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 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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
yes, but the bigger risk is taking medications that will most certainly damage your body worse. I was not a diabetic until now. My sugar glucose was 82 and now after taking Anastrozole for 21 months I have type 2 diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy in my left eye. No one told me this could happen. I was told I will lose my eyesight and go blind. Really? I am so angry. My oncologist didn't think to tell me about my glucose level because he's only concerned with the numbers in my blood that are related to breast cancer. Really? Big pharma is using us as ginny pigs.
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?
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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?
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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?
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2 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 ReactionsI'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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI 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 ReactionsI was on anastrazole @ 3/4 of a year. Did anybody else get trigger fingers from anastrazole?
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?
Yes, and they were addressed. Made a decision not to use my own tissue, plastic surgeon told me I was not a candidate for implant
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1 ReactionThat is the only safe replacement. I had a terrible time with silicone implants.
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