January Mastectomy

jizogarden

Thanks for all the kindness everyone  Really helps lift the spirits.  I did my yoga practice this morning, walked Smudgy and worked on my watercolor...all in all a good day once I got over feeling sorry for myself

Congratulations Kim....wahooo for no more chemo!

Kat thanks for all the expertise.....I'm going to think positive and work on making my heart muscle strong again

Again thank you everyone......it helped so much to get it off my "chest" and have a cry.

xox

Laura 

ReginaR

Thanks everybody for the Prayers! I appreciate you all so much for your support!

The lab  report came back yesterday afternoon & the liver enzymes were elevated ,which indicates that it has spread & metastatic to his liver. so now we are limited on treatments. Please Pray for Shelby & us!  I handle my cancer diagnosis  much better than I am with My 4 legged boy! Really having a hard time dealing with this one! Anyway Thanks for thinking of my family!   It Will be 7 month on the 22nd since I found out I had BC ( I found out Dec 22nd) 6months Jan 29th since mastectomy! Now dealing with my Best friend Shelby knowing it has spread & I cann't do any thing ,But give him so much love like he given me!

This was my Mother day Picture 2010. My daughter Sarah  Dress up Shelby in pink too. his shirt says Walking for my Human!

Have a good day! {hugs} Gina

frosty1

Gina - I love Shelby's pink shirt!  That is a great way to remember your puppy.  When I had to put my cat down suddenly, I felt so stupid for sobbing and feeling so bad about a stupid cat.  But our pets bring so much joy to us and ask for so little.  And we are so helpless in trying to fix them -- they just can't tell us when they are feeling bad until it is too late.  My thoughts are with you and your family -- and Shelby!

Laura!!!!! That is so F****G not fair!  I'm glad that they found this and diagnosed it quickly before you had any damage.  Sounds like you have been doing all the right things.  I remember when I went to the Look Good class, the lady that was teaching said "I started feeling sorry for myself and then realized that God gave me this because someone else just couldn't handle it.  So I would go to parties and count - I got BC because you couldn't deal with it, and neither could you, or you" -- at that time she would count 6 people because the stats were 1 out of 7.  That thought made me smile.  Didn't make me like my diagnosis any better.  And I still cuss about it.  But you, my dear lady, seem to have been handed much more than your share.  Enough already!

faithandfifty

Goodness Team January.

I am 'home' to Ohio from the Vegas adventure...... and have just read back on all that I missed while 'working' and away from our team. 

I won't attempt to send indivdual shout-outs because the issues are so diverse, so filled with the entire range of human emotions and I certainly don't want to leave anyone out. I said a prayer with each post. 

It is a good thing we have one another to curse and cry with, to celebrate and rant with, to encourage and comisserate with. What an emotional roller coaster and wringer this experience has been for us all.

We will continue. 

We will keep taking one step and then another. 

We will persevere in the face of each test and challenge. 

We will because we are a team. 

We will because we are Team January. 

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage. 

Strength and courage. 

Strength and courage.

bcincolorado

Gina and Laura, I am so sorry for both of you.  Please know you are both in my prayers.

Claire82

I don't think God gave me cancer, but I do know he is carrying me through it

grdnslve

AMEN

burley

Now that chemo is over, I think I'll start a countdown to hair growth!  LOL

I also do that with the stats-think about who amongst my group of friends will get it, looking at ladies when I'm out at the grocery store wondering who has already had it...I look at boobs a lot now, which is kinda funny.

I meet with the plastic surgeon in two weeks to discuss a timeframe for implants.  I'm hoping she says fairly soon.  She had orginally said about 6 weeks after my last chemo.

I have to do a PET scan before I meet with my Oncologist in three weeks, so at least my PS will know I'm completely in the clear and can go ahead with the implants.  Yea!  I'm so ready to get these TE's out.  I'm really sick of one being higher than the other, and the left one being in my armpit.

With all the nipple talk, I'm not looking forward to that.  Maybe it's all the talk about nipple shields.  I don't know what I'll wear to hide the shields.  It's so hot here, I wear a lot of tank tops-most of which are form fitting.  I don't imagine plastic shields will look too attractive.  Oh well-ther price we pay to look normal again!

Have a great day ladies!

KatRNagain92

Congrats Kim, I'm glad it's finally over for you!  Whohoo!  My PS said way back when that the rule of thumb is to do the exchange surgery post chemo when your hair was showing really good signs of growth.  That signals your proteins are back and you'll have good wound healing too!  So here's to your hair coming in quick!   I wish my docs would give me a PET scan.  I meet with my Onc next month and I may ask for one....at least while I'm still on this insurance.

The nipples are coming along.  I'm still in nipple shields but they're not horrible.  The worst of it is wearing this damn sports bra 24-7...Me, Kat, the anti-bra sleeping in a damn bra!  Also, sleeping on my back still is a bother...I'm missing the side sleeping.  But, I'm being particulary compliant because I just don't ever want to have surgery again.  This fat grafting helped smooth out some of the ripples but I don't see that lasting....and that's just how that's going to be.  I'm not going to be continuously going under to get fat grafted.  My 'flat' belly has already puffed up again so there's no great benefit there.  Although it was cool for the first couple of days.  

Hope everyone has a good Friday night and a wonderful weekend.  I go back to work on Monday so party's over.  I hate the fact that in order to get a week off, I have to undergo some sort of procedure.  I think they're starting to talk about me.

Laura, hope you are doing well!  My Jade mat came in and my DD is excited to take our first Yoga class together.  I have to wait until I have clearance from the doctor but it looks like it will be the 28th.

Sally, have you heard from Cathy?  Your DIEP buddy and our Team captain!  I"m worried about her and hope someone has heard from her.  I hope she's healing from her abd infection!

Donna, hows the yippe squishey?

Rest easy friends,
Kat

faithandfifty

Cathy, I, too am concerned that we haven't heard from you in a while.

Know that we are all here, gathered together under the banner that you created.

Girls. Under the 'what-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas' subclause 5c, we're trying to get what happened in Vegas NOT to stay in Vegas. Long story short: we shot some video footage that has been uploaded to YouTube. It would be sweet if you'd click thru and give us another hit. We came up with the name ABC girls: Arkansas, Bahamas, Columbus..... so now we just need a viewing audience. This is a song that I wrote for a new curriculum. We're doing sign language.

The good news is that their enthusiasm & interest completely took my mind off of my own issues, pain and LE. Now I just need to retrain my body to improve my posture -- smile thru all of it.

Laura. How are you holding up today? Sending re-inforcement encouragement.

All of our chemo gals who are crossing finishing lines of one sort and another I hold you in highest regard for persevering through the rugged terrain........keep moving forward, whatever the pace.

Those of you on the list we haven't heard from in a while -- please feel free to pop in with an update......no matter your mood.

yes........healing to all --whatever channel needs healing

robinlbe

Laura, I'm so sorry.....you'll be in my prayers...and you will be able to strenghten that heart of yours.  It's been broken many times by many things....but that's just made it stronger.  With God's help and our help, you will revive it and make it even stronger...and then because of what you've gone through, and what you're going through....you will be able to help someone else when they go through their valley.  We'll help you get back up to the moutaintop....we'll pull you up when you don't have the strength to climb...

blessings...robin

bcincolorado

Hi January friends,

Well I finally got the nerve to go bra shopping at Nordstroms today.  It is about 70 miles away.  My DH took me up there and sat on a chair with another man waiting in the busy department.  They really were nice and helpful.  I did find one I liked but they didn't the have color I wanted so I ordered 2 and will have them delivered to the house.  One more step to going forward.

This week will see a PS appointment for follow-up after exchange.  Hopefully then I won't need to see him for a few more months.  Then I know there is PT I have to do....and they called to schedule my first mamo next month after my mx.  I know at some point all of this will stop.  I think I'll be glad to be done with it all.

frosty1

Burley -- HAIR report ... it does grow back.  I am almost 6 weeks from last full chemo and almost 3 weeks from my Herceptin only drip (Herceptin only again next week).  I have quite a head full of down.  I have chin hairs and stray eyebrow hairs (have to start plucking again), and I have stubble on my legs.  I have heard that once the fluffy down is about 1/2 inch to shave it all off and then the good stuff comes in.  Here's to counting!

neversurrender

{{{Laura}}} I will be praying for you. 

Kim, Hooray for you !  Hopefully your hair will be back and TEs gone soon !

Kat,  did you have to take any pain meds after your nipple surgery?

Sleep well Team January

KatRNagain92

Hey Sal,

Nope, the nipples don't hurt at all!  The only thing that is tender is my belly where they harvested the fat but even that has puffed up back to how it was.  It had a flat tummy for about 3 days so whohoo.  The fat grafting to the ripples and divots however is taking very nicely!  I'm hoping that will stay for a very long time.  I've got this sports bra on 24-7 and I'm even getting used to that. 

I said this in another forum but it bears repeating....I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror with the nipple shield poking out just ever so slightly through my tee shirt and for one moment in time I was transported to a place where breast cancer never existed and I was perfectly normal!  If anyone is considering nipples, do it for just that reason!

Great Sunday and prayers to all!
Kat

neversurrender

My appt with PS is set for Wed.  We will discuss nipples and try to get something scheduled.  I am getting anxious.  Now that I have decided I want to get them...I want them now ! 

binga

Hi everyone.  Just stopping in to say hello and hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  I have a busy week ahead with VBS and this is also my "long workweek".  (We work a 5 day week and 2 day week to average the 42 hours)  I am in charge of the games at VBS and I really dread it because dealing with all those kids is really just not my thing but if we see one soul saved or really just some "seeds planted" it will be worth it all.  So everyone pray that I can keep a smile on my face and a song in my heart.  I am already exhausted thinking about it on top of the fact that my grandmother is declining rapidly and I am spending almost every day I have off with her.  It has been a joy for me to get to spend some much time with her but also a heartache when I see how she is so tired and her teeth and head are hurting very badly.  I want to wrap my arms around her and take it all away.  

Hope all of you finishing treatment the very best and I give you a standing ovation because I can't even imagine what you have gone thru.  So glad to hear you talk about the last treatment and what a relief it must be for each one of you!

Hope everyone has a great week.  I won't be on but will keep each of you in my prayers and will check in later.

Becky 

burley

Binga-enjoy VBS!  I'm sure you'll do fine.  Just grin and bear it-literally.

Kat-good to hear you're liking the nipples.  I'm so glad I get to hear about everything ahead of time so I know what to expect.

It will be interesting to buy bras when I'm finally done with everything.  Right now, I'm in a 36C, which I'm comfortable with.  I wish I could stay right at this size and not increase or decrease, but we shall see.  I will probably buy them off the rack, though.  I had a fitting for a bra once a long time ago and it freaked me out.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  It's about 110 here...ugh!

jizogarden

Gina, as you can see by my avatar I so so so love my dog....Shelby looks so wonderful in her pink shirt....she has a very loved life.  I'm so sorry..... blessings to you and Shelby.

Frosty, so funny about counting the ladies in the room.....yes I agree this all sucks! But you made me smile

Ok Kim.....hair countdown...I'm in  

Kat, glad you got your yoga mat...I have begun doing my daily practice at home...modified from my old practice but it sure feels good.  There is a group near hear I plan on joining once the dust has cleared from all the new heart developments  But my cardiologist isn't putting me on any restrictions so I should be good to go  

Robin, thanks so much for the kindness....such a nice way to offer strength when it's needed.

bc, congratulations on the bras!!! big step

Thanks for the hug Sally...thank you everyone... I've been off line for a few days... your a wonderful group of friends.......

Becky....so glad you have some time to spend with your grandmother......painful blessings.

Tomorrow I go see the ps, the gp and my cardiologist!!!!!!! holy moly =\  I'll give you all my update when I finally get the scoop from all the different docs.

Strength, healing and hugs,

Laura 

faithandfifty

(((((((((Laura))))))))

I've been thinking about you all day -- sending you encouragement vibes as you've been meeting w all of your docs. I'm keeping you close to my heart.



I meet w my 'new' surgeon tomorrow to see how my hematoma is healing....whether I need it drained again?? Then we take off immediately again for our "playground" up in Door Co.



Huggung up our grand-kiddos before we depart.



Hugs to all reporting in and those just reading along, as well.

ariesrottie

Laura- I am so sorry that you are having so much trouble ... You think that we were put through enough.... You will be fine... You are in our thoughts and prayers...... We are routing for you.

Well my implant exchange went well. He use mentor, and I have 750cc high profile.  I fit in the same bras that I used before the exchange and thats is what I wanted... You would never know.... Except for the seri strips and they are nice and soft... I did have some pain in the right breast... (go figure- the cancer side left never bothers me) but I took my pain meds and yesterday was a whole new day... Worked a full 8 hours today...Went this morning for a follow up and said I was good.... Have an app on the 30th to discuss the nipples...... So I am happy with my exchange and thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

I am reporting on my hair situation... My lashes and brows are back.... The head hair is slowly coming back... Still don't have the courage to go wigless.

For those who are wondering when it will grow back.. It's been almost 3 months since my last chemo treatment.. Hair is still not where I would like it to be.... I am back to shaving the legs.....And everywhere else except HEAD........ This to shall pass.....

I wish you all good dreams... You will be in my thoughts and prayers like you have been since the beginning...

Love,

Donna

bcincolorado

faithandfifty, you are in my prayers, as are all of you ladies. 

burley

Donna-thanks for the hair report.  I would be happy if my eyelashes came back, that's for sure!  My eyebrows are still here, but very sparse.  I would need to completely draw them on for them to look normal-something I seriously don't have the patience for, so I just go with the flow.

5 days post last chemo treatment-doing o.k.!  Typical side effects, but I'm coping better mentally knowing it will be the last time.  I do feel a sense of urgency that I want everything to go back to "normal" now, whatever that may be.  Everything has changed, though.  It's been a whirlwind since dianosis, surgery, chemo...I'll definitely never be the same.  Hopefully that's a change for the better.

Still dealing with the friends issue...my experiment pretty much came out the way I expected.  I haven't heard from anyone in over a week, and one good friend hasn't contacted me at all about my last treatment.  Sigh.  I guess it wouldn't be as noticeable if I had lots of family around me, but the only person that has been involved is my brother (who comes once a week to bring us dinner.)  Even my mother in law who had breast cancer never calls/emails/visits.  And she's on Facebook every day playing games-never bothers to post anything to my updates.  Weird!

I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I also know if it happened to someone I know, I would make myself completely available to them and help in any way I could.  I look at my group of friends and pray that no one gets breast cancer, but knowing the odds, someone probably will.  Scary

jizogarden

Faith, hope your doctor has good hematoma news for you...do you think there is such a thing as good hematoma news? =}

Kim, wishing your hair will be coming in before you know it

Kat...how are the nips

Went to my cardiologist.....I most likely have something called "Broken Heart Syndrome". The good news is that he feels with medication I can most likely get back up to full speed in about 6 months.  I am on a Beta Blocker and Ace Inhibitor to strengthen my heart and keep it from freaking out =\  So I'm ok...just have a weird heart.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press_releases/2005/02_10_05.html 

Thanks for all the kindness and support January ladies ♥ I'm ok...Smudgy is taking very good care of me /' . '\

xox

Laura 

ReginaR

 Hey jan gals, Wow it's hot here in Indiana, Hope you are staying cool!

 I am reading all your post! {{hugs}} & Prayers  to all of you all going  thru & finishing up Chemo!

Congrats on all that had exchange surgery ! way to go girls!

Debbie, How was Vegas ? & Let us know how the new Surgeon appt went.

Laura, Been thinking of you lots, Hope the PS & GP & Cardo MD appt went well, please let us know how your doing?

Thanks to all of you for the suppoert, Shelby ( my 4 legged boy) Seems to being well, he still palyful & that what so hard to know if he is suffering!  Just been loving him  like he did me after each of my surgery!

 Hope you all are having a Blessed week! {{hugs}} Gina

faithandfifty

Always so good to hear from everyone. I'm so grateful for our team members who are able to check in with updates.

I saw my 'new' surgeon-team today. They did indeed 'drain' me again..... I was thinking perhaps it wouldn't be necessary & that I would be free & clear, no such luck. There wasn't nearly as much as the first couple of times and this is a full month later -- so I think that it's safe to say that I'm headed in the right direction: YEAH!!

We are already on the road back to our paradise. This week up there is a Plein Air Painting festival and my favorite week of the summer -- so we are rushing to get back to appreciate the grand finale.

Vegas was a lot of work, Regina, but I managed to hold up till the end. No extra fun, but was able to do what I was 'paid' to be there to contribute & that's a good thing.

Paula's son's wedding is coming up this weekend...... everyone be certain to send her happy thoughts.

Laura, I am so glad to hear such an upbeat prognosis for the months ahead: patience. So easy to type, so hard to do in reality.

Falling asleep as I type.

Burley, my own sister has only sent 2 emails in the last 6 months worth of craziness. I seriously can't understand that. The second came just days ago while I was in Vegas. I told her the condensed version of the last couple of months --in that she had no idea. She didn't exactly appologize, just something to the effect that she's glad that I have all of you to support me. Hmmmm. I, too, am glad that I have had all of you to support me, as my biological extended family has dropped the ball. I suppose I have pretended, too well, that all is fine. LOL.

Sleep well team. Sleep well.

xx00xx00xx00xx

frosty1

I've been reading your posts about friend desertion ... do you think it could be the "if I don't know about it it won't happen to me" syndrome?  You know ... if I talk to you it makes it real and I really don't want to make it real?  Doesn't excuse the nincompoops.  I did a caringbridge (Donna - I know you have a blog) to keep friends and family updated.  Some write in the "guestbook" and some send me emails.  It is nice to have that.  One thing I have noticed about me is that I need to get over this and move on ... I find myself telling people about the last chemo and how hard that was, but that was almost 6 weeks ago and I've been doing well since.  It is hard to remember to move forward sometimes ...

CinD

Sending healing thoughts and prayers to those in need. Sometimes it never seems to stop. I hope everyone is on their way to healing, physically and emotionally.

Thanks to those who posted exchange surgery stories.  I'm finally scheduled for this Friday -- yippee! On Friday, my PS will place a saline implant and also create the nipple. He usually uses silicone, but he felt for my shape saline would give the best result, and I trust him since he's recognized as one of the best in the area. The other side will get a lift at the same time.

Frosty, I think you're right about the "if I don't know about it, it won't happen to me" syndrome. And, it's as if some people feel that being around someone who has had cancer will somehow transfer it to them. I'm with you on needing to get over this and move on. I don't want to live life within a breast cancer bubble, and I'm tired of it being the first thing I think of when I awaken in the middle of the night. I want to see it as something that happened, it was taken care of, and now go live the rest of my life. I think that will happen once the surgeries are done, since I'm starting to get excited about other things in life again. 

Take care, all. 

Cindy 

burley

Frosty-good thinking, maybe that's it after all.  I agree with you about needing to move on, but I'm just a week post last chemo treatment, so everyone is still asking me "how are you doing."  Soon I will have other things to talk about!  (I hope.)

Laura-I'm glad there's a diagnosis, and treatment available.  Just think-in 6 months time it will all be behind you!  Sending positive thoughts your way.

I stopped by my old work yesterday to get my wispy, crazy hairs shaved off, and one of the girls asked me if I was contagious.  REALLY?  She asked it in front of a bunch of people-not cool.  I laughed and blew it off, but it bothered me all the same.

So I'm completely clean shaven again, in preparation for the real hair to grow back.  My friend who did it said there were quite a few curly hairs in the back-uh, my hair was straight before.  Should be interesting!

Here's to everyone remaining cool wherever they are-think about me in the 108 degree heat, and send cool thoughts my way.  Lol.  Have a great day ladies!

neversurrender

I went to see my PS yesterday in regards to nipples and some other areas of concern.  I have a divot that has appeared in the last week or so.   We discussed all of the options and I decided I am going to have another round of lipo/fat injections in August.  If this does not clear up this weird divot spot, I will probably have a lift done.  The lift would definately take care of the spot, but I am not crazy about another surgery, so I am hoping the fat injections will fill it in.  I am going to have to wait on the nipples a little while longer. 

Has ANYONE heard from Cathy????