tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post7705802018723937851..comments2023-11-03T06:12:03.847-05:00Comments on Mrs. Linklater's Guide to the Universe: Breast Cancer Awareness Month RantMrs. Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582230399160973531noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-10892144686938373072005-10-16T14:18:00.000-05:002005-10-16T14:18:00.000-05:00Im awaiting the rest of this with interest Mrs L ,...Im awaiting the rest of this with interest Mrs L , lost my grandmother to BC 16 years ago when the treatment and surgery was even worse than it is now so i have a real bug up my butt about this issue for want of a more eloquent way to describe my frustration on the matter xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-88211957744562938352005-10-16T15:07:00.000-05:002005-10-16T15:07:00.000-05:00I agree. I went against the advise of all my docto...I agree. I went against the advise of all my doctors and refused HRT's. My skin dosn't have the wonderful look or elasticity that it once did, but I don't care. I am also very cautious about shaving and deorderant. Lung cancer is women is so prevelent today, catching up to breast cancer. AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-25035272410933114772005-10-16T15:26:00.000-05:002005-10-16T15:26:00.000-05:00I totally agree. I saw what they did to my sister,...I totally agree. I saw what they did to my sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39. It's one of the reasons I won't go to a doctor. Another reason is that doctors killed my father who went into the hospital for a simple procedure and ended up dead. The third reason is that both of my brothers are doctors and they convinced my mother not to sue the hospital, because they didn't want to have to testify against their own collegues. Absolutely disgusting.<br>I have no faith in doctors whatsoever.<br>Maryanne<br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-90034778216380796882005-10-16T15:49:00.000-05:002005-10-16T15:49:00.000-05:00I hope your words make a few women take a look at ...I hope your words make a few women take a look at thier decision to smoke!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-83403174201936091772005-10-16T16:18:00.000-05:002005-10-16T16:18:00.000-05:00Forgive the typos in my previous comment. I also ...Forgive the typos in my previous comment. I also meant to tell you that Sherry, my garden lady, lost her battle with breast cancer two weeks ago. She was also a smoker. I really miss her. AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-20215944588421762612005-10-16T17:40:00.000-05:002005-10-16T17:40:00.000-05:00My cousin is battling breast cancer and it has met...My cousin is battling breast cancer and it has metastasized. I am mad as hell at the doctor who did not do the proper blood work on schedule. She now has to go through a more aggressive treatment. <br>I'm waiting to read your next installment on this subject.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-73610522487551650942005-10-16T18:48:00.000-05:002005-10-16T18:48:00.000-05:00You have a right to be angry about the mutilation ...You have a right to be angry about the mutilation of a radical mastectomy. When I first became a nurse that was the only treatment. Such a horrifying end result. They removed all muscle and connective tissue in addtion to the breast, so you had unimaginable scarring and impaired movement. Plus they always removed all the lymph nodes from around the arm and shoulder, leaving the woman with a grossly swollen and deformed arm on the affected side because the body fluids could not normally drain or be reabsorbed. It was tragic. Over the past 30 years I have witnessed terrific strides. We now know, when there has not been extensive metastasis, a minimally scarring lumpectomy is just as effective. Newer, kinder, more effective drugs has also helped the cause. I also believe that the increased number of female physicians in the medical field has helped with better treatment.<br><br>http://journals.aol.com/LadeeoftheWorld/PossumsPrepareforBattleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-55148427469778347342005-10-16T20:15:00.000-05:002005-10-16T20:15:00.000-05:00That was not my mother's experience. Read the...That was not my mother's experience. Read the latest update. Mrs. LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-24445450749329611782005-10-16T21:20:00.000-05:002005-10-16T21:20:00.000-05:00I don't see this as a rant at all. Your tender car...I don't see this as a rant at all. Your tender caring for these women comes through even more strongly than your anger at the incompetent surgeons. I told my most heartbrking breast cancer story last October. I sure do miss Eileen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-56405521353574652152005-10-17T02:21:00.000-05:002005-10-17T02:21:00.000-05:00Forgive my ignorance. At least I know who Lee Har...Forgive my ignorance. At least I know who Lee Harvey Oswald is.<br><br>Thank you for being the messenger. I'll be back to read more updates.<br><br>~Kris<br>http://journals.aol.com/bluwave9/onlyme/ Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-66848684384011101772005-10-17T04:42:00.000-05:002005-10-17T04:42:00.000-05:00Mrs L if this is a rant - keep on ranting - my Mot...Mrs L if this is a rant - keep on ranting - my Mother in Law died of B.C...And her scars were horrendous....A butcher could have done better......AllyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-71676409933536073762005-10-17T10:09:00.000-05:002005-10-17T10:09:00.000-05:00very good post. My Dear Aunt Mickey died of breast...very good post. My Dear Aunt Mickey died of breast cancer, and she was a smoker as well. Thank you for writing this piece. judi<br>ps so you have never had HRT? I have been wondering what to do about that when the time comes..... I have always been against putting anything like that into my body.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-16695660423164636172005-10-18T01:49:00.000-05:002005-10-18T01:49:00.000-05:00I'm sorry about your mother. I lost my mother...I'm sorry about your mother. I lost my mother to breast cancer in 1986 and a sister to breast cancer in 1973 (she was just 36). It's a horrible disease (not that there are any good diseases) and I agree with you that general surgeons have no business repairing women's breasts. <br><br>Judi<br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-52553070339438077102005-10-18T11:21:00.000-05:002005-10-18T11:21:00.000-05:00I think you are right. Smoking is some kind of ca...I think you are right. Smoking is some kind of catalyst that just moves things into place when combined with estrogen. <br><br>My Nana was quite the smoker, back in the day. She had to have a breast removed, gosh, it's been more than 15 years ago. Her scar used to scare me, when I'd help her in the bath. It's the size, width-wise that her breast used to be, but smooth, and discolored. But her chest seems hollow there, probably due to loss of muscle. She didn't want reconstruction, because at her age, she said, she wasn't planning on getting any action. Fine, it's her choice, I told myself. <br>I couldn't understand why, knowing she wasn't opting for it, her doctor couldn't have done a better job and not left her a lumpy hollow, a cliff where her breast used to be.<br>Now, I'm not afraid to look at her scar anymore. To me, it's just a landmark, of a battle that she won. She's 91 now.<br><br>Unfortunately, Mr W's Mom didn't win. She was a great lady, and I was barely getting to really know her when she passed away. She used a plastic surgeon for the reconstruction, and I remember she was pleased with the result. She accepted it as the price for living, though, I think.<br><br>It's not right that you have to choose between disfigurement via scarring or disfigurement via reconstruction. With all the advances in surgery today, no one should have to pay a price for living. <br>I'm sure the insurance companies see it differently, though. <br>Anna<br><br> <br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-44857485626892462752005-10-21T13:12:00.000-05:002005-10-21T13:12:00.000-05:00I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your mother t...I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your mother to breast cancer. This is a passionate issue for me. My identical twin sister, Julie, was first diagnosed with it at age 31 and again at age 39. She never smoked or took birth control pills. She jogged 6 miles a day, breast fed her child, and never lived around power lines. Picture of health, I tell you. Then, BAM!...breast cancer at age 31. There are lots of theories about why we get cancers, and you've touched on valid ones. However, just because someone has cancer doesn't mean they did something wrong. About reconstruction versus not, well, that's a personal decision that only an informed patient can make. There's a lot of competent doctors doing fabulous work, and it takes investigation to find the best doctors.<br>I'm sad you found the photograph awful {offensive(?)}. The photographer's name is Jean Karotkin and the photograph represents something beyond physical. It represents the courage and beauty of breast cancer survivors. Jean Karotkin has a book out, it's titled "Body & Soul" and it's beautiful. The photographs, stories, and people are beautiful. The author/photographer is a breast cancer survivor herself.<br>My twin and I are one of the subjects in the book.<br>Judith<br>http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-212449360265358352005-10-21T13:14:00.000-05:002005-10-21T13:14:00.000-05:00Body & Soul by Jean Karotkinhttp://www.jeankar...Body & Soul by Jean Karotkin<br>http://www.jeankarotkin.com/<br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516392886578064543.post-34391951124390449632005-10-21T22:07:00.000-05:002005-10-21T22:07:00.000-05:00I'm sorry you lost your mother so many years ago, ...I'm sorry you lost your mother so many years ago, I can only imagine the grief you are still enduring.<br>Although you bring up a few interesting interpretations of how one "contracts" breast cancer, I have to concur with my twin sister, Judith. I NEVER smoked, breast fed my child (8 months), jogged 6+ miles for years, HATE gardening, NEVER lived around power lines, had a low fat/high fiber diet, NEVER had an electric blanket, rarely drank alcohol, never dyed my hair and NEVER took the pill. The last thing I (and everyone) expected is that I would get breast cancer, especially at the age of 31 (1997) and again at 39 (2005). I ask you.... why did I get breast cancer???<br>I am proud of my 'team' of doctors, oncologists, nurses, radiologist, general surgeon, reconstruction surgeon, lab tech's, phlebotomists, genetic specialist and everyone that has had a hand in "tearing me down and rebuilding me". It is people like you that vomit words that are not only stupid, but ignorant and naive, without knowing of each woman's choices in treatment: lumpectomy/mastectomy/reconstruction/chemotherapy/HRT and other facts of our current day medical system. If you want to talk about BREASTS... talk about your own, not YOUR interpretation of how/why doctors mutilate women's breasts, and the choices one makes with her body.<br>naive = lacking worldliness, sophistication and understanding.<br>stupid = Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.<br>ignorance = The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.<br>Oh, you can find Judith & I on page 74-75 of our dear friend, Jean Karotkin's book http://www.jeankarotkin.com/ if your not offended by proud, strong and confident women and men. <br>- Julie - http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com