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One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?

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Comments

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Okiegal, how lucky you are!  A brother with airline tickets that need to be used.  A sister who plants winter veggies!  I hope you have a safe and fun trip to Boston.  Enjoy the oysters and take some pictures of the fall foliage to post on this thread. 

    Fortunate1, hope everything is going okay with your dad.

    Hi to Meg, Tracy, I am Ok, and Year of the Hat. 

  • Meg9
    Meg9 Member Posts: 306
    edited October 2009

    Hello Everyone,

    Okiegal, Enjoy your trip!  I am going to buy the lipstick and experiment this weekend. I know the DH is going to think I'm losing it! Smile Does it stain your clothing?

    Carole and fortunate1, I took care of my parents before they when into a nursing home and at times it was difficult. They both had Alzheimer's and forgot me. They were great parents who raised 5 children; and I am greatful that I was around to help them. Your parents seem to still have their health..(memory) enjoy them.

    I am OK- I will be thinking about you and I now your visit will go better then mine did! I wasn't equipt with the knowledge I have now.  Thanks to the great ladies here I am better informed. Let us know how your doing.

    My Internet service was down yesterday. I spent all day working on the stewardship program.  I think I'll do OK. This weekend I'm showing a short video and reading a short story that goes with it.

    Last night my sil called.  Her friend and neighbor was dx with bc two weeks ago. sil has been calling and asking questions... which in fine. She really is not one of my favorite people and last night reminded me why.

    Her friend is going to have a lumpectomy and radiation. sil told me her friend is going back today for another biopsy for a sist they found in a MRI. I asked if her friend was considering mx. She replied, " Absolutely not, she's like me. She would rather die then have a mx."

    On the night of my bmx, she came to visit me at the hospital. I overheard her say the same thing to my sister.  My sister just looked at her in disbelief. My sister later told me that she hoped I did hear her. I couldn't believe sil said it again last night. I had to hold back tears.

    Thanks for listening. I appreciate you all.

    It's cold here and the heat came on last night. The temperature dropped into the 30's. Yesterdays high was 52 degrees.

    I hope you all have a great day!

  • okiegal
    okiegal Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2009

    A quick visit today. Lots of cleaning and packing, etc. It's always such work to go on vacation! But worth it...



    Meg9 - I played with the lipstick before I took a shower, thinking it would come right off. And then it didn't! I eventually found that rubbing with baby oil and a cotton ball removed it entirely. I didn't check my bra for stains. The color I used turned pinker after the first removal. That's why I didn't like it as lipstick...it tended to turn pinker as I wore it. Have fun!



    Your SIL takes the cake! I'm sorry she's so insensitive toward you. Makes you wonder what's wrong with her. I can think of many things that would be worse than a BMX. In fact, I'd rather live...Life is a wonderful gift. Breasts, in my opinion, are incidental. And as I told my family before surgery....I'm going in with two and I'm coming out with two. That's the beauty of the "one-step". Maybe her ideas about MX are really antiquated. We're really fortunate these days to a great variety of quality plastic surgery options. And, honestly, yours will look better a whole lot longer than hers....she may be jealous eventually! Glad to hear you have the stewardship program underway. You rock!



    The "bad" weather missed us and it is beautiful again today. The dryer is beeping...time to go! I'll check in later next week!



  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Meg, my 87-yr-old mother is forgetful, but she still lives alone, organizes her meds, takes care of her own bills.  She never drove, which was unfortunate for her.  She has always been dependent on my father (now deceased) and her children for transportation.  I know she experiences loneliness, living alone, but she watches tv and talks on the phone quite a bit.  Now that my dh is retired, we leave for the summer (except this summer!), and I feel like I'm abandoning her.  Dh reminds me that I have 5 siblings. 

    I could dislike your sil without ever meeting her!  What an insensitive---I'm thinking B word here!  What a stupid thing to say, She'd rather die than have a mx. 

    Fortunate1, hope everything is going okay with you and you're just too busy to post.

    Dh and I walked together this morning.  Humid but temp was pleasant, in 70's.  Rain during the night cancelled out my golf today.  It was cart path only on both our golf courses.  Golf on a wet course is much too difficult, especially now.  So I'll go grocery shopping and maybe catch up on ironing.  We're having a couple over to dinner tomorrow night.  Tonight we're going out to dinner with neighbors who are younger than us, in their 50's.  They have a pool table, and we go to their house and play a few games before we go to a restaurant. 

    The Arimidex is making me feel my age or older.  I got up this morning and took ibuprofen with a glass of milk first thing.  It's sad that before bc, I felt so good physically and mentally and now a med that's supposed to help prevent reoccurence erodes previous life quality.  I'll stick with taking it for now and deal with the SEs. 

    A good Friday to all.

  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 467
    edited October 2009

    Hi everyone,

    Yeah, a little busy here, and remarkably unproductive.

    Dad is fine, or remembering our previous musings here, his 'new fine'. I want him to get up and move more, he's losing strength. I am very lucky to have a wonderful brother who handles a lot of Dad's financial and medical stuff, and a great care-giver. Dad is in good hands between all of us.

    Meg, I bet your SIL would change her ignorant tune if she was diagnosed with BC. Breasts more valuable than life? It's amazing how others can be so mean.

    Okiegal, Have a great trip. I love Boston.

    I am, yet again, almost late.  I'll get back after class if I can. 

    Blowing kisses and running out the door........ 

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Fortunate1, hang in there.  Glad you checked in.  Hope "busy" is soon allied with "productivity!"

  • I_am_OK
    I_am_OK Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2009

    Hello Everyone,

    Yesterday I had appt with my PS. First, I talked to the nurse, she showed me drain, sugical bra, explained about drain records. I asked about pictures before and after (сomplitely forgot last time I was there). Definitely, I liked what I saw, simmetrical enough and well-positioned, nipples doesn't look fake. Then PS came in and answered my questions. I"ll stay in the hospital for 2-3 days depends how I am feeling. She is going to use smooth cohesive gel, round shape, medium profile Mentor implants. I asked why medium, not high profile. She beleives that for my skinny body and small breast medium profile will provide more natural and real looking shape. I'll have cut only around my areola, and then she put in stitches from the bottom to the top.

    So, now I beleive I am in the good hands.

    Thank you again for you help and support!

    Okiegal, have a nice trip! 

    You all have a good weekend!

  • okiegal
    okiegal Member Posts: 333
    edited October 2009

    I_AM_OK, so good to hear from you. It sounds like you are in the care of excellent doctors. I wanted to have only an incision around the aorela, but it was not possible. I have read of women having the medium profile implants. I guess it just depends on the sculptural requirements of each person. Good luck and thanks for the "bon voage"!

  • tracyanne
    tracyanne Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    Meg, your SIL's comments are hurtful.  I wonder if that is somehow her intent?  Surely a thinking adult would see the message implicit in making comments like that.  If so, she has issues that impact her character and, I'm sure, many of the relationships in ther life...and there won't be anything you can do to fix such a deep problem. 

    It might bring her up short to be reminded that some people do die rather than have a mastectomy.  And, I'm sure those whose cancers are found too late for mastectomy would give anything to have had that choice.

    We're glad to have some fall weather here in Texas, too...enjoyed a high school football game last night, though I was distracted by thoughts of feeling so "uneven" between natural breast and recon breast.  I was sitting with right side (surgery side) to my husband, and as I would lean against him or scootch in closer to him in the crowded bleachers, I just felt the relative hardness of the implant.  Maybe it bothered me because there were so many bosoms around to be envious of--you know, young moms and not-so-young moms in their low cut t-shirts or sparkly blouses, maybe unconsciously trying to compete with the high school crowd? 

    I guess envious is too strong a word--maybe just wistful or just curious would be the better word.  Do y'all find yourselves looking at other women's breasts, wondering if they've had surgery or if bc has been a part of their life or if it might someday?  wondering if they have any idea what an ordeal it is?  wondering how you might have been different if bc had never entered your own life?  thinking about how much you never realized about bc and how ignorant you were of the human struggle those pink ribbon displays really represent?

    I dunno....what used to be people-watching has turned into more llike boobs-watching lately!  Weird?

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Tracyanne, you sound like such a thoughtful person.  Yes, I too look at other women now and wonder some of those same questions.

    We're living in a breast-fixated era, it seems to me. Breasts are on display at all ages, from young teens to 50 something grandmas.  I'm getting more used to seeing cleavage, but at first it just seemed "inappropriate" for daytime and casual clothing.  Women in my generation flashed cleavage only in evening wear or the bedroom in lingerie!  Since I wasn't gifted with cleavage, the Audrey Hepburn look was more my ideal.  Slim and chic, as opposed to voluptuous.  The current fashion is also to wear knit blouses skin tight, which is not flattering on females with rolls of extra flesh, whatever the age. 

    Thanks to my recent bra shopping, I look at busty females and wonder how much is padding!

    A good Saturday to all.

  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 467
    edited October 2009

    Tracy, Your comments about Meg's SIL were perfect. Some women do indeed die rather than get a mastectomy, and isn't that a sad attitude, to value a breast above your life. 

    That said, I do indulge in a bit of boob watching, so much on display. I always assume they're real, silly me. Definite confused breast envy, since I don't define myself by my looks. I am often dirty from work, and always very focused outward on what I'm doing. I am more aware of my looks now than ever before in my life. It's strange and uncomfortable. Oh yes Carole, Audrey Hepburn, my ideal.

    I am OK, You have already gotten more information on your surgery than I had. My PS wanted to do that same incision, but I woke up with the regular across the breast one. The BS was in charge and needed better access I guess. It sounds as though you are in very good hands.  

    Ah, time to go to work. Goodbye all.

  • JulieL
    JulieL Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2009

    Hi Everyone,

    I had to have another surgery yesterday to close the incision that I thought was healing nicely. What I thought was healing was actually the alloderm showing through. I had to have the sutures underneath my breast completely reopened, cleaned out and resutured. He used glue, stitches and tape. When I woke up in surgery he was holding up a drain. You can just imagine my reaction to that. I have to hyperbaric treatment today and tomorrow to help the skin heal. He said that he thinks that it didn't heal because there was no blood supply to the skin. I hope this works because he said the next step is to go in and take the implant out, close everything up and let it heal then try again in a few months. It also figures it was the breast that didn't have cancer.

    Julie

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Julie, what a bummer!  It was explained to me that the mx surgery is a tricky balancing between not removing enough tissue and taking too much tissue.  The BS wants to make sure he/she is removing all the breast cells.  I think you and I both were unfortunate to have some places left a little thin, hence not enough blood supply.  I had a small round spot (smaller than a dime) above my right nipple that struggled to heal and the strip of skin along the left incision that had to be trimmed.  Fortunately I'm on the mend now.  Sure hope you soon can say the same.  

    Thank goodness we both have surgeons who will keep working to make it right. 

  • JulieL
    JulieL Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2009

    Carole,

    I am sorry that you had to go through this as well. I went for the hyperbaric treatment today. One hour and 50 minutes in that thing. It wasn't so bad and the doctor looked at my incisions and said that they looked really good and he thinks that three treatments will do it. I had a spot smaller than a dime beneath the breast right under the nipple and it just wouldn't heal. I am glad that you are healing well and I feel pretty good about it this time. If this works I am scheduled for December 10th for nipplie and areolar reconstruction. Have you had your nipples done yet and if not what is your preference?

    Julie

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Julie, I had nipple-sparing surgery.  The left nipple and aureole look very normal.  The right doesn't look quite as good because of that round thin spot.  Keep us posted on your progress.  If you haven't read the Nipples thread that Okiegal got started, you might be interested in checking it out. 

    Today is overcast and gloomy.  Our rain chance is 90 per cent.  I'm taking it easy and staying at home for a quiet day with dh.

  • YearoftheHat
    YearoftheHat Member Posts: 66
    edited October 2009

    Hello all.  I've missed you.  Happy Sunday to everyone!  It's been uncharacteristically cloudy here the last couple of weeks but it is finally cooler, 70s and 80s mostly with high winds a much cooler nights.  It is shaping up to be a nice, mild day.

    Goodness, it really has been a while.  I just read some of your posts from August and September.  I'll have to try to read the rest soon.

    My revision surgery went well...more on that in a bit.

    I've separated from my boyfriend since I last posted.  We had never even been engaged but were living together.  I have spent the last several weeks reorganizing my living arrangements and trying to collect myself emotionally.  I am now in an apartment with my kitty.  It is small but is pleasant, quiet and safe.  I am doing OK.  Mostly, I am disappointed. 

    My boyfriend was beginning to have angry outbursts which both confused and hurt me.  He is a good and generous man but not so capable of intimacy.  I decided not to struggle with it anymore.  He and I are on OK terms and is he cooperating with me for the most part.  We had only been together for two years and this isn't horrible by any means, although I had hoped we could build a satisfying life together.  I want a life partner.  

    My surgery went very well.  The recovery has been much easier than the bilat with recon that I had last December.  I had no drains!  I was upset to be faced with moving so soon afterward.  I was not able to hire movers, but my body seems to have handled it beautifully.  The muscles there have tightened up slightly but I stretch them often.  It's not bothering me. 

    I waited about five days after the surgery then started packing and moving.  He brought some of my large furniture over yesterday.

    I am happy to have had the revision.  My PS is such a friendly and upbeat man.  He is also bright and seems capable which I appreciate, but I think his taste in breasts is unlucky.  He was so proud of their perkiness at my follow-up visit.  I'll say!  They're are right up to my armpits like they were when I was 12.  I'm certainly ready for a wet t-shirt contest and I have permanently erect nipples.  He reluctantly confessed that the nipples will likely shrink with time.  Whew!  

    In previous visits I asked him repeatedly what could be done to enhance the IMF.  He explained, then did none of it.  He thought everything looked great as is.  I don't really care much.  I do have to wear three shirts to mask my erect nipples.  I can obscure them with pieces of tissue if that fails.  Thank goodness it's getting cooler here.  I expect with time the implants will settle, at least a little.

    I am scheduled to have the areolae tattooed at the end of the month.  He used AlloDerm to reconstruct the nipples but the areolae will be pigmentation alone.

    The lumps and bumps are mostly gone.  I can feel the edge of the AlloDerm but only if I really try.  My PS told me that for some reason my arms had to be at my sides during the initial procedure, which was why so much skin remained under my arms after the first surgery.

    My real breasts were too big and had started to droop.  In many ways I am much more comfortable now.  My breasts used to give away my age, all of 41, now the rest of my body does.    

    I was wearing under wires to try to mask the extra skin at the sides but that's mostly gone now.  I am able to comfortably wear all of my bras again.  They fit.  Most of them were too small before.  I was easily a DD+ and am now a D which suites me, I think.    

    I was not able to navigate the photo board very easily.  I will try to sort that out, if I haven't lost my log on privileges.  

    Carole, I am so happy to hear that your Oncotype score is low.  That's wonderful!  You golfed this summer too,  which is great.  You seem to be doing well.  I have not read all the posts yet, but I am glad to read that your recent problem is getting the medical attention it needs.

    Fortunate, thanks for the PM.  I'm sorry for your worries about your Dad.  I am sure your being there makes a huge difference for him.  Now that the beginning of the school year is past, maybe the rhythms of life will carry you along some.  I hope the fires out there have not been too unsettling for you.

    Meg, I hope you are doing well after your D&C. 

    I will try to read more posts later today.  It's 11:30 now and breakfast is calling.

    Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

    Nancy

              

       

     

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Welcome back, Yearof theHat!  I'm so glad you checked in with good news about your revision.  And nipples, too!  Goodness, you're young.  You look youthful in the picture, but only 41.  How sad to have to deal with bc as a young woman.  Sorry about the breakup with your SO.  Here's hoping the door closed turns out to be the door opened to a satisfying future.

    My main challenge at this stage of my recovery is adjusting to/coping with the SEs of Arimidex.  Muscle aches and pains, fatigue.  My weight is starting to creep up, but I'm not sure I can blame that on Arimidex.  It's probably some unwise eating.

    Hello to Fortunate, Meg, Okiegal, Julie, Tracy, and I am OK.  Hope you're all having a pleasant Sunday.

  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 467
    edited October 2009

    Nancy, I'm very glad you're back. It sounds as though your revision helped with the lumps and bumps. I think that even implants do droop some after a while and a lot of women are dismayed that their nipples shrink, so it might work out perfectly for you.

    As for the guy- you seem to me to be such a dear, there surely must be a life partner out there for you. Now you are free to find him. 

    I have another running around day, but will be back to check in later. I was a little more productive yesterday, a very pleasant Sunday But I have a lot of catching up to do. So, hello to everyone, clear crisp Fall days to you all. 

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2009

    What's IMF in reference to revision surgery?

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2009

    Okiegal,

    Thanks for the hint about using lipstick to put on temporary areola. I tried it the other day and it really makes the visual complete.  Showed it to hubby and it brought a smile to his face.

  • Meg9
    Meg9 Member Posts: 306
    edited October 2009

    Nancy, Welcome back! We have been thinking about you and hoping that your revision surgery went well.  I'm happy to hear that your surgery went well and you are satisfied with the outcome. Maybe this is a turning point for you. You have been through a lot the past couple of months. It had to be very difficult for you. You seem to be settled now.... a testament to what a strong woman you are. 

    Julie, what's it like to have the hyperbaric treatments?  I'm a little claustrophobic...you women amaze me!

    Carole, My friend has been taking arimedex for 2-3 years. She works out regularly at the gym. She is 61. I will ask her if she experienced any aches and pains.

    I was always careful with my calorie and fat intake. My eating habits went down the drain after bmx.  All those well wishers with their goodies through me off track. :o)  I am walking faster and longer now and I can feel myself firming up, but I have not lost any of  the 5 lbs I gained.  I think being sedentary for the past few months is the real culprit.

    I am OK, I think you have excellent doctors. My implants are by Mentor also. Let us know how you are doing.

    It's cold outside. The temperature was in the low 40's when I woke up.  I'm cooking chicken and vegetables in the crock pot. Smells good!

    Hope you all have a good day.

  • YearoftheHat
    YearoftheHat Member Posts: 66
    edited October 2009

    I didn't mean to throw a curve ball.  IMF is the inframammary fold, the fold just beneath the breast that gives it that natural droop.

  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 467
    edited October 2009

    Double or Nothing, IMF is Infra-mammary fold. I went looking for my breast cancer books to confirm the spelling but couldn't find them, which I'm taking as a good sign. It is the fold/crease under your breast. In a reconstruction, it makes for a more natural appearance if your PS can create one for you.

    It's just nippy enough here to turn on a heater out in the studio. Did you all see the glorious Harvest moon? The last three days the moon has looked full, with eerie clouds. Gorgeous.

    Meg, claustrophobic here too. For the MRI, I was given a Xanax(?), which kept it well under control except for just a few scary moments when I felt the tube brushing my sides. The banging sounds and the technician's voices helped a lot too. 

    Julie, I hope the hyperbaric treatment aids the healing for you. An hour and a half sounds scary to claustrophobic me. What a bummer is right! I had  to have a strip of dead tissue trimmed off and re-sutured. That makes three of us. I wonder if it is common? 

    Carole, Sorry that the Arimidex is giving you problems. I know there are other drugs, including the Femara that I'm on that are open to you if it gets too bad. They all seem to produce side effects of some sort. Here's hoping that your body adjusts after a while (soon!). 

    So long for now, there's someone at the door. 

  • tracyanne
    tracyanne Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    I know what you ladies mean about the unhealthy eating habits after surgery...guess we think we deserve a little ice cream and some cookies after what we've been through, and the little turns into more and then more!  I let myself gain 7 pounds since diagnosis end of July.  

    Went to the gym again today--probably my fourth visit lately--and just tell myself each time to take it easy and not get frustrated at how little I can do compared to before.  I'll watch some woman my age or older just pumping those weights or running that treadmill and then make myself look away and not compare.  I also have to get used to the difference in muscle feeling between recon breast and natural breast...one side just pulls differently somehow.

    Radiation treatments started today, and as much as possible I plan to keep up regular exercise.  I'm told that can actually ward off fatigue.  The treatment itself was painless, of course, but I did experience the slightest metallic taste in my mouth!  I wasn't prepared for the emotional feeling that came over me as I lay on the table, arms overhead, bared from waist up.

    The emotion hit when I realized I was alone in the room.  Unlike with mammography, my wonderfully kind techs actually step out of the room for the five-ten minutes and watch me on a monitor while the machines and computer do the work of turning and positioning.  They showed me beforehand the two monitors they'd watch from, but I dunno...it was just lonely and strange being in there by myself with the huge machinery.  I'll get my head wrapped around it, I'm sure...after all, 32 treatments left!  I"ll get used to it.

    Carole, I'm sorry you are in daily pain that way.  That can really wear on one's spirits.  I hope there's a pain reliever you can take to at least keep the edge off...maybe take a couple of nice hot baths during the day for some relief. 

    Hello to everyone here, and Nancy, nice to meet you :- )  You're the one who began this thread, and it sure has been a comfort to me.

  • helpar
    helpar Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2009

    Following mx for muIti focal DCIS and invasive areas ,I've got a silicone implant

    in the right breast, done with nipple and skin saving surgery.

    Very disappointed with the results, the nipple points out to my armpit and is not

    central its bunched up to the armpit. Anyone else experienced this?

    I'm only a week after surgery, does it improve?

    Helpar

  • JulieL
    JulieL Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2009

    Hi Everyone,

    Meg9, today was my third hyperbaric treatment. It really isn't that bad unless you have to go to the bathroom halfway through it.  The tube is plexiglass so it isn't so claustrophobic at all. I did have one incident with surfacing yesterday and my blood sugar dropped so I got really dizzy. It was just because I didn't eat before going in. Today I ate some fruit and a sugar cookie and felt fine. It is an hour and 50 minutes each session. I have one more tomorrow and then an appointment with the PS on Wednesday. They seem to think that I will only need 5 treatments. The sutures are still closed and look pretty good to me.

    Fortunate1, from what the PS told me it is pretty common because there is no vascular circulation on the skin when breast tissue is removed from underneath it. I have my fingers crossed on this one because I am running out of skin. I just sit in that chamber and think it will all be behind me soon and then I can move on to the nipples in December. I am actually thinking of postponing that because I feel like I've been beat up but when I feel better I will change my mind again.

    Thanks for everyone's help.

    Julie

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,212
    edited October 2009

    Helpar, I think I'm the only one in this discussion group who had the nipple-sparing.  I had double mx and both nipples are centered and face forward.  Right nipple is slightly lower because the implant placement is slightly higher than the left.  Left nipple looks completely normal and responds to stimulus.

    If you're only a week out of surgery, you're still swollen.  Maybe when the swelling goes down, the nipple placement will look more natural.  At your stage I wasn't even examining my breasts closely.  After the drains came out at 9 days, then I started inspecting my chest.  Hope it all works out for you.

    Julie, I can empathize with your wanting so much to heal and move on.  That's the way I felt, too, when I was having healing issues.  You will get through this and move on to other challenges.

    Tracy, I'll be thinking about you as you have your radiation treatments.  I guess I don't understand why someone with DCIS is undergoing radiation after a MX unless your tumor was close to the chest wall.  In my negative moments I tend to think that bc treatment is designed to torture women.

    Hi to everyone else.  Hope we all have a good Tues.

  • Meg9
    Meg9 Member Posts: 306
    edited October 2009

    JulieL, Wow! You have no idea how sad I feel for what you are going through.  I don't think I could be in that chamber for one hour and fifty minutes! They would have to put me out or find some other treatment. I took xanax to have my MRI and my MRI core biopsy. I also took xanax the morning of my bmx.  I'm not sure I would have shown up otherwise. I admire your courage...I will say a prayer that you completely heal.

    At this time, nipple reconstruction is not an option for me. If I do anything I will have 3d tattoos. I am glad that I have not had any recovery issues. My scars healed well from the beginning. I do have a 6 ½ inch scars on each breast and my breasts are a little uneven, but in clothing I look fine.  I do not want any complications because of nipple reconstruction.  Isn't the skin thin there also?

    Welcome Helpar, I did not have nipple saving mx, but Carole has. I'm sure she will answer you.

    I do know that over the months my breast have changed in size and shape.  In the beginning, they were swollen. Over time they softened, dropped and as the swelling went down their size and shape changed. This is one reason I am waiting for nipple tattoos...for everything to finally settle.  Good Luck!

    Tracy, It sounds like you have the right attitude about your radiation treatments. I'll be thinking about you.

    You mentioned becoming a breast watcher! I have caught myself looking also...mostly at the big, bouncing breasts you can't avoid.  What I have noticed is that people who know I had bmx are looking at me.

    I hope everyone has a good day.

  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 467
    edited October 2009

    Hi everybody,

    I spent the day at the college where I teach on Saturdays. Got printing done for my class (there are no longer copiers available on Sat.), used the wood shop, (great, 'cause I sure don't have that equipment at home!), tried to get a flu shot (no luck, they were out), delivered work for the faculty show (always a pleasure), went to a faculty meeting outlining the cuts to come (very grim, I will be cut as far as I can tell), and visited with a friend (the best part). Sounds productive, doesn't it? Well the wood shop visit might help my bank account, But once again, I'd better get out to the studio and make stuff. I have a couple of hours and then more school stuff tonight, a faculty show opening for the other college. Yep, busy all right, but.....I'm going to be raiding my savings eventually.

    I'm just going to let it go and be thankful I have ample savings, and above all that I'm alive. This is my life today. Just different, so what. My rant for the day. You are all wonderful. I will be having fun tonight.

    Heartfelt hugs to Tracy and JulieL. Once again I realize how fortunate I have been in my treatment. And while I'm at it hugs to everyone. 

  • tracyanne
    tracyanne Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    Fortunate 1,  I'm sorry to hear you might lose your position due to budget cuts and that you have to live with that possibility hanging over your head.  Would that happen for spring semester or for fall?  I wonder if that would mean loss of insurance, or at the very least, an increase in premiums...such a scary prospect after cancer diagnosis.  I hope all ends up well for you.

    Yes, radiation after mastectomy for DCIS is unusual, but my DCIS was extensive with close margins at the chest wall and the skin.  I also had a positive margin where breast meets ribs...at that point the cancer was 0.1 mm, or one-tenth of a millimeter, from the muscle.  I think the docs called it the anteroinferior margin.

    At first the surgeon wanted to go back in and remove some of that muscle (a strip about a centimeter wide) but my case went before a tumor board and the consensus was radiation.  My being under 50 years of age and the type being comedo with necrosis also factored into the decision. 

    Fortunately alloderm is supposed to hold up well with radiation...my PS said my chances of suffering a negative cosmetic effect are maybe 10% instead of 25% with tissue expanders.  The radiologist said he actually wants to see "skin effects" from my radiation because of those close margins...he expects some burning and peeling because he is specifically targeting skin and chest wall.  That raised my eyebrows...

    Julie, I can't imagine a treatment in a chamber for almost two hours.  You must have nerves of steel!  I think I'd have to get up and pee just because I couldn't get up and pee!  Wow.

    Breast cancer awareness month...how are you all doing with the pink ribbon displays everywhere?  My local Walgreens has furry pens, glittered shirts, rhinestone caps...you name it.  I think I want a discreet  t-shirt to wear to the gym...but not one that is so loudly pink!