Radiation with tissue expander

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    I did Jess.. and I posted pics on the picture forum... you should go check that out.

    We do have PTSD.... and I was told that 1 1/2 ago ish when I started the longgggggggggggggggggg mess... I was told it was something... GET THIS.... 70% of Bc patients get. WOW.... WOW.. I was very shocked at that. But.. now.. I can see.

    I am glad you are going to continue sweety with this therapy.. GOOD FOR YOU! Taking control of your life again! Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited August 2009

    Estepp I did look at some pictures of rad effects.   I will go back and look.  How do the new "ones" feel? 

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    They feel like real boobs...:)

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2009
    *Bump* for
    dharmamama
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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited August 2009

    Hello all,

    Well sounds like everyone is going great like that....  Laura you look amazing cant wait to see my ps in Sept I just wish that i had done a bi lateral mx as i am so nervous of it going in the other breast i will ask the ps if she will remove it at the exchange has anyone heard of this? or any suggestions?  

    Josirus and Kerle our stories seem to be quite similar i shouldn't have need and tx either but the margins ended up not be clear so i needed to do rads as well my tumor was 9-2cm and grew overnight to this size no joke would like to know what the size of tumor was? as you are both over 6cm on your posts seems like the rad is going good and i am sure you will be just fine with it as we all are great since so hang in there.

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    I am not sure exactly how big, I had 3 areas of microcalcification on my mammo and then when they did my mastectomy, the DCIS was extensive and in most of the sections. I start radiation today...later in the day...am anxiously waiting for the apt.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Carolyn.. you need to call your breast surgeon. I believe they have to do the other mast. then PS will put in the other TE... and you will get another exchange for that one...

    for me.. I did not even think about one boob or two..lol.... I am only 41 young ( as sooooooooo many of us are here) and my Her2 cancer grew sooooooooooooo fast. I was such a healthy person.. EVERYONE in my life could not BELIEVE I got cancer at this age... but I did. I no longer trusted my boobs and my body for that matter.. I know myself, I would have worried FOREVER about the other breast getting cancer.

    Good luck with your choice.. it will be the right one for you!

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited August 2009

    Hi Laura,

    I am 39 and i wasnt thinking at the time to have a double mast nor was this offered so now like you said all i can think about now is the other side so i see my BS at the end of this month so thanks for the info and i will ask him..  How fast did yours grow???????

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited August 2009

    Hey Estepp---I think I found your Pics---but I thought I was looking at rad effects...I am so glad your new shapes feel like new boobs!!!   i can't wait to get the tea cup out !( yeah, only the best china here!!!) lol.....Anyway, My radiation oncologist told me to slater on vitamin e and that will help with the exchange and if there is the need to stretch my skin a bit more. My te seems to be smaller than I remember.  Anyone experience that?

    CArolyn---I go back and forth with wondering if I should have mxd both.  The bs /ps and all  are very supportive of my decision, even though they think I should let my "real" boob alone.  I do like the feel of it now and then  Wink

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    When I had my mamo and physical.. it could not be felt, but the mamo say a shadowing.. so they wanted to do a sonogram. Two weeks later we did the sono.. in those two weeks my tumor went from nothing to feel.. to over 3 cm.. it was the size of a large large grape. We all thought is was a fluid filled cyst..'cause it grew so fast... but it was Her2+...

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    I started my radiation - 2 treatments out of 30 - only 28 to go!! Do you start puting the cream on right away, or do I wait until I start to feel or see something happening to my skin? My Dr. recommended Aveeno or Lubridrem. I was looking around for a cream from my health food store (natural and organic) anyone have suggestions?

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited August 2009

    Kerkle--I put on 100% aloe vera and aquaphor until the doc gave me skintherapy-  Then I just used the aloe vera and skintherapy.  Aquaphor is messy, but I liked it when my incision felt sore, especially under the arm pit.  After rads ,the doc had me put on  vitamin e ( I got it at a health store) and I am amazed and how much more supple and soft my skin  is now.  I slather it on whenever I think of it. 

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    Thank you for the suggestions!!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    at your local health food store you can get 100% cocoa butter. It will be hard. I put it in my micro.. and use is daily. I is wonderful for the skin. But I did use the Aquaphor the whole time during rads.. and cocoa butter after..and still

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited August 2009

    Hello, everyone. How are you all? 

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    Thak you Laura. I will use Aquaphor now, like you and then switch. Did u start right away, even without redness?

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Yes, I used it three times a day whether I needed it or not... :)

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    An other question...I have had 5 sessions as of today...any one experience a weird sensation in their throat, almost like a "clogged" feeling but all is normal. No difficulty breathing or swallowing, just feels like there would be...but none. Call me crazy!! And call me anxious!!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Yes... normal... I felt like I had a " thickening" in my throat. A weird thick feeling. This went on for three of the weeks. I asked my rads doc about this... he said...."hmmmmmmmmmmmm"

    Whatever...

    You are NORMAL!

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    oh my gosh! That's exactly it! 3 weeks?! That is long and what if it doesn't go away? It just went away on its own? Still worried.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Yes... it just..." went away"... do not be worried.. I have talked to a lot of gals  .. most of us have it.

    Ladies who are very aware of their bodies.. ( I am).. really notice it...

    Hang in there lady!

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    I have always been hyper-senstive - this is awful (more psychologically than physically), but I will take your word for it that it will go away and of course speak to the technicians tomorrow.

    Thank you for all the support, laura, you have been amazing for me. I hope i can keep it up, I am only at 5 sessions. I get panicky easily with bodily sensations. I am even supposed to start my Tamoxifen now, but am too scared of SE. I have been reading on ur 'exchange" site and there are so many unwanted SEs. Too nervous.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Hey, it is ALL hard.. and you are not alone. Remember that. I do not need the tamox.. I am 0% er/pr+...

    I am so blessed to be ABLE to help you and be there for you and others.

    When I came to this site a year ago or so.. I needed Mucho help and support..and I got it.

    I told one lady here..that if I made it through this. I wanted to be able to help other sisters out here, like she helped me.

    I was a SCARED mess... who I am now.. IS NOT who I was...:)

    Hang in there and lean on me whenever...K...

    Love to you!

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    Thank you. I will be brave like you and others here.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    You ROCK Kerkle.. ( even though we do not know your real name...hehehehe)

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    Kerry

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited August 2009

    Laura, I just want to say that I agree with Kerry--you are a great help and I so appreciate your advice and encouragement!  Thanks for blessing us!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    Ah,,, that was nice Living...:) Thank you..:)

    I have a PC or laptop in four rooms of my house...LOL LOL LOL.. so I keep BCO as a front page. When I walk in one of those rooms.. I check and see if I can add..:)

    I try...:) :)



    (((((((((((Kerry)))))))))))))))))

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2009

    Smile Laura,

    I just read so many other "active topics" and u are a wealth of knowledge and encouragement ALL OVER. That 'Exchange" Site is like no other! I have learnt a wealth of info. And the "Grey zone" for rads...more learning. But his one, TE with Rads, helped me make a life altering decision. I just hope this throat thing doesn't get the better of me. Ups my anxiety to 100.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited August 2009

    girl..... I am a knowledge junkie..LOL

    The throat thing will not get the best  of you because you now know it is normal...

    :):) Thanks for being kind.

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