January 2017 Surgery Group
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i really want to just start today and get it over with, but my team has had good advice thus far, so I will play by the rules and start after xrt. im doing positive visualizations that maybe it will really help me. would be great to have less heavy and annoying periods, thought there is a chance they get worse on T. but my positive visualizations are for clear cancer cells from the boobs, superstrong bones to carry me into old age, and lower cholesterol. I repeat 'this will make me strong and healthy' over and over. all attempts to trick my mind and practice neuroplasticity, lol. maybe the added responsibility of paving the way for others will make it more tolerable. stay tuned, ladies...
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Farmdream, at the boutique she fitted me with Anita vivana active and at Nordstrom she put me in two different Natori underwire bras. I wear the Natori during the day and the Anita at night. They are all supportive but not binding. Good luck!
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Hi everyone! Haven't been on here for awhile--got back to work last week and just trying to get back into the rhythm of everything. Had my first fill in the left tissue expander last Friday. Everything was ok this weekend but today the pain of stretching was not great to deal with--and I only had 50 cc's!!
Started Tamoxifen mid-February and so far nothing major with that. I think it's because I take it at night before I go to bed so the worst may be happening when I sleep. It may also be the reason for some very vivid dreams!!
People at work and my friends/family have been so incredibly supportive during this time. I hope you all are experiencing that as well. I'm ready to move on but my body is asking me to take it slow--so I guess I need to listen to it!!
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AZJS - You're the only other person I have seen that has gone direct to implant. I also had the tear shaped implant on my mastectomy side. I had a lift and implant done on the other side for symmetry. Was tamoxifen recommended for you? My DCIS was also greater than 6cm. Just curious what other people in my same situation are being recommended.
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Azjs - thank you for the bra information. I scheduled another fitting at the hospital for later this week.
I started wearing a sports bra but was worried I was going to have to cut off
...still limited range of motion in my arms.0 -
Hey Annoyingboob - I got my bottle as well, same manufacturer (Mayne). I read on the dreaded "Bottle O Tamoxifen" thread that people generally seem to like that manufacturer as far as less SE's. Let's hope so! They don't want me to start taking it until after I have my "teaching appointment" with the PA. Which couldn't be scheduled until NEXT week. It was supposed to be this week but the PA was too busy. Did they have a big long talk with you about the SE's and stuff? Or just hand you the script and say go?
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Pyrrh - I have been on Tamoxifen (my brand is Actavis) for a little over a month.
I didn't get any sort of "talk"....the script was electronically sent to my pharmacy and that was that.
I am actually meeting with my MO this week and have a few questions I want to discuss.
I take my pill at night, I have been ok with SEs, hoping they stay manageable.
Wishing you all the best on your Tamoxifen journey.
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I had a mini chat with MO about SE. But it was me asking questions about SE pertinent to my life rather than him giving me the lowdown. Prolly for the best so my mind doesn't create issues that don't exist. He just gave me a 1 month script, and I'm sposed to meet with him again once I've started.
I didn't ask for mayne, I guess it was just serendipity. Glad you will be joining me!! Here's hoping that just like surgery and xrt, the anticipation is the worst part!!
Farmdream, have you had a period yet on it? I'm so hoping I get a lighter cycle or it goes away completely!
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DCISinAZ, Must be an Arizona thing! I also live in PV, AZ:) Small world! My breast surgeon at Mayo, whose opinion I really value, told me it would be my choice whether to take Tamoxifen. I was supposed to see the oncologist this week to discuss it, but I postponed my appointment until mid-March. I needed some time to get back to normal before I have to research and make another decision. I'm feeling really good now and gearing up to start my research. I would love to know what you were told and what you decide. My info so far is just anecdotal . . . My aunt, who had breast cancer many years ago, tried the Tamoxifen, but had to discontinue use because she actually felt it affected her memory. A sister of a friend who is currently on Tamoxifen (approximately my age, 49) said it is slowing down her metabolism and making her tired. Not what I need at all!
By the way, you were smart and brave to have the other side reconstructed at the same time. My plastic surgeon recommended that I have a lift on the other side at the same time as my mastectomy, but I was too chicken. I am now thinking I will take his advice in six months to a year. So far, I'm really happy with how the reconstruction turned out. Sometimes the things you worry about the most turn out to be the easiest. It's funny that way.
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Farmdream, good luck with your bra fitting. One more thing on the cording that has helped me is massaging the scar of the sentinel node biopsy gently with my fingers. I try to do it after I shower when the skin is still warm. I think it helps break up the scar tissue, which can give you better range of motion. Best of luck!
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annoyingboob - I have had a period while on tamoxifen, pretty normal, however, now i have had some cramping for about two weeks and haven't started my next one, it is due.
I have endometriosis so I am hoping it doesn't get worse.
Azjs - thanks for the tip on the cording, i will definitely give it a try.
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AZJS - so funny! Small World, for sure. Who was your breast surgeon at Mayo? My husband trained up at Mayo Rochester and did a rotation here, so we know a lot of the people there. The medical community is a small community.
When I met with my medical oncologist, he said he thought for me the risks outweigh the benefits. I don't have any family history. He said he thought the potential weight gain from tamoxifen and the increased breast cancer risk because of that was worse than any potential benefits he saw I would have from the tamoxifen. I'm still mulling it over. If I had had the other breast removed as well, I don't think I would be questioning it as much. But my breast surgeon had said the tamoxifen has a protective effect on the contralateral breast. Now, maybe because I will be monitored much more closely now that I have had a diagnosis, they figure it's OK even if I had a recurrence because it would be caught really early. But it's not really OK with me! I am trying to not base my decisions on emotions, which is hard because there are clearly a lot of emotions involved.
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DCISinAZ, My breast surgeon is Dr. Barbara Pockaj. She is amazing. Like yours, she explained to me that the benefit of the Tamoxifen would be for the contralateral breast. The worrisome thing for me is that my DCIS was microscopic. All they could see on the imaging (mammogram and MRI) were two small calcifications. Based on that info, I opted for a lumpectomy in December. But the pathology after the lumpectomy showed extensive DCIS, so I then had the mastectomy in January. So, of course, I worry that there is something invisible lurking in my left side, but the surgeon explained to me that the two are "distant cousins" not twins, so what is true for the right breast isn't necessarily true for the left. And I have to say that as time passes, I am worrying less each day. I will let you know what the oncologist advises in March. Right now, I am leaning against the Tamoxifen, but I may very well change my mind as I have about other things over the course of this journey . . . Enjoy the rain:)
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AZJS - I was wondering if that was who you saw when you said you had a breast surgeon at Mayo. We know Barb well. My husband actually called her when I was very first diagnosed, but my insurance, Blue Cross, isn't covered at Mayo, so I went with someone else.
Did you say you had your implant put in above the muscle? Any particular reason why they did that rather than under the muscle? I thought I had read that screening is more difficult when the implant is above the muscle. So difficult, there is so much conflicting information out there.
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aboob, don't start w/out me.... let's do it together... Saturday, half dose? PM me if you want to coordinate...
S
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Dcbc let's do fri night half dose. I'm going to take it before bed. Fri/sat/sun halfsies and go full dose mon night? Wheeeeeeee!!!!!
I'm jealous of your moto jacket success. I bought a pink leather jacket last year that I ended up never wearing bc in a 'real' mirror it looked silly. Tried it on again with my smaller boobs and it still doesn't fit right. Rats.
I need lots of prayers for no weight gain on T! I'm already up 15# from the summer bc pre and postop ice cream and no exercise. If I add another 15 I'll be a moose!!
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beautifulbaby and Mommy❤🌸
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just bought this shirt online, lol!!
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a-boob: love it!
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Vargadoll - LOVE IT
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❤💪🏻Nice !
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Anyone tired these? Just found them at my local Walmart. Would like other opinions on the quality...are they for real
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Vargadoll - I don't know if they're for real but I do think they're tasty
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annoyingboob- you also must subscribe to My Little Paris! I saw that shirt and that women in Paris are wearing them and was tempted to get one, too ❤️
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hi bevmom, hope Monday went ok and you are back in bed recovering! That site is where I saw the shirt - I figure if I don't wear it out and about, it would be a cute night shirt with pajama bottoms. And this artist lives near me, so I like donating to the locals!!
My mom is super catholic and does the giving up something for lent every year. I'm joining her this year and I'm giving up sugar. Today is day 1. Anyone want to join me? I hope to keep it up for longer than lent, but no promises.
I have my final xrt this Friday and today I am exhausted. Not sure how much is from the commute, mental strain, or the radiation, but it's nap time.
I hope all my sisters are hanging in there with post op, xrt, chemo, and real life reentry!!
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Hi A-Boob: I'll join you! I was going to give up drinking, but with chemo I'm not drinking anyway so that seemed a little disingenuous. Giving up sugar is a great idea! Happy Ash Wednesday!
P.s. Is it me or does that model wearing the "hearts" look like she has implants?...or maybe she's just 20 yrs old...LOL
Bevmom: all I can say is grieving sucks...but like BC, there's no short cut around it...xoxo
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I think she's 20 AND French, so it's a double whammy!!
I'm so happy you will stop sugar with me! I am hopeless and have no willpower - I need your strength!! First step, de-like this donut shop on instagram that always has the most delicious pictures. My mouth waters just thinking about it. No no no!!
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A-Boob: I laugh sometimes & say that when my implants are done, My boobs will look like I'm 20, then you'll look at the rest of me & say, "what happened?!" LOL
We can do this! Just keep thinking that sugar feeds cancer cells!
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One thing I did get from breast cancer is 20 year old boobs. Too bad it accentuates my 46 year old belly. Lol
Maybe I am feeling a little sorry for myself today but has anyone else that is married noticed their spouses support dwindling as time goes on. Yes the cancer is out of me but I haven't even had treatment yet. I feel like he thinks that's I should feel like it is all fine. I guess I enjoyed the caring side of him but it is back to the the usual. I'm not there yet
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