Information and opinions on Breast Cancer from sherreeb at MyBreastCancerNetwork.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141 http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141 http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/46860/emotional Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:41:03 -0400 sherreeb So many women (me included) are amazed at the emotional rollercoaster called breast cancer.  There is a wonderful drama by Nicole Johnson called "Stepping into the Ring".  She states that having breast cancer is like going to bed and waking up in the ring against the heavy weight champion of the world.  You are in your pajamas and don't even know how to throw a punch.  No person, man or woman, can know what is going on inside... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/46860/emotional http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/45734/permanent Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:07:40 -0400 sherreeb Many women face coming back to the hospital to have their expanders removed and implants placed with fear and trepidation!  Oh my gosh, not another surgery!!   It is important to remembe that the biggest hurdle you have already cleared!  You have had the biggest surgery and faced the hardest recovery time!  You are a survivor!!   This surgery is quite minimal compared to the first one!  1.  It is... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/45734/permanent http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/41889/waiting-game Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:30:00 -0400 sherreeb I just left a "town hall" meeting with cancer survivors and co-survivors.  One of the common threads was the dread of waiting. Wait for the doctor, wait to schedule a new test, wait for the results of that test, wait for surgery......"Hurry up and wait!"    I have been a registered nurse for 19 years and it seems all of medicine is hurry up and wait.  In the case of breast cancer, especially for pathology, it is important... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/41889/waiting-game http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/41738/hang Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:00:00 -0400 sherreeb I have the pleasure of working with women every day who have breast cancer.  The pleasure is not in the cancer (of course) but in seeing strong women face what seems impossible, and fight!  Fight for their lives!  We are women hear us roar!!   So many hear those words every day, "I am sorry, but it is cancer".  That seems to be the most overwhelming moment of life.  The world immediately begins to spin out of... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/41738/hang http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/37777/mastectomy Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:05:00 -0400 sherreeb Being both a survivor and a Breast Health Nurse Navigator, I have had to make the decision and walked with many others as well.  I believe the first step is what are your choices medically speaking?  After talking to a qualified breast surgeon, what are the recommendations for your specific case.  Then, the decision is a very personal one.  I chose breast conserving surgery for purely financial reasons at the time.  I... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/37777/mastectomy http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/36006/preparing Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:21:00 -0400 sherreeb Breast surgery is a biggie. Removing as much of the unknown goes a long way in reducing anxiety:    Step 1:  Talk to your breast surgeon about what your options are.  Single mastectomy, bilateral mastectomy, delayed reconstruction, immediate reconstruction or breast conserving surgery.  What kind of reconstruction?  With reconstruction, you will need a plastic surgeon as well as a breast... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/36006/preparing http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/35608/positive-end Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:56:00 -0400 sherreeb I had a patient who had mastectomy yesterday and the frozen section of the sentinel node showed no cancer.  However, once pathology had the tissue, further review showed positive nodes.  While this is not an everyday occurence, it does happen.  Positive lymph nodes typically ensure that you will undergo chemotherapy and potentially traditional radiation as well.  However, it is NOT an automatic death sentence.  I... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/35608/positive-end http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/35499/breast Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:07:00 -0400 sherreeb I am a RN of 19 years and a 7 year breast cancer survivor.  I had Stage IIb, ER+, PR+, HER2+, Node +, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the right breast.  I had breast conserving surgery, chemotherapy and traditional radiation.  As of December of 2007, I am the Breast Health Nurse Navigator for Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX.  I wanted to have a place where my patients and friends could come to learn more... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/35141/35499/breast