May 2013 surgeries

AMBNH

Melanie, I like your guess at what the letters stand for better than what they actually stand for!

ckmoss

Well, Sweetpickle, I guess none of us has plans....so lets see..my husband is taking me out to this great new club where we are going to drink and dance every fast song that comes on..then we will go parking on a dead end road and have wonderful gymnastic sex.  lol..you can live vicariously through my fantasies. lol..Shoot I haven't done any of that in years and years..lol. We are going to try and go to the movies Sunday if I am up to it.  Man of Steel.

GoWithTheFlow

ck, I am triple negative, so that would make a difference.  Whoever asked (cuz it's on the previous page now) I have 18 treatments left.

ckmoss

Ok Ignorance showing..what does the triple negarive mean?..and that was Melanie asked.

Do you go for radiation every day?

melmcbee

Sweetpickle, cant live vicariously thru me Im only going to clean, cook, and look at my plants.

Ck, I dont remember the numbers about reoccurence rates but the radiation is for regional reoccurrence. Chemo is for distant reoccurrence. There is no way for them to say that they got every cancer cell when they did surgery so they fry the area to kill any rogue cell that remains.

Goodnight ladies and healing hugs

GoWithTheFlow

See where your diagnosis says ER+, that means they can give you a drug to try and keep cancer away.  I am negative for all the receptors so there is no drug for me.  Gotta do everything now to try and prevent it from coming back.

ckmoss

I see what you are saying..you won't be taking the drug that puts you into menopause?  I think Id rather have the radiation. Oh well..all is crappy isn't it.

I'm going to try and sleep. Have not went back to bed since 4am..MAYBE can sleep through night..there is always HOPE.

Good night all!

Chinneymae

CK: my surgeon said I would not have to have any radiation with the MX. Maybe chemo but not radiation as there would be nothing there to radiate. If I had chosen lumpectomy then I would have to have both. I have seen several on here that have had radiation after MX and I am assuming it may have something to do with where the tumor was located. Maybe close to the chest wall where there could have been some chance of a cell still being there. IDK just guessing. But there's no guarantee that the cells would be killed with rads or chemo, it's just a chance that they could be killed. It's just a choice you have to make for yourself and your own peace of mind.



There is a lot of good information and support on this site and it's really helpful to be able to talk about it with others.

AMBNH

Hi Chinneymae. You are exactly right about radiation post mastectomy. I have to have it on my right chest because the tumor was attached to my pectoral muscle and I had one node with cancer in it, so I will have my right underarm radiated, too.

sweetpickle

LoL @ ckmoss & Mel :-)

GoWithTheFlow

Are we supposed to be doing something fun this weekend?  Tonight we picked up our new patio dining set and put it together.  Tomorrow I have a mani/pedi scheduled with a friend.   Other than that, I envision naps.

sweetpickle

That sounds wonderful! I am just sitting here watching house hunters.

Chinneymae

Well I will be staying at my daughter's house this weekend babysitting three of my grandchildren (ages 15, 10 and 7) while she goes to Georgia to visit her husband, who is working there. I am hoping the weather will cooperate and I will be able to lay out by the pool while I watch them swim and maybe take a dip or too myself.



Not very exciting, but I'm sure I'll enjoy my time with them.

Chinneymae

AMBNH: I thought that might be it. Makes sense to me.





Steph01: another thing you may want to consider and ask your mo about. Your low score on the oncotype dx may make the chemo of no benefit to you. I've read that the onco score tells the mo whether the chemo would benefit you or not and the lower the score the less benefit it has.

babs6287

What is BMX and TE short for

GoWithTheFlow

BMX = bilateral mastectomy

TE = tissue expanders

Chinneymae

Babs: BMX is bilateral mastectomy (double mastectomy)

TE is Tissue Expanders.

Anonymous

Cyndie, in my case, radiation wasn't "one spot". It was the entire left breast. Having worked at a nuclear plant in the past, I am we'll educated about radiation and possible side effects. In my opinion, you should talk to the radiation oncologist before making your decision. ~Steph.

Anonymous

Thanks, gals, for all the excellent advice. I know your right about sharing my feelings with my mo and then trusting his judgement ('cause I do trust him!). At my first visit to him last year, one of the nurses told me that he is fondly known as the "boob doctor", because breast cancer is his specialty. He's been in practice a while and has a good track record.



One thing someone mentioned is that chemo is less effective on ILC, which was my dx last year. I didn't know that. Hmmmmm.....



Chinneymae (Cyndie?): if you do radiation, it will probably be every weekday. The number of weeks will depend on your ro. I had 21 treatments, and Go With nailed it when she said that the only discomfort is when they do extra X-rays: you have to keep your arm in an awkward position for long enough that it becomes uncomfortable. If you do rads, do everything possible to keep your skin hydrated, including drinking lots of water and applying lotion. After about two-three weeks, you'll think you have a bad sunburn. Nine months later, I still have tan lines! Also: I love your pic! (But you font look old enough for teenage grandkids!). Maybe I should add one... (A pic, not a grand kid, lol). Ok, Now I'm getting a little punchy. I should try for some sleep, I guess.



One more question? I know some of you may not want to share this, but for the rest: how old are you / how old were you at first diagnosis?



I am 46, first dx at 45.

GoWithTheFlow

I'm 48, diagnosed at 47

melmcbee

Im 43 diagnosed at 42.

The chemo and Ilc thing bothered me because my bs wanted my onc to do chemo first to shrink the tumor and he said no that chemo isntas effective on ilc as it is idc so i was like well than why do i have to do it at all and it was explained tht it could help take care of any cells that hd left the brest area. Whatever... Anyway I thought i would t least get out of doing rads since i ws getting the bmx but no having the poitive nodes with extracapular invasion made me get a 4 field rads treatment . Sometimes I think its just a guessing game.

Cindy, I was also going to tell you that you really dont look old enoughto hve granchildren.

Hey Steph what do you do around radiation. Im a radiology tech.

Gowith you win.... A pedi/mani with friends sounds fun. How do you like your new patio table?

Sleep well ladies and healing hugs

sweetpickle

I'm 42 and diagnosed at 42.

cateyz2

Katie here and Im in for someplace warm with a beach to stick my toes in!!! And yes Im so glad we are using real names. For some reason my brain can comprehend better LOL

Heather- Sunday a girlfriend and mine are going into Chicago to watch the Pride Parade,  have never been before but have been told its quite interesting. Very colorful and Im definately a people watcher.

Oh and yesterday my son took me out for a ride in my jeep after taking the doors off. Ohhh the feeling of the wind  and sun felt great

ckmoss

Morning.

I'm 47. This, and most mornings. feel 100.  PS-This has nothing to do with BC. lol  mornings have killed me since my late 30's.

Steph- You have my question right..but believe is Cyndy (chimneymae) with teen grandkids..I have step grandkids..but they are all under 9.

sweetpickle

Catey- That sounds fun, Ive never been either but I have some close gay friends who have been and shared pictures. I would love to go because it looks so colorful and fun.



I havent tried on any of my jeans yet ladies, have been to worried about my tummy scar but I think today Im going to give it a shot. No more muffin top for me! LOL

ckmoss

Sweetpickle-Has the pain diminished some? Do you think it was worth it?  I know not good to ask that while you are in pain..so its been 3 weeks (?)..You know I wanted to do this, but after being in pain, from one thing or another (mainly iv's) for 2 months..Im like forget it..but I know, once the vivid memory passes, I will want to. I seriously miss my breast. I think it was MaineRockw-that said she was not her breasts..I think I am all about mine..lol..Didn't realize until someone took one!  I wished I could be more like her..this would have been way easier. So, when will you try and go home? My PS said it was 4-6 week recovery..probaly could go back to work at 4 wks. if you didn't have physical job..is that true?

Catey=That does sound like fun. I went to one with a friend years ago in Charlotte. She actually ended up getting us in the parade..which was strange (as I am straight), but turned out to be a blast. Ahh to be in my 20's again. We use to be so spontaneous and no worries!  But, is ok...I love my life (well with this exception) now. Have great husband, home, awesome yard (ya'll should see all my flowers!), family ..I didn't get married until I was 33..so had all my oats sown!..lol..Catey, try to hop on a float or car!

A friend that I have had since I was 9, is coming today and bringing lasagna (fav comfort food ever!). I am excited to see her.  We don't see each other much, but constantly email or txt..she's one of those type friends that you instantly can pick up where you left off..and knows you well.

Ok Im rambling. LOL..My mom and husband have both noted that lortab makes me ramble and talk a lot. I was thinking would be great if we could see each other ..like skype..then I thought no it wouldn't..most days I look like hell lately.  Hurts to put on makeup with my arm...and whole brushing hair thing! (jk about hair).

AnnBR

I also vote for someplace warm and perhaps next May so we can celebrate our one year May surgical dates. I'll have my perky new breasts by then!



I'm the old lady of the group, I was diagnosed in my late fifties. My photo is 4years old.



Ann

ckmoss

You look fantastic for any age! Seriously.

sweetpickle

Agreed Ann, you look fab!



Cyndie- The pain is lessoning but Im still taking my vicodin every six hours now. Im not as tight as I was which helps with moving around and getting up and down. I may try to go out with hubby tonigt to see so e friends. I thnk the surgery is worth it despite the pain. I like having my own tissue there as breasts. I can see them looking even better after stage 2 surgery.

ckmoss

I like the idea of my own tissue too. When this first came about, I looked into inplants, but everywhere I read if you weren't super skinny, it seemed that you never could have back to the size cup you were. That may have been just the people I saw posting..I don't know. But I like the idea that your breast loose and gain weight with you..plus will be same body temp as the rest of you. Def like the weight thing. I have gained 8 lbs since first surgery..sighh..Im glad my company has gym downstairs! Course 2 min on treadmill, might be me!