Cancer Support

Please refer to this link, and it’s a humble request do not post again something that’s irrelevant to the TOPIC. It is rude.

So, I guess it’s time for an update…

I’m currently in the process of breast reconstruction. Let me tell you that all those who think it’s easy to get new boobs or to get bigger boobs… it’s not!!! Breast Tissue Expanders are a hell like no other. I tell everyone that if I knew how much of a royal pain these would be, I’d have foregone the whole process and just go flat-chested. They are these HARD silicone implants that give you very little movement, and are slowly filled to your desired size. Lucky me, since my skin was still “fresh”, he was able to fill my expanders to my size and a bit more. They are heavy, and feel like they are going to fall out of their “pockets”. I’m currently in a chest compression halter with a slightly bigger bra than I used to normally wear to keep the “girls” in position and to help alleviate the feeling that they will fall. My right side did come “un-stitched” and moves a bit freely. My doctor told me to use socks, feminine pads, or whatever to help stabilize it in the bra if I didn’t want to come back in for surgery to repair it. He says as long as it doesn’t move too much and is contained, no surgery is needed. While the left is testing me…

ONE MORE MONTH OF THIS SH*T!!! January 20th is the final surgery!

On a good note: because I’m using my own tissue (from that belly that has given birth to 3 kiddos and is stretched a bit too much), I get a tummy tuck with my new “girls”… he even said he would use some of my own fat (from wherever I choose) to fill in the gaps and spaces my stomach tissue can’t fill.

Even though this sounds grand, I’m a bit scared because he said this would be an 8-hour surgery with 3 surgeons.

This is my plastic surgeon. He is the sweetest guy. My mother, husband, and even my mother-in-law love this guy. He is very down to earth and just this lovable man who really cares.

Anyway…

I have to embrace the suck for now until I can get the new me!!

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I have found that it helps to keep visualizing the end result.
Eagerly waiting for the good news when all this is over.

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Irmar, I’m doing exactly that… and instead of counting days, embracing when I’ve reached the end of a week.

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Hello, dear, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. :sparkling_heart: Honestly, you are so strong and brave for going through all of this. I can’t even imagine how tough it’s been, especially dealing with the expanders and all the challenges that come with them. It’s no small thing, and I really admire your resilience. :cherry_blossom::sparkles:

January 20th is almost here, and I’m sending you so much love and positive energy to help you get through this final stretch. :two_hearts: It’s amazing that you’re getting a tummy tuck and using your own tissue. it’s like a silver lining in the middle of everything. But I totally understand how intimidating an 8 hour surgery with three surgeons must feel. Just know that so many people, including me, are cheering you on every step of the way! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts::sparkling_heart:

You’re incredible, and I hope you’re so proud of how far you’ve come. Wishing you strength, healing, and all the support you need. You’ve got this! :two_hearts::star2: Big hugs and lots of good vibes your way! :hugs::sparkles:

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Sheree, your strength and openness are truly inspiring. Your story will definitely help others who are going through similar struggles feel less alone. It’s amazing how you’ve turned your own experience into a source of support for others. I’m sending you all the positive energy as you continue your journey, and I’m so glad you have such a supportive community around you. Stay strong!

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Thank you so much for your kind words! Sincerely, I just want others to know that they are not alone and that I’m on this journey with them. After getting this cancer, I truly understand what that PINK RIBBON means. I can’t speak for men but for women, we are cursed with several kinds of cancers from the get-go. Not just Breast but Ovarian, Cervical, and Uterine cancers. Our chances of getting cancer are higher than in men. So we have to rough it and also give birth, too… as well as watch our bodies expand and stretch and get a “mother” body. It’s already not fair.

I’m truly an advocate for all women to go to the doctor and have their yearly exams… be it mammograms and/or having their gyno parts checked. Just do it. Scary isn’t seeing the doctor, scary is having a test come back positive. The sooner you catch it, the higher your chances of getting out of this alive.

My maternal grandmother died from ovarian cancer. She ignored all the signs and symptoms, too busy taking care of everyone else. By the time someone forced her to see the doctor, it had already metastasized to most parts of her body. She was in her 60s and passed away.

My paternal grandmother had breast cancer, but when she felt the “tumor” she had already reached Stage 3. They removed the breast and all lymph nodes. She had chemo, radiation, and had to take a pill for 5 years. She is right now, still alive, and has no breast cancer. She is 93, she was in her 70s when the cancer was found.

Breast Cancer medicine is so much better than what it was 5 years ago. And will probably be better than what it is 5 years from now.

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I would just like to implore all women here, young and old, who at least at some point have been “active”, to get regular yearly Pap smears at their gynaecologist.

Cervical cancer is the most preventable female cancer!

All you need to do is go to your gynae to get an examination and vaccinate yourself against HPV infections if you haven’t already.

Vaccinate yourselves, vaccinate your daughters and vaccinate your sons. Because this is the type of cancer which men “give” to women.

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Update!

I’m off on the right foot for 2025… a broken right foot! I got up to make a freakin’ sandwich, my foot I guess had fallen asleep, I didn’t feel my foot and rolled it. Go to the ER and a confirmation that I broke my foot. I’ve NEVER broken a bone in body! I have my surgery on the 20th for breast reconstruction and I’ll have a broken foot to go with it.

I just feel like I’m oozing bad luck all around me… starting last year. When will it go away!!!

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@kakashiandme

Chemo has some side effects and one of them is that it affects the bones. Patients can become high risk bone fracture and/or high risk broken bones. It seems the bones they become so brittle they break easily. I suggest you go to an orthopedist that specialize in bones, and that specialist can determine the cause of your broken foot.

Sometimes Oncologist are so busy looking for treatment from the cancer that they don’t become aware of other things that the patients are going through that need to pay attention to;. In your case more vitamin D intake?

In my mother’s case the right side arm started to get so huge while the other arm was normal size. To this day, that right arm never went back to normal size. Some cancer patients receiving chemo might get one or even both legs swollen to abnormal size, and I was told that it can be painful (my cousin RIP her right leg was huge and her left leg was normal size). She never saw her right leg go back to normal size, and she was diagnosed and treated for uterine cancer. She fought a valiant fight for 15 years, and got to see her granddaughter be born, and enjoy her for one year before she passed away.

Hopefully, you have time to see an Orthopedic Doctor, and get the right treatment to prevent further bone breakage. I have seen several Oncologist that treat my Lupus, and the reason why I changed them because they refuse to give me referrals to other Doctors that specialize and are expert in other conditions my body is going through.

Don’t forget to always stay positive since this plays a very important role into your speedy recovery. You are not oozing bad luck you are just stepping into one more hurdle that you will conquer and pull through. The bad luck went away with the old year and this new year only good things will come your way. God bless and sending positive and healing energy your way… :tada: :tada: :tada: :tada: :tada: :tada: :partying_face: :partying_face: :partying_face: :partying_face: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

PS…Please be more cautious and wear mask since your immune system is very fragile right now. My sister that works at Motor Vehicles, and refuse to wear mask (like I plead her to use them), is in the hospital with COVID yes, covid complicated with walking pneumonia.

Let us all pray for the sick ppl at home, in hospitals etc… Thanks!

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In this case, I’m at fault. My foot had fallen asleep, I ignored it, tried to walk on it, rolled my foot to the right, heard the “pop, pop, pop” and knew I’d done something. I hoped it was a horrible sprain, but it’s a fracture to the cuboid bone.

I already have a referral to an ortho. I’ll call her today to set the appt. I hope she puts me in a boot and not a cast. The ER doctor said thankfully it wasn’t a bad break and the bone is still set, as long as I don’t put pressure on it, I should be okay.

I was told after my mastectomy that since they removed a few lymph nodes that my right arm could swell… but it never happened.

Since chemo, I have been a mask wearer and still have to wear a mask because I’m on Keytruda. I’ll be a mask wearer for a bit longer. No worries there.

Thank you, Angel, for your concern. :kissing_heart::hugs:

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Wishing you a good recovery!
All the best in 2025 for you and your loved ones! :four_leaf_clover:

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I can share with you my story, although it is kind of different. I was born with a rare disease, it’s called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. This disease affects my daily life and I’m using motorized wheelchair daily, and it causes many problems like bones that fracture easily, back pains, and asthma. In my life I had about 30 fractures. Although sometimes I do break emotionally, I don’t know any other way to live, so I deal with it the best I can with the help of my family. I owe them everything, for all that they did for me.

@kakashiandme and everyone who deals with difficulties, stay strong and positive. We are strong, we can overcome everything, no matter what. Sending you big hugs and my best wishes.

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@rrmski

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I love so much the love and support you receive from your loved ones since it plays such an important role into our own healing because love conquers all.

Hug and prayers for you and your beautiful family.

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