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Last Login: April 13, 2008
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Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: Apr 13, 2008 06:12 pm
Implant WITH TRAM??Has anyone had an implant placed WITH Tram recon? I was DD before all of this and the unilat Mx & Tram has left me extremely lop-sided with a B+ cup on the recon side. I were a prosthesis to minimize the appearance in clothes, but this is very discouraging. I told my PS that I wasn't a Bcup coming in asking for DD's. I was asking to not change (too much) a part of what I feel to be a large part of my self-identity. He said he wasn't quite sure how yet but that he would put in an implant on the recon side to better balance me out after the lift/reduction on the right. Has anyone out there had an implant in addition to TRAM? I would love to hear from anyones experience or conversations with their PS. Thanks in advance and I am praying for us all! Jamie |
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Day to Day Matters + Humor and Games, Created: Apr 13, 2008 05:53 pm
foods to get in grocery storepumpernickle bread |
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Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Apr 13, 2008 05:48 pm
Any "Port" in a Storm? Who likes or hates their port, and whyOh and the port is completely under the skin, I go swimming, riding roller coasters, boating, biking, etc. no restrictions! |
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Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Recurrence and Metastatic Disease, Created: Apr 13, 2008 05:47 pm
Any "Port" in a Storm? Who likes or hates their port, and whyI love my port!!! wish I could keep it forever, without having it flushed all the time. the first time in 2000 I had 4 AC and no port, ended up in hosp 2x for a wk each, pnemonia, etc... and no veins left. This time, got the port during the mastectomy in Oct 06 and now that it has been in for a long time, finished chemo Jan 08 , I dont realize it is there anymore. Still undecided if I am having it out or to keep it. hmmm?? |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: Oct 11, 2007 04:30 pm
Arm Exercises???iwasn't given any but a "walk the wall with your fingers". What a Phys Therapist told me a few months later which has helped the most is... Stand by the wall (not quite arms length) and draw out the "ABC's".Fairly big, highest point was about as high as my head and lowest was between chest and tummy... Stop at what ever letter when your arm STARTS to get tired.. then once you cn get thru all 26, then start making them bigger. PT stated this is the best exercise with the greatest range of motion..... for me.. this one proved to be the least redundant and boring... Good Luck. Jamie |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: Oct 11, 2007 04:25 pm
Mast + rads + reconstructionJoanne, I had rads & AC in 9/2000 - 2/01, re-dx in 9/06. I had unilateral mast with TRAM (tummy) recon on 10/18/06. I was a 36DD before and now the recon side is about a C. The tissue & skin that is from my stomache is soft and nice. And the Skin on the outer edges of my breast that were left after mast, that were radiated before are still quite hard, well firm seems to be a better word. I had healing issues on the breast and 10 days after surgery some of the skin around the edges had to be cut off and I had to "scrub" down thru the old radiated tissue in order for new healthy skin to grow in. that took until the end of Dec. Looking back on it, it sounds much worse that it really was. Sure it was inconvenient packing it twice day, but it was better than more suregery for skin grafts and now a year later and it is almost back to my regular skin tone instead of dark pink. I am very happy with my TRAM and am going on Nov 7 to have lift on the right and a little bit of revision to a "lip" where it didn't grow together smoothly. I have pics of all this and showing what the radiation did under the surface (even 6 yrs later), if anyone is interested, just message me and I can email them to you. I am not shy about this, I just like helping others. Best of luck in your decision. and you can have Rads and then other types of recon, not just the expanders... Jamie |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Surgery - Before, During, and After, Created: Oct 11, 2007 03:57 pm
Spitting Stitches?I had my TRAM last Oct 9, 2006.... Lots of my stitches didn't dissolve and came out, as well as the middle of my stomache incision pulled apart. When the little plastics reared there heads we pulled them out with a pair of tweezers. We kept the tweezers sterile and with all my other "supplies" for packing the 5 inch by 2 inch area of dead skin and tissue on my breast that was cut off (I had chemo & rads 6 yrs before that). I chose to not have skin grafts (as it would have been more surgery) and let the skin grow in naturally, which took longer but in the long run will look better. some of it is still pink, especially my stomach incision, but it gets lighter and lighter every week and in a few more months there probably will be no more "dark pink". Good Luck Amy, but take comfort that it is ok and "normal" for some peoples stitches to not dissolve all the way. I will be having a lift on the other side and revision to an area on the recon side that has a "lip" where it isn't smooth or level (if that makes sense) on Nov 7. I'm kind of getting nervous, hoping for no drains and success on smoothing out the "lip" as that is in the middle of my clevage where all my bras go (well the old ones I want to wear again). Hugs, Jamie |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Lymphedema After Surgery, Created: Apr 2, 2007 08:31 pm
please come to the chat room so we can talk !I frequent the chat rooms, and found the immediate answers or support helpful.
I sometimes have trouble keeping up with 2 or 3 conversations at the same time, so I just tell the room "I am on the confused couch". Or I just keep up with one conversation and let the rest fly by... the ladies in there are just FABULOUS and were a true life saver to me when I was dx for the 2nd time this past Sept. Hope to see you there. |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Lymphedema After Surgery, Created: Apr 2, 2007 08:24 pm
Bra concerncewoliver,
for the "bra" part, try wearing the tank-tops that have the built in shelf bras or sports bras.. that is all I have been able to wear since surgery in Oct. As far as the "headlights".... leave em on!!.. or you could always put the tape in between layers of the tanktop or put a small piece of gauze with out tape on the breast if it is held snug enough with the tank or sportsbra...? ?? maybe?? hope some brainstorming might help. Good luck Jamie |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Chemotherapy - Before, During and After, Created: Feb 17, 2007 09:20 am
Starting Chemo in JAN 2007Joni, I too get the most worn out about day 5 & 6, but of course it s progressing during 1-4. After about day 7 i start bouncing back.
I'm on TCH, had # 3 of 6 on wed the 14th. Glad to be 1/2 way done. |
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Not Diagnosed but Concerned + Not Diagnosed but Worried, Created: Feb 8, 2007 02:09 pm
Please help, many questions. I am scared to deathMaggie, Hugs to you sunshine....
it sounds more like they think this is a thrombosed vein, but to give you some encouragement if it is the "other", I want to tell you about me. I was first Dx a few weeks before my 26th birthday (9/00). And other than 1 Great Aunt, noone else in my family had BC either. My son had just turned 5 and was starting kindergarten, I was and still am a single mom. I had lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Chemo sucked but that was only for 3 1/2 months. I have been rediagnosed with a new primary same breast, have had mastectomy with recon and currently undergoing chemo again. The chemo isn't so bad this time other than being really tired, not much for side effects.(yeah). My son is about to turn 12, he was then and is now, my inspiration and strength. My prayers are with you, hang in there. Jamie |
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Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + HER2/neu Positive Breast Cancer, Created: Jan 24, 2007 05:21 pm
TCH treatment for HER2I had AC 6 yrs ago was Trip neg. This time I am ERPR- and her2 +++. I have even questioned the error ratio on the IHC vs Fish test as this time my IHC test was 1 and FISH was 3+. I questioned if i should have my old tumor retested to see if this really is new primary or recur since my old was only tested on IHC, but then again herceptin wasn't even available to early stage BC back then. I was stage 1 and now Stage 2, both were grade 3. Same breast.
Hang tough and trust your gut! Jamie |
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Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + HER2/neu Positive Breast Cancer, Created: Jan 24, 2007 04:53 pm
Herceptin 3 wk dose verses weekly, & finger nails.Just had Taxotere, Carboplatin & herceptin # 2 today. (every 3wks). So far no nail trouble but mine split and cracked alot before txt anyway.
I'm corssing my fingers for no nail loss/issues. Although, I have read that others use ice packs for hands and feet and it worked for them. So, who knows! |
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Day to Day Matters + Humor and Games, Created: Jan 24, 2007 02:56 pm
Post deleted by Melissa & Tamiclaws
class |
Posted in:
Day to Day Matters + Humor and Games, Created: Jan 24, 2007 02:51 pm
Song GameThe Way you Love Me - Faith Hill
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Posted in:
Day to Day Matters + Humor and Games, Created: Jan 22, 2007 04:23 pm
Song GameMan on the Moon
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Chemotherapy - Before, During and After, Created: Jan 17, 2007 05:35 pm
Starting Chemo in JAN 2007I started Taxotere/carbo/herc on Jan 3, and on monday the 14th my hair started. so I am having a "head shaving" party for all my friends to take a shot at cutting or shaving my head. they are already planning a "bowlcut", mohawk (both a long and short one) and I have the camera ready. Why not?!? I've done this before 6 yrs ago and I know it grows back (although i never wear my hair above shoulder length). Might as well make this as "fun" and humorous as possible.
Life gives you lemons, make lemonade.. well I might just run out of all the sugar to mix with it one day, at the rate I'm going. |
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Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Help Me Get Through Treatment, Created: Jan 15, 2007 02:59 pm
How old were you?i was diag 3 weeks before 26th bday (9/13)in 2000 and just got dx with a new primary on my 32nd bday.
Miss Jane.. it is not a life sentence. I'm a single mom and my son was 5 and in Kindergarten the first time. when he was in 3rd grade they did a "report" on a highschool kid with cancer and the teach told me, my son proudly stood up and said "my mom is a breast ca survivor, she did chemo and lost her hair and got real sick, and radiation but she's a survivor! He can be one too!" I was never so proud when I heard that. When I had to tell him I had it again a few monhts ago, I was heartbroke. but he has taken it in stride and still gives me attitude (he'll be 12 in march). Kids are way more resiliant than we think and I get my strength to go on from him. I am stage 2, grd 3, 3cm mass, had a mast this time since same breast, and immediate Tram recon. You can't live for tomorrow or what if's. My family kept trying to push having other side done prophylacticly and I refused. I am glad i did not have mast the first time, as this time it could have come back IN the chest wall and not just against it, as it was this time. which if it was further into the wall my prognosis wouldnt' have been as good this time. And remember, you can chose to do it later if it is really bothering you that bad. (Hugs) Jamie |
Posted in:
Recovery, Renewal, & Hope + Moving Beyond Cancer, Created: Jan 14, 2007 06:43 am
for ladies that like to take and post picturesI need to know how to post pics.. someone HELP...
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Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Chemotherapy - Before, During and After, Created: Jan 11, 2007 05:14 pm
Starting Chemo in JAN 2007Cindy,
What kind of a job do you do? Maybe you can work extra hours/days just before you get chemo in prep for the lost hours after txt.. also, see if you can move the day of your chemo (usually only by a day or so, mine said) to put the worst part during the weekend. I had a hard time 6 yrs ago on A/C and missed a lot, well ended up in hospital for a week....twice... This time, I just had my first last wed, but other than day of txt, I only missed part of a day monday for a major headache. doing Taxotere, carboplatin & Herceptin every 3 weeks. ((HUGS)) Jamie |
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