So when I was going through treatment I heard that IBC cases can get reconstruction after being cancer free for a year; my rad oncologist told me as early as 6-mos post radiation.  So, I'mover a year out of chemo and cancer free, over 6-mos post rad and FIGHTING to be able to get reconstructions surgery.   UGHHHHH

I really wanted to include a prophylatic left mastectomy in with my reconstruction; so I had to do a consult with the breast surgeon in addition to the plastic surgeon (mistake #1).  So the breast surgeon said she was will ing to do (I had previously been told by the oncologists that there is no medical reason for this since it won't increase my life expetency) as long as I had a new baseline matistatic study come back clean (new PET scan; haven't had one in over a year).

So she presented my case to the tumor review board, those SOBs said NO to the mastectomy and don't want me to get the reconstruction because of the high liklihood that the cancer will come back.  I HATE STATISTICS!!!!  Anyway; my doctors stood up for me and said on my treatment I had a high liklihood of long term survival (excuse me 10-20 years is not enough, ok I should be greatful it is better than 18 mos!) and that if this improved my quality of life they fully support it.  Some other dill-hole oncologist (not even specilizing in bc) stood up and insisted on a brain MRI as well which my oncologist thinks is ridiculous but didn't fight it.  So I'm off for more tests!  I know its best to get the tests done; but I just don't like the constant "speed bumps" to try to frustrate me out of getting the surgery done!  I'm 33 years old and use to look like a frickin play-boy bunny; now I don't like my hubby to see me naked and it isn't the baby-fat!  I'm not a vain person, but I feel like a bit of a sun-dried boob-less freak these days.

Ok, so I vented and everything is going to be fine.  They'll do the tests, everything will be good and hopefully they won't try to block my surgery again.  My oncologist wrote a letter to the plastic surgeon, breast surgeon,and rad oncologist saying he supported the surgery so hopefully there won't be any further problems.

On a separate note the doc says the arthritis that appeared in my neck on the scans after the tumor resolved says it isn't related to the cancer.  But we do have to keep an eye on the pain  since that would be a symptom of recurrance; but so far it isn't acting like cancer and turned up as arthritis on a x-ray!  Ahh, the life of the cancer survivor!  Oh well, at least I'm disease free!