Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I am happy to hear about the good scans and @eleanora I am glad they finally treated those pesky mets and you are no longer in pain there.
Not too much going on here, we had a fair amount of snow, not the 40 cm some areas were calling for. It is a sloppy mess out there now as the snow will be melting as we are not done with the above freezing temperatures. Oh well, I do not need to be out until Wednesday anyway. I will judge the outside and decide if ice melter is needed later.
Got all new cloths washed and dried, got them in the cardboard box they came in next to the older ones, now should be able to avoid running out of cloths. Doing some clothes today and deciding where best to hang them, bedroom OR living room. I will see. I think I actually like the hanger dryer with heat from the top vs the rack I have to assemble with heat from the bottom. I like using those to avoid wear and tear on the clothes.
I have most pantry stuff together in the same box, it is HEAVY. I do not care because it is easier to find stuff in one place, got some bags to put in the recycle container from the Walmart stuff together.
Meal will involve eggs in some fashion, thinking two eggs microwaved get 1/4 cup black beans and add cheese, chop it and heat it up in the fry pan, high heat initially then turn off and let stuff just sit. The ramen is not as interesting to me right now, may do something about breaking up the packages and going 50/50 rice, got a lot of rice from that pack of free food that I can go through as well. I must also remember when it comes to protein, canned meat is a good option, just have to rinse off meat from a can to remove the extra sodium for a few minutes, also removes the canned taste and dry a bit as well. I am also just going to order frozen hamburgers and cook them up first, add some rice to fill out the cooked beef and give a nice stretch. Even the beefless ground is more expensive and the club size beef chubs or chicken chubs are rarely there. Oh well. I have a lot of cheesy seasoning powder from old el paso along with the mild taco sauce and that will definitely give good flavour to any bean, egg and rice type meal. I also have some organizing of containers, need to separate lids and containers into two bags, no pantry space to store them in. I accumulate quite a few when done with sour cream or the garlic spread. I reuse as an airtight container for other food items.
Anyway, if anything fantastic comes up either out of the pantry items found a couple months ago in the hallway or making something in the instant pot, will post here about it.
I hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all. In own pocket to make stuff that is really good to eat.
EDIT to add that I found a lady on you tube The Posh Paper Lady who gives good ideas of reusing stuff or making other stuff, I am looking at it to make existing Amazon boxes look pretty. I did that with one box although in my case, took a larger box, wrapped white tape around the Amazon box and inserted one of my pink fabric boxes in there. It does look nice. May look into that later.
EDIT 2 Realized that I can take one half an english muffin, toast with garlic and shredded cheese on top and later on have the other half, melt butter while toasting, let cool and spread some of the peanut butter and cheerio mix on top. Planning to take the first meal, queso pasta bowl, split it in half and keep the other half in fridge and make a half english muffin with the garlic spread and some shredded cheese and eat that as a side. Just need to fill my tummy. I also have some STAGG chili, can use that for something but eat a lesser amount of it.
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Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
The next treatment for me is Trodelvy, will start in a couple weeks. There are no local treatments that could help, not ablation or SBRT Dr. Said. There were several new liver mets and others larger on PET. I'm feeling pretty down about it all. I need to go to the mountains...
mkestrel
Re: Change in friendships after cancer
Your topic caught my attention. Not only thru BC, but also when I was recovering from another medical emergency, I realized a couple of things. During both medical journeys, only a few friends “showed up” consistently - without being asked - offering empathy and companionship. I believe if I had asked others for something specific — a visit, a meal, a coffee drink, or anything else — they would have obliged. Secondly, the few friends showed up more than my immediate family; expressing concern, checking in, etc. That was a sad realization. Third, most importantly, and sadly more often than not, I am the friend who says “call me if you need me.” It’s made me realize that I have an opportunity to be a better, truer friend.
Re: Are you currently (or have you been) in a Clinical Trial?
Hoping with all my might that the drugs work, but also acknowledging that you are in a critical and difficult part of your journey. Wishing you pain-free peace and lots of time with your Dad. You have shown the rest of us how to stand up and battle this beast and be our own best advocates. It has been an honor and a pleasure to "know" you.
🧡
eleanora
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
I can hardly believe that December will mark my 10 years since dx. I’m getting champagne!
jensgotthis
Re: Faslodex Girls Thread
Brutersmom - Really good to hear that you're so much better. I can understand being wary of the shot, after what you went through. The glute stretches sound good.
I had a real bad spell yesterday and broke down and called my onc's office. Right up front though, I told them I didn't want to go to the ER, and was hoping to make it to my Wednesday appointment with them to deal with this. I have a long scheduled appointment later this morning with a liver tumor surgeon for a general consultation and didn't want to miss it. After some back and forth, the onc's office and I agreed to wait until this morning, at least. I'm not great at all so far, but still hoping to make the appointment. A friend will drive me. I got worse yesterday and it's much more of a digestive thing now than it was. I can't eat solid food and even liquids cause pain, rumbling, and the "D". I've also gotten pretty weak. It comes in major waves, then seems to get better, then worse again. I'm starting to wonder if all that high fiber I was eating didn't cause something like a partial obstruction. I think it might be the digestive pressure that's causing the pins and needles. Just hoping I make it through and to this liver met consultation this morning.
I sure don't know about getting those fulvestrant shots tomorrow , though. I couldn't do it today if I had to.
Re: Faslodex Girls Thread
Well, I'm off thinking now that this is Guillian-Barre, largely because of the severity that people have with it, and mine doesn't fit in that regard. I'm starting to think it's "plain old" sciatica and it's been aggravated/compounded by posture/ergonomic changes at my computer area, the last fulvestrant shot/low estrogen, possibly the weather, but also a digestive factor that I had initially considered but then dismissed. About the time I got those last fulvestrant shots, and then the flu shot, I also started eating all sorts of raw fruits and veggies that would have really increased my fiber intake. I get a lot of fiber as it is, but I started eating an apple and some blackberries with lunch almost every day, because I love them in the fall. I also added a daily serving of chanterelle mushroom, because my local co-op gets them in in the fall and they are supposed to be real good for the immune system. I usually have something cruciferous too. Additionally, I went back to eating a slice of whole grain rye bread with breakfast. I used to do that and then just dropped off, but I was also reading about all the benefits of beta glucans that are in barley and rye (found some barley soup too!). In other words I went crazy on a new dietary thing and greatly increased all my whole grains, and raw fruits and veggies. Over time I think it just overwhelmed me with way too much fiber and I wound up with all sorts of digestive problems. I think the pressure from all that stomach business affected some nerves in my lower body and along with the effect of the shots. low estrogen, etc., it was all just too much. I was also doing all sorts of posture shifts and changes trying out a new foot rest I got. It caused me to sit much differently in my chair and I almost immediately felt some soreness in my rear end area; hips and rear end. It seemed to all just explode one day and everything reached critical mass. I've cut way back on the food and am trying to take more breaks from the computer, and only use one position for the foot rest. Very slowly things seem to be improving, so I will wait this all out and see if the onc has any comments this Wednesday when I am supposed to get my next set of shots. I'm a bit afraid to bring it up with him though, because I think he might order a scan of some kind and I just don't want to do it. My scans in September showed relative stability and my next ones are due in late December. I want to keep it that way, so maybe I'll stay hush, hush. Who knows, Wednesday morning is another day.
Re: Ribociclib/Kisqali with Letrozole - Any one on this combo?
@elena_p - Welcome to the community! We are so sorry you have to join us, but thank you for sharing your story here with everybody. Please know that feeling overwhelmed and having cryfests is completely normal when facing MBC.
If you want, we also offer helpful Virtual Support Groups that you can join whenever you need a little extra support. There, you’ll find others who understand what you are going through and a space where you don’t have to hold anything in.
We’re here for you and glad you reached out.
The Mods
Re: Penguin vs Paxman
I know this is older, but I am just curious what you decided on. My mom is also going between Paxman and Penguin. She meets with her oncologist to determine treatment but was wondering your experience! Thank you!
mms1264