TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
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thanks specialK - i wil look into it, greece would be great! ha ha
if anyone is participating please let me know
it is really interesting reading about all these breast reconstruction options. I am going to do my bmx in september and this is really helpful. I thought the fat transfer was a all or nothing deal? I already saw my PS and she said I am not a candidate. Does this mean i don't have enough for 2 full B cup breasts????? looks like its TE and implants for me. I have a radiated breast now so I hope the result is ok
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Lago, I guess im not understanding what fg is. I got mentor high profile smooth round 600 cc's. Even just a few days post exchange, they are starting to look great - much bigger than what I had before. But what does the fg do that the silicone implant doesn't? Can there still be a good final result without it?
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You can have fat grafting as a supplement to implants - to fill in bony areas, divots, reduce the "orange under a skin look" that skinny women with implants sometimes end up with with implants. I understand that the grafting to implants also can make the breasts feel more warm.
You can also do fat grafting for full reconstruction like I did, with no implants. However, you must realize this will require most likely 3 or 4 surgeries and long wearing times of a device called Brava which is an external expansion device (stretches the skin, creates a blood supply for the fat so it survives). Few plastic surgeons are trained to do full fat grafting as it is still relatively new, but I am seeing more and more surgeons crop up around the country. Oh, and if you have had radiation, add at least 2 additional surgeries to the radiated side to equal the nonradiated side. It's not for everyone, but if you don't want implants and don't qualify for a flap procedure (like me), and are dedicated to the process, it provides a viable option for reconstruction.
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Rozem I'm one of those thin girls (on top that is) that needed fat transfer to smooth out the step off and ripples of the implant. Yes many women do not need the fat transfer. I mean I really have no fat above my belly button other than what my PS put there. My implants still get cold to touch at times in the winter or in AC.
DanceT I also thought with the full fat transfer method you are limited to size of the breast. I didn't think they did larger breasted.
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thanks lago/dance this is really helpful
i have to say i am so jealous that you guys were able to start the process at your first surgery. The reason i waited was that at my hospital they do not do any sort of reconstruction if you are having rads (not even TE's) So I had my lumpectomy and rads and now i have to heal to do the bmx. My PS said i would be able to do it sometime in sept but I (naively) thought that it would be a 1-2 step process. It sounds like this is so much longer from everything I am reading here.
Lago - did the fat transfer happen at the same time as your exchange or is this a seperate procedure?
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shore - the lipo is where the fat comes from FG, they lipo the donor area, spin the fat off in a centrifuge and then inject it to the areas that need the FG - as dance stated - divots, bony areas, ripples, etc. You can have extra lipo done at that time, but your PS may charge for that. Some have a little lipo at recon to smooth out areas, often around the underarm in the area that would be behind of an underwire bra. After MX/BMX that area can be fleshy, mine was with TE's but smoothed out with exchange surgery by itself. Also, my implants look smaller (still a C with 600cc's on the L, 650cc's on the R) than they did at first - I am 6 weeks out. The swelling has gone down and I like them even better, more natural. I went through my lingerie drawer yesterday and had to say goodbye to some beautiful bras - 2 that were Christian Dior lacy ones - gave them to my DD, but I was surprised that some still fit - just smaller on the part that is closer to the arm, but still wearable.rozem - I know that the member kate33 had smaller implants with extra FG over them, they were warm and had a real breast look. She did have to travel to Dr. Khouri (Brava specialist) in Miami to have this done - it was a revision of her previously larger implants. I say we all go to Greece for 6 months to do this trial - what do you think about that?0
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Lago, I've seen women get to about a C cup size with 4 grafts. It may even be larger than that, that's just my guess looking at the results. It's pretty amazing. Remarkable, actually - irishluck has had absolutely fantastic results. I myself stopped at a full A cup b/c my treatment was interrupted by radiation and now chemo.
rozem - I did not know I would need rads until after MX (close margins found after path review).
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SpecialK - I'm all in on the Greece idea!!! I've always wanted to go there. What a great excuse!
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Rozem I had fat transfer at my exchange. My PS took it from my love handles/tummy but couldn't find enough. ( Yeah I did point to my thighs but he said there would be enough). At my nipple recon we did a lot more. This time he took it from my thighs. I have plenty there… even more now
Reconstruction is a process no matter what you choose. Yes it takes time. Since you had rads it's best to move slowly. The longer you let your skin heal (6-12 months) the better off you will be from what I've read. I would think your PS will know the quality of your skin and make that decision. It's usually about 3 months post last expansion for exchange for everyone anyway.
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For those from Canada, thought you might find this article interesting:
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
This is a detailed cost analysis of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer in Canada. In contrast to a range of other recent clinical advances, 1 year of trastuzumab is considered cost-effective in Canada.0 -
Any suggestions on a good calcium supplement? Every female friend I have who did anything at all about calcium other than a healthy diet has run into some sort of trouble that has been attributed to calcium supplements. From kidney stones, to impossible digestive problems . THe only friend I had who was able to take Fosamax for several years actually broke two different legs in less than two years!
I understand that calcium is supposed to be hard to absorb from many of these sources.
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ashla - I take 1500 iu of calcium, combined with 1200 iu of D in the form of gummy bites (ridiculous, I know). I can't swallow the big calcium pills. My understanding is that it is best absorbed when taken with food, and that it is also best to spread the calcium throughout the day in 500 iu doses because more than that can't be absorbed at a time. I have received one Prolia injection so far, I was osteopenic prior to dx and that has become worse with chemo and 6 months of Femara. I have had no SE's from that injection so far. My MO recommended it because I can't take the oral drugs due to a gastro surgery in '95, and because Prolia is not a bisphosphanate, although it does have some of the same potential SE's.
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I just had my 2nd exchange done 2 weeks ago. The first one failed due to to having the implant placed before radiation. I developed capsular contracture. I'm really hoping it works this time. Had a question re the FG. They did take some fat from my love handles, and placed it above my implant. It's still very swollen. Boy did that hurt. Was just wondering how long it takes to subside a bit. I see Special K noted, she is less swollen 6 weeks out.
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thanks dance
everything in public healthcare is about cost-effectiveness. I found out recently that in Ontario, where I live, the gov't only covers Herceptin for tumors over 1 cm!!!! One of the volunteers at the hospital where i get H told me she had to pay out of pocket and get hers done in a private clinic b/c her tumor was only 7mm. Unbelieveable.
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ashla...As far as i remember i always took Caltrate with D.....2+ a day with food.
Total of 1200mg calcium and 800mg D. Caltrate made their pills smaller and flatter and it's easier to swallow.
My D levels were in mid 40's. It should be higher than that but it's in normal range.
♥
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I am behind on the thread- reading about the trial.
How many times are required to visit the site for the trial? Sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind participating if there are not too many visits?
I am on Metformin still but not on a trial. No side effects whatsoever.
Lisa
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LisaGH - here is the link for the trial. I think it is once a month for 6 months, but you have to be seen 3 times during the week you are receiving the vaccine. Then you are followed at intervals after that, but I can't remember how frequently.
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Hillck, wow, I hope that's not true of all meds being taken with calcium because I take my tamoxifen at dinner with my second calcium pill of the day. There is so much to know about with this stuff, and just when I think I have a handle on something, I find out I missed something or have been doing something wrong. Very frustrating.
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Wow, Rozem. That is just wrong. Maybe things will change with this new study?
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Specialk...with what we spend on flights, hotels, and food for the trial, we probably could do six months in Greece and share an apartment! Lol.
Lisa....you go once for blood typing (special kind),then one a month for 6 months. The first time you are there for 5 days, then the other tmes for three days each time. Weekends dont count. Then followup is at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. If youare close, you obviously wouldnt have to stay there. You get a vaccine on Monday and then go back on Wednesday for evaluation, for example.
On calcium, I have been cut down to 500 daily due to kidney stones.0 -
My ps said the lipo is part of the fatgrafting and covered by insurance. I plan to have smaller implants with fatgrafting to fill in the area that needs it after all is said and done. The next six weeks I just need to heal from the recent surgery and see how the herceptin treatments go.
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fluff - I am down for Greece. Seriously.
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Hi Ladies, this is my first post, I am recovering from surgery, battling infection, inflammation etc.
I visited my doctor today and he doesn't think I would benefit from chemo, not sure why. I am strong triple positive, and my oncotype score was 14, what ever that means.
He wants me to have radiation for 5 weeks and 5 year hormonal therapy. I would rather change diet, however I use to eat very healthy......
I thought that reoccurrence means to have another cancer in the breast, but today I found othervise, so how and when would we find out?
Thank you all for sharing, it helps.
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Eva2012Y-me Is this your surgeon that is saying this? I highly recommend you discuss this with an oncologist. They are the ones to decide if you need chemo/herceptin.
You can find the NCCN (national comprehsive cancer network) guidelines here: http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_guidelines/breast/index.html
Page 76 recommends Herceptin (Trastuzumab), chemo and hormone therapy for tumors larger than .5cm (thats 1/2 cm).0 -
My tumor was 2.3cm, and my surgon is oncologist too, however he wanted me to have another opinion. He thinks that mt chances for recurrence are low..?? 9% with Temox, and 18% without, and chemo may do more harm than benefit.
That's what he told me today. Not sure about it, and little puzzeled.
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Yes, I am in Chicago, il., and seeing great doctor, I have great health insurance.
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Eva2012Y-me I sent you a PM0
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Hillck, thank you for advice, I will do so, did you have chemo already? How was it???
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Eva: That's great if no chemo is needed but seems your doctor treats much more differently than most of us HER-2 positive. My tumor was only 1.6 and had I not been HER-2+, no chemo would have been necessary.
I've always been told HER-2+ is automatic chemo. A second opinion is a great idea. Hope he is correct because it sure would be nice to forego chemo. Best wishes!
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I have to apologize, I read my report ...wrong, I took second look this morning - with my glasses on --ha ha ha , and I see that I am ER positive but not HER2, it is 9,6 negative, Is it good or bad ??, so ...I'm sorry for all confusions I created.
Eva
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