Re: I'm new here.

September 11, 2005

Dear Estelle,

Welcome.

I had bilateral mastectomy on 6/4/05, with 6 positive nodes (all 23 removed). I opted to wait for reconstruction due to radiation after chemotherapy. Finished my treatments on 12/22/04.

Any advice or questions you may have, please feel free to reply. Sounds like you have a supportive "family" over there. My best wishes to you!

Best,

(NY)

September 11, 2005

Hi Estelle and welcome to the group. You've been through a lot already and you seem to be handling it pretty good. Most important thing is to keep a postitive attitude which isn't always easy.

I had a 3.5cm tumor in my left breast, I was 44 at the time. I had one bad node, 6 mo of chemo and no radiation. I wish I would have known someone that had had breast cancer when I was diagnosed so I could have learned about some of the things you don't always remember to ask the drs. If I would have known then, what I know now, I would have had both breasts taken.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com

I'm new here.

I am recently diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in the right breast and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred me to a breast surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had lumpectomies to remove cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy of the right. When the radiologist was placing the wire for my wire localization, she spotted an area in the left breast that concerned her, so she marked it as well. It turned out that the new area was invasive lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of atypical hyperplasia all through my left breast. The tumor removed from the right was 1.8 cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on the right were clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.So now my surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy. She's also suggested (although I do have the option of refusing this) of a right mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given the fact that there is so much going on there in my left breast (some of which we didn't find until surgery) and we just don't know what might have been missed on the right. My surgeon had originally ordered an MRI as part of my staging, but my insurance refused to approve it without a lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review. The MRI might have seen what else is there. Rather than let them play roullette with my health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to have both breasts removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo - that will depend on the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical oncologist will determine this, based on further pathology on that 1.8 cm tumor.I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon tomorrow afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose tissue expanders and implants, with nipple reconstruction.I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my oncologist called me 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an oncologist is that I conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone to her for my sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a mammogram for me, since I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they found. Thank God I did that!My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most of the time) best friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five "furkids." I'm an educator, so I have thousands of "kids" that I've taught.I look forward to getting to know everyone and getting some help and encouragement for this journey on which I find myself an unwilling participant.Estelle

September 11, 2005

Estelle, your case and you sound almost exactly like mine but I am 57 and a speech therapist. I had double mastectomy with immediate free tram reconstruction on May 19 of this year. I did have an MRI before surgery which found a 2nd lump that turned out to be 2cm much deeper. Mastectomy was the only reasonable choice and since I was going through all that abdominal surgery I decided to cut my risk and have both breasts removed. The other one was cancer free but lots of the same changes like hyperplasia. Lots of medical people (not the docs) but nurses, xray techs, ultrasound techs all told me they would make the same choice. I was HER+++ and ER PR negative so tamoxifen pointless and herceptin a definite must. I had clear margins and no nodes but am on a protocol that just came off the clinical trials for women with early breast cancer who are her2 positive and ER PR-. It is adriamycin and cytoxan (sp) every 3 weeks for 4 sessions then taxol with herceptin every 3 weeks but herceptin weekly for 9 months. I start that in 2 weeks and my onc said how long I stay on herceptin depends on the data that may still come out. I work full time and went back to work in August. I am tired from anemia (get epogen every 3 weeks and am on iron pills) but side effects have not been that bad. I am very happy with my reconstruction but the surgery was long (14 hours). Not that I knew. I am still on a 10lb. lifting restriction due to the abdominal surgery. A lot of microsurgery involved with the free tram but that was one of the things I looked for in a plastic surgeon. I was at UC Irvine in CA. Care has been great. My insurance did not want to pay for my MRI initially either but the MRI place had documented a verbal OK and I have 2 PPOs, so we went ahead and they monkied around submitting lots of paperwork after. Also I think adjuvant chemo is becoming the norm to try and whack any micromatasteses that could be floating around. What is your HER and hormone status? Catlin

September 11, 2005

I am Her2 negative (1+) and ER and PR positive (2-3+ on one site and 3+

on the other). All three of my cancers are stage I and low-grade.

Unless my left nodes show mets, the only determining factor for chemo

will be the size of that tumor (or unless they find something else to

change thins) removed from the right breast. From what I've read,

having chemo as things are right now might give me at most one or two

percentage points of advantage. I could be wrong, but that's how I

understand it. I'm in that " gray area " right now and it's hard getting

all kinds of advice from all kinds of people, some with experience with

bc, some without, but all telling me TAKE THE CHEMO. If it's not going

to make that big a difference, I'm wondering why bother with it? To

me, the side effects would be far worse than the benefits. But that's

just my case.

I'm not a candidate for TRAM because I am too heavy. The PS said I

could lose 50 pounds or more and then consider it. I don't want to

wait that long. I want the surgery now, and I want to start

reconstruction now, so I'm going with expanders and implants. Maybe at

some point down the road, I might decide to have the implants removed

and have a DIEP or something similar. Right now, I can't do that, so I

have to go with what they can do.

>

What is your HER and hormone status? Catlin

September 11, 2005

Hi Estelle and welcome. I am Ren and I am 47 and a one year survivor. I had a bi-lateral last 9/16. I was diagnosed on 8/23 of last year. I did have chemo and rads and had reconstruction during the surgery. I did not get to keep them due to staph that I got. I am starting to think about reconstruction again. I am not ready just yet. I will keep you in my prayers.

God Bless,

Ren

September 11, 2005

Hi Estelle,

I'm about six weeks ahead of you in the process. July 26th 2005 I had Bi-lateral mastectomies for bilateral invasive lobular BC. I started reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomies. I was supposed to get a skin-sparing mas. and implants right away, but the tumor was too close to the skin (.2cm) so they took the skin and inserted skin ex-panders under my chest mussel wall. I was injected with 100cc of saline at the time they were put in.

I have had them injected one time since three weeks after surgery (it was a strange feeling but no real pain on the right side. Left side had some complications. I was ooriginallynbsp;DX in 2003 when they found the invasive .5cm tumor during a llumpectomysurgery. I did 30 rounds of radiation on that side (really wish I hadn't now as skin is in a much poorer state). The CA was back in the left ddespitethe Rads. when I had my surgery this time in July DCIS this time, and Invasive lobular on the right (.6cm). Really glad to have both off as the CA did not show on ANY test and I had them ALL. I got an infection in the left and it took five different antibiotics to clear it up. It was still a little iinfectedwhen they injected me the fist time Aug. 23rd, the right was just ppressureno real pain , the left was really bad pain. I go for my second iinjectionon Sept. 13th. I think it will go just fine as the infection seems

to be completely healed. The skin eexpander'sfeel real strange, have your Doctor show you one before surgery so you know what to expect (I had never seen one uuntilafter my first injecting process, and I understood the lumps much better after seeing one). I live in so CA and am 49 years old, I have 4 children, (34 F, 27 F, 19 M, and 10 F) a husband, and 2 cats. I retired in 2000 from Boeing Space systems after 15 years. We live on a lake, and I love to fish.

I have taken pictures of my progress, if they will help you in anyway I will be happy to share them. Let me know. So far you are the only one in this group that I've found going the same route I am of reconstruction. Please stay in touch.

Hugs and prayers to you

Lynda Chittum

Estelle wrote:

I am recently diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in the right breast and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred me to a breast surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had lumpectomies to remove cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy of the right. When the radiologist was placing the wire for my wire localization, she spotted an area in the left breast that concerned her, so she marked it as well. It turned out that the new area was invasive lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of atypical hyperplasia all through my left breast. The tumor removed from the right was 1.8 cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on the right were clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.So now my

surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy. She's also suggested (although I do have the option of refusing this) of a right mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given the fact that there is so much going on there in my left breast (some of which we didn't find until surgery) and we just don't know what might have been missed on the right. My surgeon had originally ordered an MRI as part of my staging, but my insurance refused to approve it without a lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review. The MRI might have seen what else is there. Rather than let them play roullette with my health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to have both breasts removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo - that will depend on the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical oncologist

will determine this, based on further pathology on that 1.8 cm tumor.I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon tomorrow afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose tissue ex-panders and implants, with nipple reconstruction.I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my oncologist called me 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an oncologist is that I conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone to her for my sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a mammogram for me, since I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they found. Thank God I did that!My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most of the time) best friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five "furkids." I'm an educator, so I have thousands of "kids" that I've taught.I look forward to getting to know everyone and getting some help and encouragement for this journey on which I

find myself an unwilling participant.Estelle

Yahoo! for Good Watch the Hurricane Katrina Shelter From The Storm concert

September 11, 2005

I am Her2 positive (1+) and Er and PR positive 2+ and 3+. I am also in that gray area and at this point they do not recommend chemo as it will only increase my % of "non re-occurrence" by about 1%. So no chemo for me right now. My Onco's are being very pro-active with me as my recurrence was within two years. I am having a BRAC analysis done to deterime if we should remove my ovaries. I had a hysterectomy at 32, but they left the ovaries because I was so young. I could not have the Tram flap for the opposite reason (not enough there to take). If my left (rad.) side fails with the skin ex-panders, they will take the skin from my back. I too am being treated at UC Irvine and my surgeons have been superb.

Hugs

Lynda Estelle wrote:

I am Her2 negative (1+) and ER and PR positive (2-3+ on one site and 3+ on the other). All three of my cancers are stage I and low-grade. Unless my left nodes show mets, the only determining factor for chemo will be the size of that tumor (or unless they find something else to change thins) removed from the right breast. From what I've read, having chemo as things are right now might give me at most one or two percentage points of advantage. I could be wrong, but that's how I understand it. I'm in that "gray area" right now and it's hard getting all kinds of advice from all kinds of people, some with experience with bc, some without, but all telling me TAKE THE CHEMO. If it's not going to make that big a difference, I'm wondering why bother with it? To me, the side effects would be far worse than

the benefits. But that's just my case.I'm not a candidate for TRAM because I am too heavy. The PS said I could lose 50 pounds or more and then consider it. I don't want to wait that long. I want the surgery now, and I want to start reconstruction now, so I'm going with expanders and implants. Maybe at some point down the road, I might decide to have the implants removed and have a DIEP or something similar. Right now, I can't do that, so I have to go with what they can do.>What is your HER and hormone status? Catlin__________________________________________________

September 11, 2005

I'm having that done too, . My mother had breast cancer on both

sides - but not at the same time, as I have. The blood draw was taken

on 8/19 and I have an appointment with the genetic counselor to discuss

the results on 9/22. And, like you, I may opt to go ahead and have the

ovaries removed as well.

> I am having a BRAC analysis done to deterime if we should remove my

ovaries.

September 11, 2005

Hi Estelle, I am starting reconstruction on the 28th for the third time. I had a left mastectomy in April 04 with tram but the tram didn't take. I had chemo and then in March of this year i had expander put in but got a staph infection and the expander had to be removed. I hopw everyting goes good this time. I had cancer in three areas in the left breast with no nodes involved. I did have the chemo but no rad. I do have mri's done on my right breast every 6 months. I wish you good luck and if you need anything just ask..............everyone here is wonderful.............DonnaEstelle wrote:

I am recently diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in the right breast and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred me to a breast surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had lumpectomies to remove cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy of the right. When the radiologist was placing the wire for my wire localization, she spotted an area in the left breast that concerned her, so she marked it as well. It turned out that the new area was invasive lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of atypical hyperplasia all through my left breast. The tumor removed from the right was 1.8 cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on the right were clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.So now my

surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy. She's also suggested (although I do have the option of refusing this) of a right mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given the fact that there is so much going on there in my left breast (some of which we didn't find until surgery) and we just don't know what might have been missed on the right. My surgeon had originally ordered an MRI as part of my staging, but my insurance refused to approve it without a lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review. The MRI might have seen what else is there. Rather than let them play roullette with my health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to have both breasts removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo - that will depend on the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical oncologist

will determine this, based on further pathology on that 1.8 cm tumor.I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon tomorrow afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose tissue expanders and implants, with nipple reconstruction.I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my oncologist called me 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an oncologist is that I conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone to her for my sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a mammogram for me, since I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they found. Thank God I did that!My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most of the time) best friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five "furkids." I'm an educator, so I have thousands of "kids" that I've taught.I look forward to getting to know everyone and getting some help and encouragement for this journey on which I

find myself an unwilling participant.Estelle LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!!

DONNA

Yahoo! for Good Watch the Hurricane Katrina Shelter From The Storm concert

September 12, 2005

If you don't mind me asking, what was the cost to have this done?

-- Re: I'm new here.

I'm having that done too, . My mother had breast cancer on both sides - but not at the same time, as I have. The blood draw was taken on 8/19 and I have an appointment with the genetic counselor to discuss the results on 9/22. And, like you, I may opt to go ahead and have the ovaries removed as well.> I am having a BRAC analysis done to deterime if we should remove my ovaries.

September 12, 2005

If you don't mind me asking, what was the cost to have this done?

-- Re: I'm new here.

I'm having that done too, . My mother had breast cancer on both sides - but not at the same time, as I have. The blood draw was taken on 8/19 and I have an appointment with the genetic counselor to discuss the results on 9/22. And, like you, I may opt to go ahead and have the ovaries removed as well.> I am having a BRAC analysis done to deterime if we should remove my ovaries.

September 12, 2005

hi estelle.

hello. i am considering having balloon

expanders in my tummy area due to a tram flap surgery

that failed. my skin died in my tummy dramaticly.

there was a huge hole the size of a pancake. i wore a

wound vac 24/7 for 5 weeks. it's been over a year now,

and wound is still not healed. i need skin to help

the wound, and my doctor says i need to stretch my

skin with a balloon expander. there is also mesh in

the area of wound that is starting to come through my

skin, and also can be painful at times. i had another

opinion from a plastic surgeon and he said no to

expanders, and recommened skin graph. but i already

have said no to that procdure. im quite a mess. what

do you think about balloon expanders considering my

situation? if you have any information, thank you.

gina in florida

--- DONNA HAGAN wrote:

> Hi Estelle, I am starting reconstruction on the 28th

> for the third time. I had a left mastectomy in April

> 04 with tram but the tram didn't take. I had chemo

> and then in March of this year i had expander put in

> but got a staph infection and the expander had to be

> removed. I hopw everyting goes good this time. I had

> cancer in three areas in the left breast with no

> nodes involved. I did have the chemo but no rad. I

> do have mri's done on my right breast every 6

> months. I wish you good luck and if you need

> anything just ask..............everyone here is

> wonderful.............Donna

>

> Estelle wrote:I am recently

> diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with

> breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in

> the right breast

> and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred

> me to a breast

> surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had

> lumpectomies to remove

> cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy

> of the right.

> When the radiologist was placing the wire for my

> wire localization,

> she spotted an area in the left breast that

> concerned her, so she

> marked it as well. It turned out that the new area

> was invasive

> lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of

> atypical hyperplasia

> all through my left breast. The tumor removed from

> the right was 1.8

> cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on

> the right were

> clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.

>

> So now my surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy.

> She's also

> suggested (although I do have the option of refusing

> this) of a right

> mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with

> bilateral

> mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given

> the fact that there

> is so much going on there in my left breast (some of

> which we didn't

> find until surgery) and we just don't know what

> might have been

> missed on the right. My surgeon had originally

> ordered an MRI as

> part of my staging, but my insurance refused to

> approve it without a

> lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review.

> The MRI might have

> seen what else is there. Rather than let them play

> roullette with my

> health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to

> have both breasts

> removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.

>

> We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo -

> that will depend on

> the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical

> oncologist will

> determine this, based on further pathology on that

> 1.8 cm tumor.

>

> I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon

> tomorrow

> afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose

> tissue expanders and

> implants, with nipple reconstruction.

>

> I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my

> oncologist called me

> 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an

> oncologist is that I

> conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone

> to her for my

> sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a

> mammogram for me, since

> I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they

> found. Thank God

> I did that!

>

> My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most

> of the time) best

> friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five

> " furkids. " I'm

> an educator, so I have thousands of " kids " that I've

> taught.

>

> I look forward to getting to know everyone and

> getting some help and

> encouragement for this journey on which I find

> myself an unwilling

> participant.

>

> Estelle

>

September 12, 2005

hi estelle.

hello. i am considering having balloon

expanders in my tummy area due to a tram flap surgery

that failed. my skin died in my tummy dramaticly.

there was a huge hole the size of a pancake. i wore a

wound vac 24/7 for 5 weeks. it's been over a year now,

and wound is still not healed. i need skin to help

the wound, and my doctor says i need to stretch my

skin with a balloon expander. there is also mesh in

the area of wound that is starting to come through my

skin, and also can be painful at times. i had another

opinion from a plastic surgeon and he said no to

expanders, and recommened skin graph. but i already

have said no to that procdure. im quite a mess. what

do you think about balloon expanders considering my

situation? if you have any information, thank you.

gina in florida

--- DONNA HAGAN wrote:

> Hi Estelle, I am starting reconstruction on the 28th

> for the third time. I had a left mastectomy in April

> 04 with tram but the tram didn't take. I had chemo

> and then in March of this year i had expander put in

> but got a staph infection and the expander had to be

> removed. I hopw everyting goes good this time. I had

> cancer in three areas in the left breast with no

> nodes involved. I did have the chemo but no rad. I

> do have mri's done on my right breast every 6

> months. I wish you good luck and if you need

> anything just ask..............everyone here is

> wonderful.............Donna

>

> Estelle wrote:I am recently

> diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with

> breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in

> the right breast

> and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred

> me to a breast

> surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had

> lumpectomies to remove

> cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy

> of the right.

> When the radiologist was placing the wire for my

> wire localization,

> she spotted an area in the left breast that

> concerned her, so she

> marked it as well. It turned out that the new area

> was invasive

> lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of

> atypical hyperplasia

> all through my left breast. The tumor removed from

> the right was 1.8

> cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on

> the right were

> clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.

>

> So now my surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy.

> She's also

> suggested (although I do have the option of refusing

> this) of a right

> mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with

> bilateral

> mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given

> the fact that there

> is so much going on there in my left breast (some of

> which we didn't

> find until surgery) and we just don't know what

> might have been

> missed on the right. My surgeon had originally

> ordered an MRI as

> part of my staging, but my insurance refused to

> approve it without a

> lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review.

> The MRI might have

> seen what else is there. Rather than let them play

> roullette with my

> health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to

> have both breasts

> removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.

>

> We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo -

> that will depend on

> the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical

> oncologist will

> determine this, based on further pathology on that

> 1.8 cm tumor.

>

> I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon

> tomorrow

> afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose

> tissue expanders and

> implants, with nipple reconstruction.

>

> I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my

> oncologist called me

> 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an

> oncologist is that I

> conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone

> to her for my

> sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a

> mammogram for me, since

> I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they

> found. Thank God

> I did that!

>

> My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most

> of the time) best

> friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five

> " furkids. " I'm

> an educator, so I have thousands of " kids " that I've

> taught.

>

> I look forward to getting to know everyone and

> getting some help and

> encouragement for this journey on which I find

> myself an unwilling

> participant.

>

> Estelle

>

September 12, 2005

I do not know what caused your wound to come apart. I am sure you had the same

as I did: sitting up or propped up to sleep, bending over walking, no

stretching, weight restrictions. The fact that they had to use mesh from the get

go is not great from what I understand but sometimes they do. Is there a

teaching hospital near you you could get a consult at in plastic surgery? Is

there any reason they cannot go in and do a repair and restretch the skin?Would

you want to try a tram from another area like the back/shoulder.The surgen who

does it should be doing a lot of them and should have excellent microsurgery

skills.Might be good to ask what their personal failure rate is in this

procedure.I am only speaking from what I think I know and my opinions. But I

imagine you are very gun shy now after the problems. catlin

>

> Date: 2005/09/12 Mon PM 01:28:12 EDT

> To: breastcancer2

> Subject: Re: I'm new here.

>

hi estelle.

hello. i am considering having balloon

expanders in my tummy area due to a tram flap surgery

that failed. my skin died in my tummy dramaticly.

there was a huge hole the size of a pancake. i wore a

wound vac 24/7 for 5 weeks. it's been over a year now,

and wound is still not healed. i need skin to help

the wound, and my doctor says i need to stretch my

skin with a balloon expander. there is also mesh in

the area of wound that is starting to come through my

skin, and also can be painful at times. i had another

opinion from a plastic surgeon and he said no to

expanders, and recommened skin graph. but i already

have said no to that procdure. im quite a mess. what

do you think about balloon expanders considering my

situation? if you have any information, thank you.

gina in florida

--- DONNA HAGAN wrote:

> Hi Estelle, I am starting reconstruction on the 28th

> for the third time. I had a left mastectomy in April

> 04 with tram but the tram didn't take. I had chemo

> and then in March of this year i had expander put in

> but got a staph infection and the expander had to be

> removed. I hopw everyting goes good this time. I had

> cancer in three areas in the left breast with no

> nodes involved. I did have the chemo but no rad. I

> do have mri's done on my right breast every 6

> months. I wish you good luck and if you need

> anything just ask..............everyone here is

> wonderful.............Donna

>

> Estelle wrote:I am recently

> diagnosed (8/15 was when the doctor called me) with

> breast cancer. We thought I had invasive cancer in

> the right breast

> and only DCIS in the left, so my oncologist referred

> me to a breast

> surgeon for lumpectomies. On August 26 I had

> lumpectomies to remove

> cancer from both breasts, with sentinel node biopsy

> of the right.

> When the radiologist was placing the wire for my

> wire localization,

> she spotted an area in the left breast that

> concerned her, so she

> marked it as well. It turned out that the new area

> was invasive

> lobular carcinoma. They also found evidence of

> atypical hyperplasia

> all through my left breast. The tumor removed from

> the right was 1.8

> cm (we'd thought it was about 9 mm). My nodes on

> the right were

> clear, but we didn't get clean margins on the right.

>

> So now my surgeon has recommended a left mastectomy.

> She's also

> suggested (although I do have the option of refusing

> this) of a right

> mastectomy as well. I've decided to go ahead with

> bilateral

> mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, given

> the fact that there

> is so much going on there in my left breast (some of

> which we didn't

> find until surgery) and we just don't know what

> might have been

> missed on the right. My surgeon had originally

> ordered an MRI as

> part of my staging, but my insurance refused to

> approve it without a

> lot of paperwork being mailed to them for review.

> The MRI might have

> seen what else is there. Rather than let them play

> roullette with my

> health and wait and worry, I feel it's better to

> have both breasts

> removed and decrease my risk of recurrence.

>

> We don't know yet about whether I'll have chemo -

> that will depend on

> the pathology from the left nodes. Also, my medical

> oncologist will

> determine this, based on further pathology on that

> 1.8 cm tumor.

>

> I have my second consult with the plastic surgeon

> tomorrow

> afternoon. I've pretty much decided to choose

> tissue expanders and

> implants, with nipple reconstruction.

>

> I've been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my

> oncologist called me

> 8/15. Oh, and the reason I already had an

> oncologist is that I

> conquered non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003 and I'd gone

> to her for my

> sixth-month check-up. I let them schedule a

> mammogram for me, since

> I hadn't had one in awhile. And this is what they

> found. Thank God

> I did that!

>

> My name is Estelle; I'm 50 and married to my (most

> of the time) best

> friend, Dave; we have no children, but we have five

> " furkids. " I'm

> an educator, so I have thousands of " kids " that I've

> taught.

>

> I look forward to getting to know everyone and

> getting some help and

> encouragement for this journey on which I find

> myself an unwilling

> participant.

>

> Estelle

>

September 12, 2005