Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    OK ladies.  One last time!  I am going in for what I hope to be my final surgery tomorrow.  A scar revision from the last surgery and getting the mate to the right nipple.  They are taking the skin from my eyelids to do the areola.  Great, just what I wanted for Christmas....looking like Rocky!

    At any rate, I will be down for the count for a few days so hope you all have a good week.

    Tracy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Tracy - instead of Rocky perhaps you will look like you have purple eye shadow????

    Sending you healing vibes for your sugery - sounds like it will be a quick one.  Just think - then you have the rest of the month to heal....

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  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited December 2009

    Tracy .... how bout the "icing on the cake", or the "cherry on top" (oh shucks, maybe not).   Bet you never thought in a million years you'd be askin' Santa for a new nip for Christmas!!!  Here's to a speedy recovery and moving along in all the right directions !!!!!

    Hugs, Carol

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  • Madge24
    Madge24 Member Posts: 150
    edited December 2009

    Tracy -- Wow!  This is something I have not heard of.  I haven't explored the reconstruction biz much yet.  Good luck with it.  I am sure it will go well!!  Keep us posted!

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Looking like Rocky, but in general feeling pretty good.  No pain medication needed, but my eyesight is blurry which makes it hard to read or concentate on anything.  I am using loads and loads of ice in the hopes that the swelling will go down quickly.

    This better be worth it!

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  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited December 2009

    Tracy, it'll be worth it !!!!!!!!!

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  • Madge24
    Madge24 Member Posts: 150
    edited December 2009

    Tracy -- I hope things have improved since your last posting.  It WILL be worth it!!!  I'm encouraged that they have this kind of procedure that makes it look so natural!  Awesome.  Hang in there, been thinking about you!  Merry Christmas!

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Hi ladies,

    Me and my youngest daughter down with the flu for the last 3 days.  It sucks to be sick and it sucks to be sick with stitches!

    We are on the mend.....finally.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Tracy - no fair to be recovering from surgery, sick and planning for the holidays!

    Hope you and your daughter are better soon!

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  • Madge24
    Madge24 Member Posts: 150
    edited December 2009

    Tracy -- Get well soon!!  Hope to see you soon in the new year.

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited December 2009

    Hi all and Happy holidays.

    Somehow I didn't really get that there was a whole thread just for Seattilites.  Whoops.

    I was diagnoised with DCIS on November 16, 2009, a few hours before the new improved guidelines came out......I am still in the sorting out stage---since this all started in early November, I've had 1 1/2 mammograms, 2 ultrasounds [1 breast, 1 thyroid] a biopsy [left breast], a MRI and a CAT scan [because of spots on my liver which showed on the MRI and which I was told to have on the same day they announced people were getting brain cancer from CAT scans. . . swell].  Next week I have 2 more biopsies scheduled but for my thyroid not the DCIS. Seems in addition to the DCIS, I have lumps on my thyroid which may/maynot be thyroid cancer.

    I have seen one breast surgeon, Shannon Tierney at Swedish [same office as Buchanon, Hanson and Beatty] and I liked her pretty much. She is very personable and patient with my indecision. She recommends a lumpectomy but not nipple sparing as the DCIS is moving out through the ducts towards the nipple and she is not sure we will be able to get a clear margin and leave the nipple. I am told that a second opinion is a good thing before people go at you with sharp pointy things and cut off bits of you so I am trying to find another surgeon for a second opinion but thats been tricky.  I went to Swedish first because thats where the radiologist [at Minor and James] who found the DCIS sent me.  And then my regular doctor gave me recommendations for there as well.  A friend of a friend suggested Rick Clarfeld but part of me thinks that if I am getting a second opinon, it should be someone I would be willing to see and I'm not so big on driving east.  I am wondering if it would be worthwhile to get a second opinion from Dawson or Lee--even if they are at Swedish, they are still different doctors, right? 

    I also need to track down a plastic surgeon.  Dr. Tierney gave me a bunch of plastic surgeons but there are so many of them and when I checked out the websites, I just got overwhelmed with all the plastic surgery for <forgive me> foolish cosmetic regions and went off to look at knitting patterns and recipes instead.

    Any thoughts or suggestions on doctors/surgeons/plastic surgeons in Seattle will be appreciated.  I live in South Seattle and work in downtown so my preference is that area over Eastside.

    Honestly, what I really want to do is just crawl under my bed with a glass of eggnog and a pillow and hibernate until its all over. . . . 

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  • cheers247
    cheers247 Member Posts: 270
    edited December 2009

    Welcome 3monstmama!

    I also go to Swedish, but I'm bias, I work there (I've been on medical leave since April though).  Dr. Beatty is my BS, and I love him.  There are several ladies here who go to SCCA, but I don't know anything about those docs... maybe one of the them will give you some info.  I have complete confidence in Swedish, that's why I work there, and that's why I chose it as a patient.  Depending on what kind of PS you are going to have, there are some great ones at Virginia Mason, a few of the ladies here have had or are having recon done there.  I hope you are doing well!

    Happy Holiday All!!!

    XOXO Jessica

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Hi 3monstmama!

    Welcome to Crazy, Sexy Cancer in Seattle.  I'm sure others will come along here with their opinions as well, but thought I would give you mine.

    I went to Dr. Beatty at Swedish and was very happy with him.  By the way, I had a lumpectomy as well and because of the location of the tumor, they were not able to save my nipple either.  While I was completely and totally devastated when I found out this was to be the case, I'm glad they took it in the end.  I would have never gotten as good of margins as I got.  Incidentally, I just had mine rebuilt this past month and its not bad! 

    Dr. Wandra Miles at Swedish was my plastic surgeon.  She did a reduction and lift for me on both sides and then reconstructed my nipple and areola.  I am happy with the services she provided and so far am happy with the results.

    Second opinions....I talked to 3 oncologists and 2 surgeons before I made any decisions.  You have to do whatever makes you comfortable.  If you are happy with who you have talked to then stick with them.  If you want a second or third or fourth opinion, go ahead.  No one is going to hold it against you or tell you that you are making a mistake. 

    As far as hibernating and crawling under a bed, we have all been there and more than once.  Cancer sucks!  It is hard to deal with and you have to become an expert on things that you would rather not be an expert at.  Give yourself permission to be sad or mad or overwhelmed.  Then dust yourself off and go forward.  We'll help you.

    Tracy

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Merry Christmas all.  Wishing you all a happy, healthy holiday and New Year!

    Tracy

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  • eastender
    eastender Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2009

    Hi there Ladies,  Great to see a Seattle Thread.  I live up in Skagit Valley, and loving it!  I drive down to SCCA for my surgeries and chemo.  I was dx 04/29/09 8cm IDC.  My surgeon is Dr. Benjamin Anderson and Onc is Dr. Georgina Ellis.  My first surgery June 4th lumpectomy; June 10th told they did not get clean margins, started chemo July 3rd 4tx T/C; 2nd surgery October 15th; obtained clean margins complete with a repositioning of the left nipple.  Dr. Anderson's artistry is awesome. Rads started October 26th x 33 - last session December 11th; Femara.  I have been very happy with SCCA.  Thought I would be treated like a number - absolutely not!  I cannot speak highly enough of SCCA.  My radiation was done in Sedro Woolley (also excellent!)  This journey that we all share is certainly interesting to say the least!  Now that I have finished with treatment I am crashing from the last 8 months, and struggling to find a new normal.  I know it is out there, time and patience I say.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Hope everyone had a wonderul Christmas, holiday and wishing you all a GREAT 2010 - I know my 2009 was very different - and I am hoping for  a peaceful year to all.

    Wecome 3monstmama and Eastender.  So happy you have found us.  Eastender - you and I have the same cancer team!  I love Dr. Anderson and Dr. Ellis - Dr. Wong was great too, but I guess you had your rads more local, so didn't see her.

    Dr. Anderson also had a re-excision for me, but it worked out well as I worked in a reduction/lift with the re-excision (included a UW plastic surgeon).  I finished chemo in the end of June, re-excision 7/20, started rads in Sept, finished in early or mid October.

    3monstmama - I know many women who had their surgeries and treatment at Swedish and all are happy.  I think it is always good to get a second opinion if you want one - can't hurt.

    As tracy said, cancer sucks.  However, this group is great. bc.org is so helpful, and then to have local, wonderful women to "talk" to has been such a huge support to me.

    Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

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  • Issymom
    Issymom Member Posts: 264
    edited December 2009

    Glad to find this thread for Seattleites.  I live in Issaquah.  I was diagnosed on Nov 5th and after discussing the characteristics of my cancer (grade 3, TN, etc..) we decided to test for the BRACA gene.  I am BRACA1+ which changed how I looked at my disease.  I had a bilateral MX (delayed recon) on Dec 3rd (2 days before my 47 birthday).  Just before surgery, my surgeon (Dr Clarfeld) found out my birthday was a couple of days later.  He grabbed my hand and said that I would always remember this birthday as it was when we got rid of the cancer growing in me.

     I start chemo around the 12th of Jan.

    3momstmoma - I have been extremely happy with Dr. Clarfeld (BS).  As for a PS, I spoke with Dr. Welk at the PolyClinic.  His "work" is great.  He is a little full of himself but that is OK with me.  Someone told me that Surgeons work great with their "anesthesized patients"! 

    Enjoy the Weekend and the sun (and wind).

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Hi 3monstmama, eastender and issymom!  Glad all of you found us.  It has been a lazy, lazy weekend for me but thought I would just check in with everyone.  I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and friends and families.

    Back to the grind I guess...

    Take care all,

    Tracy

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  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited December 2009

    Hello my friends .... can't say that we've had a lazy holiday weekend .... been crazy busy until today.    All's good though and I hope to catch up this week. 

    A warm welcome to our newest ladies.   We all know we'd hope to have never been on a bc.org website, but since we're trying to keep "our glass half full", this is a great place to be.   

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  • eastender
    eastender Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2009

    Thank you for the warm welcome ladies, it does my heart good. What a great thread to be on :-)  Glad that the new year is just around the corner.  Driving to SCCA tomorrow I have a brain MRI - I have been suffering with vertigo, 4 attacks since the 2nd cycle chemo T/C, I finished all active treatment DEcember 11th.  I mentioned it to Dr Ellis and that was the first thing out of her mouth was MRI to make sure there was nothing else to worry about.  I am 97% sure that everything is OK but there is always some question.  I have not even mentioned this to my children or co-workers.  They did not need to worry - I can do that all by myself.  Very peaceful day, the sun was out all day - sunshine can really brighten the spirits.

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  • cheers247
    cheers247 Member Posts: 270
    edited December 2009

    Eastender... welcome, and I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, please keep us posted on your MRI.  Much Love, Jessica

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  • libby
    libby Member Posts: 165
    edited December 2009

    Issymom - I had the same pair of surgeons you are involved with.  Dr. Clarfeld is a little "quirky" -but he was very patient with my myriad questions, and I have grown quite fond of him -  I still see him every 6 months. He also has a stellar reputation as a breast surgeon.  I also had a bilateral mastectomy, with delayed reconstruction with Dr. Welk - just had exchanges to silicone implants done 3 weeks ago.  I am very pleased with the results!   Dr. Welk's office staff is fabulous, and their office runs a "show and tell" the first Wednesday of every month. There is info on this earlier in this thread.  I totally believe that you don't want surgeons who have no sensitivity to what you are going through, but you have other people to hold your hand - first and foremost, you want surgeons with the skills to do the best for you!

     By the way, wondering if anyone is dealing with depression over this holiday time.  I've had a difficult time this year - I do get the blues with the dark days but it has been quite a bit worse this year.  I'm wondering if the whole cancer thing has been affecting me.  Any thoughts?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Eastender - I will be thinking about you tomorrow too - please let us know how it goes. 97% sure is great - Dr. Ellis is very thorough - which is good.

    Issymom - welcome!

    Carol, Tracey and all - I did have a very nice, relaxing kind of lazy post Christmas weekend.  It was really great, and the weather spectacular!

    Libby - I do not typically get the blues with the dark days, but I have to say - finding my new normal has been harder than I imagined.  As we all know, being "done" with active treatment is great, but still, finding the new normal - I'm not there completely yet.   

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  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited December 2009

    Libby,

    I can't say I have had depression exactly, but more a sense of a lack of direction.  When I was diagnosed with cancer I kept telling myself that there must be some lesson I was to learn and I struggle with that still.  I feel a bit adrift sometimes.  I would love to think that we all get to go back to our normally scheduled lives, but it is just different and won't ever be the same.  Hang in there and let yourself have the feelings you need to have.

    Take a deep breath.  We're still here for you!

    Tracy

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  • TwillNW
    TwillNW Member Posts: 46
    edited December 2009

    Hey all -

    Haven't posted on this thread in a while, but I do follow along - I find extra comfort and strength in knowing there are people not too far away who are going through the same things. 

    I too have really struggled with the holidays and dark days this year - I'm not a big holiday person in general, and this year has been extra tough.  I've just passed my one year "cancerversary" and I feel like I *should* be all upbeat and happy to have the chance to celebrate, but what I actually feel is "meh".  I'm hopeful that with Christmas day behind me, I can get on with things... starting with being thankful for an extra day off work and a chance to get out into the sunshine and get some Vitamin D!

    Take care,

    Tricia

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  • Issymom
    Issymom Member Posts: 264
    edited December 2009

    Libby,

    I don't suffer from depression but I do find myself having a difficult time get motivated to do things unless I am under pressure (actual or perceived).  Being "adrift" is a great description.  Since my diagnosis my schedule has been completely turned upside down.  I have a 12 and 16 year old so somethings still have to be done.  My surgery was 12/4.  My husband's father and brother arrived on the 18th (scheduled before my diagnosis) and leave on the Wednesday morning (30th).  I love them but cannot wait till I get my house back. I love having everyone home for the holidays but at the end, I look forward to have my routine back.  Of course, now I have Chemo to look forward to after the New Year starts.

    Though I am looking forward to having my routine/home back, I wonder how I am going to feel.  I have had so many people around to help me, cook for me, give me words and hugs of encouragement that I have not had time to myself.  I am waiting for my next breakdown moment (lots of tears).  I know I have a lot of bottled up emotions after having the BMX and finding out the tumor was 4 times larger than they expected.

    Sunshine and views of our gorgeous mountains that surround us can definately make me feel better.

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  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited December 2009

    Libby ....... my "new norm" seems to have taken on a whole new role during the past two holiday seasons.   Rather than babbling on here .... let's just say .... I don't reallly like it !  I keep hoping that with time .... "things" will come around.  Your not alone my friend !!!

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  • libby
    libby Member Posts: 165
    edited December 2009

    Thanks everyone, sounds like I am certainly not the only one with these feelings.  I agree with so much of what you all are saying - feeling adrift, trying to adjust to a new normal, feeling like I should be happy to be alive - but feeling "meh", and the whole "lesson" thing - like "life is short, what do I need/want to be doing".   Good to know, once again, that this is a very special group, who "get it".

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  • eastender
    eastender Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2009

    Morning Ladies, Pleased to report my MRI is clear.  I felt as though 10 tons had been lifted from my shoulders.  Thank you for you love and prayers.  Now on to step B. 

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  • eastender
    eastender Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2009

    I so GET IT - I can't really give a good smile unless I force it!  I am more depressed than I care to admit to tell you the truth.  This too shall pass!

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