Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

Tina-in-Seattle

Hi all, I haven't been here for ages!  I hope all is well and we're all still kicking it to Skinny Maria!

Marie, my recon was done by Dr. Brian Wendell up here in Mill Creek.  I think he did a great job on me.  He works through Providence Medical in Everett.  Let me know if you need his info, I'd be happy to send it on.

All the best

Tina 

Tina-in-Seattle

Hey all!  Just want to let you all know of the Young Survival Coalition's October Bash, Drink Beyond the Pink in Seattle.  Would love to see you there as we party and raise money for young survivors and those going through treatment.

Hope some of you can come celebrate with us!  Here is the link with the information.

 http://www.youngsurvival.org/seattle  or

 https://youngsurvival.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/SeattleDrinkBeyondthepink2010/Registration/tabid/222627/Default.aspx

Feel free to contact me with for any info.  I hope to meet some of you there!

xxxooo

t 

ck55

Hi vmaie,

I had a unilateral DIEP in October 2009 with Dr. Beshlian and Dr Paige. I liked them both. There is a monthly meeting that VM puts on once a month (sorry I can't remember the day/week) that provides a lot of information along with women who are willing to show off their results up close and personal. Fey, one of the nurses in the office runs it and she is just wonderful. You might want to call the office and ask when the next one is. I found it very helpful.

Good Luck, Cyndi

ck55

Hi vmaie,

I had a unilateral DIEP in October 2009 with Dr. Beshlian and Dr Paige. I liked them both. There is a monthly meeting that VM puts on once a month (sorry I can't remember the day/week) that provides a lot of information along with women who are willing to show off their results up close and personal. Fey, one of the nurses in the office runs it and she is just wonderful. You might want to call the office and ask when the next one is. I found it very helpful.

Good Luck, Cyndi

frosty1

Are any of you planning to attend the Komen Survivor thing on Sept12? 

Join Us: Sunday, September 12, 2010
Komen Puget Sound Survivor Celebration
Breast cancer survivors will be treated to an exquisite dining experience, an inspirational program, and plenty of entertainment aboard Holland America Line's ms Oosterdam cruise ship.

10:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, Seattle, WA 
Attendance is limited to 400 breast cancer survivors
Ship does not leave port

Register by September 1st via our Online Registration or call (206) 633-6586
$25 suggested donation
Attendance is limited to 400 breast cancer survivors

libby

Thanks for sharing that invitation.  I missed it last year and it looked like fun.  Thinking I will sign up!

tkone

I would love to go!  Signing up!

kyasou

Thank you for letting us know about it!  I just signed up and am looking forward to meeting some of you since I haven't been able to make the dinners.  Glad to hear that so many are doing well. 

golfer779

Verene, I had my my Uni-DIEP performed by Dr. Paige and Dr. Beshlian (they work in tandem when performing the flap surgeries).  The recon mtgs are most informative, I went to a couple of them prior to surgery and have gone back as a "show and tell" since.  They meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6pm.  I am unable to attend Sept's mtg, but could/would be happy to accompany you.  If you google Virginia Mason's plastice surgery dept you will see the particulars.  Very happy with my care !

 Sorry gals for being more than MIA ... guess it's a good thing that life's business has taken a front seat.  Kind of funny as I sit here tonight and decided to sneak a peak here at BC.org ... tomorrow is a full day of doc appts, hitting the Dermie, an MRI of my chest, follow-up with the PS surgeon and tomorrow a GYN appt ..... oh yeah, life goes on, but is good !!!!

frosty1

Let me know if you are able to do the Sept 12 event and we can figure out a spot to meet up.  Oddly enough, it will be my 50th birthday that very day.  I'm celebrating life!

raincitygirl

Well, I am brand new - got some good info from Frosty yesterday about how to find the Seattle site.  My surgery is this Thursday, so I am just starting out.  Would really appreciate opportunities to meet up with others, learn from your experiences, enjoy a glass of wine and have some fun with others who understand the "journey" as all the docs seem to call it....

tkone

Kyasou, Jodimaca, Frosty1--looking forward to meeting up with you for the Cruise Event.  We will have to figure out a way to meet.  I have also invited another friend so it looks like there will be at least 5 of us.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Jodimaca, we would love to have you and I'm glad you found us.

Tracy

raincitygirl

Thank you for the warm welcome.  I wish I could go on the cruise and meet up with those of you who are perhaps further along or even at the same place in the process.  My friends and family are very loving and supportive but they have never heard the C word used about themselves.  Never did I think I would want a support "group" but somehow crazy, sexy cancer made it very interesting.

 I had my lumpectomy and SNB this past Thursday at Swedish.  I am so pleased that I have not had much pain.  I realize after reading this board that each experience is very different. Honestly, I am a bit of a weenie about pain so I was expecting the worst.  Most especially, I was afraid of the wires I would have marking the boundaries.  I was very fortunate in that I honestly felt very little and it certainly could not be described as painful.  The first night and second day were uncomfortable, but not the level of pain I expected - haven't had a pain killer since Friday night.  The incision for my SNB happened to be exactly where the recovery bra I purchased rubbed.  On Friday morning, I went to Nordstrom to try again.  Was really disappointed with the "mastectomy/prosthetic" specialist who was really grossed out by my incisions and asked if I had permission to try on bra's.. Given that I arrived wearing one, I thought it was a silly question. Ultimately, the surgeon's office recommended placement of a 100% cotton Kotex pad and that helped. I had my husband place it and use the sticky side to keep it in place - we laughed as he stated that he had never put a kotex on a woman before.

 I am so disappointed that September 12 doesn't work for me.  If some other opportunity comes up, I will be there with bells on, especially if a drink or two is involved. Oh, and humor, lots of good humor

 I have so much appreciation for all of you and your warm hearts.  Oh geez, look at me getting all corny.  I guess perhaps that is the slightly silver lining of the C.

Anonymous

Jodi - welcome!  I have not been here for awhile, enjoying summer I guess!  I hope to go to the lunch on the 12 but am not sure yet - coordinating with my husband.

Jodi, I am not a support group kind of gal, but to have a cancer diagnosis in my 40's and deal with all of this - having a group of women like me who are also fighting cancer has been amazing, empowering and soooooo wonderful.  I love you all!

I am almost a year out of active treatment (radiation ended in October 09) and all of the sudden, I feel great.  I think the new normal has finally hit.  I wasn't depressed, or down and felt fine, but I can't explain it.  I am so happy.  I started running in June so maybe that is what is making me feel great.  I dunno, but am not going to question it!  Jodi and anyoneelse who is new - it does get better.  We promise!

frosty1

Jodi -- I was also very disappointed at the Nordstrom experience.  I ended up going to Mary Katherines over by Swedish.  Small location but the ladies there are experts and have been doing this for years.  I highly recommend them!

frosty1

Just found out they have space if you want to bring a friend, but you have to make reservations by tomorrow for the Komen Cruise.

tkone

Hi ladies,

I am excited about the 12th and sorry that not everyone can make it.  Jodi-I  absolutely am not a support group kind of girl.  Nope-not me!  I am not going to sit around with a bunch of people whining about how miserable their life is.  I was so pleasantly surprised the first time this group got together as what we did most of was laugh our heads off.   As far as the lumpectomy and snb, I kind of felt the same way.  It was probably the easiest surgery I have ever had (physically).  Emotionally it was tough, but I wanted that sucker outta there! So in the end I felt relief. 

AprilGirl-Running??  Seriously??  Wow, I'm very impressed.  I hate running.  My husband is a marathon runner and I tell him all the time that the only reason I would run that far is if someone was chasing me.  You inspire me, my girl!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Tracy

Issymom

I wish I could join you all on the 12th.  Sounds like great fun.  My 2 best friends from High School are coming for a visit next weekend.  We have not seen each other in 13 years!  One good thing that BC did, it made us realize it has been too much time since we have seen each other and you can't guarantee you will have another "next year".

I am in Chelan for our last "summer weekend".  The weather is better than on the West side but not as warm as I would like.

Lorrie

libby

I will be at the Komen celebration also, bringing a friend.  We need a way to find each other!

frosty1

Libby, Kyasou, Tracy -- let's PM cell phone numbers and try to connect that way.  I have never been, so not sure the layout and if we have reserved tables or not.  I'll try to get there as early as I can and see if I can reserve a table.  How many of us will there be? 6?  I'm bringing my mom as a thank you for her support.  Tracy -- were you bringing a friend?

kyasou

Here I am waiting until the last minute to plan for the celebration.  Is anyone coming on the bainbridge ferry?  I am going to try for the 9:35 ferry and would love to share a taxi to pier 91. 

libby

no to the ferry but i will send you my cell number if you want to join us once onboard

Issymom

Hi everyone,

I can't believe it but the 3 Day Walk for the Cure this weekend.  I have been training all summer but don't feel completely ready.  I don't think it will be impossible but it will be VERY difficult.  I am counting on the distraction of the other walkers to get me through.  Pray for good (doesn't have to be good just hope for not bad) weather.

 I know Tracy is walking but I am not sure if anyone else is walking.  Let me know.  My sister and I are walking as a team (BRaCA Sisters). 

My hair has come in enough to have minor cases of bad head.  It is very grey (salt and pepper).  I have not colored it yet.  Still trying to figure out what the new Lorrie will look like.

I hope we can all meet up in October.

Lorrie

frosty1

How are all the walkers doing on their fundraising?

Lorrie - good luck to you ... that is a Loooooonnnngg walk.

Time for another dinner to celebrate after the walk?

bluestone

Hi  all--

I am a Seattle area person. I will have my biopsy next week at Swedish. As, I am a worrier and a planner....I am thinking ahead to what if the biopsy shows cancer.  Then do I see an oncologist or a surgeon?

 I have researched and hope that if I have to see an oncologist that I would be able to see Dr. Rinn or Dr. Kaplan at Swedish.  

 Any recommendations  for a breast cancer surgeon in Seattle?

Thanks for any help on this. I have no idea if this is the right place for this Seattle question. If there is a better place for the question please let me know.

Bluestone

Colette37

bluestone...I just went through the cancer treatment last year and am now in the process of having the reconstruction surgeries done.  I live in Olympia, but I had a surgeon here (for lack of better words) tick me off..So I have been going to Swedish up in Seattle for the surgeries, while I had my oncologist and Radiation Oncologists here in Olympia.

I had Dr. Lee for my breast surgeon (who was wonderful and very understanding)..She knows what she is doing and listens to her patients.  My Plastic Surgeon is Dr. Chatal and they both work together all the time.  Dr. Chatal is a great surgeon too..very precise and pays attention to detail which is what you want in a surgeon. 

3monstmama

Hey bluestone,

I am also being treated at Swedish.  they are very nice there and very good.  Dr. Rinn is my oncologist and my surgeon is Dr. Buchanan.  Oh and my zap doctor is doctor Morris.

Good luck with your biopsy.

tkone

Bluestone-This is a great place to start.  First, lets hope for the best and hope that the biopsy shows nothing.  Most breast lumps are benign so try not to worry.  Second, if there is anything that the doctor wants to look at more closely, they will generally send you to the surgeon first before the oncologist.  Dr. Rinn is my oncologist and I love her to pieces.  Kaplan is also fabulous.  Both good choices, but don't get ahead of yourself.  My prayer for you is a benign return on your biopsy.

Lorrie and others-I will be at the 3 day walk starting tomorrow as well.  My team is called Valley Girls and Guys and so far our team has raised over 200,000.00!!!!!!  Can you believe it??

Lorrie-do you have my cell phone number?  I'll send it to you in a PM and hope to see you there.

And yes, a celebratory dinner is definitely in order.  Maybe November?  I'll get something on our calendars after this weekend.

Carol-See you there too!  I'll send you my cell phone info so you have it as well.

Tracy

bluestone

Thanks  colette, 3monstmama, and tracy for the helpful info.  Yes, still hoping that the biopsy shows benign. 

frosty1

bluestone -- keep us posted!  We will be here for you.

Tracy - you and your team rock!  I hear you are the top fundraising group in the country.  Way to go!