Exchange City
Comments
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Oh Elaine.....glad to hear you got rid of JP......what a relief......I wish I could say the same........went for an appt with PS today........but my drainage is still too high......I knew JP would be coming home with me today.........my incision does seem to be healed up really good.....so this is a nice change.......did get 50ccs today so some progress.........PS says she will remove JP next Friday regardless of drainage.......she seems to think that the drain itself causes drainage......by pulling and rubbing.......so the good news is that I will not have a drain for my daughters first communion next Sunday.......which means I will be able to wear a dress.......which is what she really wants..........yay.........we picked up our new boat on Wednesday.....so we will be putting her in the water tomorrow......It is a long weekend here in Canada.....so the kids are looking forward to some time on the boat..
I know I haven't posted in a while.......but I do read daily and think of you all often.........Have a great weekend.
Cheers and hugs to all!
Jax
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Thanks Deborah, I'll pass this on to my friend. I'm not exactly sure of what her revision entailed. She did have an area that she describes as a ball at the bottom, close to the inframmary fold. It appears that the PS removed the lower portion of the breast and tightened it up which raised where the breast is now. It was too high before so I don't know why he thought this would be better. Her initial TE was placed so high that she could rest her chin on it and I believe that is where all the trouble started (8 or 9 years ago). I just hope that it does drop somewhat.
Elaine, this must be a happy day for you...drain free!!! Too bad you are still hauling JP around Jax! Soon...soon...soon you'll be on your own again!
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It's been a crazy week...at the hospital 3 mornings out of 4...not the hospital that I work at but the one where my surgery is going to be! I guess I'm at the hospital every working day so this shouldn't be a big deal LOL!! I had a follow-up appt with the oncologists and I've decided not to ride the Tamox train. One onc seemed about 60% in favor of me taking it and the other about 60% against!! Thanks for all that help!! I've decided that I've been very pro-active up to this point and I'll be very vigilant with screenings for old Saggy Aggy so I'm not doing Tamox. I sure hope I've made the right decision but only time will tell. Today I got my appointment for genetic testing. My mom and I are going together and some of my 4 sisters will be coming along for the ride! I'm anxious to hear what the results will be, not that it can benefit me, but so that my sisters can hopefully know what they are up against. They have mixed feelings about knowing but with this horrid disease the more you know the better you can fight it!
I'm out of town for a couple of days so you ladies have a nice weekend!!
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((((((((Jax))))))))) .....hugs and healing vibes going your way. Glad to hear you are about to get your drain out. Enjoy your new boat and most of all that special day with your daughter and family.
Yvonne .....special prayers going out to you and the decision you made.I too decided to forgo Tamox because of the side effects and I already have blood disorder that puts me at super high risks for blood clots and that is supposed to be number one side effect/risk. Just listen to your heart and you will know what the right decision is best for you. Plus you know you have all the great support from the girls on this site.((((((((((((Yvonne)))))))))))
thank you all for all the support you have shown me.......it helps so much to have you all there on the other end of the internet but feeling so much closer from the diagnosis and problems we share. I wish that bc was not the reason we all found each other, but glad to have made your "connection"...........luv Elaine
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Thanks Elaine! I am trying to listen to my heart but it keeps changing its beat! LOL I hope I'm making the choice I am for the right reasons. The onc was listing off the SE's and I was thinking...really don't want mood changes,night sweats, hot flashes, vag dryness/bleeding, weight gain, never mind blood clots and endometrial cancer...I think I was trying to balance 5 years of misery against 5 years cancer free. In some ways it might be easier to loose the other breast than deal with 5 crappy years. It would have been an easier choice to make if I was 69 instead of 49! My mom is 71 and thinks I'm crazy for not taking it. I just can't imagine much of a"romantic" (I really mean to say sex) life if I'm all Tamox'd up. Am I making more of this than I need to??? Guess I should be taking this chat to the appropriate thread...but my sista chicks are here!!!
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It is a beautiful day is CA today! (((Yvonne and Elaine))) I too decided to not take Tamoxifan, I consulted with my oncologist who wanted me to consider it and when she knew I was not in favor of the side effects she then wanted me on Evista. I told her I would have to do some research on it. What was determined that Evista doesn't have any effect on DCIS. My oncologist is into research studies and I did not want to take medication that wasn't going to help me. I discussed my choice to not take Tamoxifan with both surgeons who stated that the whole purpose of Tamoxifan was to prevent recurrance of DCIS in the same breast. DCIS doesn't move from one breast to the other so since I had the mastectomy there was no tissue for recurrance in that breast. I do run a slighly higher risk of getting BC in the remaining breast, so I will be vigilant in screenings.
BTW Elaine, I am so happy you got the JP drain OUT!
JAX, I hope you get the drain out soon. I had mine in for 2 weeks and the PS took it out for the same reason that he thought the drain was causing some of the drainage. I hope your daughters first communion is a wonderful day of love and memories. Take lots of pictures, If you don't mind sharing,what kind of boat did you get? Jan
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Yvonne, you hit the nail on the head, I weighed the benefits vs risk for my type of BC and decided that I didn't need another medication to take. NOW if I had another type of BC that would be responsive to Tamoxifan, I would take it. For me the benefits were not worth the risk of the SE's . Besides, I don't want to be on the emotional roller coaster, I have never done well on hormones, gave up on birth control pills after 3 months because of side effects. Those are the only hormones I have ever taken, so much for the hormone-BC connection for me. Jan
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Hi Ladies.. I have been very busy with graduation here.. Our last child graduated. I am still not sure how I feel about that...:)
I wanted to let you know I have been praying for all of you daily!
Yvonne.. dear lady, I am sorry you have this choice to make. Look into all your choices, and I know you will make the right one for you. I think this is about 50/50. I know women here who took it.. and were glad they did. The other half would not have taken it.. no way...
You might wanna PM lisasayers on here.. I am almost 100%sure she said no Tamox... she might be open as to why she choose not too. She also, is a big researcher into health.
God Bless you all !
Laura
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Yvonne! So glad to read that you and mum got your appointment for the genetic test yay!! I am glad you are at peace with not getting on the tamoxy train, me either, we shall have to start our own no-tamoxy train! peace out sister!
Lorraine ox
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Sounds like a few of us decided not to go w/ tamoxofin. In my case I was less concerned about a BMx than the tamoxifin. Seems kinds of strange, but I also have a blood disorder that increased my odds of a blood clot.
Elaine and Jax - Good news from both of you this week. I have been thinking of you both.
My baby graduates from college tomorrow!! Have a great weekend ladies!
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Hey Jan.....I don't mind sharing......we got a 24 ft.....Four Winns bow rider.......the kids can't wait to get out on it......we've always had a boat.......but only a 19 ft bow rider.......just wasn't big enough for us......both sets of grandparents live in town and like to come out with us sometimes.......so the new boat is a better size for us.
Cheers and hugs to all!
Jax
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Jax
Congratulations on the Four Winns, 24 ' is perfect, still trailerable and yet efficient. We have a small 19' sailboat that we like because we can take it to different harbors. The only problem is that you are really limited to 4 persons on it and you have to pray for a lot of wind, or turn the motor on. Have fun on the boat, we sure enjoy ours. We are going to take the Kayaks out today, it is supposed to be in the mid 70's here. Jan
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laura & mykidsmom - congrats on the graduations! I'm already wondering how I'm going to deal when my two graduate from high school and college NEXT May!
I wish I could say that I wasn't on the tamox train, but I am. Because I had ILC and no +nodes, my onc said that was the best treatment for me and would cut my recurrence rate in half. I don't care for the side effects, but in the grande scheme of life they're tolerable. Thankfully DH has been very supportive and sweet. I just hate that to stave off one cancer that it puts you at risk for another. Just doesn't seem fair.......
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WhippetMom - Thanks for the welcomed advice. This is all so confusing, but I'm pleased that I now have some input towards the decisions I have to make. After all, I wouldn't want to leave all the decision making in a man's hands!....lol I've printed out all your suggestions and will bring it along with me on Tuesday when I see Dr. D. Hopefully, I'll also get an idea of when he thinks they can do the surgery.I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the wait won't be too long. Assuming no complications arise from the TE's and if all goes well, I should have my new foobies sometime late fall?
As for the Tamox issue I'm still waiting on blood test results I had last Thurs. I actually don't know if I'm in meno or not strange as that may sound. In Nov last year I had a terrible 2 weeks of about 15 hot flashes a day and then they just stopped! Not sure if that was it or just a practice run...! I really don't want to take it and am looking into the alternatives such as DIM & COQ10.
KEW: I had my hysterectomy at 40 and it hurt something awful for the first 2-3 weeks. Here's hoping that each new day brings you closer to being pain free!
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Ladies, I hope and pray all of you are well. You continue to be in my daily thoughts and prayers. Jax, I hope that drain is out soon. I had to deal with it for 2 weeks, and like you, it was actually causing drainage. Hang in there.
Elaine - great news. I'm psyched for you.
To all you moms with graduating seniors, - Nice Job + congratulations!!!! This is the time of year when I become weepy as I see my seniors leave me AGAIN. Luckily each school year I get 120-140 new "twults - teens/adults LOL. Have a nice weekend everyone. Georganne
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Laura and Mykidsmom,
My daughter will be graduating from high school in June and then going off to college. I can't imagine the house without her. Worse yet, she is leaving me alone with her father and brother! My exchange surgery will be either July 13 or 14. My ps insisted that the surgery be after graduation. Men!
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My next surgery is June 11th. I'm having a small implant added to my good breast to match my new, perky one that I got courtesy of breast cancer.
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Congratulations to all the moms with graduating seniors in high school and college!
Peg
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Thanks Peg, very proud of him. However, we may need to start a new thread:
Anyone else afraid their graduating senior will never find a job in this economy?
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Hood (Joyce)
I am so excited for you.....June 11th is not far away....thrilled that your perky girl will have a sister.....lol
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Question for the experts here: does wearing a sports bra or snug camisole have an impact on the skin stretching during the expansion process? Since the bras/camis seem to provide some counterpressure and alleviate some of the achiness, I'm wondering if that means they inhibit the skin/muscle stretching to some degree?
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Yvonne I'm on tamoxifin and don't really notice any side effects
happy to say I'm still horney
Val just go without wearing one at night time and I think that should help
also use lotion, that seemed to really help my skin get soft and lossen up
you can do it with or without the cool whip container lol
Joyce yea for getting the girls to match
Jax I'm so jealous. But happy to say I was out ina canoe today but my teammate and I had to do all the work. Even more happy to say we got 3rd place : - )
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I am really hopeful that the experts on this thread can help me with implant sizing. I am 5'2" and usually weigh between 104 and 108 lbs. My PS is talking about using 375ml high profile Natrelle implants for my desired C cup. He said my "measurement" (?) is just over 12 cm.
My TEs are currently filled to 200ml and he said he would be filling them to 250mls and then doing the exchange for the 375ml implants. Since I am almost completely filling out a 34 C cup mastectomy bra at 200ml, I am concerned that 375ml implants may result in a D cup instead of a C.
I was a C cup before breastfeeding and my shape was a nicely balanced hourglass. That is my goal when all of this is over and done.
Also, I am fairly active and do enjoy running a few times a week so I don't want implants so large that I am having them getting in my way or needing to wear vice-like sports bras to be comfortable.
Thanks so much,
Julie
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Julie
My TE was filled to 430cc
my 1st implant was 450cc but was actually a lot smaller than my TE
you can't just look at CC. You have to look at the dim of the TE and of the implant
if you can tell us the style of TE you have that can help us figure out the dim of that and see if your PS is on the right track
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Rockwell_girl,
I feel really stupid but I must admit I don't have any idea what size my TEs are. I would have to call and ask my PS on Monday. I didn't realize there could be such a big difference between TEs and implants.
I am an RN and used to work for a PS who did lots of breast augmentations (but no reconstruction) so I am fairly familiar with implants and the various profiles, sizes, etc..
I really trust my PS (he's not the one I worked for) but I don't want to be so trusting I end up waking up with double Ds and unable to do the things I love to do such as run.
When I find out what size my TEs are I will post here again.
Thanks for the help,
Julie
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Good luck to those of you heading in this week. May your new breasts be beautiful, the implants soft, and the pain minimal.
5/18 - KarenFtoo - Exchange surgery
5/19 - Peggio - Exchange to Allergan Natrelle silicone implants
5/19 - lafinlady - Exchange to 550 cc saline plus tumy tuck and lipo (lucky lady!)
5/21 - Alo123 - Exchange surgery
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Sandy, Thanks for letting us know that Tamoxifan didn't affect your libido. That was one of the concerns for me, if I had any other form of BC or DCIS with lumpectomy, I would most likely take the Tamoxifan. Depending on your situation you weigh the benefits and the risks and do what is best for your own specific needs. One size does not fit all. You are such a great resource!
I wish I was out with you on the canoe. We were supposed to go Kayaking yesterday, too chilly. Today we will take a bike ride along the coast. We have a great bike path along the ocean from Ventura to the Rincon. Next week-end back to Disneyland to use the other half of out ticket, this will let us in to Disney's California Adventure. Great place to walk a lot. Jan
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Val - Yes, I agree you should keep wearing the sports bra/camisole during the day. You will still get all of the stretching you need. You do not want gravity to pull down the expanders too much as you want to also be stretching out the muscle and skin in the upper pole of the breast. I personally did NOT wear a sports bra or anything during the expansion process and I regret it immensely.
geysermom: 375 cc's in a high profile - as long as it is truly a Mentor or Allergan HP - would be just right for a C cup for your size.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GOING OUT TO ALL OF YOU GIRLS HAVING SURGERY THIS WEEK......
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I have a big question and maybe you ladies can help me clear up my dx. The surgeon who did the surgery stated I had IDC based on microinvasion and grade III with comedo necrosis and more than one area in the breast affected, (multi-focal disease) therefore the mastecomy was needed instead of a lumpectomy. Before surgery I was DCIS according to the biopsy pathology. The pre/post surgery pathology reports are a little confusing so maybe you can clear up the mystery.
The initial path report done at the time of surgery states Ductal carcinoma in situ, grade III cribriform, papillary and comedo types with high nuclear grade. It is seen around the previous biopsy site whee it is approx 1 cm. in aggregate diameter. Other medial sections, however show scattered areas of additional ducatl carcinoma in situ on the order of 2 cm in aggregate diameter. I was to understand that I had DCIS plain and simple, I guess it doesn't matter at this point, but what did I have? Who has the answer, the surgeon or the pathology? Do you ladies know what the definitve difference is between IDC and DCIS?
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whippetmom,
Thanks for the feedback about the implant size. I am so petite that I don't want to go overboard with implant size and look ridiculous.
I like your user name. I am "geysermom" because I have a flat-coated retriever named Geyser. My kids are grown and DH and I have my stepdaughter every other week so Geyser is our only mutual "kid". My SD has really been helpful throughout through this whole process. Geyser, however, is getting fat since I am not able to run with him right now.
What did you mean about regretting not wearing a sports bra during the expansion process. I have worn one at times because it seems to help when the skin is looser and the TEs are moving around too much causing pain but right after a fill wearing anything (even a camisole with a shelf bra) is too uncomfortable for a while.
Thanks again,
Julie
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