CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Shiela,

Ouch!  Heal soon!  Get some rest!

Seyla, girl that doesn't sound like a fun day.  Hope your okra is holding out for you!

Shelia - ouch!  hope you have a speedy recovery

Okra - don't like the stuff so you are putting the frozen bag to good use!

Sheila ~ I will be thinking of you on Monday. Do you get your blood drawn a week or so before the onc appt. or on the appt day? So when do you get the blood results?

Mine is coming up soon: July 20 or so for blood work-up & 4 month onc visit Aug 2. I will start stressing near the end of July. Always happens....

Gentle hug for you, Barb. I hope you sleep well.

Welcome clane1 ~ You will find much comfort & support here. The sisters here are the very best!

Okay, that's good that you don't have to wait long. Do you have the tumor marker test?

Hi Ladies, 

Thanks for your thoughts...I love the cold can of soda idea!  thanks!  Ice does help my SNB site which seems to be the most painful. (Glad that I am not the only one with that being the most bothersome)   My belly after the immediate DIEP is also a bit uncomfortable and the one drain is still in.  I understand that they never keep them in longer than three weeks, so I should be back there by Tuesday.  Today was the hotest day of the year, so that coupled with my HOT flashes from being post op hysterectomy really was crazy!  I can't wait to get off of these drugs because my bowels with thank me, but I def need them still!     All that said, it is so nice to be two weeks post op Bi Lat Mast with Diep.  I do not miss the huge roll of fat that are now my new "girls"   I am so grateful that the fear of recurrance is now way low compared to what it was being BRCA positive...and knowing the biopsy margins were cleared was great news!!!!   My BS told me that it is "worth having a conversation" with an Oncologist, but he does know that the hormore therapy has side effects that would make my hot flashes worse.   Everyday is another day towards wellness and it is great to have the final word as still being stage 1 !   I am definately glad that I treated this beast very aggressively.   I look forward to moving on with my life and thinking now about other things as this has been all consuming the past three months. 

in_cognito  feel free to PM me as well.  Your baby is beautiful!  I too struggled with the mastectomy decision and haven't looked back.  Connecting with many on-line who have been there and came out with great medical outcomes, really encouraged me.  What was even better was connecting with folks right in my back yard who had the same Doctors, that I ended up choosing.  Word of mouth is the best !  I looked at pictures on-line and was grateful the women were willing to share their stories with strangers....best of luck to you and please let us know what specific questions you have.  I was amazed when I saw that people were returning to work within 6 weeks, following a Bi Lat Mx / Diep reconstruction!   

 Fond Regards All---my pain meds are kicking in and I am off to sleep    BTW....did anyone have glue like I did?  I can't wait to go swimming...and wonder how many weeks I should wait?  It is starting to peel and feel itchy now but really is a huge difference from the dressing/tape i had from my other surgerya few months ago. 

Good night

Sheila - I am so sorry to hear about your fall.  I hope you recover quickly.  Try to take it easy this weekend! 

to sheila..so sorry to read about your fall.MAY GODS HEALING TOUCH BE THERE FOR YOU AND GIVE YOU PAIN FREE DAYS AND NIGHTS FOREVER. SENDING YOU GENTLE HUGS.

Hi ladies

I'm new to this thread, and I find some of the info helpful. Wish I had thought of the cold soda can under my arm. I too had trouble with the sentinel node biopsy. Whoever dreamed up injections into your nipples must be a really callous creep. That was awful. Then I had three weeks of pain at the incision site. Lotsa fun.

LauraM and MRDRN: Your info about reconstruction after mastectomy is so helpful.

I had a lumpectomy, followed by re-excision. The margins were still positive. The surgeon seems to think that he can try another excision and then a breast reduction on the other side to make things symetrical. The oncologists seem to think a mastectomy is the better route. I have large breasts so even after two excisions, things aren't even, but it's not too bad. I could not delay the start of chemo (I was diagnosed in Jan. 2010 and started chemo in June 2010)  I will be on chemo for a year, so other than installation of a port on Tuesday, I have my next excision or mastectomy sometime next year.  Thanks girls for any suggestions or advice.

SeylaL I hope you are taking it easy and not trying to over do it.  Hope you are feeling better soon. 

I didn't have a great night sleep.  Up every 2 hours to do to the bathroom.  Felt alittle sick, not wasn't sure if it was just indigestion from the steroids or from the chemo so I took an anti neusuea pill and that helped me sleep alittle longer.  Then got up and helped my in laws with cleaning up their house due to water damage.  My mother in law has ahlztimers and my father in law has some leg and hip problems.  Came home and after a few hours and slept for a few hours.  Then went over and got them dinner.  Now I think it is time for me to go to bed. 

3 Treatments of TC down and 1 to go!! 

Hope all have a great night and I'll check in soon.

Barb