Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
-
Grace beesie on this site has a great post regarding the decision to do lump, MX or BMX. In my case the recommended course bmx because the cancer was too big in the left side and there was some LCIS on the right.
Here is her post: linky
or community.breastcancer.org/forum/96/topic/797602?page=1#post_3338005one of those links should work.
0 -
The voice of your soul is your inner guidance system – your intuition. Listen
closely and it will tell you how to turn your highest potential into reality. ~
Susan Rueppel0 -
Lago, sure glad you put that linky in here. Was sitting and wondering ---just what would I have done or how would I have arrived at my decision after reading Timbuktu. Fortunately I didn't even have to come close to those types of choices -- I do know one thing.....I've always felt, if I had a situation where one breast had to go.....I'd definitely want the other gone. Not strictly due to fear of anything, but more so the off-balance, the need for something to wear on "that" side and the fact that at my age as well, as never being much for fashion I just simply would not feel the need. I know one person who has some real back pain issues from being only one-sided for years.
Anyway it is all very valid and certainly the more so if you are struggling with the issues of what to do. I hope good information and good intuition get you all where you are going. Thinking about you all, always.
Love and peace,
Jackie
0 -
Mornin'!
0 -
Timbuktu - Sorry for the delayed response. My hip pain just came out of nowhere. I was actually at work and doing fine and it started bugging me around mid-morning. By the end of the day, I was in a lot of pain. So weird. It is about 97% resolved now though, so I'm just going to monitor it and hope it doesn't happen again. I was glad to get the MRI done though.
Spunky - Yes, I had a several thousand dollar MRI just to confirm that I am a literal pain in the... glute.
I'm sure my DH could have saved us some money. Grace - The decision to have a bilateral or unilateral mx is a tough one. I think Lynn made some excellent points, and another talk with your PS, and/or a 2nd opinion might clarify things for you enough to make a decision that you are comfortable with. The link Lago posted should be helpful too.
It took me 5 years to decide to do the prophy, and this was after having several surgeries on that side to try and match things up. In hindsight, I do wish I had done both at the same time, only because it would have saved me a lot of worry over the monitoring and subsequent biopsies that I ended up needing on that side. Not to mention the surgeries. But I don't dwell on the things I should have done differently, I did what felt right at the time.
At this point, I'm SO done with it all that I tend to forget that I still don't have a nipple on that side.
Eh. One day. Maybe.0 -
Begin and end each day with an expression of
gratitude and thanksgiving.
Every morning when you awake you have been given the gift of a sunrise
and twenty-four hours to live.
This is a precious gift.
You have the wonderful opportunity to take this day and live joyously,
with appreciation for everything that you encounter.
Take a deep breath and be grateful for this exhilarating experience of
breathing in life and love.
Similarly, end your day with an expression of love, and a repetition of
the word for peace, “Shalom.”
Wayne
Dyer0 -
Oh what a beautiful morning....so summer-like outside despite the ferocious rainstorm with lots of hail Sunday very late afternoon. Seeing some buds on some of the trees.....I'm just saying hurry Spring. We will have fun and spend a lot of time on the deck.
Peace and love,
Jackie
0 -
I'm so glad to hear it was warm and sunny somewhere in IL today Jackie (besides in our hearts)! Here in the northern suburbs of Chgo. it was cold and rainy!!! Sounds like the rains may continue through the end of the week with sunshine finally sharing the sky on Saturday. Given the combination, I hope to see some more blooms in the garden!
I have a question.., does anyone know if there is a "suggested" time line for having hi-lites done? I'm holding out for a hair cut, trying to allow it to get as long (and bushy, likely) as possible but I'm really missing my hi-lites!
Now that I have some hair I hesitate to "fry" it with bleach for fear it may fall back out. Has anyone here had any highlights? I feel confident in the ammonia-free colors but I'm just not sure about introducing BLEACH! 
Any advice? Thanks ladies! It's been awfully quiet here. I hope that means that all is well!
0 -
Well, I'm no help with that, C, but I can say that I've heard the question posed before ( of course, I can't remember the answer -- too easy ya know ). To tell the truth and it has been such a long time, I did get a perm in mine fairly early on. I had dingy brown hair which was thin and fine and you might know.............I had glorious visions of what I would get as a bonus for going through 6 ( seemed so long then ) mos. of chemo.
I got my same old hair back...the only small difference was slightly darker brown. I felt cheated. So I know I didn't wait too long ( had to grow out to a fair length first and have some moderate trimming procedures ) before I got some body back into it by doing a perm. The hair dresser could not believe how well the perm "took". Well, I said.....it is brand new fresh hair which has not had anything but mild shampoo since it arrived.
Wish I could be more help, but someone will come along. I don't really think it would fall back out though....the 'bleach' can't destroy from the inside I don't thin like chemo does --- but of course, you'd want to be careful. You might be able to find some vegetable hi-light that might be almost as good for now.....as I don't ever color my hair I don't have any real idea so is just an off-hand thought.
Peace and love,
Jackie
0 -
"It doesn't matter if the song of life that you sing is simple
or complicated. All that matters is how much you put into that
song. Your life
is controlled only by what you give to it. You
won't get anything from it if
you don't put feeling into life.
That's why people fall in love. If they give
that feeling,
they get it back. Put all you've got into this life, and
when
the day comes for you to pass on, you won't regret what
you
did."
-- Author unknown0 -
Morning --- sunny and warm still going on here. I talked my hubby out of putting on the screen door to our kitchen door on the deck and this is going to have to be re-thought. I don't think the temps. are going to plummet like the weather people thought they might.
I had a moment or two.....didn't think the whole quote was up-lifting as I usually like but I did deeply resonate to filling your life with feeling and having as much feeling as you can with everything you do. Just look it in the eye and give it your all. That is such satisfaction.
Hope you have a good day....as we are deep into Spring it is what I'd like to share with everyone.
Peace and love,
Jackie
0 -
Good morning everyone! It's dark and dreary here today and it's been sprinkling off and on. Where's our sunshine? We get spoiled for a few days and then WHAMMY!
Hi C-squared! I did not lose all my hair because I did CMF chemo. In fact, I even colored mine during chemo and had no problems. I have never heard of a suggested timeline for highighting after regrowth and chemo but have known several gals in our local breast cancer group who have highlighted shortly after their hair returned with no problems.
I like your quote today, Jackie. It made me do some thinking!
Everyone have a great Wednesday. Today is our last Bunco game until September so everyone should be in rare form!
Rita
0 -
Good morning ladies -
I haven't posted in a long time but in my gut I always knew that I would one day be back. Today is that day because IT is back. I have been DX with a local recurrence - similar DX as the first, same breast.
I need recommendations for good plastic surgeons, preferably in the NW suburbs. I had external radiation the first time and will now be planning a BMX but I understand having had that treatment previously may present issues with this so I need to try to find the best, experienced PS. Anyone know of any in the area?
Thanks,
Jenn0 -
Jenn sent you a PM
0 -
Jenn....so sorry it's back...but glad it is only local! Sending hugs.....I can't help with a surgeon in NW suburbs...I was at Northwestern. My PS there was great though. Good luck...keep us posted!
0 -
Everyone who has had nipple reconstruction from John Kim at Northwestern: would you please PM me with your results? I'm particularly interested in finding out how "on" are the "headlights" with his work. I'm loving not having to wear a bra now and don't want to have to start wearing a padded one to work. In my position (not to mention my age), I just can't have nipples pointing out all the time. Yes, I'm going to try posting on another topic, but I'm betting the Illinois Ladies is more likely to get a hit on this particular PS. Thanks!
0 -
JS best surgeons are at MOffitt where I go in Tampa. They are known for specializing on radiated breast, difficult recontructions, etc. There are other women here who have been sent there. Also being HER2+ your doc should have recommended chemo first time. Her2 is like TN which I am its aggressive. Back then in 2000 when I was first diagnosed there was no oncotype testing and all this BS. I have read and read and read all these stories on this site of women going by these results and recurring. Of women saying thier tumor is sooooo small no chemo then bang cancer back in 2 yrs. Now in 2013 how can docs just say hey its ok you have her2+ no chemo. One lady posted she had TN but tumor was very small so she was told no chemo. This is nuts as far as I am concerned why these docs are advising this now. Years back it never happen and women recurred yes but years later not so quickly. There are also women on this site with very tiny tumors that have spread and recurred. Cancer is tricky I have learned no matter how small or big. no matter estrogen fed or Triple Negative. Cancer is cancer it has its own mind. I would consider chemo at this point. I just recurred after 12 yrs the doc at Mayo said no chemo I said have a nice day. Get a second opinion on the treatment for this recurrence if you have too. Bless you and good luck.
0 -
netty46 JS doesn't fit into the "too small" category. Also many of us HER2+ gals (including myself) did surgery before chemo. It appears there is no real advantage of getting the chemo first except to see the clinical response. I asked my onc this questions specifically.
Lynn27 how long ago did you get your nipple recon done? They do shrink. Mine now look like that button candy but much softer. They did projected quite a bit at first.
They should shrink quite a bit in the first 3 months. In about 6-12 they should stabilize. I have to wear a thin tee with no bra to look like I have head lights. Initially, after I didn't have to protect them anymore I used Wacoal: No Peek Molded Foam Cups till the shrunk. Purchased mine from Macy's. They hand wash nicely: linky
0 -
Lynn... sent you a PM. We have the same PS.
0 -
Jen, I am sorry you are facing this. I did not have reconstruction as I was too chicken to go through it all. I have no NIPPLE or aerolea (I have no idea how to spell that) on my breast. Just a line of stitches that runs about five inches across my breast. It looks like a football.
Lago has given me an idea. Maybe I should paste one of those button candies where a nipple should be
It is odd that this is coming up as I looked at myself in the mirror today and I realized how "odd" my nipple-less" breast looks, but I have just accepted it. Today I realized that after six plus years, I looked longer!I believe Netty is right that cancer has a mind (and a very active DNA) of its own. Now that my DH is being treating for cancer with a med that attacks the cancer at the dna, bio-molecular level, I better understand the mind (behavior) of cancer. My chemo was poison and it worked on killing the cancer cells that it could, but it poisoned the good cells as well. Do you not think that that the "cure" will eventually be a treatment that atttacks the cancer at the biomolecular level rather than poisoning it with chemo? I realize that for now, it needs to be chemo and hopefully we can get into a treatment method that baffles the cancer cell so it cannot reproduce and not just poison cells and hope for the best.
My Dh and I are going to a lymphoma symposium in Chicago and they will be talking about stem cell. I know he will not be a candidate but it helps to learn about anything and everything in the effort to understand the beast so that on eday we can conquer it.
I wish you all well!
Susan
0 -
Jenn-I am so sorry you had to hear "that" message again. Like Zap, I'm clean as a whistle, but am considering 3-D tattoos.
Zap-when I got fitted for bras at Loyola after my surgery they offered me rubber "suction cup" nipples. I said no thank you as all I could imagine was the suction giving out and someone tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "excuse me m'am, is this your nipple?"
So cold I had to wear gloves downtown today-it is April, right?
0 -
Good morning ladies.
Jen I too am so sorry u'r here again, this beast is just horrific and everything that goes with it.
C-squared I did mine right away no problems so i think when u'r ready just do it. Years ago I think they would say wait, not so much anymore.See these are the kinds of questions I can add an input to make-up, hair, nails--those things--and I very rarely wear makeup but some things I knowor and jewelry and that is of no help, but to me it always makes me feel better LOL
0 -
Enough already with March weather!
0 -
Our attitude tells the world what we expect in return. If it's a cheerful, expectant attitude,
it says to everyone with whom we come in contact that we expect the best in our dealings
with the world. You see, we tend to live up to our expectations. And others give to us,
as far as their attitudes are concerned, what we expect. Our attitude is something
we can control. We can establish our attitude each morning when we start our day--in fact,
we do just that, whether or not we realize it. And the people in our family--all the people
in our world--will reflect back to us the attitude we present to them. It is, then, our attitude
toward life that determines life's attitude toward us. Cause and effect. Everything we say
or do will cause a corresponding effect. If we're cheerful, glad to be experiencing
this miracle of life, others will reflect that good cheer back to us. We are the kind
of people others enjoy being around.
Earl Nightingale0 -
Big storms rolled through here last night. They really didn't do anything here in our town, just got us really wet and give us a light and noise show. Feel bad with those who had tornado's touch down. This, in this part of the country, is what occurs in Spring. I think many just hold their breath hoping that the time passes and no big problems.
Hope everyone I know and care for did ok.
Love and peace,
Jackie
0 -
The foobs are freezing cold this morning-really need to get serious about fat-grafting.
0 -
Sooner or later all mankind will realize that the greatest cure
for all the ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrow and crimes
of humanity rests solely in acts of love. Love is the greatest
gift from God. It is the divine spark that everywhere produces
and restores life. To each and every one of us, love gives us
the power to work miracles with your own life and those we touch.0 -
Good morning ladies. I passed my 10-day post-op appt after the last exchange with my PS. Everything looking great. I am ready for an extended break from any further procedures. He would like me to come back this fall to discuss nipple reconstruction, but I really don't think I am going that way either. After 8 surgeries and procedures in the past 3 years, I am thinking thosd 3-D tatoos are my next procedure. Rene.... still want to do that "girl's trip to see Vinnie? Maybe late this fall.
Jenn.. so sorry IT is back. That really sucks! My PS has been great working with my radiated skin. Let me know if you still need info. My BS at NW works with him.
Looks like spring is still on hold. Where is the sunshine? Several months ago, I bought one of the full-spectrum lights at BBB. I think that it might be time to get it out and let it light up my face while sitting at my desk today.
Good vibes today for all those going through treatments and diagnosis.
0 -
Just couldn't decide to two today:
If I want to feel younger and look younger, then it's only natural that part of my daily routine is to laugh more. Laughing gives the muscles of my face, chest, and abdomen a workout. A hearty laugh stimulates my heart rate, causes me to breathe deeply, and releases happiness hormones, my endorphins. Laughter is one of the ways I express my gratitude to God. As I laugh, I release the gladness of my soul into the environment--creating something that's good for me and good for all those around me.
unattributedA sense of humor can help you overlook the unattractive, tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected, and smile through the unbearable.
Moshe Waldoks
0 -
If I want to feel younger and look younger, then it's only natural that part of my daily routine is to laugh more. Laughing gives the muscles of my face, chest, and abdomen a workout. A hearty laugh stimulates my heart rate, causes me to breathe deeply, and releases happiness hormones, my endorphins. Laughter is one of the ways I express my gratitude to God. As I laugh, I release the gladness of my soul into the environment--creating something that's good for me and good for all those around me.
unattributed0
