Member Since: May 6, 2008
Last Login:
Location:
Occupation:
Biography
Diagnosis
| Diagnosis: | Dx 5/23/2007, ILC, 4cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 5/9 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
| Diagnosed: | May 23, 2007 |
| Type: | Invasive or Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma |
| Recurrent? | No recurrence |
| Metastatic? | No |
| Stage: | Stage IIb |
| Lymph Nodes Removed: | 9 |
| Positive Lymph Nodes: | 5 |
| Tumor Size: | 4cm-4.9cm |
| Tumor Grade: | Grade 3 or high grade |
| Hormone Receptor Status: | Tumor has estrogen receptors but not progesterone receptors |
| HER2/neu Status: | Tumor does not have an excess of HER2/neu receptors or genes |
Recent Posts by etphd
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: May 6, 2008 06:51 pm
DIEPDeliliah and LornaB, Dr. Adam Tobias and the PS team at BI in Boston did my surgery about 4 weeks ago and it was a great success. No troubles being "under" for so long even though I was a smoker for years. I searched all over the US for the right team, I even interview 3 different plastic surgeons personally, and I believe the BI team was the best. I loved their approach, I appreciated the fact that they do the DIEP flap frequently enough to have an actual "assembly line" that even the hosiptal duty nurses and the nurses' aides know what to do for DIEP patients. Dr. Tobias has a team of highly talented folks working with him who treated me like a princess. They were so attentive that a even a potentially serious complication (the blood flow to my flap was impaired and it started to die) was immediately identified (within 5 minutes) and overcome (the plastic's resident on-call recommended a simple position shift) in about 10 minutes total. When my PS showed up 15 minutes from the initial call, the bloodflow had been restored and my flap was already getting pink and warm again. Talk about terrific. And all of that was took place at 5:30 in the morning! The BI team has my wholehearted endorsement. Best of luck with whatever decision you make... it is a big deal, but I think DIEP is the best solution.
XOX Elizabeth Dx 5/23/2007, ILC, 4cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 5/9 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: May 6, 2008 01:36 pm
Falling AppartLet me just say... AAARGGHH!! and yuck. My DIEP flap surgery was April 9th 2008, with a great result for the flap (healing beautifully), but a big old patch of dead skin and tissue at the donor site. I've been treating the necrotic tissue on my belly with Silver Sulfinate (which surrounds me in the very special perfume "eau de wet dog" all day) and it is working - by working I mean it is eating through the dead tissue and leaving big holes that are supposed to heal from the inside out. But I must reiterate... YUCK! I have never been this grossed out by a wound. However, I am reassured that this is what is supposed to happen and that the sooner the dead cells are gone the sooner the holes will heal up... I've also heard that 500mg of Vitamin C a day might be a good way to support tissue development but ask your doc what he/she thinks. Also - just 2cents about alternative treatments: my PS said "the literature does not indicate that there is any benefit to be derived from use of a hyperbaric chamber"... so I'm planning to continue with the "holey" approach until further notice. Wish me luck. XOX Elizabeth Dx 5/23/2007, ILC, 4cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 5/9 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
Posted in:
Tests, Treatments & Side Effects + Breast Reconstruction, Created: May 6, 2008 12:51 pm
DIEP with previous abdominal surgery?I had laproscopic gall bladder and a full scar from having my appendix removed and no problems. DIEP Flap sugery 4/9/08 Boston, MA |