Calling all TNs
Comments
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Hi Everyone! I was diagnosed at the end of October 2014 with TN. I was 31 years old (turned 32 in December). I had a double mastectomy on November 3rd. I then did 4 rounds of A/C and 12 weeks of Taxol. I am now in the process of radiation. Today was number 10 of 33. Looking forward to getting to know all of you and hearing your stories.
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Welcome AKF, I am so glad you have found this website, and this thread. There is a lot of info here, and the nicest people too. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Inflammatory BC, and I had AC and Taxol too, surgery, 35 rads. Lots of prayers. I am happy to say it all was worth it, I am NED, no evidence of disease. There is light at the end of this tunnel, good health at the end of fight.
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glad you made it over here AKF!
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Cocker=I read where you felt stress was the big contribution to TNBC. I have felt my cancer was from having low level stress for over 35 years. I have to say only a small part by my own choice(who I married.) The other stress came from family issues and have a child with a aspergers. Not to my knowledge have it ever mention on the boards before. Or I did not see it. I am now trying to live my life differently. Not one person on my entire cancer travel mentioned stress as a possible reason.
Hello to all new people to the board.
I also had radiation after lumpectomy (35 rounds)
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Cocker and eileenpg...thought you (and others) may find these interesting.
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regarding stress and the onset of cancer... the thought has definitely crossed my mind. A year ago I had probably the biggest life change I've ever had. At 33 I packed up and moved to Florida for a job, however my mother joined me due to her worsening dementia. I became a caregiver in a new state, with a new job, no family close by, with a lot of other added stress, etc. I'm not saying it's the cause of my BC but the thought has been there for awhile now.
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StefLove. Yep. My wife had been dealing with a drug addicted, and quite problematic, relative and her father's declining health for over a year prior to her diagnosis. I've had the same thoughts. But, she was also diagnosed in April of 2013. In December of 2012 (4 months prior) she had had back surgery involving the use of cadaver bone infused with "bone growth hormones", which the surgeon referred to as "Miracle Grow". I am not so sure the introduction of "growth hormones" didn't have something to do with it. Nonetheless...I guess we could try and figure it out indefinitely, but it wouldn't change anything. When you get a flat tire you don't walk back 10 miles to see what caused the flat...you fix the tire and continue on!
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Stress? I've lived with a stress-maker for 48 years. No wonder I ended up with breast cancer!
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JAN69--
I went through divorce, going back to graduate school, my mom's diagnosis of thymic cancer, and my first job in 12 years all within a span of 3 years. Then I was diagnosed. It made me wonder.
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Ohhhh! I think about this all the time... stress. In October 2010 I took the most stressful job of my life. I was diagnosed December 2013. I have no idea if it had any impact... but I do know that my medical oncologist at my appointment post final chemo made me commit to reducing stress in my life as one of our treatment goals for the future. He said it just isn't worth it... I have to remind myself daily when I am getting rowdy at work, it just isn't worth it. Life is short, and none of these people were picking me up off the floor and calling 911 when I passed out, none were mopping the floor when I was puking and shitting my brains out as a result of chemo... It was my loved ones. They were the ones that matter the most. The rest can kiss my ass...
Sorry to vent, having one of those days at work. People are icky!
Yeah... stress is bad!0 -
Thank you for all who wrote about their stress. As I wrote no one asked me about stress. As I said I had a low level stress for 25 years. Several deaths of family members, Separation from some one who WOULD not separate from me and left me with debt after he died. Learning disabled child,and stressful job(hospice nurse on call). Yes, I drink wine 2 glasses a night for many years. No other vices. Type A personality. Do I think that is why I got TNBC .YES,YES,YES!!! I do thinks differently now. I REALLY take care of myself. Emotionally!!!
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Hi all!
Thanks for the thoughts about the irritation. I have on my patient record a sensitivity to latex, so I will be going further and saying no to whatever adhesive they used on Friday. It is now 4 days since the surgery and I still have red raised spots where I reacted to the covering.
I start chemo tomorrow. Check in is at 10:30 and expect to be there all day.
Got the bed and freezer on Sunday. It's a 23 cu ft chest freezer and is working happily in my garage. My ex-hubby gave me 2 frozen turkey's that are currently in the freezer.
As for stress, I firmly believe my cancer (located over my heart) is related to a very stressful and negative marriage that lasted 4 years. I never felt a lump until after I was moved into my new house and all of a sudden I have a very noticeable lump at the upper margin of my left breast that is so easy to feel I don't know how I could have missed it before that fateful shower in the middle of March. I do believe that all my stress was funnelled into the tumor over my heart to let go of all the stress and negativity related to that marriage. I am so much happier now. Even my friends have told me how negative I had become in the last 2 years of the marriage.
Most update tomorrow as the day progresses.
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Wont even get into it, but I am in agreement with you all about stress! I too am striving to live a more present, stress free life. Like EileenPg and others I work full time- same job last 23 years: CEO of a non profit--- Nothing more important to me now than my faith, and my family.
Looking forward to getting to our tiny new getaway home in TN for a week at beginning of June-
Truly stress free there!
Be well everyone
Kath
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I agree on stress being the cause or at least trigger that started the mutant cells to multiply. I was in the middle of a almost year long stressful family situation. Yoga helped but not enough. I was losing hair from the stress too. I now have changed my attitude. I do for me. I do relaxing for me. I finally put me first.
Now I even meditate more.
Best to all,
Marsha
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I don't know if stress caused my cancer or even contributed to it, but it has been a huge part of my life for years. It isn't healthy and has deepened my depression. I have a son and a daughter adopted from Russia. They both have fetal alcohol exposure and were taken from the birth home due to neglect. My son has been dx with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, bi-polar disorder and a slew of other acronyms. My daughter has ADHD, defiance and anxiety. I have spent thelast seven years getting various therapies and interventions, dealing with physical aggression, defiance, hearing statements about wanting to die and more.
This doesn't stop because I have breast cancer, though they have handled the changes pretty well. I still get the defiance and a lot problematic behaviors. It is a constant struggle of trying to change the way I react and handle situations.
So if stress is a factor for cancer, I was ripe for the picking!
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Eileen, AL and everyone, when I first was diagnosed a lot of the ladies on this site had massive stresses. I had a terribly stressed job and my daughter was going through a painful marriage break up which affected me greatly with what she was going through with two young kiddies as I was so worried about her. I believe stress lowers your immunity which can affect the cells in your body but as AL said you don't go back to see what made the tyre flat you carry on as we are all trying to do. I do try to lower my stress levels now so I can breathe a bit more easier and I do stop and smell the roses. I guess if the experts don't know what causes our cancer then what hope of we got to finding that out we can only surmise and even then are probably wrong. I am the sort of person who manages to cope whilst bad things are happening and then go to pieces when it's all over.
Eileen your two glasses of wine at night won't hurt you at all and will probably help you to relax. If wine caused cancer 99.5% of the population would have cancer. Same as smoking doesn't cause breast cancer, obviously not good for you re lung cancer, but doesn't cause breast cancer.
Angel will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping all goes well. Remember to drink, drink and drink and take your meds even if you don't feel sick. You will make it girl.
AL re acidosis, there is some evidence that this causes cancer. The body cells are deprived of oxygen due to the acidosis which will evolve into cancer cells and it was mentioned in the link that you put up.
Also regarding growth hormones, my friends daughter had Fanconis anaemia which caused her to have a short stature and she went to Paris for an unrelated stem cell transplant. At the end of her years treatment she was given growth hormones which immediately caused her to have diabetes. They also told her it could cause cancer and it did in the end and that is what she passed away from. Something else to think about........
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All this stress talk is stressful! LOL!I wasn't really stressed before I was diagnosed, BUT I've been stressed ever since! Now I worry about recurrence/mets a lot! UGH!!!
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Any last minute tips for my first chemo treatment?
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Angel. Don't stress!!!!. Drink plenty and then more to get that chemo out of your body, at least two litres of water a day. If you have the red devil you will have red in your urine the next time you go. Take all the meds they give you. Hopefully you will be given EMEND which is a God send. Even if you think you don't need them, take them as its much harder if the sickness feeling starts first to get on top of it. I didn't feel sick at all so you might not either. Eat what you fancy even if its just crackers. The Dexamethazone I was given made me ravenous for three days and it also kept me awake all night. When you start to get flu symptoms give up and rest if you can, you will benefit by it. A little bit of exercise helps even if its only a five minute walk. I suffered horribly with constipation so take something that suits you. The coloxyl and senna they gave me made me have tummy cramps so they took out the senna and I was ok. Remember the symptoms should only last on average 2-4 days and then you start to come right. Take all the help you are offered, it's wonderful if someone has cooked you a meal or shopped for you or even seen to the kids and taken the dog for a walk. I'll shut up now as I'm sure there are other people wanting to add their advice.
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Cocker=I LOVE YOU!!!!
Angel= if you get a neulasta shot the next day take a Claritin that day and for 5 days. Reduces bone pain which is incredibly painful. I had the big C(Constipation) I drank a warm 8 ounce glass of prune juice at night. Did the trick. Good luck!!! You can do it. DRINK DRINK DRINK I drank G2 gatoraid.
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Angel, Cocker and Eileen gave you the best advice! I never got sick either. You will do fine I think. Praying and thinking of you. We will be right there with you, holding your hand!! Please let us know how you do.
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I agree with the others about stress. I was in the midst of trying to get a divorce from my 1st husband who fought me all the way. He said he would never divorce me and we lived separated for over 25 years. I was very angry during that time and woke up one morning and decided that I didn't care how much it cost to divorce the man...and I did it. I was under so much stress during all those years. We have a son and I can say that he was and still is an excellent father, but husband...NOT. My mother was showing signs of dementia at the time and she was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Then bam...I was diagnosed with breast cancer the same month. I believe it was all the years I was so miserable still being stuck with this man. Trying to go through chemo and radiation at the time, I have no support from my siblings. I would beg for help and ask them to do things for my mother so that I can get better. Didn't happen. My mother was sick and all the care giving was on myself. So for the next 5 years I took care of my mother as well as taking care of her financial needs and the upkeep of her home. Driving to her home in the morning making sure she had breakfast and taking her meds.During the last year of her life she had to be placed in a nursing home because her behavior was out of control.
Fast forward...met the man of my dreams...with whom I was already friends with for years...never even looking at him that way...and we began to date. He would help me do things for my mother and we got married 10 months later. I was finally happy for the first time in my LIFE. I was 54 at the time of our marriage. Still running back and forth with my mother. Mom died in 2010 and then my son began giving me problems. It was a horrific time. Diagnosed AGAIN in 2013 with TNBC and I was floored. My husband was my rock...at every appointment, chemo treatments, surgeries...always there and I will always love him for that.
So all that to say...I believe stress was the reason I was diagnosed with breast cancer...and there is no family history. Like jlstacy said...I was ripe for the picking.
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Angel, I'm just a week out after my first AC treatment and everyones advice is spot on. My day was pretty uneventful my first time. They easily and painlessly accessed my port and drew some blood for tests. I then went right into the treatment room to wait for the results and get comfortable. The nurse was amazing and talked me through everything since it was my first time. She really was a godsend. I am doing cold caps and she was patient with everything and the time frames I needed for that. I brought water (the center also provided water and lunch for patients) and tried to drink as much as possible. Right as I was done with AC (mine was only a 15 min infusion) I already had to go to the restroom and the red fun had already gone through my system for the most part. I also brought some snacks (plain crackers, banana chips) and had those with me to munch on. Ask for warm blankets if you feel cold, those were great as well and again, my nurse happily obliged. I'd say just make sure you're as comfortable as you can be and try to relax.
After treatment I wasn't as constipated as some of the others on here but I made sure to stay hydrated. My taste buds and stomach still aren't up to par from what they used to be so at the moment I'm really just trying to eat when I'm hungry and I'm eating whatever the heck I want. I've still managed to lose 8 pounds since the day before treatment, ugh! I had high hopes of eating healthy and clean but my body is putting the halt to that. Whatever seems appealing is what I'm eating right now.
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Hi All,
I've been reading this thread, but not posting much lately. We just spent a week in Illinois and Wisconsin visiting with my grown children and other friends. I loved having the time with them, but I was happy to get back to our new home in Tennessee where the pace is so much more pleasant.
My stress story is that I cared for my dad with dementia in my home the last 5 years of his life. That was stressful...not so much that my Dad was hard to care for, but my mother absolutely drove me nuts during that time period. She is 90 and still alive today....living in assisted living in the same town as me. When I got cancer, I told my mom she would have to depend on my three brothers for help while I was in treatment. That was the best part of treatment!!! I didn't have to deal with my crazy-maker of a mother for nine months. Even though my treatment has been over for a year, I still try to keep my distance with my mom. I take her to doctor's appointments etc, but I get her to ask for help from my brothers on other things like getting her taxes done. I'm grateful to say that one of my brothers has been really good about helping her since I got diagnosed. Other than my mom, my life is pretty stress free these days, and I hope to keep it that way.
End of rant about my mom!
I hope those going through treatment are doing well today. I finished treatment a year ago last week and I was just thinking this morning about how long ago that seems now. I'm happy to report that I feel really good. I would say my strength and stammina is at least 90% back to normal. The big difference for me today, compared to before cancer, is that I refuse to push myself to the limit any more. I used to do that all the time.....now, I'm a big believer in moderation when it comes to physical activies.
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Eileen ditto, right back at yer.
Seems when you think about things stress does seem to have played a big part in our lives even though we didn't realize it at the time. It's not until you think back that you realize what it could have done to you. Maybe it lowers our immunity more than we think or it's possibly the level of stress we have gone through. I guess we may never know but it will give us a warning possibly to chill out more, smell the roses and perhaps try not to get too uptight about things because when you think about it, things do work out as they are meant to so we stress for nothing really and it doesn't help or change the outcome.
Marsha you mention losing your hair, so if it can affect your body like that wouldn't you think it must do something to other cells in your body.
jlstacey you had a huge amount of stress and in theory you coped but did your body cope and your constant struggle of trying to change the way you handle situations must be a huge burden on the body.
Simple you had a lot of stress to cope with or did you. Seems we all thought we coped at the time but maybe deep down we didn't, just put a huge burden on our bodies. It does seem funny that we are all thinking of the stress now that we all went through but as I said we may never know.
Angel hope you are feeling good today. Remember drink as much as you can and get some healthy fresh air. The next few days are the ones to get through and then you will come right again.
Ladies have a stress free day, get out and enjoy that lovely weather you have and think of me in NZ just going into winter ugh.
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Angel, thinking about you today. Hope the first treatment went well. As for the constipation, I had it too the first day or two after tx, I found that if I drank grape juice the day before, day of, and day after treatment I was good to go.
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Angel...best to you!!!
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Angel, hope your first was uneventful. Remember to rinse your mouth with warm water and salt/baking soda as often as possible to ward off mouth sores. Be kind to yourself for the next few days and don't overdo
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Hello everyone,
I hope you're all doing well . . I'm wondering about experiences with the Portacath . . I have not been able to sleep. The pain is worse than my lumpectomy and no one said it would be this painful. I just had it put in yesterday and I m hoping this pain subsides quickly. I've been taking Advil and finally tried Vicodin, (but pain pills give me nightmares and not fun on the stomach) Just curious about how long before it gets better. . . I'm a single mom and self employed hairstylist and have to work this morning and next week. My chemo starts Thursday May 28, hoping the pain is much better by then. I'm also planning to work through chemo, just taking 3 days off after infusion to recover. I'm doing 16 weeks/8 rounds of chemo. I understand everyone's experience, reaction and pain is different, just hoping for some insight. Although I don't post much, I read periodically because Everyone here is extremely kind, informative, encouraging, supportive and incredibly positive and strong. . I love that!!! Thank you all for those gifts. . Sending hugs and prayers to all. . Natalie 🙏❤😊
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Natalie, Hmmm....My port did not hurt, ever. so, I am hoping some others will respond soon. Perhaps this is common and will rapidly improve, I sure hope so. Waiting for more responses!
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