Calling all TNs
Comments
-
Hey Loafer...how long term do you want to hear about? I will be 4 years out in March.so far so good... IF tn is going to reoccur ..it is usually in the first couple of years...not sure of any stats of reoccurences based on lx or mx...I would be interested in hearing those stats of anyone has them as well.
Minxie...hugs to you....go for it..whatever you need to do to make YOU happy....we women seem to take care of everyone else...forgetting about ourselves....we are certainly backing you in every way...
0 -
oh Minxie, you do deserve to be happy. You have had a rough 5 years. Sending hugs to you.
Loafer, I had a 3.5 cm lump and had a lumpectomy. I did not have a recurrence for 9 years. (Had a new primary opposite breast and am brca 1 pos, thats a different story.) I am sure there are many good stories, I have heard many! Thank goodness many stick around here, like Titan, to offer support for newly diagnosed!
Has anyone heard from Dawn?
0 -
Sandlake, yes, I do hair. And I lost many of my clients, I was surprised how many actually stuck with me. The quality of my work was suffering a bit as I was miserable while working. Yes it is hard. I will miss my clients, they are fabulous, I will stay in touch with them. I have been seeing many of them for over 25 years! I can not believe how much less stress it is to not worry about work and trying to figure out what to wear to keep cool and not having to worry about sweating all over everybody, yeah, I know, gross! I am still going to school so hopefully eventually I can find a desk job.
0 -
Loafer: I was told that the locoregional recurrence rate for lumpectomy with clear margins+radiation is roughly the same as for mastectomy+radiation. I decided to go this route because my lump was fairly small (1.5 cm) and I'm well enough endowed in that area that the cosmetic appearance is good.
0 -
bak I haven't seen Dawn (inmate) here but am friends on FB with her and she posted a few days ago.
Hi to newbies. Sorry you had to join us but you have come to the right place for support on the good and not so good days to come as well as knowledge. Ask away and you will get answers from this great bunch of ladies
Mags
0 -
BernieEllen, Thank you for the funny radio story. I didn't anticipate that response but loved it!
0 -
Minxie -- I cried as I read your post. I am so sorry you are going through this. None of us deserve a first time of all this much less a second time. I am praying for you to have the strength and courage to face all of this and that needed support will come your way. Thank God for a place like this site where we can share with each other.
0 -
Minxie,
I'm sorry as well that you are going through the trial of recurrence and your husband not being there for you in many ways. I don't want to sound like I'm supporting your husband in any way but I have noticed tension come up from my husband lately, like saying, "I do everything. . . " Which lately has been true. Face it girls, we are the stronger sex in so many ways. Do you think many men can go through these treatments?
My hospital in Morristown, NJ has many groups we can go to for help, weekly and monthly, as well as many free treatments (Reiki, healing touch, Tai Chi, QiGong, etc.). They are also available to our families which is great too. However, I just recently noticed there is almost nothing for our caregivers. There is no support group for them to vent their frustrations and mourn the loss of their lives before their loved ones got sick. I've just begun to send emails to some people at the hospital asking how we can get a group going. Believe me, I know you do, they need to vent too. If stress is a contributing factor in our illnesses, and I believe that, our loved ones are also going through an incredible amount as well -- often without acknowledgement.
Let me reiterate, I'm not condoning your husband's actions in any way, but it is incredibly hard for them too. They have too remember one of the vows they took on that beautiful day you got married, "in sickness and in health." Notice how the sickness statement comes first?
Much love to you during this difficult time in your journey.0 -
thanks all for the advice. I talked to two good friends today about the whole mess, and they're not sure what I should do either... I did make inquiries into the cottage in NC, and it is of course avilable in january (lol!) and quite reasonable. So I think I may be doing that at least, and hope it clears my head without making me terrible lonely. I'll keep you all posted.
I see the plastic surgeon the 19th and I'm hoping we can start fixing the sad boob January as well. Maybe if I look like a normal person I can face the thought of being single again more easily!
0 -
Hi everyone,
Minxie- It hurts my heart to think what you are going through, you are in my prayers a broken heart is one of the worst pains a person can endure and having to deal with that while fighting BC is awful!
I have a question for anyone.. I am having my surgery Tuesday, bi-lateral no TE I decided to wait until after Chemo.. My question is what surprise may I expect? That is my biggest fear. I know it is IDC grade 2 TN. I do realize I won't be staged until after surgery. I guess I am just asking if the Core Biopsy's are pretty accurate on the type of BC. Size according to biopsy is 1.7 cm this was a core needle ultra sound guided. The first ultra-sound said almost 2cm. I am trying not to be nervous but as the day gets near the fear is building. I am so thankful for this forum..
Thanks,
Carla
0 -
An attractive blonde from Cork, Ireland, arrived at the casino. She seemed a
little intoxicated and bet twenty thousand dollars in a single roll of the
dice.
She said, "I hope you don't mind, but I feel much luckier when I'm
completely nude." with that, she stripped from the neck down, rolled the
dice and with an Irish brogue yelled, "Come on, baby, Mama needs new
clothes!"
As the dice came to a stop, she jumped up and down and squealed... "Yes!
Yes! I won, I won!"
She hugged each of the dealers, picked up her winnings and her clothes and
quickly parted.
The dealers stared at each other dumbfounded.
Finally, one of them asked, "What did she roll?" The other answered, "I
don't know - I thought you were watching."
MORAL OF THE STORY
Not all Irish are drunks, not all blondes are dumb.....
But all men...Are men!0 -
Carlads-I can only tell you my experience. I did chemo first and had many scans to watch what the cancer was doing. I had about a 2.5 cm grade 3, auxillary nodes looked negative and im nodes were positive-confirmed by biopsy. After chemo my last scans showed no cancer, doctor was cautiously optimistic. Surgery confirmed no cancer, so imaging was correct for me. My doc did say different imaging can show different sizes because of the angle and the type of technology, so I wouldn't be worried about the size difference of less than .3. Also, I had bc 10 years ago and had core biopsy and mri and ultrasound. Size was 3.5 cm. I had lumpectomy that time before chemo, and surgery confirmed size and type of cancer, same as at the time of biopsy. They did think my nodes were negative that time, but they found microscopic cancer in two nodes. My doc also said that they give the size of tumor by the longest side, on my path report it read something like 3.5x1.6x2.8. I hope this helps you. When I first read your question I thought you were going to ask about surprises regarding surgery, which I did have a big surprise! As they were getting me settled into my room, I realized I had this huge billowing blanket on me! They were blowing warm air into it and it was practicaly covering my face, I felt a bit clausterphobic and wanted them to take it off, but they wouldn't Said I needed to have it on for a bit! Now I laugh about it, but I was mad that they wouldn't take it off in my groggy state of mind. I was soooo scared before my bmx, for weeks before it. I really feel for you because I remember that fear and not knowing what to expect. Take a deep breath, you will get through this. We are there for you!
Bernie-Good one!!!
0 -
Minxie, Years ago, after my first diagnoses I drove to a beach just north of San Francisco from Seattle, about a 12 hour drive. I took one of my dogs and I had one of the most relaxing wonderful times I have ever had. It is actually the only time I had done something like that without friends or hubby. I hope you do it. I think you will have a much needed relaxing time.
Mags, thanks for the update. Dawn-come visit us!!!
0 -
Carla, I also had BMX with TE. I the most startling thing that happened to me was the PS coming to see me in the preop area. She pulled the privacy curtain all around my bed and had me undress and sit at the side of the bed. With a purple marker in her hand, she very carefully looked me over and started to make markings on my chest and each breast. Reality hit me hard at that moment.....I started to cry. She finished drawing and gave me a hug. DH was in tears, too. I hadn't really cried over losing my breasts until that moment. And I haven't cried over that part of this journey since. Many tears over cancer, but NOT again about the loss of my breasts.
I will be thinking of you, tomorrow. You will get through this. Check in when your up to it.
Well, I will be off the boards for a few days. I am leaving tomorrow to see my Navyson. His deployment starts on Wednesday. DH and I will be there to see him off. Trying to stay strong for my DIL and grandson.
0 -
Loafer, I had Lx and am more than 3 years out now. There are tons of TN survivors out there - they just don't visit the boards so much, so you don't hear all the success stories. There may be reasons to choose a Mx over a Lx but being TN is not, in itself, one of them. Many TN experts have weighed in on this - including on this site. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/ask_expert/2008_07/question_20
Minxie: So sorry you are going through a rough time. I know you will find your way through.
0 -
carlads- I had chemo first just like bak94 and was pleasantly surprised at the time of surgery (just 2 weeks ago, bmx) there was no evidence of ANY cancer. In the beginning the mri showed it was 1.9 but I love knowing that the chemo worked. Now I am at home recovering and starting to get hair to grow.
0 -
Greetings from warm NC!
We are having such beautiful weather! It made it difficult to put out the Christmas decorations as I swatted away mosquitos.
I have so much energy today! I am enjoying my week off of neulasta and chemo.
Hugs...0 -
WOO HOO! I am down to my last 2 rads. In April, when I was diagnosed, it seemed like I would never get through all the treatments. I had my lumpectomy in April, chemo started in May, when it was finished had a re-excision (margins were clear, but just barely). Radiation started early October. Now, I am facing the fear that every pain means mets somewhere. Does anyone else face that feeling that the fleeting pain in your temple means brain mets, or the pain in your leg means bone mets? How do the rest of you determine when to be concerned, and when to ignore symptoms as normal? Being TN, I am more prone to worry about spreading outside the breast, and not so much a recurrence in either breast.
0 -
Navy..you made me cry...I didn't lose my breasts but remember all the markings on them from lx and rads...so I understand...in a way...the tats will always be a reminder.
OBX...loving the weather in Ohio...up to 60 degrees today...one day of winter without snow is a good day...glad you have lots of energy..feels good doesn't it....
Joyce...I'm Joyce too..bet your middle name is Ann...so original back in the sixties...ha ha...glad you are almost done with treatment..good stuff...yeah it is freaky about the mets stuff...I dunno...I still follow the 2 week rule..works for me...
0 -
Minxie: You need to surround yourself with people who will help you to THRIVE not just survive. xo
0 -
OBXK: glad your feeling so good. Having energy and feeling like yourself feels so good even if its for one day. One thing I'm learning on my cancer roller coaster is not to take anything for granted anymore. Enjoy that weather! I'm in Washington state and even though its not cold, it sure is wet.
Browerl: That is good news for you! I'm doing chemo first as well. Then Bmx in January with expanders at the same time. How are you feeling so far? Are the expanders painful?0 -
Titan: close.. Middle name is Elaine :-) thanks for the feedback.
0 -
Just wondering if any of you that have had a BMX, we're working at the time of your surgery and how much time you took off for recovery. Probably the wrong thread to ask this but being TN, thought I would ask.
Thanks, Erin0 -
Erin - What type of work do you do? Sorry I wasn't working, but it was a pretty easy recovery. I didn't have any complications. Hardest part was resisting reaching up - seemed the entire world, was up!
When is your surgery?0 -
Karen, I work in a middle school office. I'm the business clerk. My surgery is not until January 24th. I'm anxious to get it behind me but scared at the same time!
0 -
Erin - there was very little time between biopsy and surgery, so I didn't have time to over think it, and it was Christmas, I was busy with two boys.
I thought I would mourn my breast and feel bad about not having them - but I didn't not for one minute. I delt with it so well, I was worried.
How much time will you be off? I think my staples and drains went around week two.
Wishing you all the best!0 -
My friend had a single MX and is an executive with the American Academy of Family Physicians. She took off two weeks, although I suspect she was working from home soon after her surgery. I think getting rid of the drains before going back to work was her benchmark.
I wasn't working but once I got rid of the drains, I was OK. I took pain meds for just a day or two, then a little valium for muscle spasms from the tissue expanders.
0 -
Dropping by to say hello ladies!! I don't post often but I do drop in to lurk you ladies. Hey Titan I am walking a mile and a half a day now. Trying to keep up with you.
Sending well thoughts to everyone.
0 -
Hope-2 weeks after surgery really no pain just a little uncomfortable. I still have a lot of swelling and bruising, so much that the plastic surgeon choose to wait another week before he inflates me any more (he put 300 something in at time of surgery). 6 days after surgery I had to return to the hospitable by ambulance because I got a blood clot in my chest. It did pass into my drainage tube. That was way worse then the surgery, the most pain I have ever felt.
I also work in a middle school, however, I work with special needs children therefore, I need to lift them out of wheelchairs and move them around. I will be out of work for about 8 weeks. Just because of the lifting. I am planning on waiting to have my exchange surgery when school gets out for the summer. Oh yeah and my drains came out 8 days after surgery, it was really nice to get rid of them.
0 -
0
