Breast Mug Shots

[nvalleyvee]

You would think that after a mastectomy, five months of chemo, three reconstructive surgeries, and many dozens of people seeing me naked I would not be bothered by having these pictures taken. I AM!!!! The plastic surgeon took before, during Phase I, during Phase II and today's after mug shots of my chest. The nurse keeps telling me they are not mug shots they are before, during and after pictures. I call bull. My body robbed me, got punished and went through rehab - they are mug shots of a very bad scene of the crime. It's all really OK now. The doc wants to do one more quickie surgery to relieve some scar tissue. I told him I needed a few more months before I get cut on again. Thanks for letting me vent on something that seems a violation of my privacy. I could have said no - but I know he will use them to show other women that life can return to some semblance of normal - before breast cancer.

[BabyRider]

NV, you are so strong, and very courageous to share this here. I won't tell you I understand, or know what you're going through, but I will tell you that I admire you a great deal.
To have your body invaded, first by the cancer and then by the surgeries, has got to feel something like a rape, to not put too fine a point on it.
Stay tough, and for god's sake, keep your sense of humor. You are a real inspiration to me. Thanks.

[nvalleyvee]

You know BR - rape kept coming to mind - it was just by my own body and then by all the wonderful doctors who helped me.

nv, I wanted to say something encouraging after your traumatic time but it all seemed so trite and pathetic .I'm sure you've heard it all before but I'm full of admiration for those who beat the s**t out of their illnesses

[minks]

Originally Posted by BabyRider

NV, you are so strong, and very courageous to share this here. I won't tell you I understand, or know what you're going through, but I will tell you that I admire you a great deal.
To have your body invaded, first by the cancer and then by the surgeries, has got to feel something like a rape, to not put too fine a point on it.
Stay tough, and for god's sake, keep your sense of humor. You are a real inspiration to me. Thanks.

Ditto for me too. You have truly earned your right to tell the Dr whatfore.

[Betty Boop]

Originally Posted by BabyRider

NV, you are so strong, and very courageous to share this here. I won't tell you I understand, or know what you're going through, but I will tell you that I admire you a great deal.
To have your body invaded, first by the cancer and then by the surgeries, has got to feel something like a rape, to not put too fine a point on it.
Stay tough, and for god's sake, keep your sense of humor. You are a real inspiration to me. Thanks.

Ditto! My feelings exactly Baby, just could never have put them into text like that!!

[Nomad]

YOU GO GIRL !

[nvalleyvee]

I appreciate all the good thoughts - I really do. Haven't you ever been through some medical stuff and the most innocuous thing gets you going? I used to joke the day before I had my chemo's that it was time to bring the hose in from the garden so I could sit on the toilet as I drank from it for 4 days - just bring my pillow to the bathroom please...the dehydration was incredible. Or the one where you come out of the infusion room bathroom yelling... my pee is red, my pee is red.. everyone but the newbies laugh and then you sit with the newbies and tell them what to do to get through the chemo's. I supported the Idaho potato industry during chemo - did I get any thanks? NOT!!! I cooked for 3 days before my last chemo and threw a party at the chemo center - I called it "I'll bet you're glad I'm not coming back again" I fed 75 people including people in the infusion room. Do you know the nurses said no one had ever done that before. I just figured I owed them since they put up with my "Cancer SUCKS and I am NOT going to die" and all my tears through a very hard time physically. I remember going in one day and I could not stop crying, I felt really bad physically and still had 8 hours to do at work, they called the psych nurse who wanted me on anti-depressants. There is such a huge difference between your body feeling like it is going to quit on you and your mind being OK. I cry when I get a fever - so no drugs for me. When I go for my 3 month check-ups I ask if there is anyone in the infusion room by themself - if there is - I go sit with them. They still call me Amazon woman because as Dylan said.....I will not go softly into this good night - or something close to that. That's my story on chemo.

[pina]

Everything said here is all so true about how brave you´ve been and what a shining axample you are to others to get through all this and keep a good sense of humor. You are a real inspiration to me too.

[nvalleyvee]

OK - I like the good thoughts - tell me some funny stories - share with FG. We don't often talk about the bad times in our lives with humor. I guess I'm asking incoreectly.