Being Naked Where I Work: A Nurse With Cancer

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · May 14, 2012

Many, many thoughts and prayers to you!!

And don't think of it as naked, think of it as people taking care of you that you KNOW rock, are invested in a good outcome for you and are on your side. And be sure to tell them to make the new ta-ta's "tahhhh dahhhhh" worthy--not quite the cover of a gothic romance novel, but enough to have a little somethin-somethin for a low cut shirt. xxoo

I1tobern · May 14, 2012

to all of you who have emailed me and pm'd me with questions about my health and kind words of caring and encouragement, a heartfelt thank you. it really has made all of this much easier knowing i have such good friends on allnurses.com! i expect i will be picking the brains of some of you who have offered sometime in the future! i'm a complete ignoramus regarding matters of oncology . . . except of course from the patient perspective!

despite my long held and non-negotiable policy against being naked where i work, i now expect to bare it all to anesthesia (some of whose numbers i've worked beside for nearly a decade in the icu) and surgeons (some of whom have done rotations through my icu) in early june. my husband talked me into it.

my breast cancer has a great prognosis. we caught it early, it's a small tumor and it's not one of the nastier ones. i'll have surgery -- and yes, i *do* get a breast reduction out of the deal (whoo-hoo!) -- and radiation therapy. no chemo unless it looks worse than they expect when they get in there. i's going to be a lousy summer, but i'll have much to be grateful for when thanksgiving rolls around.

unfortunately, there may be a second malignancy, and i'll be going into the or next week to rule that out. (or in, as the case may be.)

i've beaten cancer (cervical) twice already, i fully expect to kick cancer's ass again and be back to munching on new grads (so to speak) online as soon as i can sit up straight to type. in the meantime, i'm holding all of the good will messages i've gotten close to my heart where hopefully they'll circulate systemically and give me all the positive vibes i need.

ruby,

best wishes for a speedy recovery. i so enjoy reading your posts. if you need to talk, feel free to pm me as well.

sharpeimom · May 14, 2012

i'm sending you a million hugs, ruby. you will get through this because you're a survivor and as my mom used to say

about herself, you're a tough old bird! both she and my mother-in-law had breast cancer.

four years later, i found a lump in my right breast. i was examined that day and the surgeon recommended a mammogram which

our wonderful insurance company refused to authorize. they said that at age 39, i was too young to get breast cancer!

:mad: we paid for it and it showed a lump with a tail, which we were told almost always meant cancer.

i signed a consent and had the outpatient surgery the week between christmas and new year's day. they sent the slides

out as a precaution, but the lump and nodes were benign!! he found a tiny lump in my nipple and removed it too, by using a u

shaped incision and now you'd never know it's there. i'm a "d" cup on the left and a "c" on the right now, but that's ok.

i saw a reconstruction surgeon but decided against it because i really keloid, despite my typical swedish skin. our neighbor

had her second lumpectomy in january and had reconstruction done right then. on the lighter side, she's a surgeon herself

and she said they told her she asked entirely too many questions! she's pleased with how she looks but the bruising took

a long time to go away. she had radiation and is almost back to being her old self again. she's working a full day but tires easily.

i wish i were close enough to help in a more practical way.

as far as being naked where you work, it does get easier as time goes on. for me, it was being nekkid and having our gorgeous neighbor

and good friend operate on me. eek! :eek: what was much worse was stroke rehab! what modesty that didn't go at girl scout

camp, went south in rehab. i absolutely promise it will get easier.:hug:

Bklyn_RN · May 14, 2012

I wish you all the best. I am a very modest person myself when it comes to nudity. But I remember when I was having my son and the room was filled with medical students. It was at a teaching hospital.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 14, 2012

sending you good vibes as i keep you in my prayers... aloha~

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · May 14, 2012

Ruby, wishing you a Godspeed recovery!!

sauconyrunner · May 14, 2012

Good wishes to you Ruby! I was Naked at work....almost exactly one year ago. (had my hip reconstructed) It felt bizarre, and continues to feel bizarre when I see certain anesthesia folks, BUT...that said, you KNOW they will take extreme care of you.

Hoping all goes wonderfully well.

OCNRN63, RN · May 14, 2012

well, you know my story and you know how i feel, and how i feel for you. i'm a pm or phone call away.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 14, 2012

Ruby, they will give you the perkiest boobs in the hospital. Ask them if they can pierce the nipples while you're under.

nohika · May 14, 2012

Sending good vibes to you, Ruby Vee. You're always a delight to see around these forums.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 14, 2012

Love ya, Ruby Vee. Stay in touch!