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  • mandymoo
    mandymoo Member Posts: 632
    edited January 2013

    Jenn, that is great news xxx. I just got back and my turmor markers have started to go down (they have been going up steadily since may 2012) and my LDH is finally within normal range, so the Xeloda is working. wahoo!!

    I hope everyone is keeping safe with all these fires in the Eastern States and also Tassie. 

    Mandy 

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2013

    Mandy that is GREAT news! :-)



    Jenn

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2013

    Wow Jenn! That's really great news! Congrats girl!! Isn't it awful that we can congratulate someone for having arthritis?.........at least that is really manageable. Hope you are celebrating!



    Mandy fab news for you too! Watching those markers drop sure would be a good feeling and well worth a celebration as well!



    Love n hugs for both of you! Chrissy

  • midnight1327
    midnight1327 Member Posts: 1,331
    edited January 2013

    Jenn, phew you had me nervous there for awhile, but man what a relief. very happy for you indeed. sorry i am too  tired today to happy dance. but i am very relieved you are all clear, YAHOO.

    hey Traii, welcome,  yes  there is alot to read on here. I am a kiwi, i come in here to talk to the ausy girls. you will find alot of  info on here. I come in here and rave on sometimes, i try not to. but having a bunch of girls to talk to even on line is very refreshing, instead of two males that are into male interests. i think every women needs female company even across the tasman and these ladies are so knowledgable. What ever i try and be supportive.  so welcome to the family.

    Alyson, lovely picture. you look so relaxed girl and the two kids. lovely.

    every body have a good night.

  • midnight1327
    midnight1327 Member Posts: 1,331
    edited January 2013

    Mandy, sorry, good for you too, good day for good results, i missed yrs, but   happy for you. Congrats.

  • Linda1966
    Linda1966 Member Posts: 441
    edited January 2013

    Congratz Jenn and Mandy, brilliant news for you both.

    Traii, I think you introduced yourself at a time when everyone was concentrating on Jenn and her tests. Please know that your more than welcome here and I hope you get to know and like us and stick around.

    I can only tell you what I think. If someone is dx with BC thru the public hospital system, I would imagine everything to do with it, including recon would be covered by medicare.  If youve contacted a plastic surgeon directly, then i think it would not be covered by medicare. My problem is I havent had a recon lol. Im flat on one side and happy to stay that way. Hopefully one of the ladies who had bmx with immediate recon can jump in and clarfy things for you.

    Hope Trish and the others in the danger areas are safe along with their properties. Fingers crossed this weather eases up for us all soon, the poor fireman and women must be exhausted.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 1,422
    edited January 2013

    Mandy - great news!!!

    Jenn - my onc said my spine is a mess. Good to hear there are no mets for you. I do have one question though. Why does this study require you to have annual scans, aren't they concerned about the exposure to so much radiation? Steve had to have annual CT scans because he was at such high risk from bowel cancer mets, which he did get. I can understand him having to have them but I don't get that they would expose you.

  • mandymoo
    mandymoo Member Posts: 632
    edited January 2013

    Hi Traii, I am sorry I missed you as well. I had plastic surgery done in Octorber 2010 through the public hospital system in South Australia. I had a tram flap and a breast reconstruction free of charge. I believe that if you are having plastic surgery due to your cancer, then it would be free of charge. If you are seeing a plastic surgeon who does not operate in a public hospital then they may charge you (not 100% sure). If in doubt, get reffered to your local public hospital. Good luck :)

    Cheers

    Mandy Smile

  • mandymoo
    mandymoo Member Posts: 632
    edited January 2013

    Thank you everone for your kind words. I am really doing the happy dance today as it has been a very long time since I had any good news. Jenn, I dont drink, but I will be having a lemon squash with my tea and toast your good news as well!!! 

    Cheers

    mandy Smile

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited January 2013

    Mandy, just so happy for you too. What a relief it must be to get such good news.

    Lots of good news today.

    Now if they can just get the fires under control, that would be wonderful

    Take care!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2013

    Hi Traii and welcome. If you are in the public system all costs are covered by Medicare including recon done at the same hospital. I'm not sure but I think under the private system you are also covered for the Medicare portion of the charge the rest is covered by your health fund. I only had one side and I went private but all costs for mastectomy and hospitalisation were covered all bar $250 which is the amount of my co-pay.



    Hope this helps.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Hi Lovely ladies :)

    I did come at the wrong time but you girls are gorgeous warriors, its a real Aussie & NZ family, thanks for the welcome!

    Fantastic news for Jenn & Mandy Laughing 

    I'm currently having treatment under the public system at Peter Mac and the plastic surgeon there is also a private surgeon so I haven't seeked my own 'yet' as I meet with her later in Jan so will see how that consult goes.

    I've been told I only need one boobie removed however I want both .... new me, new boobie size so I may as well have both and better in the long run I'm guessing !

    Thanks for letting me know re medicare....I was going to call them tomorrow after my chemo but I know that I'd be on hold for an hour before I actually get through to them and thought you girls would be more helpful anyway which you were :)

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited January 2013

    Great news for Jenn and Mandy, so happy for both of you.



    Jenn as I was reading your post, I wondered if it would be arthritis, like mine was, and then the good (!!) news that it was.



    Traii welcome to our little group.



    All good here. The Cooma fire is half an hour south of us and wind is blowing it away from us. The two fires to the west of us are still contained and under control, so that's good too. Very hazy and smoky but at least the temp has dropped a bit and the horrible wind has eased.

    I've been getting texts and calls all afternoon from friends and family who heard about the Cooma fires and started to panic. Nice to be loved.



    Hope everyone else is ok.



    Trish

    xox

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2013

    Traii - welcome :-)



    I'm not much help in regards the public or private question. I had my initial lumpectomy as a private patient in a public hospital. There was a gap payment of a couple of hundred dollars for the surgeon and no charge for the anaesthetist.



    I then had my bilateral mastectomy and recon as a private patient in a public hospital because I would have had to go on a very long waitlist to get it done in the public hospital since theoretically they would have both been prophalactic since I had already had the lumpectomy.



    The amount covered by Medicare and private funds is pretty pathetic. All up, the total cost for bilateral MX and recon was about $20,000 for anaesthetist, breast surgeon and plastic surgeon. Medicare and our fund only covered about $8000 of that and left us with a gap of $12,000. That was $4,000 for the anaesthetist, $1,000 for the breast surgeon and $7,000 for the plastic surgeon.



    A LOT of money, but hubby and I decided it was worth it for the peace of mind since I had become aware that I was at high risk of more bc due to something in my medical history.



    Jenn

  • lolalee
    lolalee Member Posts: 164
    edited January 2013

    Just been reading the posts and had a heavy heart until I finished reading, great news Jenn!   F...k Cancer!

    Traii, I recently had a UMX with TE expander and reduction and lift on the other. I have private health cover and I was still $1,000's out of pocket.  Medicare pay only 70% of the surgeon's scheduled fee (if you have reached the safety gap otherwise it is less). BS and PS usually charge a lot more than the scheduled fee. Private health usually cover all hospital fees and the difference between medicare's refund of scheduled fee.  That means the 30% difference of scheduled fee so in other words you should be able to get most of the scheduled fee payment back. 

    My hospital stay at Royal North Shore Private was in excess of $12,000 which was paid in full by my Private Health Fund.  Surgeons more or less charge what they can get away with and it is heaps more than the scheduled Medicare fee recommended by the government.  All surgeons will give you an estimate of costs before procedure.  Hope this helps.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Hi Jenn

    Thanks for that info, I'm the same as you, I too had lumpectomy but was advised to have the one I had lumpectomy on removed and i've decided to do both...so I guess I'm having prophalactic BMX too this is due to my high risk of reoccurance due to previous history (thus the reason I have BC also )

    My hospital doesn't have a waiting list I've enquired, I just wanted to know if I should get private health cover again or opt to just go public (I know when I had my son in a private hospital I was way out of pocket even using my gap)

    Money is not a problem if I needed to pay as I know I need boobies (I'm not exactly small in the boobie dept and having nothing there would be an eyesaw for everyone that knows me) lol  my husband & I agreed on this also and that it's best for me and that peace of mind !

    Hi Lolalee,

    Thanks for your information.....it's good that your Private Health fund covered your complete hospital stay, wow $12,000 is huge.

    Girls you are a big big help, thanks sooooooo much :)

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited January 2013

    Wonderful news Jenn and Mandy. It's amazing how we love dx of arthritis. Trail welcome even though its not a place you really want to be.

    Have just got in from dinner with DS and FDiL. Been discussing wedding plans.

    Big hugs to all.

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2013

    Yes, my fund covered all of the hospital accommodation charges...



    I've ended up with larger breasts (DD) than I wanted or had before (C). I call them my "porn star boobs". Happy to donate some ;-) Am seriously wanting to get these made smaller and will be discussing with the PS in a few weeks.



    Jenn

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Thanks Alyson, I know not a nice place to meet but I guess we are here and helping eachother through our journeys :)

    Exciting times ahead with a wedding ....... I loved planning my wedding, think I should have become a Wedding Planner....lol

    Jenn.....Lol I have DDs / E's now( So I guess for the time being we can be 'porn stars together' lol....thats why I KNOW I NEED my boobies to be replaced.....these girls have been my trademark....lols.....now its time to go down to about a C i'm thinking and ones that 'stand up' on there own are going to be much more accommodating I think :)

    I'm just debating over the not sure if its call Tram or something when they remove tissue from your tummy or the silicone, I'm opting more silicone implants I think it is as I have a 3 year old to run after and I've heard that healing time would be worse ??

  • Angela-R
    Angela-R Member Posts: 109
    edited January 2013

    Yippee, so pleased for you Jenn and Mandy. Relief.

    Welcome Traii. Another Melbourne girl. No doubt we'll chat more in the coming months.

    Cheers everyone

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Wow, first Melbourne girl I've met on here, nice meet you Angela :)

  • jebdra
    jebdra Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2013

    Wow Jenn, you certainly know how to take my mind of tomorrow's surgery !  I was reading this thread earlier, and I was really sweating on your scan results, and then I had to go out damn it. Anyway that's great news :)  Arthritis is the pits (I've had it in my hands for years), but you can manage it.  You sure don't die from it - and that deserves a happy dance.

    Mandy - that's great news too - enjoy your lemon squash - you've earned it.

    Well - I've got 8 hours to the alarm to get me up for my SND scan, so I've taken a sleepy pill.  Good night all.  Safety from the fires and good results to all of us.

  • liv-
    liv- Member Posts: 272
    edited January 2013

    hello my fellow sisters ((hugs))

    well done jennt & mandy - sigh of relief.. enjoy!

    today i had my follow up bloods and ct scan results.

    all good, large nodes on chest shrunk by 80% and the mass of small nodes almost invisible.

    the surprising thing was my bloods were excellent and he was surprised that they were as good as they were. 

    dont trust the nasty critter, still researching looking for that miracle.

    thoughts with tassie & NSW, just awful.

    xxx

  • Angela-R
    Angela-R Member Posts: 109
    edited January 2013

    Oh Liv what great news. So pleased for you. We can both enjoy a sense of peace for a while.

    Cheers,

    Angela

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,643
    edited January 2013

    All be safe in New South Wales. We are thinking of you!!!

    Your Mods

  • liv-
    liv- Member Posts: 272
    edited January 2013

    thx angela....

    u too lovely, im having a glass of red, relief.

    xx

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2013

    Jan - good luck today. Can someone let us know on here how you go? My hubby put an update message here for me after my surgery...



    liv - more good news. That's great!



    Jenn

  • jebdra
    jebdra Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2013

    liv - that's great news - good to hear.

    Jenn - thanks for your good wishes.  I'll have the laptop with me, so I'll post as soon as I'm awake - either to crow with relief that no ALND needed,  or look for some commiseration.  My BS said that if there's a drain in the armpit, then the SN was positive and he's had to do an ALND, so that's what I'll be looking for.

    I'm not sure about my other half posting.  I'll ask him when he wakes up. 

    I'm lying here, 3:40am local time, with the sleeping pill doing absolutely nothing (I've been awake since 1am), waiting for the alarm to go off at 5:30, to get me up for my sentinel node scan at 7:30, then admission at 11am, op around 2pm.  I think this is the longest few hours of my life.

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited January 2013

    Jebdra - I'll be thinking of you today, we all will.  Looking forward to hearing everything went according to plan.

    Liv - great news for you too sweetie xoxo

    Thanks Mods - all's good so far, a much, much cooler day here in the ACT and southern NSW this morning and winds have eased off, so fire danger has receded for now.  Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday are predicted to be hot again though, so we are all hoping the firies (bush fire fighters lol) can  get everything mopped up today.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • kyliet
    kyliet Member Posts: 587
    edited January 2013

    Congrats on all the good news.

    Jebdr, hugs and good thoughts for you today.

    Tam, thinking of you starting radio tomorrow.

    The cool change is wonderful. We had a small fire 1km away but it was quickly under control. It was pretty freaky and the car was all packed.  The house was full of smoke all night from the fires down the coast but all in all we are extremely lucky.

    Hubby's initial scans came back ok which is good, so off for colonoscopy to explore more.

    Hugs to everyone xx

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