This is for the Newbies to the site
Leeza
Comments
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I hope they do as theirKristin N said:Introducing
Good idea Leeza
Kristin ♥
I hope they do as their posts do get lost and we don't get to know them.
Hugs0 -
newbisurvivorbc09 said:I hope they do as their
I hope they do as their posts do get lost and we don't get to know them.
Hugs
Thank you!
Lisa0 -
Another newbieKathiM said:Great Idea!!!!
And, with all of us in different time zones...well....sometimes it slips away...
Hugs, Kathi
Hi all, My name is Susan and yes, a "Newbie."
Just diagnosed with inter ductal carcanoma her2 positive Thursday. (Sorry for bad spelling.) I'm sure I will get it down quickly. I never thought I would have to learn this stuff.
I am 44 years old and almost an empty nester. Two boys, 21 and 19. They are scared.
Strangly enough, I am alright with what I have been diagnosised with but feel I am probably in denial. I know this attitude will change once surgery is over. I have been told it will be a year long proccess as I have elected to have both breasts removed.
I keep telling people I am getting new "boobies" and laughing about it. Is this normal? I feel like I should be more worried and depressed. But seriously, what good will that do me or those who care about me?
Is this attitude one that will bite me later having those people around me thinking I shouldn't be upset when I come out of this "Denial?"
I go this Friday for all the pre-op consults. I'm sure I will know when I leave when this surgery will take place. Hopefully will have a better idea as to what type of reconstruction I will choose. Conventional reconstruction or tram flap?
So many questions. I hope you all can help me figure this stuff out.
Thank you all in advance for any insight you can offer.
Hugs to all my new sisters.
Susan0 -
Your attitude is GRRRRRREAT!!!!susan marie said:Another newbie
Hi all, My name is Susan and yes, a "Newbie."
Just diagnosed with inter ductal carcanoma her2 positive Thursday. (Sorry for bad spelling.) I'm sure I will get it down quickly. I never thought I would have to learn this stuff.
I am 44 years old and almost an empty nester. Two boys, 21 and 19. They are scared.
Strangly enough, I am alright with what I have been diagnosised with but feel I am probably in denial. I know this attitude will change once surgery is over. I have been told it will be a year long proccess as I have elected to have both breasts removed.
I keep telling people I am getting new "boobies" and laughing about it. Is this normal? I feel like I should be more worried and depressed. But seriously, what good will that do me or those who care about me?
Is this attitude one that will bite me later having those people around me thinking I shouldn't be upset when I come out of this "Denial?"
I go this Friday for all the pre-op consults. I'm sure I will know when I leave when this surgery will take place. Hopefully will have a better idea as to what type of reconstruction I will choose. Conventional reconstruction or tram flap?
So many questions. I hope you all can help me figure this stuff out.
Thank you all in advance for any insight you can offer.
Hugs to all my new sisters.
Susan
I laughed thru both of my cancers. Definately NOT denial!!!!! I had my down days of course...my other cancer was rectal, and anyone who says your life is controlled by your head...well, they have never talked to a colorectal cancer survivor!!! (teehee). With that cancer, I was given 6 months to live, and that was November, 2004.
Welcome, Susan, and please feel free to post or respond to a post anytime. This journey is rough, but it's MUCH easier with sisters like all of the ones you have here!!!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Wishing You Wellsusan marie said:Another newbie
Hi all, My name is Susan and yes, a "Newbie."
Just diagnosed with inter ductal carcanoma her2 positive Thursday. (Sorry for bad spelling.) I'm sure I will get it down quickly. I never thought I would have to learn this stuff.
I am 44 years old and almost an empty nester. Two boys, 21 and 19. They are scared.
Strangly enough, I am alright with what I have been diagnosised with but feel I am probably in denial. I know this attitude will change once surgery is over. I have been told it will be a year long proccess as I have elected to have both breasts removed.
I keep telling people I am getting new "boobies" and laughing about it. Is this normal? I feel like I should be more worried and depressed. But seriously, what good will that do me or those who care about me?
Is this attitude one that will bite me later having those people around me thinking I shouldn't be upset when I come out of this "Denial?"
I go this Friday for all the pre-op consults. I'm sure I will know when I leave when this surgery will take place. Hopefully will have a better idea as to what type of reconstruction I will choose. Conventional reconstruction or tram flap?
So many questions. I hope you all can help me figure this stuff out.
Thank you all in advance for any insight you can offer.
Hugs to all my new sisters.
Susan
Wishing you well on your surgery. Your attitude is great. You need to laugh; it helps. It probably helps your boys deal with it. Just come to the board when it gets rough and you feel down and can't laugh. We have all been there and can help you.
Pat0 -
Welcome, Leeza. Stop byaztec45 said:Great Idea
I love your kitty photo. That is cool. I have a kitty that looks like that. Great idea to help the new ladies to the board.
Pat
Welcome, Leeza. Stop by often & let us know how your treatment is going. Your positive attitude will go a long way in helping you fight bc.
Hugs & prayers headed your way....0 -
Thank you Kathi and Pat foraztec45 said:Wishing You Well
Wishing you well on your surgery. Your attitude is great. You need to laugh; it helps. It probably helps your boys deal with it. Just come to the board when it gets rough and you feel down and can't laugh. We have all been there and can help you.
Pat
Thank you Kathi and Pat for the hugs and good wishes. I am so glad I found this site! You will see me here often.
Having said that, Can any one give me pros and cons on conventional reconstruction and the tram flap? How long each procedure can take to complete? And anything else I might need/want to know?
Consider any advise or recomendations welcome here. I have never delt directley or indirectley with anything of this nature. This does not run in my family so they are having a harder time dealing with this than I at this time.
So strange, it seems as though I new this was coming ever since I was called back for more mammo imiges. Like I was standing outside a door just waiting for it to open so I would know what was on the other side. Now I know. Not what I wanted. But I know.
Again, Thanks for the warm welcome all!
YTPS AKA Susan Marie0 -
Hi Susan. I'd like tosusan marie said:Thank you Kathi and Pat for
Thank you Kathi and Pat for the hugs and good wishes. I am so glad I found this site! You will see me here often.
Having said that, Can any one give me pros and cons on conventional reconstruction and the tram flap? How long each procedure can take to complete? And anything else I might need/want to know?
Consider any advise or recomendations welcome here. I have never delt directley or indirectley with anything of this nature. This does not run in my family so they are having a harder time dealing with this than I at this time.
So strange, it seems as though I new this was coming ever since I was called back for more mammo imiges. Like I was standing outside a door just waiting for it to open so I would know what was on the other side. Now I know. Not what I wanted. But I know.
Again, Thanks for the warm welcome all!
YTPS AKA Susan Marie
Hi Susan. I'd like to welcome you (although I wish you didn't have to become a member) and hope that this discussion group will be a help to you like it has been to many others.
I didn't have a choice between the two types of reconstruction, because I had already had radiation done on one breast, so I was told that the noral reconstruction couldn't be done. I had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruciton of one breast and free-TRAM reconstruciton of the other. These are essentially the same thing: it's just that with the free-TRAM some muscle is used in addition to the tissue from the abdomen.
I did not have the TRAM flap surgery where the tissue is tunneled up under your skin: for my surgery, the tissue was disconnected and the blood supply was reconnected under my arms. I was told by my surgeon that the tunneling type was no longer done in my city, and that the surgery that I had is the current procedure. I'm sure part of this is because we have surgeons who are skilled in the DIEP, but it is a very delicate microsurgery; more complicated than the FREE tram.
The main differences in the surguries is that you invest more time in recovery after the surgery with the DIEP, but you have breasts when you wake up from the surgery, and should have only minor adjustments after that. In the long run, I think that it is less disruptive. It also uses your own tissue, so it ages like the rest of your tissue, and does not have to be replaced, like the normal reconstructions. I was in the hospital for four days and out of work for eight weeks, but I'm pretty much back to 'normal' after four months.
There are some other posts on this subject that you might want to find to give you more information.
Joyce0 -
Hi I already wrote aboutTux said:Welcome, Leeza. Stop by
Welcome, Leeza. Stop by often & let us know how your treatment is going. Your positive attitude will go a long way in helping you fight bc.
Hugs & prayers headed your way....
Hi I already wrote about myself on another place. It says Hi I am another newbie. I am glad to have found this site. I start my radiation treatments tomorrow. Thanks!
Sue0 -
This is a great idea Leeza!elm3544 said:welcome and thank you
I just joined in July myself. I have gotten so much information and support here, it is unbelievable!
So, welcome to all the newbies and thank you to everyone here!
This is a great idea Leeza! I hope the newbies all do it!
♥ Noel0 -
Hey Kathi, how's the weatherKathiM said:Your attitude is GRRRRRREAT!!!!
I laughed thru both of my cancers. Definately NOT denial!!!!! I had my down days of course...my other cancer was rectal, and anyone who says your life is controlled by your head...well, they have never talked to a colorectal cancer survivor!!! (teehee). With that cancer, I was given 6 months to live, and that was November, 2004.
Welcome, Susan, and please feel free to post or respond to a post anytime. This journey is rough, but it's MUCH easier with sisters like all of the ones you have here!!!
Hugs, Kathi
Hey Kathi, how's the weather in Europe? I hope you're having a great time. Hugs, Lili0 -
from one newbie to anothersusan marie said:Another newbie
Hi all, My name is Susan and yes, a "Newbie."
Just diagnosed with inter ductal carcanoma her2 positive Thursday. (Sorry for bad spelling.) I'm sure I will get it down quickly. I never thought I would have to learn this stuff.
I am 44 years old and almost an empty nester. Two boys, 21 and 19. They are scared.
Strangly enough, I am alright with what I have been diagnosised with but feel I am probably in denial. I know this attitude will change once surgery is over. I have been told it will be a year long proccess as I have elected to have both breasts removed.
I keep telling people I am getting new "boobies" and laughing about it. Is this normal? I feel like I should be more worried and depressed. But seriously, what good will that do me or those who care about me?
Is this attitude one that will bite me later having those people around me thinking I shouldn't be upset when I come out of this "Denial?"
I go this Friday for all the pre-op consults. I'm sure I will know when I leave when this surgery will take place. Hopefully will have a better idea as to what type of reconstruction I will choose. Conventional reconstruction or tram flap?
So many questions. I hope you all can help me figure this stuff out.
Thank you all in advance for any insight you can offer.
Hugs to all my new sisters.
Susan
Susan
Welcome. I just joined this group about a week ago. You put into words exactly how I feel. I really feel like I should be more worried, but maybe it just hasn't hit me yet. I just feel that it is what it is and I can't change the fact that I have cancer so why should I mope around. I am very good at detaching myself from things.
I have two kids, a daughter 16 and a son 18. My surgery was just scheduled for Sept. 10th. I think it will really hit me then. I have an invasive cancer, triple negative, with the tumor very close to the chest wall.
Post often, would love to hear from you others.
Hugs to everyone
Sheryl0 -
Hi Susan,Noel said:This is a great idea Leeza!
This is a great idea Leeza! I hope the newbies all do it!
♥ Noel
Welcome! And I too think your attitude is great ... because that's just about how I've felt. I was diagnosed the end of 2008, had a lumpectomy 1/21/09, followed by 12 weeks of chemo (taxol/herceptin) then 6 weeks of radiation daily. I just finished all of that "stuff" three weeks ago and I must admit that personally think I've had a great attitude about the whole "thing." Once I was told what needed to be done I just did it ... because it all needed to be done and I couldn't do anything to change that ... so I just kept going ... one more chemo down ... one more radiation down ... etc. and eventually I got through it all. Maybe I've been living in "my own little world" but somehow I've convinced myself that this is all just part of a journey and I just have to keep travelling ....
Also ... someone once gave me some brilliant words of wisdom: "It is what it is." At first it sounded kind of goofy ... but the more that's gone on this past year ... the more sense it makes. It really "is" what it is ... and I can't change what it is ... so I must accept it and move forward. Sort of my own little "serenity prayer" I guess. In fact the last week of my radiation I ordered myself a bracelet with the words "It is what it is" on it ... and presented it to myself as a "graduation" present. I wear it 24/7 ... Every time I look at it ... it makes me feel stronger and stronger.
We're all here for you ... and I love your attitude ...
hugs.
teena0 -
Thanks Ladies!!tgf said:Hi Susan,
Welcome! And I too think your attitude is great ... because that's just about how I've felt. I was diagnosed the end of 2008, had a lumpectomy 1/21/09, followed by 12 weeks of chemo (taxol/herceptin) then 6 weeks of radiation daily. I just finished all of that "stuff" three weeks ago and I must admit that personally think I've had a great attitude about the whole "thing." Once I was told what needed to be done I just did it ... because it all needed to be done and I couldn't do anything to change that ... so I just kept going ... one more chemo down ... one more radiation down ... etc. and eventually I got through it all. Maybe I've been living in "my own little world" but somehow I've convinced myself that this is all just part of a journey and I just have to keep travelling ....
Also ... someone once gave me some brilliant words of wisdom: "It is what it is." At first it sounded kind of goofy ... but the more that's gone on this past year ... the more sense it makes. It really "is" what it is ... and I can't change what it is ... so I must accept it and move forward. Sort of my own little "serenity prayer" I guess. In fact the last week of my radiation I ordered myself a bracelet with the words "It is what it is" on it ... and presented it to myself as a "graduation" present. I wear it 24/7 ... Every time I look at it ... it makes me feel stronger and stronger.
We're all here for you ... and I love your attitude ...
hugs.
teena
Thank you for welcoming me into the fold. I feel safe here.Like the wagons have circled. And right now that is much needed.
Funny thing, I've telling averyone "It is what it is" from the start. Especially the ones who start crying. I seem to be the one comforting them telling them it will be fine! Strange huh?
I go for my pro-op consults on Fri so hopfully will know when I'll have to say goodbye to the "girls." Maybe I should have a going away party for them? I'll give it some thought.
God only gives us what we can handle....thats why he choose us. We are strong and have the attitude to get through this.
You all are in my prayers!
YTPS, susan0 -
neat boarsusan marie said:Thanks Ladies!!
Thank you for welcoming me into the fold. I feel safe here.Like the wagons have circled. And right now that is much needed.
Funny thing, I've telling averyone "It is what it is" from the start. Especially the ones who start crying. I seem to be the one comforting them telling them it will be fine! Strange huh?
I go for my pro-op consults on Fri so hopfully will know when I'll have to say goodbye to the "girls." Maybe I should have a going away party for them? I'll give it some thought.
God only gives us what we can handle....thats why he choose us. We are strong and have the attitude to get through this.
You all are in my prayers!
YTPS, susan
I had a mast. Aug. 6 and will see and oncologist tomorrow. Praying your surgery goes well.0
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