**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Here is a picture from yesterday - had lunch with ccbaby -Christy and gramof3  from the feb Furies"09- we all have lots of hair now, tho mine is so long in the front I have to wear it pulled back with a headband or barrette or bugs me to death!"  

mx with immediate TRAM flap recon 1/28/09 , DONE with TAC x6 chemo, DONE 25 IMRT rads
Diagnosis: 12/9/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 1/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

Love the picture. You ladies look marvellous.

Francine, have fun...is there anything "special" in the brownies...lol!

BethR: This is a great place to come and let it all out...not inappropriate at all. You're such a sweet gal. Have fun with your color and hilites. I love getting my hair colored.

Hugs

Beth P

Prayers for Cindy coming from me.

I'm getting the nipple tattoo tomorrow- I had the nipple done in september- a sort of orgami technique- mine flattened out pretty quickly to just a hint of a bump- somewhat dissappointing- the PS since the skin was radiated, it didn't want to hold the shape. He gave me a Juvaderm injection which is supposed to plump it up for a few months but I will have to repeat the injection. I'll let you all know how the tattoo goes and looks. I've gotten another tattoo before, and I have no feeling in the area, so I'm not even remotely nervous about it. Just anxious for the last step!

The tattoo went well- I will have to go a couple more times for touch I think, which I did not realize. Fortunately , it will all be billed in 2010. it didn't hurt, but I don't have any feeling in the area anyway.The origami technique , I don't know exactly how they did it, but they take the breast skin and partially cut it into a strip and twist it around - it still has a blood supply- the nipple had incisions running out from either side about an inch , those healed up pretty well and were invisible even before I got them covered with pinkish tattooing. I have to put ointment on it for a few days and aquaphor after that. I have a touch up appt in 8 weeks.

 I don't know if everyone's experience is pain free- if you don't have any feeling in the skin, then it won't hurt. I just sort of felt a vibration when she was using the needle. If you went the TE, implant route- do you have feeling in the skin? I had TRAM recon. They did use a numbing cream on me even tho I asserted I wouldn't need it. I had reduction done on it back in Sept- lipo and reduction of the size of the skin island- I had some soreness around the edges of the foob that day and the next- but once the regional swelling went down , I was in no pain at all.

I did find out something interesting from the PA doing the tattoo- my insurance was switched on me right after I found the lump- 15 months later it was switched again back to the hospital system I started off in- things happen for a reason- found out the PS I am seeing now doesn't do free TRAM's- he only does pedicle TRAMs- where they tunnel the flap of tissue up through your abdominal muscles- no microsurgery involved  like the free TRAM- turns out the guy who did mine is the only guy in town who does the Free TRAM- I think the long term muscle damage is less with a free TRAM fwiw- nice to know that all the drama associated with switching insurance and hospital systems worked in my favor.

Well said Francine. "hard part of the mastectomy is not the actual surgery but having cancer and loosing one's breast"

What is everyone doing over the holidays? I would love to hear about everyone's family traditions.

Hugs

BethP

Hi All,

Alyad - thanks for the tatoo info.  I'm one step behind you in surgery.  I just had the 2nd phase and they formed the nipple which is currently surrounded by tape.  I'll go back for the tatoo in a couple of months.  I can't feel anything on that breast either so I figured the tatoo would be more or less painless.

I ditto everyone elses remarks.  At this point the surgeries aren't difficult to go through. 

Well, ladies..  my hair looks Gooooooood!.  I got color and highlights and I love it.  She did a great job.  I was at my sisters yesterday and she took a picture.  I also had my neighbor take some pics but my camera's screwed up so if I can get one of them to look decent (lighting), I'll finally upload one.

My family's tradition?  Not really a big deal.  We all gather at my sisters on Christmas for dinner (filet mignon..  yum).  Everyone brings gifts for the kids and the adults draw names and we all exchange gifts after dinner.  It's usually pretty nice.

I also found one of my oldest, closest friends on facebook (during my chemo).  We had lost touch long ago and since then I have joined her and her husband and their kids on Christmas Eve for dinner. 

BTW - I saw The Black Swan this weekend.  Very disturbing to me.  Did anyone see it?  I didn't like it at all.

Have a great day!

Beth

Beth R..Glad you are happy with your hair.yes a picture would be nice.

BethP..what nice traditions your family has..I could not see your photo on my netbook. Our main computer will come back from being fixed tonight,hopefully.

Christmas day I would like to see the movie about the king who stuttered.

I am still experimenting with my hair. Some days I am happy and others not so. Never had to make real changes in my hair styles..always stayed about the same.Must say my texture is so much better now. I color my hair now ..never did that before either.

Article in the NY Times about Marisa Weiss in the science section. Nothing we have not heard before but still impressive to be written about.Of course she mentions her BC as well as BCO

HUGS,

Francine

Merry Christmas Princesses and all the best for continued good health in 2011....We all got through another year relatively unscathed.! Most of us have had or are approaching our two year dx anniversary (mine is Jan 23) . TWO YEARS....hard to believe it's been two years already. I had an oncologist appointment on Tuesday and it went well but I must say it was a bit sad to see women there that have scarves on their head, older ladies and younger ladies....must be tough for them this time of year.  Overall, I felt so thankful that 's all behind us now. I looked at the lady across from me and wondered if she had a good support system, I wondered if she had a young family, I wondered if she has found a wonderful circle of friends like we have here. I hope everyone who goes through this journey will have the good fortune to find a great group like "March Warrior Princesses"

I think of all of you and want to express my sincere gratitude for all the support and friendship you have shown in the past two years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Enjoy your holiday traditions with friends and family.

Love to all

Big Hugs

Beth P

PS. Here is a pic of my daughter, Nikita baking shortbread cookies (first time) from my Aunt's famous family recipe. They turned out perfect....melt in your mouth. My Aunt would be proud.

Hi Ladies,

Once again I lost a good note. So here goes again..

BethP..Your thoughts were so eloquently worded and of course from the bottom of your heart.You are such a sweetie..Your daughter looks so happy ..The cookies look good and delicious too.

I too feel blessed  to have met such great women to get me by through this difficult time. Thanks again..May we all be blessed with continued good health..

My two year anniverary of my mastectomy will be January 5th. Yuch..My DH and I will be in Florida this year..

Well have a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy new year!

Hugs,

Francine

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Had a wonderful Christmas and my birthday was yesterday...now onto NEW YEARS!!!

Wishing you all the best!

Hey All!  Just wanted to wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2011!  Don't come on the boards much anymore, putting the cancer behind me as much as possible, trying to live the good life!  My best to all!  Love, Dawn