February 2012 MX

Drive on!

Yes, Happy Easter to you too, Bern25 and everyone!!!!!  

I love my real foob - you cannot tell the difference - great fit....so happy with it.  Yes, Nel, just keep moving on....(((hugs)))

Hi Nel,

Hang tough you're almost there and we are all here for you!!! 

Barbiecorn,

Woo hoo!!!  So excited your loving the new Foob:>

Deborah,

Is dressing this Foob like playing dolls again?  Maybe you could make a calendar with the Foob dressed in different fashions for each month  I'm glad you're finding a way to put a positive spin on things, as always!!!  When is the second opinion again?  I'll be praying extra hard on that day for you and here's to keeping the estrogen squashers at bay as long as possible!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!!

Carolyn 

I feel the same way about checking in on everyone. I look forward to seeing how everyone is doing. All though I am a little nervous about Thursday I am excited to be through this part. Definitly going with the 3D Nipple tatooing but having a hard time finding someone in this area to do artistic cosmetic tatooing for the design, since the ink and depth are different, I really need to find someone who knows what they are doing. But lots of time for that. Ready for a break. I'll just draw them on when needed if I have to...LOL. Hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend.

Good luck tomorrow, Deborah!  Let us all know how it goes!!!  I think once you have a 2nd opinion, that'll REALLY help with treatment plan confidence.  But, in the end, it's all a crap shoot anyway....just a spin of the roulette wheel, really.  We, and the doctors, make our best guesses as to what "should" work the best and then either pray or cross our fingers.

Hey, I haven't heard back from you re: the pix sent via email or my PM's....have you gotten them?  And are we still on for the wknd of the 20th?

Deb

Hi All,

I couldn't agree more about checkin in here to see how you are all doing!!  You're my special friends. (sounds like I should be in Mr Rodgers neighborhood...May be I should pull out my sweater and put on my tennies)  You are all wonderful and I'm very thankful to know you all!!!

Now, to our fearless leader, Deborah, I will be thinking about you all day, and I can't wait to hear what you have to share with us.  I'm praying all will go well!!

That's very interesting about the rads and possible other cancer risk.  I will have to go find that article and read it.  That was one of my biggest concerns that pushed me to have the BMX.  I didn't want collateral damage from the treatments!!!  Thanks for sharing the info!!!  I nominate you for chief scientific officer of the FAB FEBBIES!!!  Seriously, thanks for all that you do, I really appreciate and admire you.

Everyone is required to have a Fabulous day today!!!

Carolyn

Deborah2012...will be thinking about you today...I agree once you get your second opinion I think you will be able to focus more and be confident with your choice. As for the Rads, my sister said when she started she did the lumpectomy and rads. After I made my decision for the BMX she told me she was so glad because of the scar tissue alone was painful. Once the cancer returned and she had the MX she said all that pain went away. Sometimes I think the pain from the scar tissue masked the pain in her sternum as it was spreading, anyway enough of that.

Now about the tatooing, I know there are temp ones, just haven't looked into where I can get them but it sounds like a great idea because once you choose one it will be there. One the other note if the temps last a while I could change them up seasonally-lol. I will check the craft stores like you said and see whats on tap after they let me drive again after Thursday.

Hope everyone is has a great day ahead. I will be checking in later for updates as usual to see how my Fab Feb Sisters are doing

Hi my F'd to the third Fab Feb Females!

Thank you for your moral support and comraderrie (I think auto spell check is botching this up). Im in car on way up to University for second opinion.



DebbieOs, I'm so glad I got to hear your voice and chat! I re-sent everything, let me know if you still didn't get them. Yes, we're still on to meet in person! I can hardly sit still in anticipation!



I'm terrible texting in car even though DH is driving. I'll check in later.

XOXO

Deborah2012

Deborah2012-glad to hear the second opinion agrees with the local, that has to ease your mind alot. Can't wait to get the details. Did you notice there hasn't been a post since...it was like everyone was holding their breath for you waiting....lol...BTW my blood pressure does the same especially when I get off the phone with one of my girls and there is a problem..heehee...

Well I have a 6am check in tomorrow (EST) so I will try to check in before I go to bed tonight and when I get home tomorrow.

Best to all....

Ahhh....home sweet home...pain from the gas so far and chest a little tender but I feel good...now k\if I don't get menopausal I should feel great by tomorrow....will check in later if I don't fal asleep to see how everyone is doing.... 

 Best to ALL!

Oh.....exchange surgery scheduled for May 21.  WOOT!!!

Ok Ladies...I have a BIG question...has anyone had the TE placed and the surgeon found cloudy fluid and sent if off to be cultured? I have an dry itchy spot and under that spot was the fluid...nervous about something besides some infection.

Thanks Fab Feb's

Hi girlfriends!  You are my sanity sisters and breast cancer buddies,

It's so delightful to read your posts!  Nel, our founder- wish we could smack those SEs into behaving. When you finish reading this post, you'll see I really mean it.  We don't like to read that SEs are messing with our Fab Feb Females. 

Bern, you are amazing! I hope you feel all better. Sending a little soothing tenderness your way.  What a drag to have something else on your brain-suspicious fluid?  Will it never end?  This blasted C trip is sometimes two steps forward and one step back.  Naturally, we care about your recovery and are concerned about the extra fluid check. Keep us posted. I wish you had a temporary tattoo from those tattoo sticker books at the craft store on your arm so you would know that we are thinking of you when you look at it.  They wipe off with rubbing alcohol.

Diximine, so are you planning ahead as to best train your pending implants to do an encore from your TEs tricks?  Hard act to follow. Show over.  You're done- okay?  No more stunts!!

Wren44, okay- countdown begins.  So far I think I'm up next for April 30th with squishies and then Diximine on May 21st.  Anyone else in between?

The second opinion.  I'll post a few details likely tomorrow regarding some information that was interesting to me but.

The clinical trial...is about to close.  It began in 2007.  It is to study if "cognitive function" is affected by chemotherapy or hormone blockers.  I find it hilarious that naturally, I would qualify for "foggy brain" studies!   Sign me up! I'm there already!  I wonder if they have a dumbed down enough test in case I were to lose cognitive function because of AIs? I could go negative.  I can see me now in 18 mos.  "Well she bombed all aspects and is so shot she's eating the paper the test are on"!  Man, talk about an outlier- huh Cajmi??? 

The reason why I may not qualify is that I am claustrophobic.  And get this.  My damned ol' foob came through like a champ and saved me from the despised MRI tube!  My most tortured experience to date in this Big C campaign was the MRI tube for the vacuum assisted biopsy.  The metal valve in my TE prohibits my MRI participation.  AW shucks, what a shirty dame! However, that doesn't disqualify me from participating as I could have the PET scan with my metal valve because it's only around my head.  Again- a protracted amount of time in one of those machines.  The deal is that I would need a relaxer of some type to have to be almost perfectly still for almost an hour.  That's where the claustrophobia enters the picture.  That may disqualify me. If I can't take a pill, I likely would be incapable of completing the PET scan. The modalities of the trial involve an MRI, PET of the brain, blood test, puzzles, and other comprehension tests (as in hours of mental test taking not just puzzles) along with a six hour fast.  This trial would not be "fun".  Most people shy away from having any of their mental faculties being assessed. I do feel really strongly about trying to contribute to advancing science in general and the science of breast cancer in particular.  The trial will involve about 18 months of my life. I really don't want to say too much.But if I can contribute to understanding SEs or lack of them, I want to enlist.

I do think it's imperative we learn more about any potential SEs and what are the characteristics of patients who suffer from or are free of them.   The purpose of the blood test is to test for a non-breast cancer gene.  We won't be told of those results.  It's a detail that won't be revealed so it doesn't prejudice the results. There's more to this than I'm sharing.  If I do participate, it has occurred to me that some day after the study, I'd like to privately pay for that blood test if I could even have access to it.

Hey Galsal- it's another PITA!  A two hour drive one-way, hotel stay (I think they have some token amount of money to defray -not cover) costs of travel etc.  AFTER the fact.  One personally fronts expenses and is not fully reimbursed.  Truly, if I do this, it will be so that all of us and those who come after us may know in advance how to predict certain aspects of potential SEs.We are supposed to be on the AIs for FIVE years.  I'll probably be radioactive after all of the mammograms, MRIs and now PET scan above and beyond normal exposures after this BC circus!

 Another complication for me.  I can't begin my AIs until the first baseline testing is done. Both oncs want me to begin Arimidex pronto.Dr. Second Opinion said not to wait longer than 3 mos. post my MX.  That puts me at May 3rd.  My local onc wanted me on Arimidex weeks ago.  I see her on April 24th.  That means that if I am okayed to participate, I go early this next week to the university to establish the baseline testings.  A week later, I begin Arimidex, a week later I have my implants and DITCH THE TE! Hey Bern, I'm beginning to sound like you.  Are there enough days to schedule all this crap and git 'er done?

Anyway, don't be too disappointed if I just bomb out because I truly can't handle the "straight-jacket" sensation of having to be perfectly still for 50 minutes in a machine. 

Your devoted Fab Febbie sister, Deborah XOXO to my favorite females.

Deborah2012 - I feel the same way about trying to help by doing a clinical trial.  I am going to participate in the one using metformin (diabetes drug).  I am having bloodwork done on Monday and then I guess it will be a few weeks before I start taking pills (either metformin or a placebo).  I see the plastic surgeon on Monday also for another fill.  Since I don't need chemo, maybe she will give me a date for exchange and reduction/lift on my real boob!  I also check this site every day to see how everyone is doing.  Hope everyone gets better every day!