Calling all TNs
Comments
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Gram. great news!
Thanks for all the Merry Christmas wishes, and sending you all mine too! Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to all my tnbc sisters! I am so grateful to have you in my life! ....and grateful for the life we have!
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Hi Everyone! Today is my 3 year survivorship date (figuring by the dx date, as per the landmark study) and Jan 4th is my 3 year healthy victory date. My u/s last week was normal. For those of you wondering my protocol, I request an MRI and u/s yearly, with each of those staggered at 6-months, so that the surveillance flip flops.
Also, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Have a nice celebration and go out there and be amazing! xoxo
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That's awesome Inspired!!!! Congrats!! XOXO!!!!
I hope you don't mind me asking, but when you get an MRI and U/S, do they just do the chest area?
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Inspiredbyd= YEAH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! Only the best.
Wishing everyone a happy new year and a CANCER FREE new year and many NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Celebrating with you Sweet Dolce
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Congratulations, Inspired!! I am celebrating with you! That has to be a wonderful feeling.
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Inspired - how wonderful to have a clean bill of health! That is fabulous news - so glad to have you back on the forums again - we missed you!
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Debra, BIG congratulations- I'm doing a victory dance for you ;-)! Yesterday was my 2 year from Dx- went out to a Mexican restraurant with DH and his brothers/wives and celebrated.
Wishing everyone a fabulous New Years. I'm really going to try and loose some weight, it's been creeping up since tx and part of trying to get beyond this has been to enjoy life-and too much food :-(. All my best to my TN sisters
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slv - i'm with you. since my hysterectomy it's only getting worse. i'm not looking to be a hottie just get it back in check.
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jenjenl, I have to somehow have a mind set change. For some reason because of what I've been through I feel I'm entitled to enjoy food. Wrong-I feel encumbered by this excess weight and am just about ready to at least try saying "no " to my desires! lol somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking that if I only have a limited amount of time, I don't want to say no to a good meal-I know this is wrong, it's just hard to do. I don't really think I'm eating a lot, but it definitely is not burning off the way it use to. New Years I will start tracking weight and make an effort to make better choices because I plan on being here for awhile!
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Congrats! Dolce! I am 15 mos out, I hope I stay NED too! I had Diep reconstruction so I think I will have CT scans but not sure. I don't think I will have MRIs or U/S done since I don't really have breast tissue. I will ask my BS. Glad everyone's doing well,
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Congrats Inspired! Three years is a huge deal for us TNBCer's.
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I have a pain in my lower rght chest....toward the vottom of my rib...just under my tissue expander. It feels like a bruise but it isnt bruised.. whay does this mean? Is this a bone or liver disaster for me? I have just moved and im trying to get in to see a new oncologist. Any experience with this?
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No on both. Maybe a pulled muscle.
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Wait why do you still have the TE? That's 16 months, could that be the problem? I have on going pain around those ribs too, i had a scan and there was nothing wrong with the liver, ribs or boob. So basically, it was dx as a significant amount of scar tissue that get's inflamed when i do certain things.
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someone asked me this and i've researched and go conflicting answers. Can a pelvis xray show bone cancer?
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Congratulations Dolce!
I wonder if you could tell us if you've followed Plan B e.g., diet and exercise) and if you have, what do you do to motivate yourself?
Ii started out strong--low sugar and low fat, with daily exercise of at least 45 min. But as time goes on I've slipped back into old habits, particularly sugar, and my body shows it.
Next October (2015) will be my three-year anniversary. If I want to have NED, I need to get back on track. Any help in this regard would be much appreciated (e.g., how do you say "no" to your favorite unhealthy foods?
Hugs,
Peggy
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Today is 3 yrs since my last chemo...hard to believe so much time as past. I remember the day all too well. Did not remember it until tonight....It is not that often now that the C words pops into my head. I have finally been able to put much of it behind me and continue living the life that is set before me. Fight on my sisters
Mags
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Congratulations, Mags! Must be a great feeling. I am looking forward to it.
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Congrats Mags and Lookingforward!
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Shari and Peggy:
For starters, I can relate to what you posted Shari. Peggy, I'll respond to you in a separate post, but some information here might help you, so I've also added your name. Shari, it really depicts the emotional toll that the TNBC diagnosis can impart on someone. You have statistics showing a great prognosis for you, but you have the fear, which ultimately is controlling to a certain extent of your emotions, which then establishes a behavior for that emotion. I've experienced that same thought before that you mentioned (and acted upon it), and this is what broke me of that cycle. I found myself more miserable after indulging than before indulging. I realized there was a point where I kept getting 'rewarded' and 'treating myself', with no real accomplishment tied to the reward. To break the habit, I instilled rewards that I had to work for – and allowed them only if I achieved whatever the goal was. For me, I had to realize simply surviving a life event did not mean continual treats or entitlement. I also realized there were people out there doing a lot more with what could be perceived as a lot less (not referring to cancer here, just people in society making a difference). I wondered where they got their fortitude, their strength, their commitment and resolve. I found strength in knowing others displayed such commitment and attitude. I went back to the drawing board, and reread some of my materials, and allowed myself to be a part of a few groups that could help me achieve what I wanted to achieve. I started setting up some tangible goals that I could achieve and then reward myself, because the reward is really an even bigger pleasure when I have worked for it. For you, why don't you try joining the "What's for Dinner Forum?" Now I'm not sure if they focus solely on healthy eating or not, (most likely they do) and I'm sure you will find some great recipes, ideas, tips and suggestions for warding off some tempting indulgences.
PS - Shari, there is no right or wrong way of thinking, so try not to be so hard on yourself for wanting to have a great meal. Eating healthy is only one way of potentially reducing risk. You might excel in other ways. Certainly being a positive ray of light that you seem to be may also be beneficial. Less stress, a loving life, having zen, natural or synthetic D3, etc. There are many things that could be beneficial to you. Focus on one thing at a time and gradually add in something else.
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Peggy:
I'd be happy to try and help. You might first look at the positive side of this: perhaps you returning to eating the way you had previously is a sign that you are not so worried anymore about a recurrence – perhaps you are feeling more confident in that regard. So take that little bit of newfound confidence and expand on it. Tell yourself: "I'm going to eat healthy today, not because I have to, but because I want to." Quite often we can respond better when we think it's our idea, rather than a forced issue. To win the war on the psyche, tell yourself it's because you want to, not because you have to. I posted a long time ago that when I first used to work out, I would cry on the way to the gym and on the way home. I felt like I had done something wrong, that I was being punished. It was an awful feeling to work through. I finally had to realize that the opportunity to workout and eat healthy is just that – an opportunity for assistance, not a punishment. I utilized information that I read in several articles relating to TNBC to help me, and I set up a regime partly based on the information in this link, which is a multi-prong approach. I like this approach, because if you missed one thing for the day, perhaps another thing was accomplished, thereby still having a measurable impact for the day:
Practical Principles of Some Lifestyle-Oriented Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
Here are some things that I did, which might help you in exercise and food:
- Have a reason – If I have a reason for doing something, it makes it a lot easier to commit than not having a reason. For me, I workout because I can then live my day without worry. If my workout is done then my day seems to go perfect, and I feel like I'm part of the 'general population' again. I do it because it makes my worry almost non-existent and I feel it provides a benefit.
- Get rid of the "no time" excuse – The reason I got rid of this excuse is because I felt it predisposed me to missing a workout altogether. Perhaps it is a busy day, but I found if I can just get in a 'little workout' that it was still enough to release me of any worry about it, and still provided a benefit to me. In these cases, I will usually do about 4-5 miles in 30-35 minutes, but I have been known to only do a vigorous 20-minutes, like on Christmas Day.
- Hold yourself accountable – For me, I keep a list on the fridge, it assures me that I'm making steps to my weekly goal. I do aim for 8 hours a week, but at the end of four weeks I'm consistent with not having 32 hours, usually somewhere in the range of 28 is what I end up with. At the end of the week I transfer the info to my calendar, tally up the scores and I earn some sort of Hello Kitty sticker.
- Exercise first thing, if possible – Maybe not be possible if you have a commute and have to travel, etc. If you do work, pack in a little more exercise time on the workout during the weekend or off days, to keep a bit of reserve in case the workweek gets hectic. Also, for me I have found that early is best before the day gets filled with obligations and having access to equipment nearby is helpful. If you have space at home, perhaps invest in a treadmill or elliptical. And you can probably find a hardly used one online somewhere. Also exercise when something you like to watch is on television.
- Maintain your conviction – You may come across people who tell you exercise doesn't matter. You will find long-term survivors of bc who have never exercised. These things may unknowingly lower your commitment level to your particular beliefs or regime. Keep your reason intact and remain firm to your beliefs and convictions.
- Don't try to be an Olympian – Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves. In your case, maybe 45-minutes is making you feel that it's a long hard workout ahead of you and now you have not only the workout to battle, but the thought of the workout. Instead, plan on only 20-minutes and then see how you feel when you are there. You can always add more minutes.
- Share your progress – Join the Let's Post our Daily Exercise forums. Those ladies are great and just reading what they do, even when they are so busy and not wanting to do it, will inspire you. I've logged on at 8pm, read their notes and darn it, found myself working out 15 minutes later. Support really helps. You'll also see some people post that they didn't do anything for a few days. That helps also if you miss a workout, because you will still feel that you are committed and will resume a workout again soon.
- Food – Keep easy healthy food on hand and ready to eat. Raw veggie tray, protein powder, organic yogurt, nuts, etc
- Meals – If you don't feel like cooking, have an escape route. I have the Suja drinks. They are pricey, and that works twofold for me. I can drink it in place of cooking – it's 100% fruit and vegetables, or I can decide to cook and save money, or sometimes I will just skip the meal and count that day as my caloric restricted day as per the theory in that link above. Also, have a place you can go to for a meal, such as a place that serves salads and sandwiches. Get the salad with dressing on the side and control whatever else you need to in the salad. Many places will let you swap out ingredients. I usually don't get soups or sandwiches, because soups can have msg, flavor enhancers, sodium, cream and sugar added, and some gourmet baked breads can also have several chemicals along with sugar. You could easily end up with as much as 80 grams of fat in a seemingly healthy concept, and of course same with salads, but in soups and breads it's much harder to know fully the ingredients that they use.
- Snacks – Besides veggie tray, have fruit on hand. I once read that blueberries are a triple threat against triple negative. So try having blueberries on hand, and even with a bit of yogurt and flax seed.
- Sweet snacks – A few members told me about the Trader Joes Animal Crackers which are 17 cookies in one serving, and only 1.5 grams of fat very low sugar. I can make them last all day, eaten with hot green tea. Find yourself a snack that you can allow without feeling guilty.
- Aim for better, not perfect – Aim for improvement not perfection, and make it relative to how you used to eat. Perhaps you didn't eat as well as you wanted yesterday, but maybe you still had a 50% better diet than previously. If so, give yourself credit for that. I read an article recently that discussed a study of women in which just a 10% reduction in fat had provided a risk reduction for recurrence.
- Overall daily nutrition - This is a new concept that I've recently added, especially during the holidays. Let's say I do eat something like a big piece of cake. As long as I feel that about 90% of the rest of my calories that day were nutritious then I won't worry. I sometimes weigh the indulgence in terms of calories, and figure out how much of my daily caloric intake will be devoted to junk when I'm about to splurge. I don't spend a long time figuring this out, with a calculator or anything, lol, I just kind of look at it like a bank account. Can I afford this today? Sometimes I break the bank, but with planning I can somehow get it into the budget, it might just be a downsized version of what I wanted to eat. Like 10 skinny fries off my husband's plate, rather than ordering fries for myself.
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Debra, thank you for the time and effort in replying with such good advice! I'm a little short of time right now but will be back later to re-read and implement!
Wishing the very best New Years to you and everyone here!
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wow, inspired, you are inspiring! You've got it nailed with the right mindset. If we can all just absorb 1/2 of that we'd be heading in the right direction. (And to be nosy...4-5 miles of running in 30-35 min?!!! On a treadmill?) thank you for sharing your wisdom. So many good points here and many easy to do and incorporate
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Hi Lisa, my miles are usually on the EFX (it's similar to an elliptical but there are no equipment arms on it, it's all in your own body movement without assistance from equipment arms). 1 hour workout is usually about 700-800 calories burned - it's quite vigorous. Here is a photo of my shirt following a workout, that I had posted on the fitness forum. I just noticed in the same forum, someone posted earlier in the page an excellent saying: "The only person you should try to be better than ... is the person you were yesterday" That's awesome. I like the saying.
Post workout photo:
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topic/...
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Jenjen - I just got my 3D tattos, too. I really like them.
Sylv and Inspired - I had lost 17 lb. after treatment from super healthy eating, but have gained it all back. I don't eat processed food, but I eat a lot of calories and do very little exercise, unlike before treatment. Feeling pretty bad about it, but I will try again in the new year. Worried about recurrence and overall cardiovascular health. On the up side, I drink no alcohol anymore
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Placid44 - When you lost the 17 lbs was it only due to healthy eating or were you exercising then? Can you recall what you did and then try to re-establish some of your former patterns? No alcohol is a great improvement! Congrats to you on that. I also gave up alcohol, diet drinks (all drinks like that) and coffee. My Onc said I didn't have to worry about coffee, but in California Prop 65 warns drinkers about coffee. I often wondered why it was so easy to quit those 3 things cold turkey. I think it must be because I usually would drink those things to drink, not because of so-called thirst - well maybe the diet drink. But with eating, we usually eat because we think we are hungry. And so there the challenge begins to eat healthy. Oh that reminds me. I watched a program not too long ago that said many times when we are hungry, we really aren't, it's our body dehydrated, needing water.
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What I would respond is "consider the source". Yep on TV we gotta have drama and news. AND there are new treatments all the time...Keep your hope. Do not let others shake your confidence. Blessings to you. Carolyn from Music City
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congrats to you all! My primary thinks it is my gallstones bothering me so if the pain doesnt.worsen before next week I will have gall bladder surgery.
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