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  • Snowgirl63
    Snowgirl63 Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2015

    Hi allyp, thank you for the private message, it sure nice to talk to someone. I don't feel so all alone anymore, thank you so much for being willing to e that person to connect with me.


  • bee15
    bee15 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2015

    Hi All: Have not been on in a really, really long time, but I have some information to share regarding DEIP construction in the Vancouver Area. Dr Sheina MacAdam is still accepting delayed Deip reconstruction patients. The wait list is 6 - 9 months. I had mine done last week and am currently in "recovery" mode. She really is the best there is. Dr Lennox is no longer doing Deip from what I understand. He is now heading up the Plastic Surgery/Breast Recon dept at UBC hospital. If you are interested in Deip, get a referral to Dr. MacAdam.

  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 685
    edited May 2015


    MarieK Yay on your all clear, great news.Heart I have graduated to seeing Onc once a year. Still have to see my GP every six months for exam. We (onc and myself) decided to continue Tamoxifen for the full five years then decide either another five or switch to aromatase.. Had a lot of pain in my spine and hip that I was worried about, but found out it is "only" arthritis.

    Life is good. Our oldest son is getting married this summer and I again have my brothers coming from Norway.. Sending along a picture of our gorgeous grandkids. How our lives have changed these past 4 years.. Three babies and no sign of cancer.. love life

    image

     

  • Carrie61
    Carrie61 Member Posts: 26
    edited May 2015

    Hi BC girls...

    Marie...that's great news about your PET scan and TMs...my PET is booked for July so getting a bit nervous.

    Teresa, welcome to this group...you'll find lots of support here☺️

    ossa, love that picture of you and your grandchildren...glad to hear it's been 3 years clear for you.

    I'm still on my cross country RV holiday, we'ren the Maritimes right now, and expect to be home (Langley) in July to face my scans and bloodwork. I have had nothing done since Dec. so hoping for the best.

    Bee: I was referred to S. Macadam in January, and received an apt. for Sept. 2016, so not sure about a 6 to 9 month wait. mine is more like 20 month wait😁

    best to you all...Carrie

  • bee15
    bee15 Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2015

    Hi Carrie: my original referral was March of 2013. It took me until July 2014 to get the appointment, but after the original appointment, it is a 6 - 9 month wait. I know they are working on trying to shorten that time up.

    It is a long wait, but I'm glad I did it. My results are far more than I could ever have hoped for. She really is worth the wait.

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2015

    Hi Ladies!

    I am fairly new on here, and havent been diagnosed yet. My biopsy is next Friday, Jul 24 and results the week after. Just scanning this B.C. Forum and it would be nice to connect with others in my area (Abbotsford), as I begin this journey. I have a lot of questions and sure there will be many more once I get the official results.

    A little about me, I am 46 years old, married with 3 beautiful grown daughters. Had a routine mammogram at the end of May (every 2 years) and this year they saw something, called me back for a diagnostic mammo, then an ultrasound. There is a 1cm lesion in the upper outer quadrant of my left breast. They will also check the node that is near this lesion. I have taken this very hard, and waiting for the biopsy is killing me, but thankfully my family doctor has already prepared me that it is cancer, so have basicaly spent the past 2 weeks grieving the life I thought I would have, and accepting the new one, which still hasnt happened 100%.

    Would love to connect with any of you!

    Kim


  • Gardengirl66
    Gardengirl66 Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2015

    Hi Kimmie33 , welcome to this group you never wanted to join, there are some fabulous women on here with lots of info ,advice and friendship. I found the early stage of it all, during biopsies, and telling family the hardest. I found once I was in the system I had excellent care . I loved my surgeon, he was great and I healed well from the surgery.

    I know this is very hard, the waiting , not knowing ,biopsy , then waiting , then results.iif you can try and walk , exercise of your choice to try and relax, clear your head....it does help. One thing my surgeon advised me ....do not Google breast cancer.....he told me if he was to do that , he would have breast cancer by the end of it. This website and the Canadian cancer agency he told me to stick with....at least to you know what is going on.

    If you have any questions please feel free to PM me ....or just reply back here. I had taken a break from this site and just pop back in now and again.....still figuring out my new normal....but life is good.

    Hugs to you and thinking of you !

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited July 2015

    Kimmer33, Garedengirl is right, there is a lot of support here. I am also in Vancouver but hopefully some of those out your way will see your post. The "waiting game" is so hard but hang in there and try to do fun things to keep your mind off the wait.

  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 685
    edited July 2015

    Kimmer33 So sorry you have to be here, Glad you found this group. So much knowledge and support.. No one will judge you here, we have all been there, done that I am in Chilliwack had my treatment in Abby.. Great drs. at the cancer centre PM me if you have any questions

  • sophiachander
    sophiachander Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2015

    hello everyone,

    I cannot possibly tell you how comforting it is reading your stories here and feeling that everything will turn alright in the end. My mom just got diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma BC last week. Firstly when i heard it, I thought it was a joke, and then I went into a shock, then anger where I yelled at everyone... right now it seems like I am floating in and out of shock and breaking down. Every morning ever since that day I’ve woken up thinking that it was a bad dream and that any moment my mom will get ready for work. Every night I have cried myself to sleep thinking another day is over and no news.

    Our family doctor hasn’t been helpful at all in this process. I wanted to know what are the steps that are supposed to be followed having being diagnosed. She has been referred to a general surgeon appointment in 3 days.


    Any information would be helpful.


    Thank you.

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited July 2015

    sophia, take a deep breath and have your mom do the same. It is good that she has an appt. with the general surgeon soon. Where are you located? For many of us once diagnosed, the next step was indeed seeing a general (all are general but many do just breast) surgeon so see what is recommended. Depending on the initial pathology she/he will make recommendations. It is step by step at this point. Let us know what happens and we will try to support you and your mom as best we can. Today is 3 years exactly since diagnosis and a lot has happened but much is good.

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2015

    diagnosed today IDC, also found cancer cells in one lymph node that was biopsied. I plan to start a new thread in the "recently diagnosed" thread. hope to keep in touch with you B.C. Buddies

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited July 2015

    Kimmer 33, please do keep us posted. Thinking of you as you start the next leg of this journey.

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2015

    thanks mariane!

    I have a surgical consult on Tuesday, and hopefully Surgery within 2-3 weeks. Relieved to have some answers...

    Kim

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2015

    Hi Ladies,

    Looking ahead to chemo and hair loss, and wondering if any of you that live in the lower mainland of British Columbia know a shop to get wigs? I am considering wigs, but would like to see and hold it in person before I decide. Also found some places online that have some nice wigs. Any help would be awesome. Thank you!

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited August 2015

    Kimmer, there is a volunteer group that works through our cancer agencies called feel good, feel better. They do sessions on makeup and hair (lack of that is). It is really good and highly recommended. There we also tried on wigs and got an idea of what might work. I will look tonight for the name of the place I bought mine from in N. Van~~several others I know did the same. However, I have to say that i only wore mine 5 times so $100 each time. I much preferred scarves and hats~~maybe because I was still pretty active throughout at yoga and walking etc. and just felt more myself in scarves especially. I found Buffs great too--you can google them.

    I think buying wigs should be done in person.

  • NATSGSG
    NATSGSG Member Posts: 64
    edited August 2015

    If anyone is considering wigs, this youtube video may interest you. The young lady, who herself is a cancer patient, shares her experience on weeks. She's simply great!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-YB-pyuiI

    And sending good wishes to everyone here

  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 110
    edited August 2015

    Kimmer and Marianne - It was West Coast Wigs we bought ours at. I didn't think I'd wear my wig much, but I actually pretty much lived in it outside of my house unless I was working out. I even wore it under my helmet when I was riding to the cancer agency for appointments! I bought another one online…it looked so ridiculous on me that I only wore it as a joke for an 80's themed party, lol.

    Welcome to the newbies. Like Marianne, I'm also at the 3 year mark. For the first time since diagnosis, cancer is no longer the predominant thing in my life. Groundschool for my pilot license is almost done…flight training begins later this month!

  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 685
    edited August 2015

    Kimmer Try Maxine's in Abbotsford. Mother daughter team Very compassionate

    32772 Boult Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3H7
    (604) 852-9382

    As Marian said Try the look good feel good program. If you go to the counselling area at the cancer center( 3rd floor at Hospital) they have all the info regarding when the program starts.. Who is your oncologist?? I have dr Gurjal When she is away I see Dr Uhlman Both female and both wonderful. Dr Uhlman even called me at home after my last mammogram to tell me it was all good

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2015

    hi Ossa!

    Thanks for the info, i will look into that program at the hospital. I do not have an oncologist yet, first i meet with the breast surgeon - tomorrow morning. Surgery is first and should be in 2 weeks. Thanks for the info about Maxines!

    Kim

  • She
    She Member Posts: 131
    edited August 2015
    Hello Friends, long time!


    I arrived on Saturday and saw my surgical onc yesterday. A recurring recurrence. Theres a 7.5cm mass where the CWR was in 2013.

    As an added bonus CT shows lesions taking a little road trip through my chest. RARE is a word that should be reserved for how one likes their steak.

    I'm waiting to hear from my new onc ... Karen Gelmon. For now surgery is planned for the 21st, but that may change to chemo first.

    Marian and Ossa I lost your phone numbers. It would be great to see you!
  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited August 2015

    She, am sending you a PM

  • Gardengirl66
    Gardengirl66 Member Posts: 44
    edited August 2015

    She, just want you to know I am thinking of you , sending positive thoughts. Big gentle hugs to you !

    Not sure what else to say...... ((((( hugs )))))

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2015

    hi to all the ladies that have responded to me!

    I have UMX and ALND on August 31 in Abbotsford - excited and scared to get this show on the road, and Ossa, my oncologist is Dr Uhlman, surgeon is Dr Leung.

  • Jade-dream
    Jade-dream Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2015

    I had a right mastectomy last August. Asked about double mastectomy at the time, but the idea was dismissed and was told by the surgeon "no we don't do that"   Well, here I am exactly one year later waiting for a biopsy in the other breast.  Yearly mammogram & ultrasound indicates calcifications and a 6mm lesion that they say would be technically difficult to biopsy due to it's deep position adjacent to the chest wall. The report says " management of this nodule should be determined based on the result of the calcification biopsy."  I was told by the cancer center here in Vernon that the biopsy would be within one week. 10 days later still no call re biopsy date, so in contacting the booking department, I was told that August 29 would be the soonest date with a 50% chance that I would be bumped. What the heck?  Anyone else have experience with how long it takes to get your biopsy?  It sounds so strange! 

     . . . And what am I supposed to tell my employer?  . . . That there is a 50% chance that I will need that day off?. . .

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited August 2015

    She, I am worrying~~please let us know if you had your surgery on the 21st and even if not please let us know what is happening. My phone numbers are in the PM. Love you!

  • michelle888
    michelle888 Member Posts: 46
    edited August 2015

    Hi fellow British Columbians! My name is Michelle, and I'm in Victoria - and just popped back on this site after joining in May (April 2015 diagnosis). Was a bit overwhelmed with all things breast cancer and now that my surgery is over with and I know my treatment plan I have a little more of a grasp of things.

    I had a lumpectomy in June and started chemo this month. Bit of a journey to go but I am feeling good and ready to tackle everything head on. The BC Cancer Agency here has been fantastic thus far. So thankful to be living in Canada.

    Great to find a post here just for BC!

  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2015

    hi michelle!

    Isnt our health care a blessing!!!

  • michelle888
    michelle888 Member Posts: 46
    edited August 2015

    Kimmer33 - yes a million times, yes. I can't imagine how much treatment would cost in the states. That extra financial concern over all the other concerns would be so hard. I think I've spent $44 so far on the prescription portion not covered by my medical plan (also thankful for having a work Heath plan).

    I stayed up super late last night reading about hair loss etc and saw the posts here about cold caps for hair loss. I was curious (not personally interested after reading what it entails) but then came across an article about how the BC cancer agency does not allow them (as they are a disruption to treatment, take up space and resources) Is that still the case? Found it interesting...

  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 1,308
    edited August 2015

    hi Michelle, I too am treated in Victoria and find the care exceptional. Inspire health in oak bay is now free of charge, you may want to check it out. I haven't yet because I'm too far away. Cheers GG


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