Two Years and Counting

Trip to the Mediterranean 2012

It certainly has been quite awhile!  Yesterday, I received a private message from another compatriot that underwent a preventative mastectomy with reconstruction for LCIS and we both were wondering if we should follow up with our breast surgeons since it has been over two years.  I was told by Dr. Satoloff that I would just need to monitor myself to see if there was any change in shape to the implants which may suggest leakage.  She was told that she should have a yearly MRI to show if anything like that is occurring within her body.  We both decided that physical monitoring rather than the uncomfortable and expensive MRI would show the same thing if we were both vigilant.  

I wanted to update my post to talk about life after the PM and to tell you about our conversation.  We both shared information about our lifestyles in that they haven't changed much from life before the PM.  Personally, I like the way I look now more than before the surgery.  In terms of how I feel, I still consider it the "new normal" and very rarely is there any truly uncomfortable feeling with my body.  For me, the most uncomfortable feeling is when I do not have a bra on which has perplexed my husband.  "Why would you have discomfort when there is no tissue there?", he would comment.  My thought is that the skin has to hold up the implant without a lot of support so when there is no bra in place, it pulls and becomes slightly uncomfortable.

I still and will always welcome questions or conversations even though it has been more than two years.  Please feel free to call or email me at arlene.flick@yahoo.com if you are just beginning the process.  My mind is a little fuzzy since it has been awhile which is why this blog is still a good chronicle of events that will occur should you select this option.  I urge you to read from the very beginning and then call or email me.  It is a big decision and I would love to lessen the unknown if you would like to pick my brain.

Thank You!

It's been well over a year and a half since I had this surgery and I am amazed at how many emails and phone calls I still get.  I cannot thank you all enough for your kind words.  I decided to write this blog because LCIS is such a unique diagnosis and along with its uniqueness comes varying decisions about what to do next.  Ambiguity is the word most used to describe the thought process since there never seems to be a "set" prescription for treatment.  You are not alone in that thought process.  In fact, it's what makes the process so difficult.  I urge you again, to email me or call me if you have any questions about what direction I took and/or what I wrote about in this blog.  If I can reduce even a minute or so of stress in your lives, I will gladly do it.

Happy 2012!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Boobies!

Happy birthday new boobs!  That's right.  It's been one year ago today that I was in the hospital recovering from my preventative mastectomy.  It's almost hard to believe!


I went back through my blog and reread about my entire experience and I was astounded at how quickly I was able to heal and get back on my feet.  Since I had never had an operation before, I didn't know what to expect in terms of the healing process so this was a completely new experience for me.  Looking back, I remember the discomfort from the tissue expanders the most and the grogginess from the valium.  Getting out of bed in the morning took more than just a deep breath and popping ibuprofen became an everyday occurance.  Overall, I have to admit that it was uncomfortable but very manageable.



I wanted to capture a few pros and cons about this surgery in the following bullet points to those that may be considering this as an option.  I enjoyed talking and emailing those who have contacted me the past year after receiving the news that they have been diagnosed with LCIS and were trying to decide which approach to take.  These may help summarize the  ordeal:

• Con: The tissue expanders are uncomfortable and feel like an iron band around your chest.  Make no bones about it.  Sleeping on your back becomes the only way to fall asleep.  However....
• Pro: They only have to be in there for three months (normally) so there is an end date to the uncomfortableness.  Also, bras were unnecessary and I finally saw cleavage on my body for the very first time.
• Con: I gained 6 pounds and I cannot get rid of it.  I tried to convince myself that it was the weight of the new implants but I know it is not.  I am definitely back on my exercise routine but, for some reason, I lose 2 and then a month later, gain them back.
• Pro:  I never have to do a pushup again....according to Dr. Bucky.
• Con:  I have some scarring around my nipples and on either side of my boobs.  They are pretty slight so I am hoping that, over the years, they will become less and less which seems to have happened in the last year alone.
• Pro: My breasts look like I had them augmented and not "replaced".  In fact, at my 25th college reunion this year, my friend (male) was looking at me and I blurted out across the table, "Oh Steve, I forgot to tell you I had a preventative mastectomy which is why they are bigger.  I didn't want you to think I had a boob job."  Too much to drink?  Perhaps...but I didn't want him to think I was vain enough to have a boob job.  However, the vanity part has sucked me into plastic surgery big time on the next two pros.
• Pro:  LOVED the eye lift surgery that I added at the last minute!!  I get so many compliments from people saying I look younger!  I promise you.  It's the eyes!!
• Pro:  Loved the removal of the "over 45 tummy roll that appeared out of nowhere" after the fat grafting was done.  This is where vanity and I become best friends.  I am now "all in" on Smart Lipo sometime in the near future if my thighs continue to not pay attention to exercise and reduce themselves.
• Pro:  No more mammograms.
• Pro:  Hopefully, I will never have to undergo chemotherapy or take any drugs because of breast cancer.
• Con:  I lost my natural breasts and I am aware that there is something different on my body.
• Pro:  I look and feel really good. 

I will finish with one final story.  All my life, I bought clothes that looked adorable on smaller breasted women since that was my body type.  When I tried on clothes recently, especially sweaters and dresses, I would sometimes get annoyed that I was looking too "fat" since my breasts were so large (for me) and it gave the appearnace of a larger frame.  Yesterday, I went out to celebrate the Boobie Birthday by purchasing some new clothes.  My husband knew of my dilemna and suggested a new approach.  "Honey" he said, "Think outside the box and try on clothes you never, ever would have considered wearing in the past.  You have nice breasts so show them off"  Good thinking!!!!!  It was like "What Not To Wear" and I had to rethink my look since it had changed.  I ended up buying a halter top dress and a strapless holiday gown; two dresses that I would never dreamed of wearing on my tiny, barely A frame.


So...thank you LCIS.  In a weird way, you saved my life and gave me a whole new "look".

Unexpected Trips

So, I took the bus to NYC to meet Margie wearing my thick white brace under my clothes.  Let's just say that it is not the most comfortable thing to wear if you are sitting.  Lying down?  Different story.  My stomach was still very sore and it looked like the stitches under my armpit and near my tummy were healing up nicely.  To anyone that may choose this additional surgery, I would have to say that it is very doable and compared to the previous ones, it is a walk in the park.  My only negative is the brace...under clothes.


I had a great time at the Open and I will admit, I did not feel like wearing that brace the entire time because I soon became Deenie in "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?". ( If you are over 40, please tell me you remember that book.)  I wore it out one night and I couldn't have felt more ugly and uncomfortable although, truthfully, no one but me knew it since my dress hid it beautifully. I still felt like a dork which is not what one is supposed to feel like in Manhattan.


So here it the kicker.  I fly back Wednesday (wearing my brace) to my home in SC and on Thursday, I find out that I am being deployed as a volunteer for the Red Cross!  I have been training this entire year and BEGGING the powers that be to deploy me.  Holy cow!  I got deployed back to NY to help in a shelter in Binghamton, NY for two weeks.  Immediately, I read over the information and while filling out form number 147, I see where you have to check Yes or No if you have stitches.  Crap!  I check No and call Margie.

"Hey Margie.  Do you know how to sew?  Have you ever taken out stitches before?", I ask
"No but how hard can it be?", she replied
"Ok, I'll be over in ten and I"ll bring a tweezer.  Do you have tiny scissors?"

And the next thing you know, I am lying on the floor while Margie puts on her readers to clip and pull out the stitiches so that, technically, I do not have to answer Yes to that question.


I pack up my white brace and limited attire and get back on the plane to LaGuardia on Friday.  I knew going into this it was going to be exhausting but highly rewarding from all that I have heard from others who have deployed before.  However, this was my first deployment so I was excited and slightly nervous about the brace and the fact that I just had this operation a mere week and a half ago.  I knew if I declined, I probably wouldn't be asked again for awhile.  I also knew that there had to be nurses around and maybe a doctor or two.  I mean, it's the Red Cross, right?

Long Overdue Update

Seriously?  It is October already?  Wow..how did that happen?  Geez, you are probably thinking I have been such a slacker now that I am officially finished with the entire "boobie" ordeal but, actually, I have soooooo much to tell you!  So, let's roll back the months to August when I underwent the final, final operation.


We just escaped Hurricane Irene while driving down I-95 en route to my friend's house in Lehigh Valley, PA.  Her electricity was out all day Sunday (in fact for 4 days thereafter) and I was concerned that the electricity would also be out in Philadelphia meaning the operation would be put off until later in the week.  I called our hotel and, luckily, all was well with PECO in Center City.  We drove down on Sunday to settle in to my new "residence" at Le Meridien for the next few days while I recovered.


Monday morning, we showed up at Pennsylvania Hospital and it was getting to be easier and easier for me to go through the black markups by Dr. Bucky as well as meeting the anesthesiologist and his staff.  It's hard to believe that last December I was so freaked out by "going under' and now I was like, "bring it"!  Of course there was the familiar bantering between the medical group which, always puts me at ease.  I told Dr. Bucky to err on the side of "more".  More is definitely MORE when removing fat from my body.  While he was marking me up, he asked if I wanted the fat taken from my stomach.  Uh, hell yeah, Dr. B.  I am over 45 and that stupid roll came out of left field somewhere between 46 and 47 years of age so, yesiree, take that roll and reduce that thing!  Finally, he asked if I would mind if he took some fat out of my armpit area.  Seriously?  And you actually had to ask me?


I woke up about an hour or so later (I think) and I had absolutely no trouble breathing coming out of the anesthesia.  In fact, I just felt a little bit sore in my tummy and my armpits.  He inserted the fat into my left breast so there wouldn't be an obvious ridge and it just felt a little "hard" if you will.  Seriously, this was not bad at all.  In fact, I only took one valium and then an Advil on occasion while I healed in my hotel room the next two days.  I did, however, have a velcro white brace around my tummy to keep the swelling in place.  It felt a little like one of those black braces that you had to wear if you were lifting heavy items to avoid hurting your lower back.  Or better yet....they felt like Spanx.


The plan was for me to drive back with Bob to South Carolina two days later in our mini SUV with sport suspension.  Right there, you should immediately gasp while reading "sport suspension".  What the hell was I thinking?  Twelve hours driving in a vehicle that feels every bump in the road?  I must have been on something when I came up with that brilliant idea.  Luckily, the moons were all aligned and an angel called Margie called me up at the last minute and asked if I wanted to attend the US Open in NY at the last minute.  This would mean I could recoup at my brother's house in NJ for a few more days and then take the Megabus up to NY only to fly home a few days after.  Did I mention that she also had box seats for the Open?  Count me "in"!

Final (Truly Final) Operation Next Monday

Today, I received a phone call from Dr. Bucky's office to reschedule my fat grafting operation from Wednesday to Monday which excites me to no end.  My husband and I had decided to make the drive up north more of a vacation by combining a road trip to New England with having to be in Philadelphia on August 30th.  I am writing to you from Maine after being in Vermont and Cape Cod.  I should be able to drive home the day after the operation and, right now, I am absolutely ready to get back home to South Carolina.  I will keep you all posted on how this very last operation goes and what is involved in terms of pain and healing.