Archive for July, 2010
Married with Children
July 23rd, 2010 | 
Author: Join me in congratulating Christina Applegate in announcing her pregnancy :) She and I…same age, both battled breast cancer, both enduring double mastectomy…and loving life!
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Breast Cancer Early Detection and “Doubt”
As technology advances, early detection rises and in turn catches cancer at a stage where it’s more easily treated and/or removed. However, this week a New York Times article “Doubt About Pathology Opinions for Early Breast Cancer” and Newsweek article ”Avoiding Breast-Cancer Mistakes” outlines some very important information.
My type of cancer, DCIS, is the same term used for “pre-cancerous” cells or Stage Zero. But my cancer had progressed to a point where it had turned cancerous and had become “invasive” or in other words starting to spread. Very lucky for me, for us, that we had the timing to remove the breast tissue before it spread further. When meeting with the oncologist, he spent quite a bit of time walking us through the various stages of DCIS and to illustrate where my DCIS was…well past the “pre cancerous” stage but “focal” and “invasive”.
But the key message is that DCIS is tough to diagnosis correctly every time. As the articles noted, this has been a touch nut to crack for over 30 years and they are still working to standardize the protocols. In the meantime, The Newsweek article link above has an outline of the steps to take, the second opinions to gather and overall, to ensure you educate yourself. It’s you…and please don’t just think your doctors word is where it ends.
Keeping Busy
I’m trying to rejoice in that fact that my stamina is back up to normal at three months after the double mastectomy. I can’t help but think how easy to not notice when things are good! Last week, I flew to Miami for a conference with a 4am house departure and then a 4am departure from Miami back home…to pack the car and head to a camping trip for 4 days.
This week we juggled two meetings in NYC on Tuesday and today, two meetings in New York State. I didn’t skip a beat. Didn’t feel that I needed to nap. And in the end the general fatigue was OK. Good to be back!
Vitamin D – Make it Part of Your Day Too!
I keep reading articles on the benefits of taking Vitamin D and remember my doctor suggesting I take it daily years back. In my last few blood screens, Vitamin D levels have been severely low. So I can’t help but wonder if it’s a bit of chicken before the egg, or egg before the chicken. Regardless, I thought important to share as a Vitamin D3 daily might just boost your body’s beneficial powers! Here’s more information sources for reference:
Three months post op
Here I am three months post surgery and as I entered the process, I wondered how long things take. So I post now things that I can say are still on the mend to help others get a sense of my recovery .. but please keep in mind, everyone heals and adapts at different rates…I know that one for sure now.
Site healing-all incisions are scars now. Still a bit pink, but healed over and skin is tightly bound.
Sleep – getting back to a normal pattern and energy levels just about normal.
Hormone Therapy – working to remember to take each night and I can honestly say so far, no side effects at all.
Implants – still quite uncomfortable overall with weird some feelings bending over. Other women I’ve spoken to that have had mastecomies always expected to have the first set of implants replaced. My plastic surgeon gave me the option to keep the current ones in, but always hinted that I’d prefer to change them out…so off I go to schedule the removal of the current saline set and go silicon route.
