Best Of
Re: Anyone regret going flat?
It definitely seems as though you have heard a multitude of pros and cons for going flat. I had a bi-lateral mastextomy in 2013 and have never regretted it. I was; however, in my mid fifties. If I had been younger I may have considered implants. I have not once regretted my decision. It is a little uncomfortable the first few times you go to a doctor or someone inadvertently sees your flat chest and you have to explain it, but that goes away quickly. I do have the prothesis, but they can be very uncomfortable in warm weather. It is kind of like wearing hot water bottles! I do have to say, I find a freedom in not having to wear them if I don't want to.
I had know a lot of women who had issues with reconstructions, some examples you have heard here, and some who had issues with recurrences during the process. No matter what you decide, you will get pros and cons from everyone.
If I had to give you one piece of advise, it would be to do what ever YOU want to do and feel comfortable with. Don't let anyone else talk you into doing anything. You do not have to make a decision now. Most insurance companies will pay for it even years after the mastectomy if you change your mind. You are going through so many emotions and changes right now, making one decision after another....you don't have to rush into this one. Let the dust settle and them decide what you feel comfortable with. Afterall, its not like losing an arm or a leg. Although, if your breasts have always been something that was important to you and your appearance, then you may feel differently. The important thing is.....DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. If you don't know....think about it for as long as you need to. You will know when you have made the right decision.
Best of luck to you. Prayers!
JCC4958
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Just woke up, I was up til 1230am and set alarm for 7am, that was not too bad. Little tired but not too much to do at hospital.
MRI usually does not take too long. Did not wind up phoning about the Paratransit coming later, it was the only ride I could get. Thinking I may need to get up earlier on days I need to order them online.
Tigger still on the treadmill, he will soon need to get off after I get home, planning a short walk on it.
Probably have a meat pie of some sort or a couple of eggs, need to eat those up. Later I am not too sure, still have one of the stir fry pastas that could pair with a meat pie. I may just do that combo now and have it eaten by 850am, I will see.
Addition: I had 2 mini pot pies and some beans in barbecue sauce and sour cream and some croutons for crunch. It was pretty good. I heated up the minipot pies part way and added the beans and chili mix and put back in microwave for 90 more seconds. Nice and filling.
Chores like laundry, sweeping can happen when I get home, should not take too long and may nap in the MRI machine anyway, I will see. Usually advise the people running it I do not need a blow by blow until the contrast goes in. I get really nauseous but if they put it through quick, holding my breath keeps that at bay.
I must say, needing to take breaks whilst getting dressed is weird to me but I am taking breaks between stages. I also sit while dressing, find it easier to do.
I do hope all have a good day, in pockets for everyone as well. Will find out results of MRI next Thursday.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hi all. Mara, I wish things could be different with your DB and SIL. Something tells me she is the problem and he has to go along with her moods since they are married. It's sad they are missing out on making more memories over some insignificant, perceived problem. You keep up your great attitude and oh that cooking and as the song goes "I am a rock, I am an island". I have had to adapt to my bff as in my sister, cutting off communications. She feels overwhelmed with my medical situation as the is dealing with a failing liver. I go to doctors and take meds, she refuses. Can't bring it together and it hurts.
Dear Chicagoean, I hope you are healing wonderfully and will be ready to go kick some soccer balls around. lo
l have been highly sick for about 10 days now. Saw MO and he ordered scans for end of month. Saturday night I took a turn for the worse and went to the ER. I thought I was having a heart attack. DUring testing it showed I have ground glass opacities bilaterlly with small nodules scattered in both lungs .They are attributing it to atypical pneumonia and suggesting I have pleurisy. They checked for pulmonary embolism due to cancer treatment and that was normal. My blood counts are very low and today I called MO's office andcancelled fulvestrant shot and plus I didn't restart Ibrance. I see PCP tomorrow to go over some findings. Add a migraine and I've been down for two days. I feel like I'm losing the ability to walk. Extreme weakness from waist down.
Maybe I just need a vacay.
Take care folks and I'm in your pocket for all your needs.
Irish
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@mara51506 - Mara, I'm so sorry I got the date confused, please excuse. I wish you lots of luck tomorrow then! I will still be thinking of you and have my fingers crossed 🤞. I guess Thursday isn't too long to wait for your results. Do you have anything like MyChart in Canada?
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@intolight - So nice to hear from you as always. I find you a real inspiration since you had so much going for years now. I'm glad the Oserdu is working for you with the ESR1 mutation. I wound up with an AKT1 mutation so Oserdu won't do any good for me. They have told me that Truqap is the drug that is designed to work with the mutation I have, but my MO wants to keep going with the fulvestrant and Verzenio as long as possible, and I totally support that idea. I don't see where these next groups of drugs work as well and for as long, so I'm really wary of switching to anything else unless there's just no other options what soever. My MO is suggesting staying on the current drugs but adding liver treatments like ablation or Y-90, and I'm hesitant and exploring these possbillities. I'm getting blind spots all of a sudden, so going to stop here. It's a sort of migraine thing that gets real bad after the fulvestrant shots and I can't always see completely what I'm typing and things just start to look strange. Will get back on when the visual aura stuff stops. Darn it anyway!
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@threetree I've been wondering how you were doing, and am sorry the fulvestrant has got you down. I don't keep up well either, but there are some of us who have been on this thread a few years. I am sorry to hear of your liver problems. I have had mets in the liver de novo and I have been able to keep them either stable or reduced most of the time. Currently I have no active bone mets and I am on Orserdu for the liver. Orserdu works with a specific mutation, ESR1. You also do not need to take fulvestrant with Orserdu so I am happy about that. It is new and crazy expensive ($27,741.00 for 30 pills) so I make sure I have a foundation that supports the cost. Medicare picks up the rest. We found the mutation from a liver biopsy. I have not had my flu shot yet either, and may be getting over a light case of it as I have been sick a few days. I will talk to my oncologist next week.
@candy-678 Sorry to hear about your latest stress challenges. I have not had any surgeries but my oncologist does not do mammograms as the scans pick up anything suspicious, although I am still told to check. My original cancer was not found in the breast but was still Stage IV.
@mara51506 Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you find some joy this week.
Thinking of you all as I read along.
Re: cording (axillary web syndrome)
I had cording and did have a couple PT visits to help with it.
one thing the PT recommended was holding the stretches for longer than I had been at home, instead of holding for 10 seconds holding for longer as tolerated. That seemed to make a big different. She also did some massage of the area which helps to release the cording.
ann5631
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Update on today's first meal, took a frozen stir fry, opened container and heated it in the microwave, while that was happening, pulled out an egg and when I put the precooked stir fry which is noodles, peppers and broccoli, added garlic, a ground up bit of those BBQ chips, added the egg to the already heated pan and added some shredded cheese. Put dollops of garlic spread and the butter, stirred in the cheese and covered with a lid, no heat. Will serve myself in a large dish, eat as much as I am able, put rest into another container. Can still make a separate chili meal later today. Am looking forward to the first meal.
Also discovered that with walmart delivery, was paying the minimum order of 35 which turns into 40 to 50 by the time tip comes on board. I would be better served to order under 35 if only need a couple of items and pay the 7.97 since before signing up for the year long plan of free delivery, I paid 12.97. I will consider the costs and what I can get, no order needed as of now but just a thought percolating. I also need to consider Paratransic roundtrip is 5.60 so really not paying much more than 2 bucks more to get delivery.
Re: Traveling with MBC - Inspire others with your vacation experiences and tips!
Hello! New here. In December of '23 (after my initial dx & tx and prior to my metastasis DX) I drove myself 12 hours to spend the Holidays with my youngest child in Florida. Since I couldn't drive myself this past '24 Holiday Season, my husband rented the largest SUV he could find, we spread a foldable single mattress on the second row seat, with pillows, and plenty of blankets on it. I felt like Queen Sheba, lounging on my settee, and enjoying the sights there and back. LOL. That monster SUV was so big there was plenty of room for both wheelchair and walker, a cane, and plenty of food, clothes and snacks. I think we could've fitted a portable toilet if we wanted to! We might do that again, or maybe rent a converted van next time. The first item on my bucket list is TRAVEL! I definitely want to make it all the way to CA. Next stop, however, is our first ever cruise for Valentine's Day. I already secured a handicap accessible room with an ocean view balcony, and I'll keep y'all posted when we get back. I already warned all my doctors that there ain't no amount of illness or treatment gonna keep me from fulfilling my dreams of traveling the world with the love of my life, all the way to my grandfather's birth place in Europe, and enjoying every moment of life I have left with him and our children. Blessings to all!