Please, please go to this conversation and post about this. I sent this link to another lady yesterday and maybe, you talking about it can help her too. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-completed-all-treatments-for-breast-cancer-but-now-i-am-supposed/
I know that there are late effects from cancer treatments, you might want to mention how long ago you took anastrazole and for how long? Did you have other types of treatment as well?
I chose the DIEP flap procedure with my breast reconstruction. The word I would use to describe the surgery is brutal. I think, in part, this is because the procedure was emotional as well as physical. When a woman has traveled through breast cancer treatment, she’s tired. No, she’s exhausted, from the journey. And then there is reconstruction (if she so chooses). When we reach reconstruction, it’s a milestone. 😊. But this procedure can be very challenging. I remember breaking down after a month with abdominal drains….. my husband had to change the dressings since I could not reach them well enough. I remember sobbing that morning …. Emotionally (and physically), I was spent. That surgery was difficult for me after all the chemo and the double mastectomy. Yet, sixteen months later, my new breasts feel wonderfully normal. It’s my own flesh. I’m grateful for the plastic surgeon who helped me create a new sense of normalcy after mastectomy, and I’m grateful to have regained a part of myself back in the physical sense. Breast cancer (or really any cancer, I imagine) is about endurance. And though our lives are forever changed from having gone through it, we have that opportunity to accept our new normal and move forward. And that includes new flesh-breasts, fluid-filled breasts, or no new breasts at all. I’m just grateful to be here. 🙏🏻
Please, please go to this conversation and post about this. I sent this link to another lady yesterday and maybe, you talking about it can help her too. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-completed-all-treatments-for-breast-cancer-but-now-i-am-supposed/
I know that there are late effects from cancer treatments, you might want to mention how long ago you took anastrazole and for how long? Did you have other types of treatment as well?
have been taking Anastrozole for 21 months. I told my oncologist I was going to stop it. He didn't agree. If I take the Anastrozole for five years I have a 3% chance of cancer coming back in my body. If I only take it two years i have a 6% chance. I am having tremendous joint pain and my arthritis was never an issue before until now. Had a follow up with my gastrointestinal dr. and my stomach lining was badly inflamed which is another side affect. This medication causes trigger finger as well which is painful. Now I have diabetes which I never had before. My blood glucose started changing when I started taking the Anastrozole. My oncologist said nothing about it, he doesn't treat diabetes and they don't associate this drug with diabetes. I found on the Mayo clinic website that women over 60 have a high chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
have been taking Anastrozole for 21 months. I told my oncologist I was going to stop it. He didn't agree. If I take the Anastrozole for five years I have a 3% chance of cancer coming back in my body. If I only take it two years i have a 6% chance. I am having tremendous joint pain and my arthritis was never an issue before until now. Had a follow up with my gastrointestinal dr. and my stomach lining was badly inflamed which is another side affect. This medication causes trigger finger as well which is painful. Now I have diabetes which I never had before. My blood glucose started changing when I started taking the Anastrozole. My oncologist said nothing about it, he doesn't treat diabetes and they don't associate this drug with diabetes. I found on the Mayo clinic website that women over 60 have a high chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
I'm 80, so you situation is probably different from mine. I tried several anti-estrogen drugs and they made me emotionally miserable. At my last check up, my mammograms showed no tumors present. I told my oncologist i didn't want to take the drugs and he said that was fine. He said I look healthy, feel healthy and at this point not to worry.
Had to give up on anestrozole devastating side effects. Pain Weakness. Hair Loss. And 4 trigger fingers. !!! Oncologist says arthritis. I say Anestrozole! What are your effects?
I chose the DIEP flap procedure with my breast reconstruction. The word I would use to describe the surgery is brutal. I think, in part, this is because the procedure was emotional as well as physical. When a woman has traveled through breast cancer treatment, she’s tired. No, she’s exhausted, from the journey. And then there is reconstruction (if she so chooses). When we reach reconstruction, it’s a milestone. 😊. But this procedure can be very challenging. I remember breaking down after a month with abdominal drains….. my husband had to change the dressings since I could not reach them well enough. I remember sobbing that morning …. Emotionally (and physically), I was spent. That surgery was difficult for me after all the chemo and the double mastectomy. Yet, sixteen months later, my new breasts feel wonderfully normal. It’s my own flesh. I’m grateful for the plastic surgeon who helped me create a new sense of normalcy after mastectomy, and I’m grateful to have regained a part of myself back in the physical sense. Breast cancer (or really any cancer, I imagine) is about endurance. And though our lives are forever changed from having gone through it, we have that opportunity to accept our new normal and move forward. And that includes new flesh-breasts, fluid-filled breasts, or no new breasts at all. I’m just grateful to be here. 🙏🏻
@rhongirl, you're so right to raise the emotional aspect of reconstruction. It can be so emotional, and you're so spent from treatment and getting through.
I'm so glad that the outcome 16 months later is a positive one and you're happy with the results. With the benefit of hindsight, would you make the same choice again?
I would love to hear more about decisions regarding reconstruction. There seems to be a few folks out there asking these questions.
What was your choice? Are you happy with the decision you made? Did your doctor agree or did you have to fight for what you wanted?
I'm so glad you listened to your feelings, and it worked out for the best! I'm going to talk to my surgeon about this, but she sounds like I should just do the one, but we'll see. It's different when someone doesn't have this to say, and this is a business to make money. But I'm doing lots of research, and you've helped so much and I appreciate lots
Hello,
I am 55 and before surgery I was stage 3 her2 with lymph nodes affected.
I had a bi lateral mastectomy and healed in 4 weeks to a point I was back at work with limited lifting.
I have PT and feel relieved that both breasts are removed.
Insurance covered all and will cover all reconstruction in the future. I have feeling on the skin of my breasts and also to the touch in between my breasts.
I laugh when I feel a draft!
I had skin sparing so I was not conservative!
Life ahead of cosmetics.
I am blessed to have family send amazing team of doctors.
Continuing with my treatment plan post surgery.
I feel back to my energy level 5 months out of surgery 7 weeks out of radiation and continuing chemo as preventative.
Living my life looking forward.
Strangely, I developed carpel tunnel syndrome. And it was not in the hand I used all day long to manipulate a ball mouse doing graphic design. After surgery (simple) I discovered it was a possible side effect!
I was 38 when I started treatment for triple negative stage 3B and lymph nodes, skin, chest wall. I had a mastectomy and tissue expanders put in after a few months of chemo, then we waited and I did 7 weeks of radiation.
In September I had a DEIP Flap. My plastic surgeon had a fancy PowerPoint that he went through when I was first diagnosed. He had a graph of people's perceived quality of life shortly after surgeries and then in the long term, and from the data it looked like everybody was happy post surgery but in the years that followed people's satisfaction went down or up depending on which way they went. The DEIP Flap had a high satisfaction rate 5, 10, 15 years out.
When I just had the tissue expander in I did feel that maybe it would be fine and we could skip the whole second reconstruction, and it was frustrating having a second surgery. I had to stay in the hospital for 4 days to make sure all the blood vessels continue to be hooked up properly, and I had a 1-year-old at home at the time who was freaking out. Luckily the healing process was much better than my first surgery I think because I wasn't on IV chemo I was on a pill chemo.
Now 9 months out I am so happy I went ahead and got my reconstruction. It's nice not to have to worry about anything leaking, I can go to all my scans and MRIs without worrying about tissue expanders or other things. Because of my extensive radiation I'm not symmetrical or anything like that and we had to work on the other side so I've got scars all over the place but I don't care.
I haven't had feeling on the reconstructed breast, but I see that as a pro. Sometimes if my husband wants to get touchy feely and my other side is feeling overly sensitive I can always redirect him to the resurrected boob, lol.
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I was on anastrazole @ 3/4 of a year. Did anybody else get trigger fingers from anastrazole?
I chose the DIEP flap procedure with my breast reconstruction. The word I would use to describe the surgery is brutal. I think, in part, this is because the procedure was emotional as well as physical. When a woman has traveled through breast cancer treatment, she’s tired. No, she’s exhausted, from the journey. And then there is reconstruction (if she so chooses). When we reach reconstruction, it’s a milestone. 😊. But this procedure can be very challenging. I remember breaking down after a month with abdominal drains….. my husband had to change the dressings since I could not reach them well enough. I remember sobbing that morning …. Emotionally (and physically), I was spent. That surgery was difficult for me after all the chemo and the double mastectomy. Yet, sixteen months later, my new breasts feel wonderfully normal. It’s my own flesh. I’m grateful for the plastic surgeon who helped me create a new sense of normalcy after mastectomy, and I’m grateful to have regained a part of myself back in the physical sense. Breast cancer (or really any cancer, I imagine) is about endurance. And though our lives are forever changed from having gone through it, we have that opportunity to accept our new normal and move forward. And that includes new flesh-breasts, fluid-filled breasts, or no new breasts at all. I’m just grateful to be here. 🙏🏻
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6 Reactionshave been taking Anastrozole for 21 months. I told my oncologist I was going to stop it. He didn't agree. If I take the Anastrozole for five years I have a 3% chance of cancer coming back in my body. If I only take it two years i have a 6% chance. I am having tremendous joint pain and my arthritis was never an issue before until now. Had a follow up with my gastrointestinal dr. and my stomach lining was badly inflamed which is another side affect. This medication causes trigger finger as well which is painful. Now I have diabetes which I never had before. My blood glucose started changing when I started taking the Anastrozole. My oncologist said nothing about it, he doesn't treat diabetes and they don't associate this drug with diabetes. I found on the Mayo clinic website that women over 60 have a high chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'm 80, so you situation is probably different from mine. I tried several anti-estrogen drugs and they made me emotionally miserable. At my last check up, my mammograms showed no tumors present. I told my oncologist i didn't want to take the drugs and he said that was fine. He said I look healthy, feel healthy and at this point not to worry.
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsHad to give up on anestrozole devastating side effects. Pain Weakness. Hair Loss. And 4 trigger fingers. !!! Oncologist says arthritis. I say Anestrozole! What are your effects?
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Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@rhongirl, you're so right to raise the emotional aspect of reconstruction. It can be so emotional, and you're so spent from treatment and getting through.
I'm so glad that the outcome 16 months later is a positive one and you're happy with the results. With the benefit of hindsight, would you make the same choice again?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI would love to hear more about decisions regarding reconstruction. There seems to be a few folks out there asking these questions.
What was your choice? Are you happy with the decision you made? Did your doctor agree or did you have to fight for what you wanted?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHello,
I am 55 and before surgery I was stage 3 her2 with lymph nodes affected.
I had a bi lateral mastectomy and healed in 4 weeks to a point I was back at work with limited lifting.
I have PT and feel relieved that both breasts are removed.
Insurance covered all and will cover all reconstruction in the future. I have feeling on the skin of my breasts and also to the touch in between my breasts.
I laugh when I feel a draft!
I had skin sparing so I was not conservative!
Life ahead of cosmetics.
I am blessed to have family send amazing team of doctors.
Continuing with my treatment plan post surgery.
I feel back to my energy level 5 months out of surgery 7 weeks out of radiation and continuing chemo as preventative.
Living my life looking forward.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 ReactionsStrangely, I developed carpel tunnel syndrome. And it was not in the hand I used all day long to manipulate a ball mouse doing graphic design. After surgery (simple) I discovered it was a possible side effect!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI was 38 when I started treatment for triple negative stage 3B and lymph nodes, skin, chest wall. I had a mastectomy and tissue expanders put in after a few months of chemo, then we waited and I did 7 weeks of radiation.
In September I had a DEIP Flap. My plastic surgeon had a fancy PowerPoint that he went through when I was first diagnosed. He had a graph of people's perceived quality of life shortly after surgeries and then in the long term, and from the data it looked like everybody was happy post surgery but in the years that followed people's satisfaction went down or up depending on which way they went. The DEIP Flap had a high satisfaction rate 5, 10, 15 years out.
When I just had the tissue expander in I did feel that maybe it would be fine and we could skip the whole second reconstruction, and it was frustrating having a second surgery. I had to stay in the hospital for 4 days to make sure all the blood vessels continue to be hooked up properly, and I had a 1-year-old at home at the time who was freaking out. Luckily the healing process was much better than my first surgery I think because I wasn't on IV chemo I was on a pill chemo.
Now 9 months out I am so happy I went ahead and got my reconstruction. It's nice not to have to worry about anything leaking, I can go to all my scans and MRIs without worrying about tissue expanders or other things. Because of my extensive radiation I'm not symmetrical or anything like that and we had to work on the other side so I've got scars all over the place but I don't care.
I haven't had feeling on the reconstructed breast, but I see that as a pro. Sometimes if my husband wants to get touchy feely and my other side is feeling overly sensitive I can always redirect him to the resurrected boob, lol.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions