2012 sisters
Comments
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Chrissera, thats a great comeback... HA! not sure what that means that it gives me pleasure to make people uncomfortable about my situation. But sometimes I just do. I didnt do it to that person today but i did to my neighbor a while back. She knew I had cancer and was asking all kinds of questions about why I got cancer. I got a little mad because she was making it sound like I had CAUSED it somehow by a lifestyle choice or that it was family related. Which in my case its not. I realized I think that she was worried about herself (isnt that what is always the case, they are just concerned about themselves??). I told her it is complete random fucking bad luck and one in 8 women get it and I looked out at the pool where there were 10-12 other people and said chances are someone else here will be diagnosed with it sometime and there is nothing they can do to prevent it. She walked away and I havent seen her since.
RoulaG, I know it was a hard decision but you made it. Now that you have decided you will know if it is right for you over the next few days because you will feel it as it settles in your mind. Good luck with your journey to kick cancer out of your system forever.
As my hair started to grow back I would measure it based on a babies growth. 1 month old. 6 month old etc... It still feels like baby hair now, pet pet.
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JP, the baby hair s so true, I loved your pet, pet. I can't keep my hands out of my hair! I keep petting it! LOL
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TAZZY I should have known you would would come up with something like that to make me laugh.Thats Hilarious. Just thinking weekend, no drains, take it easy on the poor DH with making up for lost time.
JPMom Love the hair comment. That should make you feel great though! If you run into that neighbor again though you should suggest she change her conditioner because her hair isn't near as soft as yours and let her pet it. Give her a chance to squirm.lol
Chrissera your comeback was great too. Honestly people just don't think about what they are saying or asking. Another example of how great it is to "share" your stories here. We get them and sometimes thinks that wouldn't have seemed the least bit funny to non-bc people weirdly crack us up.
Taraceta28 don't know what I would do without this great group of bc ladies as no one except my DH and 3 other people even know about my bc and surgeries. I have been pretty lucky about hiding my surgeries. I have never even had a neighbor notice that I was creeping along in pain. lol I am very hopeful that I am on the ps calendar for the beginning of sept. I'll find out for sure next week. I was going for bigger now I'm just anxious to get softer and more flexible! lol Hope you can get your squishees for Christmas!
Roulag like everyone said making the decision and actually waiting is the hardest part. The surgery wasn't near as bad as I had imagined and I have a huge sense of relief now.I have always had test anxiety so less breasts, less tests, less anxiety for me.lol
Well hoping everyone has a stress free weekend. I know I am relieved that Isaac the hurricanes path is getting further and further away from us so I won't have to worry about preparations. A hurricane this year would throw me into a tizzy for sure altho with these weights in my chest I wouldn't have to worry about blowing away for sure.
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Hi all...
Hi ladies. I'm not really new to the boards but I am to this thread. I am 33 years old with no family hx of BC but I was diagnosed Monday with IDC and DCIS, in two separate masses on opposite sides of the R breast. I'm scheduled for a BMX on Wednesday, 8/29 and I'm having such a dilemma with this whole nipple stuff and the mere emotions from it all. I went from finding a lump that the first radiologist referred to as "probably a ridge of breast tissue" because he couldn't see it on the u/s to demanding a MRI at my BS's office and then finding out I have not one but two masses (one can be felt and one was only found by the MRI because it's up against the muscle in the center of my chest). All of this in 3 weeks is quite a bit to process. Did I mention I have 4 children (4, 7, 13 and 15)?
Yesterday when I met with the PS was the hardest day for me. My BS was telling me I was having Bilateral nipple sparing simple mastectomies. Which sounded just peachy....if any of it can be that. After meeting with my PS, he was frank (which I appreciate) and gave me choices for the nipples and also the downside to all the choices. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD A CHOICE!!! He told me I could most definitley keep mine but after explaining some of the things that can happen to them (they may not stick and may slide some, they may blister, may turn black and rot off (yes, he said this) and a few other things I can't really recall because the thought of the above mentioned actions made my stomach turn and I kind of tuned him out. He did say I could just have some made and tattooed, which seems easier to me but after reading comments in the "nipple reconstruction thread" I'm more confused. I was unaware that they stay "turned on." I have the weekend to think about it and tell him of my decision on Monday when I finish my paperwork and then do pre-op.
Help me ladies!!!! The rug has been pulled out from under me twice this week...first with being diagnosed and then learning all the horrific details of the reconstruction. I appreciate your input of how you decided what to do. I do want them natural looking but I do not want a lot of surgeries. I've already been told I will have two. The initial BMX with expanders put in and then the second being for my actual implants. At first I was scared to wake up with nothing there. I've always been busty (5' 9", 165 lbs and a 36DD) but he reassured me the expanders would be 2/3's full when I wake up from surgery....making be about a B cup. I want to look the same, no bigger...maybe a little smaller. I just don't want drastic..ya know? UUUUGH....any insight about ANYTHING would be so greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance!!!
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2friedeggs...your Hurricane Isaac comment made me squirm. I'm in Mississippi, 5 miles from the beach and the NHC's "cone of death" keeps creeping my way. NOT FAIR! Especially since I'm supposed to have my BMX on Wednesday...right about the time it makes landfall!!!
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Mrscich, first we will pray that Isaac either fizzled or moves. And that prayer is for all you in its path!
Next, there are many people who have had NSBMX . They can help you and will be posting soon I am sure. I just had a BMX, due to family history. I chose the TEs. I will probably do the 3d tattoos when I finally heal. Just FYI, I lost my left te to infection, had to finish up my chemo and just got it replaced last week. So, 7 months after it was removed. -
Just wanted you to know no one method is perfect. I ended up with two extra surgeries. But, that wouldn't have changed my mind, as I had good reason to chose that reconstruction method. Good luck.
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Helloooooo ladies from drugged up michelle:) so won't type to much but I am home now and things went well! Just wanted to let everyone know I am home and feeling good that this surgery thing is over. I will touch back later this weekend with everyone but I can't keep my eyeballs open now so better go rest and recover! Big big hugs to all of you!
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Get some rest zmichelle, glad it went well.
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Happy it went OK for you Michelle... rest up - listen to your body, and remember your body heals when it is sleeping.
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Glad it went well michelle. thinking of you
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MrsCich first of all so sorry about your diagnosis. I know how stressful making all the surgical plans can be. I had a NSDMX and got the TE's and off hand I know Soya had NS but she got the direct implants. She will probably respond later. Re your comment: "I was unaware that they stay "turned on"-I think that varies by PS as well so you need to ask your Dr if that's the case with his NS technique. That wasn't the case with mine but she said she could do that if I wanted. I was glad I could have the NS though; it's so much more commonplace now. The incisions are usually different too with the NS so that's something else you might want to ask about. I did have a bit of necrosis on one side but it was due more to blistering from allergies to the steri-strips and bandages. I have had all my fills and am hoping to have my exchange surgery the beginning of September! I can't wait.Truthfully the NSDMX surgery was nearly as bad as I had anticipated. As far as Isaac, I will pray too that he fizzles. You sure as heck don't need that with surgeryWednesday. In the meantime you need to get out there with your children weekend and wave your arms towards the Gulf to shoo Isaac away! lol
McCook! Welcome to the other side! Hope youre feeling ok.
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Yeah, Michele! Glad your surgery went well!
MrsCich.....nothing about BC is fair....lthat being said, welcome to a group of awesome ladies who have a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge and compassion. I pray that Isaac fizzles out.....sorry you are here......but glad you found this thread! Blessings to you and your family! -
Hi. I am new to this discussion board. On July 16th I went for my first mammogram. On August 9th I had a BMX with TE. Everything has gone so quickly! It was a whirlwind!!
I was diagnosed with DCIS on my left side. It was a 9cm area. I decided to have the BMX because I am only 40. I don't want to worry about this for the rest of my life! And, I would rather be balanced!
I had a SNB. It came back negative so I don't need rads,chemo or tamoxifen. I feel sooo lucky! I feel like I am one of the lucky ones!!!
I had my first fill on Wednesday. It went well. It feels so weird! I had 120 cc in both sides. I have been so tired since the day of my fill. Not sure if it's from the fill or still effects of the surgery. Anyone else get tired from fills? It hasn't been overly painful.
It is so good to read all the posts! It reminds me I'm not alone:0)
Jess -
Welcome, Jess! You ARE one of the lucky ones!.....and it IS good to know that none of us are alone in this journey.....even when it sometimes feels like it. You'll get s lot of support here at every step. Can't speak to the fills question but I'm sure someone will....blessings to you. It breaks my heart a little more every time I see another woman on these boards....especially those of you who are so young!
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Jessfili Welcome. Wow you did have a whirlwind diagnosis and surgery. That's great to get it all done with so fast and not have to extend your worry time. Glad it went so well and that everything came back negative. That's great. We were just talking about tiredness after surgery. A couple of us were more tired a couple weeks after surgery. Personally I felt like I was so relieved right after surgery that I felt great but that the pre surgical jitters and everything just caught up with me a couple weeks later. The fills never really bothered me either. However I will say that now that I am "full" and these TE's are so hard and heavy, I don't get the greatest sleep. I can only sleep on my back and even that's challenging. LOL But it's only temporary until the exchange and really isn't that bad. That's what is so great about this board; you realize you're not alone and altho we are all in different stages and variations of treatments everyone has so much compassion and understanding of what everyone else is going thru.
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jessfili: welcome, my fills did not make me tired but kept me up so i was tired. hard to sleep. puts pressure on your chest when u lean back the heavier they get. Everyone is different though. i used to be a stomach sleeper so that might be alot of my restless problem too.
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Thanks for all the replies. I really do think my exhaustion is probably a combination of everything catching up with me and the fact that I don't sleep that well at night. I'm just uncomfortable.
Jess -
MrsCich-Welcome to the club and sorry you had to be here! This Breast Cancer sucks, I know! Now take a moment and breathe cause everything will be OK! I know its a little over whelmed about making decisions on what kind of surgery to do and when your doctor give you the choice of NSBMX or BMX only, its a hard choice and a very presonal one. I had a NSBMX direct to implants unlike a lot of the women on this thread, most of them had TEs and not direct to implants. I was a candidate for the NS and the direct to implants and I took it since that would mean I go to sleep with my own boobs and wake up to a new set of foobs (implants already in and no need for TEs which means one less surgery). From my own research and advice from my doctor, NS is really safe as long as the cancer is not near the nipples. You need to do some research about your BS and the amount of NS he did cause its a some what newer option and a lot of the BS are starting to offer this to their patients and you want to know that your BS has a lot of expereince doing the NS. You need to know that even if you keep your nipples, most likely you would not get back any feelings there and this is just for cosmetic reasons that you're keeping your nipples. Also the incisions for the NSBMX are different from the normal BMX, for example, mine was half along my areola and then outwards to my breast about 1 inch so my incisions shape like a spoon. And I think 2FriedEggs' incisions are different from mine although she did NSBMX as well (except hers are with TEs) and others who did NS has an incision under the fold of the breast, and the BMX without the nipples are almost always a line where your nipples are. Usually your BS will make an incision around your areola in the shape of an eye and then stitch it back together. So you need to ask your BS about your incisions and where it will be if you choose the NS. Making this decision is hard but you want to make it with all the info and what you could live with. Ask yourself if you could live without your nipples or if you could live with them and not think about whether it increases your recurrence risk. I believe my BS when he said that it was not a risk for me to keep my nipples and also along with a lot of research, I am glad I get to keep my nipples. The ladies who could not keep their nipples have to decide if to reconstruct the nipples later with their own skin which means more surgery (its not as major but still surgery) and then whether to get tattoo the areola so to make it look like a nipple.
PS me if you have any questions.
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michelle-gald your surgery went well, rest now!
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Welcome Jess to this group!
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Can I have my port out now?
I've been in bed and on drugs all day...the only bright side was having Ted arrive and then Jamie (a total surprise from my sister; a jumbo giraffe pillow pet lol). 
Jamie (the pillow pet) opens up and is HUGE! perfect for laying back on... And Ted is just the right size to cuddle. Hopefully between the two of them, that chemo chair will be comfy...even if I do look silly walking in with my personal stuff animal collection ;-)
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Oh Firestorm You are going to be the envy of the BGC room. How nice and SO cute and cuddly.
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Firestorm, your managerie is beautiful...I immediately thought of the song..if I could talk to the animals..... They will be a cozy comfort to you! Update on me...I have decided (after hours of research, loss of sleep and discussion with all my family members) to not do the chemo offered to me. I have higher intermediate Onco score, but MO explained that it would decrease chances by 4% . I had nothing in nodes, no LVI etc. Of course I will do the rads next and then the 5 years of AI. This caused as much stress as first being dx with this crappy disease. I am good with this decision and woke up with more energy then in last 8 weeks..had watered garden, washed windows, taken out screens to wash, 3 loads of laundry and it is not yet 9 AM. Hugs to all!
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Aruba
Ye of so much energy..PLEASE COME TO MY HOUSE!!! I have dirt you can tackle! -
LOL Soteria205..I have a feeling this is all because of this stress being let out over agonizing about decisions for days. I slept for 9 hours...first time since dx. I am sure I will get over this extreme energy boost soon as it is definately not the norm for me!
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Aruba, I am glad you are happy with your decision. It is a relief to have a plan and move forward. Much love
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Aruba. I think you're right about the stress thing. I slept great last night... I got the official all clear on all the 6 month followup stuff Radialogist, PCP, RO and got the letter from the imaging center telling me that the CAD reading agreed with the humans. NO SIGN OF CANCER.
Its amazing what your mind will do to you.
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Mcook, welcome back! Hopefully you don't have too much pain, and can rest and sleep a lot. The pain pills helped me to do just that. Every time I woke up, I felt better. Wishing the same for you!
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MrsCich The first month after gettting the dx was the worst part of this cancer thing for me. All those darn tests , felt like every part of my body had been examined and the surgery scared the heck outta me. It does get easier once you have a plan of attack. You do feel more in control once it is determined what has to be done. One thing I have learned is to live fully. I am lucky that my kids are grown and that my daughter moved back east to help us.
Huggs ((()))
Charlotte
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