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Comments

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    mom of boys - I think it is interesting how the study

    "did not factor in potentially important variables, including obesity, diabetes, and the effect of breast cancer treatment on risk"

    • to me, it seems the study does not account for so many of the things that cause heart disease - with or without breast cancer. Seems that the breast cancer variable is negated without taking these variables into account!
  • Jennyi1
    Jennyi1 Member Posts: 81
    edited November 2009

     Congrats Patty!. I can't wait to get mine out. I have one more chemo to go (this Thursday... ugh). Oh, and I love the "breast friends". Hope everyone has a good and safe evening.

    Jenny.

  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 101
    edited November 2009

    I, personally, found the article interesting because my heart health is a primary reason I am not staying on the Femara.  Both of my parents have had heart attacks... my mom had one in her 50s!  Until I was dx with BC, my genetic future would have led me down the heart path... not down the cancer path.  Go figure. 

    I'm at least happy that the article generally acknowledges that we are more than a single component! 

  • lucy88
    lucy88 Member Posts: 100
    edited November 2010
     
  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Patty...congrats from me too on your deportation!!!

    Althea...Yes, I have some stevia...it was recommended on the Adkins diet.  I'm so used to not using any sweetener that it is a weird sweetness for me.  Honey just tasted less fake.  Obviously straight cocoa must have some kind of sweetness added or it is just too bitter.  Thank you for telling me that stevia can lower blood pressure.  If it can do that then I should be using it all the time, so I will make sure to use it even if just for that.  I really want to get off my blood pressure medicine.  Thanks again. 

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    lucy - I have seen that comic strip before. Funny is not a good word for it, but it does hit home!

    I found this article on Life Extension this morning about the need for complementary treatments with cancer....interesting...

    http://www.lef.org/protocols/cancer/alternative_cancer_therapies_01.htm?source=eNewsLetter2009Wk46-1&key=Body+Health+Concern

  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 642
    edited November 2009

    I just love being deported!!! I did not sleep well last night because of it but it will be better tonight, I hope!

    Jenny - this Thursday you and all of us will be doing the "chemo blast dance" with you. Are you getting some hair back yet??

    Luna - may I ask why are you on the adkins diet? I do mean to sound negative but isn't that the one that is very unhealthy? If you want to lose weight eat a ton of fruits and veggies, no sugar, and juicing is very helpful. I want you healthy Kiss. Love ya!!

    Patty

  • Jennyi1
    Jennyi1 Member Posts: 81
    edited November 2009

     Hi Patty and thank youSmile. I can't wait to do the "chemo blast dance". No, no hair, but that's because I shave it about every 10 days, I find that being on chemo and trying to grow hair makes my hair folicles REAL sensitive and in areas it actually hurts. Now that this will be my last one, I will not have to shave it anymore Smile YYIIPPEEE!!!. Thank you ladies for being so kind and understanding. ((((BIG HUG)))).

    Jenny.

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited November 2009

    Patty, I am thinking of your deportation day as a Star Trek experience. Beam me Up Scottie. You are now transported into a new place and time. Welcome to the other side! It will be great when Jenny joins us too. Blast off!

    Great links Deni!

    Luna-I agree with Patty, the Atkins thing is very hard on your heart. My grandfather lost a lot of weight on it back in the 70's, when it first came out, and had a heart attack. I lost 40 pounds without dieting. I simply made a committment to my health. No calorie counting. I started eating small amounts, all day long. I got rid of all dairy and anything white. I went cold turkey on the sugar and eat as much fruits and veggies as I can. I only use healthy oils like coconut and olive, and do use organic butter and eggs once in a while. Now that I am on maintenance, I am not as strict, but I am very careful. To be successful, the biggest thing is to break habits. It takes about 3 weeks to break a habit. That is why diets do not work. You always feel deprived. I just now eat because it is healthy for me. Food is not such an issue anymore.And you have to exercise daily. I mostly walk and bike, but free weights and strength building are important as it ups the metabolism. You have such a great attitude, and are way ahead of where I was because you know more than I did when I was doing treatments. I did not have to do chemo, but nutrition is so important during it. You can do it. Have faith! Sorry, about the lecture, but I get very protective of you gals.

  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 110
    edited November 2009

    Congrats to all who have their final chemos this week. My last go around is next week. My naturopathic onc does scar therapy 4 mos after surgery where he gives me a shot of liquid traumeel into scar area. Very excited

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    I agree with Viv on diet. I also lost over 40 lbs since I changed my diet and lifestyle. This wasn't the intent, but it was the outcome. I cut out all the things that Viv mentions as well. Doing that alone, the pounds dropped off. I feel great and am told I took years off of the way I look. There was no bigger motivation than fighting cancer to get me living this way. And, now it is just second nature. I would never go back.

    Congrats to the chemo finales this week! Well done!

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    I agree with Viv on diet. I also lost over 40 lbs since I changed my diet and lifestyle. This wasn't the intent, but it was the outcome. I cut out all the things that Viv mentions as well. Doing that alone, the pounds dropped off. I feel great and am told I took years off of the way I look. There was no bigger motivation than fighting cancer to get me living this way. And, now it is just second nature. I would never go back.

    Congrats to the chemo finales this week! Well done!

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    I'm not on that diet now.  Tried it off an on over the years is how I had heard of stevia before.

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    I actually did totally change everything I eat and drink since April and quickly lost 20 lbs.  Mostly it was because I was afraid to eat anything!!!  Now, I am stuck but would like to lose more.  I probably need to cut back on nuts and seeds.  I have been eating probably more than the suggested 2 handfuls of walnuts a day.  I dropped my triglycerides 200 pts, so I have clearly made some good improvements.  Now on to the good and bad cholesterol!

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Coffee!  Yes or No?  When I asked my onc, I was told "well, they are finding a lot of good things about coffee."  So, does anyone know.  If it is a good idea, well I love my coffee.  I don't have to ever have it again, though, if it is questionable or a bad idea.  I am currently going through tea bags like you wouldn't believe.  Those SGS ones from Johns Hopkins and chamomile and others.

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    Luna - I haven't given up my coffee completely. I drink one cup per day. I use almond milk in it and stevia to sweeten it. The coffee I drink is organic. I'm not sure if this is a great thing or not. But, I used to drink 3-4 cups+ per day. Now I only drink 1/2 - 1 cup per day so it is a huge improvement.

  • Jennyi1
    Jennyi1 Member Posts: 81
    edited November 2009

    Hi and Thank you Vivre. I can't wait to join those of you "on the other side"Smile. You guys are sooo funny and comforting. I am so glad that I found this site.

    And yes, I agree, Congrats to all of us that is just about finished with chemo! Now, to work on making an appointment to be deportedSealed(I just love that).

    Jenny. 

  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 642
    edited November 2009

    Luna I have one mug in the morning, got to have a kick start! I buy low acid organic coffee.

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Deni.  Until someone tells me I shouldn't have it, I guess I will do the same.  In fact, I think I will go grind up some organic coffee beans right now!

  • lucy88
    lucy88 Member Posts: 100
    edited November 2009

    Oops! I almost celebrating Patty's deportation. You go, girl! Kiss

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 101
    edited November 2009
    Okay... question... I've never been a coffee drinker, BUT I have been a Diet DP drinker for years.  I had already cut down to 2 Diet DPs in the mornings.  Now, because of common-sense and recommendations from Breakthrough, I am trying to cut down to 1 Diet DP a day and then (hopefully!) 1 Diet DP.  Any suggestions on breaking my caffeine addiction?
  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 536
    edited November 2009

    http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20081013/caffeine-breast-cancer-link-minimal

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited November 2009

    Mom-I would not be so hard on yourself about one cup of coffee a day, but the diet soda has got to go. I use to drink it too, but boy have I felt better since giving it up. Now I do not even crave it. In fact the idea of drinking a soda repulses me. Like I said, once you stop something, you eventually no longer crave it. I drink lots and lots of tea and have a bottle of Pelligrino with lemon and lime when I want some fizz. The lemon and lime adds vit c too. I love the stuff! Those artificial sweetners are deadly. They are cancer magnets.

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Thank you Fairy for the great link.  I could do without the coffee it I needed to, but all this green tea I am drinking has caffeine in it.  I read somewhere, could've been here, that when you reuse a green tea tea bag the caffeine is gone.  Don't know if this is true, but I would prefer this method of decaffenation to the industrial method.  I do reuse tea bags from lunchtime til my evening cups(or rather giant glasses of ice and tea) switch over to the Johns Hopkins Red Bush Tea with SGH and chammomile mixed.  Do you suppose it is possible to drink too much tea?  I tend to overdo things!

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 881
    edited November 2009

    Luna, I was told that green tea is naturally decaf after the first brewing, by a tea shop specialist. So I use the new bags in the morning and then resteep in the afternoon. I heard that drinking at least 6 cups of green tea a day is very beneficial. I also tend to change the flavor by adding another kind to each pot. I use to hate green tea, but now I love it.

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Thanks for the info, Vivre.  YAY!  I'm doing something right!

  • deni63
    deni63 Member Posts: 372
    edited November 2009

    Thanks for the article Fairy - now I don't feel bad about my 1 cup of coffee per day. Although I do drink lots of green tea! Hope the nips are feeling OK and that you are recovering well after your surgery.

  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 101
    edited November 2009

    vivre... Thanks for the response.  I agree on the artificial sweeteners.  My CNP say I'd actually be better off (NOT that she would agree with that either) with drinking a regular DP.  Do you drink regular tea or just green tea?  I'm a Texas girl and I could probably survive on regular tea plus one of the natural sweeteners y'all have mentioned.

    fairy... Thanks for the link!  That helps as well...

  • rayhope
    rayhope Member Posts: 75
    edited November 2009

    I've seen several references to tea from Johns Hopkins.  Where can you buy those?  Thanks in advance.

  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 612
    edited November 2009

    It's called Brassica tea. I buy mine at our local Vitamin Cottage. Brassica has it's own website--you may need to google that.

    Anne

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