Calling all TNs
Comments
-
Maureen...I ask myself the same question. What a great question by the way!
I did make some big life changes after finishing treatment, cutting down to 3 days work, selling our house and moving to the shore, going to yoga, but I have an aging mother and I had A LOT of stress before my diagnosis. I think stress is unavoidable, somehow we need a lot of humor infusions and healthy thinking and good friends to get us out of ourselves.
Titan.... I don't know if I could run but I would like to. I have a replaced knee and Rheumatoid arthritis that I've had for 36 years that has deformed my joints. I try to walk fast but that isn't the same.
0 -
I'd say stress was probably a big part of my dx, too. I've had financial problems most of my married life - dh has lost job after job after job - all through no fault of his own - companies have moved, closed, downsized, etc. I'm the major bread winner which is very, very stressful. I never wanted to be a full-time working mom, and I've been pretty resentful, but after 6 years of counseling, I've finally learned to accept it. Throw in a preemie baby and a mom dx'd with MS 11 years ago, and yup...stress sucks.
Cocker_spaniel - Taxol has been much easier, although I'm more nauseaus with this last treatment, but it's not too bad. I've lost my eyebrows and lower lashes, but I have more energy than I did on A/C. I hope you don't have many SEs with it.
0 -
The top and bottom of it is, that none of us know why we got cancer. It is easy to say we have very stressful lives and that stress has contributed to it. But there are all those other people with "stressful" lives who don't have or ever get bc. It is just the same as looking at exercise and healthy diets etc. For every unhealthy person with bc there's a healthy-eating exercise-driven individual who also gets bc.
Don't you feel that stress is normal for everyone? Who is going to stand up and say they lead a stress free life? I don't know anyone, with or without bc. Now I'm not saying that it has no effect, just that we should be cautious in what we say. Until we actually know what causes bc, it's all guess work.
0 -
You're so right, Heather, we have to put ourselves first now. It's not horrible, it's survival.
My Lexipro dosage is 5mg once a day. I hope it kicks in soon.
0 -
Good Morning Ladies
Lory48 - They say eveyone has a double but two of me running around !!!! not sure that a good idea.
Titan - I take my hat off to you running 5km but I know I couldn't do it. I would trip over my laces, my ankles and even a stone and then I would have to stop half way to have a smoke ha ha. You go girl.
By the way girls did anyone smoke. I have cut it down by more than half and its going well but its the last one or two that I'm finding hard to give up at the moment. I feel sure I could give those last two up if it wasn't for treament that keeps coming around.
Gillyone - I think adrenalin is normal but not downright stress. Your right nobody is going to stand up and say they lead a stress free life but stress comes in all ways and I think the harmful stress is deeper and affects one life and therfore your health. I guess its human nature to look for reasons as to why we got this.
Have a good, stress free day ladies and do something that makes you feel happy. Annie
0 -
Annie, I smoked for years, quit exactly 2 months before being diagnosed. What a kick in the a**!
0 -
I had actually picked my quit date (again!) right before diagnosis! Sadly, I didn't quit! I posted on another thread that I struggle with smoking and having cancer, but right now with chemo etc I don't think I would be successful in my quit. My new plan is to quit when treatment is over. Not ideal I agree, but that is my plan for now.
Heather, extra brownie points for keeping your quit with the diagnosis!
0 -
Mccrimmon- I know its ironic that you stopped two months before diagnosis but what an achievement. It has surely got to benefit you. Well done, wish I could do it.
Onvacation - I have picked a quit day so many times its not funny. Funnily enough my oncologist said not to try at the moment but when I have finished treatment to give up then. She said why would you want to beat cancer and then get lung cancer. She's so right but its hard.
One made it, one is going to make it. Good on you girls. I hope I do too. Annie
0 -
CS - mine said the same thing - he said I need to quit, but this probably wasn't the best time. He supports me in quitting after treatment. I've quit many many times over the years, but the longest quit was 3 months. It is very tough, but cancer is tougher so it will have to go! I think there is also a quit smoking thread on the board that I will check out when it is time!
0 -
I quit smoking a year before being dx...i have did well until Jan. of this year, and I picked it back up. I keep telling myself why do you want to do this, you beat bc and am setting yourself up for lung cancer.??? I don't smoke much at all and sometimes I will go for days without one.
0 -
We went to a sports bar tonight to watch the game, the smoke from one direction was driving me crazy, I would haved loved to light up but the smoke from the other direction was making me choke up!?!
When I was diagnosed I was so terrified I swore I would never smoke again, now I've made a deal with a couple girlfriends, that if we all make it to the same nursing home, we'll just sit around smoking and drinking.
0 -
Heather I wish we had a "like" button on here, I would like your comment lol!
0 -
I told my husband I felt like I was dealing myself a death sentence and he said the air we breath is bad, the food we eat is bad, all around us are bad things that we cannot control so if I want to smoke, smoke and enjoy life. I just dont want to deal with cancer again. But I know some people who have smoked for many, many years and are fine, but yet I know some who never smoked and lost the battle to lung cancer. I think it is just whatever God chooses for us..
0 -
Hmm..so far I haven't heard that smoking OR drinking has been connected to tn cancer..I like t drink went to see my son today at college and we went to a restaurant/bar and I had a sloe gin fizz...I haven't had one for years....we walked there and of course I tripped on the walk back..ha ha..
Everyone have a good week,..! I think everything in moderation is the key here...heard of too many people living totally organic/exercising lives and dropped dead...there really is no guarantee now is there,
0 -
Titan I hadn't heard that smoking and drinking were linked to TN - though that would be my luck!
0 -
DOH deleted my post because I don't know how to read! Think it is time to go to bed!
Here's to a great week!
0 -
Titan- your sloe gin fizz obviously affected your balance, did you have only one! ha ha. Its a good thing I don't drink as well as smoke or I would never get that 5km run done. I think everything in moderation does you good. When your time is up then its up and nothing you have done or not done is going to affect that or none of us would live how we want to. If you want a drink have one, if you want a smoke have one, even more now that we have this. We had a patient who was 40. Was passionate about everything healthy and used to go on and on at our receptionists about what to do and what not to do. Only eat healthy, no fat, no chips, no smoking no drinking, exercise every day etc and he dropped dead at reception one day. Can't really say his healthy lifestyle worked for him can you. What the heck girls go for it whilst you can and enjoy life. Annie
0 -
To all my fellow TNs who are smokers and drinkers..Chk out this link:
http://hormonenegative.blogspot.com/2011/04/smoking-and-alcohol-use-not-associated.html
I had been a smoker and drinker for 45 years. When I was dx I just knew that was the reason I got BC.Well guess what...not true. Click on the above link. When my RO said absolutely no tobacco products during tx, I quit cold turkey.Haven't started again but if the f*cking cancer returns, I'm going out and buying a carton. Do I miss the cigs? Not so much, as none of my friends smoke so I was "in the closet" for the last 10 years. Just saying, don't beat yourself up thinking that is what caused your cancer. My cousin who never drinks or smokes was dx'd with lung cancer 2 years ago....it seems it is all just a crap shoot.
0 -
Lexapro made me feel like a zombie. I really liked Ativan (Lorazepam). It made me sleep really well.
0 -
I had to laugh at the blog that states drinking alcohol might be good for TNBC. Cheers!
0 -
All my friends don't smoke and I don't drink so they drink for me and I smoke for them. Works really well!!!!!
0 -
Hi everyone,
Gillyone, I totally agree with you that none of us know why we got cancer. I think every single human being today has a huge stress on their shoulders, not one person is spared. We all can think of a huge stress just before our cancer, but even if we didn't get the cancer, one stress after another has become a huge fact of everyone's life, as the morality of our society declines in every part of our lives. I am East Indian and according to our scriptures, the present period called the "kaliyuga" meaning the "dark times" was mentioned ages ago when our Lord Rama walked on earth. He predicted that a time would come when morality will decline, spirituality and religion will be no more, and disease will be everywhere. Just before the golden age, the kaliyuga will prevail at its worst, which seems to correspond with our current day. This is written in our vedas, the Indian scriptures.
Throughout my life, amongst us Indians whenever we listen to the news or hear of bad things happening, I have seen people nodding their heads and saying "this is kaliyuga". It is very common for Indians to understand this period of time. It also mentioned global warming and wars. Mention the word "kaliyuga" to any Indian and he will know immediately.
Above, I meant to say was that - how is it possible to have less stress or no stress at any given point in our life these days. Before, there was more love and selflessness amongst people, there was empathy and compassion each felt for the other, now there is none. Everyone has fears and their fears are coming true. Really bad times.
When I had mentioned earlier that maybe the flaxseeds had given me a few painful lumps on my breasts, well, I just want to correct that - those painful stuff could have come from other things too. I hope it does not discourage anyone from trying the budwig protocol.
Frankly, I have met so many women with different variations of lifestyles, some don't eat meat, some have never eaten fast food in their lives, some are fit and have no fat, but they have all had BC.
My personal theory is that (and my phD Onc. told me that the theory that environment causes cancer has been proven), the environment is mimicking all hormones in living things, including animals. Nobody knows how it plays a role but the environment is playing a role in both negative and positive BC. In my case, I know that something declined pretty badly in my body when I was 47. I had all sorts of symptoms for which I had tons of blood tests done, and many scans and what not. Nothing was ever found, except one single thing stood out - a blood test which showed that I had >20 ER, whereas normal for postmenopausal was >41. There was a note which said "this should be interpreted with caution". From that point on, I could clearly tell that I had hardly any estrogen to work with, it had declined pretty badly. When I eat flaxseeds (not the budwig protocol), I feel very energetic. I honestly feel that it helps me get some ER in my body. But I am not sure why I got those painful spots last week. I honestly believe that this complexity of hormones (either lack of, or too much of) is giving women all kinds of diseases, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, painful hips and joints, some lose all their hair - all hormonal issues.
I hope no one gets offended by my post, this is just all my own opinion. All of it. I am a kind of a very opinionated woman, sorry - it comes from 54 years of living and personal experiences. Please forgive me if any part of this bothers anyone.
0 -
0 -
Cocker_Spaniel,
I'll take that hug please and thank you...first Oncologist appt tomorrow.
As for what triggered the cancer...well now let me start;
I am in the best shape of my life, non smoker, yoga fan, love to bicycle and walk, great BMI, clean eater/love to cook, social drinker no processed foods ,over 50 and looking young, happily married and oh yeah, TNBC as well. So there goes that healthy theory. Oh and of course, no history of BC in our large family. Felt 'off' for the past 2 years, amazing considering how hard I worked at staying fit and healthy.
Ativan is my new friend. My best friend has lung cancer/mets brain, my other gf has ovarian, terminal now, my other friend has always grown organics, master gardener with a personal trainer, just finished ovarian cancer treatment NED.
Cancer sucks big time. Hate this shite and I am just getting started.
0 -
Sophiestoy - welcome. You had everthing going for you until this horrible diagnosis. So that really blows the healthy theory out the door. How was your stress levels if you had any?. Sorry to hear about your friends and hope they are free of pain and comfortable. Does not make any sense to me as to why we all have BC. Nobody seems to get to the bottom of it but I sure hope they get some sort of cure soon. Yes they have made progress but why no cure. Good luck with your oncologist appointment tomorrow. I agree Cancer Sux. Here's another hig ((())) Annie
0 -
Just to clarify, my reason for quitting to begin with. We were going on vacation and I would have been the only smoker. I didn't feel like holding everyone up with "oh, let me have a quick one before we go in" Things of that nature. It wasn't so much the cancer reasoning. I figured I had just turned 41 a week before I quit, way to young for cancer.
Within the past year, I've lost quite a bit of weight, quit smoking and exercise a lot more. I have to say, I feel wonderful. I haven't felt this good in years, I'm really enjoying the "new" me. As far as drinking, I try to limit myselt to 2 a week, which works well because we might go out to eat once a week. I'll be moving home and seeing my friends again next week so that could change.
0 -
I'll take a hug, if I may, Annie. I have a follow-up with the surgeon this morning, followed by a 1-hour chemo talk with the oncology nurse. Tomorrow morning I have a "consult" with the Dr. who will be putting in my port, and then I guess I get the port placed this week. Still waiting for the Lexipro to kick in so I can eat and sleep. I think she gave me a placebo.
Sophiestoy, I lived pretty healthy too, except for lots of stress in the past year. I know lots of women more stressed than me, and they're fine. I always wanted to win the Lottery - but NOT this one!
0 -
(((Maureen)))
The lexipro may take a couple of weeks to get its full effect, it's very gradual. Ask your doc for an anti-anxiety med, like xanax or I believe a lot of women get ativan as well. This will help for immediate need, especially before going to a drs appt. My script for xanax is only .5 milligram, doesn't sound like much but does take the edge off and keep me calm
Good luck at your appointments.
0 -
Ladies,
Let's talk Men. My man to be exact, he drives me crazy!!!!!! Why the heck does he have to turn into a HUGE butthead for days before breaking down and expressing his true feelings? Why is it so damn difficult just to say what's on your mind? I don't have a problem getting stuff out, I'm sure many people have just wanted me to shut up. He's been married to me for 11 years, together for 14, why couldn't that trait rub off?
Is this something I should be blaming his mother for? She's batsh*t crazy!
Thankfully Butthead finally broke down yesterday and expressed all of his fears about us moving back home. The biggest one being, that we are going to be living in two different states for a short period of time and he's terrified of the separation. DUH!!!! I already knew that! You needed to be a jackass?
Well, now that he's feeling better and this is my last week at work, I'm so excited I feel like I'm jumping out of my skin. Just want to go home and continue packing up.
0 -
Maureen - good luck!
I'll accept a little hug, too. Got the call on Friday that my CA 27.29 has gone from 31 in January to 55.8 on Wednesday. Last time it was that high I had a 4.6 cm lesion, 4 involved intermammary nodes and 4 axillary nodes. Ick. I was NED in October, according to the PET/CT scan. I'll be having another one this week, I should hear sometime today. Could be a false positive, but my history with tumor marker tests has been consistently accurate. I feel fine. Other labs were fine. Taking temazepam to sleep...lol.
Heather - glad your DH let his fears out! Now you know what you're dealing with. I was dealing with the big move this time last year so I know how you feel. It's scary and exciting at the same time. Do you use Skype? Your DH and you can video chat whenever he needs his "Heather" fix!
0
