Calling all TNs
Comments
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Keke713 I'm not much help either. Was a bit black and blue for a while which then faded with time. Hope you manage to get an answer. Sending warm hugs to you.
Tazzy as usual brilliant. That was so funny.
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I have a concern, also, about expanders. I had mine put in with my mx on Jan. 22nd, then I had three expansions done over the next few weeks, then the onco test came back that my tumor was actually negative, and they stopped everything cold with my expansions and my surgery for implants. I start chemo next Tuesday. My concern is that leaving this expander in for about six months, all told, before they replace it with an implant, could cause too much tissue growth and create a problem. Has anyone else on here had to wait until after chemo to get their implant surgery, with an expander in place for about six months or more?
Thanks so much to all of you wonderful women for all of your advice. Although I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it's kind of nice to not be completely alone. I hope you all know what I'm trying to say.
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Teresa- I had my uni-mx on Sept. 15 (2010) and my expander was in until late June of 2011 so 9 months. My port became infected right after chemo and that stopped my fills for a while. Then we had a planned trip to Disney World in early June so my PS thought it was best to wait so I wasn't bouncing around on ride with a fresh exchange. I have had no problems at all and my foob looks really good!
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Luv - so happy to hear the news...happy dance!
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Thank you TifJ!
I've just heard about massage and things to do after the implants are in so that they don't get too 'fixed' in place, so I started to worry about this piece of plastic that is already uncomfortable.
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Teresa...My PS wont even do an exchange until at least four months after my BMX surgery. So I think having your expanders in for six months is fine. I've heard many people having them in for almost a year because of chemo or rads. But I totally get what you mean. I can't stand these hard plastic things either.
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luv,,,thrilled to hear this news....you keep at it lady.!
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Thank you Hope! I feel better now. I just need to learn to be patient.

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Hello everyone. I am 33 years old, married, and proud mommy of two and I was diagnosed June 22, 2012 six weeks after giving birth to my daughter. I was breast feeding and found a lump and it was all downhill from there. I was diagnosed stage III triple negative with lymph nodes positive too. I went through four cycles AC and four Taxol then had a bilateral mastectomy with the right being prophylactic and left axillary node dissection in Dec 2012. Two months later I started having very bad back pain and they found a lesion on T12. I'm currently doing radiation to left chest wall with only 3 more to go and I'm also on Xeloda. I finished the radiation on my spine and it helped tremendously with the pain. I see my MO on Tuesday to discuss my next steps which they said is probably more chemo just not sure which one yet. I also just had my port put back in last Thursday cause I've been having weekly blood work and the needle sticks are getting ridiculous because of my poor sites. It's very nice to meet all of you and to read your stories, wishing everyone the best of luck!
Deyla -
Teresa- You will feel SO much better after the exchange! I know some did massage after, but I never did. the only thing I don't like is that like the expander your implant will always be a bit cool to the touch.
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TifJ,
That's odd............ my expander has always been warmer than my right natural breast. Hmm...
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Deyla, welcome to the TN thread. You've already had a tough time. You should be enjoying your family, not dealing with more tx. Please keep posting and telling us how you are doing. There are lots of wonderful supportive ladies here.
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Shoot Teresa! I want a warm one! Maybe you 're more hot blooded than me! The only good thing about it is when I have a hot flash I just put my hand on my cold boob! I just have to remember not to do it in public!
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TifJ!
I get hot flashes all the time since they stopped letting me have estradiol. I have found out that Del Monte puts out a fruit cup that is just pink grapefruit, they keep it in the cold aisle, by the lettuce mixes for salads, and it's just amazing for helping me cool off! I'll have to remember that, though, and if I ever see a woman in public with her hand on one boob or the other, I'll know why!! LOL!! -
Theresa. I had my BMX may 2 2012 with te put in. I had chemo June to nov and got filled thru chemo and after. My exchange is Tuesday so 10 months. My last fill was two months ago.
Hang in there. I think it will be fine if they need to stay in -
Happy St. Patricks Day everyone

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I love both those and yes, I'm Irish!

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Theresa, I have a similar TE/implant story. BMX with TE in June 2009, Chemo August to December with fills in between. Exchange and port removal in March 2010. 3D nipple tattoo September of 2011. Foobs look good, numb to the touch and usually feel rather cool. But I am unaware of it. A word of caution: Only do massage if told to do it. Your PS will advise when and how. I went to a breast Physical therapist and she did the massage and stretching after BMX. Then again several weeks after exchange.
Welcome, Deyla. So sorry for what you are dealing with. Keep coming back and let us know how you are doing.
Happy St Patricks day, ladies.
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Luv -- great news. That was the first post I saw when I signed on this AM. It brightened my day.
Mags --hope you made it home and are doing great.
Deyla -- prayers out to you.
Only 4 more chemo treatments left. I felt great yesterday -- almost like normal. It was a beautiful, warm day so I got out and did some stuff with my granddaughter and enjoyed the day. Then went to grocery (first time by myself since DH was sick). Unfortunately by the time I got home I felt like I'd been hit by a ton of bricks. Oh well, I enjoyed it while it lasted! Another beautiful day today but I think I'll just sit outside with a book after lunch. -
Hey Mags, how are you doing??
5thsib- same thing happened to me. I insisted on going to the grocery store by myself. Helped me feel normal to do normal things. I got through the store just fine, but when it came to check out, I was wiped. I ended up sitting on a bench for several minutes before I had enough energy to take my groceries to the car. I could barely drive home. But when I got their a slapped a smile on my face so DH wouldn't know how much I struggled with such a simple chore.
Take care of yourself, ladies. Better days are just around the corner.
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Hi Teresa008 - I didn't realise you are Irish, where are you from? I'm from Limerick. Maybe I should make the move to Canada to experience what sunshine is
. Although I did live in a Vancouver for a short time during the winter, have never experienced cold like it!Deyla - big love to you. I'm 33 aswell, diagnosed at 32, it's an awful shock to be diagnosed at such a young age with young children. You will get there, have faith!
Since last week my eyebrows and eyelashes have decided to vacate the premises. I'm almost 6 wks post treatment, they held on for the 12 wks of Taxol, has this happened to anybody else? How long will it take to grow back. I look like an alien without my eyebrows. It's a more bizarre look to me than being bald!!
Oh and Happy St Patrick's Day from rainy Ireland

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Hi Mum.....For me and many others on here, eyebrows and lashes also fell out a few weeks after Taxol ended. The good news is that they usually grow back very fast - within a couple of weeks. I used a Q-Tip and dark grey eyeshadow to "paint" on some brows, and an eyeliner pencil to draw a dark line on the edge of the eye lid to help mask the absence of eye lashes. Easy peasy. Go to eyelineher.blogspot.com for a video demo. Good luck.
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Mum- Yes! It happened to me too. Right after my mx, it all fell out. I felt so weird too. My face looked empty. It's weird because my hair grew during Taxol and the eyebrows/eyelashes stayed on. But about 4-5 weeks after I finished Taxol, they all fell out. At least the hair stayed on.
But don't worry... they come back fast. -
Hi Mumtobe,
I actually live in Vancouver, Washington state, USA. We've had a very warm winter this year, though. I believe it only snowed once and barely stuck at all. I have Irish grandparents on both sides but I'm not 100% Irish. I have always wanted to go to Ireland but I've always told my hubby that if I ever do get there I'm not coming back here. So I guess I can't blame him for not taking me there.
Maybe someday.I actually went and got permenant makeup a few months ago, which is basically tattooing, so I already have eyeliner on all the time.
One less thing I'll have to do later. Yay.Take care all and I'm sending out my best wishes to everyone here that needs them.
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I am home! Me and the girls made it safe thanks to my great hubby. I have several days of antibiotics ahead of me to fight the nasty infection that almost killed my new leftie... she's a fighter just like me.. bruised, swollen, and in just a bit of pain but grateful to be on the other side of this tough surgery. Now to heal and start thinking of revisions.
Maggie -
A few people have PM'd me asking what I learned from the nutritionist I saw last week. So here are a few things: basically, as I'm sure you all are aware of this is that you need to eat large amounts of cancer fighting fruits and veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, onions, green leafy veggies, berries, melons, oranges..there are too many to list.
Green tea daily is huge...2/3 cups daily. Two tbsp. whole flaxseeds that you crush in a grinder. Put n your yogurt or smoothie or salad. 100% whole grains. Not wheat.
Use olive oil, coconut oil (great in stir frys) canola and butter. No trans fats or anything hydrogenated. No cured meats like deli meats. They ar full of carcinogens which are cancer causing. Almond butter is a good choice instead of peanut butter. No sugar or refined flours. Eat only lean proteins. Beef once a week unless its grass fed, then you can eat more. Eat fish at least twice a week. Eat beans and legumes. Limit alcohol. Drink tons of water. Take Vitamin D, baby aspirin also can prevent recurrence and spread of cancer. Use cinnamon and Tumeric. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. They suggest just a brisk walk.
She also suggested reading the Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz. And Anticancer, A New Way of life by David Servan-Schreiber.
Also suggested: http://lbbc.org/index.asp. Site for breast cancer only that offers some great info. I have not been there yet.
Of course,I can't write everything but I have some handouts. So if anyone wants a copy PM me your email address and I will scan them to you.
Top of the Morning to you lassies! -
Mags - I am so glad you are home and on the mend. Sending healing vibes to lefty!
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Thank you Kayak & Babs, I look forward to some regrowth soon

Teresa I think you would love Ireland - we do have such a beautiful country, the weather lets us down but I guess we wouldn't have such a lush country without all the rain! Catch 22

Hope - thanks for that info, am doing my best with the healthy food and I do love fruit & veg so it's not a chore but I did have a chinese last night....at the moment I find the walking 7 days a struggle, am so tired from rads.
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Hope, thanks for the info. Re. green tea, are the supplements as good as drinking the 2/3 cups a day do you know?
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