I am still a woman - Confessions of a twice cancer survivor - my journey by Nina Ann McCurley

I am very excited to report that I am booked in for my Nipple reconstruction on the 18th of July. This is a 2 hour operation where they will reconstruct the nipple from my scar tissue, rebuilding and making a nipple. Then of course I just have one stage left the tattooing for the colour. The costs for the nipples is $4,200 for the plastic surgeon, this must be paid upfront. Then day surgery  at the hospital $2,100 and the anesthetic $1250. Of course the pre op appointment is around $200. So the best part of $8,000. I am very excited to say this is a big deal for me as I just want this to be over. In the last 2 and a half years I have had 5 surgeries. Only one to go, I am almost there. I will let you know how it goes as well. #nipples #surgery #iamstillawoman #risingfromtheashes

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Cancer Survivor and Activist Nina-Ann McCurley | J.H. Cutler Bespoke - Designer Mens Fashion Blog: John H Cutler #iamstillawoman #johnhcutler #cancer #activist 

‘Pre-invasive’ breast cancer is the name for abnormal cells or cancer cells that stay inside the milk ducts or milk sacs (lobules) of the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are types of pre-invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer is the name for cancer cells that have spread outside the milk ducts or milk sacs into the surrounding breast tissue. Invasive breast cancer cells have the potential to spread outside the breast to other parts of the body. Early breast cancer, locally advanced breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer are all types of invasive breast cancer. # iamstillawoman #breastcancer #cancer #lobulat #lcis #ductal 

Which way do we go? Well how about using both ways. Lets have modern medicine and combine alternate, I guess lets just try everything that's what I said to myself. It's a personnel choice really let me give you a few tips. Please have a laugh with me: * Vegies the greens they are great for your health * Green Tea a natural chemo * Vitamin D great for immunity * Strawberries and honey the natural healer * Green Vegies, really good booster * Chemo, not easy (hard but worth it) * Goji Juice for strength - I found this very good *Thai foot massage hurts really bad at the time, but later walking on air-amazing worth it * Honey the natural healer * Alcohol the relaxan * Pedicure and foot spa I did this every month * Facial because it makes you feel great Anyway go with your heart, do what ever you feel is right, that is the right thing to do.....as always you know best. 

Sharing a journey making connections that you would not normally make. The up side to anything that happens to us in our life is that we want to share what we believe to be mistakes before others make them. As we all know if you don't make mistakes you don't learn anything. Boy I have learnt a lot in my life then. Experience as we call it is a part of growth. In a cancer battle or any illness it's the same you meet people in hospital, at the doctors through people we may not know that person however we have walked in their shoes. We have a bond already as we have something in common. Your health is the most important thing that you will ever have. If you don't have good health you have nothing, I think that Belinda Emmit, Jane McGrath and Farrah Fawcett will tell you not even money and fame can save you. I live my life every day to the fullest also I am who I am. I am really stronge, I don't care what people think and everything I have done was the right thing for...

Men and Cancer, well its very fashionable for a man to have a bald head it is a really popular style. I guess guys can get away with that. Also now days men are really stylish, they even use skin care like us girls. I guess I need to share this amazing man John Cutler he is pictured above and recently altered a dying cancer patient client of his suits, so they would not look big on him. Men have evolved there is nothing like a man in a suit. I think all you girls will agree. John is a Tailor he specializes in making men's shirts and suits, also he has the most amazing and eye catching ties I have ever seen. Silk and stunning. Also I love a well dressed man, his Italian shoes are fabulous. Anyway I don't have to tell you anything, go and see for yourself make an appointment guys. Made to measure and alterations as your weight goes up and down through chemo. Call John Cutler   (02) 9232 7351. A bespoke suit, whether for business wear, formal wear, leisure wear or ...

I love fashion, we as girls have the right to change five times before we go out to find that perfect dress. Actually sometimes we go through that wardrobe and nothing fits or we think we have nothing to wear even though that wardrobe is fairly full of clothes. You know when you go shopping to buy a dress with money and you need it, hard to find. When you have no money you see a hundred dresses you could buy!! On a cancer battle this becomes a little harder than normal, because fashion and looking good becomes a lot more intense. I used to glam up and think I looked pretty good, I look back at those photos now and wonder as I think I looked really sick. But I guess at that time I looked as good as I could.  Go shopping and try on a new dress and if you are anything like me, a new pair of shoes always makes me happy. As Cinderella claimed a new pair of shoes can change your life. Sometimes its the little things that count girls, shout yourself a new complete outfit you ...

Does Breastfeeding Prevent Breast Cancer? Is it true that the longer your breastfeed your babies, the lower your risk of breast cancer? Yes, breastfeeding does appear to protect against breast cancer, probably by affecting levels of estrogen in a woman's body. Results of a study published in the July 20, 2002, issue of  The Lancet  showed that the more babies a woman has and the longer she nurses them, the lower her risk of breast cancer. The researchers reviewed 47 reports of studies in 30 countries that contained information about 50,000 women with breast cancer and almost 97,000 women who didn’t develop breast cancer. * I breast fed each of my boys till 18 months each..

Once a definite diagnosis of cancer has been made and your healthcare team has the information it needs, the cancer will be given a stage and a grade. The cancer stage describes the tumour size and tells whether it has spread beyond the place where it started to grow. In the earliest stage of breast cancer, cancer cells are found only in the milk ducts or lobules. This is called in situ cancer. If in situ cancer is diagnosed before the cells have spread to the surrounding tissue, there is no risk of them spreading after they have been removed. When breast cancer spreads out of the duct or lobule, it is called invasive cancer. It can still be treated effectively if diagnosed early. For breast cancer, there are five stages. Stage Description 0 There are two kinds of stage 0 breast cancer: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Abnormal cells are in the lining of a milk duct and have not spread outside the duct. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): Abnormal cells are i...

McGrath first learned she had  breast cancer  in 1997 at the age of 31. Following a  mastectomy , chemotherapy  and  radiotherapy , she was deemed cancer-free by June 1998. Despite fears that cancer treatment may have left her sterile, she later gave birth to two children who were both breast-fed.   In 2003, McGrath was diagnosed with  metastatic disease  in her bones. In 2004, she appeared with her husband on  Andrew Denton 's  Enough Rope  on the  ABC , describing her work for the foundation and her personal experiences. In early 2006, brain metastasis was detected and by May, she was undergoing radiation treatment at three-week intervals. The  tumour  was found and successfully removed. At the time, she lost her hair and became depressed, but again went into remission and continued her work with the foundation.    She became severely ill in mid-June 2008 and died on the morning of 22 Ju...

One of the best ways to limit scarring is by preventing infection immediately after surgery. Many patients are sent home from the hospital with  drains  attached to their incisions that remove excess blood and lymph fluid from the site. After these are taken off a few days later, patients need to keep the wound as clean as possible as it continues to heal and carefully follow doctor's orders regarding bandage changes. Other scar-reducing techniques include lightly stretching and massaging the scar area daily during the first year, when most healing occurs. Known by therapists  as transverse friction massage, it involves gently manipulating the skin perpendicularly above and below the incision, from the collar bone to the bottom of the ribcage, and from the breastbone to under the armpits. Since the implications of scarring aren't only cosmetic — pain and tightness can also result — professionals are sometimes needed to help ease the pat...

Lymphedema is swelling caused by a build-up of fluid, usually in the arm in women who have been treated for breast cancer. Lymphedema is one of the most troubling complications that can develop after breast cancer surgery. Many women find that lymphedema worsens the physical and emotional strain of dealing with breast cancer. The risk of developing lymphedema depends upon the type of surgery you had, the time since surgery, and if radiation therapy was used. Generally, women who undergo more extensive surgery, have many lymph nodes removed, or have radiation therapy to the axilla (arm pit) after surgery are more likely to develop lymphedema. Most women who develop lymphedema do so within four years after their surgery. Lymphedema the symptoms The initial symptoms of lymphedema may include A heavy sensation or an aching discomfort in the arm Swelling of the affected arm or upper chest Difficulty moving the arm Stiffness, weakness, or numbness In some cases, the...

Headlines - am I going to be ok? What happens when I wake up and my boobs are gone....Will I be alone? No one will want me, I think these are normal questions. That's all they are by the way. Men are great with all of this, not meaning they are great with it but supportive and loving. I think they love the way we take on the battle. The courage and determination, really they don't not ask us out because of what we don't have..... They ask us out because we are stronge, still sexy, still woman. By the way girls those boobs head south, or we can look at the the ridiculous fake boobs, it's about what is on the inside. I have really grown here, I have gained respect for the male race as they still love us......never stop dating....never!

Like most aspects of chemotherapy , it is  really best to check with your doctor about whether or not it is safe for you to drink alcohol during chemotherapy treatment. Most chemotherapy drugs  are not affected by alcohol consumption, but there are some chemotherapy drugs  that can cause adverse reactions or reduce the effectiveness if alcohol is consumed. One such example is  procarbazine . While most chemotherapy drugs are not affected by alcohol use, many other medications prescribed along with chemotherapy should not be taken with alcohol. Medications such as pain killers, sleep aids, and anti- nausea medications may interact with alcohol, causing adverse reactions. The dehydrating effects of alcohol may also be a concern if you are undergoing chemotherapy, as you already have a heightened risk of dehydration because of your treatment. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of chemotherapy, and are also d...

Girls, important as your going through a tough ride. Who do I choose for a plastic surgeon? I want to be treated well, I want my questions answered I want to feel like I matter and the choices I make are really important to me. I am paying a lot of money here but I don't mind if treated well. I had some problems with a lady cancer surgeon on the coast she was rude and did not want to answer questions. I really felt awful every time I had to see her. I thought being a woman she would be compassionate. That's why I am going to recommend Dr Laniewski he is a wonderful surgeon, he is very caring and compassionate and he listens. I have been really impressed and he is amazing. He will take all the time in the world and he does care how many questions you ask. He has rooms in Sydney and the Central Coast. If you don't know who to see you will be very happy with him. I fully recommend this man. My GP is amazing and put me in the right hands, after all its really nice t...

You may need some tests before starting your course of treatment. These will include blood tests and possibly urine or heart tests. Before each cycle of chemotherapy, you’ll normally have blood tests and see the doctor or specialist chemotherapy nurse. This can take some time. Your GP, practice nurse or the staff at a hospital close to your home may be able to test your blood a day or two before your treatment, so that you don’t have to wait so long on the day of your treatment. If your blood is tested at your GP surgery, or at another hospital, the results can be sent to the hospital where you are having your treatment. Sometimes, you may also need to have more x-rays or scans. The MUGA is am amazing test, no pain only the prick of the needle, here is some information: Adriamycin (generic name – doxorubicin) is a chemotherapeutic drug that is commonly used, in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of cancer.   A serious problem with Adriamycin is tha...

The thought of cancer surgery makes you feel anxious.  Cancer surgery is an operation to repair or remove part of your body to diagnose or treat cancer — remains the foundation of cancer treatment. Your doctor may use cancer surgery to achieve any number of goals, from diagnosing and treating your cancer to relieving the symptoms it causes. Cancer surgery may be your only treatment, or it may be supplemented with other treatments, such as radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy.... I think it helped me when I finally made up my mind and kept going forward, lots of tears in this time though.... .

Remission is the period of time when symptoms of the cancer reduce or disappear. Remission is also referred to as the shrinking of cancer. A partial remission is when there has been a significant improvement in the cancer. A complete remission is when there is no evidence of active disease. This does not necessarily mean that the cancer is cured. Treatment for cancer will usually cure the disease or control it for years. This is also known as remission. In some people, however, the disease comes back (relapses). If this happens, they may be given more treatment to cure the disease or to help control it again and keep them well, often for a long time.

It is always hard to open up the lines of communication and it can be challenging.  Concerns about upsetting others, not knowing how to begin, fearing that you will feel helpless, and the thinking that if you say it out loud you will cause it to happen are just some of the reasons we struggle to have these conversations.  While these concerns are valid, having the chance to share your feelings or ask practical questions can help lessen anxiety and the isolation that many people experience at the end of life.  Some people find it helpful to talk with other cancer survivors about how they started these conversations.   * I reached out to people that had been on my battle. Not that we all know what anyone else feels at all. But they can relate. Its just like saying take my hand I need you and thats ok. I find it hard to reach out as I am a totally independent strong but really needed a hand to reach out to so I knew I was not alone. No one wants to scare the people a...

Anger is a common and normal response for a person living with cancer. A person with cancer may experience anger about the way the cancer diagnosis has disrupted his or her life, about the treatment and possible side effects, or about the way that family members and friends are reacting. Anger can be expressed in a safe and positive way or in an unhealthy way. On the positive side, it can be a source of power to help change things for the better. For example, anger about cancer may provide the person with energy and strength to endure the challenges of treatment. However, if anger is not expressed appropriately, the person may internalize the feelings, which can lead to  depression . Meanwhile, some people may try to cope with angry feelings by abusing alcohol and drugs. And if anger is expressed uncontrollably, the person may be at risk for hurting themselves or others. The best way to deal with anger is to identify it and find a way to express these feelings in a safe...