinLA ... We are thinking about you and

aisling8 said:

Yes, let us know the date of surgery

I thought I read that you said you had an appointment last week to set the date. 

We're here for you:)

xoxo

Victoria

Oh no....

I hadn't seen this news.  So, so sorry to hear!  Dear Tracy I had a bilateral - I'll try to keep better track of all of my dear Pink Sisters -

you are in my thoughts & prayers!

 much love,

 Jenny

TraciInLA said:

Thank you for the positive thoughts!

This was so nice to see -- thank you for the positive thoughts!

I met with my surgeon on Friday, and my surgery is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.  Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, and I've chosen not to have any reconstruction.  On January 28th, I'm going to take all my bras out of my drawer, throw them in the trash, and never wear another one again unless I CHOOSE to!

Because I had radiation to both breasts back in 2009, my risk of complications is higher, and I may not heal as quickly.  But I have great doctors and a partner who will take good care of me.

I'm especially grateful for the good wishes today.  I sent an email out to a group of maybe 10 or 12 friends this past weekend letting them know about my surgery, and have heard back from only 2 people.  I think a lot of them read the email and thought, "Oh no -- cancer AGAIN?!  I have to talk about cancer AGAIN?!  I thought we were done with all this cancer stuff!"

Those of you here are the only ones who really understand that we're never really, truly "done with all this cancer stuff."  I'm so grateful to have your support.

Traci

You'll get through this

Traci,

It sounds like your doctors are really on top of this as are you.  I'm sure you can think of a million other things that you would rather do on January 29th but if doing this makes it so your cancer does not recur then it was the best way that you could have spent this day. 

I'm sorry your friends were not very supportive.  Like you said, they just don't understand.  We do, though and we'll be here for you and we'll join you in your annual "coffee bigger than your head" since you'll be doing this for decades to come!

Clem

TraciInLA said:

Thank you for the positive thoughts!

This was so nice to see -- thank you for the positive thoughts!

I met with my surgeon on Friday, and my surgery is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.  Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, and I've chosen not to have any reconstruction.  On January 28th, I'm going to take all my bras out of my drawer, throw them in the trash, and never wear another one again unless I CHOOSE to!

Because I had radiation to both breasts back in 2009, my risk of complications is higher, and I may not heal as quickly.  But I have great doctors and a partner who will take good care of me.

I'm especially grateful for the good wishes today.  I sent an email out to a group of maybe 10 or 12 friends this past weekend letting them know about my surgery, and have heard back from only 2 people.  I think a lot of them read the email and thought, "Oh no -- cancer AGAIN?!  I have to talk about cancer AGAIN?!  I thought we were done with all this cancer stuff!"

Those of you here are the only ones who really understand that we're never really, truly "done with all this cancer stuff."  I'm so grateful to have your support.

Traci

Traci

Thinking of you.  xxxxx

tasha_111 said:

Traci

Thinking of you.  xxxxx

Дорогая Трэиси

Dear Traci,

 You have made a very brave decision. I think have more courage than Angelina J, who did reconstruction. I hope your skin will heal well as it has been 5 years sine you hd your radiation treatment. I have a home grown organic Aloe Very, which i will ve happy deliver to you. Serioly, please take us with you our positive energy will help your surgery  and fast heling.

Hugs

Save the Bras!

First I will be thinking of you on Jan 29.... You always made me smile "back in the day during my treatment", especially when your hair was growing back in.  You were a few months ahead of me.  I also chose no reconstruction.  I figured enough surgery already.  I hated the mastecomy bras but discovered I could use my fake boob in my regular bras....ah comfort.  Well, sort of, you know. lol

I was surprised and overjoyed to discover the mastecomy wasn't nearly as bad as it sounded.  Hope all goes well for you.

 

Hugs, Judy :-)

 

 

TraciInLA said:

Thank you for the positive thoughts!

This was so nice to see -- thank you for the positive thoughts!

I met with my surgeon on Friday, and my surgery is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.  Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, and I've chosen not to have any reconstruction.  On January 28th, I'm going to take all my bras out of my drawer, throw them in the trash, and never wear another one again unless I CHOOSE to!

Because I had radiation to both breasts back in 2009, my risk of complications is higher, and I may not heal as quickly.  But I have great doctors and a partner who will take good care of me.

I'm especially grateful for the good wishes today.  I sent an email out to a group of maybe 10 or 12 friends this past weekend letting them know about my surgery, and have heard back from only 2 people.  I think a lot of them read the email and thought, "Oh no -- cancer AGAIN?!  I have to talk about cancer AGAIN?!  I thought we were done with all this cancer stuff!"

Those of you here are the only ones who really understand that we're never really, truly "done with all this cancer stuff."  I'm so grateful to have your support.

Traci

best of luck...

Traci,

I applaud your decision not to reconstruct.   If I had access to a crystal ball, I would not have chosen to have reconstruction.   I have gone thru 5 ‘reconstructive surgeries’…It's been a nightmare, and I’m not happy with the 'finished product'.   I just had the left side done - but going thru radiation - caused my skin to shrink and encapsulate the tissue expander.   And in trying to expand it, caused my skin to break down and open in several large areas that actually exposed the expander.   Having had the latissimus flap surgery, the scar from where they took the muscle and skin is a 1 1/2 ft. long which goes up and down my back instead a smaller scar that goes along my bra line - what was supposed to happen.   I’m small chested, and just to have ‘symmetry’ has not been worth it!!!

Good luck with your upcoming surgery, and be proud of all your decisions…

Andi 

TraciInLA said:

I'll need a new reason for froufrou coffee drinks!

Clementine,

Remember that my annual FrouFrou Coffee Drink the Size of My Head Ritual was my celebration of choice after every successful mammogram -- and I won't be having any more of those, EVER!  

I was diagnosed off my very first, you-just-turned-40-go-have-a-mammogram baseline mammogram 5 years ago, and have had 7 mammograms in the past 5 years -- I have to say, it feels SO weird to say that I'll never walk into the mammography center again!

Sooo...I'm now going to need some OTHER excuse for FrouFrou Coffee Drink the Size of My Head celebrating....maybe because it's Tuesday?  Or because I had a good hair day?  

Ideas?

Traci

 

 

 

THROW THOSE SLING-SHOTS AWAY

Traci, I had bi-laterial mascestomy jan. 23 and had to have repair surgery in August. No reconstruction for me. I new that from the beginning. I put mine on the ceiling fan and just watched them go round and round. Nice with different colors. lol Love not wearing bras.  (HUGS BRALESS PIXIE)

Sending positive thoughts & prayers your way

I hope you have a speedy recovery.  Please k ow that we are all thinking about you.

 

xoxo,

Jean

 

Traci
good for you. Making the decision must have been a feat in itself but what a relief if it takes any of the worry away. I am so glad you are happy with your decision for no recon. I wish I would not have had it. I was so small b4 and said no to recon, then the ps asked if I was sure, as did friends and family and then I questioned myself and then said okay to it. They have never felt like a part of me, and now are pretty firm.
Sorry about your friends. I have found that the longer I have had this cancer, more of my friends have drifted off. I have made many new friends thru the cancer world who are amazing strong men and women and we will all get together have bbq's have hit Nevada, gone to natural mineral pools and dont even talk much about the big "C".
May take some a little longer to come around. After meeting you and your partner, I walked away thinking how comfortable, warm and funny you both were, so if they don't come around they are missing out!
I wish you the best, keep us posted, and the gals b4 me were right, the surgery was much easier than I had planned on.
Hugs,
Carol

TraciInLA said:

I'll need a new reason for froufrou coffee drinks!

Clementine,

Remember that my annual FrouFrou Coffee Drink the Size of My Head Ritual was my celebration of choice after every successful mammogram -- and I won't be having any more of those, EVER!  

I was diagnosed off my very first, you-just-turned-40-go-have-a-mammogram baseline mammogram 5 years ago, and have had 7 mammograms in the past 5 years -- I have to say, it feels SO weird to say that I'll never walk into the mammography center again!

Sooo...I'm now going to need some OTHER excuse for FrouFrou Coffee Drink the Size of My Head celebrating....maybe because it's Tuesday?  Or because I had a good hair day?  

Ideas?

Traci

 

 

 

Giiiirl

I can come up with a million reasons to have a froufrou coffee bigger than one's head!  A good hair day is definitely a good one, but you may need one when you are having a bad hair day too as a pick me up.  How about celebrating that spring is coming?  or that spring is here?  Hmmmm, I think a winter coffee is a good idea too since it is cold and dark.  I  also think Tuesdays get very little buzz generally so Tuesdays are good.  Don't forget Saturdays too!  Wait...did you say annual?   Nooooo, it has got to be just about daily - why?  eh, just because. 

PS, I can relate that it feels really weird not needing mammograms anymore, but it was a real relief for me and I think it will be for you too. 

Clementine