Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
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Yipppieeeeeee!!!! Sheri and Alicia!
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Alicia-Congrats to you on being done!!! I am so very happy for you!!!
Hope all of you lovely ladies have a great day!
Hugs
Jen
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Congrats Sherri and Alicia, hope you begin to heal and grow stronger each day.
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WooooHooooo Alicia!!!! It's such a great feeling to know you don't have to go get plugged in for that toxic waste anymore, eh? Hope you get through this next couple of weeks quickly and on to feeling human again.
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Thanks everyone for the cheers !!!
Sherri ~ no to rads. I had a double mastectomy with clear margins and no lymph nodes. I start tamoxifen in a few weeks.
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Just read this on line and enjoyed her humor. Thought I'd pass it along.
My Left Breast Put Fancy TSA Scanner to the Test
A funny thing happened to me at airport security this week: The full-body scanner appeared to detect my fake left breast.
After I sauntered sleepily through the regular scanner at Denver International Airport, the TSA guy motioned me into the clear, cylindrical, full-body scanner (aka, the Millimeter Wave). The woman there asked me to step on the yellow footprints and raise my arms above my head. She murmured into a headset to start the scan. There was a quick motion through the plexiglass. She asked me to turn, step on the green footprints and hold my arms straight out. Another scan.
She motioned me out of the scanner and asked me to wait for word from someone in some secret room somewhere, someone looking at a vision of my body sans jeans, cardigan, turtleneck, etc. Hmmm . . . tweetmeme_source = 'politicsdaily'; Get the new
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Then she said she needed to check something. And she began sweeping her hands around my left breast and rib cage.
This didn't bother me all that much; in fact it made me smile. For one thing, I don't really have any feeling in my left breast. That's because it doesn't exactly exist. For six years now, it's been a composition of part of my lat dorsi (mid-back muscle) and a skin graft from my back, supplemented by a sac of silicone. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the result of a mastectomy and reconstruction, which in turn is the result of breast cancer.
Since I've broached the subject of breast surgery, let me detour here to address any of you who might be thinking of elective enhancement. I totally understand the consternation that may result from being small-breasted. But are you really willing to have major surgery to alter this fluke -- or blessing? -- of Mother Nature? Really? General anesthetic? A breathing tube that'll leave your throat sore for days? Taking a month or so off from exercise and exertion to recover from surgery? Hoping you don't have rejection issues? Really?
Back to the TSA. As the security screening woman felt me up, I mentioned to her that I have an implant, the result of mastectomy. She relayed the information to those unseen through her microphone.
A few seconds later, she sent me on my way. And I tweeted and Facebooked about the experience. A friend in Tallahassee mentioned that friend of his had to lift his shirt to expose his colostomy bag to the TSA in Philadelphia. I'm happy I didn't have to expose anything to the scanning lady, and she should be too. Medical professionals I've met consider my surgical aftermath a work of art, but laypeople might be kind of weirded out by the oval skin graft and the way I can flex my breast (the lat dorsi still seems to work!). Then again, this is nothing compared to what my friend Diane goes through -- she has two rebuilt hips and two fake tatas, the latter courtesy of breast cancer.
Yet, the so-called Millimeter Wave isn't aiming to detect things like my fake left breast, according to Carrie Harmon, a TSA spokeswoman in Denver.
"It looks for metallic and non-metallic items under clothing," she says. "It could have been something else inside your body."
Except the only other things around my fake left breast were a cotton tank top and cotton turtleneck. Who needs underwires when there's so little to support?
"That's not a usual experience," Harmon says.
My plastic surgeon, Dr. Winfield Hartley, agrees.
"I know they have tightened security but you are the first patient I have heard from that has had a . . . search from images of a gel implant," Hartley said in an e-mail. "I expect we will see a lot more of this type of security until the image readers get used to seeing implants."
Frankly, I think it's a good thing that they're being careful about my left breast. It's probably only a matter of time until someone tries to be the first "boobie bomber." Because, really, shoes and underpants are so passe in the terror world these days.
The takeaway here is, if you have fake body parts, you should be prepared to explain them to the full-body screening folks at the TSA.
Meanwhile, I've got a great revenue idea for those folks. They could sell images from the body scanners to us after we gather up our belongings. It'd be sort of like those photos of us screaming on rollercoasters that theme parks offer up after the ride is over. Only it'd be weird X-ray-like images.
Really, it could be a money-maker for the feds. And it might cut down on the risk/fears of TSA employees going all rogue by selling our scans to, say, National Enquirer or some such. They could offer both digital and print images. Use them for your holiday cards, frame them for the office. I'd probably post mine on Facebook.
But that's just me. Think about it, TSA folks.
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Echo -- great article! I actually saw it as well and thought about posting it here but then got busy with life and forgot. Glad you remembered
Lilah
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Does anyone else not want to experience any more unnecessary radiation, ie. airport scanning machines? I know it is not much but after everything else, mammos, CTs, pet, I'd just as soon not have anymore for non-medical purposes. Do you think we can ask for a pat-down instead? I am a "no touching" kind of person but in this case I think I prefer hands on!
pam
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Hello ladies!
Hope everyone is having a good day!
Did you all hear, we had an earthquake in Illinois this morning? CRAZY!!! I felt my house shake at 4am this morning, startled out of bed! Didn't know what it was until I logged on to Facebook this morning and saw people posting about it.
Hugs to you all
Jen
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Jen, when I was a kid we had an earthquake in the early morning...my mom went running through the house yelling that the furnace as exploding.,..what a way to get out of bed on a Saturday...kind of freaks you out...
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Jen glad you are all o.k.
Michele - that was too funny about your mom! What a Saturday that must have been.
Hope Everyone has a great day! It's off to work I go. I've been increasing my work days back to normal working hours and it's about to get the best of me.
Renee
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Hi ladies,
Just checking in as I finally found this link again. I couldn't remember which board I found you all on as I generally post on the stage III board. I started my first of 4 rounds of dose dense Taxol on Tuesday and am now starting to feel some aches and pains from it. I am hoping I didn't jump the gun by contacting my boss (while I was feeling good yesterday) and said I might feel up to coming back to work next week. It's a very part time gig, so I am hoping I can manage the side effects w/out too much trouble.
And here in MD we got clobbered w/another blizzard yesterday and it looks like we will be snowed in for at least a couple more days. No sign of a plow on our street yet...........
Hope the class of 09 is doing well this morning!
Sharon0 -
Welcome back Sharon. I am thinking of going back to work soon...I have been off since last summer and am going stir crazy....I start my rads next Thursday so I think I will wait and see how that goes first.
I hear you USA ladies got some nasty snow...the kids must love it..my kids are wishing for a snow day soon. So far only one...I am happy since I don't want to deal with driving to chemo/rads in a snow storm...this year has been great, for once.
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Michele-Love your earthquake story! That was funny
Good luck to you as you look towards going back to work. It will be good for you to have something else to concetrate your thoughts on. Also, good luck as you move ahead to starting rads, hope all goes well Renee-Glad to hear you are getting back into the swing! How is your skin healing?
I am very discouraged this week, and I know you all can understand how I feel, so here goes. I went Monday for my first PT, then went yesterday again. She unwrapped my arm, which felt really good to have it exposed for a little bit. She even washed it for me, which was very nice. My arm looked a little weird because where the bandage had loosened up a little, some fluid collected and made my arm look lumpy, and disfigured. She massaged it out and then re-bandaged my arm. At the appointment I asked her to look at my thumb because to me it looked a little swollen. She said she didn't think it looked bad and finshed wrapping me up. She went tighter this time to put more compression on my arm. Well, thank God I took my wedding ring off, because this morning, all my fingers on my left hand are swollen like little sausages. I am having a hard time using my hand, and it is painful. I swear this just plain sucks. I feel so set back by this. I am so limited on what I can do. I have cried like a little baby so much this week, you would have thought I had a recurrance or something. Anyway, "that is all I have to say about that."-Forrest Gump
Hope you all are having a good day!
Hugs
Jen
Oh and welcome back Sharon, glad you found us again
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Jen, sorry that you have to go through that...i can't really weigh in on your arm condition as so far I have had no problems (knocking on wood). I can chime in on the emotions though...just give in to your emotions...this is such a crazy emotional time. I usually feel a little better after a good cry, especially if I have a shoulder to cry on...so cry to us, cry to a friend, or your DH if you want...Soon enough we won't be crying we will be laughing and enjoying our stress free, cancer free summer.
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Jen, is your PT teaching you how to do manual self drainage techniques? If not, ask her about learning it. When I went to my Lymphedema expert we did some physical therapy so that I could get a little more range of motion in my shoulder, I was fitted for a compression sleeve and she spent about an hour of each session training me how to do the manual drainage so I could stay on top of any swelling. There were guide sheets with photos showing the correct hand positions and direction to move the fluid. She kept checking to see that I was using the correct amount of pressure etc. If they are not willing to teach you how to do self care them maybe a different technician is in order. You can find certified therapists through the Lymphology Association of North America at, www.clt-lana.org.
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Michele-Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I am trying to deal with this, but it is so hard to when no one in my immediate circle of support can relate to what I am going thru. I am in sales for a living, so I have to be happy go lucky to all my clients, and right now that is very hard. I am doing it as best I can tho
I can't wait for summer! Even though I can't lay in the sun and relax like I used to, I need the warm air and sunshine (with lots of SPF!) That alone would life my spirits!Echosalvaje- My PT had taught me massage techiniques after I last saw her back in November. I was bad about doing them, because at that time I didn't really have lymphedema, but I did have limited range of motion. I did have print-outs of excersises and massages and I tried to do them as often as I could remember. She is a very good PT and very thorough. I am just not a good patient! But, I have learned my lesson and will be on top of things this time around.
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Jen -- sorry you're hurting. That sucks. It's so unfair that on top of everything we have to worry about this sort of thing. Here's hoping it abates soon.
Lilah
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Jen I'm so very sorry you are having such a rough time of it with the lymphedema. It kind of makes me feel bad for all of my complaints. My skin is doing some better, the burns are drying up and the breast is still sore! I hope the pains go away soon. I am finding that I am really tender under my arm where the SNB was done also and there is definitely a difference in the size of my breasts, much more than I thought there would be. Has anyone else noticed that? Those of you that did not have mastectomies?
Renee
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Renee - earlier today I was thinking I should post somewhere about breast size. I had a lumpectomy last June and the difference in size is very noticeable to me when naked. But I think (hope?) it's not so obvious with clothes on. What do people do? Stuff a bra? Buy a special one? Some opinions would be appreciated ladies!
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Jen ~ so sorry for what you are going through with your arm.
I hope it starts to get better soon. Renee ~ under both my arms is still very tender. I am hoping it eventually goes away. Glad to hear your skin is doing somewhat better.
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My left, lumpectomized breast has been since surgery and still is bigger than the normal breast. I was worried it would be smaller and was all prepared for padding it to match. Before surgery, I was equal sized. I think there must still be some swelling (almost a year later) and it is very slowly going down. Hope to be balanced again someday.
If you are very unequal I think your insurance is required to pay for a lift or something to get you matched up again. Radiation plumped up my breast so it looks less saggy than the other but in a bra I look okay so am not personally motivated to do more. My Playboy days are over :-)
pam
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Hi Ladies, I have never posted in this topic before. But, I am 46 and was diagnosed 07/01/2009. Guess I am in the class of 2009. The journey for me has been a long one and it is far from over. I had a large tumor, HER2+ and have had 6 rounds of TC-H chemo which I finished 12/09/2009. My next step is right side mastectomy and then radiation and then hopefully reconstruction. I will also be continuing with Herceptin until approx 07/2010. I am also taking Tamoxifen and will be for 5 years. I would be interested in hearing from any of you that are undergoing a similiar treatment. I would love to know how you are doing and how you get through each day. I am finding that the more time that goes by the more stressed I become. Somedays, it just consumes me. I feel like since my diagnosis that all I get is bad news. And, really, that is just not the case. Believe it or not, my first big issue was the thought of losing my hair during chemo. Big issue for me. I found the penguin cold caps and gave them a try and didn't lose my hair. It thinned and I have ended up having it cut to about chin length. But, now, it is starting to thicken up and I have not required a wig, hat, etc..During chemo, I was pretty nauseated with my second treatment but other than that I experienced very little sickness. My big stress issue now is facing surgery. I am scared to death. I just feel like something bad is going to happen. My surgeon says things look good for me and I do trust her but I am just very stressed. Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post. I think just posting might be helping with my stress. Oh, I did go see a counselor who told me I need to put cancer out of my mind and only deal with it when I have to (such as days for doctor appts, tests, treatment, etc.). I think that is good advice but is easier said than done. Hope today finds each of you well.
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Ashively -- welcome to the board and sorry you had to join. I think your counselor gave you great advice! I also think it will be easier for you to follow it once you are past the radiation and the MX... I didn't have radiation, but since my MX I've been SO relaxed (it helped that the pathology showed no more cancer). As for the fear of surgery -- I remember being VERY nervous before my first lumpectomy (at first they thought lumpectomy would be all I needed); I was terrified of the anesthesia, of never waking up, etc. But in fact the anesthesia was the best part
I LOVED waking up and it being OVER. As for the MX... I was very scared about losing my breast and felt pretty freaked out about the surgery (in spite of having survived two lumpectomies that point). It was hard to imagine what that would be like. I was so certain I'd be unable to move much afterward that I did about 6 months worth of anything I could think of! (Like buying 6 months worth of dog food, getting all my prescriptions filled, etc). In truth I was back to driving in a week and now, about two months after the surgery, I am feeling very normal. Are you having "immediate" reconstruction? That helps a lot for the after part because you wake up with a bit of a bump there already. Gilly -- I don't remember where I read this, but recently someone posted on ONE of the threads I read that she uses an insert (something sort of rubbery from the sound of it) that is sold by Victoria's Secret to even herself out. The inserts are made for women who want to go up a size... but are also helpful in our case. Sorry I don't recall the name of them, but try searching the VS website for "inserts" and see what you get.
Lilah
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Hi AShively1 Welcome and sorry you had to join us. I was 43 at diagnosis and 44 now.
I can't say I am in the same boat as you because I chose a bilateral mastectomy and got to skip rads & chemo. The surgery was not that bad for me. I am getting my soft squishy implants next week. It seems that the last year has flown by! I am approaching all sorts of milestones in the next few months.
If you can find a local support group go to it! I would not have made it through this past year with out mine and it is where everyone knows what I am going through. I have learned so much from the wonderful people in my local group and made the best friends.
What kind of counselor did you see? and did they EVER have cancer? My support group is run by a cancer survivor (not breast) so she knows the fear and anxiety is real. How could a counselor tell you to put it out of your mind? It will be with us forever! We just learn to cope with it and live our lives.
I am sorry you are stressed but the surgery was the easy part for me. The reconstruction is a little harder. I just did not know that back when I started this journey.
If there is anyway I could help please let me know.
Kimberly
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Lilah - LOL - I did buy dog food for at least 6 months! I still have a 40 lb bag that I have not opened yet and I bought that back in October!
YES - the immediate reconstruction helped with my head. I woke up with reconstruction started and I think that made a big difference in my recovery. I had baby boobs already starting to grow!
Each person will have a different perspective! that is the wonderful thing about these boards - sometimes you don't realize you are feeling something until some one else articulates it.
Kimberly
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Ashivily, Your doctor is right that you do have to try to put it out of your mind..and you are right, that it is easier said than done...I hope that after our treatments are done that it will get easier and easier to do. But until then we do have to work hard to push it from our minds.
As for the mastectomy. I had mine last summer. I think for me I was so happy to have the cancer out of my body I just wanted the surgery done. It was for the most part easy and I had no complications..Just keep in mind that really it just a huge piece of fat and tissue. You can live without it. You will pull through it no problem. Remember surgeons do this every day and they know what they are doing.
I had no pain what so ever. I only needed a Tylenol for a headache..I am sure I only had that because I wasn't able to have my daily coffee...It will feel numb, for a long time and you will get use to that. My arm was also numb down to my fingers, but the exercises that they told me to do took care of that in no time. Be sure to do those exercises, as they do help get back your mobility.
You have already gone through the hardest part...it is all smooth sailing now..you have come to a great place..We are all here to help and support each other. I am sure I speak for us all when I say that I couldn't have made it without the support of these ladies over the past few months..
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Michele is right. When I look back over this past year at all the highs and lows of fear and anxiety, it was the decision making that was the worst. Once I had a plan I felt empowered. It took me a while to jump into this battle with any sort of believable gusto, I was too terrified, but when I did, this beast didn't have a chance. The day I heard myself say, "you want to f*%k around with me cancer?....well come on.....you picked the wrong body".......I knew I could blow through anything, and so can you.
Jump on in Ashivily...we've got your back.
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Hi Ladies, Thanks for the replies and for the support. It makes me feel better. People have been so supportive, I truly haven't heard an unkind word. My husband, who I was a little worried about, told me right off that we would get through this. He has been great and I know all of this is hard for him. I have two sons, age 25 (26 next month) and 17, and both of my guys have been great. Come to find out, they have friends whose mothers or sisters have been through this. They have actually given me good advice. I wish I could just get over the stress. (Is it possible for the stress to stress me?) I feel like I am having a hard time and I don't want to push those who love me away. I truly never knew you could cry for 7 months. But, I have, everyday......I am trying to move on and just accept that this is something I have to deal with. I just worry over every little thing. I used to think I was a strong person. Maybe that girl is still around here somewhere. I'm gonna try hard to find her. Thank you all again for listening and take care.
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You are with friends here who totally understand. This is a great place to share your dark moments and bright successes. You are still that strong person... this is a tough battle and you may get a little tired out but we all find ourselves again... and you will too. In the meantime, share the journey.
pam
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