Calling all TNs
Comments
-
Dawn was an amazing lady! She will be greatly missed,my deepest sympathy to her husband,family and friends! Fly with the angels,Dawn!!!
0 -
Hello, me again.
My very heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your friend and sister, Dawn.
I want to share a song that I used to sing a lot over the last 7-8 months since I was diagnosed. It's called Warrior!!, and was inspired actually by the subject of domestic violence, but I think the ravages of breast cancer make it equally suitable.
The only good recording I can find of it is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-fbGubfxw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This is West Coast Harmony, a Sweet Adelines Chorus. Sweet Adelines International is a wonderful sisterhood of singers, of which I am proud and privileged to be a part!
If you want to skip direct to "Warrior!!" It starts at about 8.55 mins in. The song after that "Celebrate!!" is also one you might want to listen to, as you celebrate the life that was Dawn.
in love and harmony,
Rose xxx0 -
((group hug with Stupidboob in the middle))
I hadn't considered that about the blood sugar levels spiking from a quick shot of juice ... thank you! I will try to chill out a bit with the carrot shots, and also research a bit more to find out which ingredients affect that more than others, etc. If I find anything of value, I'll be sure to post back.
Friends, it's so hard when we lose a Sister that we are close to. If your emotions are on overdrive right now because of this fear, we should concentrate our energy on reconditioning our belief of a TNBC diagnosis, from one filled with anxiety to one that "we can and will survive TNBC". Many newly diagnosed members have been joining recently, and we have quite a few healthy long-term Sisters on here, we have some with an early recurrence and some with distant recurrence. But in general, we should all do our best to build each other up and look for something positive.
I think we should all go out to the internet sometime this week, and come back and post 1 positive article we found about TNBC. Our Ladies here need some positive words, positive encouragement and inspirational stories to look up to. In the wake of losing a beloved Sister, this is the optimal time when the survival stories, the new articles, new approaches to TNBC, new ways to tackle diet and nutrition need to be presented. This is the time that we are feeling our most vulnerable. Let's help each other.
I feel many of us are sinking emotionally at times, and while we support each other, we need to help each other through an emotional setback, challenge or just plain rut. We all get them, but it's how we respond that can really make a difference. We can learn from each other. We need to band together, find helpful information and instill techniques that all of us can use at any stage of breast cancer.
And StupidBoob, that is very insensitive that someone mentioned that to you (re: the comment about not suffering). Our surrounding environment plays a pivotal role in how we are able to manage our fears and emotions. If we are in an environment where people talk like that, it will ultimately play upon our fears and trigger fear-based emotions, which are destructive. If this were me, I would limit my contact with whoever said that, and if it's not possible, I would let them know exactly why that is not a very healthy remark to make, or at the very least I would let them know how terrible that remark made me feel. I do understand how people can say things to us without meaning to step on toes ... but I feel that one comment that was made to you was very insensitive and exceeds the threshhold of what I would put up with, without saying something in return.
Have a great day and hugs to all!
0 -
Great idea about posting a positive article about tnbc! I will definitely look into the lit.
Hugs,
Peggy0 -
I will do it also! I had several saved articles on my last browser on my former computer, and I thought I saved it in an e-mail as a backup. I will go through my e-mail account and locate them.
At the moment, I'm posting the title of a book I just downloaded a few minutes ago from Amazon. It explains (in form I can understand) what vitamins do to help the cells, which one does what at which time, what foods to eat, and a whole chapter on foods and cancer prevention, etc. I just scrolled through the book, but so far looks excellent and had great reviews on Amazon! I used the "download kindle for pc" option, and was able to read it on my computer, even though I don't have a kindle.
Here is the book:
Food for Life: How the New Four Food Groups Can Save Your Life0 -
-
Just checking in to see how all of you ladies are doing. So very sorry to hear of Inmate's passing.
0 -
Saddened by the news of Inmate/Dawn's death. A lovely lady, full of hope, good spirits and compassion for all her friends here at BCO.
0 -
Stupidboob the radiation machine will hopefully not affect your agoraphobia as it comes up to the side of you that the BC is on and just in front and then on an angle, not in a tunnel. The longest time it will be in front of you is about 25-30 seconds at the most. If your BC is on the left they will do everything possible to miss your heart and your lungs thats why they do all the simulation numbers. They can hear everything you say and do and will be with you in a jiffy if you need them. All you have to do is keep still. These radiologists do know what they are doing and you will be just fine.
Inspired sorry but |I cannot think of one positive thing to say about TNBC. I reckon it sux big time.
0 -
ALHusband - thank you for sharing that link! I watched it and have always respected how much time and energy Patricia Prijatel devotes towards helping us. She is a gem. By the way, you can e-mail her even. I e-mailed her a few months ago with a question, and she responded within only a few hours!
Back to my experimentation with ginger. It doesn't take much to do it's thing, does it? I put a little chunk in my kale and blueberry blended drink, and it sure did change the taste dramatically. I can't say it was for the better either. I think I used too much.
Have a great day everyone!
0 -
*slides in sideways........literally......with a few Margueritas under her belt. Cuddles up next to Cocker*. I understand, my dear friend! *Smooches Annie*
0 -
Right on Annie! Love you, Jan
0 -
I knew inside my heart why I was dodging the site for a couple days, this was the reason. Can't stop crying! I will miss you Inmate! You must be with the Lord, in bliss. Love you always!
0 -
Have any of you had blurred vision from the chemo? I have noted that some people said they did on another blog.
0 -
I did husband and it was very frustrating. It went away after chemo ended however I have bad eyesight now that I didnt have before.
0 -
my eyes are terrible now and I had 20/15 vision before. Very frustrating. It started during chemo and I had to go to hyperbaric therapy and that set it over the edge. Doc said it would come back but its been 6 months so not gonna happen.....sigh
Maggie
0 -
Thanks sweetpickle and Mags. My wife complained of things appearing to be "melting" in her peripheral vision. Has also had some plain old fashioned "blurring" here and there. It comes and goes though. She's 8 treatments into her 12 treatment plan with Cisplatin and Taxol.
0 -
Same here husband- vision has gotten worse. It was especially bad while taking the steroids before and during chemo. I am 2.5 years out from last chemo and my vision has changed dramatically.
0 -
Thanks TifJ. Sorry to hear that you have some lingering vision issues.
0 -
I am so glad to hear this is not just me. I am halfway through chemo of 4 doses AC/4 doses of Taxol and it just seems to be getting worse. Can't read those small prescription bottles any more. I was hoping this would pass. I am doing surgery next and then radiation.
Dx 5/3/2013, Invasive ductal Stage 2A, Grade 2
0 -
not to make light of the blurred vision se...but I was extremely nearsighted before chemo and am extremely nearsighted still....had my eyebrows done shortly after rads...didn't have my glasses on and I stumbled and nearly fell walking to the "eyebrow" chair...I did wear contacts before chemo...just can't stand to wear them now....they just hurt...did anyone else have this?
0 -
Thank god others have the bad and blurred vision. I thought it was just me and was freaking out! It is amazing how every little symptom makes you think the worst! I am 2 months out from chemo. Does anyone still have chemo brain? It feels foggy and I am so forgetful now!
0 -
My chemo brain is getting better but definately still there. Although Im still taking pain meds from surgery so it might be that.
0 -
As far as I know, chemo brain can actually affect you for up to 5 years. I am a year out and still have some but, luckily, am retired and don't need to think sharply for work, etc. I remember reading an article that said young career women should carefully consider getting chemo as it could affect their jobs. They suggested that if you had a lumpectomy with large clear margins, you might not really need chemo - but with TN, I don't think I would take the chance.
Doreen
0 -
I'm more than 2 years out and still batty! I'm retired, too, but I couldn't still teach if I had to!
0 -
No matter how far out from chemo I get, I will always blame it when I say something stupid or am forgetful- I refuse to blame it on age!!
0 -
I'm 18 months out, and it's been the past 3 months that I have noticed an excellent change towards being back to myself 100%, regarding side effects. The part where I would talk, and not be able to identify a word that I had been looking for, has finally subsided. The 90 minute workouts that used to leave me feeling very fatigued, I can now do them, take a shower and go immediately about my business. And yesterday, for the first time, I was back to a time that I used to do things like this: I cleaned the whole house for 8 hours, and then went out washed and waxed one of our cars, which took another 5 hours, in 110 degree heat. I've always felt pretty good through all of this, but it's been about the past couple of months where I can really feel the overdrive kicking in, and being really close to my former self, but I think yesterday must have confirmed that I'm back to me. The only thing, is when I saw my Onc 2 weeks ago, he asked me to back off on the exercise a bit after I showed him my mileage log. He was worried I would need a hip replacement in 10 years at age 55, and then told me that since chemo induced menopause for me, that it can also cause arthritis, etc and told me to take it a bit easier. So our gym is free, but they mainly have cardio machines, so I'm going to check into a commmunity center where I can get some other exercises in, and not have all the daily activity focusing on the same group.
I wear contacts, and have had the blurred vision, where it looks like an entire room or item is melting. I could never think of way to describe it, but that it's what it looks like, now that I see how AlHusband phrased it.
When I was going through chemo, my husband and I did jigsaw puzzles the entire time, to keep my brain active ... although I've always felt I've had a very entertaining brain! I think that helped though for sure, and it was a great healthy escape from all that was going on. My joint pain post chemo ended within 3 months, but was replaced by workout soreness, (I coudn't walk up stairs), but eventually my body adjusted. I think it was mostly problematic when I was running on the treadmill, but once I switched to the EFX (elliptical machine) it went away, just took some time.
0 -
I'm wondering if some of you can post what your post treatment screenings were like....mammograms, ultrasound, MRI, and what kind of schedule? I'm nearing the end of my chemo and sat next to a radiologist yesterday who said do it all as soon as chemo ends. I've had 2 tumors removed in one breast and she rec's compete pictures since this breast will never internally be the same and suggests baseline pictures. I'm in Germany but feel better hearing about the American system. What is the safest thing be doing for screening in the next few years considering how quickly a TN tumor can grow?
0 -
I am trying to go the route of: MRI at annual interval, and ultrasound at the 6-month interval each year, so that some screening is being done every 6 months. Because insurance will pay for the MRI, my BS thinks he can get that approved, and then the u/s would be at my expense, only if insurance did not agree that I'm at a particular risk to need that. So some screenings may in fact coincide with the risk. My risk assessment would be the fact that I was dx'd under the age of 45 with a TNBC diagnosis. So far, insurance has followed that protocol for me, but I also had 'questions' on some scar tissue, so the ultrasound in that instance was approved. My MRIs have been an enhanced imaging type, called Diffusion Weighted Imaging.
0 -
Susan- My onc. And bs take turns seeing me every three months for the next two years and then it will go to every six months after that. We will not be doing scans or bloodwork unless I present with symptoms and we went over what those might be. Basically anything off that I feel for two weeks or more, Onc. Wants to know about. Im comfortable with this as I dont want a bunch of scans that may stress me out or lead to an unecessary test. i totally undestand and respect other peoples approaches. I think we all need to do what works for us as individuals.
0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdNfJj2rrog