Tag Archives: hope

I’ve never been one for selfies but I wanted to share how much my hair has grown and how curly it is! My hair BC (before cancer) was curly but not as curly as this…. I will take what I get as some women that were given Taxotere are not getting hair growth back.

June 20th marked one year since my last Radiation Treatment, I had a total of 29 rounds to the Left chest wall at The Pacific Cancer Institute on the island of Maui, from May 11th to June 20th. The plan all along has been to do delayed reconstruction. My team at PCI thoroughly explained skin care to me which I followed to a tee. The week after I started Radiation treatment I was referred to a physical therapist for John Barnes’ myofascial release technique massage. I saw my therapist twice weekly thru the month of July 2016.  I was also prescribed Mometasone Cream for me to “gently” apply post treatment. Hence, my skin flap is pliable, and not hardened.

These pictures are of  just two types of reconstruction surgery known as Autologous of “Flap” Reconstruction. This is not the type of surgery I will have but the surgeon did go over the details of these two types of surgery. Reason being, IF my body rejects the Implant Reconstruction, this is “Plan B”. I will pray that my body does not reject the implants as these surgeries are more invasive.

53:  A Show and Tell Moment

In February of this year at my first meeting with my Plastic Surgeon he gave me homework. He wanted me to research as to how many cc’s I wanted my implants to be. I told him on how before cancer my breast were not symmetrical, my left breast was larger than my right breast. Although this was not noticeable with clothes on, I was limited to style of bras and swimsuits because of this. So, I told him I wanted them to asymmetrical (same size)…..he smiled and said he can do that. My husband chimed in and asked the surgeon if he can place a set on my back so he would have something to hold on to when we slow danced!!!!! We burst into laughter….got to love my husbands sense of humor!!! ( I hope this doesn’t offend anyone)

So, how does one determine reconstruction size? You google it, Pinterest it, or simply ask a friend! I was at the Cancer Center talking to my good friend and fellow Mammography Technologist Extraordinaire. I mentioned my dilemma to her, before I know it Catherina and I are in the bathroom for A Show and Tell Moment. She was quite impressed with how pliable my skin sparring mastectomy is, as Mammographers we are oh too familiar with what a post radiated breast can look like. She showed me her implants and her size, decision made, I will shoot for a “C” cup! I also have to keep in mind and make it clear to my readers that mine is a “reconstruction, post mastectomy” and not a “breast augmentation”, so end result can vary…..I will have no nipples, they can get tattooed on later!

Exactly what is a Modified Radical Mastectomy, Skin Sparing? Basically my nipple was removed (I opted for non-nipple sparring) along with all the breast tissue. For those of you that have been following my blog from the beginning, you will recall that the Breast MRI that was done when I was first diagnosed found an additional cancer on my left breast,  4mm away from the fascia of the chest wall, straight back from the nipple at clock face 12:00. What is left behind is a deflated breast, all my breast skin was sparred minus the glandular tissue…….I have a deflated boob.

I was in Redlands last week signing a release of medical records for my primary doctor in Palm Springs, he wants surgical notes of my Hysterectomy/Oophorectomy from 2009. (I sure am missing a lot of parts now!!). I stopped in at the Women’s Health Imaging Center to say hello to Renee, we chatted a bit about my blog amongst other things. I showed Renee this picture and how I wanted to share what a “skin sparring” mastectomy was. I took this the above picture after doing my exercises, I was cooling down, stretching. But I wanted to show more, I wanted to share the actual skin flap.

So what does a good friend do….offer to take photos for your blog!!! Renee and I quickly go into one of the mammography room, off comes my blouse, bra and Betty (that’s my prosthesis name) another Show and Tell Moment! Mahalo Renee for taking these pictures for me on a whim!

Needless to say, I am ready for reconstruction. Today June 21st I went to the Plastic Surgeons office, the appointment went well. My husband Jack was with me. There was a moment of laughter when the topic of the prophylactic mastectomy was discussed, the surgeon asked if I was going to spare (keep) the right nipple? I said no, I don’t want to be like a one-eyed pirate when the nipple is hard! I closed one eye and said “arrrrggg”, the surgeon laughed……it was a funny moment. So what’s next? The  Breast Surgeon’s office will be contacting me to schedule labs, chest x-ray and an EKG. The surgery will then be scheduled. The Breast Surgeon Dr. Laura Lee will do the Right Prophylactic Mastectomy and the Plastic Surgeon will be doing the reconstruction placing the expanders. Post operative I will have four drains, two on each side. Two of them come off one week post-op. The other two come off after the fluid drainage has subsided. Expanders will be expanded every week until desired fullness is obtained. Then, three months later, like in December sometime the expanders will be switched out for the implants.

Holy smokes this is a long blog! If you read it to the end, many thank yous.

Mahalo, Pina