Calling all TNs

Michelle:  I'm so happy about you being negative for BRCA!  Congrats!  That is so relieving for you to know your daughters are ok.  Very sorry to hear about the incidental finding, but try to keep a couple thngs in mind.  First, MRI's show up all kinds of things and some of those things are nothing at all.  Second, 80% of tumors are benign.  The odds are in your favor.

Short story... Two months before I was dx with bc, I had been very ill.  My mammo that showed the cancer was done early August, but from March to June, I had been very sick with fevers and cough... even coughed up blood one time.  In June, I had an abnormal chest x-ray which led to ct scan.  Long story short, I have what they believe is Histoplasmosis... we're watching it currently.  My lungs look like someone who's had TB and pneumonia and there are very tiny nodules as well as a couple of very small ones.  When I was dx with bc in September, my mind went racing to think that the stuff in my lungs was also cancer.  I had myself thinking I was going to die.  In fact, I am alive and my BS has Histo too.  The point to this is when we have this kind of dx, we automatically associate every other abnormality to cancer until it's proven otherwise.  Prior to our dx's, I'm sure most of us didn't do that.  It really sucks that cancer makes us so fearful of every little ache and pain.  I'm trying my best to get back to the "prior dx" me, who was healthy.  The mind is a powerful thing and I believe the way we think can help to make us ill.

I sure hope you find out this is something completely unrelated to your dx and that it is a very minor abnormality or nothing at all.  I'd be a mess too, no doubt.  Will keep you in my prayers.

Where is this Heidi?

I miss the beach so much!

One Georgeous Pic!!! such Peace...

thanks so much!! I though it was a hoot also!

Michelle  ((((((((hugs)))))))))    I hate waiting.  

Great pics Heidi

I had the same moe.   The tiredness was tremendous.   I would have a shower and be too tired to dry myself.   I was able to just go with it and sleep as much as I needed, it does get better, but 4 and a bit months out I still get tired easily, but it's waaaaaaay better.

I know,... just when you think you have this figured out, something new happens.  Geeeez

Hi Suze35.  When you mentioned the DIEP procedure, I looked it up and am really thrilled to learn that there is something like this out there. I had seen two PS and none of them had mentioned that there was something like this, although I had asked them.  How will you find a really good surgeon to do this.  They say there are only a handful doing this procedure at this time.  I am running out of time.  It has already been 4 weeks since my last chemo and I need to start RADS soon.

I have another huge problem which I had not mentioned before.  Due to my surgeon's negligence I had developed an infection after surgery.  After they cleaned the infection, there was a big hole in my breast.  The two folded skins came together and formed a keloid, deforming my breast.  However, the keloid/scar was becoming lighter and the breast was becoming okay, not so bad at all.  But after my most recent MRI, my God, the scar became a blister.  It pains. I showed to the Radiologist, she said it was okay to do rads.  But I don't think so.  I don't think I could ever have an MRI on this breast.  I am facing a major problem.  The blister is about an inch long, filled with water like substance and it is hurting a little bit. I think the MRI heat burned it.

I think I have to quickly make up my mind, that I have to get bilat. mastectomy (why leave the other one since it has the hyperplasia), and reconstruct right away.  But how do I find a really good DIEP surgeon, and figure out if my insurance will pay for it.  What do I do?  I don't think there is a DIEP surgeon in my medical group.

Suze - how are you planning to find a surgeon. I understand that they have to be really very good, in order not to remove any musles but just fat and tissue from the ab to make small breasts for you.  Is that why you said, you will have a large A or small B.  I am currently a C, however, I really don't care about the size, as long as I have some breasts.  If you or anyone out there have any information, please do tell.  Thanks.

Lovelyface - I'm sorry to hear about your reaction to the MRI, on top of everything, that just flat out sucks!



My breast surgeon recommended a plastic surgeon for me, and he specializes in breast reconstruction. They are both at Massachusetts General.

My BS actually specializes in BC and node removal, she helped pioneer the SNB procedure. Where are you located? If you are close to a major hospital or Cancer Center, I am sure they can give you some guidance. DIEP is fairly new and complicated (it takes 8+ hours according to my BS) but it is becoming more common. My BS estimated my outcome based on looking at my tummy - I carry my weight in my behind lol. I am meeting with the PS on 2/17, and I'll ask him about how to
find a good surgeon for you!<

I want to add that I plan on delaying my reconstruction for at least a few months if possible. I think you can do anytime. I'll be asking about that also, and will let you know.

I know insurance has to cover reconstruction, and mine covers this procedure thankfully, but I would call and double check if your unsure.

I'll definitely keep you posted!

Lovelyface, Yes you WILL go back to New Zealand. You will see your Mother again. Really. The odds are in your favor.

Michelle67 - keeping good thoughts and prayers for you!  I'm so glad you're BRCA negative!

tnbcRuth - I am also feeling like yuck!  I thought after chemo and rads I would start to feel better, but I feel worse!  Ugh!!!

I am the poster child for having a bmx and getting bc again in the same breast.  And.. I had DCIS with widely negative margins.  I would still get the bmx if I were to do it over again.  I am one of those freak cases, but you can get bc after having a bmx, so please keep checking your breasts girls (I found my 2nd set of tumors with an accidental self exam - moving my foob to shave my armpit).  SCARY!!!

I still have aches and pains in my legs, mostly the right side and knee.  I still have numbness in my toes.  I need to re-paint my nails.  I was lucky to not lose any during chemo, but they looked awful.  I had to keep nail polish on them because they hurt like he!! too! 

kittycat, I think I am facing that now.   Pulled some cancer cells out of fluid seroma on my mx scar.   I just finished chemo 4 TC in Sep/10.  Biopsy on thurs.  then who knows where I go from there.  Just a little scary.

Lovingmother:  Sorry for jumping in late on this - have been off the boards for a few days.  FEC-D is a very common and effective 3rd generation chemo treatment used widely in Canada and Europe (considered equivalent to AC-T in the U.S.).  It is usually given in 6 treatments, 3 weeks apart: 3 of FEC (a combination of 3 drugs), followed by 3 of taxotere. Try posting on the chemo board for more information... or post a question on the Canadian Breast Cancer Survivors board, many ladies there have gone through it.  

You know what scares me the most about TNBC is that I don't see a lot of AA women who are thriving after treatment. Meaning they don't come here and post, and being AA it scares me.

Is anyone else on TNBC.org? When I was first dx I would visit both here and there, but I must say I like here better info seems to flow quicker.

AA? As in African American? Go to that forum; there's a TNBC thread there. Check it out.