Topic: Need to Talk

Good morning girls.  Just checking in to see how everyone is doing.  I've got an appt. in the city today and it's going to be 30C (ugh). 

Gentle hugs to all.

Sharon- Is like that 85-90 degrees F or am I just really off? Good luck w/ your appt today and will talk to ya soon. I am going out to lunch w/ a friend. Been a long time .

Lisa- Thats right the grad party ! OMG... How fun. We had one for both of our kids as well. Gosh, my youngest graduated 3 years ago? Time flys. Im doing good today, thank you Lisa. As I said above, Going to have lunch w/ a friend.

Dawn- Goodmorning to you my dear. Waited for you to come and show me your "Sams" shirt but.... My little duck purse buddy

Love to you all !

Toni

Dawn, great calculations.  Well okay, I do know I am a big weenie........it's 33C........which is only about 92F........but either way, too hot for me.  Not sure how humid it is.  But I'm home now and it always feels cooler when one isn't in the city.

Toni, I hope going out for lunch was fun.  It's good to stay as occupied as you can even if you have to force yourself.  But you likely already know that.  Lunch, which reminds me.......I didn't have any today.  No wonder I'm hungry and now heading over to Lisa's.  I hear there is going to be a lot of food there. 

Gentle (cool) hugs to all. 

Goodmorning All - Been in my own little world lately and am sorry for not saying hello. My new avatar I put up is my DH w/ my grandson the day he passed away.My DH help him so tight after they took all the tubes, ect off of him as he was brain dead and his kidneys had shut down the night before. I wish I could have traveled to Salt Lake to be w/ him as well but needed to stay w/ our daughter.

I see my surgeon on 7/2 to schedule surgery and go over a few more questions I have. Wish I could have got in sooner. But hey my ativan is working quite well.

Sharon, Dawn and All - think of you always ! Miss you  !

Toni 

Hi Toni: I will probably be having surgery about the same time as you but still haven't decided on lumpectomy or mastectomy. I will be meeting with the BS on Monday and hopefully I will be clearer then on the best option for me. Have you made a decision yet?

Originally the BS surgeon discussed a lumpectomy with me but a breast MRI showed a second lump hiding behind the first (multifocal disease), so the dig will be deeper. She made the argument that it would be difficult to make the breast look aesthetically pleasing after removing so much tissue, but I would be more concerned that something might be left behind. 

Then someone said that health insurance might not pay for reconstruction w mast. Not sure if this is true or not. I think emotionaly it would be hard to get used to only seeing one breast there.

Mary, good luck with your decision..........none of it is easy but getting the surgery behind you is such a big step.  I have one (smallish) breast left and no recon on the mast. side.  It's amazing really what one can get used to.  If you have large breasts though it's not as easy because of balance, your spine, neck and such.

Gentle hugs.

Ya, and it's way easier to hide or layer to camouflage one small breast that a larger one.  And at home I don't normally even try to 'hide' it.

Hi Toni:

I'm glad to hear that insurance must cover breast reconstruction. I still need to check my policy coverage and see what they say on that issue. 

I haven't done any reading on reconstruction but need to do so before Monday so that I can ask informed questions. 

Both of my boobs are droopy :) I figured that if I had a mastectomy, I'd have to get a droopy prosthesis so the other side wouldn't get jealous. Until Sharon mentioned it above, I didn't even think that a mastectomy might lead to balance issues.

I thought I could deal with a mastectomy without reconstruction, but I asked a friend who had a mastectomy a number of years ago (she was 36 at the time) about getting used to it. She said it was years before she became accustomed to the idea of having no breast or nipple on one side.

Goodnight All !

alp2008- Welcome, sorry you had to join but the women here have been so sopportive and are very educated. I am also new and have yet to have my surgery. Find a good link that you feel comfortable in _ make your own even_ but dont get yourself overwhelmed w/ all the stories. I was told that in the beginning !Take what you need and give what you can, just remember we are ALL different women and men ! Life does throw everyone a few curve balls. Some a little bigger than others but it makes us who we are today.Strong, beautiful women.

Mary - We sound like the droopy booby sisters! I hear yah sistah. I am thinking of that as well but remember, we are ALL different (again) I have overwhelmed myself w/ reading, googeling, ect. I am going to meet w/ a PS but am unsure of doing anything other than getting rid of the canser (love to spell it wrong- a sense of power!) I wouldnt mind looking at "no Boobie: but thats me. I figure I can duct tape the other one up if it gives me trouble. Heck, I always can fix it later if its not right for me right now!

Gentle thoughts for all and prayers-

Gma

Edit to Add: Holly, Dawn (love u), and Lisa - thinking of you always

Hi Lisa:

What was the timeline for all your treatments. I know you mentioned that you had chemo prior to surgery to shring the tumor. And you also mentioned that you initially had a lumpectomy but then they went back and did a mast because the tumor didn't have clean margins. Did you find that very upsetting? After the mast, did you still have to have more chemo and where did radiation fit into the picture?

I met with a PS today and I'm more confused now than I was beforehand. 

Hi sisters...let me try and answer your questions.

My timeline...well as my signature states..dx was 3/6/07. I started chemo shortly after. I had 8 tx's A/C for 4 and Taxoter for 4. I finished chemo in August.  At the end of Sept. 07, the tumor had shrunk..but not as much as they would have liked. The lumpectomy was performed.  When I went back a week or less later, for the drain to be removed and get my results...I took 2 of my friends (remember, my new husband left me in April..lol, jerk!) with me. Thank God I took them. I just did NOT think I was going to get any BAD news. So yes, when she told me the margins were not clear....I was shell shocked. But my surgeon is sooooo awesome..she explained to me my two options and I asked her opinion, on what she would do if she were me.  She then said the mastectomy.  She also explained reconstruction with the tram flap, and that she could do a skin sparing mastectomy, so that you would not see the incision in a bra or bathing suit.  She left the room, and I talked it over with my g/f's.  We all agreed.  They scheduled it for the next week.  I was numb...and really freaked out. But that did not last too long. The mx...was not bad at all...really. What freaked me out the most was taking the bandaging off.  My sister in law is a nurse, so she offered to come over the day I was to remove it and take it off for me.  Honestly...it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  But for the months I did not have a breast (now mind you...this is ME..my opinion, everyone is different) I had a hard time looking in the mirror.  That is how I knew for sure that I wanted to be WHOLE again.  Again..that is me. I am single..so I knew with dating, etc...I needed to feel good again about my body.  My body is different than before...but I am happy with it.  The reconstruction was done in Feb. 2008...and the lift and reduction of the "good" boob was done at the same time. So..one surgery for all of it. It was a LONG recovery...and not the easiest...but honestly...I would do it again!!

Discuss your reconstruction options with your PS, he will tell you what you are a candidate for and what he recommends.

Mary..I almost forgot..no chemo after. 8 rounds was my regime.  Also, they thought I would need rads..but after mx..they "all the team of docs" got together..and said NO NEED.! yeah!

let me know if I forgot anything!

xoxo

Lisa

I just had my 1st Mam, and they did not really say much, other than I will most likely need to have an Ultrasound. I did see the scan, and my right breast has a circle in the center. My doctor put me on Estadiol in Feb. 09, and I feel so much better, and now this. Guess I have to wait to hear from my doctor now...just starting to think the worst. I care for my 2 elderly parents who live with me and have Alz. so I am in hopes to get as much info. from this site while caring for them.

Lisa - Im w/ Mary. thank you for sharing your experience w/ us. Sounds like you are a very strong willed woman. Hold your head high girl.

Mary- Your response to beachgirl was so tender and heartfelt. Your last sentence made me cry! I am so glad you have come to your decision. Not easy to make. I think the MX is a good choice considering the immediate recon. Hugs to you !

Guess What Guys?- Tah-dah, I have finally had my ahhhh hahhhh moment! I feel better and the dark circles are almost gone from under my eyes ! Mary, thanks for asking, yes I saw the PS and BS yesterday. I was so impressed. I will have R MX w/ immediate recon as well. I will be doing implants as my health is not as "good" as it used to be. TRAM and the other ops just werent for me. I will do a lift and reduct on L and recon on R. I know both docs very well considering I worked w/ them both for 14 yrs. Seen their work too. I feel like this big huge weight has been lifted. Still queazy bout the canser (any newcomers, I love to spell that wrong) but having a plan has made such a difference. In order for both docs to be in surg at same time they do have to coordinate their schedules so looks like week of July 20th now. Little longer than I wanted but only bout 6-7 weeks post diagnosis.

Beachgirl- yes, will be thinking of you and hope your u/s is soon. Mary is so right, we are the same women we were last week. That was one of my hardest lessons. In fact, I am a better woman.I feel, for the first time in my life, that I am living in the moment. You come back anytime and post your heart away. So many caring women here and so much knowledge.

Hugs to you all,

Gma - Toni

Dawn - Love you !

Sharon- Always on my mind !

Goodmorning !

Wanted to wish all of you a very Happy 4th of July !

God Bless,

Toni