Re: ages (theresa)

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the words... I just want to know what is it that I need to be

doing to keep my energy up I have been so sleepy and I haven't even started

chemo yet. I have been going through a bunch of scans.

Can you tell me what kind of reconstruction you had or are having. I had a

mastectomy and I don't know if I want to have reconstruction... so can you

share what you are going through?

Theresa Towner wrote:

I have had bc twice. The first time I was 33. Had lumpectomy, axillary

gland removed and nodes came back pos. Did chemo with internal radiation, and

external rad. Lost every stitch of hair on my body. The second time I was 47.

Went ahead and had bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction. No radiation, just

Aromisin for the next couple or few years. No positive nodes this time. Caught

it early. No family history of BC. I am the first. Doing some physical therapy

to keep everything moving good.

I was still pretty young the first time w/bc. I had just had a baby had a

teenager. and kept working full time when I wasn't off a day here or there for

chemo. My first rounds of chemo put me in the hospital. After that I just went

to the onc. office. I did feel bad after every treatment. I think I had a

treatment every three weeks I can't remember now. I seemed to bounce back pretty

good then.

This time around I haven't bounced back as well. The procedure I chose for

reconstruction has really taken a toll on me. Four surgeries in the last year

and a half have been tough. I still have two teenagers at home. I chose to take

time off from work this time around. Do a little physical therapy. Fortunately,

I have been blessed. I have wonderful support at home. Everything is getting

better everyday though. Theresa T.

siggyt2000 wrote:

I was just wondering what were the ages of all the ladies with breast

cancer and what treatment have you had and how did it make you feel..

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi! My name is Janet. I finished my chemo in Dec.

You have to keep a positive attitude. Sleep when

ever you can. I plan on having my reconstructive

surgery before the end of this year. I went to the

plastic surg. while i was taking rad. H e told me to

come back when I finished. When I was ready to go

back I developed a staph infection.

talk to you soon

Janet

--- signia rodriguez wrote:

> Thank you for the words... I just want to know what

> is it that I need to be doing to keep my energy up I

> have been so sleepy and I haven't even started chemo

> yet. I have been going through a bunch of scans.

>

> Can you tell me what kind of reconstruction you

> had or are having. I had a mastectomy and I don't

> know if I want to have reconstruction... so can you

> share what you are going through?

> Theresa Towner wrote:

> I have had bc twice. The first time I was

> 33. Had lumpectomy, axillary gland removed and nodes

> came back pos. Did chemo with internal radiation,

> and external rad. Lost every stitch of hair on my

> body. The second time I was 47. Went ahead and had

> bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction. No radiation,

> just Aromisin for the next couple or few years. No

> positive nodes this time. Caught it early. No family

> history of BC. I am the first. Doing some physical

> therapy to keep everything moving good.

>

> I was still pretty young the first time w/bc. I had

> just had a baby had a teenager. and kept working

> full time when I wasn't off a day here or there for

> chemo. My first rounds of chemo put me in the

> hospital. After that I just went to the onc. office.

> I did feel bad after every treatment. I think I had

> a treatment every three weeks I can't remember now.

> I seemed to bounce back pretty good then.

>

> This time around I haven't bounced back as well. The

> procedure I chose for reconstruction has really

> taken a toll on me. Four surgeries in the last year

> and a half have been tough. I still have two

> teenagers at home. I chose to take time off from

> work this time around. Do a little physical therapy.

> Fortunately, I have been blessed. I have wonderful

> support at home. Everything is getting better

> everyday though. Theresa T.

>

> siggyt2000 wrote:

> I was just wondering what were the ages of all the

> ladies with breast

> cancer and what treatment have you had and how did

> it make you feel..

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I did the skin spearing reconstruction. That is I decided to have tissue

expander to help prepare the for the breast implants. My recovery has been good.

I have had four surgeries. The 1st was the mastectomy with the expander put in

at that time. Then, about every three weeks I would go to the plastic surgeons

office and get a fill up. That's where they inject a little saltwater saline

into the expander's through a portal. I guess kinda the way they would do for

chemo. This was to help stretch out the tissue and the muscle to prepare for

the breast implants. I guess one could go as large as they wanted to or as much

as the skin, muscle and tissue would allow. I was also put on arimidex. My

cancer had not spread to any nodes this time. all came back clean. The arimidex

was okay at first but in the past few months if I went out to do any gardening

or spent the day cleaning I would feel really run down for the next couple of

days, almost felt like I was coming down

with the flue.

My onc. switched me to aromisin so far so good. I'm due back at work on the

17th of this month. The first surgery was in Feb 05, Next surgery was Aug 05.

tissue expanders removed and implants put in. Had drain tubes both surgeries. I

had a hard time with those bad boys. Just didn't like them. who would huh?

Then, since I had had previous bc in the r breast there wasn't much room for

expansion so I had to have a z-plasty procedure. Its kinda hard to explain but

its to help give the area a little more play. Also I had to have a complete lift

on the other side to much play in that breast. I think that was almost as hard

and the mastectomy. I am still soar from that. That surgery was in Nov. 05.

The three surgeries last year took it out of me. But, I still wasn't through.

After everything settled down I had to go and have nipple reconstruction and opt

for tattooing of the areola instead of the skin grafting. My trouble breast

got infected after the surgery but caught it early and everything is okay now.

My last procedure is to have a material called radiance injected into the

nipple. It's like botox but is supposed to be a new and improved substance. This

is to keep the nipples hard. but not too hard.

I have to say that my energy level isn't quite what it was before. I do a

little physical therapy to help keep up my strength. but some days I just don't

want to do anything and those day's seem to be all filled up with apts, and

everyday stuff.

I still have two teenagers at home and they keep me hopping. I also have three

grandsons that come and visit. Life just doesn't let me slow down very much.

I also am taking lunesta to help me sleep at night. Those darn hot flashes and

night sweats can get the best of ya. I had to have a complete hysterectomy back

in 1994. At that time I was put on HRT. But didn't know that I was her2

positive. That probably contributed to my cancer comeback. Can't say for sure

though.

They are many different reconstruction procedures. Would I do the same one

over or choose another. Maybe. I chose to go the doctors out of my area. I have

a six to seven round trip everytime I have to see the cancer doctors or plastic

surgen. It is hard on the family at times but everyone is very supportive.

We have no family close by, we live in CA. all of my husbands fam. is in New

Orleans and my fam is in Az, ID, and LA. We are all scattered out. My mom came

and stayed with me for my first surgery. But the trips were very hard on her. So

she didn't come after that one time. I am glad that I did go ahead and do the

recon at the time of the mast. I don't know if I would have gone through with it

later. And my new boobies aren't bad. Some scarring. But my hubby likes them

too.

I hope I helped out and didn't ramble on to much. If there's anything I can

clear up for you please let me know. Its hard to sum everything up in a nice

little package. I did jump around a lot. ttfn. theresa t.

signia rodriguez wrote:

Thank you for the words... I just want to know what is it that I need

to be doing to keep my energy up I have been so sleepy and I haven't even

started chemo yet. I have been going through a bunch of scans.

Can you tell me what kind of reconstruction you had or are having. I had a

mastectomy and I don't know if I want to have reconstruction... so can you share

what you are going through?

Theresa Towner wrote:

I have had bc twice. The first time I was 33. Had lumpectomy, axillary gland

removed and nodes came back pos. Did chemo with internal radiation, and external

rad. Lost every stitch of hair on my body. The second time I was 47. Went ahead

and had bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction. No radiation, just Aromisin for

the next couple or few years. No positive nodes this time. Caught it early. No

family history of BC. I am the first. Doing some physical therapy to keep

everything moving good.

I was still pretty young the first time w/bc. I had just had a baby had a

teenager. and kept working full time when I wasn't off a day here or there for

chemo. My first rounds of chemo put me in the hospital. After that I just went

to the onc. office. I did feel bad after every treatment. I think I had a

treatment every three weeks I can't remember now. I seemed to bounce back pretty

good then.

This time around I haven't bounced back as well. The procedure I chose for

reconstruction has really taken a toll on me. Four surgeries in the last year

and a half have been tough. I still have two teenagers at home. I chose to take

time off from work this time around. Do a little physical therapy. Fortunately,

I have been blessed. I have wonderful support at home. Everything is getting

better everyday though. Theresa T.

siggyt2000 wrote:

I was just wondering what were the ages of all the ladies with breast

cancer and what treatment have you had and how did it make you feel..

__________________________________________________