Any Northern Virginia ladies on this discussion board?

Hi oldlady,

I live in DC and maybe the ACS has an office here. Also, my biopsy is a surgical excision and all I need is someone to pick me up. That's all.

Monique- Mentor is the maufacture and the implant is filled with what they call a memory gel.  Right now it is offered for BC patients only and I am in a trial,I suppose you would say, you have to fill out any forms they send you for the next like 15 yrs.  If you do not agree to be part of their survey group you can not get these gel implants.  They are soft and squishy, but feel tighter than real breast tissue.  they are Barbie and are missing the natural hang at the bottom and projection in front.  But overall in clothes you thing they are great!  I suppose more hang and softness will occur with time.

I see Dr. Gartside in Reston she is a PS.  Had procedures done at Fairfax.

Dani

Good morning everyone-

I think the VHC support group is next week (first and third Tuesdays, 5:00-6:30, if anyone else is interested).  I never really thought of myself as a support group person, but can definitely see the benefit.  These days I worry about troubling my friends with all the icky bc details.  I'd rather talk about "normal" stuff with them!  I think unless you are going through this, how can you relate?

Dani- Is that picture of you with the implants?  If so, they look great!  I'm getting regular silicone after chemo.  I have an expander in now.

Em- No one told me about lanyards.. My plastic surgeon gave me this velcro-secured bodice thing and I safety pinned the drains to that.  Whatever makes them more comfortable, go with that!

I am trying to change my avatar, but am doing something wrong.  Keeps telling me I don't have the correct format...?  I don't remember how I got the first one up there now!

Emily 

ok, I'm back ~ here goes

oldlady ~ You're being treated at Bethesda? Are you ex-military or spouse? I'm ex Navy (8yrs). Just curious...you are the Maggiano's fan...LOVE that place, where do you live? Would meet you in Bethesda any given weekend...good food is one of lifes simple pleasures. How are you feeling after your surgery?

Dawn ~ aka lastminute how are you? What happened with your tumor maker test? Have not seen you post in a  while...I'm so sorry you are going through the stress of waiting again...hope it is a good test result!

EmilyJ ~ How is the AC for you? You recently had your first one? I hope your SE's are minimal...drink and rest are the most helpful things I can tell you. There were times during AC when I just had to say "sorry, I need to sleep" and stop whatever I was doing and nap. No guilt allowed during chemo...you need to give your body what it needs!

Lay02 ~ Dr. Willey is awesome too from what I hear. Don't know who her nurse coordinator is but take names and cards (with contact numbers) from everyone, it will come in handy! My nurse was Darius - she saved my butt and stepped in to help many times. I loved her too! How was your appointment Monday? Did you get your path results with your ER/PR/HER2 status? Let me know when your biopsy is, I am at Georgetown at least once a week if not more, getting you home is not something you need to worry about, we can coordinate it!! I have chemo every Thursday right now...

Emily2008 aka EM ~ I had a bilateral with a diep recon immediately afterwards. Best advice I can give you is; get out of bed as soon as you can, moving helps you heal quicker! Have soft foods at home to help you when appetite is low, if you don't eat you don't move and if you don't move, you don't recover as quick...I had issues with appetite but had stocked up on italian ice and things like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. Not healthy but main thing was to EAT. I pinned my drains to my pj's - had two surgeries and drains were least of my issues for both. They never bothered me, but everyone is different so don't fret if they do bother you.

Gail ~ how bad does this suk for you? I'm so sorry you are back going through this again..I love that you offerred to hold anyone's hand. It's nice when someone who's been there supports you because I understand now why bc patients say anyone who hasn't been there just doesn't get it. It's mostly true...thank you for being so generous! How did your port install go? I have one, and would love to keep it forever "just in case". It's made my life so much easier (my veins roll and dr's have always had a hard time getting blood). It was painful as all get out the first 48 hours (even though the nurse told me it would not be - LIAR!!) but after that it settled in and I almost never notice it. I have a new puppy so if he gets rowdy and pounces on it playing, it doesn't feel good, but otherwise I don't usually notice it.

I start my second phase tomorrow of Taxol/Herceptin...I plan to bring my laptop with me so I can come on and see how everyone is doing and get caught up on some of the other boards. I hope you all have a quiet week with good results...sorry I did not read about the post in time to go to the support group but would like to mapquest that and see if I can get to one to see what it's like. It's a bit far for that time of day but willing to give it a try...I think we should try to plan something far enough out that we can all get a day to meet at a local restaurant and have a luncheon (on a Saturday or Sunday for those of us who are still working!!) so we can put faces to names...I love this board and would welcome the chance to meet and interact in person...thoughts/suggestions on date and place welcome

have a great day all!!!

bump

Dawn ~ SO glad to see you post and glad all is going well!! Negative scans and blood work is always a good thing...

I have chemo tomorrow and I am off on Friday so I'll try to keep this post bumped so the others can see the suggestion to meet next Saturday. I think it would be great if we could all get together for some face time...

have a good night all....

I would love to meet everyone on Saturday at Maggiano's. It's at the Galleria. Please advise on time and how would we recognize each other.

Oh I am leaving to Va beach on Sat!  I would love to meet everyone another day!

Monique- I live in North Stafford Park Ridge neighborhood!  Do you live in Stafford?

do you like Dr Gartside, I sometimes would call her dr fartside!!!  LOL!

She is suppose to be really good!

PM me about what you think.

Dani

Washington, DC Office,  American Cancer Society

1875 Connecticut Ave NW STE 730

Washington, DC 20009

There is also an office in Wheaton, MD, near Wheaton Plaza.

hey ladies...seems like most can't make the 9th...we could certaintaly wait for another date when more are able to make it!

obviously by the time of this post, the steriods are once again keeping me up!

Dawn ~ my first infusion took 10 hours. Turns out I am allergic to the Herceptin so they had to stop it and give me meds to try and control the reaction. When they restarted they went VERY slow...I felt like crap yesterday but at 2am I feel pretty good all things considered. Hopefully I will be able to continue. I am due for every week for 12 weeks, then move to every 3 weeks. I'm really concerned about not being able to do Herceptin, that's the most important part besides the a/c as far as I am concerned. We will have to see.

Lay ~ I'm the type of person that would tell you the truth in a heartbeat if I thought you should be concerned. Honestly, I think the process moves slower for everyone than what we want it to. That's just the nature of being the one with the cancer, you want everything to happen NOW. Georgetown has been so accomodating and thorough compared to some of the horror stories I have heard on this site, I can't imagine going anywhere else. Also, I have been in Suburban and Shady Grove and Georgetown is so much cleaner, up to date and has sooo many staff that are genuinely happy to work there and love their jobs! In the long run, I think you'll be happy if you stay with them. The nurses do the bulk of the work every where and the ones at GUH are fantastic. I DON'T think you shoul worry about anything happening to you...my process went on for months (my obgyn f'd up first) and I had a tumor that was highly aggressive. In the end it's all fine, it's just scary knowing it's there. Did you have a needle biopsy and get a pathology report yet? Can you post what it says?

Everyone else, I hope all is well...those of you going on vacation or enjoying graduations ~ have fun! I hope the weather cooperates!

Here's hoping we can all get together in the coming weeks...I'm looking forward to meeting you all face to face...

I have a question for everyone...how open are you about your treatments?  I just rode up in an elevator with someone I haven't seen in weeks (duh, I've been out having a mastectomy, recon and chemo and forgot to put that in a memo) When she commented about my new short haircut, I was direct, and told her that it was an interim measure until I lost my hair from chemo.  You could just see that "look" of horror come over her...like she was sorry she asked!  Do others take these "teachable" moments to show how a person can have bc and still function?   I find that each time I retreat into denial that it winds up hurting more. Thoughts?

Question to All,

If an insurance company did not pay for laboratory work which should be covered, or a biopsy, what government agency in DC regulate health insurance companies and protect individuals rights?? Thanks.