Breast Redo’s & Nipple Tattoos!?!

I’m eager to see how much attention the title of this post will receive.  (snicker)

It is funny how having breast cancer makes it ok to talk about breasts and nipples in such a public manner.  I do think awareness is important, and since pink is not my most favorite color, I will participate in awareness by throwing out post titles that may make some do a double take.  Hee hee.

In all seriousness, I would appreciate any exposure you can give this post and my story.  It has been very concerning to me how so many people, including the medical community (especially the medical community), still do not think of breast cancer as a “young” disease.  I believe that is why I was dismissed so rudely by a surgeon when I expressed my concern for the lump I know I was feeling.  I did not fit the “typical” breast cancer patient.  I really, really want every woman to know that ANYONE can get breast cancer.

{comforting my youngest after our “head shaving” party.  I have orange marker on my head thanks to my middle girl who wanted to “autograph” my head:) }

ANYONE.  

I  know women who have done an incredible job with eating healthy-grinding their own wheat, raising chickens for organic eggs, eating all organic, take their vitamins–and STILL GOT BREAST CANCER.

I know of women in their twenties who were marathon runners who have DIED FROM BREAST CANCER.

I know women who are so spiritual and close to God, who are FIGHTING BREAST CANCER.

ANYONE CAN GET IT.

I admit I was shocked to find out that I had it.  Our family has been on a journey of embracing a lifestyle of health, especially when it came to the foods we eat.  I am the first to admit I placed way too much faith into healthy foods and vitamins/supplements.  I still think these things are extremely important, but I do not place my faith in them anymore.

I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful women read this blog and form such a great community around me.  I care deeply for all of you, so I’m gonna get bossy:

1. DO YOUR MONTHLY CHECKS

2. IF YOU FIND SOMETHING, GET IT CHECKED & INSIST ON FOLLOW UP.

This does not mean you need to go right to a mammogram.  An ultrasound is an easy, painless, non-radiation way to check out any type of lump or bump.  If you are told you have a cyst and there is ANY change, get rechecked.  I wish I would have.

A second opinion is always a good thing to do…another thing I wish I would have known and done.

I will get to the “Breast Redo and Nipple Tattoo” part of this in a minute, by sharing one of my journal entries from my Caring Bridge site.

But before I do,

 Will you please, please share this post with the 

women in your life?  

Blog.   Email.   Tweet.   Facebook.   Del.icio.us.   Stumble.

If my story can help another woman realize the importance of self breast checks, and of insisting on good treatment and second opinions, it would just be THE BEST.  

Thank You!!

{**The following is an entry from my Caring Bridge journal.  If you would like detailed updates on my health, please visit my Caring Bridge site by clicking here.}

Today we met with my plastic surgeon.  It was interesting:)  It was nice to come out of an appointment feeling like we were able to talk about things that are not life and death.  Less serious, more light.  I am really excited that I do not have to go through the process of fills, (a hard implant that is used to stretch the tissue and is gradually filled each week, then replaced with a permanent implant) as they will be doing a “Veritas Collagen Matrix” type reconstruction.  It is a saline breast implant in conjunction with a soft tissue implant called Veritas Collagen Matrix.  Basically, they form a pocket in my muscle which holds the implant, but because of how the chest muscle is formed, the implant is not covered at the bottom.  They use the Collagen Matrix material to create a sling to hold the bottom of the implant, and it will also create a nice “fold” under the implant.   The collagen they use is from a cow (ew), all the cellular material is taken out of it, and it ends up taking the form of whatever tissue it is put on, which in my case is chest muscle.  It is pretty cool that my body just takes over the collagen and it will eventually turn into my own tissue.  There are no rejection issues due to the removal of all the cells.  That is the best I can do as far as explanation 🙂 

 My surgeon has been doing this type of reconstruction for over 5 years, and is very positive about the results.  I am limited as to how big we can go, but as doc said, our goal is not Dolly Parton.  Ha!  Although he did say if Dolly Parton is something I would like down the road, this implant will help stretch the tissue and replacing it with a larger one would be possible, just not right away.  I assured him I did not want Dolly Parton…
A month after healing, I will have a short, out- patient surgery for nipple reconstruction and when that is healed, I will get them tattooed with pigment.  Yep, I said TATTOO!!  Who woulda thunk it, huh?  I am not the tattoo type, but when I saw pics of the results, I quickly became the tattoo type!!  
Ok, moving on…


I’m starting to really appreciate this little break I have, with chemo behind me and surgery to come.  I am starting to feel more “present” with my family as my ear is healing and I am feeling stronger.  My counts were perfect on Monday, praise God!

Friday is a big day of scans.  My insurance company DID approve of the PET scan-another huge praise!  I will be getting the PET scan and another breast MRI.  I am nervous about the results.  I wish I could just switch those nerves off, I get butterflies when I think about it.  It will be nice to know just how much chemo worked and see if anything shows up with my lymph nodes or anywhere else in my body. EEK!  Darn butterflies…

More posts on my journey:
Information On My Upcoming Mastectomy
How Cancer Is Teaching Me To Dance
The Gifts Of Cancer
Thoughts While Being Scanned
“I Have Cancer”
What I Read When I Am Afraid

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