June 2010 Mastectomy

speech529

Yesterday I saw an oncologist for a 2nd opinion on whether or not to go on Raloxifene (Evista) or Tamoxifen.  He reviewed all the research and his summation was this:

(1)  DCIS is not cancer (precancer) but needs to be treated  (2)  Risk of recurrence in my natural breast is about 3%  (3)  Either drug will reduce that by 1.5%   (4)  Serious side effects (thrombosis) affect 1% of women and they are usually not active (I am very actice) (5) A genetic test may be able to test the effectiveness of Tamoxifen (15% of caucasian women have a genetic makeup that interferes with how the liver metabolizes Tamoxifen and renders it basically useless)  Here's an article http://www.drugs.com/news/gene-test-might-predict-tamoxifen-s-effectiveness-20232.html   (6)  Doc recommended the book Anticancer:  A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber    Author is a doc who got brain cancer, researched lifestyle issues affecting cancer and is in remission.  

I made my decision a while back and I dont want to take a pill daily for 5 years for a 1.5% possible risk reduction.  I would rather monitor and manage a healthy lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, etc). Just thought I'd share what Iearned. 

Ducki

Just a quick note before I go to bed.  My exchange is this coming Tuesday morning. I have to admit that I am having serious issues with it mentally, but trying to be strong.  Getty how is  your exchange coming along?  I haven't seen you post on the results yet since right after. 

Gunner I was crabby with every fill.  Some seem to do fine but I was sore for days after each one. My TE now still wakes me up at night.

Whenever some one asks me how I am doing.. I smile and say... I am just a little breastless.. how are you doing?   LOL

Stlcard Good to hear that is behind you and now comes the healing part.

Good to hear from each one of you.  Y'all seem like family now   BIG  HUGS

joystars

joystars

Hello beautiful ladies!

I've been trying to share with you a ">picture of me and Vida Sofia.
Attempt #3.....
Hopefully this time it will work.

*UPDATE*
It works, it works!
This pic was taken last September at my place by my good friend (you can see her on the mirror reflection). I added a cute baby lamb with a pink ribbon and it's my current profile picture on Facebook.

gunner

Hi Ducki:

My exchange is 11/12 I will be thinking of you. How long u in hosp with exchange for. I hate the fills.

The whole thing very emotional. I love it when I get home I can sit in my recliner, this time it literally felt like a knife turning stabbing and turning. I feel like a fricking drug addict during this time. I just want to get this over, over, over.  One more fill.  What did your PS tell u your recovery would be like I heard 2 weeks.Are you on Tamoxifen if so you were surpose to go off before surgery. Elizabeth 

almagetty

JoyStars: You are beautiful! So full of life (Vida) ... in more ways than one! Another post to make me smile.

Ducki: I know that saying not to be nervous about a surgery is asking the impossible, but ... don't be nervous. This surgery is sooooooo much easier than what we've been through before. The recovery is pretty quick, too. I'm doing great after my exchange. I feel wonderful. The implant has dropped as promised and it has fluffed up a little bit, though not as much as I had hoped. The implant is also so much more comfortable and natural feeling than the TE! It is like night and day.

I go see the PS on Tuesday for him to get a look-see and also to schedule my nipple/areola surgery, hopefully for the end of the month. I have a couple of issues I want to discuss with him. On the top part of my breast, I have this sort of flap thing that has some scar tissue (which I can see below the skin) that prevents the breast from moving naturally when I reach forward or reach up, so I have this very strange distortion there where the skin kind of just folds and flops over when I extend my arm. You can't see it when I'm clothed, but I can see it and it's unsightly and annoys the heck out of me. I'm hoping if he is able to remove the scar tissue, it will correct itself. I also have an indentation of nothingness between where the implant originally reached on the top and where it has dropped to. I think the girls on the EC thread refer to this as a shelf. Also, when they say that you will not have projection enough to fill the cone part of the cup in your bra, they aren't lying! I went to Nordstrom today to get a proper bra fitting and my natural side fills my "C" cup fully, as always. The implant side leaves the pinnacle of the cone empty. Yikes! Hopefully the nipple and areola surgery will correct this a little bit. It's probably way more noticeable to me as a uni than to those of you who have had a BMX.

That is the extent of my gripes. The issues are all minor and hopefully correctable. I can definitely say that I'm in a much better place now than I was with the TE's.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend!

Getty 

RobinLM

Ducki, good luck tomorrow..... lots of love to you, hopefully you'll have a Getty like experience and feel hapy and relaxed when you get back online x

Joystars, what a lovely smile you have and a great pic...... ! How did you manage to get the pic to be linked then - do tell

My 'iron bra' feeling is back with a vengence.... owww.......feels like I have a very tight nylon tie around my back accross my nipples......bloody awful but  trying to not take drugs any more....

Robinx

Ducki

I am sure I won't get much sleep tonight.  I just want to thank each one of you,  for your wonderful words of encouragement..  I know it sounds dumb, but for the first time I took a picture of my remaining breast, since it is getting reconstructed along with the MX/TE side.  As I look at it I am thinking......WHY am I concerned LOL. 

 I have taken pictures of my mx side, every week, since surgery. I am really trying to be optimistic . 

GUNNER ..  PS said the MX side would be easy and basically painless, but the "lift" side would be ouchy for a while and would take about 2 weeks for recovery . It will be out patient surgery.  I should be home tomorrow afternoon around 4 PM.  See yall soon I hope..

HUGS.. well.. little ones lol

Laurie08

Good luck Ducki!!!!!   I will be thinking of you tonight and tomorrow.  I am sure it will all go well.

This past weekend my son turned three.  We had a lot of fun celebrating.  I was amazed at how many happy thoughts I had through his birthday weekend.  I cleaned the house, I had no pain, during or after.  I had 30+ people for a party.  I cooked, I served I ran with children.  I had NO PAIN.  Now that my fills are done and everything has settled I am doing so much better.  I am amazed at how much more I can do now.  I can do anything. WOW.  I could enjoy my children and lift them and hold them and act normal.  Lot's of happy moments.  I hope you are all having some too..

stlcardsfan

Ducki - Best of luck tomorrow!!!!  Soon to be part of the yippee squishy club!

joystars

Good super cool vibes for you Ducki!
Everything will be fine! My thoughts and prays are with you today, hoping for a speedy recovery as well!

((Hugs))

gunner

Ducki:

Saying a prayer, u will do fine this am can't wait to hear all the good news.

Elizabeth 

almagetty

I'm sitting outside enjoying a beautiful fall('ish) day in Florida  ... 

Ducki: You're in my thoughts today! I just said a prayer for your successful surgery.

Laurie:  Happy birthday to your son! I'm so glad you're doing so well!!

I went to the PS today. My nipple/areola reconstruction surgery will be on November 10. He's going to do a little lipo-suctioning to hopefully correct my fold/flap issue. He says it won't be eliminated, but should improve somewhat. :-/ He also suggested micro-fat grafting to fill in the void on the top inside edge of the implant. He's not a big proponent of the fat grafting because he says that it doesn't really last, but he's willing to try. He's also going to micro-fat graft under the new nipple/areola complex to give the new breast a little bit more of a cone effect. I'm really happy about that! The skin graft will come from my bikini area, right above the hair line. He indicated with his hand that the incision will be about 3-4 inches long. Yikes! The fat grafting will come from around my belly-button. It all sounds a bit painful, but he assured me that I should feel good as new about a week after surgery. He hasn't steered me wrong yet ...

All done (except for the tattoo of the areola for color) by Thanksgiving sounds really awesome right now!! 

Getty 

reneemac

Getty, my tissue expander will be going on the cruise with me. We are scheduled to leave the Sunday after Thanksgiving and I am so excited!

I've noticed that the TE is dropping considerably and there is some pain involved. Do any of you have this issue? I've been taking Tylenol and that seems to help, but after months of not feeling anything on that side, it seems weird that I have feeling over there now. I have a call into the PS but figure that he'll just prescribe more Vicodin - LOL.

Ducki, hope all went well today.

almagetty

Reneemac: My TE was on okay companion on my cruise. You're going to have a fabulous time!

Still keeping my thoughts with Ducki ... 

Laurie08

Getty- I am sure your surgery will go great and it will be worth it.  I get a little lost with the dog ears and micro fat grafting, it sounds a little intense, but again, I am sure the results will be wonderful.  Are you nervous or just excited to get to the other side of this?  My husband pointed out to me tonight that for three days in a row I have commented that I can't wait for my exchange and soft breasts.  I guess I am more anxious than I realize.

Renee- My TE's change all the time.  Not too much pain to do with it though since my fills are done.  But I notice I am getting more projection and they are getting softer to the touch.  I think I have been lucky on some levels because of having a reduction and my PS said he used "a lot" of AlloDerm.  He claims it makes the stretching easier and gives a more natural look(droop:)  I told him when I get my implants I don't want to see too much droop- time will help enough with that!

Joy- finally figured out how to see your photo- you look beautiful!!

Ducki- still thinking of you, I hope all is well.

Can I just add a PS?  Why is Tamoxifen and AlloDerm in the spell check but not areola? 

 

gunner

Laurie  what is alloderm, my exchange is 11/12. Excited but afraid.The pain is gone today since my fill of last Wed. Ice pick man was with me for 2 nights. One more fill. I just want to get this all over.I take my Ativan and 800 mg Ibuprofes and sleep on my side forget the back TE weighs in my back horrible i also sleep in an recliner.

Ducki: Im excited and I prayed for yo 3x today I hope to here from you soon, as I think u are getting all what i am getting in Nov.Anyone like the anesthsia,i hate it had a hard time waking up. Cold, shrivery.One more fill next Wed with my 4hr drive to the hospital.

Pleasant dreams everyone. Elizabeth 

jsmiley60

Renee: you might try ibuprofen for the pain...my ps suggested that and I think it works better than tylenol for muscle pain. I wish my te's would drop down - the left one is all the way up to my collar bone! lol!

We are all closer to our new normal each day!

Laurie08

gunner- AlloDerm is cadaver tissue, gross huh?

gunner

Laurie Gunner here yuck cadaver tissue do they check this for aids I can not go there being a nurse jeasus I was at the dentist getting my teeth cleaned took my pre op antibiotics for the TE and the tech goes oh you have BC no I had it I did not want to talk about it I was going to have an anxiety attack thinking are these antibiotics working last thing I need is an infection in my breast with the TE because then I would need a PICC line i could not make her shut up. She said I have some good news your gums look great. I go in next week to see my PS last fill before exchange on 11/12. I get a lift on left, then I get to go back to work and find my brain.  This Tamoxifen has been giving me night sweats or hot flashes no period yet.  I hope Ducki is ok. Good afternoon everyone. Elizabeth

Ducki

I DID IT !!   It's hard to describe what I look like now.  The exchange side really looks the same, just more cuts and not quite as hard, but still funny feeling and looking. I know what you mean now Getty. He said it would take a bit of time.  My lift side, well..looks really good compared to my real old one.  I am lopsided but PS said he purposely lifted high to allow for gravity.  PS said I would be a bit uncomfortable... Thats putting it mildly... OMG  I was miserable and still am I was not prepared for it hurting this much, but am on pain meds so its all doable.

He asked if I was pleased with how I was treated during the procedure yesterday.   I told him everyone was really nice, except for this one man who kept coming at with with a knife !!!  LOL

I want to give everyone a BIG THANK YOU for your kind words and caring thoughts.  I don't know why I was so scared about this one, but I was and yall really helped ease my fears.  Hope I can return the same when you need encouragement   BIG " No Touchy" hugs..

almagetty

((((Ducki!!!))) So glad you're done with that! I didn't know you were having a lift on your natural side. I understand that is painful. I didn't have anything at all done to my natural side. I'm pretty pleased with the symmetry the PS has achieved. Your implant will get softer as the days go by. You'll see ...

Laurie: I'm both nervous and excited about this next surgery. The whole skin graft thing has me a little bit scared, I'm not going to lie. But, the thought of being well and truly done (except for the tattoo later on) is kind of surreal. I am really excited to get to that place! You will love your implants. They're such a relief after the rock hard TE's. 

stlcardsfan

Ducki - glad to see your post and that all went well!!!!

I got my stitches out today from were the skin cancer on my face as removed. Dr said it looked pretty good, but asked that steri strips be put on for a another week. So, more junk on my face, but at least they are skin toned! And I can chew food again. Yea! The area is still sore, and a little swollen, but Dr told me it would keep getting better.

I have been communicating with the "breast whisperer" on the breast sizing thread and have decided to do one more little fill, and to even out the right side a little. For some reason the prophylactic side is a little bit smaller than the former cancer side and they both have the same amount of cc's. I will do that on 10/18, same day I see cardio Dr and get my 6 month MUGA scan (because I am on Herceptin). I just love being able to schedule multiple dr visits in one day.  Almost time for Survivor.....gotta go! 

Ducki

StL... Sure hope things are doing better on your face surgery. 

I have been probably the most miserable I have ever been since I discovered I had cancer.  This last surgery about did me in.  My pain was nearing unbearable, even with meds.   I finally called the PS this morning.  They told me to come in immediately.   My nipple on my lift side had swelled up to a unreal size  and was oozing.  Everyone had told me that this surgery was really ok and not  that painful, so I felt like such a baby.  What happened was my nipple swelled into my steri strips.  Once they removed the tapes the relief was immediate.  I was sure my nipple would fall off, but it didnt lol.  I felt so much better that  I mopped all my floors this afternoon.. LOL.

NOTE to all of us:  If we all say things go well normally..........and they dont for one of us.. then please contact your Doctor immediately

Ducki

StL... Sure hope things are doing better on your face surgery. 

I have been probably the most miserable I have ever been since I discovered I had cancer.  This last surgery about did me in.  My pain was nearing unbearable, even with meds.   I finally called the PS this morning.  They told me to come in immediately.   My nipple on my lift side had swelled up to a unreal size  and was oozing.  Everyone had told me that this surgery was really ok and not  that painful, so I felt like such a baby.  What happened was my nipple swelled into my steri strips.  Once they removed the tapes the relief was immediate.  I was sure my nipple would fall off, but it didnt lol.  I felt so much better that  I mopped all my floors this afternoon.. LOL.

NOTE to all of us:  If we all say things go well normally..........and they dont for one of us.. then please contact your Doctor immediately

almagetty

Ouch, Ducki! That sounds really painful! I'm glad you called that your doctor's office and that they were able to give you relief. Great advice, too! I hope it's all smooth sailing for you from here on out!

Laurie08

Ducki- I am so sorry.  You must have been scared along with the pain.  Like Getty said I am so glad you called the Dr and didn't try to tough it out.  It's so unfair that after all you have already been through that you had to endure that too.  Very glad that once the strips were removed you felt relief.  A big hug to you.

jsmiley60

Ducki: glad to hear you went to the doctor with that and got some big relief! it is a good reminder to all of us!

Ducki

Ok girls.. why are we talking about Alloderm ?  I am thinking I have missed something here. Sorry I had two identical posts.  Gosh I have really been out of it.  lol

gunner

Ducki:

Gunner here well what am I in for -u had my surgery. How was it ? Scarey. How is the pain? Should I ask for Percocet or stay with Vicodin for pain. My drive is 4hrs to hosp. I meet with my PS this Wed have my last fill. he will tell me how he will do lift on left side. I am quite small I am trying to stay away from nipple. You have drains. I am getting nervous. The tamoxifen is causing me to get night hot flashes been taking it in am will take it tnight.  Please let me know how you like the implant -how does it feel compared to brick. I am glad thinks are going well. Elizabeth