Calling all TNs

SA8PG

Prayers Shorfi!!!! Fat necrosis & time to celebrate 3 years!!!!!

Xoxo

shorfi

This is...I think my 4th or 5th time with this...and it has always been fat necrosis. I have been having ultrasound for the past 1 1/2 every 6 months to monitor this area, but I think this is something new. I can't remember for the life of me. I'm am praying so hard that it is the spot they have been looking at.

HausFrauMi

sorry Ive been MIA! Had a bad 3rd AC and then right after my 4th AC we had the kid's spring break last week. Finally have the house to myself and feeling "new normal" and starting Taxol (12 weekly) on Friday morning.

SO glad I came here today. The recent topic of % for lumpectomy vs mastectomy is SPOT ON PERFECT for today. Just got off the phone with my Step Mom and she called me after meeting with her GYN for her yearly. She decided to discuss my situation with him (I am in Michigan and she is in Georgia). SO he knows NOTHING about me. BUT since my mother died/cancer before 40 and despite the genetic testing being negative he feels it's still genetic (I agree there) but that is where my agreement ends. ANYHOO he absolutely would insist that I have a double MX because radiation is HORRIBLE in his opinion and ruins your skin. And it won't come back if I have a MX LOL hahahaha he is so funny. Then went on to say stuff about ovaries and hormones after menopause and I won't be able to take hormones or therapies so I won't be able to have sex bc it will be too painful etc. UM dumba$$ I am triple negative my ovaries didn't cause my cancer. So even if I had removed my ovaries with my hysterectomy a few years ago at 38 --wouldn't have mattered--and then what I wouldn't be able to have sex now because I wouldn't be able to use the current therapies either..... ok VENT over

I met with my surgeon on Monday. She couldn't see any evidence of my tumor post AC treatment!!!!! BUT does anyone know how large a tumor needs to be to show up on an Ultrasound?? Surgery in August.

I was informed that I could have reduction/lift with my lumpectomy free of charge (met my yearly insurance OOP by February!). I have been wanting these HOT and HEAVY 44D's smaller and perky for years. I hate the underboob sweat!!!! And while in NO air conditioning Germany I started having yeast/fungal infections in the crease. SO I meet with the plastic surgeon next Thursday!!! I will ask her personal opinion and at least see what she would plan if I chose MX and what that would entail etc...but I am comfortable with Lump and Rads % numbers. I don't see my Dad or StepMom volunteering to come up her for a month plus to help me recover from the additional major surgery(s) to help with the house and take care of an 8&10 yr old while I am out of commission either

so much for a nice relaxing afternoon

4everStrong

great exchange here.

@ shorfi .. Cross fingers and prayers the New lump found isnt anything... try and relax nothing we can do now apart from hoping for the good and thinking positively!!

As for me. I am still waiting to heal from surgery eventhough it's been a month since i had my surgery. . The healing process is way too slow. The report is out. . No trace of cancer in thé breast nor in the nodes. Pathologic complete response. . Thats how they call it.

I wonder if i would add more chemotherapy .. i Will ask my oncologist this friday when i Will see him.

ScotBird

Thanks Tulips and everyone else for all the interesting info. Makes me realise how uninformed I am, but at least I now have better list of questions for my BS. Decisions decisions! X

anotherNYCGirl

Shorfi, - you are so on top of things, - I bet this will be more fat nec or scar tissue!

I know exactly how nervous you are though, - I have an enlarged node on my neck by collarbone and it has been so unnerving! I watched it for a couple of weeks, and of course kept feeling it, so it is so sensitive now. I had been holding out for my onc appt next week, but after a few panic attacks, called yesterday to try to get in sooner. No appts avail, so I went to my internist who poked and pressed, and said it feels ok to him, but to come back in 2 weeks. Told him I am seeing onc Thurs. (Of course, after I got home from internist, the oncs office called and said they could see me this AM, - but I said I'll wait til my reg appt.)

Does this fear ever end?

TulipsAndDaffodils

Hi all,

My fingers are crossed for good news for everyone (fat necrosis, normal lymph node swelling, swifter healing, etc). And great news on the pCR, 4ever!

I had a quick question about radiated skin, since HausFrau's stepmom's gyn brought it up ;-). He said that radiation ruins your skin. I've been happy to see that my radiated skin looks EXACTLY like the rest of my skin (yes, sadly, pale and freckly, ha ha ha). You would never, ever know where my skin was radiated. It does not feel dryer, or anything. It very quickly reverted to its normal color (it had turned quite red during radiation, then faded to a tan the week after, and within a month, you could no longer guess where it happened). I am just curious if I'm lucky, or if this is an overblown concern. I have a few friends who also had radiation, and not a single one of them would say they have permanent damage or visible changes to that skin. If skin effects are rare, I wouldn't want people to be scared off of radiation for no reason!

(I know there are some possible long-term risks with radiation, although rare, such as secondary cancers, and the possibility of the radiation hitting heart and lungs, although I think with improved techniques this is exceptionally rare nowadays, etc). But the skin concern seems weird to me. Just curious if anyone has had long-term obvious damage to their skin?

Tulips--who is "celebrating" her 1 year cancerversary today....I was diagnosed 4/13/15. Not sure how I feel about it! I had a busy day, and since I'm still doing more chemo (Xeloda now), it's not really behind me, so I didn't quite feel like going out to dinner or anything. Now wondering if I should dash off for a drink with my husband or something....although the idea of just going to bed early sounds more appealing ;-)

anotherNYCGirl

Tulips, - thank you for crossing fingers for all of us!

I had radiation in 2001, and my skin was soon fine, all redness gone, and looked as though I'd never had rads. However, years later when I had bmx, the radiated skin caused some issues with reconstruction. ( My ps was well prepared for that though, and tried various approaches until he found what worked best! )

Milwmama

Hello all. New here and glad I found you. After a minimal of reading I'm finding everything I've been going through is normal. Yeah!

51 years old, married 30 years this August. 2 daughters, 25 and 21. Found mine December 30th. Diagnosed January 11th. IBC, TN, BRCA2+. Finished AC and am half way through Taxol w/Carboplatin triweekly. Surgery expected in July double mastectomy with ovaries removed, this is because of the BRCA2+. Followed by 6 weeks of radiation. Reconstuction a year later after a definite no reoccurance.

Its a shitty hand to be dealt, but I have a great support system. Lost my mother to this very same disease 12 years ago this month. I plan on not being the same statistic.

Shopgal2

shorfi sending prayers for fat necrosis.

Cocker_Spaniel

Just a quick post as its bedtime.

Shorfi praying for fat necrosis. Sending huge big hugs that all will be well. Will be in your pocket for really good news.

Mike welcome back from Florida. I was getting worried you were going to stay there!!!.

More tomorrow ladies as very tired. Prayers and hugs to all going through treatment or are worried.

Cathytoo

Milwmama...Welcome. We're all here for you. Sorry about your mom. Wishing you the best as you work towards good health on this BC journey.

jenjenl

well i had another birthday so that's fun. 3.5 years from diagnosis. Back is still hurting but im monitoring. It feels ok in morning when i get up but by lunch it starts to hurt then by dinner it hurts more. Im hoping its just pulled muscle, ive never had one so don't have anything to compare to. Im at about 5 weeks of this. I dont want to have it checked but thinking next week i might make an appt with doc.

Shorfi, hoping for fat necrosis.

Luvmydobies

Welcome to all the newbies. So sorry you have to be here but it's a great place to be!

4ever, congrats on the pCR!!!!

Jen, I'm sorry you're still having the back pain. I don't know what kind of mets besides bone mets that would cause back pain BUT my onc told me that it's extremely rare for TN to go to the bones. A girl in my support group also said her Onc told her TN doesn't go to the bones. Here's to hoping you just have a pulled muscle! I pulled one in my stomach in high school when I tried a taekwondo class, and it hurt for a really long time! I never went back to the class! LOL!! I have my yearly checkup with my PCP this afternoon and I'm nervous about that. She usually does a CBC and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and I'm so scared my liver enzymes will be elevated, among other thing's. I've been having pain in my right mid chest and side area and upper abdominal since October. My Oncologist says it sounds like post mastectomy pain syndrome, but my mind is screaming liver mets. It hasn't gotten any worse since October. I've had it even longer than that according to my husband and I'm still here so I hope my Onc is correct!! I hate the anxiety I have! Ugh

MoreShoes

Tulips, I had radiation on both breasts. The skin looks fine. The only thing is that while before I never had problem with this, sometimes i get allergic reaction on that area.

shorfi

Ladies thanks for the hugs and prayers. Fat necrosis...👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽✋🏽🤓🤓😁😁. Had hubby go with me and so glad he was there. I'm glad you were all in my pocket too. I love you ladies.

Will go into more detail later...nothing bad. I'm exhausted. We had a nice lunch and he took me shopping. Three new outfits 😜

Luvmydobies

Good to hear Shorfi!!!! WooHoo!!

Angtee15

Shorfi..great news and retail therapy on top of it!

I wanted to ask you and other TNBC survivors how you may or may not have changed your diet and exercise habits after completing treatment. I have been reading a lot on the subject and love the feedback!

ScotBird

Great news Shorfi, high five for fat necrosis, who knew we'd be happy to have that?

Was just listening to this TED talk about stress (part of my mindfulness course), it's about 10-15 mins long but definitely worth a listen if you think stress can cause cancer. XX

Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend | TED Talk | TED.com

https://www.ted.com › talks › kelly_mcg...

Valstim52

Shorfi Woot Woot

Milwmama

Yeah Shortfi! Never heard of it til today. Learning something every time I'm on here. More than I ever wanted to know

Cathytoo

Shorfi..,BEST NEWS I HEARD TODAY‼️‼️

lcm123

I came looking to see how your tests came out, Shorfi. I am happy for you. I am happy you got some new outfits, too.

Twaz

congrats, Shorfi! I had to look up fat necrosis too!

I chopped my hair off today to prep for chemo and absolutely love it!!! I've never had short hair. It is pink & purple too.

Sad it won't last long!!!

SA8PG

Shorfi. I'm beaming with happiness for you. Thank you for sharing with us. Sending you continued love & prayers.

Twaz. Love that you cut your hair; purple & pink my 2 daughters favorite colors. Soon yes, it will be gone but it will come back in & you never know what you'll get? Color/texture etc. The best feeling is when you see those little sprouts coming in for the first time after you've spent weeks looking in the mirror for them. My hair was straight before chemo & now it's curly. I'll be 2 years out in August. Prayers for your treatments, every cancer cell dieing at the root!!! Let us know how we can help. 4 days and counting until your first treatment.

Xoxo

G

Shopgal2

glad you are ok shorfi.

Angtee after chemo ended in December I enrolled in my radiation oncologists clinical trial to reduce my caloric intake by 25% to lessen the toxic effects of radiation. It was a 10 week clinical trial where I had to log my calories on my fitness pal. The study began 2 weeks before, continued thru 6 weeks of rads, and ended 2 weeks after treatment . Most patients saw a 10 lb weight loss and less skin breakdown from rads. As for me I lost a total of 40 lbs overall. I learned how to know when I was hungry, portion sizes, and to make better food choices including more fruits and veggies I eat less carbs and sugar now and little to no processed foods I really do feel better eating healthier. Plus in Jan I joined a gym for the first time in my life it was slow going at first, but eventually I got more stamina and my heart rate leveled off. I never thought I could lose weight, eat healthy, and exercise, but reoccurrence is my fear

Twaz you look beautiful & good for you for taking control and cutting your hair now. I wish I had gone shorter like you before chemo. I only did a stacked bob and wished I was brave enough to go short. And you will get that hair back again. I wanted a pixie cut before chemo and regretted not cutting it. Now I am 4 months pfc and have the pixie I wanted.

simplelife4real

Twas, your hair looks great! I love that you did something fun with it.

Just dropping in to say "hi" and share a little story. Three summers ago when I got diagnosed with bc, I planted an asparagus bed not knowing if I'd live long enough to ever eat any of it. It takes a couple years for aspargus to become mature enough to harvest. Last year, we got two servings out to the bed. This year, the bed is really starting to produce and think I'll be able to get at least 10-20 servings. Every time I look at that bed, I think about what a leap of faith that was to plant it in the first place. Each time I eat some asparagus from it, I feel incredibly grateful to be around to enjoy it.

So far....so good!

Valstim52

Looking good Twaz. Love the haircut

6feetover

shorfi: W0000000000000000T!!! *BIG HUGS*

Twaz: adorable! Love it!

Luvmydobies

Twaz, you look BEAUTIFUl!!! You have the face for short hair. I've left mine in a short pixie ever since it came back after chemo almost three years ago. My husband loves it short and I do too especially since I'm always hot ever since finishing treatment. It doesn't take long at all to fix either. Hmm, maybe that's why the hubby likes it so much! Haha!It will come back. Just remember that! Thinking of you and the other newbies we have. Always here for you! XOXOXO!!!