Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Barb, Well good for you! I wish I were less self conscious about not wearing the damn thing at all! I just really feel that I paid my dues w/the surgery and chemo and clinical trial (Herceptin) and now Tamoxifen and not being able to bend over or shoot a game of pool or go swimming without having to worry about it really just the last straw. Sorry to vent... but there you have it. Maybe if more women went w/o like you, there would be less stigma about it. Thanks for being a trailblazer! -- --- Barb Roy wrote: > You might try going back to where you got it and > tell them what is going on. I have not been fitted > as was told to wait until all the treatment was done > to make sure any swelling was gone. My daughter said > something to the woman I talked to about her friend > not liking the prosthesis as it was heavy. Her > response is that she probably didn't have the bra on > right.... it needed to be fastened on the second > group of eyelets. > > At this point I have decided not to do > reconstruction... just don't want any more surgery. > I go braless or use a sports bra. Plan to get the > prosthesis that I can wear when I 'dress up', which > isn't often. I'm just a t-shirt and jeans type of > woman. <s> > Barb > > Re: Update - Barb > > > Barb, I'm interested in your " boob " shopping -- > and in > fact I'd like to hear from anyone else > w/prosthesis > experience. I opted not to have reconstructive > surgery, a decision which I do not regret, but I > find > the prosthesis itself and the bras to wear it in > are > not very satisfactory, mostly because every time I > bend over, the weight of the prosthesis pulls it > away > from my body and the bra simply doesn't hold it in > place. This makes me very self conscious whenever > I > bend over to pick something up if someone is > standing > near enough to see down my shirt...and it's not > like I > even wear shirts w/cleavage! > > --- Pinheiro > wrote: > > > Hi Barb, > > > > Glad the A/C is over. And for the huge majority > of > > people, taxanes are not a big problem. Just > watch > > out for the nerves. Even if you have something, > > catching it in the beginning can be treated and > > controlled. > > Steroids are a drag. I am all bloated and > swollen > > with them. But my physical therapist told me to > keep > > drinking a lot of water and tea that it will be > gone > > much sonner. I have now a jar of 8 cups of tea > in > > front of me! > > Hugs > > > > > > Barb Roy wrote: > > Just wanted to update you all.... I have > > completed my 4th treatment of A/C about 10 days > ago. > > This was by far the easiest treatment of all 4. > Onc > > backed me off the steroids and this seemed to > take > > care of day 3 & 4 of headache, nausea, all over > > crappy feeling. It's taken about a week to start > to > > get some energy back and get my digestive system > > working less often and my stomach to quiet down. > My > > red blood cells are down, but insurance will not > pay > > for the meds until I am below a certain point. > This > > made me a little more tired but I've been eating > my > > liver and leafy veggies, hoping to get it back > up. > > > > I talked to the onc about Abraxane instead of > Taxol > > or Taxotere for the next 4 treatments. Although > I > > already knew this, he said there was not enough > long > > term experience with Abraxane and said Taxotere > > works the best with the radiation, so that is > where > > we are going. He said he could put me on meds > with > > less side effects, but they had less long term > > effects too. It wasn't an option for me.... I > want > > to kick cancer butt with the strongest meds out > > there. > > > > I was in last week and got the simulation and > > tattooing done for radiation. Have to go in on > > Wednesday for x-rays and then radiation starts > on > > Thursday for the common 33 treatments. Taxotere > > starts a week from Thursday. Taxotere plus > steroids. > > No nausea meds given. Will see how I react to > that > > one and will again use the backing down of > steroids > > (with oncs approval, of course). > > > > My daughter came in on day 4 of last treatment > to > > help out with my grandson as school was out for > the > > summer. I wasn't sure how those first few days > of > > him home all day was going to go. He loved > having > > his Aunt here to play with him and take him > places. > > I was able to take my daughter to the cancer > center > > so she could see where the infusion room was and > > what everything looked like. She said she feels > so > > disconnected because she is so far away (600 > miles) > > and wanted to be able to imagine where I was and > > what was happening. She shocked me when she > asked to > > see my scars... just to make it real. We were > able > > to get some things done (arrangements to have > > someone come in and clean my house, shave my > head of > > all the stubble and do some 'boob' shopping) and > it > > was good to have her here. > > > > Anyway, I am doing fine... half way done and on > the > > down side (I hope). Caren and Dianne... how are > you > > both doing? Has anyone been able to locate Dari? > It > > seems like forever since she has posted. > > > > Keeping you all in my prayers.... > > > > Barb > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls > for > > ridiculously low rates. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Not sure I'm a trail blazer... just more about comfort for me. So far, no one has pointed and laughed. <s> Barb Re: Update - Barb > > > Barb, I'm interested in your " boob " shopping -- > and in > fact I'd like to hear from anyone else > w/prosthesis > experience. I opted not to have reconstructive > surgery, a decision which I do not regret, but I > find > the prosthesis itself and the bras to wear it in > are > not very satisfactory, mostly because every time I > bend over, the weight of the prosthesis pulls it > away > from my body and the bra simply doesn't hold it in > place. This makes me very self conscious whenever > I > bend over to pick something up if someone is > standing > near enough to see down my shirt...and it's not > like I > even wear shirts w/cleavage! > > --- Pinheiro > wrote: > > > Hi Barb, > > > > Glad the A/C is over. And for the huge majority > of > > people, taxanes are not a big problem. Just > watch > > out for the nerves. Even if you have something, > > catching it in the beginning can be treated and > > controlled. > > Steroids are a drag. I am all bloated and > swollen > > with them. But my physical therapist told me to > keep > > drinking a lot of water and tea that it will be > gone > > much sonner. I have now a jar of 8 cups of tea > in > > front of me! > > Hugs > > > > > > Barb Roy wrote: > > Just wanted to update you all.... I have > > completed my 4th treatment of A/C about 10 days > ago. > > This was by far the easiest treatment of all 4. > Onc > > backed me off the steroids and this seemed to > take > > care of day 3 & 4 of headache, nausea, all over > > crappy feeling. It's taken about a week to start > to > > get some energy back and get my digestive system > > working less often and my stomach to quiet down. > My > > red blood cells are down, but insurance will not > pay > > for the meds until I am below a certain point. > This > > made me a little more tired but I've been eating > my > > liver and leafy veggies, hoping to get it back > up. > > > > I talked to the onc about Abraxane instead of > Taxol > > or Taxotere for the next 4 treatments. Although > I > > already knew this, he said there was not enough > long > > term experience with Abraxane and said Taxotere > > works the best with the radiation, so that is > where > > we are going. He said he could put me on meds > with > > less side effects, but they had less long term > > effects too. It wasn't an option for me.... I > want > > to kick cancer butt with the strongest meds out > > there. > > > > I was in last week and got the simulation and > > tattooing done for radiation. Have to go in on > > Wednesday for x-rays and then radiation starts > on > > Thursday for the common 33 treatments. Taxotere > > starts a week from Thursday. Taxotere plus > steroids. > > No nausea meds given. Will see how I react to > that > > one and will again use the backing down of > steroids > > (with oncs approval, of course). > > > > My daughter came in on day 4 of last treatment > to > > help out with my grandson as school was out for > the > > summer. I wasn't sure how those first few days > of > > him home all day was going to go. He loved > having > > his Aunt here to play with him and take him > places. > > I was able to take my daughter to the cancer > center > > so she could see where the infusion room was and > > what everything looked like. She said she feels > so > > disconnected because she is so far away (600 > miles) > > and wanted to be able to imagine where I was and > > what was happening. She shocked me when she > asked to > > see my scars... just to make it real. We were > able > > to get some things done (arrangements to have > > someone come in and clean my house, shave my > head of > > all the stubble and do some 'boob' shopping) and > it > > was good to have her here. > > > > Anyway, I am doing fine... half way done and on > the > > down side (I hope). Caren and Dianne... how are > you > > both doing? Has anyone been able to locate Dari? > It > > seems like forever since she has posted. > > > > Keeping you all in my prayers.... > > > > Barb > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls > for > > ridiculously low rates. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Barb my sister was dx in 1997. She had bilateral bc. She never wore a prothesis at all. She mostly wore t-shirts and scrubs (she worked in medical field). She said that some women were that flat chested naturally and she didn't want to deal with it. She didn't even buy a wig until 2005 when she went on a cruise to Alaska. I'm not even sure she wore it as I don't remember seeing her with it in pictures. She wore beautiful scarfs. I on the other hand didn't feel comfortable without prothesis or wig. SharonB Barb Roy wrote: Not sure I'm a trail blazer... just more about comfort for me. So far, no one has pointed and laughed. <s> Barb Re: Update - Barb > > > Barb, I'm interested in your " boob " shopping -- > and in > fact I'd like to hear from anyone else > w/prosthesis > experience. I opted not to have reconstructive > surgery, a decision which I do not regret, but I > find > the prosthesis itself and the bras to wear it in > are > not very satisfactory, mostly because every time I > bend over, the weight of the prosthesis pulls it > away > from my body and the bra simply doesn't hold it in > place. This makes me very self conscious whenever > I > bend over to pick something up if someone is > standing > near enough to see down my shirt...and it's not > like I > even wear shirts w/cleavage! > > --- Pinheiro > wrote: > > > Hi Barb, > > > > Glad the A/C is over. And for the huge majority > of > > people, taxanes are not a big problem. Just > watch > > out for the nerves. Even if you have something, > > catching it in the beginning can be treated and > > controlled. > > Steroids are a drag. I am all bloated and > swollen > > with them. But my physical therapist told me to > keep > > drinking a lot of water and tea that it will be > gone > > much sonner. I have now a jar of 8 cups of tea > in > > front of me! > > Hugs > > > > > > Barb Roy wrote: > > Just wanted to update you all.... I have > > completed my 4th treatment of A/C about 10 days > ago. > > This was by far the easiest treatment of all 4. > Onc > > backed me off the steroids and this seemed to > take > > care of day 3 & 4 of headache, nausea, all over > > crappy feeling. It's taken about a week to start > to > > get some energy back and get my digestive system > > working less often and my stomach to quiet down. > My > > red blood cells are down, but insurance will not > pay > > for the meds until I am below a certain point. > This > > made me a little more tired but I've been eating > my > > liver and leafy veggies, hoping to get it back > up. > > > > I talked to the onc about Abraxane instead of > Taxol > > or Taxotere for the next 4 treatments. Although > I > > already knew this, he said there was not enough > long > > term experience with Abraxane and said Taxotere > > works the best with the radiation, so that is > where > > we are going. He said he could put me on meds > with > > less side effects, but they had less long term > > effects too. It wasn't an option for me.... I > want > > to kick cancer butt with the strongest meds out > > there. > > > > I was in last week and got the simulation and > > tattooing done for radiation. Have to go in on > > Wednesday for x-rays and then radiation starts > on > > Thursday for the common 33 treatments. Taxotere > > starts a week from Thursday. Taxotere plus > steroids. > > No nausea meds given. Will see how I react to > that > > one and will again use the backing down of > steroids > > (with oncs approval, of course). > > > > My daughter came in on day 4 of last treatment > to > > help out with my grandson as school was out for > the > > summer. I wasn't sure how those first few days > of > > him home all day was going to go. He loved > having > > his Aunt here to play with him and take him > places. > > I was able to take my daughter to the cancer > center > > so she could see where the infusion room was and > > what everything looked like. She said she feels > so > > disconnected because she is so far away (600 > miles) > > and wanted to be able to imagine where I was and > > what was happening. She shocked me when she > asked to > > see my scars... just to make it real. We were > able > > to get some things done (arrangements to have > > someone come in and clean my house, shave my > head of > > all the stubble and do some 'boob' shopping) and > it > > was good to have her here. > > > > Anyway, I am doing fine... half way done and on > the > > down side (I hope). Caren and Dianne... how are > you > > both doing? Has anyone been able to locate Dari? > It > > seems like forever since she has posted. > > > > Keeping you all in my prayers.... > > > > Barb > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls > for > > ridiculously low rates. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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