Afr American Women With BC

Granny71, my prayers are with you. I am doing radiation now. I have 30 more treatments, so far not too bad. I just lay on the table everyday for about 7 min and close my eyes and pray the Lord's Prayer It calms me and makes the time fly by. I feel pretty good now, Thank the Lord, after 4 rounds of Chemo that took alot out of me.  And thank you Felicia.

Roya, an IGAP is a reconstruction that takes fat and blood vessels from the bottom of your butt and micro-surgically implants them to your chest in the shape/form of a breast. It actually stands for Inferior Gluteal Artery Preforator flap. I'm skinny (no stomach to speak of) and athletic (didn't want any muscle moved, so TRAM and Lat Flaps were out), but I had a bit of "trunk junk" to spare, lol. There is another microsurgical reconstruction that uses tissue from the top of the butt (it is called an SGAP - Superior Gluteal Artery Prefrator), but my "extra" was much lower, so I wasn't a candidate for that, either.

Here's a bit more info from my surgeon's site that might help do a better job of explaining it:  http://www.diepflap.com/br_treatmentoptions4.html

Trina - welcome to our little group. So sorry you had to find us but glad you did. Did you decide what kind of surgery - lumpectomy or mastectomy - you'll be having for your DCIS? I'm asking because you may not necessarily need radiation, which could ease your melanoma fears. There are lots of women who have don't have to do rads - and maybe you'll be one of them. Talk to your doctor about it. In any event, all the best to you on your journey! Don't be a stranger, either

 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

I agree that is a very good scripture.....

Alright Roya!  I know the feeling. I am on my 3rd week of Rads. My hair is starting to grow back. I'm glad. I will be glad when these rad treatments are done. Roya may I ask how old are you? You look so young.

Yes you do look younger, but 36 is pretty young.   I am 42 myself. My oldest is 23 and I have a 17 y.o son that will be graduating this year. I got married right out of high school too, I was 19. We have been married 24 years now. It's amazing how time flys. I started rads about 4 weeks after my last chemo. What breast was yours found in, and did you have a lumpectomy?

Greetings, my beloved sisters. Just checking in. Roya, congratulations on your progress.  Thanks for the reminder of Phillippians 4:13. Have been attracted to that Epistle recently, but was not sure why until now.  Progress report: after cancelling surgery, made a clean sweep of changes: medical center, pcp and surgeon. Have been able to figure out some emotional stuff that was probably helping to aggravate blood pressure. I'm also aware that the presence of DCIS, unwelcome in my body, may be pushing up bp readings. Surgery has been rescheduled for next week. Blood pressure readings are coming down steadily. I feel much more confident with this new surgeon, and I sense that she is the one ordained as God's healing instrument to set me back on my feet... the rest is up to me, placing my trust in Christ, the Great Physician who supervises all medical procedures. Shalom (peace), agape (the love of God), from my heart to yours ... Granny

Good morning, ladies: Granny checking in after surgery yesterday. Amann, your thoughts about prayer under stress were confirmed.  Just before surgery, my daughter took my hand -- this is always a signal for prayer at home.  The staff stood by respectfully and patiently while we prayed.  The post-op pain was intense! I couldn't focus on the Lord's Prayer, but I could call on the name of Jesus and that was enough.  I came home with a bottle of prescription pain killers, but the bottle has not been opened.  There IS no pain, just numbness. Felicia, the radiology issues will be discussed next week when the reports come in - the 3 procedures were sentinal node, dissection (ancillary?), and lumpectomy. God bless you, everyone!

Wow, it's December already!!!!!  I went for my rads consult last week.  This week I get the contrast study and 2 invisible tatoos.  I guess I will get to start rads before January after all.  I'm glad about that.  I heard that the sooner the better.

Reading thru some of these post just make me want to cry. Once I was given my DX  my next move was to get my breast removed and fast. I am doing everything in my power to stay healthy and will continue to do so. 

Are any of you ladies in clinical trails? Are you taking any supplements Vit C, D3, Flaxseed (chia seeds) or iodine (liquid kelp). I can't say it enough do you research.

I truly know what it means to be a "success story"... in fact, I say that I am a breast cancer overcomer (not just a survivor)... in Christ, I can overcome! 

 When I was diagnosed in June, it was difficult to find a site like this! It is sooo helpful to share your story and to be supported by women in similar situations.  I keep all of my sisters in my thoughts and prayers. 

I started my own blog after my mastectomy - BlessedBreasts.com - in an effort to encourage MYSELF and others.  blessings, alethea