Topic: The Canadian Connection...calling all Canadian women

Jun 10, 2012 01:15 PM Marple wrote:

hrf~I was on Arimidex for five years and experienced thinning hair, mostly on the top.  I stopped A last fall and am happy to report it's not nearly as thin. 

Ossa~good for you doing the walk.  It's too hot here to do anything that isn't in a/c comfort.

Jun 10, 2012 02:53 PM hrf wrote:

Hey Marple....thank you so much for telling me that ... maybe there is some hope for me. the top is very very thin and I have had to resort to a small hairpiece which is very upsetting. I hope I get the same result as you.

Jun 10, 2012 04:16 PM MissAngie wrote:

Thank you ladies! I'm so glad to have you all to "talk" to. 

Ossa - hope you have a great time doing your walk to cure Diabetes.

Sending you all gentle hugs.

Jun 10, 2012 06:24 PM JudiH wrote:

Micheleboot, hoping you are staying calm.  I know you are scheduled for another mammo/ultra sound this week.  Thinking of you!  Here's to scar tissue!

Jun 10, 2012 08:08 PM Ossa wrote:

Thank sistas.. Had a great walk The weather even help up. Turned out to be perfect walk weather. Can't wait until they find a cure.. Would love for my son to not have to wear an insulin pump and be able to live a normal life and also not have to worry about his future children being diabetic

Jun 10, 2012 08:36 PM Cher56 wrote:

Hi everyone... I'm so sorry to hear problems and worries.. but it makes me feel at home so thanks for your whining crying and laughing.
Well the countdown has begun... 4 more days and both are gone. it's just starting to sink in that I have cancer! I think I only cry on sundays. been busy with the graduate here now that's done now I can focus.
when both my breasts are gone and if there's no cancer in the lymph nodes does that mean I don't have cancer anymore?
when am I cancer free ?

Jun 10, 2012 10:18 PM cat61 wrote:

Cher56, I had a single mastectomy and an expander put in at the same time on the 9th of May. I had a very short time between being diagnosed and actual surgery, I was lucky. I had very little time to stop and think about what was going on , for that I am thankful. But its starting to catch up with me, the reality of the whole thing.

Looking at my incision which is still red and not completely healed, I get the cancer thing, it still scares me. How close  to the panic and fear I was and am. Its a scary thing that is happening to you, to all of us. I would be surprised if you weren't scared and anxious about everything.

It might be a weird thing to say but I don't think I have every felt so alive as I have this last few months. It has made me realize how fragile life is and how happy I am I am alive, even with one breast. 

After surgery I was so relieved that I had had the cancer removed from my body but then I had to worry about how i was going to react to having that breast removed. My husband has been my rock and my friends have been so supportive. My kids have been great, I couldn't have gone through everything so far without all of them.

This site has been a life saver for me, you can talk about anything you're going through the ladies here are the best. And I find its so comforting to have them to listen and give me support and feed back on things. I am very glad that you have found this site. 

Jun 11, 2012 08:20 AM She wrote:

Cher, best of luck for your surgery.  There's a lingerie shop in Langley that sells mast bras - it's on the one-way section of Fraser Highway (but I forget the name ...), or downtown Van at The Bay they have a couple of ladies who are trained to fit mast bras.  Don't be too hard on yourself, this whole journey takes some adjusting to.  It's okay to be scared, waiting is the hardest part.  Have you gone through the various mast threads for hints on how to prepare and what you'll want to wear when you get home?

Jun 11, 2012 09:03 AM Ossa wrote:

Cher.. There is a great shop Abbotsford Zammy's in little oak Mall on South Fraser (across the street from seven oaks The ladies there are very good,

Jun 11, 2012 10:38 AM lassie11 wrote:

Cher - if you are having them both off, you will be balanced already. I'd go braless if I were you - at least for the first few weeks.  Much of the time now I don't wear the fancy mastectomy bras, just a sports bra with a knitted prosthesis that the bra holds very well (I am unbalanced with just one off). If you are a knitter, or know one and want the pattern, let me know. I almost never wear that dreadful heavy plastic prosthesis!

Jun 11, 2012 11:53 AM babysammy wrote:

Cher. I agree with everyone to wait for the mastectomy bra.  I am 3 months post UMX, and am still deciding what I want to do before I start investing.  Too much other stuff going on and I am just getting used to what my body really is at this point, lopsided and bald.

But post mastectomy loose fitting tank tops and button up shirts is what I used.  Lifting arms over head is difficult.  Mens undershirts or those ribbed tanks with big armholes.  I put a long sleeve top on one morning when I felt good and was stuck in it by bedtime when I was tired and couldnt get it off..lol

I dont know the answer to your question about will the cancer be gone.  I would like to know too?  Anyone?

Jun 11, 2012 03:16 PM borntosurvive wrote:

Cher - I had a double mastectomy and didn't worry about a bra for awhile.  I did get a mastectomy camosile that had pockets for my drains though.  I wore this every day post surgery.  I got it from a cancer support centre here in town.  My surgery was in November and I invested in my bra and "boobs" in April.  Even now I don't put my boobs on every day :)  The fear doesn't ever go away I don't think, it just lessens.  I work with foster parents so seeing that you have a special needs foster child brought a big smile to my face.  You're one in a million!!

Jun 11, 2012 05:33 PM Tazzy wrote:

Hi Ashley - I see my surgeon on Thursday - Dr. Baliski... he's the one doing the mx.   My PS dunno yet.   I've been told by other women either Dr. Williamson or a Dr.Valumchuk here in kelowna.  But until I see Dr.Baliski I dont have any dates or even  if I will have rads first.  Kind of in limbo at the mo.

Jun 11, 2012 08:44 PM micheleboots wrote:

Bwah, way to go...celebrate with something yummy to eat, before the tastebuds go.

Jun 11, 2012 10:29 PM KCB wrote:

Congrats Bwah!!
I am going for number 5 of FEC-D next week, so I'm just behind you...