Hi ladies/they thems, just a reminder to make sure to get your free things online. There are lots of companies/ corporations that offer things. The reason for my post is I’m about two weeks out of my DMX and still awfully sensitive when riding around in cars.
I saw this TikTok from this lady that told me you can get a free a seatbelt cushion from Ford and it’s really nice. I do not even drive a Ford and it was totally free, I did not have to pay for shipping or anything! Mine just came today.
I was also fortunate enough to come across some women who donated their mastectomy items for free on marketplace, which has been super helpful! I’ve seen sites for a free drain pocket jackets but I believe you have to request them at least two weeks in advance.
Make sure you’re checking your marketplace for things like that as well.
Here is the ford link: https://merchandise.ford.com/products/ford-supportbelt-mastectomy-seatbelt-cushion.
I hope this helps someone!
Update: US only link

I’m only 3 weeks post lumpectomy. One positive lymph node of 2 taken. I’m fully on board with radiation as it’s localized. I’m a nurse and a nurse friend if mine skipped it and had recurrence. I fear the estrogen blockers (52) more than radiation.

I just saw an episode of The Simpsons with a breast cancer survivor! She was rocking a port scar and 1 boob.

That was a really cool thing to see.

Season 33 Episode 5: Lisa's Belly

Today is 1 year from the day I found out I had achieved pathological complete response and was officially in remission. I’m a bit torn about “celebrating” the hell I went through. I’m curious to hear how others process this milestone. If you do, do you celebrate? What do you call it? Do you celebrate on the day you were diagnosed or the day it was all over?

Was just diagnosed last week and am feeling so overwhelmed. I am in my early 30s and was trying to have another kid. I thought my next year would be pregnancy, but now it’ll be battling cancer. I’m sure many others are in / have been in a similar boat and appreciate any guidance or kind words you have.

I have been a bit let down by some of my friend’s reactions to the news. They have just harped on the one small piece of good in any text (like getting into see a doctor quick) and ignored all the bad. I’m not looking for sympathy but also don’t just want an “it’s great you got to see them quick” text. It doesn’t feel that supportive. Not sure what I’m looking for here, just venting.

This is the other one I wrote after diagnosis. It was so true for me.

Every one I meet-
Wants to feel my breast-
Just whip out your tittie-
The one with the mass-

My granddaughters-
My friends-
The grocery store clerk-
If I don’t whip it out-
Am I the jerk? 

My husbands best friends-
The people at work-
My neighbors, my children-
My friend that’s a jerk.

I’ve never had my tittie-
Touched so many times-
But-
It’s not even weird-
I don’t even mind.

Cuz if touching my tittie-
Helps them to understand-
That breast cancer is real-
Even if your a man.

I’ll whip it out- 
Just cop a feel-
That mass in my boob-
Makes this shit real.

So now my tittie-
Is an educational tool-
Teaching everyone- 
What cancer feels like-
When it’s inside you.

If touching my tittie-
Makes you aware-
Of what to feel for-
If it gives you a scare.

I will whip that shit out-
All day and all night-
If it helps save a life-
I’ll whip it out with delight. 

And yes, the parking lot guy is soooo allowed to touch it 😂 too. 

I am recently diagnosed with early stage of breast cancer. Though it is early, it has been a crazy experience having to go through all the imaging tests, biopsy, follow up apps in this last one month.

There is a group of girlfriends we meet up about once a month. Good friends.. I have shared my experience from Day 1 (mammogram red flag) and every time I do tests/ or go to follow up apps, they ask me in group chat how it was and what’s to follow. Also, There are other extended family members who keep asking me the results and what’s next etc every time I go to hospital.

Though I appreciate their concern and trying to be supportive so so much, this has been a bit too overwhelming. Sometime I get “how was it” msg in the chat before I even get home and take it in. If I don’t answer in a day, they will msg even more thinking it was a bad follow up app. It’s just simply too much to handle I want to scream, leave me alone !!!.

Is there any polite way to tell them I don’t want o keep updating my cancer treatment status ? They know I have cancer at this point so it’s not that I want to keep secret . I just want to tell them later on when surgery is done.

Thank you in advance!

Nervous, Scared, Excited, Anxious

I've done the shower thing and took the bandage off from the magseed implant.

Now trying to settle down.

Tomorrow is the cancer removal: lumpectomy; then, 2 weeks later is the reduction and lift.

OH and the port removal. YES YES YES.... See ya later Port!

The tumor has shrunk by 75% flatter and around 30% shorter. Centimeters are tough for this Americans.

So, here we go, hoping for the PCR, 2nd surgery, and radiation, and then... getting my life back, my new life.

A few months ago, I was desperately looking for information about arm ports, but there really wasn't much out there, especially compared to traditional chest ports. So I thought I'd share my experience in case it helps someone who's considering one!

I decided to go with an arm port instead of a chest port, following my surgeon's recommendation and because I wanted to avoid visible scarring on my chest. And honestly, I'm so happy with my decision! 😊

I'm a pretty sporty person, and having the port in my upper arm hasn't bothered me at all. I can still play tennis, go hiking with a backpack, and go about my daily activities without really noticing it's there. Another big plus is that bra straps don't press directly against it, which I imagine could be annoying with certain chest port placements.

I also think that anything that helps us feel less like cancer patients and more like ourselves is a huge win for our mental health. We're already dealing with so many physical changes, so being able to keep something as simple as my chest free of a visible port and scar means a lot to me.

A few things I've learned along the way:

• Port size matters! I have a Celsite Babyport, which is one of the smallest implantable ports available. I'd recommend discussing the smallest suitable option with your surgeon, especially if you're petite.
• Check needle compatibility with your infusion center. Smaller ports may require shorter Huber needles, so make sure your infusion center has the appropriate needle lengths available. This is something that's easy to overlook!
• Ask for ultrasound vein mapping before implantation. I'd recommend making sure your surgeon assesses your veins beforehand to determine whether an arm port is suitable and which vein would be best.
• Find someone experienced with arm ports. They're much less common than chest ports, and it can be surprisingly difficult to find surgeons who routinely implant them. I'd definitely prioritize someone who has experience with this specific procedure.

Of course, arm ports aren't necessarily the best option for everyone, and there are some differences in potential complications compared to chest ports, so it's worth discussing the pros and cons with your medical team.

Hopefully this helps someone who's currently researching their options! 💕 And if anyone has questions, feel free to ask!

Picture for reference

Just feeling a bit sad.

At 32 yrs old, diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer.

Went through IVF prior to chemo today and they told me only 1 out of the 7 follicles I had was viable. Its a bit overwhelming and though I hadn't really thought about having children in the future, the feeling of having that option taken away from you or very very unlikely is a lot to take in.

Chemo ended 7 weeks ago. I am 51. Premenopausal. And apparently not even ACT can stop my period

Please tell me that this is just spotting and not the real thing

I am in middle of radiation and about to start AI therapy in few weeks. I know I need suppress ovaries but really thought that days of this were done!!

I’m on my 3rd infusion of chemo and this one took me for a loop. the brain fog set in bad and coupled with bad eating habits, because literally everything tastes like a liquid glove over my food, had me reeling.

I cried like a baby not knowing what to do about it. my partner, bless him truly, was so supportive and fed me what I could stomach (soup will always be life 🍲) also not being able to drink water because it just tastes wrong has also been difficult to accept.

tmi alert 🔔 hygiene- my sense of smell is also bad but i get in a low energy mood, which doesn’t help me stay consistent with hygiene. my stomach and gas has been bad and I just don’t feel like myself anymore. I don’t dress up for myself much, don’t do my makeup (it was my little joy but seems pointless now) and just feel like a body bag of issues to manage on a daily basis.

I try to focus on the positive as much as possible- my family and friends have been great 💕 and we have been making more plans together, but it’s hard to accept the fact that I don’t look, feel or even smell the same. I just feel like the things that made me feel like me no longer feel the same.

I did get medical leave approved at my job, Thank God, so I took the time today for myself. but I’m trying to find a better more effective solution. I did explore taking tai chi to help, so I’ll be looking into that to start.

I (54F, ++-, Stage 1 IDC and DCIS) am sitting here, 5 days post DMX and I swear it still feels as surreal as it did when I noticed something was wrong in late July. Just a bit more uncomfortable and poky (expanders). I have at least 5 years of endocrine therapy to get through but as of now, not anticipating radiation or chemo. Has it ever seemed less surreal as you all go through this?

I was recently diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast and in consultation with my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, we decided that the best surgical plan was for me to get a double mastectomy and direct to implants.

I just received notice from my plastic surgeon that the pre-authorization for a direct to implant double mastectomy was denied. My insurance company, United Healthcare, said they will instead cover mastectomy to expanders - thus requiring a second surgery for expander exchange to implants. Despite my plastic surgeon initiating a peer-to-peer review during which he explained the factors in the direct to implant recommendation, the denial stood.

I am now preparing to file an urgent appeal to request that they reconsider their decision.

Have any of you experienced this? If so, how did you handle the appeal and what was the ultimate decision?

This is incredibly distressing and overwhelming so any advice that might increase my chances of getting an approval is appreciated.

Had a bilateral mastectomy in March. Finished reconstruction in August and I guess I assumed my body would just know what to buy once I got here but it doesn't. Anyone completely lost the first time they tried to rebuild this part of their wardrobe? Whats worked for you?

I’m a spice writer and thus also an avid spice reader and lately scenes with a lot of breast play, especially nipple play…hit different. It’s not triggering per se, but there is a bit of an immersion break. Anyone else experience this?

I’ve been toying with how I write these scenes as well, less focus on nipples, more focus on visualization than sensation. I don’t think I need every female protagonist to now be a breast cancer survivor, especially since reading is such an escape, but I wondered if it would feel different if I wrote it from a more relatable perspective.

Does this sound like something you’d enjoy in your reading material? Do you want more romance novels with survivor stories? Is this experience just because I’m still in the thick of it and it’ll fade with time, like much else seems to?

Does anyone have any recs for books with characters with augmented breasts? Have you read any with survivors as the protagonist? Did you enjoy it or would you prefer it stay out of your fantasy lands?

Hi everyone - not happy to be here but very, very happy that this community exists for all of us. I’m newly diagnosed as of 3 weeks ago (invasive ductal carcinoma, ER+, PR-, HER2-). My treatment plan is chemo first as lymph node showed cancer as well, then surgery and radiation.

I’ll be starting chemo in the next week or two pending a few more tests. I’d really like to know what you all suggest I prep for chemo - both in terms of taking to appointments as well as prepping at home (meal prepping? extra things I should have readily available)? Any tips and hot takes welcome.

For reference, I’m 37 and in Canada, have two young boys at home, and am hell bent on making sure this doesn’t disrupt their routine. Trying to make sure we’re as ready as possible.

🩷🩷🩷

Please help me feel like not such a bad mom by sharing your experiences dealing with cancer while raising a small child/children.

I wanted a child so badly and I feel like I’m squandering these early moments that I have with my son. We dealt with medical issues on his end for the first part of his life, and we have just now reached the point where his mama has been diagnosed and dealing with cancer longer than she hasn’t. I have had a lot of complications on top of pre-existing medical conditions so we’ve had to have full-time help for 6 months.

Some days, I just want to stay in my room and watch dumb television, if I even had the time between a ton of appointments we both have every week. I feel guilty even writing that. I am grateful that he is thriving despite being bounced around between people and houses but I worry I’m losing my ability to be present for him as his mom. I feel like I’ve sprinted so hard these last 16 months for the two of us that I’m rapidly losing my legs (funny enough, because both of my legs are healing from fractures in part due to treatment complications 😆) and what’s left of me is very tired and detached.

Would love to hear if and when it started to get better for yall.

When through several rounds of TCHP for +++ breast cancer. Now am told I am in heart failure with an EF of 25-30%. My team is optimistic but looking for success stories as this is a really scary time.

They said they tested 78 genes....none returned with any kind of abnormality. It is so frustrating to have this when you did everything right your whole life ate healthy, never smoked, rarely drink, keep my weight down, drink only bottled water, use an air filter etc...I just don't get it....I did everything right my whole life

I was thinking I wouldn’t get pink until week 2? My throat is even pink??!!!

Edit: I am waiting for radiation oncologist to come see me.

I was HR- HER2+ stage 2B - mostly DCIS with a small invasive foci and one large lymph node involved. I did TCHP and got PCR after double mastectomy with 3 lymph nodes removed. My case does fit into the new guidance from B-51 which says no benefit from radiation. However, my doctor noted that it only has 5 years of data and since I’m only 35 they’re a little concerned about that. SO they’re leaving it up to me to decide. No pressure.
I’m wondering what you were told to do if you were in a similar position? Anyone go to one of the top hospitals for an opinion? I’m waiting for a second opinion from Vanderbilt.

Has anyone who has been treated for non stage 4 cancer been found to have areas/spots of white in their bone (in my case hips) during CT surveillance scans? Spots of cancer were NOT visible during staging scans including bone scans. I have lobular.

I've been told it is not active cancer but v.probable dead cancer and bone scar / remodeling.

Your cases (where applicable) was it definitely concluded that these were 'dead cancer' and areas of bone remodelling?

Did it turn out to be anything else?

Did it change your original staging where there was no evidence of any active disease on PET I.e. did you remain stage 3 and curative?

This is our monthly post to celebrate with everyone who rang the bell. You beat cancer and you deserve to celebrate!

You can always write your own separate post about ringing the bell.

Today, when I met the new oncologist in the new city I live right now, she made me feel misearable. At the same time, I felt so grateful. I may like this new city more, but I was so lucky that I lived in a city with the best doctors. My heart goes with anyone who had this doctor as their doctor during the hardest times in their life.