Nancy101

Hi Strongmom,

    You are not alone.  I finished AC in May 2006, but I can still remember the severe nausea I had.  I was on three or four different anti-nausea meds and I still had it, even vomited a couple of times.  I ended up losing 10 pounds while on AC chemo.  It took me two years to gain it back.  I am now at my official pre-chemo weight. 

    The best things that worked for me was fruit smoothies and soups.  Plain water aggrevated the nausea for me.  So, I would sip the clear broth from certain soups, drink a fruit smoothies when I could, and ate plain chicken breast.  Exercise also helps...try to go for a walk if possible.

    I wish you the best.  You will get through this.  The last couple of treatments are the worst.  Hang in there!  Hugs....

    Nancy

Hi everyone.  I don't post that frequently, but I always read the boards everyday.

I just turned 50 in October, and am a single mom to two sons, ages 18 and 20, both in college.  I divorced in 1992, after 6 years of marriage.  While I dated a few times over the years, there was never anything serious.  So, I kind of gave up on dating and decided to put my two sons first to give them the best upbringing I could.  Just when my oldest son was in his senior year of high school, and my youngest son was learning to drive, I was diagnosed with bc.  That was in Feb 2006.  Even though they both were teenagers, my sons were my rock in helping me get through lumpectomy, chemo, and rads.  They were wonderful in helping me while in treatment, and I think they both seemed to mature a little from this whole bc experience. 

I exercise daily, take yoga,  and try to eat healthy most of the time.  I have been on tamoxifen for over 2 years, but my onc is now testing me to see if I'm through menopause so that he can switch me to arimidex.  I see him in December, so I will see what he says at that time.

Now that I'm an empty nester, I do think about dating again, but then I think that with this whole bc experience, I don't know if I'm ready to be intimate and I don't know how a man will react to bc.  I'm sort of a quiet, shy person, and I'm not one for online dating, but at this age, I'm not sure where to meet men.  I work full time and when I come home from work, I just want to go exercise and then relax for the evening.  It's been a while since I've been out on a date, so I'm not sure how to get started again. 

I will keep reading here and maybe I'll learn a few things from the rest of you wonderful ladies!

Hugs...

NancyW

Another ring finger here.

Congratulations Marin...Celebrate!!!  May you have many, many, many more dancing years!  Hugs...

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way.  I had the opposite reaction during chemo--I lost 10 pounds and still haven't regained it yet (I just celebrated my 2 year anniversary).      

The best advice I can give you is to exercise.  When I say exercise, it doesn't have to start out being anything strenuous.  I highly recommend a walking program.  This can be done indoors and/or outdoors.  Look in stores that sell exercise DVDs.  There are plenty to choose from, but I use DVDs from a women named Leslie Sansone who has a large line of in-home walking DVDs that are from beginner to advanced.  Beginner programs consist of a one-mile program that takes about 15-25 minutes to complete.  I guarantee you that if you walk one mile about three to four times per week, you will noticeably begin to feel better.  My onc has always recommended exercise for me, even when I went through chemo when I felt too tired to do it.  But I did it during chemo and it helped tremendously.  Exercise after treatment is also known to reduce the risk of recurrence.  You will be sore at first, but you have to keep in mind that the body is designed for movement, and your muscles are de-conditioned.  Walking will get your muscles in better shape.  This will also help with your high blood pressure, depression, and help you to sleep better.  I am now walking up to about 2-3 miles per day, 5-6 days per week. 

As far as diet, my onc told me to eat low fat, very little red meat (preferably none), and lots and lots of fruits and vegetables.  I find that making myself eat at least 5-7 servings of veggies a day helps me to stay away from the high calorie foods that cause the weight gain.

I do these things for my sons (one in college and one in high school), and I want to be around for them for a long time. 

Your daughters need you to be around for a long long time.  It is not easy, and you need to make time for it, but once you are in the routine of exercising and eating healthy, you will certainly notice a great improvement in your health, and your daughters will notice it too. 

I hope this information helps.  Love and hugs to you...

Per my onc, I take it twice a day.  I take 10mg in the morning (usually around 6:30am) and 10mg in the evening (usually around 6:30pm).  Very mild side effects...usually only a few hot flashes occasionally.

Oh Jamie, I am so sorry for your loss.  I lost my mother to bc when I was 23.  She died in 1981 and at that time, there was nothing out there for support.  Please contact the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).  They have really good support programs for families coping with loss.  You and your family are in my prayers.  God Bless...

NancyW

Congratulations Helene.  May you have many, many more years of blessings and great health.

Today, I am celebrating my 2 year anniversary.

Blessings to all...

Happy New Year everyone.  May we all be blessed with great health, joy, strength, peace, and happiness in 2008 and beyond. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.  I don't always post much, but I'm on everyday reading everyone's comments.  I pray for all of us here everyday and our families as we all make our way through the bc journey.  May God Bless us all and keep us strong.