In the past 15months, I had a Partial Mastectomy, Chemo, Fractured my back, (Update: The local Radiologists read my MRI and Bone Scan as mets to my spine! However, I went to UCSF & they said they see no evidence of cancer to my back!! I was put thru the wringer because the local guys aren't experienced enough to distinguish between cancer and a fracture!!). I decided against Radiation-didn't feel a sense of peace about it. I was given the option of that or Mastectomy, so I went with the Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I had a Total Skin-Sparing Mastectomy,which keeps my own breast skin and nipple, and the insertion of a silicone implant under the muscle(after the expander is removed). Because the difference between my breasts made me look like a Picasso painting, I had them also insert a small implant in my other breast, and now they match pretty well. I finally was able to begin PT to regain the full use of my arm, and begin to learn to deal with a bit of Lymphedema.  However, I must have over-stretched in some of the stretches for my arm and also Osteoporosis!! Now my back is sore and I'm afraid to do more stretching until I find out if I've damaged myself further!!

  My latest and greatest concern now, however, is now I've been diagnosed with Skin Cancer!!!  I've shown this spot to Derms as long ago as 2006 and as recently as less than a month before my 1st breast surgery, last yr!!! As my local medical treatment has been less than stellar, I decided to have UCSF check it out, just to be on the safe side. She took me seriously and said it looked suspicious. Two days after a Shave Biopsy, the Dr. called me in the evening to tell me I had Basal Cell Skin Cancer!!

  I thought I was pretty much basically done with active cancer treatment!! Now--here I go again!  A BIG concern is the skin cancer is on my left arm (Mastectomy side)! They will be excising it and leaving a 3-4inch scar!! What about Lymphedema???!!!