Best Of
Re: Planning surgery for November 2025? Join the waiting room for support.
Single mastectomy on 11/17. Aesthetic flat closure. It's my second DCIS in that breast, and after lumpectomy & radiation the first time, mastectomy is my only option now. Not looking forward to it.
I totally relate to the comment about this feeling like an out-of-body experience. It doesn't feel real. I have moments of acceptance, moments of blind panic, and moments of overwhelming grief. I didn't even know I was that attached to that breast. But change is hard.
Can anyone tell me if I'll be able to lift my opposite arm over my head after surgery? I keep seeing talk of not lifting arms up after mastectomy because of drains & healing tissue, but I'm hoping that a single mastectomy means the other arm will have some mobility.
Re: Planning surgery for November 2025? Join the waiting room for support.
My bilat mx is Friday 11-7. I'm lucky to have friends and family lined up to support me and each-other the several days after surgery. I ran into a childhood friend, she shared her (different) bc story with me. I know I'm strong mentally and physically but this really is like an out of body experience, so far. Even discussing it feels like / how can this be MY story?///
Julia near LA
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@elainetherese Part of the problem with this decision is that there is no "end" date or a scheduled number of infusions. We would be on Chemo until the end or until we just can't handle it anymore anyways.
Re: CT and Lung Nodules
Sandy, My inhaler is a corticosteroid not for asthma but for radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis. It is prescribed to stop the horrible cough caused by nerves exposed to air by the reticular remodeling of the interstitium. There's also the chance that it might prevent the fibrosis from advancing. Two different clinical trials were proposed (China and Mexico) but never ran due to lack of enrollment, not surprising since RIPF is so rare. The top two lobes of my right lung are shot; I'm hoping the current consolidation throughout the lung isn't a progression. Unfortunately this ILD gives me a 58% chance of getting lung cancer so my nodules are monitored.
Currently my inhaler is covered by part D but Anthem and three other insurance companies have pulled out of the state for next year and none of the seven plans left have it on the formulary. My pulmo will request an exemption but is also proactive. When I was hospitalized for several days at the end of July I ended up with inhalers for three months even though my other meds were given to me pill by pill. I really feel sorry for the many people on Advantage plans who will be kicked out of nursing homes if they can't find another plan to take them. Since NH is a state with an older population leaving is how health insurance companies can control their costs.
maggie15
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Intolight- I am so sorry. I am only on treatment #2, so I am not where you are. I pray for your scans next week.
I had 2 doses of chemo at the beginning, when we thought it was Stage 2. That was 8 years ago. I am 8 years older and 8 years wiser, and 8 years more tired. Back then I was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I went thru the mastectomy and started chemo kind of in a state of shock- no cancer in our family until me. I remember feeling sick and dizzy- memory of bending down to put food in my cat's bowl and feeling wobbly.
But I don't know if I could do it now.
I have scans Nov 21st. Never know when the progression will come.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@candy-678 You are not bad. This is your life. I have similar thoughts. I am 9 1/2 years on oral treatments and am on my fifth oral med. I am about out of options. I have never been on IV chemo having been dxd stage IV de novo. I am 72 years old, on oxygen 24/7 and am tired. I have four beautiful grandchildren that I would love to see grow up, but I am tired of being sick and not being able to travel and enjoy them. If I could continue on my current treatment I would, but my tumor markers have started rising again. I have a scan next week. If the scans show progression I fear chemo is my only option. I don't want to spend my last year sicker than I am now just to buy a few months. I don't know whether I have the fight left in me either. My daughter asked "what would chemo buy you?" It is a good question and one I am wrestling with.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I just need to get my thoughts down on paper (you know what I mean/computer, not paper haha).
I am reading this fictional book. One of the characters, not the main character or the main storyline, is dealing with breast cancer. They don't say what stage, but you can tell it is not Stage 4. She has had a mastectomy and going to have 5 treatments of chemo. But it describes how she is doing with the chemo. Tells about how her "body is on fire" and "every bone and muscle in her body was on fire", and how she is so weak and vomiting that her family is helping her sit up to drink and eat toast. "Through a cloud of pain and dizziness", it says. "Increased sensitivity to her skin", it says. Then it said the nurse told her the 3rd treatment would be when it hits so bad. That her family is providing her comfort and encouragement. And she voices she doesn't know if she can handle it.
Then I think, I don't want to go thru that. I don't know if I can go thru that. We know that with Stage 4 they do oral treatment until they HAVE to go to "chemo". And I know I have more oral options when I do have progression, before going to the "big guns". But after dealing with this for 8 years now, I don't know if I have the fight left in me to deal with the "big guns".
Of course, I don't know what I will do until that day comes, but I don't know how far I am willing to go in this fight. I don't know how much fight I have left in me. I don't know if I am willing to go thru all that, if how they described it is accurate.
Does that make me bad? Do any of you think about this?
Re: Stomach pain post Diep flap
I'm so sorry you both are experiencing this. I am 5 years out and have the weaknesses-- cramping (sometimes severe itching) whenever I use my stomach IF I can at all. I'm so defeated trying to do sit ups (can't) push ups (burning too tight) I'm doing pilates and I just got the ability to use my lower half for some moves-- but it seems like I had a TRAM instead of a DIEP cause my muscle strength is gone. I'm using the top part of my stomach for everything and it's super uncomfortable.
Re: Stomach pain post Diep flap
I have this problem, sex, sneezing, working out all cause severe muscle spasms. I was given muscle relaxers but this is definitely not the solution was hoping for. I’d love any help. I’m almost 2 years post diep flap. Healthy and active. I’m desperate.
gwest31
Re: Stomach pain post Diep flap
I also had DIEP in 2021 and have the exact spasms - lower left. They can be incredibly painful and using my stomach muscles triggers them. Now I also have occasional pressure around my belly button. If I could go back in time it's doubtful I'd choose DIEP again.
