Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

Texas357

Firni, glad you have the interview experience under your belt. Things happen for a reason and I'm betting you find a great job soon.

The BS explained that he wants mammos to look directly beneath the skin, which is I guess where any local recurrence could possibly happen. I'm going to talk with my radiation oncologist about it since I'm not sure I want the extra radiation exposure to the BC side.

As for the medical records, I talked it over with my husband (who has been away for nearly a month) and he agrees with y'all: I'm going to call and ask for copies for myself even if I have to pay for them. The problem is that the doctor at MD Anderson isn't a guaranteed thing until she sees the records and accepts me as a patient. So I have to play the game with the jerk, and be nice, until I get another doctor or I may be stuck without anyone to remove these stints!

Firni

Texas, I sure hope you have an easy time getting the records.  I'm planning to get all my entire file from my first PS.  Just for my own use.

If you have implants, a mammo can rupture them.  My Onc told me that anything growing just under the skin would be very obvious very early on. 

Texas357

Good to know. I think I'll pass on the mammos. Heck, they didn't do me much good in the first place.

EleanorJ

Well, they told me I can't do a routine MRI or the insurance won't pay for it. I might just though it out, get the mammo done (or I'll just worry) then have a talk with my BS during my appt about not getting mammos. The girl I talked to on the phone told me I could reschedule the mammo when swelling is gone. Humm, not sure she understand what lymphedema is, swelling might never be gone!

Good luck with the interview Firni. The good news is that you already made it in the first cut of 17 people for the interviews

Texas, good luck getting a copy of your file.

Texas357

People don't understand LE -- people frequently say things like,"When it gets better" to me and I feel sort of like a martyr saying it will never go away. I know sometimes they don't believe me. Things like raking the yard -- I used to enjoy that kind of outdoor exercise. Can't do it ever again and it pisses me off. But the risks are too high.

lovemyfamilysomuch

Dear Texas, I am feeling for you sister!  It must be very hard for you with all that going on.  Firni, if this job doesn't work out, you will nail the next one.  Congtats on being a finalist!  In sisterhood, xo

Catrenae

Hi ladies. It's been quite a while since I've posted anything. I've been reading trying to catch up on some of the more recent posts. It's hard to believe that a year has passed since many of our diagnoses.

For the most part, I've been doing really well with everything. For me, the chemo was the absolute worst part of my treatment, especially the Taxol. Thankfully most of my SEs went away fairly quickly after I finished chemo, all except the neuropathy. (It is much better now, but still not completely gone.) I had my bilateral mastectomy on May 29 and then did 33 rounds of rads. I finished radiation August 13. Currently I have to go in once a month for a Zoladex shot and take a daily Femara pill. 

So now I seem to find myself in this "no-woman's land." It is weird but I'm finding it odd not to not have my life dictated by doctor appts., treatments, SEs, etc. I mean it's a GOOD thing, but kind of hard to adjust to, does that makes sense to anyone else?  : )

I also find myself worrying about "what if?" I feel so good after all the crap I've been through, and I really am doing good, but I can't help thinking "Is it going to come back/spread, etc?" How do you stop thinking those thoughts?

Well, thanks for letting me ramble.... I'm so glad to read that most of us doing pretty damn good. Here's to our continued health.

Cat 

Firni

Hi Cat,  Good to hear from you and to know you're doing so well.  Your hair looks great by the way. That's about where mine's at but not as thick.  My hair is baby fine and quite thin yet.

It is weird when the on slaught of appointments stop.  It's hard to remember what I did with my time before all of that.  Oh ya.  I worked.  It kind of felt like no one was looking out for me or taking care of me.  Hence the obsession with "what if it comes back?"  For me, those thoughts are just diminishing over time.  I do still think about it but not as much.  I think as the years go by it will become an infrequent thought.  But a necessary one to remind myself to take better care of myself.  My onc told me that if I keep regular appts. with my doctors, I would find anything pretty quickly.  So my annual physical, gyn, onc and PS appts are all going to be spread out so I'm seeing someone at least every three months.  That gives me some peace of mind.

I did not get the job I interviewed for last week.  Just a nice letter saying they chose someone else.  Got 5 new good leads on work tho.  So on it goes. 

Texas357

Firni, I believe that everything comes in it's own time. You didn't get that job because the job you are supposed to have is still out there. (I know -- NOW would be a good time to come across it, right?) It's something new to concentrate on.

The TE on my radiated side has contracted more and gotten higher on my chest over the last month. Does the PS remove some of the scar tissue during the exchange? I'm really hoping the straight implant works because the LD Flap surgery scares the heck out of me. My exchange surgery is November 18th.

I still have the same lingering side effects. I'm beginning to think they'll never go away, but it's getting easier to think about other things except about being sick. The exception is that we had a trip to Rome all planned last year when I was diagnosed. My husband wants to do it in 2010. Every time I think of Rome, I think of BC. I asked him if we could go somewhere else but he really wants to go there. Just the thought puts my stomach in knots. I hope that changes.

Firni

Texas, I agree with you that MY job is still out there.  I'm kind of a destiny person and believe that we are all here for a reason and that reason will present itself to me.  But ya, now would be a good time.

Your PS will remove any scar tissue and capsule tissue during the exchange.  He will also do any pocket work necessary to get your breasts in the right place.  There are several women on Exchange City thread who have had radiation and implants.  Estepp comes to mind.  You might want to PM her or check out the Exchange City thread.  Also, if you go to the picture forum, Estepp has some photos in the Well Burnt section.  Her exchange went really well.  She is just a dear and will happily answer your questions.  I agree about the LD flap.  That was an option for me and I said No.  I certainly hope you got all the crap with chemo and your recon will be a breeze.

Did you ever get your records from you eye doc?  What's going on with all of that? 

Texas357

It took them more than a week, and my making daily phone calls, but I finally got the records faxed. Now I am waiting to hear if the doctor at MD Anderson accepts me. I'm wondering if I also should have had my oncologist fax the bc records too.

My next appointment with the jerk is this Thurday when he's supposed to remove the stint from my right eye, which hasn't had any issues.

Firni

I guess if you can't find anyone else to take you, you'll have to see the jerk again, but jeez, I wouldn't want him to touch me again.  I hope you hear good news from the doc at MD Anderson before Thurs!

Texas357

The stints came out yesterday! I've still got some watering but not as severe. The next two weeks should reveal if I need to pursue the MD Anderson appointment.

The removal was NOT fun. The stints were anchored by knotted fishing line hanging in my nostrils. I assumed he'd cut the knots before removing. Wrong. He pulled the lines THROUGH my tear ducts!

No one should have to know what it feels like to have their tear ducts stretched like that! Personally I think he had a choice and decided to have one last hurrah by torturing me.

swest

Oh Texas that sounds HORRIBLE!!!!!  I am so sorry you have such an a$$ for a doctor!  I'm praying that you hear form MDA soon!

Cat - Your hair looks great!  Gald you are doing well!

Good luck Firni with your leads!

I am doing good (even with a cold).  Working hard and trying to live life.  I try not to go with the "what if's".  I get to depressed.  Getting through October was tough this year.  I'm glad to see it in my rear view mirror.  Now for November 5th (MX date).

Take care ladies.

Firni

Hi all.  It's soo good to see everyone is getting past the one year mark.  

Sonia, my Mx date was 10-29 and I went thru the entire day without thinking about it.  It didn't even come to my mind until 2 days later.  9-9 was hard for me tho as that was my DX date. 

I have a dilemma that I need some input on.  I saw PS for about a year.  The MX, fills, exchange and a revision.  I still didn't have the breasts I wanted and he said it couldn't be done.  I went to a second PS for another opinion and he did a revision giving me the breasts I wanted.  THEN I found out that new PS does nipple reconstruction really weird.  He draws a circle, sticks a piece of Gortex under the skin (kind of like a small pencil eraser).  Then he tattoos the whole NAC one dark color.  He told me that the nipple will always be very hard.  It will be visible under any clothing except a padded bra.  WTH?  On his website, the tattooed areolas look like pepperoni.  I just don't think I'll be happy with erasers and pepperoni on my chest.  My first PS does the nipples that I want.  Tissue flap nipples and grafted areolas.  My dilemma is:  do I try to go back to the first PS or try to find yet another PS?  Denver is a pretty big city but I'm running out of options for PS with my insurance.  Do you think the first PS would do something vindictive during my surgery if he took me back?   Help me!

Bold

Sweet Ferni! First of all Docs are use to people getting second opinions. It would not bother him at all. I think that I would go to yet another dr. I think that you are not asking for more than what is possible. I wish you all the luck in the world!!!!!! Funny thing I was just thinking about you this morning I was watering the ferns. Good to hear from you.

November 6th is my DX anniversary. I will always remember that it was election day. Obama and breast cancer. HMMMMMMMMM.

Congrats to all for a year of courage.

Firni

Bold, I did more than get a second opinion.  The second PS did a revision.  He undid the first PS' work and did all the things the first PS told me couldn't be done.  That's why I'm worried if the 1st PS will take me back.  I love your new avitar!

Texas357

Firni, you stood up for yourself. No need to back down now. If the first surgeon does the best job on nipples, go back there and have a frank discussion. Explain that this is where you think he's superior to anyone else and see what his reaction is. He can only tell you no. But this is your body and you have to look out for YOU more than his feelings. If he's smart, he'll pay attention to what the other surgeon did so that he can do a better job in the future.

My news: my husband bought  me a spa day! Next week I'm going for my own "extreme makeover": mani/pedi, hair cut and color (okay it just needs shaping not a full cut), a facial and a professional makeup application. The following week is my exchange surgery,and nipples in late December.

Meanwhile my husband is getting his knee replaced the week after my exchange surgery so we'll have a lot going on around here. This may mean no family visits for Christmas because my family lives in another state and I don't know if we'll be up to flying.

EleanorJ

Texas, what a great husband you have. My hair so need a good shaping, but after 6 months of hair growth, I still can't bring myself to have someone put the scissors in it!

Firni, I think Texas is right, if he does what you want than go back to him. And honestly, I highly doubt he would butcher your breast just to get back at you or he would be looking into a very pricey court case! And the board of doctors, & ... Good luck with that last phase.

We moved in last weekend into our new house. It's so nice But still so much work & unpacking to do (which I should be doing right now.. oops!) We weren't sad to leave the last place. We had moved in June of 08, found the lump in August, dx, chemo, bald, radiation until the end of May. Quite honestly, we don't have too many good memories in that house. It's the cancer house We were glad to shut that door and open a new one

swest

Firni - I'd go back to the first PS.  Interview him for the job.  Shop around.  I definately would not let the 2nd PS do a procedure that I wasn't really wanting!  Just my 2 cents.

Great to hear from you all! 

Post us a pic of your new house!  I'd love to see it!

Texas357

Caroline, congrats on the move. New beginnings!!

Mandy1313

Caroline--all the best in your new home. wishing you many years of happiness there.

Firni: Make an appointment but don't expect miracles.  Tell him the truth...first that he does the best nipple reconstruction and you wondered if he would be willing to do yours. But you might also want to get another opinion from another doc...shop around. Time is on your side.

It is hard to believe that a year ago we were all wondering what chemo would do to us.  One thing I did not realize was that I would make wonderful friends on the December Chemo board. Thank you all for your support and friendship.

Hugs

Mandy

Texas357

Now we can reach back and help others just starting the journey -- showing them firsthand that yes, it's possible to get through and have a life afterward!

Bold

Hello my sistahs. Today is my year anniversary. Unbelievable!

Congrats Caroline!!!!!! How wonderful!!!!!

Thank you all for taking this scary journey with me and caring. I appreciate you all.

XO

havehope

Congrats to all of you!

One year has passed, one year that I will like to forget but remember,too. So many good things came out of this terrible experience. I learned to appreciate life more and try to enjoy every minute of it.   I am thinking of changing my stressful job to a more calmer job, maybe a part time. It will be a blow to our income but I want to spend more time with my daughter (she is 13) and my DH who works 3 to 11 pm and we see each other from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.

Thank you all for your support. I am sorry that we are all here but I am happy that I found you.  

lovemyfamilysomuch

Thinking of all my sisters as we continue on.  Sending all my love and support!!  In sisterhood, xo

Shelia

Firni,

 I'm in the Denver metro area too and  have had difficulty with my ps.  I had my exchange surgery in February 2009.  The ps wants to do at least 3 fat transfers to even out the peaks & valleys of my implants.  I've not yet decided if I want to have a 4th surgery in less than a year.  My ps told me he couldn't do nipples as I had a revisionary surgery and just don't have the skin to do it.  I'm looking for a medical tattooist in Denver that does the 3D areola tats.  I'm with you, hold the pepperoni! 

 Good luck to you!  Keep us posted. 

Shelia

Firni

Shelia, I PM'd you.  I'm interested in who your PS is and where in the metro area.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to find a 3rd surgeon to get my nipples done.  If I hear of a tattooist in the metro area, I'll let you know.

CindaD

Hi everyone, it took a while for me to catch up on your posts and I'm glad to see that we all successfully kicked cancer's A$$!!!  It's hard to believe that it was only a year ago that I found this board and the support I needed to get thru treatment.  It was such a comfort to talk to women who knew exactly what I was going thru.  What a blessing you all were.  I'm trying to pay it forward by working with a local support group P.I.N.K., which stands for Power in Knowledge.  I'm currently helping to assemble little gift bags for these women, just a little something to pamper them.  It's a small gesture but we're hoping it helps.

Firni, I darn near spit my drink out all over my desk when I read about your eraser/pepperoni dilema!  I used to work in the OR and I'm saying get another opinion, keep looking, I've seen some beautiful nipple reconstructions and THEY DID NOT INVOLVE ERASERS OR PEPPERONI!  The grafted nipples look great and I think tatooing looks great if the person is skilled at doing it.    Keep looking girl, this is your body and you deserve to get what you want!

Sisters stay strong and continue to Live Outloud!

Cinda

EleanorJ

Anyone seen this article?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091117/ap_on_he_me/us_med_mammogram_advice

Most women don't need a mammogram in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50, a government task force said Monday. It's a major reversal that conflicts with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position.

Also, the task force said breast self-exams do no good and women shouldn't be taught to do them.

Geez, I would have been dead by age 50 if I had never found the tumor myself and waited for a mammo at 50!!! And it's not like I was high risk! Goodness!