www.stephmastini/forgotten ones /

 It’s so difficult to have Graves disease. I was diagnosed in 2015.  I knew something was wrong but no one would listen .  Every time I was plagued with strange symptoms, I did not only not get the right help but I had lost my family and I was alone in a strange town in GA. I had moved from Virginia to Seattle again to be near my daughter and she had no desire to have any relationship. Then my brother John Mastini who I was never close to, begged me to go to Georgia so I went from Seattle to Georgia. Why? I was trying to piece our family back together after such division. My Dad was hurting for years, not just physical but emotional pain. My brother moved from New Jersey to a remote area in Georgia and his teenage kids lived there with their dysfunctional alcoholic mother .  My father asked to see the kids over and over but my cold hearted brother would never come to VA.  I will tell you when he finally arrived with them my father was already cremated.  Yes, my family might not

It’s so difficult to have Graves’ disease and It’s getting very emotional for me because I have everything that you can think of that most people don’t have when they have Graves’ disease. I was diagnosed  in 2015.  I knew something was wrong but no one would listen .  I had breast cancer 2006 and 2008 with double mastectomy and reconstruction. .Every time I was plagued with strange  symptoms, I did not only not get the right help but I had lost  my family and I was alone in a strange town in GA. I had moved from Virginia to Seattle again to be near my daughter and she had no desire to have any relationship. Then my brother John Mastini who I was never close to, begged me to go to Georgia so I went from Seattle to Georgia. Why? I was trying to piece our family back together after such division.    My Dad was hurting for years not just physical but emotional pain. My brother moved from New Jersey to a remote area in Georgia and his teenage kids lived there with

                                        An Armor of Hope How to Diagnose and Treat Breast Implant–Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma March 2018 https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2018/04000/How_to_Diagnose_and_Treat_Breast.40.aspx “As of February 2018, 518 unique cases of BIA-ALCL across 25 countries have been reported” “The World Health Organization currently classifies BIA-ALCL as a lymphoma at all stages.” “It is important to note that all of these designations and nomenclatures are still referring to a cancer. Patients with BIA-ALCL can have progression of their disease, lymph node involvement, and death as a result of disease, particularly with significant delay in diagnosis or sub-optimal treatment.” “It remains unclear what effect inadvertent spillage of the seroma during capsulectomy has on local seeding of disease; however, clinically, this has not been observed to influence recurrence rates.” “To date, we have not confirme

Thyroid imbalances of any kind, but most notably Graves’ Disease, have a profound effect on every cell of the body. One of the aspects most noticeable to others is its effects on the brain and emotions. Graves’ Disease can turn even a mild-mannered, loving spouse into someone who is at best often irritable, angry, emotionally unavailable or self-absorbed. Graves’ patients don’t necessarily understand that their feelings originate in out-of-whack brain chemistry, and sometimes blame others for their difficult emotions. These factors contribute to the high divorce rate for people with Graves’ Disease. Sometimes the patient leaves the marriage, believing the spouse is responsible for everything that’s wrong, and other times the spouse can’t take the abusive behavior or lack of normal marital relations, and ends the relationship, not understanding that the problems are a manifestation of an illness. It is quite impossible for someone who has never experienced the attack

  An update I have not heard a word from anyone in my family.  My daughter still, two years after my last Skype with her still ignores me. I have missed another two years of my grandsons life.  When will this end?  When Everest can read ? Just google my name Everest.  It’s all there.  The truth.  My grandson was born three years ago and his name is Everest. My daughter Cara Podenski, didn't think I was important enough to see him, talk to him, or even know his name for over three years.  When my mother passed away in October I picked up the phone to call Cara .  I was in shock since I was not even told my mother was in a nursing home. I had been blocked by my daughter for so long but it didn't stop me from trying .  When she picked up the phone it was quite a surprise.  I honestly had instinctually thought to call my daughter and we talked for three hours.   Later, I was introduced to my grandson and I was "Grandma"  .We Skyped, we  talked, we laugh

Isn't it ironic ? I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction as many of my readers know.  That alone was very challenging .  I caught both breast cancers early enough so that I didn't need chemotherapeutic therapy . I had three surgeries just on my implants.   I've had to have them removed twice. Once was because they found silicone artifacts in my chest. They took the silicone implants out. I opted for Saline implants but they looked awful.  If you're going to have reconstruction I do NOT suggest Saline . They are not aesthetically pleasing.. Two  months ago I decided to take the saline implants out, to put the new silicone implants in. The shape has changed from round to a teardrop and they are texturized and adhere to the skin. They are a safer and better quality. With having graves disease it is always a challenge and this was no exception . My Graves specialist wants me to try a chemo drug called Rituxan.  How ironic I was able to avoid chemotherapy

July 17, 2017 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Nerlynx (neratinib) for the extended adjuvant treatment of early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. For patients with this type of cancer, Nerlynx is the first extended adjuvant therapy, a form of therapy that is taken after an initial treatment to further lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Nerlynx is indicated for adult patients who have been previously treated with a regimen that includes the drug  trastuzumab. “HER2-positive breast cancers are aggressive tumors and can spread to other parts of the body, making adjuvant therapy an important part of the treatment plan,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Now, these patients have an option after initial treatment that may help keep the cancer from coming back.” Breast cancer is

UPDATE : My ocular specialist has finally told me that I'm ready for eye decompression surgery.     I thank God every day for Dr. Thomas Joly.  He has patients that come from all over the world to see him. And I was blessed to finally find him after five eye doctors .   I knew there Update February 2018 was something wrong with my eyes but I kept getting the brushoff saying I have dry eyes. I would go blind in the middle of the night sometimes. I've been through two years of steroid infusions. It is a temporary fix until my eyes stabilized . In October I will be having the surgery for decompression. I pray this will be  the last of my eye surgeries.  With this type of surgery there's always a possibility that I could be cross eyed .  If that happens and I pray it doesn't, than I will have to have another surgery.  Don't ever give uP.  I didn't . 

There are days like today I can't even get out of bed .  I have TED ( thyroid eye disease ) so driving can be challenging some days too .  I call myself very lucky to have found a fantastic ocular specialist and every few months  I have to have Medrol Infusions (IV therapy ) three times a week . I also am one of the rare people that have Pretibial Myexedma .  It's a skin condition on my calves that requires steroid cream and is painful and red and there isn't a cure. The best they can do is inject steroids into the areas. It's very disturbing but I would rather be proactive with my disease.  This autoimmune disease is so complicated and I require regular blood work .  I had a thyroidectomy so I  take medication to keep me alive . It's a syndrome  In short, it effects my whole system . Endocrine, adrenal, etc .  This disease is hereditary .  This disease causes brain fog .  I thought after two bouts of breast cancer I had had my fill, but it seems I ha

It's been a long ride this past year.  I have not been feeling well for the last few YEARS and visited  many doctors. The worst part of this diagnosis besides extreme fatigue, was the not knowing factor ... My eyes had been giving me problems and I went to opthomologists in Georgia than Virginia. I can't begin to tell you the frustration I felt.  My primary care doctor would come in and I would lie on the bed waiting for her, that's how tired I was . I have fibromyalgia and of course breast cancer twice and knew every time I was ill .  The hard part was convincing my doctors that I needed answers . The bizarre fact was one blood test that showed my thyroid levels were changing rapidly .  I was bouncing from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. I was told that I had Graves' disease by my Opthomologist ! I went to endocrinologist and a barrage of blood work ensued . My endocrinologist said DO NOT go to my month long journey through Italy . I went . I did not regret

I started this blog to inform and  provide wigs to women that were going through chemo and just could not afford one.  Jamie is strong in her mind and fighting ovarian cancer now.  I sent her the wig you see her in.  I have never met her but I know her through social media. This makes me happy.  I wish I could do more but, I too struggle financially. That will never stop me from helping women like Jamie.  She is a fighter and her smile always has a place in my heart.  She wrote me how much she loved the wig.  This is who I am.  I have done this many times but never put a face to who I have helped, Jamie is the exception because she embodies everything I stand for in my life.  I hope to be doing this for the rest of my life. The whole reason I  started this blog was to inform others and tell my journey through breast cancer twice. I had to fight my way back when I discovered I had to have a double mastectomy in 2008. The first bout I had was in 2006.  I found it, so women p