hotsyta

I have a friend who is pushing me to refuse chemo and try Essiac tea.  I just don't feel comfortable doing this.  I wish I could find information that would support this treatment, especially since I am 33 and I have "heard" that there is not a lot of data that demonstrates the effectiveness of chemo for younger patients.  I looked on the Amazon group and it was a huge site.  Not sure where to look.  So much information is out there and I feel so overwhelmed with it all.  Onco says "if it tastes bad don't do it, no compelling evidence shows effectiveness of alternative therapies"  Seems like a big gamble to me.  Does anyone have a comment?  Ta

Quickly, I will say I am so glad you have started this thread!!  People seem to get so offended when you even suggest that it is difficult to stay positive all the time.  I too have a family members (that I live with) who insist that if I continue to live my life as it was before the dx I will be fine.  Only I don't feel the same, I am exhausted both physically and mentally.  I haven't even started chemo yet, maybe after they will give me a little slack.  I am not positive, in fact it seems that every day getting closer to chemo I feel even more out of control, and anxious, and pissed that I can't make decisions for myself and my family.  I am so independent and I HATE to have to depend on others that will turn around and throw it in my face.  I am glad to hear you set a boundary with your father, I have had to do the same with my Aunt.  The first conversation I had with her post op started with her telling me how mad she was at my Husband, when I defended him she got really mad.  My chest tightened up every time I was involved with a conflict--literally the muscles contracted--painfully.  I had to tell her I would not argue with her any more because it was physically painful and if she insisted I would just not talk to her.  She has really eased up, but I think she know she has to because she is all I have, both of my parents have passed.  We did get into a doozie this morning, but it was probably my fault due to pent up and not expressed frustrations.....I hope your Dad will feel the sting of losing contact with now two of his children and perhaps will ease up too.  Thanks Heidi

Ta 

Hello!!

I am so excited by your almost decision to get a flower, I will also be doing "traditional" tattoos instead of "nipple" tattoos.  I am really into tattoos and I hate the idea of wasting a good tattoo session!!  My biggest problem is that I want one from someone that I will never run into on the street.  

I am not a dropout and I don't have any diseases--other than BC.  Almost all of my friends have tattoos and I have never in my life met someone that has contracted a disease from a tattoo parlor. Considering the fact that I worked in a blood bank, where our business was to assess risky behaviors, I think that is pretty good.  I think most of the reports you hear nowadays about people getting diseases are hyped up.  Any time you choose to be in a place that deals with blood and body fluids your risk for infection is increased and unfortunately these reports really give reputable parlors a bad name and scare people.  Maybe things were worse a long time ago, because now--at least in CA, by law, parlors have heavy regulations concerning hygiene.  I see parlors taking the same blood borne pathogen precautions we used in the blood bank.  Such as covering all surfaces that can receive spatter (like in the dentist's office), disinfecting all uncovered surfaces (like the chair you sit in), using an autoclave sterilizer on all reusable items such as the tattoo gun, and using disposable ink cups and needles that they open right in front of you.  If you go to a shop and you don't see this happening--run, because it shouldn't be that way!

I would look for a place that has a long standing reputation, you can check with the better business bureau and look for an artist with a substantial portfolio.  Many artists post their work online so you can see what they do first.  You can bring in a photo, or copy, or sticker or whatever and all artists will draw what you would like--or you can choose from "flash" on the walls.  Also it is always good to visit shops to see how comfortable you are in the shop, I have found that some are not that "friendly".  I want to be welcomed and feel as if my business is appreciated--I will be wearing it forever!!  I also want to feel comfortable with my artist so I can ask for changes if I don't like the original design.

I hope this information is helpful, I would be scared too if all I had to go on was the fact that my deadbeat students went into tattooing, as well as stories of disease-ridden tattoo parlors.  You certainly aren't the only one that feels this way about tattoo--my Auntie feels the same way...and she lets me know about it every chance she gets!  I can't convince her but maybe I can ease some of your fears, any how it's worth a try!!  Good luck with your choice!

Ta 

One more thing--there is a lady at Triangle Tattoo in Fort Bragg--where I got my first tattoo, that specialized in mastectomy tattoos.  I even saw her profiled in a documentary on the Discovery Channel.  I forgot her name, but her partner was Mr. G.  He had 30 years experience and was very understanding when I asked to see his autoclave and to know about his sterilization practices.  Fort Bragg, CA is a long way from Colorado, but just a suggestion for a place I knew about!  

I am interested in purchasing a set of prostheses.  What a daunting task!!  I have "tried on" the amoena Contact Lite, Natura, Climate, as well as the tria plus.  I like the tria plus the best because the sales person told me I would get better ventilation.  I live in a hot climate and I think ventilation would be very good.  I have some issues with plastic tape--it breaks me out.  Paper tape does not.  I really wanted the contact type because I am active mom of two under 8 years and I HATE worrying that someone will be able to see my scars down my shirt when I bend over--as they can now!  So I wanted to know if anyone with slightly sensitive skin has been able to use the contact type products and if anyone with the non-contact type forms have had good experiences with bending over and not having the forms show.--Like when you are playing pool.  Also if you have the contact type and start to sweat profusely, because it's 114 degrees, does the form fall off?

Thanks!!

Ta 

Phyllis--I saw that you had expander exchange, how did that go? Much better than the mx and snb?

Ta

Did anyone have blisters on the reconstructed boobs?

Hey all,

I am home to stockton now and very dizzy. Surgery went well, I was in major pain the first night, but by the second day it was tollerable. Now I am taking darvoset and motrin. makes me very dizzy. I think I might cut down to half of he darvo. I haven't had time to read all of the posts from the last time, but I am working on it. I am very sleepy, I have been reading about 1 hour now and I think I am ready to go back to sleep. I wasn't to sleepy on the morphine drip, but very itchy. Kathy, did you get the drains out yet? I have two and they suck!! I ready you got two out, that's good!! I forgot to mention that my sentinel node was positive, so they did the full dissection. I will find out thoses results next week. Definately chemo, Jax i like that hat party!!! I told my friends to start collecting good wigs for me. I am scared too! and also mom of 2. Gotta Jam, I will be back and hopefully caught up too!!

luv,
Ta

Hey All it has been a while, I have been trying to stay away from the boards for a while and trying to not focus on the breast cancer, but my time is coming quick and I can't focus on anything else, I hope everyone is doing well. I couldn't figure out how to post the pics of Big Sur, but we had so much fun. I hope everyone is doing well. I am scheduled for wed and BS says only 1 day!!!!!! I can't believe that I hope I can stay longer if I want to. I am having bi-lat mx with immediate expanders plus a large fill d/t the fact they are doing the skin-sparing mx. Was everyone discharged that soon? I am kinda worried. My surgery is in Oakland and I will be returning to Stockton for recovery, which is an hour away. There is a hospital 1 block away from my house here in Stockton and they said they could coordinate care if there was an emergency, but I am still worried. Does anyone know how to make sure I am really ready to go home, the breast care coordinator said the worst pain is on the 3rd day and I would be in the hosp for 3 days, but the bs said nope only 1. help!!!!

Ta

I have Kaiser insurance and they are notorious for not paying for stuff. Colleen you had all of your dx done with photos? Does this mean that almost everyone will be a candidate? I am 20 lbs heavier, a smallish 18 and about 1/4 inch shorter. I guess it can't hurt to send some pics yeah? I'm gonna give it a shot!! I feel so down about asking Kaiser for ANOTHER referral, and I know I shouldn't feel that way, but part of me feels like I may be making a big deal just because this is such a difficult process and I really just want it to be over with. Implants are much easier to recover from....ol' flip floppy me, can't make up my mind..

Ta

Good Morning Party People!!

Jax: I wish you could go shopping too!!

Pam: That sux that you had to have all the nodes out. My BS said if the SN is pos then she doesn't know how many she will remove till she sees how close the rest are to the SN. Scary to me. You just had SNB? If they are pos then you will go further with tx?

Kathy: We just had a heat wave where I am and I think I would be happy for a little rain, but the good news is we will be spending the weekend in Big Sur CAMPING!!! It's my 10 year anniversary!!

Sherry: You probably already said this, but why didn't they place anything? And they still left the skin? My docs made it seem like if I wanted to keep the skin I HAD to have some type of immediate recon, but I almost think I'd rather wait till after I find out if I have to have chemo or rads. I don't look forward to waking up flat, but I really wanted to have the flap surgery and I don't have time or energy for another opinion before the surgery, I would rather just get the implants if I have to.

I am feeling much better today, but it could have something to do with the fact that I am kid free and going on a beautiful drive for a super great camping trip!! We will be driving down hwy 1 which goes all the way down the CA coast!! I will post some pics 4 you after I get back!!

Love

Ta

Has anyone been told they have more than one type of cancer or perhaps more than one grade in the lump?

I had an "excellent" mammo last year and now have 3 lesions in the left and 1 lesion in the right. My BS only biopsied one lump and it is grade one, very slow growing, but I have so many masses....I don't get it. She said maybe there might be more than one type. I am 32 years old, but my breast tissue is not dense, so if the cancer was there, it should have been seen--yeah?

Ta