Breast Cancer

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

Since my post about the results of my breast examination was deleted since it wouldn't generate discussion I'm going to post one that does. In case you didn't see it, my gyno is sending me to a breast surgeon because I either have inflammatory breast cancer or a TON of scar tissue from my breast reduction 3 years ago. Does anyone know of anyone who has survived breast cancer I could possibly talk to? I'm only 25 years old and possibly facing stage III of inflammatory breast cancer. I'm scared to death and I need people to talk to who have gone through this.

Do you guys just have any suggestions how my husband and I can deal with this? The gyno gave me 800mg ibuprofen and Vicaden, which is really helping with the pain, but doesn't help with the thoughts I may have cancer. Last night I kept trying to stay happy, but I could tell my husband was visibly upset.

Can anyone tell me anything more about cancers and treatments? I don't mean to sound conceited, but I have gorgeous red hair and I don't want to lose it! Will insurance cover treatments? Can you survive late stage cancers?

Also, is it really true birth control raises the possibility of breast cancer? I just need some support.

Comments

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I see him at 1:30CDT this afternoon. Yeah I was a G cup!! They took off 5lbs. It's just so weird it hit 3 years later. I'm hoping that's what it is. Isn't it ironic I need another breast reduction in order to fix it? I'm going to tell them don't mess up my left one!!!

The vicodin helped out a lot last night. I fell asleep and stayed asleep. I probably won't go into work tomorrow or Friday so I can stay at home and take it during the day.

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

Good, I'm glad its so soon. Well, it'll be a reduction of scar tissue, at least. But more surgery yuck. I'm a gcup right now, and I've been kinda considering seeing a plastic surgeon but, well, you read my friends only posts. That's just begging for a huge can of worms to be opened. Where did you find your bras? I have never seen a gcup in my life and I always have to go up a band size and down a cup size (or two).
Stay home and do your vicodin till you feel better! Make sure you have tons of fiber with it, it can constipate you, and your tolerance skyrockets rather quickly, so just be careful to not take too much too soon. Please keep us posted on what happens. Good luck this afternoon, I'll be thinking of you.

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

I can see why you don't want to go to a surgeon! They didn't make 32G bras so I had to be fitted for a 34FF. I had to go to a specialty store. I called it a mammal sling.

I'll eat my fiber tablets with the vicodin. Thanks for the info!

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

I think its awesome that you did that for yourself. One of my best friends had a reduction too, and she is so much happier. Its amazing how much emphasis people put on having big breasts when this society itself makes it nearly impossible for a woman with big breasts to function (bras, clothing, the fact that small women with large breasts look terrible in more formal clothing). It takes guts to have that surgery, guts that I just don't have. I admire the women that do it.

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

At the time of the surgery I was 22, 4'11", and 125lbs. I was TINY. I became a tomboy in junior high b/c I got sick of guys looking at my chest and girls saying I stuffed. It was hard playing sports and cheerlead. All of my boyfriends never believed me until I showed them!

Thank you so much. I knew I had to do it not only for image reasons, but health reasons. The day after my surgery I hugged my surgeon and burst into tears b/c I was so happy!

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

You and I are like twins, its so weird. I've never met (online or IRL) someone that similar to me. We're the same age, I'm 4foot10 with the scoliosis (5foot2 without it, so I totally use that height on BMIs and my license!), I'm about 5-10 pounds heavier than you, and we both had the same size boobs. Its like you really can feel my pain about size, unlike everyone else who has to fake it! That makes me so happy, seriously. The only difference is that I have asheblonde hair, which I'm not too fond of, and you have fabulous red hair (a look I've been emulating with joy for about a year now)!

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

That is so weird!! Well, I now weigh 145lbs. I got stressed with the wedding and pigged out way too much. I always put 5' on everything! I totally understand your boob pain.

Oh I love my red hair. I should post a pic of it.

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

Its all about how you carry it. Unfortunately when you're this small,its hard to hide it! Are you dieting now? I'm not even sure what my weight is right now but it needs to go down, it'll definitely help the boob thing. I'm thinking of doing weight watchers again and I'm planning on starting topomax soon, good times.
Please do! Red hair is awesome.

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

I do diet. I eat 1500 calories a day and I work out 5xs a week, which includes 35 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of weight training. I just basically eat frozen dinners. I also munch on 100 calorie packs when I get hungry.

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

You exercise A LOT. Is it working?

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

Yup. My cellulite is going down, my body looks toned, and my body fat is going down. I was worried b/c the weight wasn't going down, but the gym people said to look at the body fat. It was going down! The weight wasn't b/c I am putting on muscle.

If anything I just feel better. I work out at work. We have an excellent gym and only $16 a month.

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! I really can't do a gym here because of the traffic and the amount of people (nothing is safe between 4 and 7!) that are also doing what you're doing, but we're looking into buying an elliptical. Problem is, the less expensive ones have a 300lb weight limit and my bf weighs 320 (its like a several hundred dollar difference!). I'm debating whether we should take the chance and get a 300lb and below one or have him lose 20lb before we get one. I don't think I ant to wait that long tho.

[quiltingdragon.livejournal.com]

lol. I callled mine (36k) the iron maiden.

[skeetz81.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!