Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Thanks for the info about the wigs, lago. I have asked my oncologist twice now for script and she keeps saying okay and then I never get one. WIllowbrook is really close to me...I might try that! The one I have now makes me look like a clown...I didn't really know what was possible when I got it for free. Everyone agrees with me that it looks so fake....I would love to go out and feel somewhat normal again. In general the last month I've been wearing a hat or scarf but I'm starting to notice looks now and then and I have to admit, since I've been a lot weepier in general lately, this might be a good pick me up. I'm also going to a look good feel good thing Wednesday night in Homewood. Anyone else going to that?
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Timbuktu ..you and I are floating down the same river..."da Nile"!!!
Lago...good reminder about Look Good Feel Better...
Jmg58...I think if you find something you are more comfortable in, it will greatly help your disposition!!! You obviously are not comfortable and described my fear of looking like a clown to a T. As I said, I seriously do a good enough job on my own, definitely don't need help!!! I have been avoiding this part of the journey like the plague!!! I decided today to face it head on...I definitely want to be proactive. I don't want to be scrambling at the last minute!!!
I don't know if this is a sign or what, but I am watching a show about Derby Hats!!! That is what we need!!! Just take a look at Johnny Weir's...WOW, that is about all I can say!
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jmg & lakegal the whole wig thing was hard for me because I didn't know a damn thing about wigs (and if you don't wear one or aren't an actor or wig maker why would you?) I was so overwhelmed. So take your time to understand and get something you like. Do not buy anything until you either shave your head or most of it falls out if you have thicker hair or it won't fit right. Just have some scarfs/hats till you get one.
Funny story:
As you might know I power walk through the park. I did this on chemo too until it got too cold. Anyway one day late on October my friend called to see if I was going to walk that morning. I said yes. She said are you sure because the wind is like 50mph. It really was an oddly high wind day for October but I went (windier than today). So I leave and the doorman sees my new short "cut" that I got at the wig place 2 days before when my hair started to shed. He complimented me. OK now for the power walk with the power wind. When I came back his face was in shock. See that wind had taken out some of my hair. I know had a part that was about 1/2 inch wide LOL. For the next few days I got away wearing a wide headband but after that I needed a scarf.0 -
LOL!!! Lago...that is exactly the type of thing would happen to me!!!
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lago,
That is funny! The morning my hair fell out in hunks in the shower, I woke up my daughter to shave my very long hair. Then the scalp was so itchy I made her shave it totally off.
The closest I come to funny was the day my neighbor knocked on my door and I went to sit in the hall with him while our pets mingled. After about 15 minutes, I realized that I didn't have anything on my bald head. What a sweet guy, he didn't say a thing before I realized it. Of course I then told him I was on chemo, which he had easily guessed.
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lago....that's a good story...first time I laughed all day. :-) Thanks for sharing that!
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Lakegirl and any others, it is my understanding that Nexium will now be availably over the counter
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For me keeping my sense of humor through this treatment really helped. It also made others feel more comfortable. I mean you will be the elephant in the room for a while. People just don't know what to say.
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Right now I know that I am standing on the threshold of a breakthrough--
a spiritual journey that will take me further along in my growth than
I could ever possibly imagine. This is a journey on which I will be filled
with a peace that far surpasses anything I have ever experienced,
and I begin it by knowing and living the truth of my divine potential.
I am on a journey of positive thinking, praying, and living. If ever I find myself
falling into a rut of negative thinking, I can't break down--I break through!
I break through the barriers of those negative thoughts and that
less-than-positive attitude. I break through and discover that
I am a spiritual being on a divine journey.
unattributed0 -
Lakegirl---I live in Bloomington and have Dr. Migas too---I have to ask, by any chance did you do your surgery at the OSF Surgicenter? I broke out in horrible hives after my lumpectomy, and first we thought it was the Clindamycin in my IV, then we wondered if it was the filler in the Technetium 99 from my Sentinel node. I lived (slept) on Benadryl for 2 weeks. they didn't send me home with anything to wash with, and I thought they had used betadine to clean the surgical field. Just curious. I hope you get to feeling better----you have a found a wonderful place to cuss and discuss...cancer!!!!
Illinois Lady, I love your daily inspirations. Can't wait to see what you post next.
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This is my real secret to being a joyful person: I make my life easy.
I spend more time being grateful for what I have instead of focusing
on what isn't working. I no longer believe that people have to
do things my way and that I have to be perfect.
Ellen0 -
Morning everyone,
Just leaving a little footnote ( so to speak ) here. I chose the quote today mainly because every night when I write/speak to the Universe....I always use the word grateful in relation to all the opportunities I have had through that " the " day to find love and joy and peacefulness and things to cherish for the gifts they seem to be to me. Those things which have what seems a negative 'leaning' and a cancer dx certainly is and was that......are to me a building block and something meant in a way to challenge and aid in my ability to be bigger than whatever the challenge may be. It is just a way to grow and develop and always striving to become better for it in positive ways. I just don't know any other way to live life.
Beautiful day here....and starting out cool but getting pleasurable warmth as the day progresses. It is going to be a great day.
Blessings
Jackie
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Yes, if we can be grateful for what we have we've got it made.
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Does anyone have any experience with fat-grafting? My PS is not a proponent & whippetmom thinks I should try that instead of a revision on my radiated breast.
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2ns_Jenn I had it twice but I didn't do radiation. It really made the boobie prizes look nice. I have read that it might help protect radiated breasts from getting capsular contraction. It might be worth a second opinion with a PS that does fat transfer (grafting). The more revisions you do the more you open yourself up for an infection but it doesn't mean you will.
I think it really does depend on what the issue is. whippetmom is great but she isn't an MD nor has she examined you. Go get that 2nd opinion.
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I talked to my BS & he really doesn't think it's a good idea either because it can cause fat necrosis which presents itself as hard lumps making it more difficult to monitor for recurrence. It leads to more testing to rule out tumors & that is the roller coaster I was trying to get off of when I went ahead with the BMX. I left a message for my radiation onc to get his thoughts but now I'm leaning against it.
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Jenn I don't have that issue and so many women do get this done. Maybe it's more common with your history or rads. I would talk with PS about this too. Ask specifically about this issue when you visit the PS.
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Well just had my follow up with BS today, all clear so wont be seeing him for a year.
2ns-Jenn, My BS also is against fat grafting, at my appointment today he did a complete breast exam and I understand how fat necrosis would be cause for more unneccesary tests, our implants have been placed under the muscle so any bumbs under the skin could be cause for concern
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Yay Cateyrz
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Cateyz2 woo-hoo, way to go, hooray and how wonderful that you are in fine fettle. So good to be able to "wait" a whole yr. Great milestones.
Blessings,
Jackie
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That is great news, Cateyz2!
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Remember,
there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and
everything is possible. Cherie-Carter Scotts0 -
I know a couple of you are looking for wigs. I got a custom one made through Brian Blanchard in Chicago, and never used it because I used the cold caps and they worked well for me. It's all human hair and really nice, I'd be happy to share it if it's a good match for anyone. Below is a picture of me 2 weeks pfc which will give you an idea of the color and style of the wig (they custom matched it to my hair), although the wig is much thicker, and a bit lighter as much of the highlight grew out during chemo LOL. Please PM me if you are interested
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Lakegirl...I did not go to Fox and Hounds for myself, but one of my friends got a nice wig there and they even styled it for her. It is certainly worth a trip in to check them out. I imagine that their supply varies according to demand.
Also, I never had a tour of the chemo area before I walked in that day. I suppose that didn't help the fear any! :-) Take somebody with you the first time so you have company. The nurses will do lots of explaining that day and another set of ears is usually a good idea, especially since you'll be a bit stressed. It's also good to have somebody to drive you home, although I think I could have made it easily by myself after every infusion.
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I actually know one of the RN's there, I talked with her at church Sunday. I feel much better. I also know I am getting my port on Monday. Chemo will start 3-5 days after that. I think my sister will go with me that day. She has been a great advocate for me, esp those days in the hospital when I was so sick from either the gen anesthesia or staph. She is very type A.
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Lakegirl I too never had a tour of the chemoroom. I was treated in the old chemo room that looked like the ones you see on TV with lots of old people with all men & women. I felt like I walked into the geriatric ward and I was 49 when I did this.
The new chemo rooms are much nicer. Opened up 2 weeks after I finished chemo. I was getting Herceptin so at least I got the experience of the new rooms. Only breast cancer patients in the pod I had my herceptin infusions. Much nicer
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Thank you Ladies
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Cateyz2...congrats!!!!
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2ns_Jenn: I had some fat grafting done as part of a revision to my reconstruction. I changed plastic surgeons for the revision, primarily because the original one did not see the problem I saw in the size, placement, etc of the implant. He also did not do fat-grafting , mentioning all the concerns you've seen on here. From what I understand, the biggest risk appears to be fat lumps that can develop that may create concern and require testing, but not an increased risk in cancer recurrence. I checked with my breast surgeon and oncologist, and both saw no reason for concern about fat-grafting if there was no natural breast tissue left post mastectomy.
It was a surprisingly painful recovery though at the donor site.. He took the fat from my thigh, and i was bruised from hip to knee and it was tender for over a month.
I would suggest getting a second opinion. Some PS do it regularly and some do not do it at all.
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Littlebird3 I had a BMX as well. There is always a little breast tissue left. You still have maybe a 2-3% risk of getting a new breast cancer due to the tissue they just couldn't remove. This is why you will get physical exams for the rest of your life. It's not just to check recurrence but check for a new cancer, as remote as it might be.
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