Calling all triple negative breast cancer patients in the UK
Comments
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Hello Dulcie
I am just posting to see how you and your OH are getting on, as I know you are having a difficult time.Have you had any news about getting to the Royal Marsden?
I do hope you manage to have some quiet moments amidst all this anxiety.
Thinking of you.
Sylvia xx0 -
Hello Iz_and_Lys_Mum, Buddha Wolf, Lint_Roller_Derby (Betty), youngmommy
I just wanted to say I hope you are all well and still reading the thread.Best wishes
Sylvia0 -
Hi Sylvia,
Just doing last minute packing and having an hour of calmness before our trip begins. Feeling little anxious but will be ok when we have gone through immigration in Shannon and we not turned back. Why do we always feel guilty when approaching things like that or customs?
I lost my Lymphedema sleeve but found it stuck by the velcro amongst my t shirts. My GP gave me an anti biotic as a precaution to take in case of cellulitis as it seems it is a high risk after long flights and I have 2 today. 1 to JFK and then on to Charlotte.
I also watched the long week end and it demonstrates how some ones perception of events can be totally off the wall and how anything can be justified....all for the sake of love or obsession in this case. I love Benedict Cumberbach in any of the dramas he does and I have always been a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
The talk at the centre was interesting more about what not to say and how to listen. We are still not clear though how much that you should say to some one newly diagnosed especially if they are a friend or referred to you by a friend .The guy talking does it as a mentor and mostly over the phone. We did have a looking back discussion and in one way it was good to be with people who are over their treatment and we could all speak frankly about our experiences.
I think that the centre will come up with a training module of their own. You have to pass a rigorous interview to be allowed to do the Irish Cancer Society training and only 11 out of 40 interviewees were selected as suitable to be mentors.
Hoping that all is well with you.
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Hi Michael ,
Good luck with the launch and the fund raising ideas.
Hi Bernie Ellen
Ow that sounds painful, but sounds like you had agreat time regardless.
Hi Mumtobe,
Just sending you healing thoughts and good luck with your treatments.
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Hi Linali,enjoy your holiday - you deserve it.
Welcome mumtobe - I live just outside Kilkenny
Morning sylvia.
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Morning Sylvia..ladies..and a special hello to Mumtobe
I have just started my oral chemo this morning and i feel a bit 'dizzy' ..of course it could just be in my head as i was a little apprehensive with it being a first dose! Yes Sylvia i will be off to the Royal Marsden early October.. My Onc was very subdued with me yesterday...
I was told on Monday by rads doctor that i need a biopsy on wound site..but would not know where too actually do it on the wound...they asked when i am seeing surgeon again!!! I said in ONE years time! So they then said have you not heard from him about biopsy? (he is on holiday)? I was told i have a possible spread skin mets? and a possible reaccurence on wound site!! The radiation is now off altogether at moment!
I was expecting my heart to be tested before chemo..and thyroid function test? As i have a problem with both!
I suggested to my surgeon a month ago..that maybe some photographs should be taken of wound...so a month later ..he suggests it..(his idea then?)..so i am also taking photos of it too!
Marsden are more concerned with my lungs now than the wound site......my Onc has at last written a 5 page report on them for the Marsden..and my GP has a copy..i haven't yet! But i am not considered important ..i am only the patient...
There does seem to be a lack of communication between departments..or is it lack of interest..i don't know..the surgeon side of things are in a totally different area to Oncology dept..
My OH is still not diagnosed and is getting weaker..there are abnormalities in his bone marrow and bile ducts..but they are saying his liver although has a problem it is not cancer in the liver..so it is looking complex..they are seeing him next week..he got his appt brought forward..
I asked for some stronger painkillers off the onc yesterday and she refused on the grounds that i need to be taking the ones i have ..all the time ..before i go onto a higher level..i find this odd as i try not to take any..if i can ..the ones i do have are not touching the pain..so i asked GP this morning for Tranadol? and she is going to give me a small amount to start with..then if they work ..i will get them on a regular basis..not that i will take them all the time..
I hope you are all coping well and especially those ladies having treatment at the moment!
Dulcie xxxx
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Hi Sylvia,
Thanks so much for the warm welcome. I am not new to BCO but am new to this thread. I was diagnosed with TNBC on June 21. I was 20 wks pregnant at the time with our first baby. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary a week ago. I am 32. Needless to say it has been a very rough journey since June and our lives have changed forever. I am now almost 34 wks pregnant and thankfully everything seems to be going ok with baby and I am looking at a full term 'normal' delivery in a few weeks time which we are so grateful for because when I was first diagnosed there was talk of delivery at 28 wks. I am very uncomfortable however at this stage. I have always been a size 8-10 and carrying this extra weight is quite difficult, I suffer a bit with dead hips/legs after sleeping. I have mild asthma aswell and I find the extra weight on my chest from growing baby a bit tough but look these are all superficial things in the whole scheme of things.
You know I was only saying to my husband last night that I think the full fat milk may not be agreeing with my asthma either and having read what you have said about dairy being connected to breast cancer, I think I will be coming off it. I feel I have the weight put back on now so I might switch, I think you said it's soy milk you drink? I have always been health conscious and do love my vegetables and seeds so thankfully it's not going to be too drastic a diet change for me. I have always been fairly active aswell so I look forward to being able to go for a jog or a good long walk once baby is born, walking is getting tough now aswell, it's more like a waddle! One would have to wonder how a young woman of my age who always ate well adn took care of herself could face such a diagnosis but I guess life throws you curveballs doesn't it? Can I ask, do you not eat chicken at all then? I only eat free range chicken and not that much of it but I do find that I do need some meat in my diet. I wonder would Quorn be any good? My one concern is sugar. I don't eat much chocolate or sweets but I find my sugar levels can drop quite quickly and I can get quite weak if I don't have a boost every now and then, do you indulge in any treats that are healthy? Maybe organic dark chocolate?
Thanks so much for your advice x
Thank you for the welcome Bernie - I'm Limerick born & bred Are you getting your treatment in Dublin? Actually looking at your diagnosis date you are probably finished treatment now....
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Hello linali
Thank you for your post. As I type this I hope you are in flight and on your way to the USA. I hope you are sitting back relaxing. It is strange how we feel guilty and apprehensive when going through Customs. I suppose we know they are waiting to pounce on some poor, innocent victim. I hope everything will be fine and that you will not have any problems with cellulitis.Like you, I also loved the Sherlock Holmes stories and the ones on television with Jeremy Brett.
I am very interested in what you are learning at the centre.
I agree that it is very important to listen to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and really to let the dialogue come from them. Before I started this thread, but after I had finished my treatment, a woman on the street where I live was diagnosed with breast cancer, and someone else told me about this, so I phoned up the woman, whom I knew, and offered to help her. She accepted immediately and I was able to explain all that would happen at the hospital before it happened and was able to reassure her and to tell her there was no need to be afraid. Because of this, I think she found it a bit easier going through treatment. She had two surgeries for a lumpectomy and then radiotherapy. I was able to prepare her for the radiotherapy by describing the equipment etc. I think that reassurance is very important. I let her ask any questions that she wanted and answered them all honestly. I think the fact that she was able to talk to someone who had come through treatment was very important to her. She did get through her treatment and she has gone over five years now. She had hormonal breast cancer, but was HER2-.
On the other hand, a couple of years ago, another woman in the neighbourhood whom I knew, was also diagnosed with breast cancer, but she appeared to want to just go through the treatment and not to ask any questions. She did not talk about it at all. She also had hormonal breast cancer, but was HER2-, and again had just a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. She also got through her treatment and is just going for the regular check ups with the same breast cancer surgeon that I had.
I think that must have been a very interesting discussion about looking back with those who had finished treatment. Another interesting topic would be Moving On.
I hope to hear from you when you get back. We shall all be thinking of you.
Best wishes
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello BernieEllen
I hope you are having a good week and getting over your fall. I have heard of 'Break a leg' but this is ridiculous!
I do hope that all will go well for linali in the USA.
Best wishes
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello Dulcie
I was so glad to hear from you and I am relieved to know that you have started your oral chemo. Just take it easy and you will get through this.I was also relieved to know that you will be going to the Royal Marsden in early October and that you will get help and comfort from them. I think you have had a bad experience at your present hospital and that you need some tender loving care from hospital staff.
As I read your post I once more get a feeling of muddled treatment. I cannot understand why your consultant surgeon would not be involved with this and why you are not seeing that surgeon for another year. I am still seeing my consultant surgeon once a year after over seven years, and in between I see my oncologist. These two women that make up my team are so caring and organised and nothing is too much trouble for them.
If they think you have a possible skin mets and a possible recurrence on your wound site, should they not be giving you a biopsy immediately? There must be someone at the hospital who can carry out a biopsy. So much time has been and is being wasted.
I think that you should have had an electrocardiogram before your chemotherapy treatment started. I certainly had one and I think I had one at the end of my treatment. Perhaps they do not do this if you are having oral chemotherapy. It is something about which you should ask.
I was very interested to know that you have a thyroid problem. Do you have an over-active or under-active thyroid? I am not a doctor but I certainly think that I would have wanted these two things checked to make sure both were in order and how they might be affected by the chemotherapy drug that I waas being given.
I can understand that the Royal Marsden is more concerned about your lungs, but all your problems have to be cared for.
I do hope you will get a copy of that five page report that your oncologist has written up for the Royal Marsden and I certainly think that a copy should have been sent to you at the same time as one was sent to your GP. It is usual procedure for the hospital to send copies to a patient's GP and the patient at the same time. I was glad to see that you can keep your sense of humour in a serious situation. As you say, you are only the patient. You are only the one with cancer! It is the same with the politicians. We are only the stupid tax payers that feed them!!
I think I would already have mouthed off with your consultant surgeon. There is only so much I can put up with before I give someone a piece of my mind.
My heart really goes out to your OH. Why is it that they cannot find what is wrong with him? I do hope they will get a diagnosis soon and start some treatment. Please let us know how he gets on. For both of you too much time is being allowed to go by.
Make sure you get the pain relief that you need. I understand that Tramadol is very effective.
Warm thoughts are coming your way. Please look after each other.
Love
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello Mumtobe
Thank you for your post. I am so glad that you have found us. What a rough time you are having. I was so sorry to hear that you have TNBC and that you were diagnosed while expecting your first baby. I was diagnosed with TNBC on June 20th 2005. There are so many young women being diagnosed with TNBC. I can understand how all of this has turned your lives upside down. Thank goodness that, at least, the baby is alright. Keep looking forward to the time your baby is delivered and the time when this cancer treatment will be behind you.The thing about dairy milk is that is causes mucus at the back of the throat. My husband who suffers from allergies and who used to have asthma could not drink milk, but he is fine with the fresh unsweetened soy milk that I buy. It is so nice to have a dialogue with another woman who is health conscious. I think if you are eating healthily and keeping active you cannot go far wrong.
I think we all feel angry and upset about a diagnosis of breast cancer when we have done all we can to look after ourselves. When I was diagnosed I felt guilty even and thought I must have done something wrong. My friends and family were in disbelief and said that they thought I was the last person to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even my consultant surgeon said I should not have had it. The women in my neighbourhood that have had it also all looked unlikely candidates. There are so many risk factors. I think stress plays a part.
I do not eat any meat, poultry or dairy products, but if you like chicken I cannot see the harm in free range ones. If you feel the need to have meat in your diet, I would not change it. You might find it too stressful and at this point in time you do not need to be making big changes. Do not stress yourself wondering why you developed breast cancer. It is something we would all like to know but shall probably never know and there will not be just one cause.
If you fancy eating some Quorn, why not try it? I have had it in the past but never really think to eat it now. I do buy frozen Tesco soyburgers, having carefully read the ingredients. I have them regularly during the week and alternate with fish. From time to time I make a mushroom omelette with organic eggs. I think we all need to be wary of sugar. I try to stay away from it, but I do eat dark chocolate. I buy Lindt 90% cocoa, which has very little sugar. I also buy Green and Black organic cocoa (sugarless) and make a hot drink with it with the soy milk. I really have no problem not eating meat but I think we all have to eat what we enjoy in moderation.
Take care, look after yourself and keep looking forward.
Best wishes
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hi SylviaFirst of all I must apologise for taking so long to reply. I hope you are well and my thoughts are with all the people on this forum and I wish them all well with their treatment.I have been sitting down after the kids are in bed then not being able to face whats going on.Thank you so much for replying to my post and all the information and support you have given me.I have spoken with my sister about the information you have given me on the scans and she is going to raise it with my mums chemotheraphy doctor at their next meeting, I unfortunatley dont live close to my mum. So hopefully things will be clearer and we will get some answers regarding the scans.My mum's cancer is stage 2 after being wrongly told it was stage 3.She's currently undergoing chemo and has just had her second dose of FEC she has 1 more of Fec to go and then 3 doses of doxetaxel followed by radiotheraphy. She's managing well with the chemo except her hair is falling out now, which is very upsetting for us all.I am not sure which node was positive for cancer only that it was just the one and she had an axuillary node clearence.My heart goes out to MUMTOBE and I wish you all the best for you and your family xxx0
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Hello freyamia
Thank you for your post. I know this is a difficult journey for both patients and loved ones, but try to be strong for your mum. It must be difficult when you do not live close by.The most important thing at the moment is for your mum to get through her chemotherapy. This is the most difficult part of cancer treatment and the longest. She will soon have finished with the first part of her chemotherapy. Is she having treatment every three weeks? The hair loss is very upsetting and happens quite quickly, but it will grow back. Has she bought herself a nice wig? A nice wig makes all the difference and they are very natural. I wore one and my friends thought I had not lost any hair! I think a wig makes you feel so much better than scarves etc.
The node that was positive, since there was only one, was probably the first one that is known as the sentinel node. That was the one that was positive with me.
Concentrate on supporting your mum through chemotherapy and see how things are after that. She should have the scans at sometime after all the treatment. The radiotherapy is done after surgery and chemotherapy to clear up any stray cells.
Wishing you, your mum and your sister all the best.
Sylvia0 -
Hi Sylvia
I am still checking in, thank you, just not as often at the moment. I have been concentrating on settling my girls into their new schools. They are both coping very well, in particular my eldest who has had anxiety issues since I was diagnosed. They seem to be enjoying it. Between that and I am still suffering from fatigue and pain from my last surgery, I have been in bed very early most nights, and also distancing myself from the forums a little as I was finding it hard to cope with. Sometimes all the cancer 'stuff' can get a bit overwhelming and I just needed to take a step back.
I'm sorry to read about those of you who are having problems at the moment. I really do find that this is the friendliest and most useful thread on this site and I'm grateful to Sylvia and the others who are keeping it going.
Mumtobe, thinking of you especially at this time and sending everyone love and light down the wonderful internet :-). Dulcie, my friends dad is being treated by the Marsden and they have been wonderful. I hope you are coping well with treatment. Linali I hope your trip goes well. Apologies to everyone, I havent had a chance to read through all the posts lately but am thinking of you all. Freyamia, sending you very best wishes.
Sylvia I hope you are well. How is your garden coping with all this changeable weather? Mine is not enjoying it. I think I will make a special effort next year to really get it back to how I want it. All the rain and sunshine has made every tree I have grow like crazy this year, so what little sunshine we have cant always get through!
Anyway, I am off to bed now in the hopes of a good nights sleep. Night all, and take care
xxx
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Hi Sylvia, read this in the Mail.Cannabis plant extract 'could stop aggressive cancers from spreading'
• Compound in the plant does not produce psychoactive properties of cannabis
• Found not only to stop breast cancer cells from acting 'crazy' but also to return to normal cells
By CLAIRE BATES
PUBLISHED: 12:10 GMT, 20 September 2012 | UPDATED: 18:45 GMT, 20 September 2012Cannabidiol is a compound found in the cannabis plant, which is non-psychoactive
A compound found in cannabis could halt the spread of many forms of aggressive cancer, scientists say.
Researchers found that the compound, called cannabidiol, had the ability to 'switch off' the gene responsible for metastasis in an aggressive form of breast cancer. Importantly, this substance does not produce the psychoactive properties of the cannabis plant.
The team from the California Pacific Medical Center, in San Francisco, first spotted its potential five years ago, after it stopped the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in the lab.
Last year they published a study that found a similar effect in mice. Now they say they are on the verge of publishing further animal study results that expand these results further.
Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, study co-leader Dr Sean McAllister, said: 'The preclinical trial data is very strong, and there's no toxicity. There's really a lot or research to move ahead with and to get people excited.'
While he, along with colleague Dr Pierre Desprez acknowledge that they are some way off from turning their finding into a pill, they are already developing human trial models. They hope to eventually test the drug in combination with current chemotherapies.Professor Desprez had previously found that a protein called ID-1 seemed to play a role in causing breast cancer to spread. Meanwhile Dr McAllister had discovered the cannabidiol had anti-cancer potential.
The pair teamed up to see if they could treat a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer called 'triple negative.' This form, which affects 15 per cent of patients, doesn't have three hormone receptors that the most successful therapies target. Cells from this cancer have high levels of ID-1.
When they exposed cells from this cancer to cannabidiol they were shocked to find the cells not only stopped acting 'crazy' but also returned to a healthy normal state.
They discovered that the compound had turned off the overexpression of ID-1, stopping them from travelling to distant tissues.
Other potentially treatable cancers are forms of leukaemia, lung, ovarian and brain cancers, which also have high levels of ID-1.
Dr Desprez has a particular reason for wanting to create a treatment as quickly as possible - his sister was recently diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at the age of 41.
Her condition is currently receptive to hormone therapies but Professor Desprez fears it could recur in a form that lacks hormone receptors.
He said: 'I want to be ready for that. There is a deadline.'0 -
Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the "in-flight safety lecture" and their other announcements a bit more entertaining.
Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane..."
After landing: "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express". We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Washington National, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced: "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
From a Southwest Airlines employee. "Welcome aboard Southwest Flight XXX to YYY. To operate your seatbelt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seatbelt, and if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised.
In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face.
If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with two or more small children, decide now which one you love more.
Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, We'll but try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines."
"Your seat cushions can be used for flotation, and in the event of an emergency water landing, please take them with our compliments."
Once on a Southwest flight, the pilot said, "We've reached our cruising altitude now, and I'm turning off the seat belt sign. I'm switching to autopilot, too, so I can come back there and visit with all of you for the rest of the flight."
"Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or adults acting like children."
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
"Last one off the plane must clean it."
And from the pilot during his welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry... Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight...!"
Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what ya'll are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendants' fault...it was the asphalt!"
Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day. During the final approach the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant came on the PA and announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seatbelts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying XYZ airline." He said that in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally evryone had gotten off except for this little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sonny, mind if I ask you a question?" "Why no Ma'am," said the pilot, "what is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land or were we shot down?"
After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the Flight Attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."0 -
Wow BernieEllen we need at least one of those every day...what a really great 'belly' life we just had! I had tears in my eyes and a lot of screaming went on too!
Dulcie xxxx
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Thanks so much ladies for thinking of me. We are coping well and I am geared up for surgery on Monday. I would love not to be pregnant going through this but our baby is doing really well, had a scan of baby yesterday and my obstetrician is really happy with everything including the fluid around the baby which is really good news. Our little gift from God is battling this too and doing well. Only 6 wks to go until our bundle arrives and we are both so excited! After surgery I have a break from chemo for a while (6 wks before baby and anything up to 6 wks after depending on delivery). Might even begin to sprout hair again
Syvia, I tried Alpro Soya Milk for the first time and it's yum, was pleasantly surprised. That effectively ends my relationship with dairy milk! I love talking to you about healthy eating plans and I'm sure I'll be pinching some recipes off you at some stage. I'm laughing here because in Ireland we have this saying about nosey people, we would say 'she'd nearly ask you what you had for your breakfast'.....well call me nosey because I will be asking you what you have for your breakfast
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Hello BernieEllen
Thank you for your post with all the jokes. It certainly gave me and my husband a very good laugh and this has been a good way to start the day as we have both felt very stressed out this week. Please keep the laughs coming as we all need something to take our minds of this awful cancer, which continues to get a nasty write up that must be frightening to everybody, the newly diagnosed, those going through treatment, those with recurrence or mets and those of us in the clear but living with the knowledge that we might have to undertake a second journey. I try not to take too much notice of it because I know that hormonal treatment has its failures among hormonal brerast cancer patients and that it is no picnic for those with triple positive diagnosis.Thank you for taking the trouble to post all that information about the extract from cannabis. Let us all hope that something positive comes out of it. The trouble is that research turns everything into pills and I am not sure they are as effective as the natural plant. Perhaps we should all chew on cannabis leaves as this plant seems to have other uses, such as for multiple sclerosis. After all, in countries in such as South America, I have read that the natives chew on the natural leaves of plants with no harm. I find it hard to believe that green tea extract in the form of supplements can have the same effect as green tea made with the leaves.
I do appreciate your having looked at new research and posted it. I do so like everything to be interactive. I shall go through the article more carefully and do some more searching when I have the time.
Have a good weekend, Bernie.
Kind thoughts
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello Iz_and_Lys_Mum
It was nice to hear from you and I am glad to know that you are busy settling your girls into their new schools.I do understand that you still need plenty of rest to deal with fatigue and that you need early nights. Get as much rest as you need.
I can understand that you need to distance yourself from the threads and forums. Some of the posts can be frightening, especially when there is bad news for someone. The forums and threads should be there to make you feel positive about your situation and your future and if they have a negative effect then of course it makes sense to take a break. It is helpful to remember that all the breast cancer cases are individual and that you should not take any of them as pertaining to you. I do get so annoyed that we keep getting such negative news about TNBC. I try to ignore it, because all cancer is aggressive. I try to feel positive about my own TNBC in that for seven years and three months I have been able to look after myself and strengthen my body and immune system through healthy living, and have not had to throw any toxic drugs at it. I am glad that I have not had to take Tamoxifen, Arimidex or Herceptin, all of which have side effects and are foreign bodies going into my system. That is my own way of looking at things.
Thank you for the kind things that you said about the thread. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who make this thread what it is.
I feel quite well, but do have my moments of tiredness.
As I live in an apartment, my garden is the communal grounds of the complex. I do an enormous amount of work in the grounds. This year there has been so much because, as you say, the rain keeps making everything grow. Thank goodness that September has been much drier, dare I say too dry and with the gardeners that we employ, I have managed to get it all under control. The gardeners can only work so much and I put in a lot of hours in between. No one else seems to have any idea about gardening.
I am sure that Mumtobe, Dulcie, linali and freyamia appreciate your kind words and thoughts.
Take care, enjoy your time with your two girls and pop in when you feel you can.
Fond thoughts.
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello Dulcie
I just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you on the thread and pushing the days forward so that you will get to the Marsden and get some good treatment.I hope you and your partner will have a restful weekend.
Kind thoughts.
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello Mumtobe
Thank you for your post. I am sure we are all glad to know that you are coping well and that you are geared up for surgery on Monday. We shall be thinking of you. I was glad to know that all is well with the baby.I was glad to know that you had tried the Alpro Soya Milk and that you liked it. Did you try the unsweetened? My own preference is for Tesco's unsweetened, fresh soya milk. Is the Alpro enriched with calcium? Read the labels because calcium carbonate is no good as humans apparently cannot absorb it.
It is nice to share healthy eating. Maria_Malta was very interested in nutrition as well. I know she is probably busy with work at the moment, but I am sure she will pop in when she can. Sam52 is another one who is very interested in healthy eating as well.
You will be surprised to know that I do not really follow recipes. I just make up my own meals, especially for the evening meal. This evening we are having some poached wild salmon, with some boiled new potatoes, green beans, carrots and some lightly fried mushrooms and tomatoes. I usually put a spoonful or so of organic hummous on the plate and sprinkle some kelp over it to keep the thyroid up to par. Later on we shall have some fresh fruit. My favourite fruit is cherries.
As for breakfast, I sometimes have Dorset Cereals (muesli), with sliced banana or jumbo organic oats made with soy milk, and wholemeal toast with healthy crunchy peanut butter and a low salt yeast spread (Natex). I always have a bowl of mixed fruit, especially blueberries and raspberries.
Wishing you a good weekend.
Fond thoughts.
Sylvia xxxx0 -
Hello everyone
Another week is drawing to a close, so I just want to wish everyone an enjoyable weekend.A special hello to FernMF. We have not heard from you in a while and we hope you are not suffering too much from your last chemotherapy.
A special hello to Lint_Roller_Derby (Betty). We hope you are OK and that you will post to let us know what happened with your testing for BRCA. We hope you are well.
A special hello to BuddhaWolf. We hope you are still viewing.
A special hello to Michael. We hope all is well with you. If I remember correctly, you are launching your website for Janette on September 22nd. Good luck.
To BernieEllen and linali, many thanks for all the effort you put into the thread and to helping others in general. You are an inspiration.
To any others that I have missed, keep well and have a happy weekend.
Keep a positive attitude and live each day to the full.
Sylvia0 -
Hello - some great news to look forward to - announced this morning:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston spending $3 Billion to launch a massive effort against 8 particular types of cancer, and among one of those targeted by their research group is Triple Negative Breast Cancer. The team that is targeting TNBC is also jointly targeting a deadly form of Ovarian Cancer as well.
Here's the article so you can read more.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/md-anderson-cancer-center-cures-deaths-_n_1903597.html
May this bring hope and light to all of our futures and to targeted therapies for TNBC.
Praying for all of my BC Sisters on BreastCancer.org today.
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I wonder if anyone can help me please..that knows how to find an 'old' post of mine..possibly mid April where i am saying that a 10mm and 5mm nodule in each lung was found...my Onc seems to have 'lost' her memory regarding this!
Thank you in advance!
Dulcie xxxx
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OMG Dulcie.....your onc appears to be beyond incompetent...
I think if you click on your name it should bring up all your posts - also you can narow the field down when searching by entering dates etc.
I will have a look for you too.
Take care,
Sam x
edited to add : go to search, enter your name and then put in a time frame.I tried just now, but my internet keeps going slow and I didn't get anywhere.
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Hello Sylvia
Thank you for your post.
I will reply to it soon!
With love,
Sam x
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Thank you ..i have found what i was looking for!
For my written reference..if i had had a CT scan BEFORE surgery ..i would not have needed such a big op as it would have shown the 'spread' (through bloods) already into my lungs..so i infact could have got away with a possible lumpectomy..instead of this dreadful and painful mess on my wound site! The surgeon 'smuggly' telling me that all 12 nodes where cleae..didn't in fact make any difference..at all!
I really am angry because this cancer spread could have been dealt with..with some urgency..and they should/could have consulted with other hospitals?
Of course.. i expressed some concerns...at the Beginning of treatment....and they DIDN'T like it..so this has followed me around...
I am colatting (sp) all information..i have big thick files..on everything ever said to me ..by hospital...
Dulcie xxxx
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THANKS SYLVIA. Your inquiry is warmly received.
I walked today - 3 miles - feel nearly normal. I am on day 12 after round 3 of 4 rounds . . so 75% done . . and praising God that my sideeffects have been minimal as compared to what I have read on all these threads. . . . HOPEFULLY, this means that I am a strong woman, and blessed - and NOT that the chemotheraphy is having no effect to lower my percentage of recurrence.
Tell me - what do I expect that the oncologist will say about how we FOLLOW THIS TN CANCER after the chemotherapy is done? I already have periodic CT scans for a heart condition - every 9 months . . can I "piggy back" on to that for scanning for cancer? Is there blood work, or what? How do I know? I have no breast tissue left, so if "IT" comes back, how will I know?
The weather here is PERFECTION and I am about to go out again and enjoy it. I'm feeling almost guilty that I have so few side effects. The week of chemotherapy is not pleasant . . . but from everything I have read, I am having an easy way by comparison. Thank you God! (He must know/acknowledge that I am a wimp!)
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Hello InspiredbyDolce
Thank you for your post. It was nice to hear from you. Thank you for the good news about research into eight particular types of cancer, including TNBC. It is also good news about targeting a deadly form of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is one of those that seems to develop and become advanced before a diagnosis is made.Thank you for the link. I am going to read it a bit later, when I have answered the posts.
I hope all is well with you.
Best wishes
Sylvia0