Calling all TNs

Adagio....sorry to scare you....I had bilateral diep procedure in Nov with a subsequent failure of the left side after 5 days. That flap was removed. At time of the diep the doc did not find good vessels in my belly to use and made the best of what I had attaching them to working blood vessels in the chest. I just had a redo on the left side this time using tissue from my butt (gap flap) which had great vessels in it. The vessels that were left to use in the chest to attach to were way below optimal which doc said was from rads...she did the flap after consulting with my hubby four hrs into surgery and gave the flap a 50% at best chance...well 5 weeks later and she ...my flap.. is still with me... it never endangered my life just my recon



Good news from my mo today...my ctc is 00000!!!! Reason to celebrate even with my hip drain still there



Maggie

So sorry.. did not mean to scare you

Stupidboob- I had Taxotere and Cytoxan every 3 weeks for 4 treatments. The Decadron kept me awake at night and really messed with my eyesight for about a week after each treatment, my eyes were very blurry. I took Ativan at night all through treatment to help me sleep.

Hi!

I have been reading but haven't posted in awhile. I just passed my 2 year anniversary of diagnoses. I had a followup with my surgeon, but I have a follow up scheduled with my MO in May. I am terrified! I know he will order scans, bloodwork, including tumor markers and will try to put me back on tamoxifen or something because I am 3% er positive. I tried 2 different medications and they both were very rough for me, I really do feel for hormone positive gals because that is no picnic either! I missed my last folle up:( Just been in denial or something, just want to forget about this big cancer mess.

My surgeon said I can start thinking about reconstruction, but I do need to lose some weight first. I want reconstruction but worried about another surgery, as I will have to have diep or something similiar. I feel like I am still recovering from my hysterectomy from last October.

For those who don't know me yet here is a little bit of background-I was diagnosed with stage 3 or 4, there was some dispute because of one of my positive nodes was in the mediastinal area, which would make me stage 4, and I also had a few internal mammary nodes positive but no axillary nodes were positive. The positive nodes were inoperable, but I had a complete response to chemo. My last scan was in August and everything looked good then. It was only a ct scan, my insurance decided they did not want to pay for another pet scan or bone scan and I did not push the issue because I didn't want anymore scans.

As always I tend to write a book!

Maggie-glad to hear that your surgery was a success!!! Sounds like you have been though so much with reconstuction. I am still debating, but I am sure I will do it if the doctors will!

Bak,

Deep breaths. Of course you are scared about more scans. Will we ever not be scared? I'm glad you have been doing so well.

Marianne53- I did not have IBC, just locally advanced IDC that was triple negative. It was strange how my tumor spread, it wasn't huge or anyting, about 2 cm, it went to the internal mammary nodes instead of axilla nodes, maybe because of location, deep and towards my breast bone.

I'm recovering today from yesterday's implant surgery. The odd thing is the most painful area is where he pulled some fat for fat-grafting. It was my muffin-top, but more right over hipbones on the side. Anyhow, that hurts worse than the breast by far.

Bak, I hear you - I have nightmares about scans. I start to cry whenever I see one of those giant medical machines. I've been doing a great job of avoiding them for the past year! So I will probably not offer the best advice - but good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Bak,

Praying for good news for you. Hugs...Marianne

5th sib - after tomorrow's treatment, you will be able to relax and know that you don't have to go for any more chemo!! Then it will all seem like one bad dream. You will be fine. Be easy with yourself and take time to pamper yourself when you get those side effects. Almost there!!

Thank you all for all the wonderful comments!

Stupidboob-I must have missed something, did you have a recurrence? I had a new primary after 8 years and in some ways it was so much more difficult the second time around, but some how we push through. Thinking of you.

5thsib-I am a 5th sibling also! Working through treatment is rough. Part of me thinks it helped keep my mind off of cancer, but the other part of me was just plain miserable putting on the fake smile and repeating how I was doing over and over again (I saw many clients in a day). And I only worked part time. After all was said and done I quit my job after treatment because of too many lasting side effects. I am now so happy that I don't have to worry about being presentable when I don't feel good. I do miss the interaction though.

Mags-I would love to go to NOLA, I am just such a bad traveller though! I hate flying and being away from home. I even have a friend that said she would go with me to help out. Hubby can't go because of work.

Almost finished with last chemo treatment. They had to reduce Taxol today by 25% because of neuropathy. Can't believe it's almost over. This better have done its job. I never want to do this again.

Yikes just the thought of doing it again makes me shake!

Shirley I hope you do not have to do it again either..............I am starting over tomorrow and I am terrified all over again

bak94 yes I have a recurrance and a regional spread........:(   Yes, the second round is harder emotionally anyways...........there is a new fear plus the knowing of some things that will occur without surprise.................

thanks

Stupidboob - I'm sending my best thoughts to you. I hate that you have to do this over again.

Phyllis