FrannyK

Helloooooo Wishiwere...

Just checking in to see how you're doing with the Estrace or if youre still using it? I have a wonderful female gyno doc...she is very empathetic...her sister and mom have both had breast cancer.  At my last year check up she recommened the Estrace & Vagifem (short time...tiny amounts) to repair my painful parts...I was so sore even the speculum was extremely painful.  After a couple weeks I was a new girl!!  My hubby & I tried intercourse but it was still 'uncomfortable' and I didn't feel comfortable with the 'risky' estrogen therapy and stopped.  Ok...a year has passed ( a year of no intercourse)..i saw  her again...again she recommends the Estrace & vagifem...says another patient only needs to apply it 2 x a month and is doing great.  She reiterated that the tiny amounts we use don't get into the bloodstream yet does wonders on repairing the tissue.  So...i'm trying it again.  First 2 weeks...use both 3 to 5 x a week....then 2 x a week for a month...then 2 x a month for 3 months...we'll see.

Beesie...you're absolutely right about reconstruction not being an easy journey.  I think people leave out the scary details because everyone needs to deal with there own situation as it arises.  All along I wondered if having an 8 hour surgery for DIEP (and putting my self at risk) was worth a darn boob.  I had a tough time after chemo in that I had a pulmonary embolism...had to give myself Lovenox injections (ouch) for 30 days...I had to wait 6 months for the reconstruction (typical after rads)...I had a heparin injection prior to DIEP surgery...scary too.  Fortunately everyting went smoothly.  And here I am...with a close imitation of my real boob and very happy with it.

Wow...hey Sandy it's me Fran in Long Beach.  We had the same surgeon.  I have the most beautifully perfect foob & nipple.  My gyno doc says it's the most perfect one she's ever seen.  I never had a problem with him.  He actually took extra precautions with me due to the fact that I'd had a pulmonary embolism after my last chemo treatment (9 mos prior to reconstruction surgery)...he took the time to work out a surgery plan with the cancer hemotologist I needed to see after the embolism.  He treated me like a princess. 

HI Evie...i've been on Aromasin since April 07.  At first...during the night i had a lot of numbness in my hands and arms.  And when waking...to walk on my ankles was really weird...first 10 steps were stiff...to this day..my ankles are still like that....but my hands and arms no longer fall asleep and get numb.  Those are my only side effects.  Well...possibly my wrist...but that is come and go...painful.  Right now...no pain.  I'm ok with it all.  The benefit of this drug is worth the risk. 

take care.

fran

hi marejo,  i had my diep sept 10...no complications at all.  I was a high risk because i'd had a pulmonary embolism right after my chemo ended...my doc treated me with heparin (which i was freaking out about..but he'd consulted my hemotologist about all risks & everything)..anyway..my new diep boob is beautifully shaped, matches my other one exactly in volume, size, shape.

i'm happy.

gals,  i had an expander put in at time of mastectomy..then went thru chemo and rads..i avoided fills during chemo days when my white count was lowest.  I never got an infeciton.  I had that miserable expander in for a year before my DIEP surgery!!!

I love my DIEP boob....or foob...or whatever it is!  My doc says you get the best cosmetic result in DIEP when you start with an expander.

Laura,  so sorry to hear about the "atypical" results.  Hopefully it is something a lumpectomy can take care of if needed.  I know what you mean about getting back to normal tho.  I think my "normal" is staying prepared to deal with anything (cancers) coming back...but otherwise enjoying everyone and everything life's got to offer.  :)

Be hopeful.

fran

M. 

You can do it!  I was worried too right before...but now I'm 7 weeks out and feeling pretty!!  Mine was uni-lateral and my doc did a wonderful job of matching my other boob...and the flat stomach is so much fun.  I had gained 20 lbs. just so i could have enuf fat...now i've lost 9 and walking for exercise and everything.

good luck, stay tough

fran

Ladies,  i saw an ad in "Coping with Cancer" magazine for a product called Peridin-C...a vitamin C supplement, has citrus bioflavonoids ( hesperidin and rutin??) ascorbic acid and vit C phytonutrients, i.e. grape seed extract, berries (blue,black, rasp, strawb).

They claim after 30 days of 6 tablets a day, 53% of the women were relieved of hot flashes, & symptoms reduced in 35% of the other.

Anyone heard of this or trying it? Or have you checked with your doc about it?

thanks

fran

HI my friend,   If the factor V leiden is the same thing i've heard about, then you (and your oncologist) should be very concerned about dvt's & pe's while on Tamoxifen.   I had a dvt and pe in january after my last chemo treatment,  My onco doc referred me to a hemotologist (blood coagulist) at USC Norris Cancer Center (Dr. Howard Liebman).  He ran all sorts of test (looking for Factor V Leiden also)... found i was positive for lupus anticoagulant (another story)....but he quoted lots of stats to me about future risk of dvt's if I'd had other factors like Factor V...and thrombin and prothrombin disorders etc.) A doc like that can help you and your oncologist determine your risks.

I am on an AI (aromasin) because of the risk of blood clots w/ tamox.   But if you need to stay on tamox versus the AI,  your'e doc might suggest coumadin along with the tamox.

good luck...stay vigil for any symptoms of dvt or pe...like leg pain, or shortness of breath, chest pain with coughing, sneezing, or laughing.  I should be dead actually...i walked around with PE for 10 days before ending up in the ER with an oxygen sat % of 70.

take care

franny