August 2010 Mastectomy

lago

Tara can you get a second opinion on this? It's your body. I would also go back to your onc and tell her that tamoxifen can cause endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Although rare but who wants to subject themselves to that if they don't have to and there may be an alternative?

What, she can't give you a little blood test to see if you are menopausal. A protocol is a recommendation not written in stone. If that were the case we wouldn't need an onc. Any NP or MD could read the protocol and prescribe treatment. Treatment needs to be made individual based on the patients diagnosis and medical history. If there is a good chance you are staying in chemo-pause then why wouldn't she consider Als?

Als seem to have a longer list of SE but the only really serious one I see is osteoporosis which can be managed and treated while you are on the drug.  

SE of tamoxifen: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/tamoxifen.jsp
SE of arimidex: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/arimidex.jsp

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BUT there are many of us HER2+ gals that are on tamoxifen. If I don't stay in chemopause I'm sure my onc will be putting me on tamoxifen. I would ask if she will be able to tell if you metabolize the tamoxifen. I do believe there is a test.

kad2kar

Lovely Ladies.... How is everyone doing?  Have you all moved on to other threads?  I sincerely hope everyone is progressing and haven't had any setbacks. Thinking of you all. Many Blessings to everyone.  kad2kar

lago

I'm still here on other threads. Almost 6 weeks from last chemo. Still doing Herceptin. Starting generic Arimidex Tuesday. Also started "fills" again.

Carrol is still around too. She's going to be in my town this week. I hope I can get to meet her!

How are you doing? Tell me what's going on with you.

Carrol2

Hey I am here. Doing well. Almost 12 weeks PFC, taking Tomixifen about 25 days.  just waiting for the date to start reconstruction. Hair slowly growing back. Trying to put all the pieces back together again. A little nueropathy and some muscle stiffness nothing major.

soccermomofthree

Hello lago I had my mastectomy in Aug also. 

lago

Wish you had joined us on this thread earlier. It's rather quiet here now. Small implant thread together.

Carrol and I have now been through chemo and BMX for 7 months on this board… and we met in person for the first time yesterday because she was in Chicago. She's like a long lost sister.

soccermomofthree

That is so neat that you all met!  I just saw you here and thought hey I know her

Carrol2

Hey everyone,

Yes it's been a long time now it seems since that August mastectomy. I am not scheduled for my tissue expanders on march 29th. it's the beginning of the end of this journey. 

soccermomofthree

Carrol-Do you mean you are getting TEs placed March 29 or your exchange surgery is March 29?  So nice your almost done!

Carrol2

I am getting TEs i did not get them put in during my bmx my hospital does not do any immediate reconstruction. So I have been pretty flat since august now. Looking forward to having curves again even though I am nervous about the surgery.

dawney

I am having a TRAM flap next month and I am soooooo nervous!

lovesnature

Hi fellow august sisters. I have my exchange coming up on the 28th. Getting nervous! Not looking forward to getting used to a new me again.

soccermomofthree

aww Carrol you are at the fun part now.   I understand you being nervous, but your upcoming  transformation will really be amazing. You had to go a long time being flat.  I got use to flat during my flat days.  Funny how we just adjust...but I must say I was small breasted to begin with   I am happy to hear of your upcoming surgery.  Do you feel all healed from the MX?

Carrol2

lovesnature my TE surgery will be the day after your exchange. I am looking forward to a new me but not the surgery part if that makes sense.

coccermomofthree I feel all healed up from the bmx. I don't sleep on my stomach but i can. Sometimes when my husband gives me a really tight bear hug it feels a little sore but it would feel sore to squeeze my boobs too tight before the bmx. I massage the scars in the shower every day. The scars and an area under my arm and around to my back a little are numb but i have adjusted to it. It used to feel like i was sleeping on a rock but now i don't even notice it unless i touch it. It will be nice to get the chemo port out too. I guess this will be like going thought puberty again lol.

kad2kar

Lago or Iago? , Carrol,Soccer,Loves.....How are you?  It was really great you were able meet in person. Carrol were you there for med reasons or just to meet Lago and have a good time. I will bring up the rear as Im finally having my exchange Mar30. I understand the exchange is easy peasy,nothing to worry about in and out like a burger joint! Probably not quite as easy but far easier than TEs. I figure we should meet on the weekend to report how we 3 are doing. Soccer, how north do you live in CA? I lived in Trinidad when I was 6 & 7yr old. Ran amok in the beautiful Redwoods. Maybe more and more of the others will pop in every now and again just to say hi.  Take care see you around the board.   kar

kad2kar

• Carrol....Start reading the  "tissue expanders" started by poodleluvbug. Its a good thread and different ones are starting the exchange, but it start with the expander and talks about fills and sizes. It answer any questions you have and probably raise questions too, but they will help you through it.   kar

Paula1231

Hi All,

It does seem a long time since the MX in August.  It seems a lifetime away.  I am done with chemo, have been on tamoxephen and Lovesnature, I will have my exchange one day after you on the 29th.  I will be thinking of you and hoping things go well for both of us.  My PS said the new implant will be soft and comfortable compared to the expander.  I can't wait but am nervous.  He also said I will have one drain..bummer.  I hated those drains.

Carrol, you will have your expanders on the 29th?  I will be praying for all of us.  It is not too bad. I got those walmart fruit of the loom sports bra's that hook up in the front after the expander.  I had my expander put in right after the MX and the sports bras were so comfortable.  10 dollars for two sports bras.  White and black.   Also, you can pin your drains them easily.   The fills went really smoothly for me, and now the shape is really nice.  I hope the implant looks as nice as the expander.  Good luck!

soccermomofthree

kad2kar-I live in Chico, CA. Isn't Trinidad near Patrick's Point?  How pretty!!! We would like to take a family trip up there maybe this summer

Paula-I have that bra and it works well for after your exchange also.  I am still wearing them at night.  If you think TEs look good you will just love your implants!

lago

kad2kar it's lago with an L not an capital i. Lots of folks get confused. Carrol was in town for business.

I finished chemo Jan 18th. I'm doing expansions again. Got 3 before chemo and just had my 6th one today. My PS fills slowly although I am already feeling like a porn star. He likes to overfill. I keep bumping into things. I'm not used to have large foobs. I can't believe the nurse thinks he'll do 3 more! I'm hope for an exchange in May but not sure. My PS says he likes to wait at least 1 month after the last fill.

Since I had 3 expansions in September I may be able to wait only the month but we'll see. Nice to see you gals are moving right along.

Started Anastozole March 1st. I don't think I'm having any SE so far. My onc is doing blood tests to be sure I stay in chemo-pause. How are you gals doing with your als or tamox?

Carrol2

I am getting my TEs put in march 29th. My hospital does not do any immediate reconstruction so they did not put them in during my bmx. So I am just beginning the foob journey. I have a pre op appointment march 23rd so I will get more details then. So far all I know is round silicone for the implants and trying to get to a C.

Worked out pretty hard yesterday after being away for a week. I was in Chicago working at a car show and it was great Lago came to the show for a visit. My muscles ache a bit. Not sure if that is normal. My joints kind of crack a bit now too. I am thinking this might be the tamoxiphen.

kad2kar I have been reading the TE and exchange threads every day. Everyone seems to have a different experience with it. My doctor said it's easier than the bmx. I had a pretty easy time with that. I was at the gym after a month. 

Still have tingles in my hands that started a few weeks after chemo ended. It does seems to be getting less though. It's pretty much just in my left hand now. 

lago

Carrol I think the neuropathy takes time. My left heel is still numb. I think it's better but it is a very slow and gradual process. It's not like the stiffness where from week to week I notice a huge difference (improving).

My fingers feel better but then I get a little relapse because I think I do too much. Most of the nails as you saw are starting to grow out though.

It's just going to take some time for us to heal from all this surgery and chemo.

soccermomofthree

Carrol and Lago-I did not have chemo but my hands tingle and go to sleep while I am sleeping often ever since my MX.  Do you think your feeling those feelings from surgery or chemo?

lago

I don't have tingling in my fingers/hands. My issue is not neuropathy in my hands. Just from my nail beds getting messed up. Carrol's sounds like it's chemo induced neuropathy that will probably resolve in time.

Soccermomofthree I was told it would take about a year for things to heal from the surgery. What did your BS say about this. I assume you didn't have any nodes removed or disturbed so I doubt  you have a cording/web syndrome issue.

soccermomofthree

lago I didn't have any nodes removed.  I should probably mentions this to the doctor.  After surgery for the MX I had horrible pain going down my arms it was my worse pain through the surgery. Not sure if the TE or implant may be near a nerve and irritate it...thank you for your thoughts.

lago

soccermonofthree It does sound like nerve pain. I remember when they took out one of my drains the pain in my arm was horrible when they did that. The drain was not in my arm but on my chest. So yes it just might be a nerve. You should tell your doctors about this. I know I was asked when I saw my BS about 6 weeks after surgery. (My PS was doing all the follow up care but my BS wanted to see me after 6 weeks).

Remember the doctors/nurses can't help you if they don't know there's a problem.

soccermomofthree

Thank you lago I am going to me PS next week I will mention it

Carrol2

soccermomofthree look into cording. Your pain could be associated with the way your surgery is healing. Sometimes the scars try to attach to the muscle and it can be painful all down the arm. I had a little cording, it was keeping me from being 100% flexible so I saw a PT and she massaged the scars and instructed me to do that and a few weeks later it went away. I could actually see like a cord going from my chest across my armpit to my arm. I thought it was just mishaped from the drain or something. But luckily it was an easy fix. I still massage the scars every day in the shower.

I am pretty sure my tingles are from chemo. My surgery is healed up very nicely now. The doctor today said the scars look good that I am a good healer. I think it will go away eventually. I hope so. It's really annoying but I am either getting used to it or it is going away not sure.

lago

Carrol my LE MD said my cords won't  go away. I'm still doing stretching but no more PT.

Carrol2

wow that stinks. Do you have full mobility? 

soccermomofthree

Thank you Carrol for that info. That's great you heal so nice.  Hope tingle stop soon.