November 2011 Rads

rn4babies - There are not words to say how sorry I am that you have to go through this again! I, like you, do not know if I could do the BMX. It is a personal decision and we will be here to support you no matter what.

No one told me that rads meant that reconstruction would never be an option...grrrr.

My surgeon did not tell me that. He is a general surgeon that specializes in breast surgery. I'd have to go somewhere else if I had BMX. He never indicated to me that I couldn't have recon after rads and I've already had rads on the right breast.

RealtorJackie - I hope your biopsy turns out to be nothing more than scar tissue or radiation fibrosis or something like that. Keep us posted on what the results are and ((((((HUG))))) that is for you.

RealtorJackie, Keep us posted. When is your biopsy? You would think that with surgery, and rads that it would be scarring or fibrosis. Here's hoping that is all it is.

rn4babies, I'm sorry I have been MIA. I was out of the country for work and then had some trouble traveling home (delayed flight leaving to an overnight hotel in layover city, then bag delivered 2 days later). Anyway, I am in shock reading your dx, so I cannot even imagine how you feel. I will be on edge until my own mammo this June because, except for your family history, we are so similar. We even finished rads on the same exact day. Wow. I can't believe it. I was really hoping to log on and see that everything was benign and that you were sleeping easy again.

I am so, so sorry you are going through this. Not just again but worse. As you said, it sounds like you still have options and being able to make choices is always good. I hope your oncotype comes back favorable so that you can go ahead with the lumpectomy and this time you know what to expect with rads. I hope they can cut you some slack at work, too! Jeez....

For the record, my BS and RO never said anything about rads and recon. Rads was never presented as any kind of option for me, but something everyone expected me to get 100%. But I know this woman who had rads with my RO and then recon after a recurrence, and apparently her PS was able to work with that radiated skin. She told me this by way of encouraging me to stick with the RO, despite our personality differences. Although now I'm starting to think that our skin's reaction to rads is mostly individual and there's not much we or any DR can do to prevent the damage if that's the way our skin is going to react?

Anyway, rn4babies - thinking of you and hoping you get all the information you need before your next surgery. I'm assuming you also got an MRI? I hope there was no nodal involvement. Fingers crossed the oncotype and hormone status come back in your favor!

Nat 

Natters - It was reallly good hearing from you again. Nothing much has changed at this point. My MRI is scheduled for Thursday and the radiologist wants me to come to her office afterward to talk to her. She wants to look at my prior films to see if maybe something was missed on my last mammo. My surgeon said it's amazing that she even saw the second area on the the mammo. I see the surgeon before my surgery on March 23rd, unless the MRI changes my plans.

  My dear grandmother who is am very close to is very sick and is not expected to live much longer. I'm so upset by this, too. I'm overwelmed right now with everything. Not so DH is being a jerk and I'm ready to kick him to the curb.

And life goes on...........

Jackie, I am praying that they phone you tomorrow to put your mind at ease over the weekend. But glad that it isn't too sore and hope you have some fun St Paddy's Day activities with your family and friends to distract you in the meantime.

GREAT news! Wooooooo Hooooooo! Celebration all around.

now that's what I call a great way to start the weekend, Jackie! Happy St Paddy's to you!!

rn4babies - how was your MRI? did you get any more info from the radiologist? I hope your grandma is feeling a little better and that you get the time to breathe and process all of this over the weekend. Or are you working?

Nat 

Rn4babies-glad you MRI was good. I hope your grandmother is not suffering terribly. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

rn4babies - thank God the MRI didn't turn up any more surprises. That is just the last thing you need right now. So that is great news. Now I'm hoping your grandmother hangs in there and that you can have your surgery on time. Also hoping this new stuff is all ER/PR+ and low oncotype and no nodal involvement. Are they making you have a SNB or just the lump on Thur? Are you still taking your Tamox? I've been on it since Sept with some SEs, but nothing I can't tolerate so far. It sounds like you are a good candidate for lump + rads again on this new side. Maybe your skin will react completely differently this time?

fightn4fam - that stinks about your MRI! Do you have your US/biopsy scheduled?

All of these stories make me feel like I'll be getting biopsies the rest of my life (well, as long as I keep me breasts) if they can't tell the difference between radiation fibrosis, fatty necrosis and tumors...