January Mastectomy

Debbie - haven't driven in NY in years, but the last time I did it was quite an adventure.  Have a great time. 

Suffering a bit from Thanksgiving leftover-itis.  Just a bit of turkey and stuffing left, maybe a spoonful of sweet potato and green beans each.  Burp.

Hi Team,

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  I enjoyed the day with my family which by the way includes my mom's new husband. Yep, they got married on Nov.11th.  So strange for me but I am really glad my mom is happy.  Always adjusting to the "new normal" which I guess is really just called life.  

My cancerversary came and went without any excitement also.  I had met my sister-in-law and picked up my 6 yr old niece and 7 yr old nephew to come stay 4 days/3 nights with me so I was very busy in a good way.  Then I also got my 15 and 17 year old nieces for 2 of the nights so that doubled the fun.  We went to a few movies, the zoo, played Dance Central on Kinect which is awesome I must say and just had a great time together. I love the be reminded of the important things in life as often as possible and they have a way of doing that.

I guess next month I will be faced with some more decisions when I see my gynecologist and we decide whether or not I should have a hysterectomy and my ovaries out.  I already suffer with endometriosis which I have already had 3 surgeries for beginning in 1989 and it was sort of under control with continuous birth control pills but since I had to come off of those due to the ER/PR+ receptors it is starting to act up and I just can't see fighting that all the time.  I'm 39 and I don't have any kids but don't really foresee that happening but yet it is scary to totally close that door.  I hope he has some good concrete advice for me so I don't have to struggle with all those decisions again but we'll see.  

I have started putting out my Christmas decorations and I love it when they are up but hate all the work.  Plus, I am having the upstairs of my house recarpeted and that requires a lot of packing up breakables, etc.   

Great to hear from you all and hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Becky 

Hello Ladies.

Saw my OB-gyn today (Dr. Gorgeous) and he even had his outpatient surgical paperwork there waiting for me!  I'm like...um, what's this all about?  Well, I thought you wanted your ovaries out before the end of the year. 

Oh for goodness sakes...no, I do not want my ovaries out before the end of the year and not even before the end of next year!  If I have to take the lupron to catapult me into menopause then I'll do that.  It's the last 2 things remaining of my girl parts and I don't want to part with them at this time.  They're actually fine now and there is no reason to do either of those things so I'm not going to.  I'll stay on the tamoxifen and hope for the best. 

I'm sorry Becky you're struggling with a big decision.  It is a big decision and you are young....not even 40 yet is very young (ask me in two weeks when I turn 48! acck!)  I hope you can come to some peace with your decision no matter which way it goes.  Look at Christina Applegate...bilat mastectomies and due any day now!   Pregnancy is certainly the cure for endometroisis! Anyway, I liked your comment about how the new normal is really just called life.  So true...so true.  Hang in there Binga! 

My cancerversary is tomorrow but I "knew" at thanksgiving this time last year and had to choke down my food in front of company keeping my secret from even my kids.  what a big bummer.  I miss my old boobies too.  They were nice ones and these are already all faded and ripply. 

Oh well, enough depressing stuff.  Sorry girls. 

Paula, thanks for sharing the link, I really liked it!

Laura...are you out there?  How are you doing?

Debbie, be careful in the big apple and Clari I like your name!

Have a great evening girls and sweet dreams!
Kat

One year ago today I had my biopsy. Friday (tomorrow ) is my cancerversary of hearing the words "I am sorry to have to tell you but it's cancer". Today I went for my pre-op appointment for the laparoscopic removal of my remaining ovary which is scheduled for December 8th. I had to give a urine sample, have blood work and an EKG. Without even looking at me the nurse throws a gown at me and says, "Everything from the waist up off and put this on." I asked her if I could have a larger gown so that it would overlap and give me some coverage. She said, "I have been doing this for 20 years and this will be fine, put it on" and walked out. I don't know why it bothered me so bad. My plastic surgeon can see my breasts and scars and it doesn't bother me. But letting a poor EKG tech see and I am a blubbering idiot. The gown barely fit. It overlapped not even half an inch. I laid there white knuckled holding the gown together absolutely mortified. When the tech came in I began to tear up and cried all the way through. When she was done I begged her to hand me my shirt so I could cover up. I felt like such a baby. I don't know if its just the culmination of all the emotions over my cancerversary, losing my ovary or the insensitivity of the nurse but it has been a weepy day. Then to top it all off there was something amiss with the EKG so they have to check with my cardiologist to make sure I can have this surgery. I just need a good cry.

Hello Team,

Paula, I loved the cheerleader video; it was actually sent to me by a neighbor and I'm glad that United healthcare is making a contribution; actually think I will start my day with that video -- it made me smile!

Debbie - I, unlike many others, LOVE driving in the Big Apple.  I was there last fall (before my dx) to visit my son who was living there at the time.  It was a great visit....I love THE CITY.  DH just turned over the wheel when we got close--he just couldn't handle it.  I see it as an adventure!!  You just have to pretend you are the offense on the football team.  They say to drive defensively, but that won't work in NYC.  You have to be the offense (like the rest of them).

Lynbob:  It's a real shame that some people are so insensitive.  And it is especially shocking when they are employed in the health care field.  Of all places to be insensitive. 

I echo everyone's sentiments.  The cancerversary is not a date I want to remember.  Not sure how I want to handle all this.  In life we celebrate the birthdays and they are joyous occasions.  We celebrate the holidays.  Then we are all touched by sad occasions and can't quite forget those dates and they (like the death of a loved one) cloud the holidays.  If the cancerversary is the date of dx, then mine was 11/19.  It was sort of uneventful.  I certainly remember the date, but let it go by.  Like you, Paula, I have a great sense of humor (what a wonderful defense mechanism!), but underneath that laughing face, we are all dealing with it in our own ways.  The holidays last year really sucked..we went dashing "home" for Thanksgiving right after the news.  Then back here for another surgery to try for clear margins (12/10).  We stayed here for Christmas and it was horrible.  Really missed family in addition to all the bc stuff.  I am going to celebrate January 28th (the anniversary of my bilat Mx).  That is the day the cancer was removed.  I am going to bake a cake!!!  put a candle in it and make a wish!!

The marriage counseling is going well.  The counseling is addressing the underlying changes that bc has made in my life.  It is hard work but it is much easier to say things with a 3rd person in the room.  The counselor also brings an outsiders perspective to the issues.  At least she validates all the feelings that we have; sometimes that's all we really need -- the validation that it is ok to feel what we are feeling.

Well, I have decked the halls to the extreme.  We are hosting the neighborhood party, so I have 5 Christmas trees (12', 6', 4.5', and two 3').  Christmas makes me happy and I just love decorating everything.  I will be okay until after the party.  Then, the realization of another holiday away from most of the kids and grandkids.  I vowed last year that would be my last holiday without my kids....oh well, DH has a part time job and can't get time off right now.  My daughter may make it down, that's still up in the air.  We will get through this!!  I am so grateful for Team January!!!!

Paula,  I still can't get my Halloween pix up!  They are awesome....and a real celebration of surviving bc.  Maybe I can email them to someone who can post them for me.

You are in my thoughts all the time (even though I am not posting every day) and always in my prayers.

Celebrate!

Marianne

Hey team!  It's been a while ... most of you have been off getting implants and tatts, and I've been finishing up chemo.  I did my main 6 rounds of full chemo (Taxotere-Carboplatin-Herceptin) and finished in June.  But I need to do 18 rounds of Herceptin total.  Did #14 last Wednesday.  And boy was I emotional.  That was the date of my mammogram that changed my life ... so like many of you, I've been feeling really down.  The social worker suggested a counselor and gave me some names of people that focus on cancer and women, so I'm going to give it a try.  I think it's time to focus on me and getting through the emotions.  Thanks to all of you for always being there when this all started ... and for staying connected.

Hello ladies-I just typed a LONG post that was deleted somehow, and I'm all typed out!  Ughhh

I am so muchly comforted when this thread gets all active and we hear from so many of our team.

My NYC "tour" ended up being all together brilliant. Particularly in that we parked the car in NYC for three over nights and it reamined safe & unblemished. I could never ever, even consider such an under-taking without the blessed participation of my dear hubby at the wheel.

He got us safely to each site, found the parking, navigated us thru all of the cabs, the one way streets and honking delivery people. The big city is amazing -- the sights breath-taking.

Our stay in Little Italy was glorious. It's so much fun to be a tourist & be impressed with every detail. The weather truly cooperated. When we were in the city & walking about it was sunny (tho very cold) and the day we were at the school out on Long Island it poured rain sideways -- but we were in the building safely before it started.

I got to meet "Cookie" (BCO friend, first time to meet IRL) and we spent the evening together at their Broadway apartment and she gave me a walking tour thru Greenwich Village, Soho&Noho. Then the four of us went out to their favorite posh restaurant: Lupa.

Today on the way home we detoured thru Phillie and I met 5 other BCO sisters, four for the first time and one I'd met previously on my travels to DC.

Here's the pic of the 6 of us at lunch today:

From left-to-right: Marlegal, newbie cmf, Mouse, Held, moi:Faithie and Patmom whom I'd met previously. Mar, Mouse & Held literally held me together during my first diagnosis -- when I was totally addicted to the chat function here. So to meet them after nearly 4 years of talking here/FB/phone calls etc was such a joyous occasion.

I'm not yet near the 'anniversaries' for this sequal-go-round. I had my diagnostic mamo on Dec 30, the biopsy the next day and the pathology confirmed as the new year got underway in Jan.

I still don't have sorted out how to claim anniversaries in BC-land, due to the first dx, which I'm coming up on 4 years. Bizarre. The whole whirlwind. Meeting such amazing women in the course of the journey is the great brilliant blessing of the whole mess.

(((((((((((((((((((Lynbob)))))))))))))) Hopefully you've regrouped by now.

(((((((((((((((((((Gina)))))))))))))))))) Here's to everything staying straight forward.

((((((((((((((((((((Brenda)))))))))))))) I'm a big advocate for ativan to get me thru the bumps. Brilliant to get some counseling support -- especially in the face of your lengthy, on-going treatment.

Well it's silly to start naming names. I think probably everyone here needs a hug -- especially as we come to the holidays and the reflection brought about by some milestones.

Our Gertie-the-GPS says we are now 33 miles from home. The snow flakes that had kicked up somewhat dramatically a few bits back have now subsided, whew.

Much love, Team January.

Hope that your weekends have included some wonder.

xx00xx00xx00xx 

Morning January Ladies ♥

So nice to read up on how everyone has been doing....trips to NYC, Thanksgiving, Cancerversaries, more tests for some  

I am doing fine.  Been very busy teaching, organizing a Botanical Art Show for all my students, cooking gluten free recipes for Thanksgiving....now beginning to pull out the Christmas lights to string on the picket fencing and over the arbor crossing the garden gate.

My heart is improving....my cardiologist will look at it more closely in a little over a month.  No nips until my heart is strong again  I'm not really focused on it.

The holidays are not so easy around hear because we miss Graham so much.  The anniversary of his birth, passing, and holidays all happen in November and December.  Maybe because of this loss I don't really think about my cancer in dates.....all I remember is I was had my biopsy just before Christmas weekend and didn't get results until after Christmas....it is all a blur..... 

I missed out on the hysterectomy discussion....so here's my bit if it helps anyone.  I had a full hysterectomy, ovaries and all.....just left the cervix....two years before I was dx with bc.  I had been in full menopause for about 2 years when I suddenly started bleeding and bleeding and bleeding.  After oblations, D&Cs and every other option the doc's said they were out of options and the bleeding was becoming a great difficulty.  I was becoming highly anemic.......  Sooo out it all came.  They had to do it the old fashioned way (through the abdomen) because they needed to have a good look at why I was bleeding so profusely).  The recovery was painful because of the abdominal incision but I'm glad I did it......glad it's all over with.

So with no boobs and no uterus or ovaries I am just about as close to alien as I can get......oh blah dee oh blah da life goes on bra....la la la la life goes on.......... 

Love to all of you.......even though I haven't been on much I think of you all so often.....

Best of the season!

xox

Laura ♥♥♥ 

Hey Team-J ...

a big welcome to the new ladies on the block:)

Heading in on Friday (12/10) for my hysterectomy....leaving cervix and ovaries, though.  Feel good about that decision.  Still having major problems with the ankle.  Got the purple cast (#2) off the day before T'giving, only to have more pain than ever....ankle swells to size of softball (or larger).  My PT felt I should see a foot/ankle specialists....saw him yesterday - am now in an aircast!!!  Have a CT tomorrow.  Original injury was six months ago yesterday!!! 

I LOVE what you did with the heading of our group....how awesome   Thank you.

I have totally lost track of what everyone is doing....all the nips, changes, ups, downs, etc...but I LOVE reading what you all are doing, and keeping up with you all.  I, too, am so grateful for each of you...I can't imagine having gone through this past year without each of you. 

Lyn....I wish you had had the same pre-op experience that I had....mine was wonderful.  My nurse was fabulous.  So sweet.  So kind.  The blood-taker person  was just as awesome...everyone was great.  Maybe you should move a little east and come to the Louisville hospitals   I'm so sorry you were treated so horribly.  I think I would report it.  NO one should be treated that way.  Bless your heart.

Off to a shower...CT is at 7:15AM in the morning, and then I have a christmas program at 9am (the joys of being an elementary music teacher....I even get to *work* on my days off!!)  And do the program again tomorrow night, and THEN start the prep for the Friday morning surgery....yippee!!  (NOT!)

blessings to all...robin 

Hi Everyone:

Well I guess I started the year having my boob cut off and thought I'd end it having my gallbladder out last Saturday!  I got really sick Thanksgiving day and it got worse and worse.  I developed pancreatitis and spent several days in the hospital before they could even do the surgery because of the infection.  The surgeon said I probably have been having bad attacks for a year now, but this time last year I was having biopsies and 2 lumpectomies so maybe the cancer fear over-shadowed my diseasing gallbladder.  Well I guess at least my deductible was met for the year. 

I am home recovering and trying to get better before Christmas at this point.  I hope everyone has a wonderful and HEALTHY 2011!

Paula

Hugs out to all of you!  Sounds like everyone needs one right about now!

All is well here-decorated for Christmas, and put a handful of presents under the tree.  The big ones have been ordered and are on their way.  Although the kids obviously don't believe in Santa Clause, I still wait to put out big presents until Christmas morning.

My baby turned 11 today-my how time flies.

I finally set up a date for the BRCA testing-this coming Monday.  They said they'll either take a blood or a fecal sample-let's hope for the blood!

Oh my goodness team....................

(((((((((((((Paula)))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((Robin)))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((Kat))))))))))))))))))

Well, it seems everyone needs TLC around here.

I am at this moment on an airplane between Salt Lake City & Atlanta. I had such a euphoric day that I can't sleep, which will catch up w me like a ton of bricks, but thinking of you all sleeping soundly makes me smile.

I am sprinkling you with heavenly dust as I fly cross country..... wishing you well.

This afternoon I had over 5 hours in Zion National Park (for the first time in my life) and I am still in "Awe" at the splendor and beauty. I took a gazillion pictures -- until my memory card was full and will share them, or a few at least -- just as soon as I am able.

Being in such a setting fills me with such delight and a sense of calm.

Better post.

{{{{Kat}}}} {{{{Paula}}}} {{{{Robin}}}} {{{{Laura}}}}

{{{{Team January}}}}

I went for my annual Gyn appt last week.  The nurse commented on my hoddie (Fight like a girl), said she loved it.  When she was going over my medical information, she asked about whether anyone in family had BC, to which I responded 'me'.  She asked how long ago my diagnosis was, not in a 'nurse' kind of way, but very sincere and concerned.  When I told her last year, she said "Oh, your a new one" and then very sweetly asked if I was coping ok.  I felt myself starting to cry, and fought to stop it.  That was when I noticed her compression sleeve.  I just looked up at her, and she met my eyes and I KNEW she got it.  It was a poweful moment for me.

After doing my breast exam, my gyn asked who my PS was and where he worked.  He told me this is one of the best recons he has ever seen.  He kept going on and on about the symetry.  He said, unfortunately, he sees many recons and many of them are not 'pretty' .   He was really impressed with my PS work.  That makes me feel good, he does see many many breasts, so I guess he would know what he's talking about :0) 

My nipples will be added on Tuesday !   I am so excited. 

I am in the process of rearranging all of our daughters bedrooms right now.  Why I took this on during Christmas and nipples I'll never know !  I am moving the oldest daughter to a bedroom in the basement, and the second is moving to oldest's vacated room.  This will give all 3 their own rooms, and hopefully make for a more peaceful house for me.  But, it is a lot of work.  I am painting all the rooms, and lugging stuff up and down 2 levels, sorting, organizing.......which means I am now way behind on all things Christmas.  So today, I have to take a break from the decorating and go shopping.   No rest for the weary.

Love you ladies.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Supposed to snow here tomorrow.

Hugs Team January !