December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

Where does sentinel nodes end (how many)and axillary begin. I'm so petrified of lymphadema. Because I had a lot of scar tissue (from previous reduction 10 yrs ago) the dye could not be seen to the first two nodes, so he had to remove 5 of them, all negative no cancer. I do a lot of stretching and so far so good. I am meeting with pt for lymphadema education. She already did a baseline measurement on both arms. Funny the non cancer side from my bilateral mastectomy is a bit swelled where no nodes were removed.



My question with 5 nodes removed, is that now axilary and added risk for it?



Good news is my Oncotype score came back low.



Still can't get any fills 6 weeks post op cause I'm not healed yet, have open gaps. Hope this doesn't cause issues going back to work.

goldlining:  Good for you!  What a wonderful accomplishment.... you must feel so empowered!

Chris, thank you for clarifying the lymph nodes. I see you had 0/0 nodes, so did you have any taken out? I think going to the pt will help.



Next challenge Arimidex, has anyone started on this drug yet? I have to stop reading Internet side effects and just focus on how to combat them.



Arimidex thread will be my next stop, and will always stay with my December sisters thread to take the journey together.



Gold you inspire us all with your marathon running, congrats! Makes me want to keep exercising big time to gain more endurance to handle a demanding job. I've begun mixing a daily drink in the blender of various Fruits and vegetables to get in my daily allowance.



Trick: If you just add an apple it will cut bitter tasting anything. I just throw in any/all I have on hand.

Broccoli, carrots, frozen mix bag of berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) banana, pineapple,even spinach leaves and surprisingly it's an 8 oz glass of delicious smoothie!





people caring for people, we are lucky to be alive and I'm ready now to pay it forward!

Well, after 30+ years of battling my weight, I am ready to take a serious step. Kaiser has a Weight Management program that lasts for 82 weeks. (gasp!) The first 16 weeks consist of medically-supervised meal replacement products, including shakes, soups, and bars. The next phase deals with building back in healthy home cooked meals. There are weekly meetings, lab tests, physician supervision, psychological supervision, and groups. Interestingly, a cancer diagnosis is NOT one of the medical conditions that preclude you from this program, unless you are actively receiving chemo or rads.

I had signed up for an orientation session over a year ago, then cancelled, thinking "Who am I kidding?"

But one of the ladies in my quilting class recently completed the program and has lost 70 pounds, and is off all of her diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure medication.

I'll be attending the next orientation session in a few weeks. It's not cheap, but at this point, my health is worth it.

Several things changed my mind: the fact that my cancer is estrogen-driven, and despite the fact that I've been post-menopausal for 14 years, estrogen is still made in the brain, and - in BELLY FAT!

The other thing is that I have SO many other health problems, including severe fibromyalgia, that restricts my ability to get good daily exercise, even walking sometimes. My cholesterol is high, my blood sugar is high, and I have degenerative disk disease and spinal stenosis. Weighing in at 185 pounds on my 5.5" frame has taken its toll.

I am really afraid of taking the Arimidex - not because I "could" get the side effects, but rather because I already have so many of them. What if they get worse? I am too young to feel this old. I will be meeting with my MO again to discuss Plan A, Plan B, and so on, should I be totally unable to take the AIs.

But I am hoping that dropping an excess of, say, 50 pounds, will make a big difference in my ability to even get moving daily, to strengthen my muscles to avoid falling, and to get my diet back to ground zero so that I may begin a whole new way of eating for the rest of my life.

Will keep you all posted!

Blessings:  Best of luck to you on your program..it will be money well spent, and you will get a lot of support.

 If you didn't want to spend the money, a good diet..one that eliminates all white carbs and sugar will work too, rather restrictive, and you have to like eating like a rabbit..lol...but it also fights cancer because it puts your body in an alkaline state (you test with ph strips) and cancer can't grow in an alkaline environment.  Lots of veggies, some fruits, lean protein (organic grass fed or wild caught) nuts, and whole grains.  If you can eliminate the grains, even better.

Here's to good health! 

here's another question for the gals that have had bilateral MX. I noticed when I drink cold water I can feel the cold running inside me through my chest. I'm cold more often now, never was before. I know they take ALL breast tissue out with MX but I feel like Im so thin skinned on my chest, just something odd I wasn't prepared for. I even have expanders in!

Bogie-so glad you mentioned it-I thought it was just me.  Yes, whenever I drink something cold I can feel it going all the way down-very strange sensation.  I wonder if it ever goes away~

Bogie...I have the same sensation. It's so weird. At first I thought, what the heck. It's like my esophagus is right there now. WHen I had my first fill it went away for a while but now it's back. I've gotten used to it but it still is strange.

Bogie - I am so glad you brought that topic up. I felt like I was an extra in the Pirates of the Carribean movie....I could feel the cold water running down in my chest, like a skeleton.

CarolAnn - That would be me, for one... I see the LE "Specialist" at Kaiser tomorrow. Will be asking about cording, and truncal lymphedema.

goldlining - I have to admit it was your post that got me thinking about how desperate I was to just be able to move again, much less to run a 5K - big congrats to you!!!

spunkyboobster - thanks!

Kaara - I am hoping that my time on the "meal replacement" stuff will be like a food detox for me. That way, once I start building back in "real" food, it can represent some of the changes you mention.

Oh, fitzdc - how frustrating when the gut doesn't want to cooperate! Maybe juicing *could* be the way to go....

Bogie  - believe me, minus my boobs, I still have plenty of padding, and I, too, get that weird feeling of cold water going down my gullet. Well, I guess it's hot liquids, too, come to think of it...and yikes - I am still SO bloated, I can't believe it's just fat. It seems to have gotten worse after the BMX.

Ginger48 - I signed up for the Weight Management orientation session on Feb 2nd. Will share anything I learn!

Hi to chrissilini, faithhopenluv, and everyone else....hope y'all are out enjoying this beautiful day!  Only 54 degrees here, but brilliant blue skies and sun.

Well if the doctors don't know they will tomorrow when I tell them about this strange cold/hot sensations. With so many women getting MX these days I'm sure this is nothing they haven't heard before. I will let you know after my visit my bs response.



I see so many ER/PR positive dx here, isn't anyone starting anti hormonal therapy with Tamoxifen or Arimidex. Would love to compare notes and take the next journey together, or hear why of you have decided not to go this rout in estrogen blocking drugs.

Bogie-It will be very interesting to see what you learn about the "sensation" from your BS.  I'm awaiting oncotype then will know what's next regarding tamoxifen, etc.  I have a hisotry of blod clots and strong family history of strokes, so may need to look at alternatives-will share what I learn.

Goldlining-congratulations, not take it easy.

Bogie - I have taken Tamoxifen now for 11 days.



The pharmasist suggested that I take Tamox with supplements. I consulted a dr. and he put me on; calcium, magnesium, selenium, vitamin C, B1, B6, B2, B12, flax oil, fish oil, and Vitamin E. Also, a morning powder...like a multiple-vitamin, mineral complex blend. I drink tons of water and the Tamoxifen is still drying me out. I know this may be TMI, but I put my Oilve Oil in the shower and put just a tad on my private parts every morning. I post on the HT threads. Sometimes and have learned everything from them. Some ladies posting ther are on their last three month prescription.



Goldlining - very impressive - Congratulations!!!!!

Cookie, I know there is an Aridimex thread already, not sure on tamoxifen. Good luck back to work tomorrow, and thanks for starting the group. Get your sleep and don't overdue it!!!



Carolanne, good idea on the olive oil. I think they also mention coconut oils as well. I just got a jar from trader joes and slather it on all over after shower, it's all natural.



Spunky I had the same discussion with my MO so I am leaning toward Aridimex for the same reasons of family history with blood clots and stroke, so well get osteoporosis instead...grrr can't win. I am going to check with him on yearly med or shots to prevent bone loss. Fish oils will help with joint pain and muscle aches I'm told. I'm trying to learn all I can before I make a decision.

LOL to Janie Bug, love the candid excitement...you go girl! happy for you!



Now OC may want to go with Tamoxifen vs Arimidex. The verdict isn't in yet. He thinks I'm still pre menopause and is calling my Gyne on blood test confirmation. You can't take Aridimex unless you are positively post menopausal my Oncologist said.



Ok, I checked with my Breast Surgeon today on the big question: Why are we feeling cold/hot sensitivity when drinking liquids going down our esophagus! OMG, can you believe he has never heard that before this! He has been doing this for 25 years too. I told him our support group have noticed it. He did say its it should be temporary and should not reflect it in any way, could be nerves and temp healing only.



I'm eating Tuscano cheese with red grapes and for the first time, thinking about a nice Merlot...it's been months!