tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post3003263145869736169..comments2024-02-25T21:33:44.400-06:00Comments on Garden of Eagan: Thinking about itLeah Springhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-11896026438931232122016-01-03T21:34:07.554-06:002016-01-03T21:34:07.554-06:00As an ovarian cancer survivor with the BRCA1 mutat...As an ovarian cancer survivor with the BRCA1 mutation I have a very real chance of having breast cancer. I am very curious about what I would look like if I had a mastectomy. I have never seen a picture or a real live person after a mastectomy but I have heard you are concave after. Anyhow if you are brave enough to do it I think it would be a wonderful gift. I think I would not have nipples after reconstruction and then I could throw away all of my bras!chicks3https://www.blogger.com/profile/09540708688560080436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-24209845719337943782016-01-02T06:33:59.668-06:002016-01-02T06:33:59.668-06:00I truly am in awe of what you and your reader Kary...I truly am in awe of what you and your reader Karyn have, and are still going through. Having followed your blog, I was encouraged to have my first mammogram and I now take a lot more notice of my breasts. <br /><br />THANK YOU for raising awareness. Not in terms of hanging a pink ribbon on your rear view mirror, or buying a teddy-bear with an embroidered pink ribbon on it that sits in a bedroom unseen - but for sharing the real deal. It has not been easy reading, following your journey - but as horrific as the details are to hear, I can only begin to imagine the horror of having to live it.<br /><br />Your words *and pictures, should you decide to share them) may very well possibly save lives. I am ashamed of how naive and blase I was about breast cancer before you shared your journey with us Leah. Now I am educating my daughter too, who is fourteen years old. <br /><br />So much respect and love to you.Imogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10840576866233677664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13970003.post-7500489963278508592016-01-02T02:19:49.158-06:002016-01-02T02:19:49.158-06:00Leah, you are right. No matter how "normal&qu...Leah, you are right. No matter how "normal" we look on the outside we are never "normal" again. Our bodies have been ravaged by surgery, radiation and chemicals. Even if your are "clear" or "NED" (No Evidence of Disease) that is no guarantee that it won't return.<br /><br />I stopped my aromatase inhibitors because they were absolutely horrible and I had major progression of the disease while taking them. They are also no guarantee that cancer won't return. I support your decision to stop taking them because they make life miserable and I know so many women who have had progression or recurrence while on them that the value of making yourself so miserable is very questionable.<br /><br />If I am ever able to I would love to have my other breast removed. Because I am stage 4 everyone says it's a waste of time and resources but emotionally and physically I hate having one boob. My body has been out of balance since my surgery almost 5 years ago.<br /><br />Today I told my landlord that they couldn't come next week because I was having chemo and he said "But you haven't lost your hair?". He has no idea even though his wife has been through a mastectomy and chemo. Not every chemo makes you lose your hair. Just because I have hair and look ok doesn't mean everything is ok. A male friend didn't even know that I only had one boob. Given it isn't something we talked about but he knew I was getting treatment for cancer and his wife was about to get a mastectomy and I was encouraging him that it wasn't the end the world. We look ok on the outside but we will never, ever be normal again.Tigger (aka Karyn)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14735958024662927411noreply@blogger.com