Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Shugardrawers]

Ok I spent the morning talk to the ACS. Many of the programs they offer here are income based and as feared we "make too much". The good news is that they have several things we do qualify for. They gave me the name of a hair dresser who will shave my head free, I'm going to a Look Good Feel Better workshop next month and they will let me know if a wig gets donated that I'd like. The ones they currently have are not quite what I'd want, more what my grandma would wear she says. I want young, fun and man I want the one I fell in love with. It's almost exactly my current style and color. I've decided I don't want the old man combover look and so I'll shave the day before chemo starts. DH says to take heart. As selfish as it sounds, come August we aren't obligated to pay child support anymore so we'll have an extra $600 a month. That wig just might be mine then. I called the insurance and the lady said that wigs were not paid for in all cases and that she'd have to review documentation from the Doc before she could say for sure. She did say that "temporary" conditions such as chemo were less likely to be paid than say alopecia. All I can do is ask the Doc to try. You never know. She said if they pay it'll only be for one though. Not the lovely "hair wardrobe" I'd had envisioned but it's something huh?

It's a new day today and staying positive is on the top of my To Do list followed closely by laundry. Will check in later!

 

[laurabelle]

Shugardrawers- whooo hoooo! Good for you for taking matters into your own hands! You're doing great!

 

[laurabelle]

Linda,
I enjoyed your post. You should get a Blog! It's so therapeutic to write it down. I have one on www.blogspot.com and it's free!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sounds hopeful to me that insurance will cover it. It is a prosthesis for hair loss, the insurance represntative's symantics don't matter. If you needed a leg prosthesis or an eye prosthesis it would be covered. I would tell them you hope it's a temporary situation at this point but you really don't know. Your oncologist should be very familiar with this situation and will write the prescription however is best. Ask your oncology team how others handle it. Check with the wig store too and see what they recommend. I'm sure they deal with this all the time. When I was in the wig salon having my head shaved 4 calls came in from chemo patients to make appts, I was floored!

If I were you and you really love it I would just buy the wig. Maybe if your insurance does cover it later you can work it out with the store somehow. It seems like a lot of $$ now but when you're feeling down and distraught you'll be willing to pay just about anything to feel better. And if that makes you feel better than go for it. Maybe they'll let you do a "layaway" or a payment plan where you can pay $20 a week or something like that.

Good luck!!

 

[Shugardrawers]

LOL DH says that too. Just buy the damn wig. I'm setting aside $50 a week and in a month it's mine. There! I just did the first thing I've done truly just for me in years!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

 

[MerryPoppins]

If you want it, you should get it. You're worth it!

Speaking of prosthesis. Anyone know how often you can get a replacement and have it covered by insurance? Seems like the shop said every three years. I've passed that. It'd be nice to try another one and have Betty as backup so to speak. LOL!

 

[snappy]

If you want it, you should get it. You're worth it!

Speaking of prosthesis. Anyone know how often you can get a replacement and have it covered by insurance? Seems like the shop said every three years. I've passed that. It'd be nice to try another one and have Betty as backup so to speak. LOL!

Check with your insurance company. I think mine will cover a new prothesis every 2 years and 3 bras per year.

The bad thing for me was that while it was "covered", I still had to pay some since the one the lady who fitted me recommended cost more than what was customary. So I was stuck with the 20% plus a bit more. The funny thing is that I don't hardly wear that thing ever. They fitted me with a size 9 to match my remaining breast and the thing is huge (I call it the monster). Before my surgery my sister gave me a prothesis that belonged to her late MIL. It is a size 7 and according to the people at the shop where I bought the monster, it is not the right size. Maybe it is psycological, but I feel better in the smaller one, it is lighter and I like the way my clothes fit better. I really wish my real one was smaller too.

Maybe someday.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here's two articles:

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/celebrity/news.jsp?contentToolID=ce_news_minogue

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,156818,00.html


Interesting that she's raised funds for breast and prostate cancer in the past. Sounds like she's a fighter. I hope she talks about openly, she has the ability to reach many with her celebrity status.

 

[MerryPoppins]

They fitted me with a size 9 to match my remaining breast and the thing is huge (I call it the monster).

How funny. I really have always felt that "Betty" is bigger than my real breast. I wonder if they have a tendency to fit them larger than they should? That's one of the reasons I'd like a new one. My bra cups don't even fit the same on both sides. And while we're on the subject, I wear normal bras. I hate the ones that go with the prosthesis!

I heard that story on the news, Pea-n-Me. I hope the same thing. Amazing how people listen when a celebrity is ill.

 

[NHAnn]

Had a giggle after consulting with the radiation oncologist today...
It included a brief physical exam, and DH was with me and present for the whole thing. It all went well and positively, and as we were going out to the car to leave I said to DH "So....that must have been odd for you to be in there during the exam part, huh? He got the strangest look on his face and chuckled and said "Well, yeah.....at one point I wanted to jump up and smack his hands away and say 'HEY! What do you have to touch the OTHER one for, huh??!! Get away from there!' "

 

[snappy]

Ann, glad to hear your DH was with you at the radiation oncologist's office.
I always liked the fact that my DH came to every appointment, even after surgery when I could resume driving, he still went with me. My mom would have gone with me, and offered many times, but I wanted DH.

Think I'll get her to go with me for mammogram on the 8th. Can't justify asking DH after an entire year since surgery.

 

[laurabelle]

Ann - too funny! Try standing there with DH watching for a full 5 minutes while a plastic surgeon draws lines all over your chest...it was very hard not to giggle!

 

[Cruise04]

I had a pretty thorough breast exam today with the surgeon because my gyn was concerned about my ultrasound and wanted me to have a second opinion - I've been quiet about this for my own sanity. There were some spots she was concerned about and all was well - he said he didn't feel anything and he spent some time on a few areas. As I'm laying there I kept thinking what if my husband was with me. I'm already embarrassed that someone is poking at my ****s that is not my husband, it would be even more embarrassing if he was there - but sometimes it would be good for the dh's to be there I'm sure. Afterall, they are "going through this" with you.

Glad to her your dh went with you Ann and that would have been a good chuckle as well. I insisted to go with my mom (she didn't really have anyone to go with her) and because I wanted to know what was going on - it's my future as well and I wanted as much info I could get. Plus it was also very good to be with her because she would get so anxious about her appointment that she generally didn't hear everything the oncologist said anyway.

I'm sure you all get this way once in a while but today, after walking out of the clinic I got very mad. Mad at the fact that this is something that I have to constantly worry about - and that I have to worry about if I'm going to be here for my daughter and what her future holds. Sometimes I can't help but just get mad at this damn disease!!!!! UGh

 

[laurabelle]

Cruise04- I'm so sorry you're going through this. I've learned in my own way not to live in that worry. Getting mad at it is good! I really think it's part of you taking hold of the fear and not letting it rule your life. I know what it's like to get some of the worst news you can hear, and I learned that life can still go on after you get that news. Actually, my life after cancer is so much sweeter than before - crazy huh! I didn't want cancer to rob me of enjoying however much time I'm given to live here on earth. I realized that giving into those fears was me just giving my life away. And it's not that I never worry, I just remember to take the upper hand when it rears it's ugly head.
Please let us know your results. I'm praying for you .

 

[laurabelle]

Ann, glad to hear your DH was with you at the radiation oncologist's office.
I always liked the fact that my DH came to every appointment, even after surgery when I could resume driving, he still went with me. My mom would have gone with me, and offered many times, but I wanted DH.

Think I'll get her to go with me for mammogram on the 8th. Can't justify asking DH after an entire year since surgery.

DH still goes to some of my appts, and I'm 6yrs out. I bet it means alot to him that you have wanted him there before, and it's something he can still do for you. I'd take him with you...

 

[snappy]

DH still goes to some of my appts, and I'm 6yrs out. I bet it means alot to him that you have wanted him there before, and it's something he can still do for you. I'd take him with you...

Thanks, laurabelle, I think you are right. I guess I am in still in the place where I am putting on the front that I am back to normal.

I had a conversation with my sister Tuesday night, she is the family member other than DH that I talk about my BC most openly. She said she
is amazed at how I am taking everything in stride, that she is afraid that I am burying it sometimes. So we had a nice long conversation about it all, and it helped.

I have decided it is better to talk about it rather than ignore it. Maybe it is healthier to be upfront. I am not trying to be in your face about it. But maybe by talking about it, someone who is just diagnosed will remember something I say, be helped by it. Or maybe someone will be influenced by something I say to go for her mammo or do self-exams.

I am reading a book I checked out of my Cancer Services library Tuesday called Bathesheba's breast, Women, Cancer & History. I haven't gotten very far yet, but I am amazed at the instances throughout history that are documented about women and BC. I had no idea. Several of the historical figures in the book that I reade about so far hid their BC until almost the end because they were stigmatized. If anything we all appear to be in good company with this disease. And we are also fortunate to live now when treatment options are so improved and when sharing our experiences is easier since it is not frowned on.

It seems to me that if you feel comfortable yourself talking about BC, you should not feel compelled to suppress sharing our fears, tears, etc.

 

[laurabelle]

Bathsheba? Wow! That sounds interesting...I'll have to look for it at my library.

I'm naturally a very private person, but cancer sure has changed that! Like I said, I'm an open book. I think especially because I was in my 30's when I was dxed, not only to support other young women, but I can't tell you how many women my age I know, who like me, did SBE sporatically or not at all, but since they know I got bc at a young age, now they check.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

laura, I ran into an old friend whose sister in law was just diagnosed at age 32. She was told it was very aggressive and she saw 3 surgeons. She elected to do a double mastectomy. I will tell my friend about your website.

 

[laurabelle]

Linda, I PMd you