It unfortunately does not cover the entire spectrum for those of us who are self-employed and had to make decisions that may affect how long we live.

It took about 15 or more minutes to complete and it brought back a flood of bad memories for me and I had to stop: I did complete the survey but perhaps stopped short of all the answers I could have provided had it been more inclusive of my circumstances.

The survey is about any cancer, not just breast cancer.

“NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Women with recently diagnosed diabetes may be more likely to also get a breast cancer diagnosis than those without diabetes, suggests a new study from Canada.”

You can read the rest of the article at The Baltimore Sun.

On the right-hand side of the above article, there are many more articles on breast cancer.

I love Costco … and I love receiving their quarterly magazine called Costco Connection which always has some tidbit of information that’s interesting and relevant.

In their latest edition, they have an article by Joseph Hanna entitled “Good Bit of Advice for Breast Health“.

It discusses risk factors,  probiotics and other information any woman should find valuable.

BE THERE! … Costco is also holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Clinic in ALL of their locations so there is no reason not to be in-the-know!

While at the plastic surgeon’s office last week, he mentioned something about surgeons in the USA who tend to [over]use  grafts — I got the sense that they use it because it’s available rather than necessary every time.

A cursory search for this information online does not provide many results so I would recommend that if you are considering implants for breast reconstruction, speak to your surgeon about this tissue grafting … I can’t quite remember the exact terminology the surgeon used so I may not be accurate in callng it tissue grafting.

However, I did find the web site for The American Society of Plastic Surgeons that talks about tissue expansion which is not the same as grafting. For those of us who have had a mastectomy (complete removal of the breast), tissue expansion is necessary and I believe would be necessary whether considering implants or one of the aforementioned flaps (Tram, Diep and Lattismus).

One of the documents I was given entitled “Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons – Joint Position Statement on Lymphoma and Breast Implants” states the following:

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States published a device safety communiction on January 26, 2011 on the association of breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma [ALCL].

ALCL is a non-Hodgkins Lymphoma – a cancer which can occur anywhere in the body and involves the cells of the immune system. The incidence of this type of lymphoma in the breast  is 1/500,000 per year. The estimated incidence of this type of lymphoma in the breast is 3/100,000,000. To put this in perspective, there are 4,000,000 patients who had breast implants inserted between 1998 and 2009 in the United States and 5 – 10,000,000 worldwide.

It is important to note that this is not a cancer of the breast. It has been found in the scar tissue (capsule) that forms around a breast implant and is not associated with any particular type of implant. It is also important to note that these cases are not typical (they are ALK negative) and the outcomes are more favourable than typical ALCL.

The FDA has clearly stated: “If you have breast implants, there is no need to change your routine medical care and folow-up“. They have also stated: “prophylactic breast implan removal in patients without symptoms or other abnormality is not recommended“.

The Canadian Socieity for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons commend the FDA for working to pursue a collaboration with plastic surgeons to develop a registry to gather additional information to better charactierize ALCL in women with breast implants.

Patients are encouraged to read more details on the following websites from the FDA and to contact their plastic surgeons if they have any concerns …”

The document I received does not provide the links, only the name of the links: “FDA Medical Device Safety Communication: Reports of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in Women with Breast Implants“; and

“Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in Women with Breast Implants: Preliminary FDA Findings and Analysis“.

These are the links I found but cannot guarantee they are the links that would have been provided in the document had they existed.

Yes, cancer is frightening especially for those of us who have already experienced it, but I like my chances with implants over the other options which could leave me with less muscle control in my abdomen or shoulder (Tram Flap, Diep Flap) and still without a breast should they fail … the amount of surgeries alone for the flaps make them less desirable for me personally.

The surgeon wants me to see him again before making a decision — he’s armed me with lots of information and I have lots to think about.

The document provided to me is dated January, 2011.

I had all but given up on having 2 breasts again and resolved that I was going to my grave as a Uniboober.

During my appointment with my surgical oncologist a few weeks ago, the handsome Dr. Ewan, I asked him if he knew of a plastic surgeon that might help with my 3 breasts … ok, let me clarify … after surgery, I was left with a mini-tit, a medium-tit and my natural maxi-tit … and I really hated the 2 I wasn’t born with. I was hoping a plastic surgeon would be able to get rid of all these flaps of skin I seem to have.

Dr. Ewan referred me to a plastic surgeon who I saw a few days ago and I’m thrilled to say that I may have 2 breasts again without resorting to those horrible tram-flap or diep-flap reconstruction surgeries that would leave me with little muscle control over my abdomen or shoulder.

He did tell me about a fourth option that I wasn’t aware of: Latissimus Dorsi Flap. This surgery apparently does leave a very large scar from the upper back to the front that connects to the new breast.

I play tennis and the thought of losing any muscle in my abdomen, shoulder or upper back is not something I am particularly interested in.

Ok, ok, the good news … he said that I am a candidate for an implant!

It’s only 2 day surgeries (1 to insert the expander and 2nd for the implant) and I’ll be uncomfortable for a week to 10 days … so I am thrilled of this possibility!

It’s what I wanted initially until I saw that other plastic surgeon 1.5 years ago that said she wouldn’t give me an implant because of my propensity for infections.

I did let the new surgeon know that I get infections easily and he said he hasn’t had a patient with an infection in 10 years and unless I have constant infections with the implant over a long period of time, the implant can be removed which will solve the problem.

Dr. Ewan also said that I may have to have a breast reduction on my other breast if I wanted an implant … and I’m happy to say that the new surgeon will give me a lift on my natural breast and I can go as big as I want.

The new surgeon blushed when I said I wanted to be the size of  a stripper! Of course I really don’t want to be THAT big, but to have 2 nice sized boobs again will be fabulous!

I asked him if the new breast would look like a transgendered male, as I had heard that before, and he assured me it wouldn’t. He only said that there will be a roundness to it that isn’t on my natural breast.

And just as wonderful news is that the flaps of skin I absolutely hate is actually good to have … he can use the extra skin to help with the expander. How terrific is that!

I’m still in a bit of shock that I can indeed have an implant so I’ll wait for a week or 2 until the information sinks in and decide when would be a good time to do this … I’m thinking either just before the December holidays or just after new year when business is also a bit quiet.

It just goes to show how a 2nd opinion is valuable.

If you want more information on breast reconstruction in Canada, visit this web site.

I received an email this morning (August 25, 2011)  from someone purportedly from the Communications and Information Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care  (MOHLTC). In it, she writes the following:

“Ontario has one of the highest survival rates for breast cancer in the world, with nearly 90 per cent of women surviving the disease. Yet research provided by Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) reveals that more than half a million women eligible for Ontario s Breast Screening Program (OBSP) are not getting screened.

You can do your part in ensuring your loved ones aren t part of this statistic. The province of Ontario is encouraging early detection by expanding the OBSP. Women between the ages of 30 and 69 who are at high risk for breast cancer because of genetics or a personal or family history are now eligible to receive an annual breast screening MRI and a mammogram through the program.

Women over 30 are encouraged to talk to their family physician to discuss what breast cancer screening option is right for them, and for their mothers, friends and loved ones to do the same. Regular screening, combined with greater self-awareness and improvements in treatment, has been shown to save lives.

Women can visit www.ontario.ca/screenforlife and complete the  Time to Screen  tool to find out when it s the right time for them to get screened. They can also view videos of a former cancer patent outlining the importance of screening and Dr. Rene, a radiologist detailing the screening process [URL added by BloggerBarb - it's the only video I could find on screening]. Please feel free to include any of these links in your blog …” [added by BloggerBarb: here is a Google link to lots of videos on breast cancer screening]

Sage words indeed.

I have been getting mammograms for at least 10 years and although they didn’t catch my breast cancer, I was a pesty patient in my doctor’s office wondering what the pain was … so please, please, if you are reading this, talk to all the women you love in your life (sister, aunt, lover, wife, significant other — young and old alike) about self-examination if they are in a non-risk group and those over 40 who are at risk just for being alive at that age to get a mammogram.

And if you are in Canada and don’t have a family doctor … my question is why? Get yourself a doctor today! Don’t wait until you’re sick … don’t go into an emergency room … don’t use walk-in clinics all the time … they don’t know your history and may not think of cancer when you walk in with swollen glands or a lump that could also be a cyst.

Can’t find a family doctor? Did you know that you can check your local hospital’s web site to find new doctors accepting patients? Yes, it’s true … that’s how I found mine about 6 years ago when my other doctor left her practice to pursue environmental medicine: I stupidly waited too long to find a new doctor and yes, it was not easy — I think I interviewed about 3 or 4 doctors before finding the one I have now … who hopefully will be around long after I’m gone

A few weeks ago I received an email from La Vie en Rose asking if I would like to try their new Muse bras specifically made for us breast cancer warriors. I watched the video and was excited to see that someone was thinking of us as women, not just cancer survivors.

La Vie en Rose sent me 2 gorgeous bras: pastel blue with lace and all things frilly and sexy … just like I used to have before losing a breast.

Even better is that these beautiful sexy bras come with lightweight fillers which almost replace the heavy prosthetics that cost hundreds of dollars more — I say “almost replace” because there will probably be times when I’ll need to wear my regular prosthetic. The lightweight bra, as sexy as it is, still doesn’t quite look as natural as the prosthetic so I found myself adjusting the Muse bra frequently — but how wonderful that it’s so lightweight that it’s barely noticeable. My regular prosthetic is about 8-10 pounds and lugging that on my chest day in and day out is never going to happen.

I had forgotten what it’s like to feel like a woman — although I’ll always be a tom boy that prefers playing sports, it’s fabulous to know that I’m all woman underneath all that cotton.

Some of the questions I asked of the Muse bras were all answered — one of the more important questions I had was if these bras are covered by extended insurance similar to the post-mastectomy bras, and the answer is:

“So far the bras are covered by Quebec and Nova Scotia’s government health care programs. As for private insurance,
because our receipt doesn’t say post-mastectomy, we advise our clients to simply submit an request by email or phone for
proof that the bra is indeed a post-mastectomy product through our customer service dept.”

I’m back at Wellspring as of a couple of weeks ago and brought one of the bras there to show the other women — and they were a great success! They are not only beautiful, but at under $60, they are very affordable — and at that price, you also get both fillers that are removeable, just like the pricier post-mastectomy bras.

Allison, one of the therapists at Wellspring, made a great suggestion — I’m back playing tennis and I’m very self-conscious about running around with one lump on my chest (it’s a large lump!) — she suggested that I wear the Muse bra underneath a regular sports bra so that I have the illusion of 2 breasts — genius Allison, genius!

If you want to feel like a woman again, I strongly recommend checking out these Canadian made Muse bras — and bask in lace once again!

Of course I filled it out and said yes!

An excerpt of the letter dated March 31, 2011:

“… From time to time, research projects about breast screening make use of the information obtained by the OBSP. You indicated to the OBSP that you are willing to receive information about research. You are being approached for this study because you have had a mammogram at the OBSP and also have had a breast cancer diagnosis…”

I apparently said I would be interested in 2008.

The criteria for this particular study is women between the ages of 50-74 and had a breast cancer diagnosis, and who have told the OBSP they are willing to be contacted about research studies.

If you or someone you know may be interested in providing information to this valuable study, their phone number is 416-971-9800.

Get on the list and be counted! If not for this particular study, the next one or the one after that … they are all valuable!

We need to end this disease as soon as we can!

Shamefully, airport security in Calgary felt it was a good idea to strip search an 82 old woman because she didn’t declare her prosthetic as a liquid item.

I’m so glad I decided not to take my prosthetic with me on a recent trip to Las Vegas … more than likely I would be in jail because I can be quite cantankerous. I certainly have the utmost respect for authority, but man, I would be dropping F-Bombs all over the place if they would have embarrassed me during a body scan.

When are we humans treated as innocent first? Could they not have been courteous and respectful before asking her about the prosthetic?

Yes, there may be crooks, creeps, liars, thieves and all kinds of criminals wandering through the airport (and the streets and hallways of anywhere in the world), but do we have to be treated as if we’ve done something intentionally wrong all the time?

When is it just a mistake?

It’s shameful. It’s Canada.

Here’s a few links to the story:

• News 95.7
• The Star

A new low in the name of security.

About a month ago, my last remaining boob, which also happens to be the left boob, became very painful. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the pain I was in when I had cancer in my other breast … and I didn’t take this pain lightly, even though I didn’t find a lump.

I tried to make an urgent appointment with my very handsome surgical oncologist, and unfortunately kept getting the run around with the many receptionists at the clinic. None seemed to take it seriously and a few days later, the supervisor called and kept repeating that she was confused about my call: this was quite aggravating as you can imagine.

She gave me an appointment about 6 weeks later and I told her that was outrageous considering my history. She had to speak to the doctor and he said he would see me within the week …

Is it me? Does anyone else find it odd that no one seems to take this seriously?  I don’t consider myself a hysterical person either … all I was trying to do is see the same doctor that I have been seeing over the last 2 years for breast cancer and it was nothing but challenging to make the appointment.

When I went to see him, he said that my last remaining breast could be on another person and that what happened to one breast doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll have cancer in the other breast.

That’s a relief … but I still wanted to have an ultra-sound to be sure that there is no cancer in my last remaining boob … I had to beg to have an ultra-sound!

I finally will have the ultra-sound on January 18th and then a follow-up with the doctor in early February: about 2.5 months after I first contacted them about the pain in my breast.

I will never forget that pain … and it’s exactly the same pain and same scenario as it was 2 years ago.

Wish me luck!