Breast Cancer awareness month

Please remember to schedule a mammogram if you haven't had one this year! October is the month to support and honor individuals who have been affected by Breast Cancer

Please support the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk: My personal link is below:
Thank you for supporting!

Click here to visit my PERSONAL page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=11611219&pg=personal&fr_id=47436&fl=en_US&et=YQ1CTTZvVtroAmD1gXR2BQ&s_tafId=970480

                                            

photos, BC walk, dr appts

I have updated my site with new photos, check them out!!!

I have signed up my team to walk for breast cancer on October 21, 2012: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
please visit my site and help to find a cure by donating. Thank you :>
Click here to visit my PERSONAL page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=11611219&pg=personal&fr_id=47436&fl=en_US&et=hadZNu2Px1uApdx7MiEzZQ&s_tafId=1078911

On September 4, 2012 I went and had my follow-up ultra-sound. The technician examined the area the doctors were watching from 3 months prior. She also found another bump. When she was done, she had the doctor come into the room to review what she had recorded on the computer. Some of the bumps went down in size and some were the same. She suggested since I been monitored for 6 months and there were no major changes that they will speak with my cancer doctor and suggest to have an ultra-sound done perhaps in 6 months to a year.

On September 6, 2012 I went to see my plastic surgeon to follow up from my ultra-sound. Since I went to Advance Radiology a few days prior, I e-mailed her to look at the report on-line so she can have the results when I am at the office. She confirmed and review my report that the bumps are fat necrosis which has been the same results. She agreed with the doctor and said I don't need another ultra-sound for one year unless I feel any changes or have any concerns. She explained that the fat necrosis forms when I get new tissue that is forming in my breast and when it  interacts with the cells  that had radiation it thinks its bad and forms the fat necrosis. She thinks I will not get any more bumps since the new tissue has settled in the breast since the surgery. She took some photos of my breasts for her files. She was amazed how well my breast look like real breast and not implants. I asked her how she files the photos, I was just wondering and she explained by dates. She laughed and said "you won't believe it  but I could pick out each of my patients breasts". I was amazed, I know she did all the operations  but that's amazing!!! I made an appointment for a follow up in March 2013, 6 months.

I will post more information soon. I will need to get my blood work and go see my Oncologist.

BC walk/dr appts

Hello quick update,
In the next week, I am registering our team for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on the American Cancer Society site.The walk is on October 21, 2012.
Our puppy Bella is good but has been alot of work taking care of her this Summer. I will update photos soon.
On Tuesday Sept. 4, 2012 I am having my 3 month check for ultra-sound for the three bumps on my right breast that my plastic surgeon has been monitoring.
On Thursday Sept 6, 2012 I have an appointment with my plastic surgeon.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!!!

new puppy & updates

On June 26, 2012 I took my son back to the ENT for  his follow up since his surgery. Everything went well and we don't have to return until October unless he has a problem. The only issue we spoke about is swimming. The updated medical information states "he doesn't have to cover his ears in the water". He did have some discomfort when he goes under the water when he is in a pool. The doctor suggested to wear ear plugs so we bought wax that you can mold inside the ear and that worked. The ENT said sometimes pool water bothers some peoples ears.

On June 28, 2012 we picked up our new baby boxer girl. She is adorable and loving. She flew on an airplane from Texas to CT. She has adjusted great to our family and home. She is now
9 1/2 weeks old. If you get the automatic emails please log onto my site for the photos to see her.
http://mbouvier.blogspot.com/ She is friendly to all visitors. She has been spoiled and received several toys from people visiting her! Her name is Bella Julia Bouvier. We took her to the vet last Saturday and she is healthy and received one shot. I will continue to add photos of her to my site.

On the same day June 28, 2012, I went to see my plastic surgeon in the evening for a follow up from my ultra sound. She examined all three of the bumps on my right breast and said they are called fat necrosis and at this time there is no concerns. She would like me to come back in three months so she can monitor the bumps. They haven't disappeared since I noticed them. She mentioned that she prefers not to remove them in a radiant breast unless I am having a problem. There are side effects that can happen if she needs to take out the area that is concerned. There would only be one incision to be made if needed if she had to remove all three areas. She would use an ultra-sound monitor to direct her to the area. She is concerned because the healing process takes longer since I had radiation and there is an high risk for infection afterwards. We will continue to monitor the bumps. They don't hurt me at this point. She took a few more photos to update my files. She didn't get a copy of my ultra-sound because sometimes the results go to her office in New York before getting transferred to CT. She will call me if there is  any concerns from the report.

My daughter is doing okay with her skin  due to sun sensitivity. We went away in May and on the 3rd day in the sun, she started to get the rash on her face, upper arms and the first time ever  on her thighs. We applied the prescription Cortisone  and kept her out of the sun the next day. She continues to wear a hat, sunglasses, and needs to reapply sun lotion several times especially when she is in the water. Her skin gets better after the Cortisone is applied and when she isn't in the sun for long periods of time. She had a rash a few weeks ago but was a mild case. She was at a soccer camp and got red mainly under her eyes. Luckily the camp was only half days. She tends to get worse when she is in the sun for several days in a row and for long period of time. Keep our fingers crossed so far this Summer her eyes haven't turned red.

I hope everybody is enjoying the Summer.

latest updates

Hello my readers: I haven't taken the time to post lately. I think about it but never take the time to write, sorry for the delay.
On June 11, 2012 I had my 3 month follow up for my ultra-sound on my right breast. I called on Thursday 6/7/12 and I was able get an appointment on Monday. This was great since my kids were getting out of school on 6/12/12. When I went for my appointment back in March, I had one lump and they confirmed it was fat necrosis. Now I have three lumps that I was concerned about and I needed all three to be examined. I discovered my third bump on Friday 6/8/12. I wasn't that scared since it felt like the other two bumps but deep down I am always concern when it comes to my health.
I wasn't thrilled with the ultrasound technician I had. She reminded me of a new student who wouldn't tell me anything because she was afraid to get in trouble. When I asked her if the lump was the same size as last time, so replied" I will get  all the readings and the radiation specialist will have to review the findings". She took awhile to exam all three areas. I am sure she didn't want to miss something but I felt like she was new to this job. I think  for my next appointment, I will request one of the other ladies. The original lump is located on the right side of my nipple. The 2nd lump is towards the inner side of breast and the 3rd lump is located towards the top of the breast.
She finished all the measurements of each lump and went to get the head nurse to come into the room. When the head nurse came into the room she asked me to show her where my three lump were and she quickly examined them with the transducer for the ultrasound machine. The nurse said a report will be written up and sent to all the doctors I requested to get a copy. She believed all three lumps were fat necrosis. There was no blood flowing through them which is a great sign. She mentioned that my original lump compared to now has changed a little in size but seemed okay. She requested that I follow up with my doctor and I returned back in 3 months for another ultrasound. I made an appointment to see my plastic surgeon on June 28,2012.
On June 13, 2012 my son had outpatient surgery to remove his adenoids and put tubes into both of his ears. The surgery went well. He is 12 so they inserted an IV in his hand before the surgery. He was drowsy coming out of  surgery from the anesthesia which is normal but he didn't like the feeling. He felt sore in his throat when he was in the recovery room probably from the tube which is inserted in throat to breath and the adenoids are removed through the throat as well. We arrived at 830 am and were able to go home by 11:45am. He had to take it easy for three days after. He didn't like being able to stay in the house. I don't know why its free time to watch TV and play video games all day! On Saturday June 16 he was able to go back to normal life with no restrictions. We have a follow up appointment with the ENT on June 26.
Hope everybody is enjoying your summer. I will post all the updates again next week. O' we are also getting a new boxer puppy and she should be here by the end of next week. The kids can't wait!!! I will also update everybody about my daughter in the next blog. Stay cool :>

Plastic surgeon visit

On Thursday March 29, 2012 I had my follow up visit with my plastic surgeon. She confirmed that my two lumps are called fat necrosis. She felt them and said  "she encounters these lumps on several patients after surgery". (even thou my last surgery was Nov 2010 my body changes) She explained that the radiation is still in my skin and in my right breast area and will be with me for my lifetime. She is 98% that this is what they are and feels there is no need for a biopsy. She would like me to have another ultrasound in 3 months and to see her after the exam. She wants to make sure they haven't changed. We will continue to monitor the lumps. I asked her what causes the lumps and she compared it to a severe bruise that gets a bump. She explained sometimes they disappear and then come back or they might just stay there. The lumps are below my skin and it is in the fat that was transferred from my stomach area from last surgery. Its a healing process for the fat and its good that there is no blood flowing inside it. If I happen to feel anymore lumps, she said its okay to wait for the ultrasound appointment.When patients gets these lumps, they are normally not removed.

She thought my breasts healed great and looks like real breasts not fake ones. She took a few more pictures for her records.  I will see her in June.

I tested the subscription link on my blog page and I received e-mails when I wrote a  blog and it seems to be working.When you hit the submit button another window will pop up for the feed burner and you will need to confirm the information.
Take Care and have a wonderful Easter Holiday.

It never ends!

Today I discovered another lump - wow - I guess I don't live a dull life. I had a discomfort towards the top of my right breast (same one) and I found another small lump. This one feels a bit smaller than the other one. I thought maybe the other lump moved but no a second lump has been discovered. I am  concern but didn't freak out since I have an appointment next week. I just don't want to go back into surgery again if I don't have too.

I decided to write my plastic surgeon an e-mail to let her know what is going on and she can review my medical records before I see her. She responded back to me via e-mail right away which was great and said the following:

no worries

fat necrosis is common especially in radiated breasts
feels like little beeds
sometimes they come and go
if it makes you feel better we can do small biopsy to have peace of mind but
see you next week

I will confirm what the lumps are when I see her next Thursday. I wonder what causes them?

Talk soon...