Exchange City
Comments
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Not sure if this is the correct place to post this but wanted everyone to be aware of blood donation requirements for breast cancer survivors. Prior to B/C I would donate blood every chance I got. Looks like it will be awhile.
Medical Requirements for Donating Blood:
Cancer
Individuals who have had:
- Leukemia are deferred permanently. Breast and thyroid cancer, Hodgkins disease,lymphoma, sarcoma or malignant melanoma must be cancer free for at least 10 years. Squamous cell (systemic), prostate cancer and allother cancers must be cancer free for at least 5 years. Basal or squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) are acceptable after treatment is complete. All carcinoma in-situ (localized pre-invasive lesions) are acceptable after treatment is complete.
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NAE: There are two schools of thought re: doing the lift and exchange surgery simultaneously. One is that you do them together, in order to avoid two separate surgeries which require general anesthesia, which always carries it own inherent risks. I happen to not mind doing them separately - if you can take the time off work again at a later date. This will allow the PS to assess and more accurately match the opposite breast - plan out and map out how to get the best symmetry possible. That said, just recalling off the top of my head - Sandy [sandysunshine on the pictures forum] had her lift and exchange at the same time - so did NV Diane - and they have beautiful symmetry. If you have a real talented surgeon - I would not hesitate to have both done at the same time. I do not see much time added to recovery by having the two procedures perfomed together. I was feeling pretty good and able to work four days after the exchange. Everyone is different - we heal differently, have different pain threshholds - a number of factors. So it is a personal decision certainly. The risks of post-surgical complications from the two surgeries above might be somewhat minimal - but you have to allow that complications might occur. Which of the two surgeries is being planned for the 24th?
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IMPORTANT - EC GALS DIAGNOSED UNDER AGE 50 - WE NEED YOUR STORIES...
Fox News needs your stories in order to challenge the proposed new mammography guidelines. Posted by the moderators...and I am happy to help anyone who would like some help writing their story...
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/744050?page=2#idx_37opic/744050
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ok Ladies spoke w/ my BS & she agrees this guy was unprofessional & is sending me to someone that i already had Deborah read his website & se even said he is much better!! My appt if Fri morning...wish me luck!!
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Tomorrow's the day for my revision surgery and fat grafting!! I'm ready to get this over and keep moving forward. Please pray that they get the IV in on the FIRST try!! That is what I dread the most. It hurts if they have to do it multiple times!! Thanks everyone and good luck to those with surgeries this week. Heal beautifully!!
Kathy
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Karen -- Oh you're right it WAS Suan Love... for some reason I thought she was from Kommen... who is Susan Love then? I am feeling better now. Back to facing forward bravely and with a great big smile
Cheers,
Lilah
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Yay Shoshi! Definitely sending you blessings for a fabulous meeting with new PS
I'm already feeling encouraged for you.Cheers,
Lilah0 -
Kbram-I will be praying for you! I too think that is the worst part. I have become needle-phobic since this cancer thing. Good luck Shoshi, but if he whips out the cell phone...run!
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Whippetmom - I was just wondering how you & your new fat grafts were doing??? I'm scheduled to get mine Dec 1st. Did you have any pain? How long should I plan to take off work? Thanks for your advice!
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Whippetmom - I was just wondering how you & your new fat grafts were doing??? I'm scheduled to get mine Dec 1st. Did you have any pain? How long should I plan to take off work? Thanks for your advice!
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Whippetmom - although I am under 50 and was diagnosed by routine mammogram, my story is otherwise not terribly noteworthy..............should I take the time to write something up and send it? In the interest of complete disclosure, (considering the chatter on that thread), I'm still a fan of Fox News.....
Texas357 - Hoping your exchange was trouble free and that you're resting at home! More soft Texas foobies - yippee!
kbram - good luck hugs your way for your suregery tomorrow!!
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Deborah,
Did you post a separate thread for women dx under 50? It may get more visability. My husbands mother was 27 years old when she died from breast cancer. I want my daughter to have every screening advantage at a young age. She is 18 now and there is no way I would want her to wait until she is 50 to have her first mammo. That is just crazy!
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kbram
Blessings on your surgery tomorrow. I have small veins, they are deep and they roll. IV is always the worst part because they won't believe me when I tell them. Let us know how you are when you can. Mary
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Whippetmom ~ Thanks for your advice! I saw my PS & am pleased with the pre-op visit I had with her this morning. I am so glad I got on board on this EC thread because without everyone's advice/info I would have been totally LOST with this whole thing! Instead, I found that pretty much what I learned from all of you is exactly what my PS recommended. Next Tues. surgery will involve exchanging the TE with a silicone Natrelle Style 20 High Profile (500cc). My left healthy breast will have a saline implant with a port to adjust the volume for symmetry... I believe that Rockwell_girl once posted this to me...about having one of each kind of implants for better symmetry...thanks! She will do a lift later she thinks...wants to see outcome of what she plans to do. I know my PS mentioned something about the demensions being the same??? I wrote down the demensions of my TE but must have lost it! I think it said...1335V-13??? She added that the projection on my TE breast was close to that of my natural foob which is a good thing. She added that I probably won't experience too much pain with the exchange side but certain that I will have discomfort on my augmented side. She said she may or may not put a Q-pump...it will depend on how much she needs to expand my saline implant. I emailed her back saying I REALLY would rather have the Q-pump regardless! It was heaven having such relief & comfort!!! Down time is 7-10 days she expects but this can change. So, that was it in a nut shell.
My PS said she wants me in a comfortable sports bra with a front opening. I know someone on this thread has recommended which brand is the best. Considering there are SO many pages with SO many posts...can any one of you recommend & post it again????
Mykidsmom ~ Revised: 11/24 Rt breast exchange surg. / Augment LT breast w/saline implant
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Nedeza-what is a Q-pump?
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kjbell ~ It is a referred to as a pain pump. It distributes liquid local anesthetic in small increments hourly for up to 5 days. It is attached to your surgical site. It is WONDERFUL!!!
NAE
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Wow, that sounds pretty neat! I don't blame you for wanting it. Pain relief is a good thing!
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kbram... GOOD LUCK! I pray for one stick..... hang in there... Let us know.. how it goes... OK
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I saw these threads Deb.
I would be the first one to write a LONGGGGGGGGGGG letter to Fox. I personally, am a watcher of Fox news.
BUT:
I would hurt the case.. so I will refrain .. I was 40.. when the mamo found the cancer.. BUT... things before age 40 is what would hurt the case FOR mamos at age 40....
I will, however, fight like a girl if we need to rally...:)
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I saw these threads Deb.
I would be the first one to write a LONGGGGGGGGGGG letter to Fox. I personally, am a watcher of Fox news.
BUT:
I would hurt the case.. so I will refrain .. I was 40.. when the mamo found the cancer.. BUT... things before age 40 is what would hurt the case FOR mamos at age 40....
I will, however, fight like a girl if we need to rally...:)
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Oh I PRAY you all who had exchange so far this week are healing well!
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Kew... you are such a dear!
For our Judy...
Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo right back!!
Shoshi... you are a lucky chick sister.... very lucky indeed you found this site and Deb... WONDERFUL!
Denise.. I was told this about giving blood... platelets too of course....:(
Joyce... I am glad you are doing this..I bet you could just take a few good days if you sit at a desk..
Deborah... we really want to know if this worked or not? If you need more time to tell... yet us know...
So far... me getting the 50cc bigger implant has taken care of my ripples... so far I say...:).. I am one month from last and hopefully.. FINAL exchange.
I think I will know the truth of my revision in abut another month. After two months last time... my rippling was bad and my right breast was fallin south...
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Has anybody had ovary, fallopian tube and uterus removal at the same time as the exchange? I went to see a gynecological oncologist yesterday who said she would perform her surgery at the same time as my exchange. Ouch!! Sounds so painful!!!!
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Nae good luck with your surgery. I posted on the pix site also.
kerkle I think ladies have, I'm sure someone will chime in. If it's needed it just makes since to have it done at the same time...
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Kathy - I am w/ you on the IV. Sometimes that is the worst part for me. Small veins that roll contribute to my problem. My most recent surgeries were at the same OP hospital and the nurse uses a new technique on me. So far it has worked. She wraps my vein (arm) in a warm blanket for five minutes before she inserts the IV. Hugs to you!!! - Jean
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Val and Laura - Your stories are important. You were young and you were diagnosed with breast cancer. I think that the key thing though would be that mammogram detected your tumors....I would love for Bill O'Reilly to interview some bc.org women.....maybe I'll email him....
NAE: 500 cc's in the Allergan Style 20 sounds perfect. The width will be just right for you.
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Hi All,
Deb, I saw Dr. Dahan today. He is a wonderful doctor. He recommended that I get a 600 cc high profile silicone implants. He noticed that my expander were wider and will correct this to make it more narrower for my frame. Thank you for helping me all the way thru the process. It's what you recommended me having at 600 cc on the exchange on the first place. Without the help I probably went through going smaller which I would end up not too happy.
EC has been a great instrumental to me and to all fellow BC. It's been a roller coaster of emotions. EC helps me understand that we are here to support each other in little ways we can. I do not say much but when I do I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for all the knowledge that has been shared here and I am glad to be a part of this forum.
Celine
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RE: Fat Grafting = This is what I posted last week here on EC - in response to Firni's post:
Well, I think that I have currently about a 50% improvement. The fat in the upper pole appears to not be "taking" very well. I have read that some women just have persistent step-off deformity issues in this regard and if your skin is thin and your chest wall is bony, perhaps Strattera or some other outlandishly expensive material might work, but Kaiser is not going to bite the bullet on that one in my case. I have a couple of lumps which have formed- one on either breast - which I hope resolve, dissolve, are absorbed. [UPDATE: They are much smaller so they appear to be resolving.] I am not too worried about them right now. I am sure something can be done about them non-invasively. But I am feeling very good - eleven days post-surgery. I have been walking, but I am going to start exercising a bit more again Tuesday, when I can ditch the compression girdle. I have a number of bullet holes on both breasts - they look like bullet holes. That must have been a horse needle they used on me. Incisions large enough to require sutures. So more scars to address. But I am glad I made that second attempt. The ripples are very much improved. So, that was it for me and now I am moving on to nipples and tattoos.
Joyce: I was out refinishing furniture at my sister's house the day after fat grafting. I sat outside under a tree and worked on a chair - staining it for my sis. I only took narcotic pain meds for one day. I really felt fine - some abdominal tightness from the lipo and of course, that lovely compression girdle which I wore for two weeks and the huge over-gauzed surgical bra.... But I was up and doing things from day two.....You are going to be just fine!!!
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I agree with Celine...EC has also been instrumental to me. I've gained so much knowledge along with the comfort of knowing there are others out there going through this same journey. The support here at EC is tremendous....HUGE!!!!!
Many, many hugs!
NAE
Just saw a portion of Larry King Live regarding this whole mammo issue...great interview.
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Celine: I am so glad you liked Dr. Dahan. You are in good hands now....
EC is a wonderful, special place. We all have this concerted desire and drive to be supportive, loving and caring towards one another. It is a safe haven - a place of refuge. Thank you all for being a part of this EC family, and thank you Jean for starting this lovely thread!
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