Connecticut Girls

lynniea

Singlemom I had every test in the book for node involvement and they all came back negative I thank God for that.  My surgeon was a little worried and wanted the sentinel node biopsy done which is 95% accurate for node involvement it also came back negative.  You will feel much better when you have a plan.  My sister and Aunt are cumming for my next treatment  on the 27 of April.  I hope everyone has a nice Easter.  We are having ours on Sat so all the kids can come down and be with us to.  Have a great day.

Claire82

Sweetie

Surgery is over but i caught my granddaughters virus on Sat. Just over that and off to NYC in a few min for the unveiling. What I can see looks good. I will tell you this - why does anyone get a lift and augmentation if they didnt have breast cancer - the pain for me was worse than the mx. damn lol

no pain at all on mx side but no feeling there either - pics soon on the forum

I hope they r even!

sweetie2040

Claire-glad your on the mend. I'm sure they are going to look lovely. I agree about why would someone put themselves through pain if they didn't have too, but then again we all have our own reasons. I figure with this BC stuff I'll deal with the pain to get things right but after that I don't want to think about surgery for a long long time! Looking forward to seeing your pics. So happy for you, you made it!!!

lynniea

Good to here your on the Mend.  I went to the Oncologist today and it shrunk again.  It is now 1x2.5 and she had trouble finding it.  My white cell count is normal also only our God can do that.  I hope everyone has a  great holiday and enjoy your families.

sweetie2040

Lynniea-Wonderful news!! God is faithful and I believe is always working on our behalf. Sometimes we see instant miracles and sometimes he uses Dr's, treatments,surgery or meds, but it's all part of our healing!  I always feel so grateful for all he took me through and as I look back I know I couldn't have done it without him.

flash

yahhhh lynnie!!

hugs to all and a happy holliday.

karebear76

I got home from the hospital today. I ended up staying an extra day and i am glad I did. I feel better today than I did yesterday. We got my pain under control so that was good. So things are going well. My mom is here until tomorrow and then my aunt is coming on Monday.

Yaaaa Lynniea!!

HAPPY EASTER everyone!! 

lynniea

Happy Easter everyone.  Spent a great day yesterday with family and friends.  God sure has been good to me.  I have my last AC chemo this week.  My sister and aunt will be down for it.  I thank God for my family who has been there for me.

singlemom1

lynniea - It keeps on shrinking - this is wonderful!!!!

Karebear - I hope you keep continuing to feel better and stronger everyday!

lynniea

I would love to meet some of the CT ladies.  Keep me informed when and if I can I will be there

sweetie2040

Are any of you doing the walk in New Britain in May? We could meet there.

lynniea

I am doing the walk in May We have 17 people for our team so far.  I sure would like to meet some of you. 

sweetie2040

Lynniea-do we have to walk in teams? I would be going with my husband who is a runner and I'd be walking. Could I just walk along with your team? Are you going to the breakfast thing they are having?

karebear76

I heard back about the pathology reports. 7 of the 19 lymph nodes they took tested positive. Also they found that there is still tumor in the incision site. Soooooo we don't know what we are going to do at this point. I see the dr on Fri and he should have some answers by then.

lynniea

karebear I will keep you in my prayers. 

singlemom1

karebear - my thoughts and prayers are with you. I am sorry you are going through this.

I just came back from Dana Farber yesterday for a 2nd opinion and am very upset. I had a lumpectomy and breast reduction together here in HTFD when they thought the diagnosis was DCIS in March. As it turns out the full pathology report after surgery states I also have invasive cancer and they did not get a clear margin. My Htfd PS states they can go back in and he knows where the Margin is to get in. Dana farber told me they do not know anyway he can be sure he gets it and they recommend a mx since all the breast tissue was moved around with a breast reduction.  Dana farber further stated doing a breast reduction and lumpectomy together would never of been done by them.  They stated the appropriate way was to make sure the cancer was removed first before the BR. Needless to say, I am overwhelmed and not sure what to do. The idea of a masectomy is hard for me.  I am a single mother of a 5 year old daughter and have not had time for me and my needs ( I also communte at least 2 hours a day to work) since my pregnancy. I was really hoping that the cancer was going to jolt me into getting out there again and find a soul mate and start feeling like a woman again and not just a giving machine. The thoughts of a mx is going to be hard on my self-esteem and concept of my own attractivness ( which I have been stuggling with since my daughter was born and I gained alot of weight). Dana farber also warned that although they recommend a Mx it may turn out  that there was no cancer in the breast so I would of done it for nothing in my opinion. Dana farber is saying they would not chance a re-excision after a breast redution and feels the Masectomy is the best way to go. Though I do need to add that Dana Farber also stated they may have recommended a Masectomy to begin with, so I do tend to think they are on the conservative side. I would like to go for a third opinion. Does anyone have an recommendations - I was thinking maybe Yale or Sloane..........................

thank you

sweetie2040

Karebear-sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and prayers are going to be with you.

Singlemom-my heart goes out to you..I know this is a hard time for you. I had IDC and I had a BMX. I struggled so much making that decision because I could have had a lumpectomy with radiation on one breast and kept the other. I did a lot of research and I got 2 opinions. One Dr. said lumpectomy the other said BMX. In the end I had to choose what would give me the most peace of mind. I am now done with my BMX and reconstruction and I have no doubt I made the best choice for me. The "good" breast had all kinds of pre cancer stuff in it after the pathology came back. I also had called Dana Farber and I do agree they are conservative but I think it is the way they view treating cancer. I think a third opinion would be good. Have you consulted an oncologist? This would also be a good idea. I want to say I understand your feelings about your self image. This was hard for me too, but I can honestly say the BMX was not as bad as I thought and they can do amazing things with reconstruction. If you can PM personally I can tell you who my Dr's were and some other details. I think we have some amazing Dr's right here in CT and you will find they are using very up to date techniques and screenings. Do some more research, get another opinion, think about it hard and let your heart tell you what is right for you. We'll be here to support you.

karebear76

Thanks ladies.

Singlemom: I am so sorry that you are going through this. (((HUGS))) I would totally go for another opinion if you are not happy with the 2 opinions you have gotten. I also would be willing to tell you who my drs are. I love them and am so happy with their treatment for me. I just had my BMX and it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I look down and see this ugly incision but ya know what, no one else can see it so it isn't so bad and when it is time for reconstruction they will look beautiful!! Try to stay positive and we are here for you. I hope that you can find the right decision for you. 

lynniea

Hi Girls I had a great day with my daughter we spent the day at a fundraiser tag sale she is going to New Orleans to help build a house this month. And than to a baseball game.  I hope you all have a great Sunday

flash

singlemom- i would go for another opinion.  Yale just built the new building and has been very dynamic lately in recruiting so it should be a good time to use their facility and faculty to get the best of the best.

karebear- sorry it's so tough on you.

lynnie- sounds great for your daughter.  so nice to hear of a special time like that.

singlemom1

Hi everyone, just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing and give you an update on my situation. I met with my HTFD doctors again after meeting with Dana Farber. HTFD doctors told me that when they first operated they "marked" the area in case there was a problem.  It was marked with stitches at the tumor site and that is why they know where the margin is.  They stated that Dana Farber would not of known this from the material they had so they thought the tissue had all been moved around and there would be no way to know where the original site was due to the breast reduction. I felt better after talking to them but wanted to consult again with Dana Farber about what they stated or at least a surgeon in New York for a 3rd opinion.  The problem was that the tumor was marked with stitches that were going to dissolve within the next one to two weeks. If I was going to try and go this route I had to do it immediately. I had the re-excision this past Wed and also had my nodes checked.  The nodes were negative!!!!! I should find out friday if they got a clean margin. I am going back up to Dana Farber in a couple of weeks to discuss chemo and they are going to look over the surgical report. I will be asking them their opinion after reading the report if they would still recommend a MX. I am keeping this on the table. I am unsure what will happen next, but I feel I did this my way and if  MX comes next for some reason it will feel like it was on my terms. I don't know if this makes sense but it is what I needed to do for myself. Thank you again everyone for you support - and thank you Flash for your very kind offers to help!  You guys are great!

sweetie2040

Ladies-Happy Mother's day!!

Singlemom-I'm so glad you are taking things one step at a time. It sounds like you and your Dr's have a good handle on things. I am hoping for clear margins for you. I think you are going about things right, one step at a time. I think it is great you are making the decisions that are right for you. That's the way to do it. We will be here thinking of you and wishing you the best.

Lynniea- Did you get to do the walk on Sat? I was all set to go with my hubby but he didn't know registration had closed online May 1st so we would have had to register that day. We would have had to get up at 6:30 to do that to be ready and get there. I told him I was to tired to get up that early! We took a 4 mile walk together at a trail instead, but I really wished I could have been in New Britain with you ladies. I saw how they did it online and it looked like fun. I know there are other events coming up in the state so maybe I'll get to one of those.

1WonderWoman

Hello CT Girls:

Tonight I heard something startling about CT and bc stastics, as follows:

CONNECTICUT HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF BREAST CANCER IN THE U.S.

FARMINGTON- March 24, 2011- Did you know that Connecticut has the second highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation?

This statistic was revealed in a 2010 study published by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. The report is turning out to be a double-edged sword, showing that while Connecticut's incidence rate of breast cancer has increased from fifth to second highest in the nation, statewide mortality rates have decreased. Connecticut's breast cancer mortality rate declined from sixteenth to thirty-fourth in the nation.

In short, this means that breast cancers are being detected more frequently in the Constitution State, but fewer men and women in Connecticut are dying from the disease.

"Until we find the cures for breast cancer, funding education, screening and treatment programs will help to lower mortality rates and save lives right here in Connecticut. Early detection is our best protection," said Anne Morris, Executive Director of the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Morris encourages Connecticut residents to contribute to these lifesaving programs and support the local fight against breast cancer by registering for the 18th Annual Komen Connecticut Race for the Cure to be held on June 4th in Bushnell Park in Hartford: "Every dollar raised helps to fund research and local education, screening and treatment programs right here in Connecticut. We have the power to change these statistics and save lives."

(the source is http://www.komenct.org/)

*****************************************************************************

I found this terribly surprising as this is quite a small state.  Then, what was more startling is the state with the highest incidence of bc is our TINY neighbor, RI!   When you think about the mammoth nature of TX and CA and to think us, with our tiny states have huge incidence of bc, it really makes you wonder what is causing this.  Oddly enough, every state in New England is high in incidence of bc.   I guess what many people speculate might be true and that it is "in the water."  Arizona is the lowest in the country for incidence of bc.  What is even more odd is CT was established in 1634 and joined the union in 1788, or just 12 years after AZ was settled.  AZ did not join the union until 1912.  I guess in the end, this part of the country was settled, in large part, nearly 150 years before AZ and this must be the reason.   The infrastructure here is so old and I know there was a recent study about the water in New Haven being found to cause cancer. 

And this is my edition of "All Things Considered!"

1WonderWoman

Singlemom: I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through.   I had an excellent surgeon.  She is now with Smilow but when I found her she was in private practice.   During her years in private practice, when doctors or nurses needed surgery, she was on top of everyone's list.  Now she has dedicated herself to breast cancer and works directly at Smilow.  If you need her name, PM me.   To be honest, cancer was my single biggest fear in this world and, for this reason, I went bmx right away.   I have no regrets but it is not for everyone.  I wish you the best with this very tough decision.  If you need a referral to an onc, I have that as well.  Best of luck to you-

singlemom1

thank you Lizzymack! I will let you know if I decide to go to New Haven. I had also heard about CT being 2nd in the nation and was amazed at this for the same reasons you named. I think I am even more amazed that Rhode Island is first.

How is everyone else doing? Happy belated Mother's day to the Mothers and Grandmothers out there!

lynniea

I did get to go to the walk.  My Niece ran and can in second for me and my other niece ran came in 12th.  We had a great time .  Sorry I missed ya maybe  we could get together sometime.

lynniea

Hi ladies I start the T now and finished the AC so keep me in prayer that everything goes well

Anonymous

Interesting article, Lizzymack - kind of shocking to read that such a small state like Rhode Island is #1 for BC - and not much better that NE has such a high incidence...  Really makes you wonder if it's something "in the water", doesn't it...

lynniea

I need prayer I have a lot of pain today I need some relief thanks

1WonderWoman

Lynniea: just ask and yee shall receive   I feel badly that you are having a rough day.  Overall this disease takes so much from us mentally that it is so disingenuous of the gods to have it be a physically torturous event as well.  In any case, I see you posted quite a while and hope you are doing better now.   Take something/ask for something to take if you are having a lot of pain.  I was having lunch with a friend in Stamford last week who asked me if I was on/had been given medical marijuana!?!?  First, it is not for me but second, I did not even know that it was allowed/legal in CT.

In any case, I hope you are doing better by the time you read this.