Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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lol hugz good21/2 years ago I was not sure I would live long enough to have a grandchild happy to prove that thought wrong.. Life is good proud to say I turned 55 today
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Happy birthday, Ossa! And many, many very happy returns of the day
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Ossa - Happy Birthday and congratulations on all the good stuff coming your way!
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Looks like I just missed your birthday but it sounds as though 2014 is going to be a good year for your!
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Happy belated Ossa
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Happy belated B-day Ossa!! Sounds like you're going to have an exciting year ahead of you. It's so nice that the grand babies will be close in age together. They're going to be so much fun!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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Happy Belated Birthday Ossa! Sorry I missed you while I was in town.
Hi to all our BC Sisters!
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hello my fellow Canadians, I joined in January and have been mainly posting in February 2014 group ,under chemotherapy . I must say I am very happy to find a Canadian section. I live in the Vancouver area, I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on where to buy a wig from. I am waiting for the call to start chemo, had the info session this morning, but they are so busy it could be three to four weeks...I am on a cancellation list.
Ossa, congratulations on your grandchild, a beautiful photo of him !
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Gardengirl I posted with my answer on the Canadian thread. Welcome here too!
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thank you Marianelizabeth, I found both your comments. I appreciate any help, will check them out,as I know where they are located?
Thanks !
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MarieK didn't I post that yet? I may have & now forgotten.. argh! the VAGUE UltraSound said.. " there are a number of benign 'appearing' limomatas, (limpomas) ...bla bla.. and the 2 largest sizes were noted. (since US there are so many more up my spine & big and little ones on other side of Ab & well.. omg.. just more more more.. I know Lipoma's are 99% benign.. I guess because I usually get weird or rare findings in my life.. it's hard to remain positive.. but I am keeping on it!!
took 2mths almost to get GP to send me for further investigation.. as I'm not accepting this vague report! what number? 5, 10 , 50?? appearing?? like.. umm hello? not good enough! so finally after much ado he beat around the bush finally landing on..
"oh, ok, I'll send you to the 'lump clinic' in Vanc ...Ooooh, forgot they're at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic".... he's such a dutz!!
so horray!! Feb 13th. Dr. Andrew McFadden at BC Cancer Agency - he's a surgical oncologist . got the referral after only 1.5 weeks of sending letter. .
I WASNT nervous.. and now I am.. silly eh? the rare thing is they're multiplying so quickly and growing quickly too, not all soft as they should be.. so of course I'm pushing to have the ALL CLEAR appt!! Maybe this Dr will even check my chest/underarms ect., since no one else will!! it's been more than 1.5yrs since surgery.
I WISH we had LIKE buttons on here!!
xxox..
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woohooo.. I could really hug ya wrenn after all the rotten Dr's I've had through this journey.. this makes me wanna cry .. tears of gladness! thanks so much! hope your doing well.
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Hi Gardengirl,
Sorry you've had to join us, but welcome nonetheless. I also bought a wig through westcoast and I actually did wear it a lot. Overall I was pretty happy with it, but selection is limited with her so if you don't find something that is 'you' then you may want to look elsewhere as well. You can actually get the exact same wigs they sell at that nicer store on Broadway near the BCCA (name fails me right now) for a lot cheaper online. VogueWigs is one of the sites that sometimes blows wigs out a super cheap price every now and then. And if you search online you'll find a lot of reviews of the wigs by normal everyday people so you can hear what they have to say about them as well. I bought one online for about a fifth of the cost as it would have been in the store... unfortunately, I screwed up the color when ordering it so I wasn't totally happy with it. I also recommend the LGFB course before buying a wig so you get a better idea of what to look for. Best of luck. With everything.
Haven't posted in a long time. I gradually went downhill physically at the end of treatment. Don't know if this is the sole cause, but turns out my thyroid crapped out, likely from the radiation. I'm on synthroid now and have felt pretty good for the last 3 weeks, but I've just spent the last 3 days really tired so I hope I'm not going backwards again. Fingers crossed for a return to the positive end of the health spectrum.
Hope you're all doing well.
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Yikes, Sneaky! No to going backwards. Talk soon. Marian
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hi , thanks for the welcome and info Sneakychiquita, get my first infusion starting this Friday,Feb. 7 at 9am.. So, Iet it begin.... I am not too worried about the wig.... I know I will find something I like...it is more for my children and their friends/ school stuff..... There are enough bald fellas out there to keep me company. Some of the humour with my kids.
So sorry you are not feeling that well Sneakychiquita , hoping that with rest ,things start turning around for you, for the positive . There is always so much unknown . Sending hugs and positive energy your way.
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Hi Wrenn,
I consider my massage therapist to be a miracle worker. She has had specific post-surgical training for BC ladies through a leader in the field who does a lot of evidence-based research in the area. Her name is Kashka Zerafa and she works out of Pomegranate Midwives on East Hastings Street, between Nanaimo and Renfrew. You book directly through her rather than the midwifery clinic so I'll PM her email address to you.
I also have seen Susan Deslippe at Go!Physio to get ideas on how to stretch things out on my own and I do believe it's also helped. Susan will also do some manual therapy (i.e., massage), but it's not nearly as effective as what Kashka does.
I literally couldn't go more than a few minutes without feeling the need to try to stretch out the tightness across my chest by raising my arm above my head a few months ago. Within 3-4 sessions with Kashka I was a new woman. Hope you find relief.
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No one has posted for a few days here so I'll post....
Welcome Gardengirl - sorry you have to be here but glad you found us!
I too got my favourite wig from Westcoast. It was a combo of natural hair and synthetic and in a fun shorter and darker style that what I was used to.
I also bought a few wigs on eBay for fun. I got one that looked like Uma in Pulp Fiction - a jet black bob with bangs!
Wrenn - I saw Patricia Sanderson at Park Royal Phsyio. I had terrible cording (both on my underarm to elbow and on my ribcage) post mastectomy and then again after reconstruction on both sides. She and the BS really helped me work through it.
Cher - glad you are getting someone to look at your lumps and hopefully your chest and underarms too. I also haven't had a breast exam or even a mammo for a long time. Lately I've been having weird tenderness on my natural breast like pre-period hormonal changes. I did ask the GP for a quick feel around and he said it was just hormonal breast tissue changes (I was in getting an allergist referral for strange tongue tingling).
Sneaky - are you feeling any better? Could it be the flu? There are some nasty bugs going around the lower mainland right now. Hoping you haven't caught anything nasty and bounce back soon!
Marian - how are you doing? Have you healed up nicely? Do you like the results?
I'm going in on Feb 27 for another fat grafting surgery and this time the PS is going to give me a tummy tuck. I'm hoping that will get rid of the pouch and landslide that is my abdomen these days. Feeling kind of excited but nervous - it's a 3 hour surgery and a very long recovery...
I hope everyone else is doing ok or on the road to ok...
Marie
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taking y'all with me in the morning to my SO appt ..consultation...but feel excited yet nervous!
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Jumping in your pockets Cher. I have my yearly scans so maybe we can bounce between pockets - great way to burn calories.
Welcome to Gardengirl - sorry you are here, but these ladies are the best.
Hugs and peace and love to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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thanks..well since we can do anything..I'll cine on your pockets with ya too! To bad were not in same city sane area..it'd be a comfort lunch with loss of laughs..
I've been working way way to much..always take in to much..thankfully now I've got my staff for another house covered for the next 2 weeks..long as one messes up!Lol supposed only doing for 2 weeks..turned into a month.now just got word..staff for remainder the month! I already do 3-4 24 Jr shifts should week..I'm exhausted..but Saturday get 4 days off. Have a great night everyone
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thanks everyone for the welcome, this site has been so helpful.... Helps keep me sane. Last night went to one of the look good ,feel better talks....really nice people. Today , I got fitted for a wig...getting my dream haircut.... Hope I love it as much when it is reality. I went to Westcoast wigs, Lynda was fabulous! I have had my first infusion last Friday ,and I am doing ok ,for a first week.
Thanks for all the info shared !
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garden girl great to hear you sounding so positive! Lynda is good and I met her at the feel good thing which they are not allowed to advertise in but I persuaded her to give me her card. Are you also on the Canadian thread? Probably but my memory is terrible.
MarieK, when is your surgery~~again the memory issue!
Stacey how are you feeling?
Cher, what did you find out today at BCCA?
I am feeling really good though still always tired by evening.
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Hi fellow BC girls, after being on this site for a few months I have just found this thread.
I live in Langley and am having my last chemo treatment on Tuesday. Looking forward to 4 weeks off, then radiation. Question: I have been given the choice of 16 DD radiation zaps, or 31 regular zaps. I have just finished 8 DD treatments of chemo which I handled no problem! but the radiation kind of scares me. I am also considering different reconstruction methods...implants are out since I had to have my TE removed due to infection and am not interested in doing that again. Has anyone done a DIEP in the Lower Mainland? And what is the difference between DIEP and fat grafting?
Thanks so much for any info you might have...
carrie
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Welcome Gardengirl and Carrie61. Glad you found this thread. The ladies here on the BC site and Canadian thread are a well of information and support.
Gardengirl - so glad things went well for you after your first treatment. If you're feeling adventurous and want to try on a bunch of wigs, Abantu on Kingsway has a good selection as well. I had real hair as well as synthetic wigs and found the caps on the synthetic ones more comfortable for me.
Carrie - I had a DIEP done. My plastic surgeon was Dr. Sheina Macadam. She has a full description of what is involved on her website and on her 'blog' tab one of her patients chronicled her experience with this procedure. My surgery took 8 hrs (I had 1 side done) and the recovery wasn't easy but I'm really happy that I went this route.
Marie - Good luck on the 27th! Will be thinking of you …
Sneaky - how are things going? Hope you're feeling better.
Marian - have a fantastic time on your trip!! Nepal and Turkey … wow.
Cher - how did the appt go? Any results?
A big hello and hugs to everyone. Hope all is going well.
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Cndchick and Carrie, Sheina Macadam and Peter Lennon are no longer taking new patients. I questioned Peter in December just before my surgery about it and he says they are still doing breast cancer surgery but only from the start. I think maybe it was Sneaky~~not sure but someone said they have a new doctor trained under them in the office and I believe another one too but not at that office. I understand that you can get the info if you call their office. Liefie from Port Alberni had a DIEP done in Victoria and is happy with it.
Marie good to find out your date and will be in your pocket.
Nothing from Cher yet? Hope you news is good news!
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Hello Ladies!
Welcome to Gardengirl and Carrie61- I am more of a 'reader' than a poster but I am here in spirit with everyone and find great support among these wonderful women
Sneaky- glad to hear you are feeling better. I have been thinking of you.
MarieK- good luck with your upcoming surgery. I will be sending you healing thoughts.
Cher- hope all went well with your appt
Marian- welcome back! Hope you had a great vacation!
Just a quick note to say hello and hugs to all!!
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Hello!
Has anyone else heard that Dr Klimo is coming out of retirement? He was my original MO and then when he retired I was "taken over" by his protege Dr Sasha Smiljanic. Good dr too but not the same as Dr Klimo.
I've heard from 2 different sources that he is setting up shop again on the North Shore for "consulting". Just wondering if anyone else heard anything?
I'm really looking forward to my surgery scheduled for Thursday Feb 27. For me it signifies the end of reconstruction and the tummy tuck is a little present for myself too!
But it feels like something is conspiring against me. Here's what's been happening with me....
I saw my GP 2 weeks ago for an allergist referral and asked him to examine my breast.
For a while now I've been having some trouble with my breast (natural side) tenderness and under arm soreness and arm numbness.
He told me it seemed like normal breast tissue and he couldn't really feel anything different.
Well after a week it still hadn't gone away so a week ago Tuesday I left a message at the MO office to see if it could be a side effect of the AI I'm on and see about getting myself examined in case it wasn't.
At the same time I called my GP and actually spoke to someone and got an appt for the next day - Wed.
While at the GP's office (on Wed) the MO's office called and left a message offering me a next day appt but I was already getting further testing through GP. Chest xray and breast U/S so I turned down the MO appt (was with MO's partner anyway not the MO himself).
After seeing the GP - he thinks it might be a pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder area - I went and had my regular bloodwork done. Mostly to see if blood could be drawn or if it was affected by the pinched nerve too.
It was fine - bloodwork was normal except for calcium being a bit high.
Tuesday this past week I went for chest xray and breast u/s (that GP ordered) and everything is fine. I had a bit of a panic when the radiologist came in and followed up but all is good. She tells me I should still be having mammograms (this contradicts what my MO told me) on this breast and now it's standard procedure (at that site) for the radiologist to check breasts before releasing the patient (esp with BC history).
Normally I wouldn't be running around like this but it's been bothering me for a while at this point and I've got surgery next week and hope to use that arm - my good arm - for the IV. I was worried there might be a circulation problem that might hold up my surgery.
Everything seemed like it was sorting out - was going to follow up with GP about some PT for arm - but then I get a call yesterday from BC Cancer Agency asking me to book a PET scan.
This was out of the blue - had spoken to MO at last visit in Dec and he said to wait 1 year after radiation for repeat PET. So that would make it summer for next PET.
PET scan lady told me it was MO who ordered the appt on Monday. I don't see him again until March 12. I didn't book the PET because I've got surgery on Feb 27 and having a PET scan right after surgery seems pointless to me.
Of course when I call the MO's office to clarify it's closed.
I suspect that the MO got a copy of my bloodwork and then discovered that I haven't had a PET in almost a year so ordered the follow up scan.
I called GPs office and asked them to send MO copies of my recent chest xray and U/S. I hope to hear back from his office on Monday and see MO on March 12 so I can discuss when is the right time after surgery to have a PET.
But I can't help but worry. Why does something like this always happen on the weekend?
Sorry about the long post. I think it's just been a mix up but needed to vent, explain, and get talked off the ledge....
Thanks for reading if you've stuck with it this long!
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Marie - I would be worried also. But having read all of your post, it does sound like a bit of a mixup and perhaps one hand not knowing what the other is doing. sure hope you get it all sorted out on Monday - not a thing you can do about it until then, so try to relax and try not to worry, because that doesn't help the cause at all. Just take each moment as it comes - everything will get figured out. You did the right thing getting it checked out though, and I hope the pain/tenderness subsides soon.
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Thanks Adagio for the reply! I am taking each moment as it comes as you suggested and preparing to go ahead with my Thursday surgery.
What about this snow!!!! Seriously I am not a snow person (even though I grew up in Ontario).
I know it's pretty to look at when you're inside. But I'm not leaving the house today and hope it melts soon!
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MarieK, I responded yesterday but I guess chemo brain combined with a senior moment (Yes I am now 65) must have meant I did not submit. But i wanted to say that it is so hard to rebook surgeries that I think you are making the right decision. They can all work it out and should without worrying you so much. I am hoping that this is the final reconstruction too! Mine is so far so good.
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