That is how my husband as described my expansion progression. And it is a fairly accurate description! I do look like someone has taken two bocce balls and neatly tucked them under my skin. To me, however, weight wise, they feel a bit more like cannon balls!
I am getting close now to my reconstructive surgery date, which is Monday, November 22, 2010. The preop jitters are starting to set in and the fact that my surgery isn't until 3:30 in the afternoon really doesn't help!
I will be glad to have this medical chapter over with......
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Legislation and the insurance companies
I did a little research and found out the following:
In 1998, a law was passed in the USA that now forces insurance companies to pay for any type of reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. The law also stipulates that the insurance company has to pay for a bilateral mastectomy (both sides) should that be the patient's decision.
Prior to 1998, patient's usually opted for a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy because it was the most economical way to go for treatment of early stage breast cancer.
Also, states are now mandating insurance plans to STOP the "drive-through" mastectomy....where patient's are basically considered out-patient and discharged ASAP.
This is good information to know. There are options out there. It's a decision that you and your surgeon decide together, and your insurance company cannot dictate what you can and cannot have done :)
In 1998, a law was passed in the USA that now forces insurance companies to pay for any type of reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. The law also stipulates that the insurance company has to pay for a bilateral mastectomy (both sides) should that be the patient's decision.
Prior to 1998, patient's usually opted for a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy because it was the most economical way to go for treatment of early stage breast cancer.
Also, states are now mandating insurance plans to STOP the "drive-through" mastectomy....where patient's are basically considered out-patient and discharged ASAP.
This is good information to know. There are options out there. It's a decision that you and your surgeon decide together, and your insurance company cannot dictate what you can and cannot have done :)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
ONE in EIGHT
I wanted to share the following info with you. I copied and pasted it directly from the BREASTCANCER.ORG website. I didn't want to get any of these stats wrong, hopefully the website won't mind that I "borrowed" the info! This website has been extremely important, informative, and a place to reach out to other women living with breast cancer. The time to read this is BEFORE you or a friend or family member is diagnosed. The more you know....is a good thing :)
About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
About 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2010. Less than 1% of all new breast cancer cases occur in men.
From 1999 to 2006, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
About 39,840 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1991. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1 in 4 cancers in women (about 28%) are breast cancer.
Compared to African American women, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer, but less likely to die of it. One possible reason is that African American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although why this is the case is not known. Women of other ethnic backgrounds — Asian, Hispanic, and Native American — have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer than white women and African American women.
In 2010, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.
About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
About 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2010. Less than 1% of all new breast cancer cases occur in men.
From 1999 to 2006, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
About 39,840 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1991. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1 in 4 cancers in women (about 28%) are breast cancer.
Compared to African American women, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer, but less likely to die of it. One possible reason is that African American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although why this is the case is not known. Women of other ethnic backgrounds — Asian, Hispanic, and Native American — have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer than white women and African American women.
In 2010, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.
About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
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