February 2012 MX

Hi glad to see so many ladies doing so well and adjusting. Good luck to everybody 

Hi Deborah2012,

Yes I did have Alloderm used to create the sling; but no, I acutally mean a divot not the texture of the TE.  It is like at the very top of where the breast was and like I said towards the arm pit.  It seems like it might be the empty space where the breast tissue was removed and not sure if the TE and or eventual implant will fill this in? 

Bern25, My daughter is also expecting a baby on August 20th!!  At least we have that happiness to look forward to!  I can't wait!

Hi Janice,

 I have the same thing...I think actually the alloderm was used to fill in those spots, but from what I've been reading, over 50% of the time the alloderm is absorbed by the skin, so it doesn't fill in.  If you hear anything different, let me know, cause I've got the same thing.

for you Deborah -

had PS consult today. my treatment is through the local VA hospital. luckily, they have a breast clinic here too.

If i want to go with implants, can go with gel. Nice option. PS has done plastic surgery for over 20 yrs and 85% of all procedures he does are recons. He doesn't like PSs who tell their patients what they should have - it's the patient's decision, so long as it fits within the boundaries of what will work. btw, he doesn't recommend nor like to use saline for implants because of the rippling effect. due to how wide my chest and shoulders are, even to be smaller than I was he said it would still be 500-700cc fill.

He and the NP were glad I'd taken a pic of the "before". Turns out that there isn't as much belly fat as I'd thought so it won't be possible to put me back as large as I was - for which I'm glad, glad I tell you! Looks like I'd wind up about a full B or small C. After years of D/DD/DDD, I can live with that!! Like most people, they don't believe I was the size I was. Until he saw the photo that is. His comment - you certain were large weren't you. Oh, said the side bra bulge had to go, would lipo that.

They've begun doing Diep at my VA hospital. He's pretty sure he's going to decide i'm a good candidate for that, but wants his partner to chime in since they'd both be doing the surgery. Compared to a Tram, I'd much rather go with a Diep - if that's how i decide. I'm leaning towards a Diep.  dont' be confused...he has plenty of experience with all of the recon routes.  it's just they haven't done many at the VA and only began over the past year doing a few there.

Galsal,

So glad to hear you've gotten the tailored information that's right for your body.  Out of curiosity, I had heard women say they get a tummy tuck with Trams also, but I always wondered how much?  Would the tummy tuck be noticeable, or if one had enough extra for a tummy tuck, it wouldn't be that much of a visible difference?  I guess it depends how much would be moved to fill the breasts?  

How exciting to get a reduction and a lipo bulge removal, too!  So educate me, what is the "rippling" side effect with saline implants?  I truly just wanted something that would be an easy mess to clean up in case my remaining natural breast were to act up in the future.

Bern25, so glad your worry has been aleviated and it's arthritis.  Amazing what makes us so happy these days, isn't it?  Oh boy!  I've got arthrititis! Whew!

I am back at work until I start post treatment.  For me, it preserves days of leave in case I need them for bad side effect days with a prention treatment.  Also, it gave me a taste of getting back to work, gauging my stamina, recovery and engaging at a less than full time pace.  I did 6hrs a day this past week.  I'm going to try 8 hours next week.  We have 9 hr. days and are furloughed on Fridays.  I will be out again at the end of April for my final reconstruction if all goes as anticipated with PS.  I would have burned up about a month of days off if I hadn't returned when I did.  For me, I want conserve my time for the next unexpected "cancer recovery-treatment or other kick in the pants" that may come my way.  Please post the oncotype results.  I'm particularly interested in that.  

Deborah2012

....oh, and they had their surgeries anywhere  from 2 to 5 fives ago....

Hi Ladies,

Just checking back in after a few weeks not posting. I had my PET scan yesterday and will have a MUGA scan of my heart next Monday, then a bone scan and brain MRI on Tuesday. I should glow in the dark from all of this! I am scheduled to start chemo on April 4. I also have a wig consultation next Wednesday. This is not the route I thought I would be going at all, but since they found cancer in two lymph nodes, looks like this is what I have to do. The doctors also want me to do radiation, but I am going to think about that for a while.

 I had my second fill today. First one she gave me 60cc's each. Today she bumped it to 80cc. I am pretty sore. Resorted to a Vicodin tonight so I can sleep when I finally get there. I have not been sleeping well at all. I guess I have a little on my mind?! As you all do, too! PS wants me to squeeze in 2 more fills before April 4. Right now I can't even imagine that!

Again, I am so thankful to have this group of ladies to come and talk to! Congrats mma59 on the good news!!

Marie

Sent you a PM, Deborah

mcm24

"That sucks hon', tell me about your MUGA crap" I don't know what that is.

What a double-edged sword you are dealing with.  It's great that you are being evaluated and tested by so many different modalities.  You will be able to make better informed decisions.  How MISERABLE that they even want you to have to undergo so many tests in so many different modalities!!!!! I would be walking around as if I were watching myself on TV ; meanwhile my brain would be numb.  I honestly could handle about one variable at a time. That was my limit.  For me, researching it was therapeutic.  However- that was one variable.  I could see myself just shutting down mentally if had numerous areas of my body that were being examined for traces of cancer.  

Please know that we care about how you are coping, functioning and pay close attention to the details you are comfortable sharing.  I will always wonder if my cancer will return someday.  I mean I obviously grew it just perfectly well once.  Maybe it won't be BC next time? 

It really stinks that you have so much to deal with right now. I'm guessing you will wrap yourself up with the tasks and find some solace that you are progressing in your particular battle in our common war with breast cancer. 

We want the report on how many different hair color wigs you tried and what you end up with.  You might prefer scarves, or hats that have hair falls attached them.  We all get excited about nipple tatoos, so please fill us in on the world of wigs!

Deborah2012

Deborah2012

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the work input.  My man doesn't want me going back to soon but I miss my work peeps and being productive. Not sure what to do about the meds and driving though. I guess I can see if I can ease back in. I won't get my endurance back sitting around the house all day. I feel the need to be active, (but do like my naps). 

I am also dicussing my ovaries being removed with my MO also since I already had a hyster. Since I am ER+ why feed the nasty little cells in the future. I know that's not all it will take but in another year or so I would have hit menopause anyway. Wouldn't that also change the options of hormone treatment? For some reason I am not really digging the idea of Tamoxifin. I think Femera could then be an option. But hey, the oncotype test isn't even back yet so who knows what will be....I don't even want to get my roots touched up until I am sure there will be roots to worry about...best to all

Dixiemine30

When was your MX, you seem to be moving long quite quickly.  Mine was on Feb 23rd, I have had only one fill of 70 ccs in his office besides what they initially put in at time of surgery. 

I have not yet decided on saline or silicone but have been leaning towards silicone.  Your diagnosis sounds much like mine, are you having to go with hormone therapy?  Or have you started?  I am 55 and the MO was suggesting that I take it.  All of my pathology came back as non-invasive, so no chemo or radiation. 

You sound like you are really doing well.  Keep it up! 

Hi, all.  Just wanted to jump in and remind you that I've been through chemo already, if anyone has any questions about wigs and the like.  I'm hoping none of you will need the advice.  I'm a little over 2 months past my final chemo, and I've got 75% of my eyelashes and eyebrows back.  My hair is coming in on my head pretty well.  No matter what, I'm going to sport a short haircut by the summer (not that summer has not already come here to the East Coast).  I am 49, and the chemo seems to have put me into menopause so I've gone on Femara. 

My BMX was 2/6.  I'm still a little stiff and sore in the arms.  I am still healing from skin necrosis on my prophy side and will be for probably another 4-6 weeks.  GRRR.  I started radiation this week.  Between the oozing from the skin necrosis and the daily Sharpee markings, my camisoles and bras are looking pretty grungy. 

It would be great if all things came together simultaneously--end of radiation, healing of necrosis and enough hair to go topless.  I might then treat myself to a big clothes shopping trip.

Hi Deborah2012,

Hope your sample is a good one also, the wait stinks. I posted earlier about my ovaries because my MO was pretty sure I would be doing the hormone therapy to starve out those stinking cancer cells. I called today to see about the removal while I am home from work and now I was told that if the oncotype comes back high indicating chemo they would have to wait for me to recover from them being removed before they could start it and they don't want to wait. Uggh...it really sounded like the hormone therapy when we were talking, wonder how many have been "surprised" by the score like you said.

I stopped wearing a bra a few days after my drains came out and just wore the camies with built in bra because of the pain it was causing to wear a bra. Today I did put one on just to see how I would do and not so bad, but at night the "girls are free". I usually but the half moon pillows they gave me at the hospital under my arms  for support and protection of "Tom's" restless sleeping and I feel very comfy.

I guess the returning to work will be the end of March regardless, I will see the BS, the PS and hopefully the MO with a plan.

I hope everyone is doing well tonight. As always, everyone's post give me strength and courage and knowledge, thank you

Thanks for sharing Debbie!  Bern, I wear the shelf-bra camisoles too