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implant after radiation?
Hello all, I had a mastectomy and then 16 round of radiation 3 years ago. I don't want to go through the DIEP flap surgery. My original reconstruction surgeon refuses to insert implants on radiated skin, since you're more prone to infection and failure. I got a 2nd opinion from a reconstructive surgeon who is willing to do…
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Nipple reinnervation (nerve grafting)
I've recently learned about this procedure, wherein the main nerve to the nipple is reattached with a nerve graft at the end of the mastectomy, with the intention of restoring sensation and preventing neuropathic pain.Has anyone had this done? Can you tell me where, and what your experience has been as far as nipple…
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Oligiometastatic Definition
I am having difficulty finding the actual definition of Oligiometastatic. Can lymph nodes be involved? I was stage 4 Her2 positive with 2 spots in my liver and some chest node involvement. My understanding is it meets the criteria if it is 1-5 organs so, any further clarification would be much appreciated. Thank you to my…
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Just really sad
I am mourning today I think. Had my first chemo session a little over three weeks ago and it went fine. The day before my second I started the routine again of taking my steroids with a fasting bar and then continuing to fast through the day. Five and a half hours after taking my steroid I suddenly developed stroke like…
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Stand Tall - Aesthetic Flat Closure - Making Strides
Hi everyone! If you are in the Denver, CO area, please join me at the Making Strides breast cancer walk hosted by the American Cancer Society. My team is also promoting visibility and normalization of flat closure as a mastectomy option. STAFC Flat and Fabulous, Denver If you are not in the Denver area but like the idea of…
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STRUGGLING WITH TAMOXIFEN
Hi I have stage 1A, est/pro positive, hers negative, low grade 1 and was having a lumpectomy on left breast. I also took radiaiton for a month in Feb. 2022. I took tamoxefin last January then in Feb. exact a month later, I got hives. I stopped pill for two days which urgent care enter nurse told me to. However my…
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Reconstruction without sling?
I had a mastectomy 5/2021 and had implants placed. I had the implants replaced 2/2022 due to size. At the time, I had some mild capsular contracture in one breast that the doctor released and all was well.... until recently. I'm not sure if I am having severe capsular contracture or if I am reacting to the vicyrl sling…
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Back on the roller coaster
Hey all, I am back again. I had my annual mammogram in August 2021. I had to go back for a diagnostic mammogram for microcalcifications in right breast outer quadrant and radiology said she really thought it to be benign, so said come back in 6 months. I went for repeat diagnostic mammogram on February 2022 and there were…
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Finding an Oncologist you like?
I am 6 years from my diagnosis. I had to change doctors due to my husband change of job. Anyway, today I saw a new Oncologist it has been over 2 years since I had been to an Oncologist. This one was terrible...she made me feel like I am just a statistic. She did tell me I am Cancer Free she is the 1st Oncologist to tell me…
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Essential Oil questions
So, I am doing everything possible through traditional medicine. But I heard about the benefits of frankincense essential oil. Does anyone use this to help reduce recurrence?
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Anyone with Lymphedema in both arms?
Now that I have been diagnosed with breast cancer for a third time, in opposite breast, I am so worried about getting lymphedema in both arms. I have one reconstructed breast, will have second mastectomy scheduled in October with SNB and possibly more node removal. Reconstruction with tissue expander and implant. Ugh. I…
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Well HEREs a freaky story...
Our new puppy gifted me with a flea bite on my right hand (my right arm being devoid of 20 lymph nodes, mind you) which within days turned into cellulitis. A couple of days later, my fake right hip started hurting. Since artificial joints are magnets for infection, I of course immediately assumed the worst. 10 days on…
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Recommended Oncologists/Teams in DC area? Hopkins?
Hi, I'm currently reeling from my surprise diagnosis at age 42 after my first mammogram, and I'm looking for recommendations for doctors, and advice on figuring out who to see, what to do, etc. 1. I have a tentative diagnosis for a rare papillary pre-cancer (papilloma with atypical ductal hyperplasia or DCIS, can't rule…
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Postcards from the Ledge
Hi all I’ve heard from a lot of women that there were times they had to be talked off the ledge during their cancer “journey “. I have found it to be more like a mud run - messy, exhausting and glad to see the finish line! My most obvious ledge day was this: I called my surgeons office on a Sunday night, when I knew they…
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Spreading Rashes
Disclaimer - I'm not sure if this should go here or in the IBC thread. If it should be in the IBC thread please let me know and I'll delete and re-post <3 Hi everyone. It's been several years since I've been here. The last few times it was about lumps in both breasts that were all biopsied and diagnosed as fibroadenomas.…
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"Decorative" tattoos over mastectomy/reconstruction?
Hi! I was wondering if anyone got/is planning to get tattoos over their breasts after their mastectomy? I'd love to hear about it, what you got, how big the tattoo(s) are, how it looks with scars, how it affected your self-esteem, anything. Also, how long do you have to wait before getting the tattoo? I'm impatient, and…
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Considering a Tattoo and have some concerns
Hi all! This is my first post after just joining this site. I'm excited to explore and hopefully get some feedback. So here's my sitch: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 at 22 years old. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and also had a negative sentinel node biopsy. Following my surgery I was…
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A Place To Say Thanks to Members Who Helped You!
Hi Everyone! I am hoping that this will become the longest thread on BC dot org someday. The purpose of this thread is to give some public recognition for a member or those members who have helped you with their posts. We have some members who really go above and beyond to share their knowledge with newbies and worried…
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Signatera blood test for detecting molecular residual disease
I’ve just finished my chemo (year), surgery and radiation and even though I had a PCR after the neoadjuvant TCHP, I’m super anxious about this recurring given that my tumor was HER2+/Hormone negative with a Ki67 of 90%. (Anything over 20% is classified as “high” so knowing mine is 90% seems like extremely bad news. My MO…
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Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia , Usual Ductal Hyperplasia
* I am a 40 year old , I started my journey in Dec 2019 with discharge from the nipple went int to the er and was told of possible breast cancer. I was sent for diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound which was 3.5mm only shaped mass on the top of my right breast it had fluid and solid compound in which I was then scheduled to…
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Anxious
Hello I am 43 43. I've been getting routine mammograms for quite sometime. Yesterday I got a call back The report says "there is a developing asymmetry in the posterior upper outer quadrant of the right breast" . I went to google which I know is dumb. I can't stop. I have two sons. My mind is racing. I will go back this…
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Sub-clinical lymphedema?
I had a Sentinel node biopsy, radiation along with a lumpectomy on the right side three years ago. I am right handed. After treatment I completed the Livestrong program. My upper body has never been the strongest, but I had my pre-surgery strength on my right side. I actually went back packing in Croatia 3 weeks after…
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Bilateral Cataracts & P. Vitreal Separation
hi: Do you think mysituation Med related or metastatic cancer progression? I have stage 4 Mets x5 years on I/F therapy & Bilateral "RAPIDLY ADVANCING" Cataracts & posterior Vitreal separation (<1 mo. Apart) Rapidly advanced cataracts from grade 2-9 in ~ 6 mos. while taking Ibrance/Femara (I/F) combo for past 5 years with…
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Beauty products: Hair Dye? Sunscreen? Face products/retinol?
I'm far from being done with treatment - waiting on 2nd set of scans (MRI, bilateral mammo) after consulting radiologist saw extra stuff on my original imaging, joy - but I'm trying to build a plan NOW for "after treatment" since I'm a big long-term planner and it calms my anxiety to be able to make little plans for the…
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13 yrs ago Aug 8
Hi! Haven't been around for a while - some may remember me from a while ago. I was DX'd with IBC ( Inflammatory Breast Cancer ) 13 yrs ago on Aug, 8 ,2009. Just wanted say I'm still 'around' living and loving' every minute of life!
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Back to the waiting game
Hello all! Back in early 2018 I went through a fun-filled MRI, followed by an MRI-guided biopsy which found atypical ductal hyperplasia. I had an excisional biopsy a couple of weeks after that, and luckily nothing else was found. Since then I've been seen at our high-risk breast clinic regularly, and have been on the…
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Intermittent Fasting May Help Cancer Treatments Work Better
Intermittent Fasting May Help Cancer Treatments Work Better, Small, Early Study Suggests November 30, 2021 A small study suggests that a specific type of intermittent fasting is safe and possible for people diagnosed with cancer and may boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and…
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allergy and skin issues post-chemo?
Hi all, I finished active chemo in Oct 2018 - did a year and a half total of Taxol, Red Devil, Cisplatin and Xeloda. I'm having so many allergy issues and skin problems and I wonder if anyone else has had these problems after chemo. I feel permanently altered. Right now, I have swelling under my eyes and extremely…
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Flat closure results - Shameless request for surgeon info
Has anyone had a flat closure mastectomy with Michelle Specht at MGH, or Tari King at Dana Farber/Brigham? How did it go? I could use any info at all (feel free to PM me). I'm trying to choose, and I need to decide right away. They both seem fine, but different, and information is scarce (I'm out in the boonies of New…
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Need Encouragement
This is my first time posting on here but wanted some encouragement. ❤️ I was diagnosed in Jan. 2022 with stage 4 her2 positive to liver. I recently have completed my chemo THP and my scans are all clear other than 2 small spots still decreasing in my liver.( which my dr. believes is scar tissue) My breast mass was quite…