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nancys513
(Current Patient)
| Communities: Breast Cancer | Thank You's: 9 |
| Member Since: Jan. 2011 | Questions: 18 |
| Answers: 30 |
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Personal Bio (My story)
breast reconstruction, mastectomy, support groups, clinical trials, advocacy, survivorship
Personal Info
Location: NJ, Hoboken
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Number of children: 0
Speaks:
English
Webpage:
nsingleton@womenatrisknyc.org
Ask me about:
Breast Cancer Advocacy
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/nancys513
Health Bio (My Health Story)
Breat cancer since 2005. Mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Now a patient navigator working with newly diagnosed women with breast cancer. Also an advocate and volunteer at a breast cancer hotline. Facilitator of breast cancer support groups.
Health Info
- Disease: Breast Cancer
- Stage of disease: Stage 0 (DCIS)
- Cancer started in: milk ducts
- Hormones: estrogen receptor positive (ER+)
- Lymph nodes: no lymph nodes involved
- Date of first symptom: 01/31/2005
- Date of diagnosis: 01/31/2005
- Recurrent: no
- Initial Symptoms
- abnormal mamograph
nancys513 Activities
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Breast Cancer, Health Disparities, Cancer
2
Answers |
5 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, Cancer Risk, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Risk, High Risk Lesions, Reduce Cancer Risk, Cancer
1
Answer |
5 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Financial, Cobra Premiums, Cobra, Financial Support Programs, Financial Assistance, Financial Support
1
Answer |
6 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Medicaid, Medicare Support, Medicare, Medicaid Support, Government Health Programs
1
Answer |
6 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) New York City, Legal Help, Legal Resources
1
Answer |
6 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Health, Healthy Living, Immune System, Healthy Eating, Healthy Lifestyle, Healing
1
Answer |
9 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Spontaneous Cancer Remission
1
Answer |
9 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Mind - Body Connection
1
Answer |
9 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Implant Risks, Silicone Implants, Saline Implants, Implants
1
Answer |
9 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Nipple Reconstruction, Nipple, Breast Reconstruction, Surgery, Plastic Surgery
1
Answer |
9 months ago
1
Answer |
9 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Breast Augmentation, Breast Reconstruction, Surgery, Plastic Surgery
1
Answer |
10 months ago
Something that has always helped me is to find out the name of the person that I am speaking with and I always get a reference number for the call. Of course I always laugh out loud when the first thing that you hear (before you spend ten to thirty minutes on hold) is that what you are told verbally is not always correct and that you need to "refer" to your contact.....like you can understand the verbage!!!
Great advice in first two answers. Thanks. Something that has always helped me is to find out the name of the person that I am speaking with and I always get a reference number for the call. Of course I always laugh out loud when the first thing that you hear (before you spend ten to thirty minutes on hold) is that what you are told verbally is not always correct and that you need to "refer" to your contact.....like you can understand the verbage!!!
Great advice in first two answers. Thanks.
Great advice in first two answers. Thanks. Something that has always helped me is to find out the name of the person that I am speaking with and I always get a reference number for the call. Of course I always laugh out loud when the first thing that you hear (before you spend ten to thirty minutes on hold) is that what you are told verbally is not always correct and that you need to "refer" to your contact.....like you can understand the verbage!!!
Great advice in first two answers. Thanks.
4
Answers |
10 months ago
If you have a very common name it is a good idea to know your medical record number or check that the date of birth is right every time...for medications and tests. Large hospitals and cancer centers can have a ton of patients with the same name and mistakes do happen.
I recommend using a patient safety checklist.
1. Know what medication you are taking, the dosage, the generic and brand names, and understand why you are taking it.
2. Before medication is administered to you as a patient in the hospital, repeat your name, date of birth, your physician's name, your diagnosis, and the medications you are supposed to be taking.
3. Check to see if the medication that is about to be administered to you matches what you know. If something is unusual or different, ask questions and speak up in a polite manner.
If you are unable to implement these strategies, enlist a loved one to act as your advocate.
Medication mistakes are the most common medical errors, harming 1.5 million patients a year. You can prevent this simply by being your own watchdog and understanding which medications you are taking.
1. Know what medication you are taking, the dosage, the generic and brand names, and understand why you are taking it.
2. Before medication is administered to you as a patient in the hospital, repeat your name, date of birth, your physician's name, your diagnosis, and the medications you are supposed to be taking.
3. Check to see if the medication that is about to be administered to you matches what you know. If something is unusual or different, ask questions and speak up in a polite manner.
If you are unable to implement these strategies, enlist a loved one to act as your advocate.
Medication mistakes are the most common medical errors, harming 1.5 million patients a year. You can prevent this simply by being your own watchdog and understanding which medications you are taking.
New answer by nancys513 (Current Patient) in topic(s) Hospital, Medication Errors, Hospital Mistakes, Mistakes, Tips
3
Answers |
10 months ago
If you are ER and PR positive it means that your tumor has estrogen and progesterone receptors on the cells surface that these hormones can bind with. It is ofen described like having a lock and key that fit together. When estrogen and/or progesterone bind with the cell they activate the cell to divide. Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors can be used to treat estrogen positive breast cancers.
HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.
I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you! If you are ER and PR positive it means that your tumor has estrogen and progesterone receptors on the cells surface that these hormones can bind with. It is ofen described like having a lock and key that fit together. When estrogen and/or progesterone bind with the cell they activate the cell to divide. Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors can be used to treat estrogen positive breast cancers.
HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.
I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you!
HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.
I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you! If you are ER and PR positive it means that your tumor has estrogen and progesterone receptors on the cells surface that these hormones can bind with. It is ofen described like having a lock and key that fit together. When estrogen and/or progesterone bind with the cell they activate the cell to divide. Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors can be used to treat estrogen positive breast cancers.
HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.
I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you!
New answer by nancys513 (Current Patient) in topic(s) Progesterone Receptor Positive (PR+), Breast Cancer, Estrogen Receptor Positive (ER+)
1
Answer |
10 months ago
nancys513 (Current Patient) asked the question in topic(s) Breast Cancer, Breast Surgery, Breast Reconstruction, DIEP Flap, Plastic Surgery, TRAM Flap
1
Answer |
10 months ago
I always like to tell women that have had a reconstruction that your insurance should cover bras still. I go to a mastectomy shop in the city that sells quality bras without pockets and get a fitter to help me select bras that are comfortable and fit. They are expensive (50+ a piece) but my insurance covers the bulk of the cost so a good bra only costs me about twenty dollars. Underneath It All is the shop that I use and they bill the insurance company directly so I do not have to pay out of pocket and wait for repayment. Their number is 212-717-1976 and they are wonderful!
In our line of work we make liners for Mastectomy patients. Our liners are sold in mastectomy shops and used in hospitals after surgery. We would still recommend you make one trip to a mastectomy shop for proper bra fitting. After that you should be able to purchase bras anywhere. Hope this helps and have a speedy recovery. If you have sensitive scar tissue our liners would add comfort.
New answer by nancys513 (Current Patient) in topic(s) Wearing Bras, Bilateral Breast Reconstruction, Bras, Fitting Bras, Breast Reconstruction
2
Answers |
10 months ago
The dumbest thing that someone said to me was "at least you can get a free boob job!!!" I almost slugged them. A year later I finally told that person how upsetting and hurtful their statement was. She told me that she was scared and did not know what to say to me and said that she was sorry. It made me feel a bit better understanding why she said it...
For some reason NUMEROUS people, upon hearing of my diagnosis, felt I should hear about their friend, parent, or neighbor who passed from breast cancer. Thankfully being a nurse, I know cancer is a word, not a sentence. Still, it did little for my morale.
16
Answers |
10 months ago
member5598
I had the camisole for my mastectomies. They helped so much. Kept the tubes and bottles from flapping around and was so comfortable.
11 months ago
member3831
I have a new and improved solution that I have developed based on my experience with Stage 2 invasive; bilat mx with reconstruction. Pockets to hold drains. No need for expensive camisoles. www.pink-pockets.com So versatile and comfortable.
11 months ago
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I had two reconstructions and I had the camisole for the second one....it really helped me.