Calling all TNs
Comments
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Hi ladies -
Interested in hearing about women who change their life style and those that don't after being diagnosed with TNB. Does it really reduce the rate of recurrence if you make serious changes to lifestyle? What about women who were in great shape, exercised, ate well and still got TNB?
I went into this very healthy - can't remember the last time I had a cold - haven't missed work since i delivered my last child. I've always eaten a well balanced diet with plent of fruits and veggies - no fast food, soda etc. and I exercise moderately. I really don't believe giving up a daily cup of coffee, cheese and chocolate will make much difference - other than making me grumpy. Can I exercise more often - sure - but I would do this to make myself feel better and more energetic.
What are your thoughts?0 -
hi loafer - for me im pretty extreme at everything i do, either all or nothing. can pig out and go off the rails but the outcome is always a disaster, weight gain, lethargic, depressed.
finally i seem to have a handle on it and believe everything in moderation, i still have a glass of wine, still drink coffee, and by the way they are now saying that we must have 2 coffees a day as its very beneficial to health..last decade it was to cut out coffee.
when i feel my best is when i basically stick to healthy eating and lots of exercise and if thats a contributing factor for stopping progression then thats a bonus.
so for me 90% good, will still have a chocolate if i want but dont seem to want anymore, food doesnt have to be all organic, still have meat, very lean no fat and loads of vegetables and still go out with my friends and drink and have fun at least once a week.
definitely feel better exercising and eating healthy, mentally and physically.
xx
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Loafer - when I read "how to prevent..." in the women's magazines, I just smile. Eat right (veggies, fruits, whole grains, low fat, etc.), exercise (3-4 times a week high intensity aerobics, walking half-marathons, etc.), no smoking, little alcohol (1 glass per evening).
So, 4 years ago I had open heart surgery for leaky valves (3 of them) and went back to the healthy lifestyle as soon as I could.
Now it's TN breast cancer, and I'm trying to get back to the healthy lifestyle again. (Getting back to the exercise is the hard part.)
The magazine articles never mention choosing your ancestors more carefully.
Don't let others make you feel guilty about what you've done in the past, or make you feel it's YOUR FAULT that you have cancer. Just do the best you can with the hand you've been dealt.
Nat
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lol nat - The magazine articles never mention choosing your ancestors more carefully.
too true!!
xx
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Hi Loafer ~ Lately lifestyle is all I can think about, now that I'm through with treatment. I feel if I don't change something it's going to come back again. Is it the water I drink? Is it my brca2 mutation? Is it the glass of wine I have each day? etc etc!! I do eat good, walk 2 miles at least 4 times a week. I am trying to live my life again but it is hard finding the new me.
liv- you are so right about everything in moderation! Do you take any vitamins or supplements?
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nat - so true - wise words indeed.
sandlake: I was just like you, pretty obsessed with diet, exercise and supplements up until about 2 years out. I'm less anxious now, though I still try to exercise regularly and eat healthy - this just makes sense for a whole lot of reasons.
Lauren, how about this: BC is invasive - that means cancer cells can spread throughout the body. Surgery will remove a tumour in the breast, and radiation will zap lingering cells in the breast region, but only systemic therapy can kill cancer cells that may be circulating or trying to set up residence in an organ or in your bones. TN, specifically, does not respond to hormone therapy (taking a pill every day); therefore chemotherapy is the only systemic therapy that works on us.... and it's an important treatment for TNs to do (unless the tumour is extremely small) as this form of BC is also known to be very aggressive. (Still, it's not a magic bullet, and sometimes cancer does return.)
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Minxie during your first treatment did they not scan you tooo see if chemo was working? shrinking the cancer? Or you had lumpectomy first? I use to wonder why chemo first but actualy its a good thing because the docs know if it works on the patient. (complete pathological response). Did you get 25 radiation hits this time?
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My doc just told me that in the Conference on December 2012 In San Antonio Texas they have discovered there is a subtype to this TN. The ones that just go on for years way past 10 and then recur but no signs of metastisis then the ones that recur quickly and spread. This could be the key to a cure if they find out what the new subtype has.
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Netty, my first tumor was 1.2 cm, kind of small, so they did lumpectomy then chemo. This was in 2008/09. In 2009 they found DCIS and I had a BMX. Then 3 years after the BMX I found a 1 cm lump that was a local recurrence. This time they took apart the reconstructed breast, took out the lump and a lot of tissue, and did 25 rads. I had done 5 rads right before BMX when we didn't know about the DCIS yet. As soon as DCIS was found we stopped rads and moved to MX surgery. Yes, a long confusing story. On Monday I get a new TE put in, so I can get my implant back this spring.
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hi minxie i pm you.
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Hi - Just checking in to see how everyone is doing! Also, I have some good news - I just passed my 3 year mark! My bone scan and CT scan show no local or distant recurrence! (I'm still afraid to exhale - shh!) Take care of you!!
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fantastic news sunny - another 100 coming up.
congratulations!!
xx
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Congrats Sunny - enjoy and celebrate
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Congrats Sunny!!! My onc says 3 years is the critical milestone for TN!! Awesome news and thanks for sharing!
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Great news, Sunny!!
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Great news Sunny. Say with us and it might rub off onto us. Good news indeed.
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Although the dog doesn't look like my Tessa the food reminds me of her. As most of you know she suffers from pancreatitis and cannot have any fat in her diet. We had a box full of liqueres left on the table the other night well Chloe got up and knocked them down (cause Tessa is too fat to jump although she has lost a lot of weight) and then they both got stuck into them until they were all gone. We found the box in the morning complete with one dog who had a terrible tummyache. Hopefully this will teach her but god knows Chloe must be able to jump high even though she is so small.
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Congrats Sunny . . . I'm dreaming of the day I can have the same post!!!
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I thought the link below was interesting.....maybe some hope for those who feel their txs have failed them. The continued search for a "cure" is still very foremost in the health world. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/19/cancer-doctor-burzynski.aspx?e_cid=20130119_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130119
A while back one of our TN sisters posted that her DH believed that you can just cut the cancer out and be done with it. I believe that everyone has cancer cells roaming around in their bodies....these cells just wait for the chance to take advantage of an opportunity to start to multiply. I am in favor of thinking like the DH....I had my rogue cancer cut out and it is gone. Now I will do the best I can to keep the other cancer cells at bay. Yes, I still have my fears with every new ache or pain but I just do the best I can to stay healthy. I gave up my beloved smokes, Diet Coke and have cut back on my adult beverages. I feel very healthy and do believe that I am CURED. If it recurs, then I will wage war on it again. I must say, as horrible as this disease is, I have never met so many wonderful people....Cancer changed my life and not all for the worse. I hope this post does not offend, that is not my intention. Just wanted share my point of view. I hold good thoughts for all cancer victims. What an approrpriate word Victims..that is what we are and no one is immune. The question is WHY?
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Wrenwood47,
First let me say I love Sedona what a wonderful place to live you fortunate person.
I wanted to agree with you that while cancer sucks and this is truly the worst thing to happen in my life (56 yo) and I have had some challenges, I have found blessings in this journey too. I am learning more about myself, I have reconnected with friends, have become convinced that my family loves me and I am very important to them, and feel like I am increasing in my spirituality. Plus so much more. I truly believe that things happen for a reason, I don't have to understand, agree, or ever know why but there has always been a lesson for me.
Take care, Sheryl
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Stopping in to say hello.
Sunny - great news - bake yourself a cake!
Annie - poor pooch. But you have to love the team spirit!
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I'm returning to life after Wed treatment and Thursday's Neulasta shot from Hell. Beautiful weather today. Had a lovely walk with friends.0 -
Ditto to what Sheryl said - I couldn't have said it better myself; it's exactly how I feel :-)
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OMG. I finally got up the nerve to read about TN, and the first thing (well, not really the first) is that three years is the milestone, not 5 years. Somebody get me a beer. At the same time I am in agreement with SherylB with all the positive things that I've noticed since this diagnosis. Crazy roller coaster. We'll see what happens after I talk with MO to discuss my upcoming chemo.
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SherylB, thanks for your synopsis of TN cancer, it did help me to understand it better. I have been on another forum, and avoiding this one because I find it scary, but it is what it is, so I will probably be here more often.
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Lauren, I assume you are talking abt the BART test that can go hand in hand with the BRCA1&2 test. It is considered investigational by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It is very expensive and there isn''t tons of research as far as I know to tell you how it would help in determining prognosis/recurrence rates. But, do call your genetic counselor and ask some pointed questions. I wouldn't totally freak out if you can't afford it. $3000 goes a long way to pay for other tests to test for evidence of disease (cancer).
I have 2 more rads to go and then I'm all done with that! Woot Woot! I'm tan (and burnt) in places that have never seen the light of day...which is hysterical since I don't tan.
Hope to try to get some rest today. Busy day but couldn't sleep. (((HUGS))) to all and welcome to the newbies.Becky
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Today's Reading From The Bible
A Reading from Genesis
"And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all
corners of the earth."
Then He made the earth round. And He laughed and laughed and laughed.0 -
That's a good one DorMac
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Dormac, borrowing it, LMAO
Sheryl
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Great one Dormac and OBXK your comments make me laugh every time. Team spirit, little sods lol.
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