January 2017 Surgery Group
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great news Lisabekind! You need to celebrate this weekend!
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here is a thread with some good tips for every stage of treatment -
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topics/...
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Cytoxan, Abraxane, Adriamycin is what I know right now, but I'm getting a second opinion Monday. I'm curious to see what the other dr.says. My prognosis numbers don't change all that much by added the third drug. That is one of my many questions for the oncologist I see Monday. So I can't say for sure what my lovely cocktail is yet.
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Hi everyone - been a busy last couple of days. Sounds like we have had a lot of exciting news!!
Pamela and Bevmom - glad to hear surgery went well and you're now on the other side. Rest up and drink lots of fluids
Yay for a clean PET scan, Lisabekind! Shelleybeans, you're next for a great report!
FightinGirl - glad to hear you're finished with your radiation and can now move forward with "normal" life, whatever that is!!
Personally, I went to my appointment with the MO today expecting to get a prescription for tamoxifen. Nope. He said because I had pure DCIS and had a mMX with good margins, I don't need it. Just follow up in 6 months with a mammo (on the non-MX side) and bilateral ultrasounds. I was completely in shock. Still kind of am. I am glad, but a little nervous to not have that "extra precaution". I am not a very risk tolerant person, but he said in my case he didn't think the benefit was worth the potential downsides. So. I guess that's that.
Of course, I am still waiting for my genetic testing, so if that comes back positive it's a new ballgame. Should get those results next week.
The MO told me the best thing I can do is 1) exercise to keep body fat down 2) no more than 3 glasses of wine/week and 3) switch to a non-aluminum deodorant. What things, if any, are you all changing to try to keep yourself healthy?
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yay dcis - our second graduation!!!! congratulations, but im not surprised,bc when i started all of this, they said mx was a ticket to freedom - no rads, no tamoxifen. tamoxifen could be protective in your remaining boob, but it sounds like they don't think its worth it. sending you good vibes for genetics to come back clear. then you are done done.DONE!!!!
my post bc resolutions - exercise 1 hr/day. id like to decrease my sugar intake, bc i am an addict through and through - id love any advice on how to kick that habit. (funny enough, i went sugar free for a year last year, and then got cancer, lol) other than that, i eat a healthy plant based colorful diet already. ill add vit d to my supplements. i only drink alcohol a few times a year and i don't smoke. mostly, i pledge to take advantage of everything and not delay gratification - im cutting down my hours at work, spending more time with family, trying to plan a cabana trip irl, treasuring true friendships, working on my mindfulness and hoping to wean off my panic meds. i thought the non aluminum deodorant was just for radiation - is that sposed to cause bc? gah. at the end of the day, i feel like if this disease is going to get you, it will, regardless of what you eat or how heavy or slim you are. so ill try my best to ward it off, but i think there are some things beyond my control.
good luck to us all!!
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yay Bevmom, Lisabekind , Pamela, cowboyup , DcIsinaz, forgive me if I leave anyone out. I worked today and am a little tired from being on my feet all day . Just got caught up on all the new posts. But there were so many, I could not remember all the names, but am super happy for all the progress and I am so ecstatic for all the great news . DCISinaz, I would love to have my MO say I could skip the toxic drugs . I just cannot get past those horrible potential sides. But for now , I will focus on finishing rads.
Hope you all have a great weekend and some quality family time . Love and hugs always .
❤
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Welcome to the cabana Surgery Ladies!
Cowboy-up-so glad you have been booted from the chemo train!
Fightingirl - I know what you mean about the "medical smell" I had a hard time going into my last couple of chemo sessions because the smell made me a little sick to my stomach. Obviously I got over it, but I think the smell with stick with me forever.
Lisabekind-- So glad to hear the CT came back clear. I haven't heard of that cocktail. I hope it treats you well.
DCIS - glad to hear no Tamoxifen!!! My SIL recommends Native deodorant - she loves it.
My seroma is finally shrinking a bit..only 72cc's today! Hopefully I'll be able to start rads soon!
Good night from rainy So.CA!
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well my chemo girls, take a break from your medical cocktails and enjoy one of these this long weekend! i hope you all get lots of sleep and hydration and nourishment and stretching and love to be able to power through another week. day by day, minute by minute - you are getting closer to the finish line. sometimes it feels like wading through mud (and with all the rain in CA, we are literally wading through mud), but take a look back at all we have been through so far - amazing!! so take some time this long weekend to congratulate yourself on a job well done so far. pat yourself on the back. get a manicure. go for a walk. accept help. whatever it may be. just please promise me, every one of you, that you will do something nice for yourself this weekend. it doesn't have to be big, but go ahead, treat yourself to something. you have earned it!!
xxoo
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Annoyingboob - are you floating away yet? My dad lives in socal and they were gearing up for rain apocalypse 2017.
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Hello everyone! Such good news all around here lately! Congratulations to all the graduates here! Today I took a big step - I left the house without a wig or a head covering. I'd been coloring my hair since my 20's chasing away the gray hair so of course my formerly bald head is now covered with mostly white hair. My husband keeps telling me it looks "sexy" but I'm not so sure about that. I'm 8 weeks more or less post last chemo, and it's been coming in pretty fast, the back faster than the top, with a lot of salt and pepper. What do y'all think?
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I think you look beautiful, DocMama!! I would totally keep the gray. I wish there was an easier way to have a hair "do over" than chemo, but now that it will just grow in the way it came, I would be happy to not have to deal with coloring any more. Big step going out without any "covering", too. How did you feel??
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Beach Baby - Native is the kind of deodorant I bought. I got the lavender/rose one and I really like it so far. Seems to work, too. Who knew??
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You're rockin' it, docmama! You look gorgeous! I like it, it looks so soft & downy...the color looks great with your skin tone!! You're an inspiration for those of us about to lose our hair!! Xoxo.
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docmama - you are gorgeous!! And your head is so symmetrical!! You can totally rock the look!!
Like you, I had always colored my hair since my 20s. Then when the greys started rolling in, I just stopped. Screw it. I'm still mostly brunette but lots of salt and pepper now and I'm just going to let it do what it wants to do. A 70 year old lady friend of mine said 'you need to color your hair, it's so aging' but I don't care what she or anyone thinks. I don't NEED to do anything. My mother has never colored her hair a day in her life, went grey by 40 and now has the most beautiful white hair at 80. So im embracing the natural.
I think your head looks beautiful, but who cares what I or anyone else thinks. It's all about YOU and what makes you comfortable. If you want to wear scarves or hats or wigs or just go natural, do it with your head held high. You have an inner radiance and strength and compassion that can penetrate any physicalbarrier. We see it. Your kids see it. Your husband sees it. I hope you see it too. You are a beautiful being, a gorgeous woman, and thank you for sharing your photo - I think you look great, but more important, you look vibrant and healthy!!
Xx
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HOLY COW! So much good news!
Fightingirl, HAPPY GRADUATION!
And DCIS you too! You guys rocked it... and we are all right behind you.
Docmama. You look gorgeous... seriously you have the head for the bear-headed look... beautiful.
Bev & Pamela, congrats on bellying up to the bar... btw, my TEs have all kinds of ridges and even on spot where it has a mild point... My understanding is they abate as you get fills... but in any case won't have an impact on the final outcome.
Shelly & cowboy... congrats on good news re: scans and plans! Whoever else am Imforgetting?
Aboob... pass me about three of those drinks, won't you?
My news: firsT and foremost, am lying in my bed w my sleeping girl, who made it out of LA on a red eye despite the storms... so happy for the cuddles!
Second: saw the PS Thursday, and got my first fill... but NO DRAIN REMOVAL! 😭 Going back Tuesday, which is my four-week post-bmx anniversary, and he will remove... but get this, am draining higher amounts despite the fill... between 40 and 50ccs daily now. Royally pissed, and in more pain too... can't wait to get rid of drains, but worried it will cause more issues. Questions for Tuesday's appointment I gues.
Third: met my MO yesterday... visiting that office was -probably the scariest thing about this whole thing so far. Felt BAD. But I liked him a lot, and he confirmed what BS said Wednesday: CANCER FREE and CURED were the words used, ... I makes me sick to my stomach to think it or say it though.... I did not expect to be fearful upon hearing the words. Feels false, which is crazy. I should be jumping up and down, etc... making myself say it everyday till I believe it.
Finally: got my tamoxifen script from MO, two years on that, then moving to an AI. Will start taking it once the pain from drains and TEs settle down... he said I could wait a couple months if I like, so will let myself keep healing for awhile beforI start
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DCISinAZ: great news!
BeachBabyK: glad to hear your seroma's shrinking!
Elem: hope you're feeling ok with the rads....
A-Boob: you have a gift of lifting everyone up!!
DCBC: believe it! Great to hear more good news today...those drains will be out before you know it!
If I missed anyone...sorry! I had chemo brain before chemo! now there's no hope! Lolol.
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Docomama - I was just wondering about you! Va-Va-Voom! You are gorgeous and that is a beautiful silver color. Girls are paying money for that color now!
Good to see all the checks in and good news. It's a lazy Saturday here in NC.
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dcbc I think you earned ALL of those drinks but I'm not going to give them to you bc they would just drain out!! You are one liquefied lady!!! I'm so proud of you for lasting 4 weeks with those suckers inside you. I hope when they finally get pulled your body learns to re absorb the fluid.
Congrats on CANCER free and CURE. Words are so powerful. I got goosebumps reading your post. I'm sure it's hard to accept when you still have Niagara Falls pouring out your chest, but embrace those words and bury them deep inside your core. You are a survivor!! I'm so happy for you. Xx
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Happy Saturday to all my sisters! It took me hours to catch up on the board. I've been off for over a week, Whew there's been a lot going on. I have not stopped thinking of or praying for all of you amazing women. I have just got back into my crazy non stop life! I'm sitting in my chair with my feet up for the first time in a couple weeks reading all of your posts.
I needed to read each and everyone of them. You are all truly amazing, everyone of you! I am so happy for those of you with great results, sorry for my sisters on the chemo train, those with drains still in, and those facing the tough decisions of what the next treatment step is, if any.
Well I am going back in for surgery on the 27th. My right nipple is not taking and my PS is going to remove the scab and wants me to be sedated and in the OR for the procedure. There are four seniarious that could happen. Best case scenario is I have viable skin under my scab and he can do a skin graft and make me a new nipple. Worst case, he has to remove TE, sew me back up and lay my skin flat for 3-4 months letting it heal, then another surgery to start the entire process over again, including skin grafting and nipple building. If I could get all of you to send me some positive vibes and prayers that would be much appreciated. I know many of you are facing much worse decisions and treatments but I wanted to share what I'm going through. I know you all understand. Oh I have been on tamoxifen since November 17 with no side effects. Maybe a little depression but that could just be the whole BC shit fairy tournamenting me 😡
Docmom you have a wonderful son! That made me tear up.
My positive is my son has qualified to wrestle in the Oregon State high school tournament! I've spent the last 2 weekends watching him wrestle better than he ever has. I am so proud of him. He's only a sophomore and this is a huge accomplishment.
You are all so beautiful, I love the photos and love all of you. 💖💞😍😘
Xoxoxo
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Docmama you look beautiful! Listen to your hubby...it is sexy!!
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welcome back leftcoastie! I'm sorry your nipple is being so stubborn, but glad he's going to put you under to sort this out once and for all!! Regardless of the outcome, it's nice to have a final answer rather than watching and waiting. Fingers crossed he can flick the scab off and underneath is the pinkest most beautiful nipple you have ever seen, like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon !! But if it turns out the tes come out, so be it. At least it puts you back on track of doing something proactively and taking back a little control. We are here for you either way - so everyone take a big gulp from this mug -
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lol thank you annoyingboob. Great pic!
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wow Docmama ..I like it ! You look great and your smile is beautiful. You also look too young to have a grown boy in college. Love to all you girls this wedkend . I feel a little tired from working the past two days . But grateful that I can . Still have got to catch ip on the thread.
❤
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DocMama - You've got guts and you look gorgeous! I just can't go there yet! My hair is coming in very dark and until you can't see my scalp anymore, I don't think I'm willing to go "topless" I'll reassess once that happens.
Leftoastie - Hoping for the best!!!
A-boob Love the pics as always! Hope you didn't get too flooded..not too bad here! Thankful for a strong roof.
Hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday weekend!
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Docmama- you wear it proud!! Your glowing and gorgeous!!!!!!
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no flooding here but its been raining for months and lots of landslides like this one on the road to my house and trees down. it encourages nesting. i don't know how the girls in az and fla have managed to go through everything in nice weather - for me its been great to have all the rain - just stay home and don't need to make up excuses for not going out, lol. although i would like a big landslide to block the roads so i didn't have to do xrt next week, but i guess then everything would just be more delayed, and im eager to be done done done like dcis and fightingirl.
im thinking of bringing pictures and taping them to the ceiling so i have something to look at during xrt - i don't think i can count the lights and fans on their ceiling anymore. im not sure what makes me more mental - counting and recounting mundane things like a maniac or asking to tape things to their ceiling - lol. at least in the mammo room, they had that fake tree wallpaper and you could look around and pretend you were somewhere. but the xrt room is just so...medical. so blank and stale with machines and outlets and videocameras. then they put this little box on your chest so they can gauge your breathing - i swear on my last day im going to chuck that across the room. im reading carrie fisher's book 'postcards from the edge' and i think all the drug craziness is seeping into my brain - maybe time to dig out my dalai lama book again and focus on joy and happiness.
happy saturday ladies...
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Docmama, you look amazing! I hope I look half as good as you do when mine goes
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annoyingboob, wherebouts in NorCal are you? I'm in El Dorado
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hi dani, im in a small town just outside san francisco - 3 roads in and out, and 1 of them has been closed for about 2 months now bc landslides. any rain issues in el dorado? is that oroville dam close to you at all?
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Fightingirl and BeachbabyK,
How did you overcome the treatment room/drug smell? It stuck with me for half my time off and I get nauseated thinking of it. I have my 2nd CMF Feb. 23rd.
To the rest of you ladies on this thread-
You all rock!
Westthebest
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