70. Series: Part 8: Recovery: Comfortably Numb
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Dear Nipplemaniacs,
I thank you for your ongoing support and love. You “cancer awareness walkers” waving my name are fabulous, I thank you!
Now for a serious lesson in “do what you think is right for you…”
The final biopsy report has returned, and surprise! Aside, in addition to, or coincidental to the diagnosis of “ductal carcinoma in situ,” I had a rare, aggressive form of cancer called Paget’s disease of the nipple. Who knew? (Emails came around now and then with mention of this disease and like everyone else, I made a mental note and put it aside.) I had checked for it on myself. I had no symptoms. This means that if I had decided to go with another biopsy for clear margin, it would not have found this other lurking monstrous form. I consider myself lucky, very lucky; I did the right thing. I chose to ditch it all. Typical link, read on if you choose:Paget’s Disease of the Nipple
Now remember: I had 3 “lumpectomies:” THERE WAS NO LUMP, AND NO CLEAR MARGIN WAS FOUND OVER THE FIRST SITE; the original alert was the microcalcifications indicating blocked ducts.
I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OF PAGET’S! IT WAS FOUND IN THE FINAL BIOPSY. I did however notice a progressive difference in the area after the biopsies had begun.
I AM VERY LUCKY! SOMEONE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME!
I am getting stronger everyday though I am still unable to sleep during the night. I am shlepping along like Quasimoto, with 5 huge testicular drains and tubes from my abdomen.
I Lost a breast and gained some balls.
Actually, the new, created breast is AMAZING! When all is said and done, no one will know! God bless Dr. Keller! breast reconstruction – DIEP flap – Dr. Alex Keller And God Bless all of you.
But I still couldn’t sleep; my body had learned to function on overdrive. I couldn’t get comfortable with the damn drains pulling at me and weighing me down. The Visiting Nurse came for two weeks, I was pretty much on my own and functioning rather well.
Yahoo Comments
No doubts someone was looking out for you…and now you are looking out for us. Thanks and Hugs for sharing with such honesty and love.Friday October 5, 2007 – 10:10am (MST)
You are giving women that may be going through this right now emotional strength they need to survive this. I admire your courage and humor.
Friday October 5, 2007 – 01:29pm (EDT)
First I want to say I agree with everyone else. You are bringing so much hope to people who are going through this.
Second thing I wanted to say is I still applaud your courage. If, God forbid, this were to happen to me, I pray to have the courage you showed while going through all of this. I would hope I was strong enough to stand as tall as you have. But my fear is I would fall to pieces. Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Friday October 5, 2007 – 02:09pm (CDT)
Your second name should be Hope. You have made me a lot stronger with your story. Thank you, Sue.
Friday October 5, 2007 – 11:23pm (CEST)
(((Hugs))) I have just read this blog, and the one before it, so I am commenting on them both. You are so, so brave. To have such a sense of humour during such a scary time is amazing. The screaming child is rather unbelievable, and I think screaming Tawanda would have been a good thing! I admire you greatly for your strength. And these blogs are so, so important. I agree with the comment above, that I hope you publish this. That you didn’t have symptoms, and caught it through diligent medical care, is such an important message for people to hear. And you do it with your usual flair and style, with an incredible presentation on all of these blogs, with the pictures, etc. You are amazing, amazing, and I’m so glad to know you! I’m happy you got it, and it’s gone, and now you have such a bright future. Many hugs my wonderful friend, and thank you again for sharing this with us.
Saturday October 6, 2007 – 12:22am (EDT)
I read this with the emotion of humour that you intend and the emotion of dread in the back of my head. There is light at the end of the tunnel I know that much and yes you are chosen to write this. Huggss from Milli.
Saturday October 6, 2007 – 04:00pm (WST)
Strange how luck can make a significant change in our life..it does cause us to wonder if something higher was looking after us..however,luck can can reverse itself and the thoughts “if I only did it differently”can remain throughout our life..very often good luck is taken for granted and soon forgotten..but recovering from a life threatening challenge is a psychologically rebirth experience not easily forgotten.~~Papa
Saturday October 6, 2007 – 02:59pm (PDT)
That’s wonderful that your body was healing quickly.
Saturday October 6, 2007 – 10:29pm (CDT)
You really are a SURVIVOR. And a Fun Fearless Female as well. You can still make a joke of yourself in a condition where others just decided to die on the next day. So glad to know that you have so much positive energy in you. Never let any negative things drag you down. Keep the faith, and never lose hopes.
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danceinsilence wrote on Oct 8, ’08
In reading this I just had an out of the way but everything to do with this post thought.
In order for most, if not all men to fully understabd the ramifications of a woman losing a breast (or both), they should imagine themselves with testicurlar cancer and would have to have them removed. As I said, just a thought. |
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 8, ’08
danceinsilence said
That’s a very good way to look at it–that’s the way to feel the vulnerability one feels with a gender-based, for want of a better expression, disease.
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In reading this I just had an out of the way but everything to do with this post thought.
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froggies67 wrote on Oct 8, ’08
amen to that,I feel thesamebosom friend!Does the man get treated lik ea woman, drive thru sent home?you have you rbodu mulatedand sent home to go thru this surgery!I ha dsurgery on othe rbreast and ne wdeal was to keep us awak everylittle pain meds an dw ecoul dfele the knife-?theyle tme walk out afte rsurgery I walke dtomy daughter scar an dshe looke dat me justlookedat me as i fto say why did you walk out like that?just wanted tosay keep up the goo dworksis
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sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Oct 8, ’08
My dear~ I read this wonderful series when you posted them last year and I am grateful and amazed at your willingness to share and your courage . It’s always wonderful to read about the power of the spirit during such rough challenges in life. Thank you for sharing with us!
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 8, ’08
sweetpotatoqueen said
and in your busy times, thanks for coming by to leave this lovely message!
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deicidaltendancies wrote on Oct 9, ’08
Testicular cancer doesn’t compare. Testicular cancer would give a man the same feeling as a woman with ovarian cancer. We have nothing similar to breasts. Imagine the most outwardly visible sign of your sexuality being removed. We can’t do it. Men have no parallel. It’s just one more thing a woman has to deal with that a man can’t imagine or begin to comprehend.
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 9, ’08, edited on Oct 16, ’08
deicidaltendancies said
Very true!
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danceinsilence wrote on Oct 16, ’08
I wasn’t inferring anything other than the removal of the testicles would have a psycological effect on a male mentally and physically. As to breast cancer, I agree here and didn’t mean to second rate this ever. My apologies if I offended otherwise, wasn’t my intent.
I am on the downside of catching up now. Slowly but surely, I’ll git’er done, Sue. |
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 16, ’08
We know what you mean, Bill, I don’t think anyone is offended. I think it’s hard for a man to understand. I am so happy you are on this journey with me, Bill. I also hope YOU are feeling better. I think of you always.
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lauritasita wrote on Oct 2, ’11
We’re glad you made it through this and that you are still here!
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