January Mastectomy

robinlbe

Hi all...sitting here with my foot elevated wrapped in ice, nursing a nasty sprained ankle (more on that later), getting caught up on everyone's lives.  Blessings on those of your recovering on your recent surgeries, recoveries, home dramas, etc, etc...Life does march on and on, doesn't it?

Gina and I attended the breast cancer survivors' retreat over the weekend in L'ville,Ky - there were 14 of us, and it was fabulous.  So many - all ages from 20's to 70's, from "just" surgeries to chemo's and rads, and everything in between....we grew to love each other over the 36 hours and bonded as true family.  Quite the incredible experience.  I've experienced nothing quite like it.

I, too, had my 5 month...as of June 6th I am five months free now....it was a nice way to "celebrate" ending the retreat with them...diagnosed Nov. 6, surgeries in-between, but final BMX on Jan. 6th. 

Anyway, yesterday -which was my first day of summer break, we took our family and a few of the kids' friends to an amusement park (Holiday World, for those of you who live close by)....toward the end of the day, I sprained my ankle.  It is several shades of blue about 1/3 up my calf and swollen at *least* 3x the normal size (if not more). I really didn't have time for this...But guess God thought I STILL needed to slow down...ha!

We had great family time yesterday, which was good, despite some major issues the night before involving 19 y.o. son and his g'friend.  argh.

I WILL walk my survivor's lap on Friday, no matter what...and hopefully, by Friday, my ankle will be a lot better...

BTW, our retreat this weekend was paid for by grants given through the Komen foundation, which is paid for through the local walk.....found out that 75% of $ generated from the walk stays local.  Only 25% goes for research.  (at least here in Louisville, KY)...they feel there is enough for research, and that survivors and patients need the support NOW!!!!!  So, that 75% goes to underwrite all kinds of special programs.  One of those programs was this retreat.  It was absolutely fabulous....just can't begin to tell you HOW wonderful....

I just wish each one of you had the opportunity to experience a weekend such as this...it was truly uplifting in so many ways...

blessings...

robin

burley

Hey-belated question.  But those of you gals that have had nipples done, what skin did they use to make them?  My girlfriend had a skin graft from the inside of her leg, but I didn't hear if any of you had something like that.  Just curious.

I hope everyone is doing well!  Just suffering through hot flashes in the AZ heat here...My Oncologist says there's a 50/50 chance that the chemo has put me into menopause (at age 39.)  So between that and the Tamoxifen, hot flashes may be my new normal.  Holy cow.  He thought I was having a couple of them a night, I told him more like once every half hour.  He prescribed Neurontin, and I start that tonight.  It's supposed to take about 3 weeks to take full effect, so I'll be counting down the days.

Everyone have a good evening!

robinlbe

ugh... menopause, no matter the cause, sounds like NO fun at all.  Almost 51 and still not there at all.....counting my lucky stars!!

pbebow

Kim, my PS used the skin from my breast, just an oragami type thing..  hope that helps.

bookart

Debbie - so great that your work was a positive influence in that child's life!  I know it made you feel wonderful! 

I know everyone is getting on with their lives, and I appreciate that we are all still dropping in now and then and letting everyone know how things are going. 

binga

Kat, My PS said he could do nipples anytime after 4 weeks.  Mine was actually 5 weeks just due to scheduling.  He used the "origami" method using the skin on my breast also.  So far so good.  Just 2 more days until I get the stitches out and get to take off the shields!  I must admit I have cheated twice so far.  They are mine so I can cheat if I want to!!haha! 

I have a rough day tomorrow.  I have to attend a class where us pharmacists have to learn to give immunizations.  I am not looking forward to it at all.  I have had enough of the needles this year.  We have to partner up and give each other 1 SC and 2 IM shots.  This will be really hard for me.  I don't like looking at stuff like that and I will have to.  I just hope I don't pass out!  

Hope everyone is having a good week!  Great to hear from everybody.  Sorry about your foot Robin.  Take care of it!

Becky 

jizogarden

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xox Laura 

neversurrender

Robin, the retreat sounds wonderful.  I hope your ankle heals and you can do your lap on Friday.

My PS will use skin from the breast for my nipples also.  I can get them in August if I want them.

I have been so busy this week.  It is the last week of soccer season, so we had tournaments and try outs for next years team.  Now we will get a month or so off before it starts back up.

I will be offline for a few days.  I am heading to Nashville tomorrow with my two oldest DDs and a friend and her DD.  We are going to the CMT music festival.  It should be a lot of fun.  The only downer is the weather, they are predicting upper 90s - yuck !

I hope all of team January has a wonderful weekend, and I'll talk to you on Tuesday.

Hugs.  

robinlbe

Thanks everyone.....ankle is feeling better.  It looks like it belongs to Shrek, though...except it's blue, instead of green      But I will walk that survivor's lap on Friday - even if I have to limp or crawl...ha

Be safe, Sally!  And most of all, have fun!!

blessings...robin

jizogarden

Robin, sounds like a wonderful time! Sorry about the ankle

Becky, hope your new nips turn out beautifully...looking forward to the final result

Sally, enjoy the music festival with your DDs! When you get home you can relax and watch World Cup.....that's what Andrew and I will be doing  

Still coughing...sinuses running.......yuk!  

Strength and healing,

Laura 

burley

Origami nipples?  Interesting.  I'll have to ask my PS what her plans are.  I have absolutely no spare skin, so that's fascinating to me.  My TE's are actually so tight under my skin I can see their seams.  I have 2 horizontal lines across my boobs, one from the scar, and one from the TE's.   Very attractive (not).  Not that I let my husband see them!  Luckily he's never home when I take a shower.

Still doing o.k. 6 days out from chemo...I'm very thankful.  Last treatment, I seriously felt like crap.  So anything other than that is a blessing.  I'm so thankful many of you didn't have to have chemo.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Anonymous

Lynn nice to hear from you.  Hope you are doing ok? 

Debbie that is fantastic about your book and how it helped that child.  Congrats!

Robin, sorry to hear about your ankle.  Try to take it easy. Your retreat sounds like a wonderful time.

Kim, try to stay cool. Menopause and Arizona heat, yipes.  So are you finished chemo now?  Hopefully so.  You sure seem to be a trooper through out all of your chemo treatments. I hope you can try to enjoy the summer now.

Becky good luck at your class,

Sally have fun at the music festival!

I am still dealing with a nasty abdominal incision.  Too gross to even get into.  But I am off to see surgeon in Toronto on Friday, so I will see what she thinks. But I am still so very happy with my "new boobs".

Take Care

Cathy

faithandfifty

Of all the miscellaneous "gifts" that have come to me as a result of BC, one of THE most amazing is that I have become email friends with someone truly amazing & actually famous.

Before any of you were diagnosed, BCO had an amazing young woman that was diagnosed as Stage IV from the very beginning. She was light & love around here and shockingly went into a coma about five months after her diagnosis, eventually leaving her two young children here on Planet Earth without her. She went by the nick name here of "Heidi_Ho". My team last fall for ACS Strides Against Breast Cancer was in her honor, "Away We Go for Heidi_Ho"........

Anyhow, look what's happened to me, because I was a supporter of Heidi's.

I posted this on the Stage IV thread just a bit ago, but thought you might like to be aware of this amazing friendship between the two of them. (Heidi & Jane.)

Heidi.

I'm just back from my mailbox..... the real one, the one at the end of our driveway. What a thrill to pull that little magic door down and find a manilla envelope waiting me. Of course, you already know all about what I just opened. My, how you must be clapping!!

Opening the clasp I pulled out a hardback book by your dear friend Jane. I think it will be OK with her if I "out" her as the New York Times bestselling author Jane Green. Your Jane!! This is her twelfth novel and it's already been on the UK #1 bestselling list -- but of course you already know all of that.  

The remarkable part is opening the cover to read the dedication:

"In memory of Heidi Armitage

   1965-2009

And dedicated to all the remarkable 

women on the discussion boards of

     www.breastcancer.org"

Heidi, that's quite a dedication.

Your friend Jane is missing you deeply, but your friendship will live on forever on the flyleaf of this newest creative effort of hers. How proud you must be that Jane is donating 20% of her royalties from the sale of this book. I can't wait to begin reading. She is so very gifted. I'm grateful that you introduced the two of us to one another. I will be on the lookout for a white feather, on Jane's behalf.

Here's the way that I will always remember the two of you:

LOL. It might have been a tad bit brilliant of me to mention the title of the book. LOL.

Still Swiss Cheese for brains here.

Jane's newest novel is entitled, "Promises to Keep."

"In her twlfth novel, Jane Green is at her heartwarming best as she creates a tale of exceptional circumstances and the ties that bind. Promises to Keep is a novel about the hard choices we have to face, about having to be your parents' child long after you've grown up, and finally, about the enduring nature of love."

http://www.janegreen.com/

ENJOY!!!!!!

Here's to friendship, support, encouragement and finally, about the enduring nature of love.

frosty1

Debbie -- you always have the most inspirational and thoughtful items to post.  I'm going out to find that book!

burley

Cathy-I still have 2 treatments to go.  So 5 more weeks, then I'll be done with chemo.  Whew!  It's definitely been a long haul.  I truly look like a chemo patient now.  I still have some of my eyebrows, but my eyelashes are completely gone on the bottom, and almost gone on the top.  Not to mention the really dark circles around my eyes.  I look seriously ill when I'm bald and makeup free.

Frosty-I love your new pic!  Very cool.

Well, I did something dumb...not on purpose, though.  When we went camping over Memorial weekend, I wore a tank top a couple of the days.  Put sunblock on (spf 45), and thought I did a pretty good job.  But where my tank top stopped on my right boob, I missed a tiny spot and it got burned...and it's still burned.  I obviously thought it would go away like a typical sunburn, but it hasn't.  It's not bad-just a little slice of skin.  But it's itchy and red.  Ugh.  Here with all the sun talk, I thought I was careful enough...guess not.

pbebow

Don't take this the wrong way....  I'm sure that the book is wonderful and the author a wonderful person and of course, Debbie is fabulous and I always feel uplifted and happy by her posts...  having said all of that, I went to Jane's website to read more about the book which didn't tell a whole lot, then I went to Amazon to see the reviews and they gave away a major part of the story...  And I don't want to ruin it for anyone but I just thought you might like a heads up, so you're not getting a punch in the gut (I know for me, I can't read this kind of thing right now, too close to home)...  here is what it said...

But then Callie, a breast cancer survivor, is diagnosed with a rare and incurable complication of the disease. Suddenly realizing that she has only months to live, she begins the painful process of saying good-bye. 

Just thought I'd share what I found, I am sure that it's a wonderful book and a year ago, I'd probably be all over it, but I need a little bit happier reading now and a lot less cancer reading...  I just can't allow  the negative's into my life...

Hope all are doing well!  Frosty, love the new pic!  Kim, hope you're still doing well with the chemo... sorry about the eye lashes!  And I hope that your burn is better... have you tried aloe?  Cathy, hope your incicion gets less nasty! and glad that you're happy with your new boobs!  Debbie, as always lovely picture, beautiful women!  That is such a wonderful discovery and I'm so sorry about your friend Heidi Ho!  Love that "Away we go for Heidi Ho".  Laura, hope your cough clears up soon!  Robin, hope your ankle is better!  Sally, have a great time in Nashville!  get some sunshine!!!  It's good for the soul!!  Kat, hope all is well!  I'm sure I missed someone, if I did!  HI!!!! Hope all is well!!!

Have a great night ladies!

Paula

Anonymous

Debbie thank you so much for sharing the new book and the inscription for Heidi.  What a truly heartwarming story to hear about.  I never did know or speak to Heidi, but she sounds like a true gem.  What a nice way for people to remember such a special lady. I will be looking to purchase this book.

 Frosty I love you new picture!!

Kim that is such a long time for you.  I can only imagine how difficult it has been.

I am leaving for Toronto in the morning and I am looking forward to see what the surgeon thinks of my abdominal incision.  I have had a few different home care nurses changing the dressing on it and each one of them seems to work differently, it is so frustrating. I am just so worried that it has become infected.

Take Care

Cathy

frosty1

Kim -- have you noticed how much longer little things take to heal when you are doing chemo?  I had a hangnail I ripped off and it took 2 weeks to stop hurting.  Geez.  I'm sure it's the same with your burn.  I'm heading to the Rose Festival Parade this Saturday to see my nephew and it's supposed to be sunny and warm (FINALLY!!!!).  I will be slathering the sunscreen on.

Glad you like my new pic!  It's from the Race for the Cure Survivor March this past weekend.  Thought I might as well go topless!

jizogarden

Debbie thank you for sharing this lovely tribute to what must have been a very special friendship. I am busy trying to get through many books that I have bought in the past and never read!  I'm terrible when it comes to buying books....I love to buy them....but I'm the slowest reader in the world!  Just finished The Help what a wonderful book.....takes us back to a difficult time to the deep south as seen through the clear eyes of "the help", loved it!

Frosty...you look wonderful....very proud...strength in recovery!

Cathy hope you begin healing soon =(

Morning Paula....my cough seems a bit better today...the doc gave me some new meds yesterday to dry me up.....I haven't moved around much yet this morning...that's the big test My DH woke up coughing =(  At least he will have the World Cup to watch if he needs some down time

Kim glad that you are coming to the end of chemo...must feel like forever.  Sorry about he sunburn....good lesson for us all!

Strength and healing,

Laura 

bcincolorado

Hi my January sisters.  I had exchange this morning.  Hope to make it my last surgery for awhile and the next one will be when I am ready to deal with my gallstones and get it out.  Need to try to have some kind of "normal" life for awhile free from all the doctors!

faithandfifty

Happy Birthday to our Robin.

Sure hope that it's been an enormous celebration!!!

I'm eager to hear about your victory lap.

Hugs to all of Team Janurary, and any who might preiodically read along here. Hope that everyone has a glorious weekend -- or  if not, a tolerable one with love surrounding you & offering encouragement.

xx00xx00xx00xx

faithandfifty

robinlbe

I've finally had a chance to check in....wow!  What a week.....a bum ankle, sore ribs...but I'm NOT complaining because I did that stuff to myself acting like a silly teenager at an amusement park!! ha...I'm just glad I was able to do those things.....

and yes!!  Gina and I made our first survivor's lap TOGETHER!!!  People put our medallions on our necks at the same times and we grabbed hands and made the first lap together....I finally got to meet her husband and daughter, and she got to meet my whole family, including my mom who was in town for the weekend. 

Thank you for remembering my b'day....I don't feel it, but I turned 51!!!!  Amazing.  LOVE the cake picture   thanks....

Now, for all of the rest of you.....chemo, burns, surgeries.coughing...oh my.  You are all in my thoughts and prayers continually. 

I found out there is a Walk/Race for the Cure in Louisville on Oct 9th.  At the retreat that Gina and I attended over the weekend, I learned so much MORE about Komen....in fact, the retreat was sponsored by two organizations paid for through a grant by the Komen foundation.  My daughter is now *all* about Komen, although we do worry a little about their involvement with planned parenthood - but we won't go there.

Anyway.......here's hoping everyone gets the rest, relaxation, care, encouragement, and love you all need.....blessings to all....robin

KatRNagain92

WoW...what a great way to have your cake and not eat it too!  Happy Birthday Robin!

bc...congrats on your exchange and I hope you awoke very yippee squishey!  No worries if you didn't...I'm 4 weeks post exchange and just now finally feeling the yippee squishey so that's a nice change. 

Sorry you're still coughing Laura!  My goodness.  Glad you're staying in touch with your MD...I've had a sore throat and stayed home on Wednesday and now today I've got laryngitis!  (I can type though!   Not sure if it's a little bug going around or what...my DH will not do well if he gets a cold...total BB (big baby)

You know, I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't realize that a couple of our Team January members have been at BCO for a really long time.  I can't believe I've been looking at these avitars all this time and not even registering the dates. Here's Cathy going through this since March of 09 and Debbie!  A survivor since March of 07!   Now I feel even more blessed to have found this thread with built in navigators!   Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hey Paula...did you hear on your insurance yet?  When's the big wedding?  I'm excited for your planning!:)

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!
Kat

pbebow

Happy Birthday Robin!  I didn't know, thanks for keeping us up on these things Debbie!

BC!!!  Yay!!!  Yippee Squishy!!!!  I have to tell you that it is nice to go weeks without doctor's appts or surgeries or anything!  I'm lovin it!  

Speaking of that Kat, thanks for asking... still nothing!  When I called the last time she said that she would call me as soon as she heard anything from insurance and I haven't heard from her.  I kind of want to call the insurance company myself, but don't want to make things worse.  And also, at this point I'm not sure I'd have the surgery until after the wedding anyway.  The wedding is July 23rd and I don't want to be sore or bruised for the wedding...  I still have over a month but not much over....  and I have heard that lipo is quite painful...  I just don't know, so upset that it's taking so long.  I just received some insurance statements for my mammo's back in November!  WTS!!!  No wonder it's taking so long if they're just getting around to sending me those statements!  But on the same day I received the insurance statements for my exchange surgery....  $32,652.00 for an outpatient surgery!  CRAZY!!!!  Luckily I don't have to pay any of that!   Since my deductible for the year is paid up.  Which is another reason that I want to have this first fat graft done soon, because he said that it usually takes 2-3 treatments and I'm sure that you have to wait a few months in between, and I want it all done before the end of the year!  Oh well, I guess what happens happens!  Can't change it, so I'll just except it.

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO...It cannot invade the soul, supress memories,
kill friendship, destroy peace, conquer the spirit, shatter hope,
cripple love, corrode faith, steal eternal life, or silence courage!  ♥ 

Have a wonderful Saturday ladies!

Paula

bcincolorado

Good Morning everyone,

I am very sore from the exchange.  Worse than I thought I would be.  Hard to tell yet about yippee squishy but I can at least ell it is more whrere it should be on my chest.  My thoat hurts from the anesthesia tube.  I didn't think it was that sore after my last surgeries.  I plan to rest this weekend thoug.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

burley

You know, I've never received a bill from my BS or PS...I did get the $98,679 bill from the hospital, so I've always wondered if somehow their bills were lumped into that.  Weird.  My deductible is also paid up for the year, so I'm hoping to get all my surgeries done before the end of the year.  3 more to go...implants, port removal, nipples.  Then there's the tattoos.  I've got 5 more weeks of chemo, then I'm going to push to get the ball rolling on the surgeries.

BC-sorry to hear you're so sore.  I hope they gave you some good pain pills.  Make sure to take it easy and slow!

Happy Birthday, Robin!

To everyone else, I hope you're having a terrific weekend!

jizogarden

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN

BC, rest and feel better...I remember my throat hurt for a couple of days...I was lucky otherwise...just some discomfort where some pocket work was done but not too bad.  Hope you feel better soon  Enjoy your pain meds

Kat my cough is beginning to break up and feel better  and now my DH is starting to cough a tiny bit and...you guessed it...already becoming a BB  I truly hope he gets better quickly because it's a horrible cough...I thought I was going to break a rib =(

We are enjoying the World Cup....I'm a conflicted American because I follow Liverpool all year and am a true blue fan.....so even though I should be rooting for the US I can't help but cheer for England

Strength and healing to all,

Laura 

KatRNagain92

My laryngitis is so bad...I'm barely squeaking out a whisper.  What is going on I wonder?  I see the doc on Tuesday to find out how my labs were and I'll have him take a look then...My oldest DD is here from Iowa to visit the youngest DD who just turned 17 on Wed.  I feel bad I haven't even been able to even have a conversation  

bc...I'm sorry you're hurting after your exchange.  My experience took me by complete surprise too...I thought I would sail through it and I'm not sure if it was the 3rd time anesthesia or what, but I felt really crappy.  And the burning of the pec muscles!  I was so bummed I had to sleep on my back again and when I sat up it stung like crazy.  It's better now 4 weeks post op but still not 100%.  It does get better though so that's the important thing.  Feel better soon!

Interestingly Kim, I just got an EOB from my BS and my husband and I both think she's a financial genius...she sends her invoices out 6 months behind and she's sure to get the full amount from the insurance company since there's a 99% chance you've capped your deductible.  She rarely has to spend any administrative time trying to send out or collecting invoices to the patients themselves...just shoots it off to BCBS and voila.  It's those damn radiologists and pathology folks that you spend all your deductible on....hence why we're bitter and thus refer to them as 'those damn folks'  (I mean no disrepect of course, it's just our healthcare system, that's all)

Enjoy the World Cup...are Wills and Kate there?  Probably not their bag eh? 

Have a good one!
Kat

jizogarden

Kat, sorry about your laryngitis =( Hope you can enjoy your children as much as possible even if it's difficult to talk.....

BC hope your feeling better today......

DH, Smudge and I are enjoying couch time and World Cup

My cough is still getting better.....finally  

Strength and healing,

Laura