Types of Mastectomies

Scripture of the Day

Psalm 30:2

            O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee and Thou hast healed me

Types of Mastectomies

First of all, I'd like to identify what  lumpectomy is. In a lumpectomy, the doctor removes just the tumor and some of the tissue around it. The breast remains intact. The reason that I did not chose this route is because the possibility of recurrence is higher with a lumpectomy. I took the proactive aggressive route of having both of my breasts removed. I wanted to more sure of my results. 

This article that I am referring to lists 6 types of mastectomies. The first is a simple mastectomy which is removal of the breast including the nipple. This does not include lymph nodes and muscle tissues.

The second is a double mastectomy. Both breasts are removed due to a high risk of cancer spreading (metastasize).   It is also a choice. My risk was questionable. The doctors couldn't pin down my odds of recurrence. Keep in mind, I'm the first in my family. We had nothing to base and decision on. I chose the double even though my left breast was clean. 

The next is skin sparing mastectomy. The nipple, areola, and breast tissue are removed while the skin on top of the breast is left untouched. This type of mastectomy is done for those who intend to have immediate breast reconstructive surgery. I was given this choice and I know those who have chosen it, however, it was going to be hours on the operating table. I didn't want to put my family through that option. 

The fourth is nipple spearing mastectomy. The nipple and skin on top of the breast are left intact, while the breast tissue is removed. If cancer is found under the nipple and areola, the nipple must be removed. This is similar to the skin sparing mastectomy. I don't recall being given this option. But it was an emotional time. I may have let the option fly right over me. 

Next is the modified radical mastectomy. This is a variation of the total mastectomy that removes the entire breast including the lymph nodes under the arm. This is what happened to me. I guess you could say that the modified radical mastectomy only occurred on my right side. That was the side with the actual breast cancer and they removed the lymph nodes under that arm. 

The last in this article is the radical mastectomy. This removes the entire breast, lymph nodes and pectoral muscles under the breast. I have recently met someone that just went through that. I have no idea what it involves.  

This link will take you to the website that has this article.  Types of Mastectomies. Please go and look at the site as it had other information as well. Certainly, look at other sites as well. 

There is another term that I have heard that is not mentioned here. It's called a bilateral mastectomy. A bilateral prophylactic mastectomy is when the surgeon removes all of the breast tissue and leaves little or no breast tissue behind. This what was done to me as well. I was told that it is impossible to get each and every mammary gland, however. I do understand that. With this type of mastectomy, I definately do not get mammograms any longer. 

Please do your own research if you are preparing to go through this. It is important for you to make educated decisions and know understand what is happening to you.  

If you are making the journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.  

Can You Prevent Breast Cancer from Coming Back With Foods?

Scripture of the Day

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where with we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ

II Corinthians 1:3-5

Picture taken from Women's Lifestyle. com

Women's Lifestyle.Com

Can You Prevent Breast Cancer from Coming Back With Foods?

Up until now, I'm not sure how much I believed that. But in looking at my own situation and reading some of these articles, I wonder. I began eating better simply because I wanted to lose weight. Chemo-therapy does not make you lose weight like you might think. At least, mine didn't with the specific chemicals used on me. I also have breast cancer friends that swear by it. 

In looking at the food possibilities, I found that I'm eating that way anyway. So if it is true, I'm doing a reasonably good job of preventing it from coming back without even knowing it. 

The first suggested supplement was Vitamin D. The article suggested amounts to take to make it the most useful to a breast cancer survivor. I know my oncologist checks my Vitamin D intake at every visit. I started in the beginning take extra over and above what is in my multi-vitamin. She ended up telling me to stop, that my multi-vitamin is enough. I would suggest checking with your doctor before you start increasing any dosage.

This article suggests Omega-3 Fatty Acids. One of the things that is supposed to help with is fatigue and reduces inflammation. I do take an Omega 3 in the form of fish oil.  Again. check with your doctor. My oncologist knows every supplement that I take. 

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, have shown antitumor activity. There were more technical names for what these vegetables do. I find that I need to improve in this area. 

Scutellaria barbata is an herb that grows in Korea and southern China. An extract of this plant has been shown to be safe in a clinical trial of women with advanced breast cancer; it inhibits cell proliferation and induces cancer cell death. 

(13 Supplements to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence.) This is the website for all that I am discussing here. I don't what this is and I've never heard of it. I would definately check with my oncologist if I wanted to follow this regimen. 

Another supplement is Green Tea Extract. It is suggested for it's antioxidants. Have you heard that term before? It's often used in healthy eating and weight loss diets. 

Another that I take is melatonin. I was surprised to see this on the list. I use it to help me sleep, but not every night. Maybe, I should change that. I have read where sleep is important to a cancer patient. 

There are 7 more suggestions that would help to prevent breast cancer from recurrence. I will share the link again:

13 Supplements to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence I will also state again, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I have a friend that did check with her doctor and because she is going through chemo-therapy right now, she was told to get off of some of the suggested supplements she was on. She was also told that she could resume after she was finished with her chemo-therapy. 

Another supplement not on the list in this article is St. John's Wart. It is a natural anti-depressant. My oncologist also knows that I use this supplement. 

This is not the only article available if you have questions about your diet. This is just the one that spoke to me. If you do have questions about your diet, your doctor can also make suggestions. 

If you making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know he loves you. 

What People Don't See

1^st Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the hill, that we being dead to sins, should live by righteousness; by whose stripes ye are healed.

This drawing was done for me by my son.

My BC Team is a support group that I joined when I was first looking for support groups. They put you in touch with people close to you and you can help each other. I've found that articles also very helpful.

This little infographic hit home for me. It discribes everything that I have felt about breast cancer. I am much more open that most, but this was still hard. I like their analogy of an iceberg and What People Don't See. It lists:

Anxiety                  Burning Skin              Brain Fog (Chemo-Brain)

Depression             Fatigue                       Hairloss

Hot Flashes            Loss of Sex Drive      Menopause

Mood Swings         Neuropathy                Scars

Pain                        Swelling                     Worry

I would add a couple of things that were very real to me:

Survivor's guilt                Loss of feeling in breast and arms.

I found this information on My BC Team site. My BC Team - What People Don't See I would like to address some of these a little more in future posts. If I don't get to it as fast as you'd like, I would certainly go ahead and do the research.

If you making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.

Wigs for Survivors

Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded the? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

(You are not alone)

For many that have to go through the evolution of surviving breast cancer, one of the hardest indignities besides losing a breast is losing their hair. Many struggle to find the wig that makes them feel the most "normal". Normal is what we all strive for. It takes a while to realize that our normal has changed forever.  

There are many places that sell wigs for breast cancer survivors and and many of them will take insurance for one wig. My insurance paid for mine. 

I have a friend that I hadn't seen since her diagnosis. When I saw her recently, I was amazed that her chemo-therapy didn't make her lose her hair. I was wrong. She found a wig that looked just like her hair as she wore it before. She found hers at Wigs by Patti's Pearls, Wigs by Patti's Pearls. I don't need one now, but I did find one that would've looked more like me than the one I chose. My wig is a Smartlace wig.  I have to say though that I didn't search as she did. She involved her granddaughter and they searched hours to find the right wig. Maybe, I'd have felt more normal if I had given it more time. 

If you know someone that is going through chemo-therapy and is in need of a wig, have them check with their insurance. It'll probably cover one for them. If they've already purchased a wig, then they could try to turn it in to their insurance and get an reimbursement.

Breast cancer.org has tips for getting a wig and tips for choosing one, among other things. I would look at this site for information.

Tips for Hair, Skin, Nails and Wigs

I want to say on the side here that it was wonderful to involve her granddaughter. I think it was a very positive thing and gave her granddaughter a sense of being involved in her recovery. 

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you with His healing touch. I know He loves you.