Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[NHAnn]

Welcome Peggie, I'm glad you found this thread too.
I found it right before I was diagnosed last month...it has been such an emotional lifeline and source of info and inspiration for me! What a year you have had! I am glad it culminated in a special birthday celebration for you!

Linda...keeping you in my thoughts. And I totally agree about this weather inthe northeast. Having a hard time deciding if I am having mild hot flashes or if it's the weather JUst an overall feeling of warmth, and sometimes a sort of tingling, several times through the day and evening.

snappy...thanks for that book tip. I agree, a study like that would be great!

 

[snappy]

Here it is, hopefully.

http://www.drweil.com/u/DT/DailyTip2646/

 

[snappy]

I do believe it worked. Thanks, Pea-n-me.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

laurabelle, thank you very much for the link to the survivor movie. I have added it to my favourites list. Although I am a caregiver and not a patient, I found it very uplifting.

Peggy - my thoughts and prayers are with you. You were diagnosed on my birthday I see, strange coincidence. It sounds as though you have come through those very sharp bends in the road now and things will get better from here! I'm glad you had a good trip.

Louise

 

[snappy]

Louise, glad you joined us.

 

[laurabelle]

Linda- I'm sorry you still don't have your answers. A couple of years ago, I was dxed with Ulcerative Colitis. The docs say it's because my immune system is screwed up, and your digestive system is tied to it somehow. It's not the best thing in the world, but better than hearing it's more cancer. Hopefully they'll have answers for you soon.
Enjoy your Relay for Life! I'll be leaving for my SIS meet on Thursday, the race is Saturday! I'll post pics when I get back. I'm so excited!!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Welcome Peggy. I know how you feel about your birthday. Funny how cancer changes your outlook.

Linda, hope you have some answers soon. All the tests must be frustrating with no answers.

Prayers for all of you that need them, especially Kelly and Eva's mom. I really believe in the power of prayer, too. Cool article. Since my diagnosis, I keep a running list of people with cancer and other illnesses and add them to my prayers.

Found out two of my friends with cancer have had it spread again. One to his face and mouth. I think his is pretty bad actually. He's having trouble eating and talking. His name is Dick. The other has melanoma (is that the right spelling?) and his name is Pat. He just got word that they were having to change his chemo since it's spreading again. Both could use prayers if you are so inclined.

And I loved the inspirational movie! Thanks for sharing that.

 

[snappy]

Adding Dick and Pat to my list, MerryPoppins.

 

[NHAnn]

Welcome Louise.

Saying prayers for all who need them!

Tomorrow I have my radiation planning session.
DD(18) is accompanying me. I just want to rub it in that I am getting "tattooed" before she is! (I think she wants more than little dots, adn a different location though!) Do you think if I ask nicely that they'd put three little dots as one of the markings so I can have a "hidden Mickey" tattoo?

 

[JoannaOhio]

Do you think if I ask nicely that they'd put three little dots as one of the markings so I can have a "hidden Mickey" tattoo?

It couldn't hurt to ask!

Prayers going out to all........

 

[laurabelle]

Ann- You should! I can't wait to hear if they'll do it!

MerryPoppins- Saying prayers for your friends...

 

[mickeymost]

A bit of good new today. The lump I found is a cyst. Who would have thought. When I went to work today I had one of the US Techs take a look for me. The not so good news is the implant has fluid all around it and the cellulitis doesn't seem to be any better. Waiting to hear from the DR on weather or not I'm taking that little trip to the hospital for IV antibiotics or not.

Ann I think the "hidden mickey" is a great idea. I bet my Rad Onc. would have done it for me.

Have a good evening

Kelly

 

[laurabelle]

Kelly- It can be hard to believe that they'll find anything that's NOT cancer! I'm really happy for you!!! I'm sorry though about the cellulitis...that's a tough infection to get rid of. I'm praying it doesn't compromise your reconstruction.

 

[NHAnn]

Glad to hear your good news Kelly, and sending good vibes your way to help clear that infection!!

Well, I asked for a Mickey head tattoo and the tech said she "wasn't sure she could"...I said "oh sure you can, just add two extra little dots, for ears, on one of the marks!" I don't think she thought I was serious Oh well! I won't start treatments til the 29th though...I thought it would be sooner. I had it in my head that I'd be done by the end of July, but I'll be a week beyond that. Not that there's anything critical about the end date, I just sort of had it in my head. I guess they are quite busy and I was very pleased to get the time of day I preferred....3 pm. So I can just work shortened days and go home after, which is what I was hoping to be able to do.

Hope you all are doing well tonight!

 

[Imzadi]

I'm scheduled for my first biopsy this Fri. Can anyone tell me what to expect? I posted details of what I have been going through here: Link. I didn't know there was this thread here or any kind of support.

Will it hurt a lot? Can I work the next day? I waitress & need to do some lifting the next day. Will that be okay to do?

 

[laurabelle]

I'm scheduled for my first biopsy this Fri. Can anyone tell me what to expect? I posted details of what I have been going through here: Link. I didn't know there was this thread here or any kind of support.

Will it hurt a lot? Can I work the next day? I waitress & need to do some lifting the next day. Will that be okay to do?

I read your thread...I'm so glad you are in good hands! I'm also thrilled to hear how well they've treated you for the free services! This is really wonderful to hear as someone who has supported for so many years. Like you, I really didn't know what the free mamms, ect would look like. I'm happy to hear you are being treated just like everyone else...even better, that's an excellent hospital!

I had dense breasts too when I had my diagnostic mammogram. I had a ton of fibrous cysts, but my tumor did feel different, like a hard little pea. I had an excisional biopsy (the whole tumor removed) but later, during chemo, we found a lump in my scar that was questionable. At that time I had a core needle biopsy done. It hurt, I won't lie to you. As far as how you'll feel afterward, someone else here may be able to answer that better. I was on chemo and not myself. I've had alot of surgeries so it all gets kind fuzzy, but I don't really remember being in bad pain afterwards. You have an ice pack on it, and take Tylenol or Motrin. Make sure they know at the hospital what your occupation is and that you'll be doing lifting. I'm not sure if you'll have restrictions, but I don't imagine it will be for long.

Again, I'm really glad you're getting such excellent care, and it sounds encouraging that you'll get good news...I'm praying you do!

 

[laurabelle]

Glad to hear your good news Kelly, and sending good vibes your way to help clear that infection!!

Well, I asked for a Mickey head tattoo and the tech said she "wasn't sure she could"...I said "oh sure you can, just add two extra little dots, for ears, on one of the marks!" I don't think she thought I was serious Oh well! I won't start treatments til the 29th though...I thought it would be sooner. I had it in my head that I'd be done by the end of July, but I'll be a week beyond that. Not that there's anything critical about the end date, I just sort of had it in my head. I guess they are quite busy and I was very pleased to get the time of day I preferred....3 pm. So I can just work shortened days and go home after, which is what I was hoping to be able to do.

Hope you all are doing well tonight!

Ann,
I'm glad you got a start date, even if it's not the one you had in mind. More time to plan that victory celebration!!!

 

[laurabelle]

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for my SIS meet in St. Louis to do the race for the cure with my support group! I'm so excited! You'll all be riding on my back with me!

 

[snappy]

Have fun with your friends at the race, laurabelle. Thanks for including us all in the race as well. I feel like I'll be there with you in spirit.

Imzadi, what type of biopsy are you having? The less invasive type is the one I had in April 2004, the stereotactic needle type. I only had a local anesthetic, I was awake. They position you face down on a very comfortable table so that mammograms are taken of the exact area they want to look at. Mine took awhile because I had two areas of concern and one area was close to the skin surface so it was trickier to place the needle.

Several nurses (I think three) positioned me, took mammograms to make sure they had the right area targeted, and the chief radiologist at this breast center did the test. One nurse stayed by me th entire time, talking to me and patting my back. The room where the procedure is done was very cold, lots of expensive equipment I gues, not sure why they have to keep the room so cold, so they used warmed blankets. That was a nice touch.
They gave me ice packs afterwards, and I had a slight bruise. Pain was very minor, I think I took some advil, nothing else was needed. They do tell you to take it easy for several days, not much of a problem for me, I am a stay at home mom. The equipment used to do the procedure was supposed to be the latest type. My younger sister had theis procedure about 10 years ago and had to sit up the entire time. A friend who had the test aa few years ago at another facility also told me she was sitting up and it was very uncomfortable. At the hopsital you described in your other post I am betting they have the latest equipment.

My sister had a much more invasive biopsy May 2004, at the same breast center where I had mine. She had a surgical biopsy because the area of concern on the diagnostic mammogram was quite large. She was under general anesthesia, and had more pain, it was quite a large area they removed. Luckily, her area was benign, but her breast is somewhat mishapen,
compared to the other one due to the large area of tissue removed.

You may want to call the hospital/doctor's office for more info about how the biopsy will be done. I have found that that the more I knew about what was involved in a procedure, the less anxious I was. Not all people feel this way, some people just want to get it over without thinking about it much. Depends on which category you fall into.

Regardless, good luck on Friday. Please know that we have a large support group here. I will include you on my prayer list.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask here or pm me.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Imzadi, you are in my prayers. Please come back and let us know what you find out. Know that we'll be here. You are not alone. I'm thinking you'll have good news. But if it is cancer, they'll catch it really early. Mine was stage zero and I didn't even have to do chemo or radiation.

I had a needle biopsy in 2001. I had just been told by the radiologist that he was sure it was cancer, so I was kind of numb. I was on my stomach on a table. A nurse stayed right with me the whole time. I remember her wiping a tear for me and scratching my nose when it itched. I remember that the worst part was having to stay still for a long period of time. Once they started mine I couldn't move until they were finished. I'm not going to say that it didn't hurt, but it wasn't too terrible. The shot to numb the area hurt more than the biopsy did. After, I think they didn't want me to lift for a day. Can't really remember. But it was a tiny spot with no stitches.