Giuliana and Bill

Natters

Did anybody else watch the show last night? It was pretty interesting, even if she gave absolutely no details about her cancer other than to say that it was "early stage." So it wasn't clear to me if she had had DCIS or Stage I. She did share that she had both a mammo-guided wire placement and MRI-guided wire placement prior to her first surgery. Wow, that made me feel like I got off easy with just the mammo-guided wire.

Does anybody else want to know more details of her dx? I feel kind of rude, because it's absolutely her own business and nobody else's - but I still want to know her stage, whether it was hormone positive or negative, etc. Maybe we will find out more next week. Anyway, I thought the show did a decent job of portraying the shock of a diagnosis and the toll it takes on your family and how hard it can be to act normal at work.

CTMOM1234

I didn't see that show but I recall hearing that she had a bmx. Do not recall her revealing her bc stage, just that it was caught "early."

ej01

I saw an interview earlier this week. I am pretty sure she had something more than DCIS.  I saw on the news how she discussed Chemo with her docs, but is not needed for her.  DCIS patients don't get evaluated for chemo. She also said that the pathology from the MX was worse than they thought, and she is taking 'oral medication'...i am thinking that is likely Tamox, which would suggest she is ER+, but I am guessing.

DivineMrsM

ej, I heard the same thing, that the pathology was worse than they thought and she's taking oral meds.  

cinnamonsmiles

I watched the show where she found out she had cancer. And have seen bits of her here and there on news shows. She said in the beginning she had early stage breast cancer. And that she was getting a mastectomy to avoid radiation. This portrays a slightly inaccurate statement. Just because one has a mastecomy does not necessarily mean one doesn't one need rads afterwards. It all depends on the margins. I think she could have done a better job of explaining and not giving false hopes that if you get a mastectomy you don't get rads.

I, too, think if she is going to go out there publicly it would be nice to know what stage. Is she trying to keep something to herself? Is it to get more people to watch her show? I am assuming her initial diagnoses MAY have been DCIS, but certainly sounds like after the bmx, it was more than that.

cookiegal

It was multi focal, so assuming it was not DCIS, I think that would make it at least stage 2. Not 100% sure about that. I think we can assume it's not triple neg or Her2+.

crking71

I thought I heard that Giuliana originally had a lumpectomy, but she had dirty margins which is why she got the bmx.  Not sure if that is accurate, just what I remember hearing.

dee7493

Yes crking71, she had a lumpectomy but did not get clear margins.  I shed  many tears watching her story, and shared same horrific memory of the wire guided situation.

In my case, the Radiologist wanted to do more biopsies in both breasts after the first biopsy resulted in DCIS and lumpectomy did not get clear margins I was then pretty much forced into a bilat mast.

cinnamonsmiles

shells43

Is anyone watching this show right now? This is the first time I have watched it and find it refreshingling honest. I have no idea which episode is showing, if it is the most recent or not. Can anyone fill me in?

LaurenM730

The episode now is new. I'm DVD-ing it to watch with no commercials😄



I do think if she's going to come out about her dx and decision, she could have provided more details. However, someone who never went through this would have no idea what DCIS is, and some may even brush it off as non-breast cancer. With regards to DCIS not being multi focal, that is possible, as that is what I had. I had it in at least 3 spots in my right breast.



I can't wait to watch tonight because I'm eager to see if she says what stage, and slo if she had immediate reconstruction or TEs. I couldn't imagine going back to work after 3 weeks having just gotten my drains out and not showering...



Dee - looks like we were in a similar situation which resulted in my BMX.



Happy watching!

shells43

I think we are about to find out! I agree this should be private, but I'm so curious, as I know others are, like it's inside information only we understand. I really like that they are being honest with their emotions. It must have been really hard to have cameras trained on them during this time. Did they have a show before she had BC? I just wasn't tuned in to this couple until recently. I remember seeing him on the Trump show.

SpecialK

shelley - this show has been on for a while (several years), and highlighted their wedding, first few years of their marriage, their careers and families and their struggle with infertility.  They had been very frank about in vitro and the loss of a couple of pregnancies I believe.  One of the reasons they have been public at all I think is because cameras were already following them and her BC came to light because of routine testing for the next in vitro.  I think one of the reasons they have been vague in the press about details is that they would naturally unfold on the show in time.

Paula66

I watched her give many interviews on the Today show and she never said her stage other then it was caught early.  Other then not having clean margins, have a BMX was a choice they made because she didn't want to take Tamoxifen because they are trying to have a baby.

shells43

Hey SpecialK and Paula66-

Ok, that explains a lot. I enjoyed watching the show. I was on Style by accident, but it caught my attention. I think they did a good job of discussing the issues without giving too much personal information.

Alirena

I've been watching the show and I think it's great.  It gives a very accurate and honest picture of the breast cancer journey and all the fear, heartbreak, pain, and agony that goes with it.  I think it would be a great show for the newly diagnosed to watch.  I think most would find watching Giuliana and Bill come through their experience and go on with their normal lives very encouraging.   

Natters

Well, in the latest ep she did mention that she decided to have a BMX with immediate recon because a) she did not want to do rads and take Tamox for 5 years and b) she didn't want to live with fear and constantly being monitored. She did not mention her stage or anything, and it still could have been DCIS, because there was no mention of chemo or oncotype testing.

I agree with Aliciarena that is might be a good show for the newly diagnosed to watch, and even for those of us past treatment. Some of the stuff I related to was her fear of re-excision, having to deal with family and friends and coworkers' different reactions when they found out - and reading too much scary stuff on messageboards like this one but not being able to stop reading!

LaurenM730

I feel like I can relate a lot with Giuliana.  I originally had a lumpectomy and then pathology came back with multifocal DCIS.  I feel like what she told us of her conversation with her doctor was similar to mine, almost too similar - scary to me.

So with that, I can relate to her.  But how did she go back to work after 2 1/2 weeks?  Maybe she didnt have TE's?  She never mentioned a second surgery after her MX.

I guess all our questions are good for the show and will keep us watching!

Megadotz

I  watched the first two shows of the season and from what I remember it was biliateral and she had a lumpectomy on each breast.  One side had clear margins and the other did not. Three was a fair amount of time trying choose between re-excision and or mastectomy.

The two and a half weeks seemed to be after the lumpectomies.  At the end of this week's show she had decided on a double mastecotmy with immediate reconstruction.  They also were talking about trying to get pregnanat and the in vitro doctor told them best not to get pregnant until  at least  3 to 5 years after treatment.

 The latest Today show interview had them talking about possibly having a  surrogate with the harvested embryos or going forward with adoption.

I mostly knew her from the local commercials for her father's men's store touting him as her favorite tailor. 

It's clear her hiusband is very supportive and very concerned, several firends have reminded him he needs to take care of himself in order to take care of her. 

I think it's very generous of them to be as forthcoming as they have been with the challenges, come common to many of us, and others not so much  -- the Oscars dress worries were something most of us would never have to face.

cinnamonsmiles

I was not thrilled when Bill kind of bashed her for going on the breast cancer board she went to,but then later on he turned it around and told her to go to the bc boards.

The other thing I had a bigger issue was when they were talking about pros and cons about her treatment choices. He said that if she had a mastectomy, she could avoid radiation. This is a generalization that needed clarity. MOST people may not need rads after a mastectomy but not everyone. There are SOME that need rads due to dirty margins after a mastectomy. We read people writing here and there, that are totally surprised they needed rads after a MX/BMX.I think he should have said that there will probably not be a need for rads, not that it was not a possibility.

I do think the show is interesting but I think I am done watching.

camillegal

Hi everyone.  This is a drama unfolding in parts i believe.  I know we're all curious as to exactly what happened and we do know it is very private. But she did decide to share it with everyone, so maybe it will be in the show litttle by little. I'm not understanding much of her stage or operations and I can't imagine going back to work so quickly--unless the drains were taken out very quickly. ??? I don' always watch their how, but I have and they are adorable and trying to get pregnant is a big topic, but now again I have no idea what they have to go thru.

debbie6122

I have been following this show for the last couple of seasons and the last show i think aired on Tuesaday had me in tears. Having a baby has been very important to her and her DH (rancic) thats what she calls him. Her oncologist told them that she should not do invitro or have children for 3-5 years out of treatment. She shed some tears because she thinks that by then it would be too late for her. She is still young and so many women have children going through BC not sure why she would have to give up on it but that is what they decided on at least for now.

Guilianna had been reading the BC boards not sure which one, but she may of been here since last year under an assumed name. They talk about the boards in the show and her DH says hes glad she is getting support from the boards and chat but that we are not MD's and should not take our advice or somthing along those lines. I hope she knows that she will get more information here or any other boards than she will from her own dr's. He is right we are not MD's but I have learned more here than from any other source, not to mention the support she will get because we are going through what she is.

QuinnCat

They did show Bill bashing the BC forums, saying unless someone has an "MD" behind their name, it isn't worth reading.  They showed Giuliana reading someone's post, and from the screen it looked like BCO.  I've deleted the show or would have typed it up.  I don't remember Bill saying Ok, it's fine to watch, but then I have chemobrain at the moment.

As I recall, when she went back to work 2 weeks later, she had a very blousy unrevealing dress on.  There could have been drains underneath. 

minxie

just wanted to mention that I went back to work 3 weeks after my BMX with immediate reconstruction. I had TEs in place, and my drains were out about 2 weeks after the surgery. It wasn't fun, and I wouldn't recommend it, but for a non-physical job it's doable.

Lifeafter

I've watched their show from the beginning.  They are so cute and seem pretty normal as far as celebs of their caliber go.  They seem very grounded.  I was a little irritated at Bill when she was on the boards and he told her that's not where you get your info.  Yes everyone is different but I think we all gathered much useful information to ask our doctors.  There was a thread that blew up in here before on her, it was crazy.  But I would really like to know what she had and what sort of reconstruction she had.  She went to work two and half weeks after her BMX.  She had the surgery in December.  I'm guilty of watching E News and E Fashion Police.  She was right back at work with 'boobs'.  She is very tiny.  I'm wondering if they were able to place implants in her at surgery?  I was one of the people who was disappointed that she didn't give more info when she came out publicly with it.  Yes it is private info, but she did go public.  I also forgot...she's probably saving it for the show!  With that said...we still don't know anymore about her cancer.  I think alot of women going through this would be helped to know what her particular struggles have been.  I hope it's something we will learn as the show progresses.  I am particularly curious how she was able to go back to work so soon.  I have to tell you, I really felt like a wimp and whiner after hearing she went back so quickly.  But like her husband said, everyone is different.  It would be nice to know what those differences are however.  I think she kind of gives the impression that even though this is devastating, it's not a big deal recovering physically.  Just my opinion.  I do really like her and her husband, though.  I will keep watching to see how this unfolds.  I do wish her the best of luck with a baby.  I know how devastated she must have felt after the last episode.  They've been trying for so long and then this.  And like others, watching the first episode brought back memories I thought I had forgotten.  Very tough to watch.

Michelle

MiniMacsMom

I do remember though, there was a post about her last year when she got dx'ed right before I did.  It was not very supportive of her.  Many people were bashing her for not giving enough info or when she was on the today show they said she didn't do a good job.  I was pretty mad at people ganging up on her, and from that perspective, I can understand Bill saying not to read it.  Maybe she was  upset over peoples less than supportive responses to her.  Its one thing for a tabloid to bash you and another for you BCO sisters to say something negative. 

I hope by now, she has found a home here or somewhere else.  I am courious about her DX, but regardless of what she shares... I hope that she is at peace with her decisions and she can soon start the family she wants. 

I did think it was great how positive they were, though I thought it seemed like a long time from the July  to Oct for her Dx or maybe that was just the timeline they gave her to make her decisions.  Can't remember the details from chemo brain! 

Lifeafter

I was thinking the same thing Minimacsmom. That was a long time.  But it didn't show or say when she actually went in for the mammo and when she was called back.  So that might have been a factor.  When I saw her on the boards in the last episode, I was kind of embarrassed of some of the women on these boards who were really going after her. I was hoping she didn't let that deter her from coming on here and seeking info.  That thread kind of backed up what Bill was saying.  They are very positive couple.  She is lucky to have someone so strong by her side.  I wish I had someone like that. I have had a crush on him since his Apprentice days!

Michelle

QuinnCat

My only problem with the show were Bill's comments about what was probably BCO.  I have learned more from BCO, personally, than from my doctors.  I suspect we will be invited to more facts as their story progresses.  I can understand that; they want to have a storyline to follow.  I'm sure the majority of their audience does NOT have BC and just absorbing "no radiation" while having a BMX will be cause for questions (not even all BC patients might understand that connection).  Just imagine if they started talking about DCIS verus IDC, Grade, Stage, etc. I have friends who have had BC and sometimes mistake Grade with Stage, etc.  Hopefully they are just stringing the story out, rather than dumbing it down, but nevertheless, it is a reality show, not a medical show, so I guess that is their perogative.

LaurenM730

I think she was on the boards for for support than medical advice. I think thats why people come here to begin with. My DH said the same thing to me when I was telling him about this, but then I explained I need to connect with people in the same situation, he understood.



I hope she talks more about her recovery from BMX becuase I'm dying to know how she went back to work so quickly. I feel like people I know compare my recovery to hers. It would be helpful to explain what she had versus what's I had...



In any case, Giuliana, if you're reading these, we all support you and wish you the best!

Lifeafter

Ditto Lauren.

Michelle

Wendyspet

I didn't see the recent show.  I have seen it before the bc diagnosis. 

My guess is that she may have already had breast implants.  So during the MX, they can remove the breast tissue and replace the implants with new slightly larger, or smaller, ones.  Then there is no tissue expansion necessary.  The muscle pockets are already stretched out from the prior implants so its not nearly as painful as the first implants. Can't be done in every instance though.