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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671
    edited September 2010

    Michelle:  Cancer is sooooo aging!  It isn't fair.  I was still getting carded until I started getting sick about a year before my diagnosis.  Cancer sucks!!!!  

  • HeidiToo
    HeidiToo Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2011

    Not to make anyone feel bad but, I have been told I look better *after* cancer. Seriously. In fact, it's almost embarrassing. Here I am, supposed to be all "sick" and stuff, and I look better than I have in years. It's my hair. Everyone comments on how much more stylish and becoming it is. Go figure

    However, cancer made me *really* concentrate on my dress and make-up. As a "horsey" type I usually hung out in barn duds and stuffed my hair under a helmet or ball cap. So, definitely not a fashion aficionado.

    It helped that we had a fantastic boutique in town and I was practicing Retail Therapy.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671
    edited September 2010

    hhfheidi:  Ahhhh, retail therapy!!!

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited September 2010

    ((((((Sugar))))))

    I went through the calcification finding on my "good boob"  one year ago.  I had the STCNB, and at this point everything is okay.  I am having follow-ups and go in for my follow up mamo in February.  I understand how scary that can be.  I will be keeping you in my prayers.

  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 1,155
    edited August 2013

    Someone gave me "The Secret" too.  It was a BC survivor who gave it to me.  I started to read it, but really didn't get it.  Like a lot of books that don't interest me right away, I stopped reading it.  I guess I didn't miss a lot.  I think the theme was to stay positive (I can do that on my own).  I read another book that I liked, but my chemo brain won't let me remember it.  :)

    So, those of you who take (or took) Glutamine, how much did you take a day?  Did you take it every day or so many days after chemo???

  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671
    edited September 2010

    Kittycat:  1000 mg 2-3 x a day in pill or powder form! 

  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    Hey, MBJ - since you really know a lot about supplements, how much alpha-lipoic acid should you take? 

  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 1,155
    edited September 2010

    Thanks MBJ - I am taking about 4 tsp in powder form a day (I think that's about 20 grams).

  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671
    edited September 2010

    Kittycat:  You are welcome!!

    Riley:  I go to an integrative dr. so I have lots of help plus he is very good friends with my Onc who is also pro-integrative care.  My Onc has me take 600 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid 2 x a day with food.  Don't take it too late at night though, or you won't sleep!

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited September 2010

    My GP just called. She got a verbal from the radiologist that everything is fine. It was some calcifications and the pattern favours benign. However, given my history they wanted to be extra careful. I will be having a mammogram in six months to recheck. Whew!!! Thanks so much for all your support.

  • lrm216
    lrm216 Member Posts: 534
    edited September 2010

    Great news, Sugar.  So happy for you and the relief you got from hearing it!  Celebrate!!!!

  • HeidiToo
    HeidiToo Member Posts: 965
    edited February 2011

    Sugar- so happy for you! I know how relieved you feel. Go eat some chocolate...

  • Summer38
    Summer38 Member Posts: 96
    edited September 2010

    So happy for you Sugar!!! Breathe...............................

  • tnbcRuth
    tnbcRuth Member Posts: 338
    edited September 2010

    WONDERFUL !!!  I'll bet each of us will be in your shoes at one point, so remember Ladies, its nothing until its something. 

  • navymom
    navymom Member Posts: 842
    edited September 2010

    Great news Sugar.

    Add me to the list of "The Secret" haters.

    Navy

  • mitymuffin
    mitymuffin Member Posts: 242
    edited September 2010
    Great news Sugar!
  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 626
    edited September 2010

    Oh Sugar, I am thrilled for you.  What a relief!!!  How great of your GP to be proactive and get you some answers.

  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 1,313
    edited September 2010

    Whew!!! Sugar!   Love your good news!  But I hate the anxiety you had to go through!  I guess it is to be expected since we are so special..but yay for you! 

    On another note..was watching the news tonight and they had a segment on Vitamin D3...not sure where they were filming from but this doctor said that 70% of his breast cancer patients had low vitamin D..so I know we have discussed this before but if your oncs aren't having you tested..ASK them to for you to be tested..and start taking the D3 anyway...I started taking it b-4 the onc told me to..b-4 I was even tested..the first time I was 40 something..now I'm 60 something...I'm taking 2000 IU's per day..I'm hoping that is enough to maintain my 60 something..or even raise it..plus if you can sit outside in the sun with 80 percent of your body exposed..no lotion..for 20 minutes.My onc even agreed to this and sometimes I have a hard time getting him to agree with things outside the box!  

    Oh.and again..great news Sugar!  You have 6 months b-4 you have to freak out again!  Enjoy! 

  • MonikaV
    MonikaV Member Posts: 148
    edited September 2010
    Great news Sugar!!!!!! Smile
  • MonikaV
    MonikaV Member Posts: 148
    edited September 2010

    Going for my last chemo tomorrow. I am excited! Thank God!

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited September 2010

    Titan, trust me I've already told my husband I'll be having the mammogram on or around his birthday (March 20th) and I'll likely be anxious once again!

    Regarding Vitamin D, I asked both my medical and radiation oncologists and my surgeon to test my levels and they all said they don't do that! So, I got my GP to test and it came back 53 (low normal).  This was with supplementing 2,000 - 3,0000 IU in the previous few months. And, I'd been taking 1,000 for a few years prior to that.  I saw a naturopath and increased my daily dosage and made an effort to get 15-20 minutes of sunshine every day during the summer since I was off work (...even managed to get a bit of a tan without even trying). There is a good active thread here on bc.org called "help with vit D levels." 

    Monika - congrats a day in advance for finishing chemo!!!! 

  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 321
    edited February 2011

    My rad onc said he wouldn't do the vit D testing because insurance wouldn't pay if he ordered it; he had me go to my GP, because he did want me to have it done.  Low, so I'm taking 4,000 ICU / day. 

    Long time on the phone with BCBS today getting paperwork figured out.  They have been pleasant, helpful, and informative every time I call.  We're almost caught up, and it's about time for my 6mos onc visit :)

    Good news, Sugar.  Glad to hear it.

    And way to go Monika!

  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    That's fantastic, Sugar!

  • laurajane
    laurajane Member Posts: 305
    edited September 2010

    I am so happy everything is o.k. Sugar. We were all sending positive thoughts your way. I'm so sorry you had to worry but what a celebration now!

    Monika- Congratulations! How thrilling to be done. Yeahhhhh! 

    Interesting about the Vit. D. I've spent my whole life in the sun from landscaping. Not a good thing I know, I never wore sun screen in my earlier years. I am still curious about my levels. My daughter was telling me the best way to intake Vit. D is by raw milk and organic butter. I'll ask tomorrow when I get my 6th taxol. 1/2 way there.

  • TiffanyF4
    TiffanyF4 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2010

    My oncologist is a huge believer in low vitamin D contributing to breast cancer. I was tested and I have a extremly low vitamin D level.  I was put on 50,000UI 1 a week for eight weeks I have done this twice and each time I still test low.  I am on my third round and if I test low at my next blood work he is sending my to specialist.  He even commented that a very high percentage of his breast cancer patients are vit D deficient and he tests as many as he can.

  • TiffanyF4
    TiffanyF4 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2010
    Congrats to moniKav on the last chemo tommorow! Laughing
  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671
    edited September 2010

    Tiffany:  Some dr's don't know this, but you also need Vitamin K1 in order to absorb vitamin D3 properly, so you should be taking itin combination.  I take 8000 iu daily! 

    (((SUGAR))))!!!   Great news!!! In my heart I knew you would be okay!!!  Just in time for the weekend.

    Laurajane:  As we get older, our bodies don't absorb Vit D as easily, so even if you get alot of Vit D via sunlight your body may not be utilizing it (see above).  Also, if you use sunblock or sunscreen you aren't getting the benefits, either!

    MonikaV:  OMG Congrats on being done with chemo!!!

  • monisch
    monisch Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2010

    Hi Ladies,  wow  havent been on here in days.. and its hard to catch up to all the new stuff here. You girls are really active.  I have a question for yal.  Has anyone had problems with their periods since getting chemo treatment ??  I had my reg. period in Aug. then exactly 20 days later another period which was very heavy and after that one i have spotting 15 days later. This is driving me nuts  and wondering if anyone else has had this. I never spot and always am on time.. the 28 day ritual.  Im confused :(    Othe than that im haning on.... day after chemo is crappy....

    but im hanging..... 3 more to go and then radiation.

     hope yal are doing great...

  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 575
    edited September 2010

    My periods haven't restarted post-chemo, monisch. I'm 49, though, and that's the age my sister hit menopause, and my Mom was even younger (46?), so the oncologist said mine may or may not come back. But that if it did, it might be very irregular at first, so that sounds like what you're going through.

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited September 2010

    I had started my period two days before my first chemo treatment and that period seemed to go on forever.  My next one was six weeks later, despite the fact that mine were always 28 days apart...like clockwork.  Anyway, that second one was in January and I've not had once since.  My mother went into menopause in her '50s but my half sister hit menopause around 45. My GP checked my estrogen levels in June and they were much lower than a women who is menstruating regularly but not low enough for me to be in menopause so maybe I'm in "in-between-pause" lol