Giuliana and Bill

I saw an interview earlier this week. I am pretty sure she had something more than DCIS.  I saw on the news how she discussed Chemo with her docs, but is not needed for her.  DCIS patients don't get evaluated for chemo. She also said that the pathology from the MX was worse than they thought, and she is taking 'oral medication'...i am thinking that is likely Tamox, which would suggest she is ER+, but I am guessing.

I watched the show where she found out she had cancer. And have seen bits of her here and there on news shows. She said in the beginning she had early stage breast cancer. And that she was getting a mastectomy to avoid radiation. This portrays a slightly inaccurate statement. Just because one has a mastecomy does not necessarily mean one doesn't one need rads afterwards. It all depends on the margins. I think she could have done a better job of explaining and not giving false hopes that if you get a mastectomy you don't get rads.

I, too, think if she is going to go out there publicly it would be nice to know what stage. Is she trying to keep something to herself? Is it to get more people to watch her show? I am assuming her initial diagnoses MAY have been DCIS, but certainly sounds like after the bmx, it was more than that.

I thought I heard that Giuliana originally had a lumpectomy, but she had dirty margins which is why she got the bmx.  Not sure if that is accurate, just what I remember hearing.

The episode now is new. I'm DVD-ing it to watch with no commercials😄



I do think if she's going to come out about her dx and decision, she could have provided more details. However, someone who never went through this would have no idea what DCIS is, and some may even brush it off as non-breast cancer. With regards to DCIS not being multi focal, that is possible, as that is what I had. I had it in at least 3 spots in my right breast.



I can't wait to watch tonight because I'm eager to see if she says what stage, and slo if she had immediate reconstruction or TEs. I couldn't imagine going back to work after 3 weeks having just gotten my drains out and not showering...



Dee - looks like we were in a similar situation which resulted in my BMX.



Happy watching!

shelley - this show has been on for a while (several years), and highlighted their wedding, first few years of their marriage, their careers and families and their struggle with infertility.  They had been very frank about in vitro and the loss of a couple of pregnancies I believe.  One of the reasons they have been public at all I think is because cameras were already following them and her BC came to light because of routine testing for the next in vitro.  I think one of the reasons they have been vague in the press about details is that they would naturally unfold on the show in time.

Hey SpecialK and Paula66-

Ok, that explains a lot. I enjoyed watching the show. I was on Style by accident, but it caught my attention. I think they did a good job of discussing the issues without giving too much personal information.

I  watched the first two shows of the season and from what I remember it was biliateral and she had a lumpectomy on each breast.  One side had clear margins and the other did not. Three was a fair amount of time trying choose between re-excision and or mastectomy.

The two and a half weeks seemed to be after the lumpectomies.  At the end of this week's show she had decided on a double mastecotmy with immediate reconstruction.  They also were talking about trying to get pregnanat and the in vitro doctor told them best not to get pregnant until  at least  3 to 5 years after treatment.

 The latest Today show interview had them talking about possibly having a  surrogate with the harvested embryos or going forward with adoption.

I mostly knew her from the local commercials for her father's men's store touting him as her favorite tailor. 

It's clear her hiusband is very supportive and very concerned, several firends have reminded him he needs to take care of himself in order to take care of her. 

I think it's very generous of them to be as forthcoming as they have been with the challenges, come common to many of us, and others not so much  -- the Oscars dress worries were something most of us would never have to face.

Hi everyone.  This is a drama unfolding in parts i believe.  I know we're all curious as to exactly what happened and we do know it is very private. But she did decide to share it with everyone, so maybe it will be in the show litttle by little. I'm not understanding much of her stage or operations and I can't imagine going back to work so quickly--unless the drains were taken out very quickly. ??? I don' always watch their how, but I have and they are adorable and trying to get pregnant is a big topic, but now again I have no idea what they have to go thru.

They did show Bill bashing the BC forums, saying unless someone has an "MD" behind their name, it isn't worth reading.  They showed Giuliana reading someone's post, and from the screen it looked like BCO.  I've deleted the show or would have typed it up.  I don't remember Bill saying Ok, it's fine to watch, but then I have chemobrain at the moment.

As I recall, when she went back to work 2 weeks later, she had a very blousy unrevealing dress on.  There could have been drains underneath. 

I've watched their show from the beginning.  They are so cute and seem pretty normal as far as celebs of their caliber go.  They seem very grounded.  I was a little irritated at Bill when she was on the boards and he told her that's not where you get your info.  Yes everyone is different but I think we all gathered much useful information to ask our doctors.  There was a thread that blew up in here before on her, it was crazy.  But I would really like to know what she had and what sort of reconstruction she had.  She went to work two and half weeks after her BMX.  She had the surgery in December.  I'm guilty of watching E News and E Fashion Police.  She was right back at work with 'boobs'.  She is very tiny.  I'm wondering if they were able to place implants in her at surgery?  I was one of the people who was disappointed that she didn't give more info when she came out publicly with it.  Yes it is private info, but she did go public.  I also forgot...she's probably saving it for the show!  With that said...we still don't know anymore about her cancer.  I think alot of women going through this would be helped to know what her particular struggles have been.  I hope it's something we will learn as the show progresses.  I am particularly curious how she was able to go back to work so soon.  I have to tell you, I really felt like a wimp and whiner after hearing she went back so quickly.  But like her husband said, everyone is different.  It would be nice to know what those differences are however.  I think she kind of gives the impression that even though this is devastating, it's not a big deal recovering physically.  Just my opinion.  I do really like her and her husband, though.  I will keep watching to see how this unfolds.  I do wish her the best of luck with a baby.  I know how devastated she must have felt after the last episode.  They've been trying for so long and then this.  And like others, watching the first episode brought back memories I thought I had forgotten.  Very tough to watch.

Michelle

I was thinking the same thing Minimacsmom. That was a long time.  But it didn't show or say when she actually went in for the mammo and when she was called back.  So that might have been a factor.  When I saw her on the boards in the last episode, I was kind of embarrassed of some of the women on these boards who were really going after her. I was hoping she didn't let that deter her from coming on here and seeking info.  That thread kind of backed up what Bill was saying.  They are very positive couple.  She is lucky to have someone so strong by her side.  I wish I had someone like that. I have had a crush on him since his Apprentice days!

Michelle

I think she was on the boards for for support than medical advice. I think thats why people come here to begin with. My DH said the same thing to me when I was telling him about this, but then I explained I need to connect with people in the same situation, he understood.



I hope she talks more about her recovery from BMX becuase I'm dying to know how she went back to work so quickly. I feel like people I know compare my recovery to hers. It would be helpful to explain what she had versus what's I had...



In any case, Giuliana, if you're reading these, we all support you and wish you the best!

I didn't see the recent show.  I have seen it before the bc diagnosis. 

My guess is that she may have already had breast implants.  So during the MX, they can remove the breast tissue and replace the implants with new slightly larger, or smaller, ones.  Then there is no tissue expansion necessary.  The muscle pockets are already stretched out from the prior implants so its not nearly as painful as the first implants. Can't be done in every instance though.