WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for September, 1997: Re: Breast Cancer: I Am Your Sister

Re: Breast Cancer: I Am Your Sister

From: Barbara (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 12 Sep 1997 20:00:15 -0500 (CDT)

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At Fri, 12 Sep 1997, Brenda wrote: >
>Am newly diagnosed with breast cancer (yesterday)

Dear Brenda,

First let me share with you that I am your sister in Breast Cancer. I have been there and I am still here.. I truly know your deepest fears and concerns and my heart is with you. Let me see if I can help with some of these answers from a survivors point of view.

>have first
>appointment with oncologist/surgeon on Tuesday.

First I want to say this is real good for the main thing is to find our everything that is coming up and have your questions answered by the people involved in your care. I Strongly advise that you make sure that the surgeon "Specelizes" or at least does Many breast surguries each year. If you don't know the answer to this question ASK! Ask your ob/gyn, oncologist or first Him/Her the person that is going to do the Surgery.

Please remember Brenda, You, are Responsible for All your Treatment and Care... Choose wisely now. Be Sure you are comfortable with these physicians And with the way they answer your questions..There are No Dumb Questions!

>What can I expect vis a vis surgery (extent, discomfort, >etc.) and follow up?

You have not told me if you are having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy... The first is removal of the lump and some surrounding clear tissue, (this is what I had done) the second is removal of the breast.. Please post back when you know the answer to this.

>Presumably lump will be removed, what kind of post-op pain >can I expect?

Brenda, everyone of us is different as to our pain tolerance... You are the one to know the answer to this. I had very little pain in my breast. Most of my discomfort came from the node removal, under my armpit and from the drain but was tolerable. I also raised my arms Over my head the next day! I took Vicidan for a couple of days and that was it... again remember we are all different.

>Where can I get additional information re follow up >treatment such as radiation and
>chemo?

>From Your Physicians!!! I had CMF for chemo. My treatment was 3 cycles
of chemo three weeks apart, then 5 1/2 weeks of radiation, five days a week, then 2 weeks off followed by 3 more trips for the chemo. I had little or no nausea But I did have Zofram (spelling?)The oncologist will know what I'm talking about, IV at the time of chemo and also Ativan for anixiety at the same time. I was given the Zofram? pills to take at home for 4 days After each chemo treatment. They Work. Expensive as all get out but Truly Worth It!

You will need Lots of Rest and I found as the treatments progressed I got more tied quicker and for longer streaches of time. Just Lie Down and Sleep whenever you can. Fom me I did chemo on Fridays and had all weekend to rest up.

I had my surgery last April, and I completed my treatments last Oct. It was long an hard and at times it seemed it would Never End, but it did and I am GREAT today.

I went every three months after chemo ended and after one year I see my oncologist every 6 months. I also Strongly advise you to continue to visit your breast cancer surgeon in between these visits. My surgeon is my son-in-law and I went to see him yesterday at his office for a breast check-up and I will see my oncologist in another month and have a mammogram and chest exray Yearly Forever! The reason I advise you to Stay with your surgeon is two-fold...He/She Knows Your Breast and can give You the breast Exam possible... These two specialists work together...Don't Ever Stop going to him/her, the bc surgeon Ever!

>Also, am an alcoholic so narcotics are off the list of >drugs for pain management. How has pain management after >surgery been accomplished without the use of narcotics?BB >All help most appreciated.Brenda

Dear dear Brenda I cannot help you with this except to tell you that there is or must be something that can be used for pain controll for you talk this over with your physicians.

Brenda I Really want you to post Off forum privatly to me as this is one place I have truly been and I believe I can help you. I've been there, done it, and I have the teeshirt, darnit!!!

With Much Love to you, I remain. Your sister, Barbara

--
Barbara Nesbitt, Co-Moderater
Women's Health Forum
OBGYN.net

Next message: bharti: "polip (post natal problem)"
Previous message: Roberta: "You're Invited"
In reply to: Brenda: "Breast Cancer"
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