General

Where is everyone from?

CHRISTAN — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:39:39 GMT

We haven't done this in awhile so since there are alot of new people I was just wondering. I am from Georgia and it has been to darn hot here you can't hardly breath when you walk outside.

Recurrence?

SusanShank — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:02:30 GMT

5 years out, very last visit with surgeon then back to regular yearly exams. Except she felt something. Mammogram was clear, so she did a sonogram, and saw what she felt. Did a biopy right then, and said it could be scar tissue.

I am just so disappointed, as I kept hoping I would reach the 5-year milestone, and thought I had. It just hurts.

I had stage 1 invasive ductal breast cancer, was treated with lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Have been good for 5 whole years!

Links to sites for low cost mammograms or free

Seaver — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:49:06 GMT

Sorry, I couldn't find the post about the lady who lives in OK but, I do hope you read this. This was I got back after emailing sites for info on the low cost or, free Mammograms. I hope there is some helpful info here.

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/15110/faqs-women/

http://imagesofhealth.com/facility_finder.htm

http://www.abcf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp&page=mammogram

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp

I wish you luck and keep us posted ok?

Marcia

Chest protectors for athletes post-mastectomy with reconstruction

Granis — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:43:45 GMT

Hello to any athletes out there who might be wondering how to protect your new implants after mastectomy with reconstruction.

I just found 3 great products by searching "chest protectors" online. I was referred to several martial arts and boxing sites and found: a pliable plastic full chest and underarm protector that has straps like a bra; a pliable plastic chest and underarm protector that has a bra that it fits into like a pocket; and, lastly, a bra that you can put individual plastic cups into to protect each individual breast and underarm. The last product would be best for people doing really active sports because it gives the greatest freedom of movement. The first two I mentioned would provide the best overall protection but might be cumbersome for certain sports. Just thought I would pass this along.

Granis

Things you like to do........

CHRISTAN — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:45:51 GMT

You know we spend so much time talking and worring about cancer, treatment, and all the other bad things that goes along with it that I thought it would be nice to start a thread about things we love to do. Also I thought it would help us get to know one another a little more and maybe take our minds off some of the bad stuff if only for a moment. soooooo...................

It Looks like we have alot of gardeners in the house. I love to roll around in the dirt myself lol. Haven't been able to do much of it this year yet but am gearing up for some fall planting. Sounds like some of you live in really beautiful places with alot of relaxing scenery. I am a sucker for mountains and beaches myself. When I am in the mountains I love to listen to the wildlife and when on the beach nothing better than leaving the doors open at night and falling asleep to the sound of the waves coming in. OH and I am so ready for it to start cooling off because I ABSOLUTELY love to sit out back on a cool night wrapped up in a blanket by the firepit with a sweet glass of wine. That sounds so good I just might not wait for it to cool off I may just have the glass of wine lose the blanket and firepit and bribe my kids into fanning me while I sit outside and if my kids won't do it I will have to find a couple of pool boys like they have in the movies HUMMMMMM sounds like a plan to me lol.

bosom buddy product

Seaver — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:37:25 GMT

http://www.bosombuddy.com/product.htm

Something to consider if you don't like the heavier ones available out here.

pink lotus breast center

Seaver — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:54:07 GMT

http://www.facebook.com/pinklotusbreastcenter#!/pinklotusbreastcenter?v=info

expanders

Seaver — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:26:52 GMT

I was wondering after some of you had expanders put in did you find your bra sort of digging into the expanded side? I had an expander put in and its not filled yet ( only had two injections so far) and a breast lift on the other side. When I put on my Bras I feel like it digs or is to tight on the expander side. I was wondering if I should go up one cup size for the time being til it is exchanged out.

Thanks, Marcia

On the road to Recovery

Seaver — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:04:55 GMT

After having an expander put in and a lift on the other side a little over a week ago. A little discomfort with the expander but, the chest muscles have to loosen up first. Had my first post op visit yesterday and according to my PS everything looks great and had one drain removed. Go back on Monday for round two and hopefully the other 2 drains will be removed. Can't wait to take a full shower without the drains.

Hope all you other wonderful ladies are doing great where ever you might be on this long road to recovery.

I hope to look great in the dress for my daughters wedding in Oct.

Just wondering

Seaver — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:03:14 GMT

I am interested in taking a poll here, They say one should breast feed infants and I was not one of them and ended up with DCIS stage 2 last year.

I wonder how many of you breast fed and ended with cancer in the breast anyway.

Cancer runs in my family and I would have ended up with it anyway but, wonder if breast feeding would have cut my chances in half.

I thank you for your time on this.

Marcia

PRIVATE PROBLEM

CHRISTAN — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:31:50 GMT

I am having trouble with my profile switching itself to private. Please if anyone goes to my profile and it says private please let me know so I can fix it. IT IS REALLY DRIVING ME NUTS ! Melinda's profile seems to be doing the same thing. Thanks !

Something for all here who need help or questions.

Seaver — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:52:21 GMT

I was reading the Family Circle issue October 1,2010 magazine this evening and came across some info in an article about breast cancer.

There was a lady on here who wondered how she could afford a mammogram because her husband was retired and she did not have coverage.

The Patient Advocate Foundation (Copays.org) and CancerCare (cancercare.org) have programs to provide financial assitiance for cancer patients, plus they can direct you to a variety of additional resources.

The American Cancer Society (cancer.org or 1-800-227-2345) can provide referrals to comprehensive cancer centers near you.

These are from the copays.ord site:

http://www.copays.org/resources/financialprograms.php

Needy Meds
www.needymeds.org

Managed RX
Phone: 800-799-8765
www.managedrxplans.com

CancerCare Patient Assistance Foundation
Phone: 866-552-6729
www.cancercarecopay.org

Chronic Disease Fund
Phone: 877- 968-7233
www.cdfund.org/patient/

The HealthWell Foundation
Phone: 1-800-675-8416
www.healthwellfoundation.org

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Phone: 877-557-2672
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org

NORD
Phone: 877-968-7233
www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication

Patient Access Network
Phone: 866-316-7263
www.patientaccessnetwork.org

PSI, Patient Services Incorporated
Phone: 800-366-7741
www.uneedpsi.org

http://www.cancercare.org/pdf/fact_sheets/fs_financial_en.pdf

Financial Help for People with Cancer above.

I certainly hope this can be a benefit to all on this site.

I'm sure there are alot of other sites which have other info but, at least its a place to start.

I will try my best to find new info when I come across it.

Marcia

OCTOBERFEST BOUND !

CHRISTAN — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:46:37 GMT

I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED I AM ABOUT TO BUST ! We just reserved a cabin in the North Georgia mountains for some fun and much needed R&R ! The cabin is in the foothills of the mountain and I can walk out the door onto the deck that overhangs a rushing stream ! It is just outside of Helen Georgia which is a German town and they have all kinds of stuff going on for Octoberfest ! I just might even get wild and crazy and drink a couple of beers lol. Last time I went was 2 years ago and we had a blast then so I know it will be even better this time ! OH OH OH and the best thing about is NO KIDS ARE GOING with me ! YIPPEE Don't get me wrong I love them dearly and cherish every second I have with them but I need a break so it will be just me and hubby ! OK well maybe a couple of kids but they are not really like kids. My 19 yo son and his girlfriend are going.

What do you do for relief of symptoms?

dawns116 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:08:55 GMT

I don't know since I'm new on this site if anyone has started a list of symptoms and what you do for relief? I know we get advice from nurses and doctors, but sometimes people find other things that works for them that they hear about from other people.

1-Heartburn- I was told to take 1 Prevacid a day. It worked fine for the 1st chemo, but this 2nd treatment I am getting heartburn that I didn't have before.

2-Headaches-Advil, Motrin, but do any of you have these constant little headaches? Anything else besides taking this every 4 hrs?

3-Dry eyes-Is this normal? I asked at last bloodwork and a nurse I don't usually see said it's "possible" that's a side effect and said use murine. But where my eyelashes are itched. Is that weird? No eyelashes or eyebrows have fallen out.

4-Bone ache from Neulesta shot-My nurse said take Benadryl at night and it can help with that major bone ache that happens on the 2nd day after the shot. I didn't the first time, so I know I will take some the next time for sure!

Any other things that happen to have any of you and what do you do to help yourself feel better? I'm sure there will be other sypmtoms that occur and what do you do to prepare yourselves or help through it? I'm just trying to hear of other sypmtoms before they happen and what can be done to be more comfortable. All of your answers will help me and any new people to the site too. Dawn

Computer stupid here!

z&rmom — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:25:26 GMT

OKAY, last Friday I tried to update "My Journal" - it wouldn't let me. So...I tried again tonight - it wouldn't let me.

Christan, last night I tried to reply to your comment to me - it wouldn't let me. So...I tried again tonight, it wouldn't let me.

So...I tried to ask for help under "Feedback" - it said INCORRECT VALIDATION. In other words, it wouldn't let me.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marsha

P.S. What I tried to tell you Christan was thanks for asking about me. No news as of now. The breast feels about the same after that one round of Taxotere last Friday. If it works anything like the Taxol did, I would hope to see some improvement after this Friday's treatment. Fingers crossed. I guess it will be a few weeks before doc orders up an MRI or Scan. It won't be until then that we know for sure (especially in the liver and bones). The waiting game begins again!

......Estroven

Zena — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:53:19 GMT

Has anybody heard of Estroven. It's for dealing with hot flashes. My doctor recommended it to me when I told her how awful my hot flashes were. She did mention that it contains natural ingredients and some soy but that it would not be a problem. I went and purchased it and took it for 3 or 4 days. Guess what -- I have not been having such hot flashes and some days I don't even have one hot flash.

I just thought I would let you ladies know about it. I stopped taking it because I can't seem to remember anything anymore and I feel fine without it.

Let me know if you have tried it and what your results have been.

Zena

Looking tan during radiation

Barb99 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:28:41 GMT

This may sound crazy but I'm going through radiation now (in my third week) and I am looking tan like I've been on vacation. It has cause some awkward moments when my colleagues swear I'm been away on vacation (when I was actually privately home recovering from three BC surgeries). I have always tanned really well and easily and in the summer following vacations get a really deep tan; however, with the radiation treatment I can't go anywhere, especially vacation. I have been working in the garden, reading outside and drive a convertible. Can the radiation treatment somehow make the rest of my skin simply love the sun right now?

The Big C

CHRISTAN — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:13:46 GMT

Has anybody seen this show? It is a mini-series. I watched it the other night and just laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. It is about this lady who has been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and had always been considered a boring person and since being diagnosed she has dedicated the rest of her life to changing that perception. It is funny and she lives everyday to the fullest taking nothing for granted.

HUGS

Chicago-Area Survivors!

NBCF_Traci — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:59:39 GMT

Want to be a part of the sequel to the now-famous Pink Glove Dance? Filming will be this Sunday, August 22 at 9am at Northerly Island Park (formerly Meigs Field) in Chicago.

For more information, please visit: http://www.medline.com/special/chi-signup/

I LIKE IT !!!!!!!

CHRISTAN — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:48:49 GMT

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell. ~Lance Armstrong

I SAY WE FIGHT LIKE HELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUNNY BUT TRUE

CHRISTAN — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:19:58 GMT

I love quotes and I was reading the other day and came across this one and thought I would share it. If any of you have some good ones I would love to hear them.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995

Profiles being set to private or public

NBCF_Traci — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:45:34 GMT

Hi everyone,

Christan brought it to my attention that some of your profiles are being set to private or public automatically (as in, your profile was public, and suddenly now it's private, when you didn't change it).

Please let me know if this is happening to you or if you're having any other issues with the site.

Hope y'all have a wonderful week!

Traci :)

Intimacy after bilateral mastectomy

TCNNCY — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:16:35 GMT

OK so this is a hard question to ask but I am sure I am not the only woman to experience this- I had the bilateral in December 2009- did not have reconstruction- intimacy always included touching, caressing, kissing breasts- now they are gone, my chest is still numb- and I am having a difficult time becoming interested in sexual intimacy- arousal is just not happening- not sure what to do to change that or if it is just gone-

Sorry ladies !

CHRISTAN — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:32:25 GMT

I was just imformed that my profile was set to private and I am sorry, I promise I was not trying to keep you out ! It is fixed now Thanks Staci for telling me !

prostheses/reconstruction/natural or "as is"

Staci — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 04:11:17 GMT

Am I being naive to think that we could be comfortable with ourselves "as is" following surgery without any "bumps" on our chest at all? I am looking for answers from any and everyone.

I am also looking for women who have recently, in the past year, been through this whom are willing to share their feelings with me and others as they would still be fresh in their minds as to details. I don't mean to seem rude or ungrateful for help and support from all. I just know that things have changed so much over the years. I am looking for current "fresh" feeling of how one deals with all this information in such a short time frame. One minute everything is fine. You have an annual mamogram and barely a month later you are loosing a part of your body. There really isn't much time to process anything. Please help!