January Mastectomy

This board sometimes gets the best of  me when we post...

Sorry for the doublr post

Ow..ow..owowowowowow..ow Ow!

K, little premature on 'fills are fab!'  Fills are so not fab.  The corner of the Right TE is still poking the inner corner and I'm quite concerned that it's not going to make it until June.  I'm praying it doesn't ulcerate or something horrible.  I've got to just stop touching it because that is what is going to cause problems...but it's like when you loose a tooth and your tongue is in there probing all the time...you just can't help it.

I think the 'discomfort' (I love using that word...discomfort...people think, oh, it's ok, it's only discomfort!) feels most like I have on a really really tight bra that is hiked up to the middle of my chest and I need to shimmy it down.  Bummer when you realize there will be no shimmying.  Another analogy would be that if feels like you are in a chronic state of needing to breast feed your baby with no baby and no relief. 

I'm also a little concerned because I have two spots on each incision that are pulling away slightly with a little sero-sanginous drainage (pink and yellow mixed together)  Since they are both on the same spot of each incision it tells me I'm doing to much marathon work.  So, I will lie low today and hope it heals.  PS doesn't want me using anymore paper tape on my incisions and that bums me out because I really liked the paper tape but will do as I'm told. 

Cathy, I'll be interested in what your Onc says about the Melatonin.  I feel like I can't call mine until I have at least 5 intelligent questions ready to ask...and since I only have 2 I don't want to bother her just yet.  I'm having a baseline cholesterol level drawn on Thursday (been fighting that my whole life) so I hope the Tamoxifen does what it's supposed to do and brings it down to workable level. 

Well, back to bed for me.  Every morning it's the same ol story...0230-0330-0430-0500...ok, I'm up, I'm up already..and I did not get to roll over on my side either! 

Have a great day Ladies,
Kat

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jan girls)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Maria)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Maria, you are my surgery day buddy. I am so sorry you are having to deal with the necrosis {{hugs}}  I hate it that you have to have another surgery. But I am glad the doctor is going to take care of it, March 3 is not too far away. Then you will be able to move forward. I have R.A. and have been off all my medication since December 15th. I took methotrexate and plaquenil. Not sure if I am going to go back on them. Right now, with the physical therapy, I am doing ok. Hugs for you with the Enbrel {{{hugs}}} I am sure they will keep a close eye on you.

Kat, I have been anxious to get the fills over with and have the final reconstruction. But my fills make my 'edges' or the 'corners' (square pegs) so incredibly painful. I sometimes want to just stop and say enough. But the discomfort from the fills eventually subsides. Although it seems to get worse before it gets better. The last fill the PS decided to go 2 weeks to see how it does. I can tell its ready for another fill.

Ladies...ouch, TEs do not sound like much fun.  I hope it lessens over time and you're not suffering discomfort until time for exchange. 

Maria, I am glad your dr is going to take care of the necrosis.  I can not imagine how you have dealt with that this whole time.

When I woke up this morning, I realized I had slept most of the night on my side - Yippee !!  My breasts were not sore from it, so I hope this is a permanent improvement.  I hate sleeping on my back.

A friend called and is taking me to lunch today.  I am starting to feel more like a normal person again - just in time to have another drain installed.   

Have a great day ladies. 

Hugs  

Sally

Hey Girls, A nurse friend e-mail me this Article ,  Now  I am total confused about Treatments.I know i need to change my diet It consist of lots of Choc & sweets!   

Hope you all are doing well, I am still having headaches,( think it the tamoxifen)

HugsGina

 John Hopkins Update - Good article 

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKIN S IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY. 

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins: 

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size. 

2 . Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime. 

3 When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors. 

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.. 

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will stren gthen the immune system. 

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. 

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.. 

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction. 

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications. 

10.. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.  Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites. 

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply. 

CANCER CELLS FEED ON: 

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt. 

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved. 

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer. 

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C). 

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.  Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it. 

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup. 

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells. 
 
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells. 

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life. 

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells. 

1. No plastic containers in micro. 

2. No water bottles in freezer. 

3. No plastic wrap in microwave. 

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Cast le Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc..., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper.. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. 

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead. 

This is an article that should be sent to anyone you care about

Thanks for the info, Regina...yes, confusing!  So many "do's and don'ts", it's overwhelming at times.  A lot of stuff I already knew, and a lot of it I just needed to be reminded of...I don't eat a lot of sugar, but I sure enjoy it when I do!  And I have to have my coffee every day.

My husband and kids are meat eaters, and I eat a little meat with most meals.  If my household could survive as vegetarians, I could easily switch over, but alas...carnivores!

Since I've started chemo, it's really hard to decipher all the information on vitamins and anti-oxidants...it seems like there's a fine line between helping and fighting the cancer cells.  So I just do what I'm told, try to eat a balanced diet, drink lots of H2O, etc. etc.

Thanks again

Debbie, I love the sand messages. I have printed them, framed them and have hung them in my classroom. We can never forget what we've been through and the very important characters that have entered our lives as a result. Thank you!

Burley,

Didn't have numb armpit from the Mx, but when I had the axillary node dissection, I certainly experienced that.  That numbness lasted for quite a while, but now (about 2 1/2 months later, I can honestly tell you the numbness is gone.  I didn't shave the entire armpit, because the scar was too close and I needed to do the parts I could reach in a mirror, so I could see what I was doing.  Like everything else we've been through -- it all gets better with time. 

Love the comment from your husband -- mine kind of said something like it the other day and my response was the same as yours -- just the look was the answer.

Going for my second fill tomorrow and have lots of questions for the PS.  I've been very UNCOMFORTABLE (there's that word again, Kat, until I come up with something else).  So we'll see about less than 100cc this time, maybe.

Here's wishing us all a good night of uninterrupted sleep --- or at least 4 hours straight!!

Marianne

I'm am so grateful that I do not have a numb armpit!  Whoohoo!  I had the axillary node dissection too and have started shaving in front of the mirror instead of in the shower where I can't see what I'm doing. 

I do have a very sore thumb though.  I sliced it but good today making lunch.  It's my left hand (unaffected breast) and did some serious bleeding.  I finally have the bleeding under control but that was no easy feat.  As luck would have it, I have an appt with my GP tomorrow so I will have him steri strip it for me.  E-gads.  Of all things...a sliced thumb!  dumb dumb dumb! 

Marianne, good luck with the fills.  My PS is very conservative and is doing 60cc every 2 1/2 weeks.  I'm good with that.  Plus, it's a more gradual change for those around you. (and me too!:) 

I have also been trying to come up with a new word also and nothing really works:  The best I can do is 'discomfort to the point of chronic aggravation with no relief in sight'  At least it emphasizes discomfort.  I'll try that one out on my friends and see how it plays.

Nighty night!
Kat

OK, I don't want to freak anyone out, but if my partner asked me about sex right now, I would say - you are welcome to pleasure me, and when I feel better I will be happy to return the favor!  It could add a whole new dimension to your lovemaking.  At this point, even a foot rub is sex - or at least my groans might make you think so!  And maybe it's time DH read a couple of books and try some other techniques, if you get my drift.  Fun could be had by all.

And as far as my teenagers - I've got one that is 19 and away at college - he's being fairly solicitous with phone calls and online chats.  Then there is the 17 yo who was already depressed and took a decided turn for the worse after my diagnosis.  He's home from school this week after being suspended.  We find out tomorrow if he has to go to alternate school or if he can come back to school.  He is OK in person to me, but he does have a lot of anger.  The teachers at school know what's going on with me, but I don't know if anyone has talked to him about it.  He is going to therapy and is on theraputic drugs, but he is also smoking pot and that pretty much defeats the purpose of the anti-depressants.  Joy, oh joy.  We're hoping that as my prognosis has gotten better, he will get better, too.

I'm sleeping on my back most of the time, even without reconstruction - still too painful.  I can lie on my side for about 5 minutes now - not sleep.  Of course, not sleep.  Sleep is elusive.  I could definitely join the 1AM or the 5:30AM card games.  I get to sleep around 2, and usually wake about 5:30.  Then sleep until about 6:30, then maybe 8, and starting next week that will be it, as I'll have to get up and go to work - YIKES!  Occasionally I get to sleep earlier, but that just means I wake up at midnight, and then 2 and then, etc, etc.  What fun.

I went to therapy today - not PT or OT, but just plain head therapy.  I kind of unloaded - sort of like throwing up except just my emotions and thoughts were hurled.  She had an interesting point - I have this HUGE stack of problems, needs, stuff to do, things to take care of - and when she asked me what I do for pleasure there was a tiny little pile of things.  It's not that I don't know how to enjoy myself, it's just that the things I do for relaxation almost all involve physical activities that I'm not up to yet.  So no wonder I'm stressed and overloaded.  And the few things I can do (like eat yummy food like chocolate and chips and salsa) I don't dare do too much of because I don't want to get fatter - I already look like a pear on legs.  I'm bored by movies, I've read all my books, I was getting nightmares from watching Bones and NCIS.  I've watched the Olympics until I'm sick of snow and ice.  So I sleep.  When I can.  On my back.  Which I hate.

You ladies are saving my life - just keep writing.  Blessings on all of you.

Elaine

I was wondering if my mood as of late was connected to my lack of 'fun' interests also.  I am an avid reader, usually 2-3 books per week.  I have managed 2 very short books since my surgery 4 weeks ago.  I just can't seem to concentrate long enough or focus enough to get into the books like I usually do.  I also enjoy having all of my daycare kids around all day to play with, and now they are gone.   I enjoyed taking my girls to their soccer & basketball practices and games, because then I got to hang out and talk with all the other moms.  Haven't been able to do that, as I am just now starting to drive.  I couldn't even get outside and just walk as there has been so much snow and ice.

I decided the other day to test my theory.  I stopped and visited my daycare group - hugs from babies can make nearly anything better .  I drove myself to my appointment - it felt so good to be independent.  I went to the library and checked out a huge stack of books - started reading again yesterday and enjoyed it. 

I feel like a cloud has cleared for me.  It really has helped.  Hopefully, this lighter 'feeling' will last.

Elaine - Being a teenager is tough in the best of circumstances.  Having a mom with BC puts the added stress of moms health into the mix, but also singles them out at school as different.  My daughter wasn't sure she wanted anyone at school to know - didn't want all of the kids looking at her differently.   She told all of her close friends, but I think she tried not to let it become common knowledge.  That changed on the day of my surgery though, she wore all pink (she's 13 - didn't even know she had anything pink), wore a BC bracelet, had on a pin - I guess she finally decided it didn't matter who knew.  Hopefully, as things improve with you, and start to settle into a normal routine, things will start to improve with your son. 

Hugs ladies !

Sally - it's true that when I got back into the classroom (I teach a college course 1 day a week) I got a real boost from that.  So I do have that.  I start driving next week, but don't know if I will be able to do the interstate or just the little roads.  I may sneak a quick drive in today, just around the corner to the drugstore, so I can check that out.  My partner has already forbidden me to drive my truck and I'm OK with that - no sure I could handle it at this point. 

I feel like I got off lucky, even with a bilat MX, that I had no spread so no chemo, no rad, no tamox, and with no reconstruction, no TE's!  I feel for all of you that have so much still to get through.

I'm sorry, Sally, that you have to have a re-install of a drain but I'm not surprised they are considering putting you under - have you seen how far up they put those things?  It's amazing.  They're very cool looking and fantastic technology.  We're incredibly blessed to live now and not 50 years ago, when most of us would have died in a pretty short amount of time.

My right pit is red and swollen, painful.  I think I should call the BS today and ask about it.  As somone else said, the office nurses can answer some questions and tell you if you need to come in or talk to the dr, use drugs or other treatment.  So I'm going to call with just 1 question! 

BTW, how do you put things at the end of your post other than the canned diagnosis?  Is that the signature?

Hi Kat and all, I've been following your posts about painful TEs  I was hoping that your followup post after your fill would be good news of relieved pain.  I go for my first fill tomorrow since my my surgery on Jan.25th.  I have one place that is so painful it's poking me constantly on the inside lower side of my left "breast".  I have even tried to put tape over the spot to keep it from poking out under the skin  

I feel the same way about the TEs as so many of you seem to feel....I feel like I have a heavy underwire bra pulled tight that I can never ever take off......before all this began the first thing I did when I came home was to take off my bra......ahhhhhh......and I'm not even big..... barely a B cup.

I hope I can get back to a small B without too many fills and get these TEs out of my body!

Sorry your still hurting.....and I hope you and all you wonderful ladies feel better soon......

I'll check in tomorrow and let everyone know how my first fill went

Strength, healing and courage,

Laura 

Hello Jan friends! I am so Bummed , I didn't get my darin out  I had 49 cc last 24 hrs., So Another weekend with the drain. I need to get it 25cc.Now I will have to wait til my suregon next office day Monday March1st, That 4 weeks & 3 day post-op. He still won't do the 1st filler until all drains out! I Thought you could have fills with drains? But My Suregeon won't.

I will  run out of vac days Feb 28, so I need to get back to work. I think maybe it may be taking me so long to recovery is I had the Biopsy Dec16th,1st Lumpectomy Dec 28th, & Reiexcsion Lumpectomy Jan 8th & then Mastectomy & reconstruction On Jan 29th. Maybe because I am older (52) I am  not Bouncing back  as fast after all the surgeries!

Hope all you all are doing well, make me smile reading the post & good news !

Hugs to all of my Jan Sisters! Gina