I look for other flat chested women. A rant.
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Thank you, my scar area is raised by almost an inch in places, does silicone help with fibrosis? its not the line of the scar that is raised, and its so solid it feels like extra ribs.....Can i get silicone strips from amazon? I am allergic to band aid adhesive, is silicone adhesive different?
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Hi Lily, I am no expert on this treatment, but have used it on my Mx scars, and on extensive hand surgery. I have had great results on both lots of scars.
I believe they say that the silicone strips work well for Hypertrophic, and Keloid scars, thy are both the ropey raised type of scars. Mine were moderately raised, and quite deep red in color.
I think you can buy from Amazon, I know Ebay have them, I shopped around till I found a pharmacy company in the US that had "Scar FX" 22" long by about 2" wide. I cut that in half and had two, to alternate.
These don't stick on like a band aid, they are clear stretchy silicone strips that adhere, but peel off. You need to wash them in quite hot water to keep the sticky surface intact. As it gets older the tacky surface stops working and you ned to attach it with micropore.
I have an allergy to Elastoplast adhesive, but obviously everyone is different, so although this doesn't affect me adversely, it may not work for you.
I am not too well versed in fibrosis, but is it not over production of collagen and such? I don''t know for sure, but I think that may need surgery to remove, and flatten.
I hope this helps!
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SunflowersMA - People come and go on this list but am pretty sure I have seen some who had deconstruction. I can name people on the Facebook, Flat & Fabulous closed group, including one of the founders, who has had deconstruction. You might want to consider joining Facebook, if for no other reason than to join the Flat & Fabulous group.
But here on BCO:
Look for MLP730 on this BCO page - she deconstructed. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/136/topic/747016?page=31#post_3467209
On this page, look for Faithroad who had deconstruction. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topic/799937?page=1#post_3415377
I simply searched on deconstruct in all forums and all time. If you do that I am sure you will find a lot and perhaps could PM them if they are still actively on the board.
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Budda Bellies....doesn't sound too appealing...Must keep doing the 5 Rites.....
Moira, how many repetitions are you presently doing? I am up to 10 reps. after two weeks. I could quite easily do the 21 but I hesitate to rush too quickly into the 21 at this stage. I have skinny wrists and they are not used to supporting my body. I love doing the 5 Rites so much that I would hate to a pull muscle or something. I bounce out of bed in the mornings and incorporate these fab exercises into my usual exercise and stretching routine. Thanks again for mentioning these exercises.
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Okay, I have got to start doing these exercises.
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Hi Painterly, I was wondering if you had continued, and I am in awe of you! 10 reps and your other exercises, fantastic!
The book says to start with 3 of each of the Rites, and add 1or 2 reps per week till you reach the cap of 21. I think that is really aimed at people that have never done anything like this before. I doubt I will ever be able to do the spinning first Rite 21 times. The book says some never get there with that one. I have a propensity for a bit of vertigo.
I am only doing 5 of each. Adding just one rep per week. I know I could do more, but my friend put the fear into me about taking it slowly. So I have taken his advice, and just do the 5 x 5 Rites, and then do a 40 to 60 minute walk. My friend took 8 months to work his way up to the 21, but he had, had a shattered foot and shoulder. That must have hurt!
I feel fantastic, and can't see myself stopping this routine either. I have read the first book and have started the second which gives a little more insight into the story of Kelder and the Colonel. It also explains more about how the exercises work on the body and gives a set of alternate exercises for anyone that has trouble with these ones. It also has Meditations and diet pointers.
Thanks so much for letting me know how you're doing......Take care! Moira
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The Buddha belly, That is me...and I am pretty sure the only answer is exercise and lose a few pounds. The funny thing is I certainly had my Buddha Belly before the double, but I never saw it. I guess other people saw it all the time though.
THis reminds me though of the super model Twiggy, anyone remember her? She got a belly after her daughter was born and was so happy with her belly because it was caused by her daughter. I am trying to think the same thing, my belly is good, the cancer is gone.
I tend to forget the cancer this was about fighting cancer, and I am a survivor.
Oh, about posture, I do have problems with this, I am a side sleeper and I wake up and my shoulders can almost touch with no breasts in place. So I lay on a pillow to gently stretch back out again, and I am doing this "body check" every time I can to check my posture, shoulders back, and unclench my teeth, a bad habit i grew into during this whole cancer thing.
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Lily55 - I don't know if this works for breast cancer scars, but I had a HUGE raised scar from my pelvis straight up past my navel, and my acupuncturist, who was treating me for joint pain, saw the scar, and said she could "treat" it - and it wasn't until several months later, I realized the scar had gone from reddish to white, and was so much smoother, flat, I couldn't believe it. Even my oncologist noticed when I had my checkup - this was a few years ago. The scar was from colon cancer surgery about 12 years ago. The scar bothered me, sometimes itched, and no matter how loose the elastic on pants, I noticed it. Don't anymore.
A friend who went to the same acupuncturist on my suggestion, had similar effective treatment on a large scar she had on her stomach from back surgery ( surgeon operated from the front) and she was really numb in area, got some sensation back after several treatments too.
Can't explain WHY this works - just know it did for me, and my friend.
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I'm a side sleeper and solved the problem by "hugging" a pillow at night.
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Angelina Jolie and her decision; if any of you are interested you can listen to a radio interview with Dr. CHristine Horner, MD. FACS, breast surgeon who changed careers to do research about prevening this national epidemic and found ways in which we can strengthen ourselves by natural means to fight this horrible disease. She is author of the book; WAKING THE WARRIOR GODDESS, which is what I am using as guide for my program, because I can no longer take pharmaceuticals. She is not opposed to pharmaceuticals, in fact much of her information is geared to assisting people who are in treatment be stronger throughout the process. It appears that Angelina Jolie's decision will be part of the discussion tonight. There is another program tomorrow but i don't know how to get it on this page so i'll post it separately.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/becausehopematters
I don't know if you just click on this address or have to copy and paste.
sorry about my internet shortcomings.
CC from Wisconsin
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Do risk lowering strategies work though if you have had it once already? Are they as effective?
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I would love to know if they mention anything beyond lots of exercise, fruits and vegetables, and avoiding bad chemicals.
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Ditto what Wren said. I have been wracking my brain to try to figure out what I did to cause my BC, or at least what I could have done to prevent it. Given all the risk factors I've avoided and preventative factors in my favor, my risk of getting BC should have been something like 0.0000001%. How did I end up here????
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Indenial, I am in the same boat, I had zero risk factors for getting breast cancer. In face people who know me shake their heads and figure if I got cancer, they are sunk. but they are fine! Which is why I drag my feet on exercising and eating right, been there, done that, didn't work.
A bit of a rant coming out in me, huh?
About the gene, I did read an interesting article on the Mercola website today about preventative surgery and they are against it and feel all women with the gene should be getting a MRI, not a mammo, which only adds more radiation to the stew. It was interesting.
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indenial, crystal - I know the answer to your question and it's that there is NO answer. It's a crap shoot, pardon my language, don't mean to offend - but there is NO "cause" - and I know so many young women who have no family history, were vegans, exercised, all the "right" things - and diagnosed with BC. I know there are some who hold the "victim" responsbile for the disease - I think that's almost pathalogical, and adds to the horror of this disease. If there were a direct causal link, we'd have a cure.
Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, MD Anderson - all have very informative websites, dealing with all aspects of bc. Each also has a Complementary Care Department, with great information too.
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Djustme, I can't say this from experience, but I'm pretty sure the nipple sparing mastectomies can't spare sensation.
I think that's a lot of insight to see the jealousy. I am frankly jealous of women diagnosed with stage I or stage II cancer, with DCIS, with better pathology than mine. I can't help it. I wish I were in shoes with better stats. I wish a lot of things. I think that's one of the things that people just do - we wish we had what we don't have. The key for me is not to my life get pulled off track by putting too much energy into wishing for things that aren't goals.
But on the brighter side, I took my second swimming lesson today and I feel like I'm flying through the water. Here I am, mid-40's, and it's only been within the last year that I really thought my much about my stroke. I've been able to swim forever, but horribly ineffeciently which is very slow. One lesson and I was loads faster. We'll see how I'm doing a few weeks from now after this second. The pool does such a wonderful thing for my mood, and I have completely lost any shyness about being nude in the locker room or flat at the poolside. It's good to be comfortable in my own skin.
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Ah, it's bathing suit weather again, and all the idiotic self-doubts come back to haunt me. I have a BIG family reunion on the beach coming up, first since BMX, had almost felt OK last summer at home pool in my triathalon suits. Add LE to the mix this year - arm swollen, not to be out of a sleeve, warned to avoid hot and humid weather, sun ... what the hell am I supposed to be doing on the beach, then? Anyone dealing with the flat plus decompression sleeves???? Have I mentioned that cancer sucks????
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Linda - I can so empathsize with your situation. Not worried about "going flat" 6 years after having very small implants, but terrified it might lead to LE. I had a very minor problem with it after BLM, and masses of therapy seemed to help so haven't really developed it "full blown" - but the combination of first time public flat AND LE. Well, sending you gentle hugs.
A good friend had a great line for her first "public" appearance - to her extended family, when they stared at her flat chest - "I gave them away, they tried to kill me."
Outfield inspires me with her drive to perfect her swim stroke, and I think she really CAPTURES the vital, vital point when she says: "It's good to be comfortable in my own skin."
I hope we can all reach that place. Starting with being gentle with myself, and extending it outward, forward. Giving an assist to kick all those self doubts into the stratosphere
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Linda, I can't imagine they told you to avoid hot and humid weather. Are they nuts? Do they have summer where they live? How frustrating!!
As someone who sunburns in an incredibly short amount of time, I recommend a floaty top with sleeves to wear over suit and sleeve. Mine is tunic length with wide sleeves and was made to be a beach coverup. It's cute enough to wear out with white pants. This year I bought a long sleeve shirt that's spf 50 from REI. LLBean has spf wear also. They also make sunshades meant for beaches. Closed on 3 sides and pop up like a tent.
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Linda, also check out Sun Precautions. They have a web site, www.sunprecautions.com. A little expensive.
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Linda, I wear a long sleeved sunblocking swim shirt from Coolibar. They have a lot of options. Mine is actually a kids', but it's got a fun pattern and they have a lot of women's shirts too. At my pool, more and more people are going with this kind of thing to block the sun. I remember also looking at sunprecautions, and I think there are several other websites that offer similar things.
Over on the lymphedema board, there was discussion some time back about whether or not sleeves were SPF anything. Like several others who commented, I do not tan or burn at all through my black sleeve, but the manufacturers won't comment on the issue so nobody knows for sure if any of the bad rays get through. So when I'm somewhere I know I may be getting wet, I'll just wear the sunblock shirt (I definitely don't want to burn my LE arm), and if I know I won't be going in the water unless it's an accident, I wear the sleeve under the shirt.
Having lymphedema is actually less of a stressor to me than worrying about developing it was. If I do something that makes it worse, I see it, then I do the things I know to get the arm back to baseline. It's not a panic anymore. I don't avoid everything (or really much of anything) on the list of things that could cause flares. I have a life to live!
Edited to add: My observation is that all the sites like Sunprecautions and Coolibar are fairly expensive.
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If you watch Coolibar, you can get some end of the year sales. Also Magellans and Travel Smith can have good sales on sun screen fabric clothing...I wear the coolibar free flowing one, just don't want to get my arms burned...
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I bought a package from Rit called Sun Guard. You add it to the wash with your clothes and it raises the SPF level of the clothing. It says it lasts thru multiple washings and doesn't affect the color. It came from Seattle Fabric, which specializes in outdoor and boat fabrics. Also all the buckles, etc. you would need to make your own backpack. I got it last year toward the end of summer. They also sell stuff to make fleece waterproof (we wear a lot of fleece here).
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Wren - THANK YOU. I went to the web sites posted, and was surprised at how expensive the clothing is, but YOU have convinced me to try. Is it thr Sun Guard sold in same place store has regular Rit dyes? Is it in a box or liquid?
Will go to Seattle Fabric website. Thanks again.
BTW - saw my PS, and she's agreed to REMOVE small silicone implants as an in office procedure, rather than hospital. Won't be able to remove the fat lumps under arm, alias "dog ears" in office as could be done in hospital - but that's fine with me - just want to get RID of these lumps under my pec muscle, seems it's expected to be an "easy" procedure. Here's hoping!!!
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Wow, Sunflowers, I would have never guessed your PS would say yes to doing it in office. I'm glad that it's expected to be an "easy" procedure. So will you be having this done soon?
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I couldn't find it at the Rit website, so called, and it's got its own website:
https://sunguardsunprotection.com/?ccUser=f8330cb64067335a6f5f42c524fb381d
Thanks again Wren - wish I lived in Seattle - store doesn't seem to have branches here in the East
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RR - we have two office dates "blocked" and hoping I will get the one on 6/20, otherwise will have to wait til mid July. She said it's about a "week" recovery, no drains, small incision & the "offending lump" ( my thinking) is extracted. Not supposed to be any "complications" ( fingers crossed), pec muscle ok, etc. WHEW! The VERY first thiing I plan to do is my Favorite Yoga ( Sun Rise Salutation) and the only thing that has ever helped me ease back strain: DownWard Facing Dog
without feeling these LUMPS pressed vise like against my chest. Fingers Crossed.BTW - answered my questions to Wren, SunGuard sold at Rit Dye displays - approx. $2.60
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I couldn't stand the thought of implants under my chest muscles, thought that would feel horrible when exercising or doing physical work. I saw some mentioning the implant distorting when they used their muscles and knew there was no way I'd be willing to have that side effect...heck didn't like any of the recon options so here I sit flat and happy. I never did have the depression and sadness that some have mentioned, wondered if that meant I was repressing or something but I just felt like my body still worked well. I still look fine, sure flat, but fine. I would have been crushed to lose a leg or arm but breasts really haven't been as big a deal for me as I would have thought. I know this is different for everyone so I do feel lucky.
I'll have to look into that SunGuard stuff. I was checking out some of the sun protective clothing and shocked by the prices.
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