Comments for Lizzie Stark http://elizabethrstark.com Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:27:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on I’m 27 and about to have a double mastectomy by kelly http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/6mVHbLHiKnM/ kelly Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:10:40 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=694#comment-1508 To the woman (Belinda) above who mentioned something about not being able to breastfeed: Sure, I'd love to bond with my baby and be able to breast feed; but I'd much rather be here to be a mother to my baby. And that is the choice I (and many women here) have been faced with. In my case, had I gone on to conceive prior to my prophlyactic mastectomy, I would have likely developed breast cancer during my pregnancy as my breast tissue was diagnosed with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia. ADH, in a person with the BRCA1 gene mutation, will eventually result in Cancer as such a person does not have capability to fend this off. In short, the ability to breast feed would have been nullified anyway. I'm sure my babies will understand. And I'm sure I won't love my babies any less than you love yours. I'm 29 and just went through a prophylactic double mastectomy, with immediate reconstruction, due to my BRCA 1 status. My great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother have each been stricken with cancer. Both my Great-Grandmother and Grandmother passed away from Breast Cancer (my grandmother was 29); and my mother was diagnosed with stage IIIc Ovarian Cancer at the age of 51 in 2006. She is still fighting, but it has been a long and arduous battle. I will say, though, that there have been some amazing blessings in such a battle, and I praise God for these. I'm so happy with my new breasts (no, they aren't the exact same; but given the situation, they are pretty darn great!), and am so relieved to put this part behind me. The recovery was pretty brief (I was back to normal within 5-6 weeks). I will get my ovaries taken out, but want to give a good shot at getting pregnant before doing so. All in all, we are all so truly blessed to live in a time where we can make these decisions. I pray for strength and peace to all of you facing these same decisions. ? To the woman (Belinda) above who mentioned something about not being able to breastfeed: Sure, I’d love to bond with my baby and be able to breast feed; but I’d much rather be here to be a mother to my baby. And that is the choice I (and many women here) have been faced with. In my case, had I gone on to conceive prior to my prophlyactic mastectomy, I would have likely developed breast cancer during my pregnancy as my breast tissue was diagnosed with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia. ADH, in a person with the BRCA1 gene mutation, will eventually result in Cancer as such a person does not have capability to fend this off. In short, the ability to breast feed would have been nullified anyway. I’m sure my babies will understand. And I’m sure I won’t love my babies any less than you love yours.

I’m 29 and just went through a prophylactic double mastectomy, with immediate reconstruction, due to my BRCA 1 status. My great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother have each been stricken with cancer. Both my Great-Grandmother and Grandmother passed away from Breast Cancer (my grandmother was 29); and my mother was diagnosed with stage IIIc Ovarian Cancer at the age of 51 in 2006. She is still fighting, but it has been a long and arduous battle. I will say, though, that there have been some amazing blessings in such a battle, and I praise God for these.

I’m so happy with my new breasts (no, they aren’t the exact same; but given the situation, they are pretty darn great!), and am so relieved to put this part behind me. The recovery was pretty brief (I was back to normal within 5-6 weeks). I will get my ovaries taken out, but want to give a good shot at getting pregnant before doing so.

All in all, we are all so truly blessed to live in a time where we can make these decisions. I pray for strength and peace to all of you facing these same decisions. ?


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2009/10/19/im-27-and-about-to-have-a-double-mastectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 Comment on Goodbye To My Boobs by Lizzie Stark http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/KCThXhkGd-g/ Lizzie Stark Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:54:22 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=918#comment-1484 I chose a direct-to-implant procedure with nipple sparing. After the mastectomy, my plastic surgeon inserted an implant under my chest muscle, and used Alloderm to cover the under side of the implant. This is different from traditional implant surgery, which involves the use of expanders to gradually stretch out the pectoral muscle until it covers the implant. In my experience, most of the plastic surgeons I met thought that their procedure of specialty was the right one for me. So, you might figure out what sounds the most appealing to you, and then figure out if you're a good candidate for it. I heartily recommend the <a href="http://www.facingourrisk.org/" rel="nofollow">FORCE boards </a> for this -- there are tons of women who have had every procedure under the sun done, and they're happy to tell you about their experiences. There's also a great resource on the <a href="http://www.facingourrisk.org/risk_management/breast_reconstruction.html" rel="nofollow">types of reconstruction available</a>. Good luck -- I hope you can find a procedure that's right for you! I chose a direct-to-implant procedure with nipple sparing. After the mastectomy, my plastic surgeon inserted an implant under my chest muscle, and used Alloderm to cover the under side of the implant. This is different from traditional implant surgery, which involves the use of expanders to gradually stretch out the pectoral muscle until it covers the implant. In my experience, most of the plastic surgeons I met thought that their procedure of specialty was the right one for me. So, you might figure out what sounds the most appealing to you, and then figure out if you’re a good candidate for it.

I heartily recommend the FORCE boards for this — there are tons of women who have had every procedure under the sun done, and they’re happy to tell you about their experiences. There’s also a great resource on the types of reconstruction available. Good luck — I hope you can find a procedure that’s right for you!


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/04/25/goodbye-to-my-boobs/comment-page-1/#comment-1484 Comment on Goodbye To My Boobs by Lael http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/4Rbui1Qb9Cs/ Lael Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:43:46 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=918#comment-1483 Thank you so much for writing about this, and for the great idea to have a party for the Tata's! I'm 39, doing the double in January and figuring out the best reconstruction for my body type. I meet with "plastics" on Wednesday. When you say, "Since the procedure I chose used a tissue matrix donated by a corpse and stripped of DNA," to what reconstructive process are you referring? Thanks, Lael Thank you so much for writing about this, and for the great idea to have a party for the Tata’s! I’m 39, doing the double in January and figuring out the best reconstruction for my body type. I meet with “plastics” on Wednesday.
When you say, “Since the procedure I chose used a tissue matrix donated by a corpse and stripped of DNA,” to what reconstructive process are you referring?
Thanks,
Lael


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/04/25/goodbye-to-my-boobs/comment-page-1/#comment-1483 Comment on Goodbye To My Boobs by CMH http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/L4KKrhWM4MY/ CMH Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:16:05 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=918#comment-1481 Well done for being so brave! Time passes so quickly and you adjust to the change. Your memory of what you were like before fades. I had to make the same choice and it has been absolutely fine. No regrets at all. Once you have kids you will feel even better about your choice, because you know that you have sacrificed to make sure that you will be there to watch them grow up. That's more special than any expendable body part. Well done for being so brave! Time passes so quickly and you adjust to the change. Your memory of what you were like before fades. I had to make the same choice and it has been absolutely fine. No regrets at all. Once you have kids you will feel even better about your choice, because you know that you have sacrificed to make sure that you will be there to watch them grow up. That’s more special than any expendable body part.


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/04/25/goodbye-to-my-boobs/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Comment on Goodbye To My Boobs by LG http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/dMLN5AQgyCs/ LG Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:14:41 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=918#comment-1480 I lay here without any tatas.... in peace. I am 48, had two tumors on one side, nothing on the other side... and two children with disabilities - my plate is so full with my kids - I cannot live a half life worrying about when I will get "it" on the other side. I have a high CA 125 (ovarian cancer marker). I give you all the credit in the world. There are many who don't understand - that is ok. I do. I lay here without any tatas…. in peace. I am 48, had two tumors on one side, nothing on the other side… and two children with disabilities – my plate is so full with my kids – I cannot live a half life worrying about when I will get “it” on the other side. I have a high CA 125 (ovarian cancer marker).

I give you all the credit in the world. There are many who don’t understand – that is ok. I do.


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/04/25/goodbye-to-my-boobs/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 Comment on Goodbye To My Boobs by Louise http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/9G-m8My3yxo/ Louise Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:35:05 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=918#comment-1479 I just had to say i admire your courage. I went through the testing also (mom, grandma, greataunt) and although it was negative, i don't know if my family actually carries the gene,so i don't know if i really am negative or not. we may carry another undiscovered gene. So it's an ongoing fear. I was prepared and still am to do the surgery, it's a positive action. I wish you all the best I just had to say i admire your courage. I went through the testing also (mom, grandma, greataunt) and although it was negative, i don’t know if my family actually carries the gene,so i don’t know if i really am negative or not. we may carry another undiscovered gene. So it’s an ongoing fear. I was prepared and still am to do the surgery, it’s a positive action. I wish you all the best


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/04/25/goodbye-to-my-boobs/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Comment on Preserved: Fresh Salmon, Parts of My Body by renee http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/cTnLPFo3LHE/ renee Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:56:44 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=872#comment-1477 What a great idea! Good for you (and your husband). Thank you for sharing. I hope to read more from you about your experience. What a great idea! Good for you (and your husband). Thank you for sharing. I hope to read more from you about your experience.


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2010/02/15/preserved-fresh-salmon-parts-of-my-bod/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Comment on Call Him Dirty Harry Potter by Harry Dresden’s Life Changes Forever | Lizzie Stark http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/sMUebx57y2A/ Harry Dresden’s Life Changes Forever | Lizzie Stark Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:34:01 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=512#comment-1467 [...] you aren’t familiar with Harry Dresden, the creation of bestselling novelist and LARPer Jim Butcher, he’s the wizarding world’s most notorious private investigator, a staff-toting Sam [...] [...] you aren’t familiar with Harry Dresden, the creation of bestselling novelist and LARPer Jim Butcher, he’s the wizarding world’s most notorious private investigator, a staff-toting Sam [...]


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2009/04/08/call-him-dirty-harry-potter/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 Comment on I’m 27 and about to have a double mastectomy by Preserved: Fresh Salmon, Parts of My Body | Lizzie Stark http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/7vPh-Ihvc-E/ Preserved: Fresh Salmon, Parts of My Body | Lizzie Stark Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:20:02 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=694#comment-1433 [...] blog is probably aware that I have an unholy obsession with preserving foods, and that in 17 days I will undergo a life-changing operation, a double-mastectomy with reconstruction done on my healthy [...] [...] blog is probably aware that I have an unholy obsession with preserving foods, and that in 17 days I will undergo a life-changing operation, a double-mastectomy with reconstruction done on my healthy [...]


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2009/10/19/im-27-and-about-to-have-a-double-mastectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1433 Comment on I’m 27 and about to have a double mastectomy by Lizzie Stark http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LizzieStarkComments/~3/g54TjSHCgAk/ Lizzie Stark Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:41:47 +0000 http://elizabethrstark.com/?p=694#comment-1432 Thanks Sarah. Good luck with your test -- I will keep my fingers crossed for you. If you have the gene, make sure you give yourself some time to sit with this decision; you probably have a few years before you would need to have the mastectomy, unless cancer runs very very young in your family. Believe me, I understand being in a rush to have the procedure, but I also value the years in my early twenties when I was able to enjoy having regular old breasts. I will be keeping you in my thoughts. Thanks Sarah. Good luck with your test — I will keep my fingers crossed for you. If you have the gene, make sure you give yourself some time to sit with this decision; you probably have a few years before you would need to have the mastectomy, unless cancer runs very very young in your family. Believe me, I understand being in a rush to have the procedure, but I also value the years in my early twenties when I was able to enjoy having regular old breasts. I will be keeping you in my thoughts.


]]> http://elizabethrstark.com/2009/10/19/im-27-and-about-to-have-a-double-mastectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1432