Anyone from Mississauga???

Hi there,

I was recently diagnosed with Metastic Breast Cancer in the lung. I'm 30 years old, have had 6 rounds of chemo, radiation, bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction with tissue expanders. Was expected to be all clear but 6 months after completion of FEC-T i am back at CVH! Will be starting chemo again next week indefinately! I was wondering if there is a support group in Mississauga? I am working full time and am trying to maintain some level of normality but would like to meet up with others who may be in a similiar situation.

Hi Rachel, Cancer seems to like me for some odd reason! But I have faith that God and positivity will help me get through this. I am thinking of joining the Wellspring in Brampton as I am at Mavis and 401 but will see what they have in place first. Yes I was very fortunate to have maintained a sense of normality during the last round. My employer is absolutely amazing- I work in Community Home Care so I am surrounded by nurses who always provide me with advice, and attend my appointments with me so that they understand and can question the doctor about anything that seems odd. Plus I carried on at the gym, I had to because I put on 35lbs on in weight! I was a piggy from the chemo! My oncologist was about to give me the "all clear" last week until I told him by the way i have a cough and a tight chest. 5 days later my results were in and he dropped the bomb shell. Now I have my private doctor researching treatment options in the US as I cant "live with cancer" for the rest of my life-it doesnt make sense. If I was 75 I can understand but I am only 30! So I have faith and I have to keep laughing and being positive!  Chemo starts on Monday and I am not looking forward to it at all

Hi Deep - I was just catching up with this thread and read your post. It brought a tear to my eye - I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this again... it's totally not fair! How is the chemo going this time round? Are you still able to keep up going to the gym?

I recently moved to 407 and Mavis area and was thinking about checking out the wellsprings in Brampton (mostly for post treatment support). If you'd like to check it out sometime with me let me know. BTW - I was 31 when I was diagnosed (now 33) so we're not too far off in age

Hi Pratibha..I had my surgery and chemo at Trillium. Both my docs were good. My onco was very matter of fact which worked for me..but may not be best for everyone. My rads were done at CVH. When you say the surgeon was not confident? Not confident that he got everything? Second opinion won't hurt. Through my whole journey....you really have to be happy with your medical team.

Hi Veronicax

I'm nearby in Brampton but was happy to see a local thread.  I had my MX at Oakville-Trafalgar (Dr. Rosario) on December 14. I meet with oncology at Credit Valley January 18.  Everyone has such different experiences though don't you think.  When I look through the threads most know everything about their BC.  All I really know is its DCIS with alot of microcalcifications.  The surgeon called me to tell me there was no node involvement and that the margins were really good and that the oncologist would go over the rest.  He didn't even see me post op, although I had home nursing visits and he did address any concerns with me over the phone.  I'm healing fine and havent been on any pain meds other than Advil since Dec 30. 

How is your recovery so far?

Hi Lesley...I am in Streetsville. Had my radiation at CVH and my chemo at Trillium. I got through radiation pretty easily..even though my skin is pasty white! Lots of cream....that Glaxal Base they sell at Costco. Radiation is more time consuming than anything! This site is great to answer questions...as soon as you have your treatment plan in place...things will make more sense. If you have any questions...let me know!

Hi Rachel...hope you're doing well.

Hi Lesley, Rachel's given you good advice about the Glaxal Base. I used that, too, and also bought it at Costco (much cheaper for a big tub of it). I also live in Meadowvale and was treated at CVH for surgery, chemo (with Dr. Jeffrey Myers) and rads (with Dr. Jasper Yuen).  

I am from Oakville formerly from Mississauga. I have been treated for BC at the Carlo Fidani clinic since August. Dr. Jeffrey Myers is also my Oncologist. My RO is Dr. Soliman...he's a gem. Altho Dr. Myers is knowledgeable, I found it hard to get any info from him. I did DD AC and 12 Taxols...16 rads and feel fine altho I do have some lasting SE's. I just had my BS drain a seroma and in 24 hours it was back...I also am getting therapy for lymphedema...I had hoped draining the lump would help but here we go again.......also the Glaxal is great. BTW my surgeon was Dr Woolfson.

Thanks Sugar...I am fine so far, just these irritating SEs! I know things take time but so much happens at once. As far as Wellspring, I did call them to get some names of reg'd therapists but other than that, I have no way of getting there. Until now I was not ready to start exercising anyway but now I am. I will start regular walking and I do Lympedema exercises as well. Hope you are doing well also!

Hiya Westielover

May I ask where your seroma was? Mine is in the incision from the SNB. It is not uncomfortable at all. The only time I feel anything is when the therapist tries to drain it. That isn't gonna happen I am afraid. Would rather she just leave it alone. I will probably have my family doctor drain it in a few months if it hasn't decreased. I have a feeling it is going to be an ongoing thing.

How is the radiation going? Any SE's so far? As far as my seroma goes. MO (Dr. J. Myers) didn't know what it was and thought it was NOT fluid. He got me an appt with my BS (Dr. Woolfson) who seemed a tad puzzled as well. He was going to biopsy it but decided to try and drain it first. He got 2 full syringes of yellow fluid and said was just sera. Harmless...when he was done, it was completely gone. By the next morning it was all back again so I will just leave it for now...not at all uncomfortable and knowing what it is helps. BTW you mentioned using Glaxal when doing MLD...my therapist told me never to use any cream because the massage needs friction...but that is just one opinion...who knows? I am ignoring my LE and it seems better. The sleeve was HORRIBLE!

westielover...Did Dr. Myers give you all your lab reports and tests? He never let me see anything...always came into the examining room empty handed. When I asked any questions, he usually made a lame joke. I know he is knowledgeable but I still have questions. I don't see him again until October. I asked if I needed a bone density test (Arimidex) and said "not yet"...just make sure you do your mammograms. I guess any questions I have, I will ask my GP...sure hope he has all the reports.

I had no nausea from rads...no SEs except a little fatigue...passed quickly.

sugar..

I had a baseline BD about 12 years ago...I kind of assumed Myers would want one but he seemed uninterested. He didn't tell me to do anything except my regular mammos. I found that kind of strange. I suppose he just handed me off to my GP. Once when I had my records (waiting to see another Dr.) I glanced thru them and saw some stuff that wasn't true, regarding meds. I am so confused but the only thing I can do is see my GP and check the reports that he got. All a little too confusing for me. I never found Dr. Myers to be willing to answer my questions at all. I got the impression he didn't like to questioned at all. My DH was there for most appts and he got the same feeling.

Hi Nicole...sorry to hear you are having a hard time with rads. Did you have chemo too? I did it all at Credit Valley and I must admit some of the Drs were less than informative. I absolutely adore my RO there. I am all done treatments except for follow ups. I am seeing my GP next week for blood tests for MY satisfaction and a bone density test as well. I asked the MO if I needed one and he said "no not yet".....well I WANT a baseline cause I am on Arimidex for 5 years. Hope to see you here again.