CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Just and FYI for those of you thinking of reconstruction after radiation... I have a partial mastectomy/some say lumpectomy, but it was a little more tissue than that which the surgeon removed hence the term.  Anyway I had 39 rads txts and my breast shrank from an almost DD to a hard shriveld nub size A cup on that size.  The plastice surgeon made me wait from Feb till December of that year to have a reduction and a lift.  Essentially what he did was reduced my left breast and did a lift and he opened up the right breast that had been irradiated which released the pressure and then he did a lift on that side to make them match and he reduced the sized of the areolas.  I had no problems with the healing of my irradiated breast.  I followed the plastic surgeon directions exactly and the incisions and scars healed and flattened.  Actually I had a little trouble with the other good breast healing because of some stitches due to so much skin having to be removed.    so just make sure you wait long enough you are healed from radiation and that you have an excellent plastic surgeon if you decide you may want to do reconstruction.  Good Luck!

I also had a segmental Mx and waited waited maybe four years for recon.  My tumor was very near the surface and the BS spared the skin.  But that scared several drs about working with it.  There is always the chance that irradiated skin won't stand up to stiches/staples.  That area is far from normal looking, but it isn't gonna kill me either.  I could do more recon, but I don't handle anesthesia well, so I will most likely forego further messing around with it. 

Greetings!

I just had my double partial masectomy (or yes, lumpectomy, but these too were a bit larger). One side was reconstruction only and the other cancer removal, reconstruction , both lifted. Now I am reading I should have waited for radiation!



Will try to not panic here. The PS purposely left the cancer breast larger, knowing radiation would shrink it. But reading one of you was a D and went to an A! Dear lord, I was a B before, I'm sure I'm smaller now, are they going to invert! (I say that laughing, somewhat)



All might be moot, I had 6 tumors removed, the doctor says I am stage 1, but does not like the number of tumors taken out (we thought there were 3-2 ILC and 1 LCIS). My nodes were tested, , though report seems unclear as it looks like it is reporting on 3 of 4. 3 negative, with one of those three with 18 tumor cells, apparently there needs to be 200 to be considered positive...so I am told this is good?

Anyhow, my case is going before a review to determine if I should go back for one better margin(one is at1mm), or if I should have masectomy.



No family history, BRCA is negative (just found that out) and someone will be finding out if I am eligible for oncotype dx. Dr. also discussed idea of sending me back for MRI- she will be looking into that.



Sheila, I see you are in Westchester, I am too!

seabeal--do you mind my asking if you were treated at the PRMA group in SA? If so, how did you hear about them?

Good news Im waiting on insurance to ok the hospital and then I get my gummy implants. Went back to my full time job sitting at a desk in January and then went back to panerea in Feburary. I told panera to do 4hr shifts and he scheduled me for 6 today and 2 7hr shifts next weekend and OMG my back is killing me and by the end of my shift my arms are heavey. Ugh when will I get my muscles back because this sucks?

i don't even know where to begin except to say I miss you all and won't stay away so long....anyone close to NYC on April 26 is welcome to join in at GCS....it sounds like something we all need after a hell of year(s)....

to all of you who are new...I am soryy I havenot been on to offer you the love and support so freely given to me...this is a special place filled with more love, hope and answers than you can find anywhere else...

Hi Sheila, glad you are back!
I'm at work and doing n-o-t-h-i-n-g today.
Friend of mine has a daughter (40) who fell critically ill and the father is clueless (not assertive, doesn't ask anything, says she's going to be OK) and I know too much and I am terrified and I can't tell them....they were going to have a sit-down with the doctor this afternoon.  I suggested they move her to a med center but now she's on a vent and not likely to be transported.  I'm so numb.
That's why I'm just pacing and marking time until I can leave.

Hope everyone has a good day...

Hi Mena, we live on the same big island

Sheila, does "lalalalala" mean anything special?  It always reminds me of something....

I found a lalala song that would be perfect for a reunion theme (Beautiful World) -- just the chorus...it says "We're All Here"  (not sure what else it's saying)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VzmOCcopB4

Joan, where in LI do you live?

Mena