Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?
Comments
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Just what to give all the members of the April club {{{ warm hugs}} to everyone ,
I'm new here and haven't really posted anything ,but here I go lol...
As of lately I spend a lot of my time on here reading,I'm a happy to be here? No I'm not, I made a few friends in here, but I'm happy to have this place to vent.
I have other issues to deal with, along with BC and the BMX/ DIEP flap being done at once,
I was going to have major back surgery on March 28, it was a multi level fusion, it was to be on at NYU,
I have five, but four of them needs fusion, (degantive disc) have degenative disc disease of the spine, it's my lower back and I have chronic pain, and I live on pain meds, so the cancer it is on my mind a lot, but the pains takes mind off of it.
I'm a woman of strong faith, my family , cosins and friends are partying for me, to get me though this, and it's working thank you Jesus!!!, I am claim and peacefully about it, haven't had a really big meltdown yet.
Havering this BMX wasn't my choice in the matter, would rather a had the two small masses removed, but it seems that my right breast is filled with cancerus lesions, so my right girl gotta go and my left girl,
Well she don't look to good has a lot of precancerous things going on it her....
So this is my faith and I can't fight it, so I have positive thoughts about this, and so far Thank you Lord, it hasn't spread as far as they can see!!, so I am thankfully it was found in the early stage.....
I know right before my surgery I will have a major meltdown, but now I'm doing pretty good about it....
Sending all with BC warm hugs and positive thoughts with lots of prayers everyone's way..
Tammy -
FYI - for those considering taking an SSRI (zoloft, welbutrin etc) please be sure to discuss it with your BS and oncologist because they interfere with Tamoxifen. There is a lot of information on this site about it. I became aware of it because 1) I take Welbutrin and 2) Tamoxifen is the most prescribed selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for pre menopausal women (like myself). Read more here: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/tamoxifen.jsp
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I have an April BMX date, I think it is Monday the 2nd of April. The PS is making me wait one more week to make sure I don't have any questions or change my mind I guess. I did my pre op stuff Friday March 23rd, 2012. I am starting to be scared and sad. I already had a lumpectomy on March 5th. This is going to be very different.
I sure am glad you all are here.
Love,
Jenny
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Longislandmom, I will donate belly to you. I have enough to make 4 nice ones I think! I am not using my ample fat as I am having TE and implants.
Welcome Photogamy, at first glance I couldn't figure out your name, photo-gamy, like polygamy? Now I get it! Must be the two beers I just had with late lunch (lite beers so as to keep the ample belly fat in check!)
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Also welcome Jenny, I know it is sad and scary. Who would have thought nice girls like us would be in this mess.
I'll add you to the list.
Gabs, sorry you have chronic pain. That must be very taxing on you along with the BC issue. Hugs to you too!
Keonghi, I did not know that about tamoxifen. Thanks for the info
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Hey Jenny,
You're up first!
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jenny,
Hello and welcome to the April board, {{{ hugs}}} wrapping you in a warm blanket, and sending you positive thoughts, as you make your way to your surgery and after when your healing begins -
LOL Plymouth! I tried different variations of my first and middle name (Amy & Beth) but they all seemed to be taken, so I put "Photog" in front of my name since I am a Photographer. I guess I didn't really think that one through…I see how it looks like polygamy!
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Ok, so I am no longer an April Gal, my date has been moved up to March 29. But I have enjoyed reading about everyone so much, hope you dont mind if I stick around. I have my pre-surgery class tomorrow and I think I have most everything done. Still a few lists to put together for the DH while I am away, but other than that I think I am ready. Well maybe not ready, but I can do this. I am having a right side mx with immediate tram. BTW found some really soft tank tops that I can step into at Old Navy. $10.00. Since I had to buy something I dont normally wear and probably wont wear after recovery picked up 2. They had lots of colors too.
I probably wont be back online now until after surgery and I am back home, but I will be -praying for all the April gals, and if I have any insights I will pass them on.
Good Luck everyone!!!!~
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That's great, GmaNiki! I will be sending you prayers and healing thoughts!
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If I don't count today I am 10 days out. I have been bitchng on how far out surgery is and now I am terrified at how close it is, lol! I think I am ready though. I have shopped, cleaned, prayed, been to more doctor appts in the last few months than I have for my whole life combined. I even went to confession. Today my sister and bff came over and we had a cook-a-thon. I think my family will now be able to eat while I am recovering. So now I wait... dang I think i have too much time to think. xoxxox to you all. I love reading your posts!!!
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Hi -
I'd like to join in here. Completely new, this is my first post. Scheduled for a right side mx on april 12. Had 1 lumpectomy a few weeks ago but most margins were bad. Dr recommends mx. Drs suggest a silicone implant reconstruction at the same time. Im trying to find more info about the implant reconstruction and also get to know others who are having mx in april. It all seems like a bad dream sometimes and Im wondering why I am here.
I might or might not need chemo but if I get the mx dont need radiation.
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Welcome Carol. Hear ya on the "bad dream". We all feel that way. Trust me!!! We will all help if we can.
I dont know about chemo yet either.
Thanks Ladies for all your comments on the anti-depressants.
Hope you can all sleep tonight. Another day Surgery Sisters!!!!
Hugs. -
Hi All,
I am joining the April club. I am scheduled for BPMX on April 10th. TEs and exchange surgery to follow. My mother died from BC at the age of 33 (I was only 2) and my older sister was diagnosed with IDC 3 years ago. ADH and ALH found in 1 of 3 biopsy sites in January. I have been told that I need a hysterectomy as well, and am considering doing this at the same time. I have been seeking out others who have done these 2 surgeries together, but have yet to find anyone.
I am hoping and praying that everyone enduring this experience has a successful outcome. Many blessings to all!
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Someone asked who is doing mx diep? I am all at the same time.
Longislandmom, where are having your surgery on 4/23??? Mine is at mt. Sini. -
Nancy. Welcome. I am so sorry that you lost your mother so young. I lost my father at 6 from cancer as well. So scary. So awful. Your surgery is soon and we will stick with you before and after. I dont know anyone who has done both together but I do know those who have done them 6 months apart. I'm sorry that I dont know anything about the pros and cons of that, but it sure sounds like an awful lot of pretty intense surgery all at once for your body to heal from. What does your bs say?
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I;ll be thinking about you GmaNiki on the 29th, good luck! You are our point gal.
Welcome Carol and ndroby, the list has been updated for you all.
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Judy, I have the same experience, one minute it seems too far away, the next it feels way too close.
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Hello all my surgery sisters. I hope everone had a good sunday, or at least a little break from the craziness from this whole thing.
Welcome Heidi, Photoamy, Gasaba and Layla. This site has done wonders for me. Lot's of woman sharing their experience strenght and hope.
Longislandmom I was diagnosed in August of 2009. I had a lumectomy, 8 rounds of chemo and radiation. Now almost 3 years later after many scares of lumps in my right(cancerous breast) and my last mamogram in Feb of this year(left breast with scattered calcifications I have descided to have a BPMX. I'm triple negative so I'm not able to take tamoxofin. Anyway the point is the scare has always been there that the BC will return in either one or both breasts. Remember Peace of mind is also very important to consider. If I had to do it all over I would have had a BPMX in 2009.
Plymouth I love love love your honesty and humor. I'm gonna download some Eminem just to let some of my axiety and anger out.
GmaNiki I will be praying for you this Thursday.
Judy I know the coundown thing is driving me CRAZY....
Lisamarie How r u doing? I miss hearing from you.
Well that's all for now. Oh and BTW tomorrow morning is my preop.....I hope everyone has a good nights sleep.
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Good Morning Ladies. I don't know about all of you...but mornings are my saddest time. after a night of relatively peaceful sleep i wake up and remember...oh, i have BC, crap! i lie in bed for a few extra minutes (husband has been great about that) collecting my thoughts and then up and out to get the kids ready for school. but am feeling like i have turned a corner in terms of being sure about this decision.
RTnyc - i think i have decided on MSK for my surgery. they're holding the 23rd for me. my other first choice was Sinai, like you. i have been going back and forth in my head because they are both excellent choices. but i just need to stop the thinking and make a decision. i know i'll be fine at either one.
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Good Morning everyone!!!
LongIsland.....I hear you one that!!! Cos I do the samething,
I'm in long island too, I'm in Nassau where about are you if you don't mind me asking you?
I'm having my girls removed at North Shore, I didn't want to go to the city, because I feel I have excellent BS and and one of the best PS, who specialize in micro surgery, he's doing the DIEP flap on my too girls. Just want to say warm hugs to you and all of our bc sisters who are going though the something as all of us!!!! {{{{{{{ hugs}}}}}} positive thoughts and many many healing prayers, to get everyone though this and have all of the surveys we all facing, May we having a calming and peaceful sprite for all,,, -
Morning Surgery sistas !!!
Sony , I am here .. still not smoking girl .. today is 29 days cigarette free and 11 days nicotine free , I am rocking this thing ") how are u ? {{HUGS}}
So many of us Long Island Girls here ... My surgery is at South Hampton ..I am having much Anxiety even though I still have 28 days to go ..Some days I just wanna throw up ... My Primary care wont give me any meds ..and I cant drink so I get sooo frustrated .. and not smoking also drives me some days ....
Wrlcome to all the new gals .. "
kinda sucks to meet on these terms ... but we are all here to support each other ..I always use the F bomb ... lol I just dont know how to feel somedays
I also am in the process of moving to a new apt and getting ready for my kids to visit for Easter .. so sorry if im not here as much
Peace and love and hugs
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LisaMarie68 -- i had my two babies at southampton hospital. and yes, there are way too many of us long island girls here. they have an amazing nursing staff there. Congrats on the nicotine quit...it's an awesome accomplishment.
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I guess I'll go ahead and jump in now. I'm still waiting on my date, but I'll be having a BMX sometime in April. Hopefully I'll find out the date by tomorrow.
I was diagnosed on March 7 with IDC in my right breast. I decided to go ahead and remove the other as well. I'm 41, and this was found on a routine mammogram. Completely unexpected for me too. I've enjyoed reading your posts, you are all echoing my thoughts and feelings. It's so nice to hear that.
I'm really stressing out about getting my life organized - house clean, carpools arranged, etc. so that things will be easier for my Mom when she comes to stay with us. I'm really grateful for the posts regarding what to expect after surgery, and what items will make my life easier. I'm such a planner, and this curveball was NOT in my plan for this spring! So, organizing the mundane details is helping me cope with all of the emotions I am having.
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thanks longisland mom ... the PS wanted me to be at least 3 weeks nicotine free .. but I am gonna be more than that .. hope he is proud of me ...I am glad the staff at south hampton are nice . I did a day suregery with my excisional feb 7th and everyone was nice to me . My breast center is in the hospital as well . I just want this to be all behind me ...
Welcome Jen70 ... sorry to meet u here . but hope u find this group to be fun and very supportive ..{{hugs}}
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Hi again surgery sisters!
Another FYI about Tamoxifen. I am doing research for a pharmacology class (I'm getting my masters degree in Oriental Medicine) and I chose to do it on Tamoxifen. This article is quite alarming and seems very "credible" with sources. http://www.all-natural.com/tamox.html
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Hi and welcome Jen70. Thanks for the interesting info keo. I am glad to hear from you Lisamarie, congrats on the smoke-free!
WWYD: Met w ps today (after meeting with cardiologist for clearance bcs of EKG abnormality, got cleared), he said I could do nipple sparing or skin sparing. If nipple sparing the breasts do not get lifted and he recommends skin sparing because of this. My breasts are very saggy (ptosis, the medical term, sounds so much kinder!)
So, I saw the photos of each kind, the skin sparing ones on someone my age, 51, looked better. He said nip sparing best for young, non-saggy women.
Thoughts? I am leaning toward skin sparing after meeting w him today. Thankfully he is real nerdy, other wise all his nipple touching would have been real creepy. My husband was weired-out looking at the photos of other womens boobs. Poor guy.
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Plymouth , u are too funny . I am not doing the nip sparing .. only because 4 me that is still breast tissue and I want to feel like i have really done all i can do to keep cancer gone , but that is such a personal decision ... {{Hugs }}
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Hello ladies! I am new to this discussion. I am scheduled for a BMX with reconstruction on April 5....a week from Thursday. I think I have felt every emotion known to man since I was diagnosed in Dec. now, I just want it over with. I am really nervous, but I have a really good friend who I run with that had this surgery 4 years ago...she was 31 at the time and had a 15 month old. She looks great and has really helped me through this!! I just want my life back so I am no longer that "poor mom at school with BC". I just want to be "mom" again. I am interested in all the thoughts on nipple sparing. My plastic surgeon wants me to do it....I am 41, thin, and not much in the way of boobs. My oncologist, who is also my sister-in-law, says that I will still have to have some type of screening. What has everyone decided to do? I am so sad that we are all going through this, but what a wonderful community this is! I feel blessed to have found y'all...yes, I'm a southern girl!
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Hi VeganGal,
The BS says to do the 2 surgeries together to get it over with under 1 anesthesia---supposedly they do these 2 surgeries together a lot. Like you, this seems like too much surgery for me at once. I asked to speak with at least one of their patients who have had both surgeries together, but they have been unable to find anyone for me to speak with. I doubt seriously if they do these together as much as they say they do.
When I spoke with the PS about this, he sort of winced at the idea but said nothing else. I am freaking out right now and having chest pain with the thoughts of having 1 surgery, let alone both. Even though I have ADH and ALH, I have a suspicion that I have a hidden invasive breast cancer. I have been reading the board on breast cancer and breast pain--I have had that issue as well these last few years. I am not so sure that I can cope with BOTH hysterectomy and a bad diagnosis at the same time.
I am not fond of the BS--he is very business-like and professional---technically proficient, but has the personality of a doorknob. On the other hand, the PS is an artist with his own studio---classically trained in painting and sculpting. He also does mission work overseas for cleft lip and palate repair. He is by far the only ray of sunshine in this whole ordeal for me.
I hope that I make the right decision. This is supposed to be risk-reduction surgery, not risk-increasing surgery. I am leaning toward just doing the PBMx and stop there.
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