Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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MarieK. Sounds like a mixup, though I understand your concern, Hope it all turns out well, Will be in your pocket on the 27th
Hi everyone hope you are all doing well
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Thanks ladies!
I am going ahead with my surgery tomorrow. Yikes! I'm nervous and excited about it.
The MO's office called me back and just said that they had extra appt time at the PET scan dept at BCCA now that they are booking evening appts. They were going to send me as a follow up scan to the one I had done last year.
When he got my message and reviewed my chart he realized that we are waiting until summer for another PET scan. 1 year post radiation as we originally discussed. What a relief!
Now I just need to rest and recover and get ready for bikini season!
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Marie - in your pocket tomorrow!
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Marie- I will be thinking of you tomorrow !
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Marie keep us posted and so glad the PET thing is worked out!
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MarieK, I like the way that you are proactive in keeping up with appointment and follow ups. If we leave it up to the doctors and Medical receptionists they sometimes tend to forget things. Like they lost my mammogram…. X-ray got lost... etc. I keep a record of EVERYTHING.
For those that don't know, BCCA will give you all your records also if your request them. Stick them in a binder for reference.
Not sure if you have Lymphedema or not but don't use your upper Cancer side quadrant or that arm for needle pokes or BP. You don't want to set off Lymphedema. It has happened many times before but doctors will try to poo poo your concerns saying it never happens or rarely happens.
Jumping in your pocket too!
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Marie - good luck tomorrow! will be thinking of you.
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Thanks for the pocket support and well wishes!
I can't believe it's already been over a week since my procedures on Feb 27.
I'm already tired of sleeping upright, walking hunched over, my aching back and wearing this tight binder!!! I can't believe I've got weeks more of this recovery.
Boy was I NOT prepared for this!
On the bright side everyone I've talked to who has had this procedure loves the results and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Also my recon re-fatted up foob looks fantastic and is giving me no trouble at all. I've got CLEAVAGE!!!
Now I just got to get past the tummy tuck recovery....
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HI there...I haven't posted in a while and it's been 1 year since my BC diagnosis. I underwent Bilateral MX in April 2013 and just had my 4th and hopefully last reconstruction surgery on March 10th. I wanted to get some advice from the great ladies here. I was told that I had DCIS with isolated tumour cells, Grade 3, and it was not hormone receptive. I was told by RO that the chances that it could come back is high in the next 5 years. The RO and MO both decided no after treatment was necessary. So since my surgery in April 2013 I wasn't given any radiation, chemo or hormone treatment. They said to just follow up with my GP if I feel any 'symptoms' I had no idea what to look for since I removed both breasts. I fought hard to see if there was any treatment they could give me since "ITC" is considered controversial and I wanted to ensure nothing was left inside me. Both RO and MO made me feel like I'm a worrywart for nothing and since this is my 2nd cancer (first was Stage 3 Hodgkins when was 24) I wanted to make sure I did all I could. Initially, they wouldn't even send me for a CT scan or anything. The best I could do is tell the MO that I wanted my follow up with FVCC which they agreed to and finally to a CT scan.
In the last couple of months, I've had a red rash on my original breast. For a couple of weeks, I've had 'twinges' of pain in my hip/groin and frequent diarrhea, some abdominal and back pain. I feel like I could be paranoid but feeling worried. I don't really know what symptoms to look for if the cancer has come back. Every time I see the MO, I feel like he's just appeasing me because he has to but not really listening.
Thank you for any insight and advice.
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Finally got an appointment with PS. Never heard back from PS in Vancouver even though my dr. office called a few times. Got answering machine each time. Decided to go back to PS who did my original mx and recon. Appointment is in August. This works great for me as we are getting another grandbaby in May. Can not take any time off work in June, Gone to Norway for three weeks in July. So this works perfect. Look forward to getting redone. Want to get a size bigger as well as having a mx on "good" side Hate the way I look now, sooo lopsided (yes I even had a reduction on good side) could never wear a bathing suit clothes do not fit as I am proportionately not right Should be all good by summer 2015
Hope all is well with you all. Very quiet in this tread these days. Hope this is because you are all enjoying life.
Marian you are an inspiration
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Hey ladies, it's been awhile since I've been on the boards… I'm too far behind in the Canadian Connection to get caught up there, but I think I can manage the west coast thread.
MarieK - So glad to hear the surgery went well. Cleavage, no less! How are you doing in your recovery now?
Ossa - Nice to hear you have a surgical plan in place that fits your schedule nicely. I'm also getting tired of having lopsided boobs and can't wait to swap this TE with a squishier implant.
Marian - You inspire me soooo much. I hope we can meet up when you're back so I can see pics first hand of your trekking experience.
Allyp71 - Do you have a good rapport with your GP? Perhaps he/she can be the one you discuss these concerns with. I know I've started to drift away from my MO and find myself spending more time with my GP, even for cancer-related concerns. But I have a really good relationship with my GP, so that makes a huge difference.
grateful - nice to see your avatar. i really miss our time in mindfulness meditation.
I hope everyone is doing well and getting to enjoy this beautiful spring weather that has come our way. I'm scheduled for my 2nd stage of recon on April 22nd. Soooo looking forward to this! Any tips to offer, Marian or others? I hope it doesn't hurt as much or take as long to recover as it did for the 1st stage. And the best news for me of late is that my bf got hired as the mechanic for the sea2sky gondola in squamish. No more 10-hr commute to the kootenays for a cuddle! I'm flying to the koots tomorrow to drive his car to the coast while he Uhauls his belongings. And the icing on the cake is that our kids (my 7.5 year old daughter and his just turned 10-year old son) love one another and are like best friends. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear them laughing and playing together. I finally have the posse that I've always dreamed of.
Everyone - What do you think of trying to get together in June?
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Sneaky.. So glad to hear things are coming along for you. Sounds like you and bf is building a great future with two kids...nice... Second stage of recon is MUCH easier than first, Less downtime, less pain. To get rid of the iron bra and get squishies is an amazing feeling
I am game for a get together in June...
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Sneaky I just read the British Columbia posts and I miss you all. Yes to a June meet-up.
I am copy/pasting what I put on the Canadian thread. Then off to bed after this 10 day trek! I am so tired but so happy.
Just read all your posts and welcome to you new sisters! I just got back from our trek to Annapurna Camp today and am enjoying a 5 star hotel tonight~~hot bath was first up then ice cold beer. I know that we can't all be trekking in Nepal post BC but I can't say enough about exercise~~it is so important. I have actually forgotten about BC for hours and I think days at a time. Yesterday I tripped on some slate rocks on the downhill path we were on~~I was with my daughter's best friend when we heard a mule train thundering down above us. I ended up falling spread-eagled and honestly did do the fall the best I could. Kath was horrified but all I said was grab my poles so we could get off the trail as the mules thundered by~~close call. I got a couple of scratches but Kath and I are still laughing about my first comment which was whether I had damaged my implants. I do have a tiny bruise under the nipple of my augment side but nothing else. It has also been so good to get away from appts. and just have the chance to appreciate life. Some of the comments above relate to that. We are living with BC~~I love that! Still no signs of LE so I feel blessed yet again with hiking at high altitude. The photo is of me just below Annapurna Base Camp and if you look closely you can see some low buildings above me. So, at age 65 I am again in the mountains of Nepal that I so love and I brought with me an eclectic group of 17, aged 28 to 66. I was not the oldest, my sister-in-law's partner from NZ was! Tomorrow we head by bus to Chitwan National Park for 3 days to ride elephants, watch for tigers, birds and rhinos and relax after a challenging trek. Life is good!
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Marianelizabeth, love your picture and hearing about your travels.
Sneaky, nice to hear how good things are for you.
I am in for a get together in June to meet everyone.
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Marian - congratulations on a successful trek - it sounds amazing !! Hope you had a soft landing for your fall. I had 2 bad falls within 5 weeks of each other and now 12 weeks later, I still have terrible pain in my arm and my rotater cuff is damaged so I can hardly use my arm at all. I would not wish this pain on anyone!!
Enjoy your time in th National Park!!
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Hi all, it's been a long time! I read the posts every couple of days, but don't comment very often. However, I just want to say that I am in awe of you, Marian! What a beautiful picture, and what a fantastic trip. You are an inspiration.
I would love to try to make it to a get together in June, maybe I can convince some of the other Okanaganites to make it a road trip....
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ductchgirl I am hoping for June too!
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Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum, and found this thread to find out more about how BC ladies are taken care.
To tell you a bit about myself, I am a 31 years old girl living in tricity area. I recently found a lump on my breast so I wend to see my GP. After thorough examination he scheduled me an ultrasound. He positively told me that it is going to be 99.9% benign based on my age. I was able to get a spot for ultrasound after 3.5 weeks after my visit to GP. The result came out pretty quickly, and was told to have Biopsy test done. Again, he told me that he does not see it as "Rush" so he said in a couple of weeks. I am waiting for a call from Royal Columbian in setting up an appointment for biopsy. Does anyone have an idea how long do l have to wait for a Biopsy test? Also, how long does it take to get the result? Thanks in advance for your inputs
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Three years today since my life changed forever.. I hate BC, Good thing is I met all you ladies.
Buttercupp. I had to wait six weeks for my biopsy (also at Royal Columbian) Got results about a week later.. Sending you good vibes the biopsy will come back benign
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Thanks Ossa for such a quick response. This forum has a lot of information and I am still unsure where to post.
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Buttercup - I first had an ultrasound which suggested benign cysts, but at my request they squeezed in an ultrasound later that day and that was a game changer. In hindsight, everyone in the room (except me) knew that I had cancer just looking at that mammogram. I mean they told me it had all the characteristics of cancer but what I was looking at was all new to me so I was still thinking that I was just as likely to not have cancer. The same office scheduled me in for a biopsy the following week and it took something crazy like 3-4 weeks for me to get the results because of people's vacations. The wait was the most excruciating, especially because I had since delved deep into the literature on mammograms and everything I read corroborated that I indeed had cancer. I even had my GP's locum call me in for an appointment after the biopsy (GP was on holidays). I, of course, thought she was going to give me the results, but noooooo, she just wanted to sit me down and tell me that it looks like I have cancer based on the mammogram but that we won't know until the biopsy results come in. What 'effin good did that appointment do for me!?! Fingers crossed for you that it's benign. I think it's a good sign that they're not in a rush… for me it was clearly evident to the docs and technicians in the room that I had cancer before any biopsy was performed.
Everyone - What weekends are good for a June get together?
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3rd or 4th week good for me.
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Any time but the fourth week for me
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Will be busy the early part of the day Sat June 7 otherwise any time for me too.
Kathy
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Done....last chemo today....soooo happy , get my neolasta shot tomorrow ...then recovery from it all. Then to get ready for the next part , radiation consultation on April 22 for the next of this adventure..
Did a happy dance today ! Still cannot believe the chemo part is done.
Hugs , great music and happy dances to all !
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gardengirl - congratulations on completing chemo - it truly is something to celebrate!! You did it! Yeah!!
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Hi All!
I haven't been on in while so I'll try and read back to catch up.
I can't believe it's been over 6 weeks since my fat grafting recon and tummy tuck surgery. Everything is healing nicely - even after a fall 5 days post op!
I'd love to get together in June. Just tell me when and where...
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Marie glad to hear all is going well~~what was your fall? I had a couple on the trek but no injuries. I could not find my sleeve for the 8.5 hour flight from Nepal to here in Istanbul but seemed to be fine.
Now in Turkey until the end of the month with my daughter. We are in Istanbul until Thursday then off heading SE. We have been given free of charge 5 nights in a small suite in the Empress Zoe Hotel in the old part of the city~~breast cancer plus bring long term guests who have referred many since we started staying here in 1996. What a gift! Yesterday we walked to the Istanbul Modern an art gallery I had never been to but also walked through a big park full of tulips. Tulips actually originated in Turkey not Holland.
Home May 1 and the adventure so far has been amazing and healing too.
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Congrats on finishing chemo, gardengirl. Hope these next few days are gentle on you.
And so nice to see updates from Marian and Marie...we'll have to compare foobs in June ;-) I'm getting pretty stoked for my exchange in a little over a week.
So it sounded like the 3rd week of June may work for most who have spoken up. How about Saturday, June 21?
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June 21 works for me!
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