OT:Defective frog--Breast cancer---CURED!

[Tatooed Lady]

I understand the distrust...but its a tata...not a shoe bomber. Probably won't do anything terribly interesting before the whammy.

[chunkyfrog]

Now I need to worry about a "whammy"? Oh, dear!

[Elle]

You should check out breast cancer.org for the people who had to go through the same thing. It might calm your worries to see how well most of them did. Nerves before hand was a universal problem so maybe ativan? Scotch? Hang in there....easy for me to say since i wimped out of reconstruction but i know many who did great.

[palerider]

I understand the distrust...but its a tata...not a shoe bomber. Probably won't do anything terribly interesting before the whammy.

Now I need to worry about a "whammy"? Oh, dear!

STOP SCARING THE FROG!

*holds fingers over the frogs delicate ears*

[chunkyfrog]

I'll be fine. So far, I've only needed half of an alprazolam since this started.
If I have trouble sleeping, I got my trusty pill-splitter. Or I can just wake him up!

[chunkyfrog]

I'm scheduled for Friday, May 8th.
Just had a meeting with the nurse navigator.
So much information! It's all good.
Now I have a pile of phone numbers.

[knothead]

Sounds like you got this whipped already CF. A great attitude can work miracles...

[Julie]

Please don't forget to remind us beforehand so we can catch lots of flies for when you get out!

[chunkyfrog]

Now I'm waiting to hear back from the physical therapy/lymphedema folks for a consult.
With only one sentinel node planned, the chance of LE is slight, but will always be there.
I've already switched to doing glucose checks on my right hand.
The logic is to avoid trauma on the left arm/hand. (There goes my favorite vein!--"Old Painless").

[Elle]

I had 6 nodes removed and no sign of LE but I too lost my good vein. Have to use hand on other arm now. It's also hard to put a blood pressure cuff on yourself using left hand. Good luck. I bet you will ace it.

[chunkyfrog]

Wouldn't it be nice if the drugstore kiosks had a right arm option?
I guess I could research doing it on my leg!
Edit: my mother had a wrist monitor. I may dig it out,
But the lower arm needs to be at heart level for it to be accurate;
---and I'm told that will be awhile.

[chunkyfrog]

Update---Too much reading can lead to more tests.
While researching my case, I became more acutely aware of the under-utilization
of ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue, LIKE ME, and have begun to feel quite slighted,
as tumor and dense tissue are the SAME COLOR on a mammogram, which I have endured for years.
Since nobody has bothered to look more closely at my right breast (assuming it to be normal),
I had a meeting with the surgeon's assistant, asking some "good" questions. Results:
--I learned the cancer that was removed may have been in place for as much as several YEARS!
Yikes! OK, I may be extra goosey about cancer, since I lost my baby brother only a year ago to colon cancer.
Anyhoo, I was told that the preferred test is the breast MRI, which "might not be covered by Medicare".
So I made more phone calls, and my MRI is Wednesday.
This is better than the original plan, as I would have to wait 3 or 4 days for the pathology, at which time a right side
sentinel node biopsy would be impossible. ((Yeah, no boob!)). I fought for better tech, and it may make a difference!
I've been crossing my fingers so much, my webs are all stretched out.

[postitnote]

Being informed is the most vital thing you can do for your health! Doctors hate that but they don't deal with the consequences, do they!

Update---Too much reading can lead to more tests.
While researching my case, I became more acutely aware of the under-utilization
of ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue, LIKE ME, and have begun to feel quite slighted,
as tumor and dense tissue are the SAME COLOR on a mammogram, which I have endured for years.
Since nobody has bothered to look more closely at my right breast (assuming it to be normal),
I had a meeting with the surgeon's assistant, asking some "good" questions. Results:
--I learned the cancer that was removed may have been in place for as much as several YEARS!
Yikes! OK, I may be extra goosey about cancer, since I lost my baby brother only a year ago to colon cancer.
Anyhoo, I was told that the preferred test is the breast MRI, which "might not be covered by Medicare".
So I made more phone calls, and my MRI is Wednesday.
This is better than the original plan, as I would have to wait 3 or 4 days for the pathology, at which time a right side
sentinel node biopsy would be impossible. ((Yeah, no boob!)). I fought for better tech, and it may make a difference!
I've been crossing my fingers so much, my webs are all stretched out.

[HoseCrusher]

An excellent example of advocating for yourself and demanding the best possible care available.

I am hoping and praying you have a favorable report.

[chunkyfrog]

This experience is making me stronger!