Bye Bye, Breast: A Mastectomy at Age 27

Thank you...and you know if I dont think about the possitive side of all this I would certainly go crazy I would have cancer and be in a nut house lol so I have to think about the shopping and the new bras.  Thanks for your support.

Natalia

Thank you so much...Im so thankful for my support group if it wasn't for everyone reaching out to me I wouldn't be as strong as I am right now.  Thanks again.

Natalia

Hey Tara don't be scrared.  You know I use to freak out because of things I read, but most people have a very bad attitude about all this so you can't let them bring you down.  Its not as bad as it seems, just think about how much healthier you will be as soon as its out of your body.  The reason I write and take pictures is to tell people that its not so bad and we can handle anything and dont let cancer take over your happiness, it only has your health you have everything else so be happy no matter what.  And dont be scared of whatever is to come, Im doing fine after surgery and im not bummed about losing my breast I see it as one more step to being a lot closer to being healed and I cant wait!!!  I wish you the best and if you want to know moe stuff in detail or pictures of anything email me and ill send it to you, whatever I can do to help.

Natalia

Hey Adriene thank you for your words.  So what kind of physical therapy can you have?  That would be really great Im going to look into that.  Is it like therapy for your arm??  Im glad everything went well for you Adriene.

Natalia

Natalia,

I had 12 lymph nodes removed and a mastectomy ALONG with reconstruction all in one swoop!  I was unable to lift my arm on the side where I had surgery.  It was like my arm was tied down or something and basically the muscles were frozen. I had developed "cording" which is common amongst lymph node removal.  My onocologist actually ordered the physical therapy and for six weeks my arm was stretched and massaged, and the therapist gave me exercises to do with rubber bands.  It was SUPER HELPFUL!  Talk to your doctor.  Legally if you are having problems your insurance company can't deny you this physical therapy.  So look into it.   In all told, it took me about 5 months to get a full range of motion back, so be patient if you are having a lot of problems with that arm.  With exercise and therapy you will recover.  

Hi Pat!!!  Omg that is so true about the old folk home, everything else will be saggy, but our boobs will be awesome.  The drains came out and it didnt hurt at all...im so happy about that, because I was seriously thinking it was going to be horrible.  Thank you so much for your support.

Nat

Hey KayeD...thank you so much for sticking by me through these times.  Im sorry that I haven't responded sooner, but I have been under the weather for a bit.  I have had my pump removed and im soooo glad.  I wish that I wasn't so hungry because I have been eating a whole lot and I have been craving and eating chocolate like a crazy person!  Is that normal, did you ever crave chocolate like that?  I can move my arm like before.  The people at radiation are actually pretty astonished at my arm movement because they say it hasn't been that long after my surgery and my arm is back to normal.  I think it is because I pushed my arm everyday and it hurt real bad, but it was worth it because it is normal now.  Thank you again for keeping up with me, I really appreciate it.

Natalia

Hey PJ thank you so much your so sweet!  Sorry that it took me so long to respond, I have been a little like not myself with everything that has happened.  My drains are out and my arm is back to normal...and Im so glad because I heard so horror stories about your arm not working properly.  Thank you for your support and I love having you guys around.  It really helps especially when your feeling down.

Natalia

Hey Im so sorry that this is happening to you, my heart goes out to you, but dont be scarred!!!  Ill tell you all about my recovery process and it was not as bad as people said it would be.  Of couse everyone is different, but for me it went very well.  I as well had to shrink the tumor before my mastectomy because my tumor was so big that it couldn't even be measured.  After my mastectomy I had 2 drainage pumps hanging off my breast.  I had to empty them out into two cups with measuring marks twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.  I also had to keep a log of how much fluid came out.  I was not in a lot of pain really, it was more of a comfort issue especially sleeping.  I sleep on my sides so it was so hard for me to sleep only on one side and on my back...ughhh so annoying!  After 2 weeks exactly I went to my surgeon to see if we could remove the pumps.  By this time my drainage was so small that they went ahead and removed them.  I thought it would be painful so I was freaking out, it was bad I almost started crying I was so scared.  She told me to close my eyes and take a deep breath, and they were out.  I didn't even feel a thing...it may also be because your arm and chest area becomes numb for a while.  Also the day after my mastectomy I was already cooking and using my arm, just to show you how easy it was for me.  Immediatly after my pumps were taken out I started radiation.  At first I could not move my arm right away so it hurt pretty bad during radiation because you have to put your arm up over your head and into this arm strap, but I pushed my arm to lift things everyday and also I kept raising it everyday as far as I could.  It is important that you try to move your arm.  Today was my 3rd radiation treatment and my arm is back to normal.  I have 6 weeks of radiation and 6 months after radiation of wait time before I can get my reconstruction.  My strength comes from me thinking about how much I want to get better and move on so I push myself to get better as fast as possible so I dont allow myself to get upset with whats going on and delay my process, I have to be positive and happy all the time.  Please dont be scarred ok because it is going to make you more nervous than you should be.  Think about how great it is that your getting that nasty thing out, as soon as it is out the faster you get to your recovery and that is going to be the most awesome feeling in the world.  You are only a few steps behind me so we are doing this together and Im here for you whenever you need me and have questions or anything at all.  GOOD LUCK!!!!!  PLease tell me everything once it happens and dont be scarred, be strong your getting better!!!!

Natalia

Natalia,

Thanks for the information and the inspiration.  I will see my oncologist this Thursday to find out what happens next.  Some days I'm good, other days I can't do anything but cry.  I really want this cancer out of my body.  You have definitely eased my mind about the recovery.  I have a wonderful family around me and I know they'll take good care of me.  I hope you don't mind communicating with me - it is a great comfort to go through this with someone who knows what I'm feeling.  I'll keep you in my prayers.

Tammy

(tsmcintyre) 

I dont mind at all.  It is so nice to have people to go to that have been or are going through what we are going through because they really understand.  Having family is so important because they give you strength and hope, but sometimes they dont truly get what your feeling because unfortunatly they haven't been in your shoes.  I know how hard they try though because my family always tries to make me feel like everything is going to be ok and they try really hard, but this site is nice because you can say oh my god im scarred what should I expect next or how will I feel and there will be many survivors or people like me who are surviving, to say to you dont worry you are going to be ok and we are together in this because I know exactly how you feel.  Crying is good too because you let it out, you let your feelings out and even if crying may be because your sad it is a way to release some of the stress your going through.  My family would always say if you want to cry, then cry let it out and oh my gosh I have cried so much.  Im really strong, but it is a very very hard to accept all the things that we have to accept.  For me the hardest thing is talking to my friends who still go out all the time and go to bars and hang out, then they call me and tell me about their weekend while I have been sitting at home with my pill schedule, radiations, chemo's, nauseas and you know...it drives me nuts.  It is hard and we all have cried, but I think about the day that I have reconstruction and Im shopping again lol and honestly talking to people like you makes me feel better too! Im here for you and you can always email me too if you need to natenvy@hotmail.com.

Natalia