Aa
3 month recall
Hi I am hoping to find some reassuence I went for my yearly mammo, August 29th, I was called back for a compression mammo on the 12th of September, after that was read I was kept for an ultrasound..I was then told everything was fine and sent home. At my next family Doctor visit, he said they wanted me to come back for another mammo at three months. I am 43 the report didn't make a lot of sense to me but I did read where it said "comparable to a benign cyst" I am just freaked out that I have to go back again so soon if nothing is wrong. I have a family history of breast cancer and wonder if they are just being extra careful. My sil has breast cancer and told me if they were overly concerned they would have done a biopsy right away..
this has been going on since August I am booked for the next mammo December 5th, I am too stressed to eat, I have nightmares and don't feel I can cope well at all.
any help would be ever so appreciated before I lose my mind..
this has been going on since August I am booked for the next mammo December 5th, I am too stressed to eat, I have nightmares and don't feel I can cope well at all.
any help would be ever so appreciated before I lose my mind..
You are now my best friend!!!! hand made crocheted baby clothes!!!!!!! Perk me up right away! I love shopping for baby clothes, even when you don't need them. ;)
Sounds good for the email/mail. You can send me a message via here with your info and I'll write you back with mine.
take care and try not to worry until you HAVE to.
Lisa
Sounds good for the email/mail. You can send me a message via here with your info and I'll write you back with mine.
take care and try not to worry until you HAVE to.
Lisa
thank-you Lisa, I think I have found a gift in all of this already by "meeting" you. I will have to find and figure out the pm system, I would like to send you my home e/mail addy.
Vancouver is beautiful my brother lives in Seattle so he gets the best of both worlds.
I am planning of doing some volunteer work once I get these tests out of the way, I do design and make crocheted baby clothes so I am doing a lot of that right now to keep my mind busy.
Vancouver is beautiful my brother lives in Seattle so he gets the best of both worlds.
I am planning of doing some volunteer work once I get these tests out of the way, I do design and make crocheted baby clothes so I am doing a lot of that right now to keep my mind busy.
Do you have a breast surgeon in mind? Getting him/her to read the reports might give you some more info on what's going on with the clinic.
It's *probably* nothing, may be something they saw to watch...could just be new equipment they are getting used to...
Never been to the Toronto area. Might have to venture up there one day. I liked Vancouver so much, it was pretty. Right now, travelling is out with my little bitties. We're gearing up for Disney one day eventually. It's expensive to think about, but I do want to take them.
Seriously, on the church...when I had a miscarriage some odd years ago, I ended up talking with a counselor when I couldn't get out of the blues/depression. Her first suggestion was to find an activity that would help ease my pain from the loss. One thing was to teach Sunday School to 3 year olds. It's a beautiful thing to do (finding something to get involved with). Met a lot of good folks and it gave me great pleasure to do something so wonderful for others. I've been at it for almost 5 years now. We picked a church where we liked the pastor and then I volunteered with the words...."what do you need me to do" and they put me with a bunch of 3 year olds. Loved it ever since.
If you need an ear, I'll be here around as either lhughes or lhughes69. You can send private message here, too.
lisa
It's *probably* nothing, may be something they saw to watch...could just be new equipment they are getting used to...
Never been to the Toronto area. Might have to venture up there one day. I liked Vancouver so much, it was pretty. Right now, travelling is out with my little bitties. We're gearing up for Disney one day eventually. It's expensive to think about, but I do want to take them.
Seriously, on the church...when I had a miscarriage some odd years ago, I ended up talking with a counselor when I couldn't get out of the blues/depression. Her first suggestion was to find an activity that would help ease my pain from the loss. One thing was to teach Sunday School to 3 year olds. It's a beautiful thing to do (finding something to get involved with). Met a lot of good folks and it gave me great pleasure to do something so wonderful for others. I've been at it for almost 5 years now. We picked a church where we liked the pastor and then I volunteered with the words...."what do you need me to do" and they put me with a bunch of 3 year olds. Loved it ever since.
If you need an ear, I'll be here around as either lhughes or lhughes69. You can send private message here, too.
lisa
I am in Southern Ontario, north of Toronto.
I will look into a church, thats a great idea, I just wish I knew why they want me back in three months..but I guess this happens a lot. I don't even want to go, the last time I went in September I went with a real positive attitude then they asked for another mammo, then the ultrasound by then I was a complete mess, my fear is I will go back again on the 5th and the same thing will happen. It's the not knowing I guess..
Like I said the Radioligist said everything was fine when I left, it is a brand new screening clinic and just switched to digital the week I went for the first mammo, so I don't know if that has anything to do with the recalls.
I will look into a church, thats a great idea, I just wish I knew why they want me back in three months..but I guess this happens a lot. I don't even want to go, the last time I went in September I went with a real positive attitude then they asked for another mammo, then the ultrasound by then I was a complete mess, my fear is I will go back again on the 5th and the same thing will happen. It's the not knowing I guess..
Like I said the Radioligist said everything was fine when I left, it is a brand new screening clinic and just switched to digital the week I went for the first mammo, so I don't know if that has anything to do with the recalls.
Whereabouts in Canada, east or west? I took mom to Vancouver after she finished her reconstruction back in 2000. I also had work up there with the RCMP for a project here in Alabama (believe it or not). My husband and I have also visited Montreal (by accident trying to get to Burlington, Vermont...by accident means we could fly into Montreal much cheaper than into Burlington).
Do you go to church? If not, might I suggest you look into one. The support from friends and church family is so great. What about your husband's family (or is that your brother's wife, the sil)? Do you have a group of close friends you can lean on?
I know what you mean by the moments of good and bad. At first, I was crying a good bit over it...mostly over the lymphedema issues, but then I decided that I would just get through it and have tunnelled myself into being ok. Finding humor in it also helps.
Do you go to church? If not, might I suggest you look into one. The support from friends and church family is so great. What about your husband's family (or is that your brother's wife, the sil)? Do you have a group of close friends you can lean on?
I know what you mean by the moments of good and bad. At first, I was crying a good bit over it...mostly over the lymphedema issues, but then I decided that I would just get through it and have tunnelled myself into being ok. Finding humor in it also helps.
meant to add, I don't have any family here, I am in Canada, my brother moved to the U.S. years ago, my sister is severely handicapped..and Mom of course is gone..My Dad is almost 83 and not in great health. I think if I had family support I would be a little better but it is what it is.
You're something else and I mean that in the most amazing way! My daughter was around 2 or three when she realized Grandma had a detachable boob, one morning Mom hadn't got dressed yet and my daughter took it upon herself to go upstairs get the boob out of the box bring it down and stuff it in my mom's nightie lol
I will try and find your pic but I am not sure how to naviagate this site yet.
I do feel somewhat better, I have moments of thinking everything is okay and moments of complete terror...which I guess is common but you sure have helped me a lot..
give those babies of yours hugs from me
just going to run out for an errand but I will check for the pic as soon as I get back :)
I will try and find your pic but I am not sure how to naviagate this site yet.
I do feel somewhat better, I have moments of thinking everything is okay and moments of complete terror...which I guess is common but you sure have helped me a lot..
give those babies of yours hugs from me
just going to run out for an errand but I will check for the pic as soon as I get back :)
Shoot, things have changed since MY mom went through all this 7 years ago!!! Her tram failed, by the way, so I was very picky of the doc I chose. She commented that my treatment was entirely different from hers. When I first came home after the mastectomy, I had the scar and bird seed type breast, as you call it. My eldest daughter just thought it was my new boob, though (she was barely 1 at the time).
Yep, I'm cured. I am now going through semi-yearly and yearly routine checks, CT scans, mammo, bone scans, etc. And I take the lovely Tamoxifen for the next 3 years and 9 months (not that I'm counting!) and Effexor for the Tamoxifen side-effects. Effexor keeps me pretty happy.
As for coping? Lots and lots of support from my family (very good husband and mom) and friends at work (my old workplace and my husband's employer, too) and friends at church. They kept us feed through the worst parts. Going through the chemo knowing I was going to have a baby made the chemo much easier to handle. I just figured if I kept my body healthy for the baby, then my body would be able to better handle the chemo. I drank so much water and walked every day. It wasn't too bad. I was probably the happiest chemo patient in my doc's office.
My baby (Lauren) is rotten, of course...spoiled beyond measure. She's now 20 months old, her sister Kathryn just turned 3. There's a picture of Lauren under my lhughes69 name, look me up there and you can see her. I can't have any more kids, but that's ok. I've come to accept that (I did want to try for 3). I love my family and they love me (even when they vomit in the bed and keep us up all night long). And that is how you cope. Lots of love, and more prayer than I could ever imagine.
Yep, I'm cured. I am now going through semi-yearly and yearly routine checks, CT scans, mammo, bone scans, etc. And I take the lovely Tamoxifen for the next 3 years and 9 months (not that I'm counting!) and Effexor for the Tamoxifen side-effects. Effexor keeps me pretty happy.
As for coping? Lots and lots of support from my family (very good husband and mom) and friends at work (my old workplace and my husband's employer, too) and friends at church. They kept us feed through the worst parts. Going through the chemo knowing I was going to have a baby made the chemo much easier to handle. I just figured if I kept my body healthy for the baby, then my body would be able to better handle the chemo. I drank so much water and walked every day. It wasn't too bad. I was probably the happiest chemo patient in my doc's office.
My baby (Lauren) is rotten, of course...spoiled beyond measure. She's now 20 months old, her sister Kathryn just turned 3. There's a picture of Lauren under my lhughes69 name, look me up there and you can see her. I can't have any more kids, but that's ok. I've come to accept that (I did want to try for 3). I love my family and they love me (even when they vomit in the bed and keep us up all night long). And that is how you cope. Lots of love, and more prayer than I could ever imagine.
36 and pregnant? how did you cope? I don't even know you but admire you so much..and I can tell by your writing you are so positive. I had no idea the reconstuction was so involved. I think I would do it though. When my Mom was diagnosed times were very different, she came home with a scar from her arm pit right across her chest and a bird seed type breast form..as a kid the whole thing scared the heck out of me, would you believe I was worried birds would attack her?
I need to know people like you! you have a great attitude..I hope I don't come across as stupid, with the questions I ask, but as I said when my Mom went through it things were different, nothing was talked about so I am learning more now.
You have been through a lot...How is your baby doing? and are you considered in remission?
I need to know people like you! you have a great attitude..I hope I don't come across as stupid, with the questions I ask, but as I said when my Mom went through it things were different, nothing was talked about so I am learning more now.
You have been through a lot...How is your baby doing? and are you considered in remission?
Hi, no I don't mind (I'm also lhughes69, by the way)...I'm now 38. I was diagnosed when I was 36 with Stage 3 breast cancer. I was 8 weeks pregnant at the diagnosis, had a full mastectomy with lymph node removal (1 node on sentinal node biopsy was positive), did chemo (4 rounds of A/C), had baby, did chemo (4 rounds of Abraxane) which was completed 6/6/06. Completed 7 weeks radiation in late August of that year. Had a tram-flap reconstruction surgery on April 30th of this year.
My new boob, which I lovingly call "frankenboobie", is pretty good for a man-made breast. Mind you I didn't get to have reconstruction at the time of my mastectomy since reconstruction is a LONG surgery, so I have a few more scars than some folks. They took some abdominal muscle, put some of my tummy fat with it and borrowed the skin (thankfully I had plenty due to two pregnancies back to back) from my stomach area to make a new boob. They also relocated my belly-button when they tightened the skin, and put my other boob back in its proper location (with a minor reduction). So, all in all, my body looks pretty much like it did before kids (in clothing).
The surgery is a bit difficult, but not so bad as to not ever want to do that again. The nipple reconstruction was strange, but it worked. I have a nipple, then they tattoo an areola around the nipple. All in all, it took 16 weeks (about) to complete. Sometimes they can do the nipple when the put back on the breast, but I had to have that done separately.
I don't really have feeling in the breast or in my stomach area, yet. The stomach area may improve, but probably not the breast area. I still have spots of non-feeling under my arm where the original surgery was 2 years ago.
If you have to have a boob redone, start asking around for a good plastic surgeon. I got lots of recommendations for the one I went to from almost total strangers. But right now, you aren't there and let's pray you don't get to go there! ;)
My new boob, which I lovingly call "frankenboobie", is pretty good for a man-made breast. Mind you I didn't get to have reconstruction at the time of my mastectomy since reconstruction is a LONG surgery, so I have a few more scars than some folks. They took some abdominal muscle, put some of my tummy fat with it and borrowed the skin (thankfully I had plenty due to two pregnancies back to back) from my stomach area to make a new boob. They also relocated my belly-button when they tightened the skin, and put my other boob back in its proper location (with a minor reduction). So, all in all, my body looks pretty much like it did before kids (in clothing).
The surgery is a bit difficult, but not so bad as to not ever want to do that again. The nipple reconstruction was strange, but it worked. I have a nipple, then they tattoo an areola around the nipple. All in all, it took 16 weeks (about) to complete. Sometimes they can do the nipple when the put back on the breast, but I had to have that done separately.
I don't really have feeling in the breast or in my stomach area, yet. The stomach area may improve, but probably not the breast area. I still have spots of non-feeling under my arm where the original surgery was 2 years ago.
If you have to have a boob redone, start asking around for a good plastic surgeon. I got lots of recommendations for the one I went to from almost total strangers. But right now, you aren't there and let's pray you don't get to go there! ;)
How long ago did you have your surgery? I don't know too much about reconstruction, I did meet a lady who had it, and the results were amazing. Do you mind me asking how old you are?
Don't worry about being a big baby....breast cancer is indeed scary. My mom went through it, and I am recovering from my own reconstruction.
Just know your own breasts and let someone know when you find something "different" than what you know to be your 'normal'. Best of luck that you do not follow in your mom's and grandmother's footsteps for this.
Just know your own breasts and let someone know when you find something "different" than what you know to be your 'normal'. Best of luck that you do not follow in your mom's and grandmother's footsteps for this.
I also want to apologize for sounding like a big baby when so many here are dealing with so much more than I. I guess it's bringing back a lot of hard memories for me. I lost both my Mom and Grandmother to Breast Cancer. It' just brought so much fear back.
thanks again
Barb
thanks again
Barb
thanks so much for your quick reply, I did have the ultrasound done after the second mammo and he said it was fine, that is why I am so confused as to why I have to go back..
god bless you all here, I have been doing some reading and, the strength and love that comes from this site is amazing. I am so sorry that anyone has to deal with these things.
god bless you all here, I have been doing some reading and, the strength and love that comes from this site is amazing. I am so sorry that anyone has to deal with these things.
Your sil is right, if there is something they are concerned over, someone is going to want to stick a needle in it immediately. They are probably looking for changes to make sure they are correct in what they see. Most of the time, it will be just a benign cyst, the ultrasound can give tell them if it's fluid filled or not.
Please try not to worry too much. At this point, you don't have any need to be freaked. It's more than likely just something they want to watch. If at your Dec 5th appt, they want to do a biopsy, go ahead and let them do what they need to. A biospy is the definitive answer to any lump that might or might not be cancerous. If they don't recommend a biopsy, then they are not too concerned with it.
Please try not to worry too much. At this point, you don't have any need to be freaked. It's more than likely just something they want to watch. If at your Dec 5th appt, they want to do a biopsy, go ahead and let them do what they need to. A biospy is the definitive answer to any lump that might or might not be cancerous. If they don't recommend a biopsy, then they are not too concerned with it.
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