Bamagirl

My mastectomy was Nov.13,2012. I had 8 chemos, lost my hair and it came back curly- Salt and pepper just like my mother's did after her breast cancer and chemo. Lost her in 1988 when cancer came back in her lungs.All the curls have finally been cut and it's straight again. My sister had a double mastectomy 10 months after my single one. I live in Tuscaloosa and a UA graduate in Dec. 1973. I am 62 years old, married and 2 children with 6 grandbabies. Living each day to be with them in the future.Their other grandmother has stage 4 colon cancer and going through chemo now.

So happy for you.. Congratulations to both of you!!!

Hi, Bamagirl. I saw the question you posted on January 15. How are you doing? Do you have any more info?

hope you have a speedy recover. GOD BLESS

I am so sorry. I know what it is like to walk in your shoes with being scared but worrying more about keeping a brave face for those around you. It is exhausting. Please keep in mind, the worst is behind you. Chemo is much more debilitating than the mastectomy. The pain is not as bad as you would expect. The drains are the worst but more because they are annoying. Plastic surgeons can do great work with reconstruction. You have already faced challenges that I am sure you didn't know at times how you were going to get through it, but you did. This is one more of those challenges, but it is an easier one. I am praying for an easy recovery for you and that your nodes come back negative. That will hopefully mean they can take radiation off the table for you as it was for me. If you want to talk, I am here for you. When I had my surgeries ( I had to have 2 because they found more cancer), I didn't have anyone to share my feelings with who could relate. I don't want for anyone to have it do it alone if they can avoid it. Hugs to you and your family!

Ask for the 5percent lidocaine numbing cream. I didn't feel anything. You apply it liberally one hour before injections to the area just around the nipple & out from there.

I loved reading your story. I am also Her2 postive, Stage 2. I am having chemo first (taxotere, carboplatin) with Herceptin and Perjeta and then will have a double mastectomy with lymph node removed. I am not sure about radiation yet. What is your chemo and drug mix?

Hi, Bamagirl. How are you doing these days?

Hi Bamagirl,

Thanks for you input on the exhaustion that I am dealing with. My first surgery was 13 yrs ago followed by 8 wks of radiation and I wasn't near as tired then as I am now. Of course I do realize that I am 13 yrs old lol. I do walk my dog 3x's a day for and hour at a time every single day as I live alone so there isn't anyone to help me with that. I had a total masectomy and even though the dr wanted me to do chemo, for me the risks weren't worth it. The drugs cause neuropathy and I have that to begin with and they also cause heart issues and I had open heart surgery 40 yrs ago at the age of 11 so for me risking my already damaged weakened heart wasn't worth only a 5% lower rate of reoccurrance but again thats my situation. I do have many other health issues in addition to the cancer so when I go to my endo next month I am gonna ask him about the exhaustion. It could be my type 1 diabetes, my thyroid meds may need to be adjusted or my heart who knows. Thanks for responding to my question. I pray that you and your family have a beautiful Christmas this year.

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