Re: RE..I tried to tell her

[Guest guest]

The story of your Mom's friend who had cancer and got implants touched me...as it is (was) my personal situation as well. I often wondered if I had had chemo or radiation or even hormone treatment, if I would think all my symptoms were side-effects. I am thankful that after my initial surgery I had no other treatment (except for the implants of course), but at least I knew for a fact that something was "not right". I don't think I will ever be able to adequately describe how I felt when I suddenly remembered "that package insert". I got on the computer as fast as I could and in the span of one sitting, found several sites and stories that confirmed my worst fears. Looking back, yes, I did have a choice, and so did your Mom's friend. You can use your own tissue to reconstruct a breast and in the hands of a skilled surgeon, it is successful and once the surgery is over, you're done, no fears of illness or ruptures, etc. down the road. The

surgery is long and with that, is risky, and not everyone is willing to do it. Perhaps your Mom's friend felt this way. At the time I couldn't do it because I had no extra abdominal tissue...not so now, after 2 years of being sick, with little activity!! I am glad that you (all of us on this site) are willing to get the word out about implants and illness. My advice to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients will be to get rid of the cancer with whatever kind of surgery you choose first. And if its a mastectomy, no doubt waking up with "nothing but a scar" is difficult, and I was spared that with the immediate placement of implants. But if I could do it over again, I would attack each issue seperately....cancer....then healing....then research reconstructive options...then proceed. I might have discovered the implant / illness issue if I hadn't been in such a hurry to "get it done" and go on with my life. Cancer is a very

emotional thing, breast cancer especially, but women need time to sort through all the implications of that and focus on regaining health first. Sad, but true, in our culture, often the outward appearance is of more overriding concern than healing from the cancer. I was caught up in that as well. Now, with what I am left with, at least I now have the perspective of many lessons learned, that good health can be a fragile thing, and that outward appearance isn't as important as one might think. For me, wearing a breast enhancer or water bra will have to be good enough for now. I don't know if at some point I will do the natural tissue reconstruction. Anyway, I am rambling, but I will be praying for your Mom's friend, and that if it is in fact her implants that are making her sick, she would be open to that and do whatever is necessary to regain her health. It is so worth it!

Blessings,

Sharon dimonds68 <XENA6881@...> wrote:

I have tried to tell alot of women/and friends not to get the implants, and yes they know my experience. But they did anyway. Then again there are alot I talked out of getting them. BUT I was just like those woman who wanted them, and would not listen to my family and friends saying NOT to get them..'would if something bad happens',would if you get sick or cancer or die'. I got them anyway. So sometimes I think that when people have their mind set on something, they do it anyway. They cannot grasp the concept 'how sick is sick'.... Most people live thru life as if 'it is not going to happen to me'. My mom's friend who is the nicest woman on earth had a masectomy last year. I told my mom to tell her that I was sick from the implants. My mom told her. Her friend said 'I have no other choice'. She is always so tired and drained

all the time. So far she is Cancer free. I often wonder, is she getting sick/fatiged from the implants, or is it the after math of the Cancer??? I would be soo destraught if she got sick. She is such a great lady and a dear friend. T.....

[Guest guest]

I had cancer and chemo, and never thought my health problems were side effects.

Lynda

At 02:33 AM 4/23/2004, you wrote:

>The story of your Mom's friend who had cancer and got implants touched

>me...as it is (was) my personal situation as well. I often wondered if I

>had had chemo or radiation or even hormone treatment, if I would think all

>my symptoms were side-effects. I am thankful that after my initial

>surgery I had no other treatment (except for the implants of course), but

>at least I knew for a fact that something was " not right " . I don't think

>I will ever be able to adequately describe how I felt when I suddenly

>remembered " that package insert " . I got on the computer as fast as I

>could and in the span of one sitting, found several sites and stories that

>confirmed my worst fears. Looking back, yes, I did have a choice, and so

>did your Mom's friend. You can use your own tissue to reconstruct a

>breast and in the hands of a skilled surgeon, it is successful and once

>the surgery is over, you're done, no fears of illness or ruptures, etc.

>down the road. The surgery is long and with that, is risky, and not

>everyone is willing to do it. Perhaps your Mom's friend felt this

>way. At the time I couldn't do it because I had no extra abdominal

>tissue...not so now, after 2 years of being sick, with little

>activity!! I am glad that you (all of us on this site) are willing to get

>the word out about implants and illness. My advice to newly diagnosed

>breast cancer patients will be to get rid of the cancer with whatever kind

>of surgery you choose first. And if its a mastectomy, no doubt waking up

>with " nothing but a scar " is difficult, and I was spared that with the

>immediate placement of implants. But if I could do it over again, I would

>attack each issue seperately....cancer....then healing....then research

>reconstructive options...then proceed. I might have discovered the

>implant / illness issue if I hadn't been in such a hurry to " get it done "

>and go on with my life. Cancer is a very emotional thing, breast cancer

>especially, but women need time to sort through all the implications of

>that and focus on regaining health first. Sad, but true, in our culture,

>often the outward appearance is of more overriding concern than healing

>from the cancer. I was caught up in that as well. Now, with what I am

>left with, at least I now have the perspective of many lessons learned,

>that good health can be a fragile thing, and that outward appearance isn't

>as important as one might think. For me, wearing a breast enhancer or

>water bra will have to be good enough for now. I don't know if at some

>point I will do the natural tissue reconstruction. Anyway, I am rambling,

>but I will be praying for your Mom's friend, and that if it is in fact her

>implants that are making her sick, she would be open to that and do

>whatever is necessary to regain her health. It is so worth it!

>

>Blessings,

>Sharon

>

>dimonds68 <XENA6881@...> wrote:

>I have tried to tell alot of women/and friends not to get the

>implants, and yes they know my experience. But they did anyway. Then

>again there are alot I talked out of getting them. BUT I was just

>like those woman who wanted them, and would not listen to my family

>and friends saying NOT to get them..'would if something bad

>happens',would if you get sick or cancer or die'. I got them anyway.

>So sometimes I think that when people have their mind set on

>something, they do it anyway. They cannot grasp the concept 'how sick

>is sick'.... Most people live thru life as if 'it is not going to

>happen to me'. My mom's friend who is the nicest woman on earth had a

>masectomy last year. I told my mom to tell her that I was sick from

>the implants. My mom told her. Her friend said 'I have no other

>choice'. She is always so tired and drained all the time. So far she

>is Cancer free. I often wonder, is she getting sick/fatiged from the

>implants, or is it the after math of the Cancer??? I would be soo

>destraught if she got sick. She is such a great lady and a dear

>friend. T.....

>

>

>

>