Hello!
Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've been on here and I've returned to hundreds of notifications! I hope everyone is travelling well. I'm now two years post diagnosis and treatment and nearly two years post double tram flap recon. Looking at the next step of recon soon - tattoos! In the long term, I'm still feeling tired but I'm also working full time as a teacher so that may also be a contributing factor. Does the tiredness ever subside? My body has been through a lot. Maybe I should just be a little kinder to it.588ViewsSign in to react to this post17Comments
Decision time: bilateral mastectomy with recon OR radiotherapy
Hello wonderful ladies. What would you (or did you) do if you were me? Cancer details: triple negative, grade 3 tumour 9mm, lumpectomy with clear margins, three nodes removed and all tested clear, BRCA negative. I'm 33 years old. 6 rounds of chemotherapy - FEC and Docetaxel. When my genetic test results came back I thought it would be straightforward pathway - onto radiotherapy after chemo is completed. But my radiation oncologist surprised me by saying if she was sitting in my chair, she would have a bilateral mastectomy now as radiotherapy will only be beneficial to one breast. She'd want to be doing everything she could to ensure the cancer doesn't reappear in the other breast too. Because I'm so young. I know this is ultimately a personal decision but I'm putting the question out there to get as many thoughts as possible before I inevitably see what my gut tells me to do. I'm also seeing my surgeon again soon to get his thoughts. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Libby338ViewsSign in to react to this post16Comments
Diep Flap reconstruction
Hi there, I'm now 3 and a bit years post diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Stage 3 and looking to have reconstructive surgery. I've done a bit of reading about the different kinds of procedures available and I breast surgeon and I believe the Trans Flap or the Diep flap are the better options for me and I'm 57 and really don't won't to have perky breast would just love to have my cleavage back again. Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on any procedures they have had and also what the out of pocket costs were roughly for private patients. Another reason for favouring the Trans flap is I will also be rid of my belly that I have tried to loose without success. There has to be some positives in all this :-) I'm on the Gold Coast so if anyone has seen any of the surgeons there I would love to know your thoughts. I currently have an appoint ment booked for 24 March with a Dr Craig Laytt. Julie132ViewsSign in to react to this post4CommentsTouching Base to say hi
Hello everyone, It has been quite some time since I have been on here so I feel a little out of touch with everyone. I hope you are all travelling ok. Following my bilateral mastectomy and TRAM flap recon back in July, I returned to fulltime work in September. Yeah, I know, crazy lady. But it was good to be back - to a life away from cancer - despite battling a frozen shoulder, a result of all the trauma inflicted on my poor arm this year. A week before Christmas I went in for my third surgery for the year - this time saying goodbye to my ovaries and tubes. My last preventative surgery, (being BRCA2 pos) and the pathology results came back all clear so yay. Bad news though is that while the surgeon was in there he noticed that something wasn't quite right with my intestines - red, inflamed, some scarring apparently. I have suffered from IBS my whole life but chemo this year really affected my tummy and with all the other drugs I have had thrown at me, things in that department haven't exactly been moving smoothly - or in most cases, too smoothly. My surgeon suggested Crohn's. I'm hoping it's not and that it's just some side effects that can be easily fixed. I'm grasping. Anyway, just when I thought that the last surgery marked the end of it all, no, it has marked the beginning of something else. So now it's off to the gastroenterologist. I'm having a little difficulty navigating this new site - I kind of preferred the old one, found it easier. But I just wanted to put it out there that if anyone needed a chat or some advice following my journey - early breast cancer, triple neg, lumpectomy, chemo, BRCA2 pos, bilateral mastectomy, TRAM flap recon, ovaries and tubes gone - then I am more than happy to share my experiences. Heck, I can even throw in a frozen shoulder, early menopause and now intestinal issues following treatment to the mix!! It's been a hell of a year, How many days left? Sherril392ViewsSign in to react to this post16Comments
Surgery next week
Hi all, I'm new to the online network. I was diagnosed back in May of this year with a Grade 3 Triple Negative tumour in my left breast when I was 28 weeks pregnant. Since then I've done 8 rounds of dose dense chemo and my son is now 4 months old. Next step is an elective bilateral mastectomy with expanders. I'm keen to hear from anyone who's had the same procedure and has any advice whether it be what to take to hospital or how to manage recovery. I also have a daughter aged 2 and my husband works away so my Mum and MIL will be taking turns at staying with me to help with the kids. I'm feeling pretty good about everything that's happening but just want to be as prepared as possible! TIA!173ViewsSign in to react to this post8Comments
Reconstruction
My name Yanni 44 y/o I am new in this group and I am just finished all treadment: chemo and radiation etc a year ago. Now I am thinking to have reconstruction asap since they found me the genetic mutation 1 and also triple neg. I just wondering is anyone had the reconstruction at Mater Hospital? I am intersting to have my recons at Mater hosptl for Diep. .Please if anyone knows the dr good in DIEP at Mater hospital pls let me know. Regards Yanni20ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
Reconstruction
I have triple negative and estrogen positive breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and auxiliary nodes removed and then 2 weeks later a mastectomy. Followed by 16 weeks of Taxol with 4 doses of Carboplatin. 1 month break then 5 weeks of radiation. Now I am considering my options for reconstruction. Tram flap vs implants in the public hospital system. I am seeking advice from those who have undergone either on what your recommendations are.94ViewsSign in to react to this post9Comments
Reconstruction and prophylactic mastectomy
Would love some stories of people who have had this done. Hi, I am considering a prophylactic mastectomy and double reconstruction. After a reoccurance of my triple negative breast cancer in March 2011. I had a mastectiomy.(I had previoulsy had a lumpectiomy and radiation/chemo 18mth before. As both my diagnosis came only a short while after clear mammograms (8mth and 6 mths) and were quite aggresive I have decided to have the prophylactic mastectomy. I would really like reconstructive surgery. My general surgeon also does reconstuction with expanders/implants and is happy to perform the surgery. He has recommeded hyperbaric oxygen thereapy before and after the surgery.. He has apparently had success with this type of surgery. From everything I have read implants are not the way to go after radiation. Today I saw a reconstructive surgeon and he does not like to implants post radiation. He has recommended DIEP/TRAM flap surgery. This however is huge surgery and also quite expensive. I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has had radiation and gone on to have implants. Also anyone who has had a double mastectomy and TRAM flap surgery. Oh yeah also, I am not that big and don't have lots of stomach and the reconstructive surgeon said he would only have enough skin for a "B" cup. I would be happy with that. Just would like to hear anyone elses experiences espescially post radiation. Thanks88ViewsSign in to react to this post6Comments
Mum diagnosed with TNBC
Hi, I found out today that my mum has been diagnosed with about 3cm, Stage 2, TNBC on her left breast. It has spread to her lymph nodes and to her armpit. She is 63y old. The oncologist has suggested 1) mastectomy with chemo if applicable 2) lumpectomy with chemo & radio 3) breast reconstruction. He is going 50/50 with options 1 & 2. I would like some advice on where to from here. Any advice on if option 1 or 2? I am leaning towards mastectomy and am thinking if she should do mastectomy of both breasts eventhough no cancer has been detected on her right breast. Should I get another doctor's opinion? I would like to keep my mum well informed of her options. So any advice or experience would be helpful. Thanks lots!155ViewsSign in to react to this post15Comments
Strattice Mesh Reconstruction
Hi ladies I am almost 2 years on from my initial diagnosis of triple negative bc. I had a left mastectomy and node removal followed by chemo and radiotherapy. I am booked in for reconstruction on 1st July and will also have my right boob removed at the same time. I did not want the tram flap or back muscle op and my surgeon says I will be able to have the strattice mesh option with a small implant on my cancer side and a slighly larger implant on my right side. I will have expanders fitted first. Sorry I cant find any post on here about the strattice mesh reconstruction and was wondering if any of you had had this method and what to expect. Would love to hear from anyone who has had this. Thank you.23ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
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