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11-27-2007, 07:22 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
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Surgery tomorrow
Some of you may recall my previous posts from several weeks ago about my persistent pain.
The Neurotin prescribed by my physiatrist took 3 weeks to kick in and ---good news---my pain has diminished 50%. I am still fatigued and weak, but I continue to go to physical therapy three times a week. My shoulder and arm range of motion have improved from the PT, but if I skip any of my daily stretching exercises, my shoulder, arm, and chest freeze up and the pain worsens---just as if I never had any PT.
Upon much pondering on what to do about my tissue expanders of steel and my pain, I decided it was best to find another plastic surgeon. My initial plastic surgeon insisted she had no idea why I was in pain, and would not agree to do any additional surgery to complete my reconstruction until I was pain free.
It took me a while but I am so glad I followed my intuition and found a new plastic surgeon. He immediately diagnosed me with a very common complication (just as I suspected) of reconstruction surgery. He has performed thousands of reconstruction surgeries over the past 20 years, and he is Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. John Hospital in Detroit. Although he has no way of predicting if my pain will diminish, disappear, or remain, he feels I need immediate surgery to get rid of the capsular contracture.
If all goes well, I will have new genuine faux boobs implanted at that time too. I will be having surgery tomorrow morning. I certainly hope and pray that it will remedy my pain problems.
Thank you for your kindness and for keeping me in your prayers,
Hugs,
Jo
 St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit Michigan Ranked in top 100 heart hospital in US.
Van Elslander (Art Van Furniture) and his family pledge a total of $6.5 million to St. John Health over the next five years to fund the Van Elslander Pavilion at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit. The gift follows a $3 million contribution from the family five years ago to fund the Van Elslander Cancer Center at the hospital.  To date, the family, which has counted on the hospital for care for decades, has donated more than $10 million to St. John, Van Elslander.
My previous posts (links underlined):
Capsular Contracture of the... 09-22-2007 Capsular Contracture of the...
Capsular Contracture of the Breast Implant:
http://www.implantforum.com/capsular-contracture/
Oooh--the pain---help! 09-16-2007 Oooh--the pain---help!
Glad I found this site- help... 08-25-2007 Glad I found this site- help...
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.
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11-27-2007, 07:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Dear Jo,
I'm happy you followed your instincts and found another plastic surgeon who was able to diagnose the reason for your pain and has a plan in how to help you. Good for you.
Prayers for all to be successful for you.
God's Peace,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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11-27-2007, 08:08 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Joanne, I'm so glad to hear you found a new plastic surgeon...especially since she didn't want to bother to look into...and find out what was causing the pain. In-excusable. There is nothing worse then to go through all we do only to be left with on-going pain that can be taken care of if you have a doctor that cares enough....which your *new* one obviously does. 
Good luck with your surgery tomorrow and here's to you being pain free! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there. When your home and feeling up to it...give us an update.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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11-28-2007, 06:35 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Morning Joanne....
Thinking about you and wondering how surgery went (or should I say IS GOING??). I will be thinking of you special all day!! Keeping you in those prayers and wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself and we will all talk to you later when you are well enough to update us. Best of luck My Friend>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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11-28-2007, 07:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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Sometimes we know better than the doctors!! I am so glad you listened to your inner voice and found a new doctor. I am also praying all goes well, the surgery relieves your pain and your new boobs are wonderful!!!
__________________
Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
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11-28-2007, 09:01 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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JoAnn,
Amen and amen to what all have said! Here's to a simple, successful surgery that gives you your "new Look" plus being pain free! ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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11-28-2007, 04:20 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Joanne,
Hope your surgery went well today and that you now have a great pair of "faux boobs." Most importantly I hope that the pain problem is taken care of.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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