I think its working

[Faith in Him]

I had my second infusion of Navelbine today. Already the rash looks much lighter and looks like it is breaking up some. I am feeling more encouraged now. Thank you for all your prayers.

If things keep moving in the right direction, I will be able to schedule the surgery. May I ask some of you how you felt about having a mastectomy?
Right now, I just can't wait to have it but my close friend, who has been through it, tells me I will have some emotions around it. Another friend, still has trouble with it.

I know that it is a very personal thing. I know everyone is different. I do not have a choice but to do it but I like to be prepared, so any experience you would like to share, would be helpful.

Thanks,
Tonya

[Bill]

Tonya, Thank God, our prayers have been answered once again and the Navelbine is working. Stay strong, Love, Bill

[Joan M]

Tonya,

I'm glad to hear that your rash is starting to subside and that you will be able to have the surgery soon.

I don't miss my breast that much because I had immediate diep flap reconstruction.

My most emotional feeling was that sometimes I would look in the mirror and think, "geez, you look like a rag doll." That is, the nipple in the reconstructed breast is missing and there's skin in it's place, the reconstruction scar in the abdomen goes from hip bone to hip bone, and I have a scar where my port had been inserted.

However, getting out the cancer was much more important to me.

Joan

[tousled1]

Tonya,

I'm glad the treatment is beginning to work and that you'll be able to schedule your surgery. I had a bilateral mastectomy - modified radical on the right and a simple on the left with no reconstruction. The hardest thing was looking down at a flat chest the first time -- I had a D cup before. I'm glad that I opted for the bilateral and have no regrets. Having a mastectomy is a very personal thing and every woman will have different feelings about it. Whatever decision you make just be sure it's the one that you yourself will feel comfortable with.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Yippee! That ol' Navelbine in beating up on those rotten C cells! I'm so pleased for you! My experience of the mastectomy was so good. The surgery was good...tylenol one time and that's it. I had more feelings of how I looked in public than anything else. It stills feels goofy to be lopsided, but I just stay grateful to be alive. I have the "out in public" thing solved and don't plan to do reconstructive surgery anytime soon. But, I'm at that place in my life that this is more inconvenient than anything. I think that God blessed me with the task of rearing my granddaughter as a balance to BC. Allow yourself time to go through whatever comes up for you. Keep telling yourself when the feelings get overwhelming that "this is just temporary"....I will feel differently soon. You are a remarkable person and will find a way to deal with whatever comes up. I'm just so glad that you're doing better and can have the surgery. You've got lots of life to live and people to bless! Lots of love, ma