Any 40-ish survivors?
Comments
-
bdavis, good to see you posting, hoping you are feeling well, how do things look and feel? What kind of nip reconstruction did you have?
Readingmama, I decided not to keep either nipple with my mastectomies, since one had to go, I thought it might be easier to get a matching pair loosing both. I am sure there is no right or wrong answer. After my nipple recon (cv flaps), ps stitched a nipple guard right on to my skin, gross, but worked, since then I have been protecting with some little pads I devised. I have heard so much about them shrinking to nothing and I rather like the projection I have. I see my ps back next week, then getting ready for tatoos.
0 -
Hi Betsy, Glad to hear you are doing well and the nurses are taking good care of you!!! Piña colada or margarita ice chips sound great! Rest up as much as you can!!!!!
0 -
I have no idea how they made my nipple.. I think from the skin right there on the breast... and I have a silicone guard that is secured with an adhesive... In one week, I can take off the guard and use new guards that I put on and take off for showers for another two weeks. My existing nipple is almost flat, and doesn't high beam ever.. so he built the new one to match that... and I am fine with that.. It looks big now, but I know they shrink... and then I will get 3D tattoos with Vinnie Myers.. I'd rather have them near flat than high beam all the time... and all sensitivity is gone, so cold air, nothing happens... I waivered about whether to remove both or just the one.. maybe removing both might have been easier to make them match, but my PS said he could match them, so I went with just one.
0 -
Hi Betsy, glad you are doing well, lets hear it for "low beams".
Emma, How did thing go yesterday? I was thinking of you and wondering if you left the PS and messages with ink on your body. Hope you are doing well.
Hi to all, busy day, will check on you all this evening.
0 -
Hi Ladies...Good thoughts to all of you getting ready for surgery...had surgery or treatment...I can't wait until we are ALL done...we will be so shined up for Ellen by then!!
Sarah..have you made that chocolate birthday cake for Dan yet?? I hope you enjoy his celebration tomorrow!!
I will be off to the ONC for follow up shortly..why do I not like the follow up appointments? I get a bit nervous each time.
Someone is getting squishies tomorrow....YAY for squishies
Kiwimum is down to the wire with RADS!! YAY..
Take Care all you girls ..hope today is good..
Hang in there Eema..I'm so glad your surgery is over and you can keep moving forward!!
Oh I know this is so completely off subject BUT..thought I would share..in a field right across the street I saw 20 wild turkeys. I took pictures with my phone and I reminded them of what time of year it is and they probably should not be out in public!! I have heard turkeys are not smart so hopefully they heard and will be safe!!
0 -
Betsy - glad you are doing well.
kmur - we have so many turkeys in are area, and they are not smart at all. Deer are not that smart either, although those bambi eyes melt my heart. I hate it when I see them dead on the road, especially the little ones. But those raccoons sure are smart, and can be really mean.
Sending good thoughts to everyone doing chemo, rads, surgery, etc....
0 -
Hi everyone,
Wanted to share this regarding Tamoxifen since some of you are taking it, or will be taking it.
I have been on it since July of this year, minor SEs, everything manageable. Then I had a few more pop up, joint pain started to get intense a little over a month ago and had some vaginal discharge. Was taking steps to minimize them. Then it was time to refill my prescription. This time I noticed that my prescription was from a different manufacturer. Didn't think a thing about it. But those new SEs went away. No more joint pain, so I stopped taking the extra supplements and no issues with any more vaginal discharge either. My hot flashes are a little more intense, but still manageable. So I searched on this website and the internet and found this and wanted to share with you this study on joint pain with generic tamoxifen.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/777880?page=1#post_2705381
I called my pharmacy and asked if they could please stay with my current manufacturer, and they said they would as long as there was not supply issues, and if so they would discuss options with me. If I have problems again I was going to talk with my MO about maybe switching manufacturers or not taking generic Tamoxifen, but the brand name instead.
0 -
Hi Girls,
What a night! I slept like a baby--waking up crying every two hours! Actually, the crying is from the puking! I just can't stop, you'd think I was back in college! This happens every time I am put under. I'm not sure if it is the duladid or what? I also have two large light red welts on my new boobies. I can't tell if it is redness or just from being stretched. Im going with just being stretched, because I don't want to go back to the doctor again!
I have the cure for cancer, by the way. Beats surgery, rads, and chemo-- make fun of the cancer till it gets embarrassed and has to find somewhere else to play!
And a big MWAH (yes, a big, fat, sloppy kiss! No tongues though!) to all of you going through what you are going through. Remember to make fun of cancer daily so it doesn't come back!
Here is a funny Eema story... Yesterday the orderly came to pick me up to take me to patient discharge while my DH went to get the car... Orderly (Jason) tells me he's my date...so I totally play on that...we talk about our kids, his is 8, mine is 6, till we get to the door. I compliment him on his date manners. DH pulls up, opens the door just as I'm telling Jason, "thank you for a wonderful date, but don't you dare try anything because I don't kiss on the first date! DH looks at me and says, "I'm with you 12 hours as your are in surgery and you go out with someone you just met???" I tell DH, "hey, have you seen this cool wheel chair Jason has? How could I NOT go out with him? (and he was very good looking, too, probably 25, tall...)". I'm sure Jason was glad to get me in the car so he could tell his coworkers about the crazy lady with the killer tits that thought she was dating him!0 -
Love the funny Eema stories, hope those welts are getting better.
Kmur, hope your doctors appt went well today, just saw you had one. Hope you are home taking it easy. Spoke with my onc today, he called me, I was worried that something was up with the bone scan (that he did not order, since I never told him about my butt pain), he just wanted the name and phone number of my PS. Just my staff telling me he was on the phone for me made me panic.
Proudmom, I am going to check my tamoxifen out, I am not having any issues, but I am crazy enough to worry that if I am not having side effects, maybe it is not working.
0 -
Hi Everyone,
Eema...We should know by now ....a funny story would be in there somewhere... I hope you are feeling better tonight.
Thank you for asking Christine...it was fine...I'm glad I'm not the only one..I don't know why I get a bit nervous. I will see him again in 4 months. Hope you all are ok weather wise there..sounds like it was stormy there and in Lisa's neck of the woods.
Good night everyone and best wishes to all the surgery girls.
0 -
I had to do alot driving this afternoon and the rain and wind where bad, saw several accidents. So what does you onc do at these appts? My last appt seemed more like a social call then medical appt. I always get myself looking and feeling good before the appts, so he thinks I am doing fabulous, when the real truth is scarey. Maybe on my next appt I will let him see the grumpy, disorganized, chemo dazed , funky haired fruitcake that I have become..
0 -
Oh Christine.. I am sure you are awesome!!! mind over matter.
0 -
betsy, I can wait to see you results, are you on pict forum? I am not, but have shared with a few on just email
0 -
Hey friends.
Meegan...yes, every 3 weeks not 2...I can't keep things straight. I'm cracking up that each of us has a "nip sitch." My situation is that I don't have any right now (I don't have yours either Eema!). My son caught a glimpse of my boobs one day...he's been wanting to see the scars he knows come with surgery...he pulled on my shirt and said, "Mommy, you don't have those pacifier things anymore!" No wonder he was totally attached to me while Bfing those years ago---he thought they were pacifiers! LOL.
Christine, that's hilarious. I always wear yoga pants and slip on shoes...I went like that to Walmart the other day and thought someone is going to take a picture of me as one of those crazy people in Walmart. My sleep hat on, yoga pants, white socks and blue slip on shoes that should really be for gardening...wow, I was hot. LOL. I thought I'd dress up for my last chemo...nope. Yoga pants.
Eema...your next date should be with DH to take those new girls out for a drive!
Going to hit the hay friends! (And kmur, I'm on the ativan or I wouldn't sleep a WINK. Some people have some luck with melatonin, but it didn't work for me. I figure I deserve to sleep now, and I'll worry about getting off it later.)
0 -
Proud Mom...thanks so much for that info...getting my first scrip of Tamoxifin filled this week...going to check this out! Thanks!!
0 -
Hi ladies
I've had a busy couple of days and not been on here. I've been trying to catch up on reading your news.
Rads is going ok. 7 to go. I have noticed discomfort and a bit of pain to the area now. Hopefully it doesnt get too much worse over the next week. My onc has also banned me from the pool for a least 3 weeks after I finish rads. At least I'll be in for Christmas.
Do any of you know who Michael C Hall is? Dexter & Six Feet Under. I had lunch with him today and was quite excited. He's a nice guy. The TV company I work for has bought him down to NZ for a promotional tour and lucky me got to have lunch with him. I got a pic for my FB page!
Last night I went to see the new Twilight movie. I have enjoyed the past movies but found this one nowhere near as good.
Betsy, good to see you are doing well.
Eema - so sorry you are vomitting. Yuck. Loved your orderly date story.
Kmur - glad your doc appt went well. I too will worry before check ups.
Proudmom - very interesting about Tamox manufacturers. I will look out for that too. I've been on Tamox now for 6 wks and going ok.
Christine - like you I put on a fabulous brave face to my doc ... and the world. When people ask me how I'm doing, do they really want the truth??
Hope the rest of you are doing well. Sorry if I've forgotten someone.0 -
Hi All,
Oh Christine..I bet you are not a fruitcake..but I think that would accurately describe how I feel. I just feel like a ding bat these days. Going for followups I guess just has me more on edge. My appointments are easy..he checks me over and says ..we will expect for things to continue with no surprises.... I guess I want him to follow me around all day saying everything is great and you just run on and live your little life and don't even think about all this stuff ever ever again. I know exactly what you mean though,If someone said to me your ONC is on the line and needs to talk to you...that ..would get my attention..so ..I know..we will get there ..I really believe that!!
Eema...hope you are better today and I will try that poking fun of cancer bit until it is shamed away...I think you do have to look at it with a sense of humor or it could sneek up on you..keeps my mind in a better place too.
Betsy..hope you are well..I also hope you like your results and hope you can see everything today.
Kiwimum..I will have to look them up..I have said ..I am finally old because I do not know who the famous actors and musicians are these days. That is pretty cool that you get to meet people in that way!! I am so glad you are just about finished. How great to swim in your own back yard at Christmas....We will celebrate with you!!
proudmom...Today I am going to see if I can find my turkeys..I am such a geek ..I called them ( ok ..tried to use my best turkey talk) and the Tom actually fluffed his tail and called all of his lady friends..it was really neat to see that...he was such a pretty bird with a long beard and beautiful tail...I am such an animal geek so ..that will be my mission today.
0 -
Hi everyone, had such a long day at work yesterday, I got home made dinner, ate dinner, and had a coke - totally off my diet - so I decided to add a little more sugar to it so in went the jack daniels! Whew, it only took one! Didn't even check the boards!
Hope you each have a fabulous thursday and since next week is thankful week here, I must say, cancer has positively affected my life is a few different ways, and one of those was meeting all of you!
0 -
Kiwimum! You are so LUCKY! I love Michael C Hall! I love him even more because he is a cancer survivor and doing so well too! Could you maybe post one of your picures of you two here?
Tori
0 -
Kiwi, keep on with the rads! You're getting there!!! I can't believe they won't let you in your pool. I had no idea about that. But then, it's now YOUR pool, so you'll have years and years to enjoy it. I don't watch Dexter, but I loved Michael C Hall on Six Feet Under! What fun!
Kim, glad the news has been good. I know what you mean. I've had a cough..and this morning my sternum hurt (I'm sure from the coughing) and all I could think was....oh no...what if it's mets. I know my stats are good, but boy, I guess I'll always worry some...maybe less as time goes on...I hope.
0 -
Kiwimom: I am so jealous!!! I love Michael C. Hall. I watched Six Feet Under and also watch Dexter. It is good to know he was nice.
0 -
Gina...sometimes a date with Jack ( and coke..or just ice) is medically necessary...Lol..I'm glad after a long day..you got to enjoy a little something. I agree that BC (for me also) has reminded me to live my life,enjoy today,and let go of stuff that does not matter..and I think you are so right ..with THanksgiving around the corner..I am thankful for so much more than I used to be and I am thankful to have you girls here too. I don't talk about any of this stuff with my non-BC friends.
Oh funny story ( back to nipples) ....one of my follow BC friends called me yesterday and said " OK I just had nipple surgery and I am freaking out because they are so big,were yours big too" once again I just laugh because I can not believe I am comparing nipple size and explaining shrinkage ( of a different kind)
Cristy..I know ..I do that too..I remember while doing Taxotere and having headaches..I thought oh no here we go it IS in my head....and the RO said Ok you know that is very very rare right?? BUT...over time it is getting better...I hope your cough gets better soon ..I have heard lots of people have allergy issues now. Did you get your Chocolate Turkeys??
0 -
The lovely Michael C Hall.
I must say that seeing a photo of yourself is certainly a wake up call to how round my face has become. Blergh!!
0 -
KiwiMum - that is so cool, that's great that you get to meet stars! And you look beautiful!! Sorry, you can't use pool for a while, have you won any money on the scratchies?? How is you dd with her collerbone, does she have a neck brace or something?
Today was crazy at work with Occupy Wall Street. I had to fight through some crowds to get in our back entrance than they were not letting employees leave the building, but the protesters were gone by 11am, which was good. My boss took us out to an early xmas lunch, since I will not be there in Dec, I thought that was very thoughful of her! We left together b/c "thousands" were at City Hall and we have to walk right near there to get to the PATH train. Saw helicopters and police, but no protesters.
0 -
Hi Meegan. I've not won anything much on the scratchies so far. Two have won $1 - but they cost $1 each so I'm still down. 6 more to scratch ... you never know.
DD's collarbone is sore and making her grumpy. She's finding it very hard to sit still and "heal". She has a neck brace / arm sling thing to immobilise it. We go back to the specialist in 2 weeks.
Was your Xmas lunch good? Hopefully the crowds etc were scary.
0 -
Ha, Kiwi - you are showing off that picture everywhere aren't you? LOL. It is very exciting!
Christy, I am afraid the "is it mets" worries will never completely go away. I do find that I am less worried than I was originally, but it is still there. I have gotten good at not panicking until I try the two week rule I read about here. Give whatever it is 2 weeks and if it is not better then follow up. So far everything has gotten better or completely gone away in those two weeks.
So I measured my hair tonight for the first time in a while. I am at 6 inches, which is pretty darn good for 11 months PFC. It is stunning to me, however, how short 6 inches is. It is going to take 8 - 10 inches to look anything close to normal for me. I never realized it before, but my hair must have been a good 15 inches long before. Who knew? That seems like a lot of hair.
0 -
Kiwi, that is an awesome pic! And you look fabulous! Michael does too, considering he too is a recent "survivor.!
0 -
Kiwi - you look great! I have always like Michael as on actor. Quick question on your pool? Is it a salt water pool or do you use clorine? I had a friend who was told NO 'public' pools during rads or clorine because it was make to rads effects worse however a private salt water pool is fine...trying to find a way to get you in your pool
0 -
Burely, Betsy and Eema - I hope you all are healing well and feeling good.
0 -
Michelle - its chlorine unfortunately. That's why the onc doesnt want me in.
Lisa - gotta show off everywhere! I have FB and BC friends, some are both.
6 inches is fantastic Lisa. Mine is currently about 1/4 inch. It's making me happy as its growing every day.
I too have mets anxiety. I've had a pain in my jaw for months. Next week I'm getting it checked out. My doc thinks I've injured the jaw hinge thing (can't remember the official word) rather than anything more serious. I'll be glad to find its that.0
