Calling all TNs

Cocker_Spaniel

Arlene that was a brilliant explicit post and will surely help the ladies who have to make the decision on what treatment to have. Hopefully with all the "fors" and "againsts" that have been posted, it will help in conjunction with their breast surgeons, on what is the right way forward for them. It is a difficult decision, mastectomy, lumpectomy, recon or no recon, but as long as they are armed with all the facts then whatever they chose will be right for them.

greenae

Adark

I did UMX with DDDDs! I had the reduction /lift of the right healthy at the same time as implant placement. And recovery was easy. One day resting, then eased back to normal in 2 weeks. But go with your gut and your docs advice. If you have BMX, ask about immediate recon. Implants can be placed at the time of BMX, in many cases. If you need radiation, then you will probably need TEs before implant exchange. I needed mine, even with the DDDD, and no radiation. Valium took care of the occasional spasms and tightness. I only needed it a few times. You have options to explore!

I "rock"some days, but believe me, I have had, and still have, many "psych" moments. Lol

Arlene

greenae

Cocker

Thank you! You are my posting idol. So your compliment means a lot. I Find it easier to talk about the physiological than the psychological, methinks.

Hugs!

Arlene

anotherNYCGirl

Thank you Luv, Cocker, Jen, Meadow, Lillie, Carolina and Arlene.

Thanks EVERYONE for all of your wisdom and eloquence. BC is so crummy, - but the support here is so wonderful.

hugs to all

Cocker_Spaniel

Just heard on the news that Jackie Collins has died of a 6½ year breast cancer battle which she kept from family members though how she managed that I don't know. Apparently she was stage 4 from the onset. I have read several of her (shall we say steamy books!!) and they were 'quite' interesting. Such a shame that cancer claims another victim. Cancer sux.

Tobycc

It does suck. I have been absent from here for about a month. In August I started having pains in my abdomen. PCP did not feel anything, we both agreed maybe a torn muscle? Or strained one?

Labor Day weekend pain was so bad I went to Walk in where they also can do scans. Friday I went: CT scan shows a mass of about 4 iinches in my right abdoment and scattered throughout pelvic region.

MO said before needle biopsy that if it is the TN rerturning that quickly (finished radiation June 1 with clean Pet and tumor markers) we would have a fight.

I think we all agree it is probably ovarian. Will find out tomorrow. These past two weeks have been unreal: going from planning my funeral to being grateful to be here. I am very active on the Christian Women thread here, and I feel much better emotionally.

Al, great news!!!

Prayers and positive thoughts absolutely appreciated!

Kath

Luvmydobies

Oh Kath I'm sorry to hear this! I will pray, pray and pray some more for you. Hugging you right now. Keep us posted

greenae

Kath

I am sending you prayers and strength. We are with you for this fight.

Hugs

arlene

anotherNYCGirl

Kath

Sending hugs and BE WELL wishes.

Take one day at a time right now, and dont rush to conclusions!

Keep your chin up and keep us updated.

slv58

Kath,  positive prayers wrapped in a hug. We are here for you.

Cocker_Spaniel

Kath devastated to hear this news. I hope to God they are wrong and it doesn't turn out to be cancer again. Saying many prayers for tomorrow and have got my arms wrapped tight around you. We will all be with you every step of the way.

Feb2015

Dx 26 January 2015 - 2.5cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/11 nodes, HER2-

Surgery 5 February 2015 - Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Right

Chemotherapy - March to 3 August 2015

Radiation Therapy 16 September to 28 October 2015 - Breast right

Feb2015

Hi. I started reading here trying to find out what the statistics are of BC returning being hormone negative. I didn't wanted to join any groups thinking I will just travel the journey by myself with my family but it seems here we can motivate and encourage others going through BC and it's traumas and treatments and also learn a lot from several others going through the same emotions and feelings and some who have been 'healthy' for several years. It is wonderful to see how everyone gets to know and encourage each other.

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Dx 26 January 2015 - 2.5cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/11 nodes, HER2-

Surgery 5 February 2015 - Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Right

Chemotherapy - March to 3 August 2015

Radiation Therapy 16 September to 28 October 2015 - Breast right

CarolinaAmy

Welcome Feb2015! Don't do this alone. 💚

Kath, there are no words. I'm praying for you right now and will continue to. Will you please update us as soon as possible tomorrow? We are here with you every step.

Peabrain

@adarkadept - hello. I had a BMX since I was diagnosed with cancer on both sides and turned out to be BRCA1 positive. Ironically, I had the mammogram because I was considering breast reduction surgery. Got a little more than expected! Anyway, I was DD and took the opportunity to go to a much smaller (maybe a small B? - I haven't gotten to go bra shopping during the chemo and don't need the support). Because I was going for such a reduction and my tumor was not anywhere near the skin I kept, I was able to have the implants done at the same time as the BMX. No additional surgery needed for the girls. My surgeon and plastic surgeon work together often and did a great job. The implants are under the pec muscle in an aloderm sling. I had surgery three months ago and. Am just starting to fell like I can swim, lift weight, etc. Of course, my recovery has been waylaid by the chemo.

My scars are anchor shaped. A smiley curve under the breast and a short vertical from the smiley to about center. I also have smaller scars in each armpit where they did the node biopsies. Finally, I have small dot scars, one each side on my ribs, just under the smileys where the surgical drains were. All scars are healing really well using a silicon gel that I got from the plastic surgeon. At first it made me kind of sick feeling to look at myself in the mirror, but now that everything is more healed, that went away.

I looked into nipple sparing surgery, but was heart broken that they would not have any sensation. Also, My nipples were hanging fairly low and would have needed to travel a long way up to their new home. And, something about my very dense tissue meant that my nipples would not have survived the journey. So I opted for no nipples. I was worried that the girls would lack a center, but the tops of the vertical scars are right about where a nipple should be and look pretty good if I do say so myself. My DH also likes them. If I ever want more I can get temporary or permanent nipple tattoos. I like that this option has meant I will never have headlights.

I was more upset about losing my nipple sensation than almost anything else I in this whole cancer fiasco. I have been pleasantly surprised at how much sensation I have from the skin on my chest. I still have the sensation of being cold or aroused, so it's all good.

The biggest thing I haven't liked is the feel of the implants under the pec muscle. Even as small as I went (350cc), I feel the pull of the weight and sometimes this still hurts. I imagine this will fade as I heal, but I hate the sensation. I also don't really like that the implant seems like it is just perky sticking straight off my chest. I went with the teardrop shaped silicon, which has a more natural shape, but I still worry that when I get back to surfing, the implants will be in the way.

The biggest thing I have liked is that my clothes fit me so much nicer. I LOVE being smaller chested and just wearing a camisole even when I hike.

Let me know if you have any questions at all.

Peabrain

PS. A BMX meant that I did not need any radiation (during surgery or after), since there was no tissue left.

Meadow

Toby...sending you support, sending prayers up for you. Thank you for letting us all know and support you.

Feb2015, welcome! Yes, do not do this alone, especially when you can do it with us!

Pea, Thanks for the breast update, sounds like you are doing great. I bet you look great and I can tell you feel great. That is worth so much!

6feetover

Thanks, Peabrain. I really appreciate your willingness to share so much. I'm still trying to visualize TEs/implants *under* the pec muscles vs. on top of them, as they'd sit in a breast augmentation. My onco doc explained that this positioning was due to there being no breast tissue left in which the implant could sit, and the remaining skin (over the pec) being thin and fragile. It all makes me sick; the nipple issue makes me even angrier.

6feetover

*Gentle hugs* to the new folks and to those who're worried. I don't talk/post a lot, but I make up for that in thinking.

And I'm thinking of all of you, all the time.

Tobycc

Praying I will be presented with a great treatment plan and start as soon as possible!!

I have stayed away from the internet, as I did with TN-- but did see some good things about tx of ovarian if that is it

Thank you all so much for your support!!!

Lisaj514

Perfectly said by a tn gal. So beautiful and so true. Thank you Joan. I'm sharing this in all the forums I follow.

georgie61

kath....I'm thinking good thoughts that whatever is in your abdominal area is easy to deal with and not serious. xoxo

Peabrain

adarkadept - the way my surgeon explained it, the pec muscles stay attached at the two ends and the implant is slipped between the bone and the muscle. Because the attachments are not messed with, the muscle still works like it did before. The muscle is not big enough to cover the whole implant, so they add an aloderm sling to help hold and cover the rest of the implant that is not covered by muscle. I have really pushed my surgeon about how the muscle works and he swears I will be able to do anything that I could do before. I feel like I will not really know if this was true until maybe the one year mark.

Because the implant is under either muscle or aloderm, your skin is not directly against the implant and this allows it to anchor and heal well. It also makes the whole breast look better. I have not noticed rippling or weird surface dents. I understand that the implant can shift a little and probably look weird under higher intensity exercise, like a push up. I haven't gotten to test this yet : )

Murphy43

Kath, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending you a great big hug. 🌸

Feb2015, joining this discussion group was the best thing I have done so far in my journey. These women are amazing and I feel supported by people who know exactly what I am going through. You have friends here

Feb2015

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. It is so good to be part of a group of ladies that REALLY understand what I'm going through.

Katy - praying for you and hope to hear later today that all is fine

LillieRose

kath- good luck and prayers!! I hope it is nothing! Sending postive vibes your way!

Welcome Feb! I tried the journey alone for a while and it was very hard. These ladies (and a few men) are so kind and helpful!

mags20487

popping in just to say hello again. 4 years ago today was my first chemo! Feels like just yesterday. Today I take my mom to see the ONC to decide whether or not she should do chemo. She was dx in July and had LX but oncotype tests shows she could benefit from chemo. My head and heart could just explode.

Stay strong ladies. It is hard but you can do it! Fight the beast with all your might. One day at a time one treatment at a time

cassylou

hello to you all. I've been a member here for a while, and whilst I've been reading everyone's inspiring and informative posts, I haven't been terribly active in posting myself. I just felt the need to pipe up to let you all know that I'm sending you all lots of love. Especially to you Kath.

I know that a few of you have been interested in information regarding mastectomy's. I can't help you there as I'm going through Neo- adjuvunct chemo at the mo and I'm due for my bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with ovary and Fallopian tube removal mid November. I do remember however that someone was interested in hearing if anyone had tumour pain. I've had 4 AC treatments and 9 of 12 Taxols (6 with carboplatin) and until recently I've had pain in my breast cancer breast, along with under arm. Stabbing pains and dull ache. I figure it can only be good as I've had tumour shrinkage on every progress ultrasound. So much so that my largest tumour is now too small to be seen on ultrasound.

Thank you everyone on this board. I'm sure there are many people like me that seek and find comfort in this thread even though we don't post as much as we'd like. Stay positive everyone and be kind to yourselves! Cass x

Luvmydobies

Welcome Feb2015! Stick with us. We will be here for you, holding your hand! XOXO!!

I'm currently in the waiting room waiting for my four month checkup. I'm a little stressed at the moment. My husband is home packing up boxes getting ready for us to move to our rent house this weekend. Grrrrrrr!!!

Kath I'm praying and thinking of you. HUGS!!!

kiyasmom

Hi all

I have a question .... My Breast cancer is labeled Triple Negative

My HER2 is negative My PR is negative My ER is 1.17%

My Breast Surgeon said that the ER # is so low that any Oncologist would call that a negative.

I was treated for Triple Negative

After my chemo my Oncologist said he still wanted to target the 1.17% and did put me on Arimidex, I am NOT happy about the belly gain from it.

Has anyone else had an ER # this low and was put on Arimidex ?

I am starting to question if I even need to be on it at all.

Thanks for any input !