Survivors who had chemo etc and are into Complementary medicine
Comments
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Susie, I'm going to take that statement from you onc to heart and continue to enjoy my wine.
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Thanks, Claire. I had no idea that wine was an "issue" - when I think alcohol, I only think of the 'hard stuff." Don't drink that much wine - but still like to know I can.
Pip - I was really surprised at how good my bone density tests were after 3 years on Arimidex. Had the base line, and then the next one showed very little change, think there might have even been an improvement in some area??? Just remember the doc saying that genetics had a LOT to do with bone density. BTW, I'm 66 . Thanks, Lago, happens I was at B&W for the bone density test, it was a doc at DF who told me about the 'genetic' component. Hope it continues.
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Cheryl - I wasn't really a big drinker pre bc - a glass with a nice meal. I did have ILC but am positive it was caused by HRT. I continue to enjoy a glass of wine a few nights a week.
Sue
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Wait! So, does anyone have the lowdown on wine and ER+ BC? I've been trying to quit my nightly glass of white wine. And, I miss it! I am getting mixed messages from different sources... to drink or not to drink, that is the question. Oh, editing here. I scrolled up and surmised from the other comments that a glass of wine is probably OK. So, here I go!
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I agree with Patzee!
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I'll vote to agree with that too. All things in moderation and we didn't work this hard to not enjoy the things that make us happy. Good thing I like fruits and vegetables and exercise is all I can say
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I got some great organic blueberries at Costco today - Can I just freeze them for a snack? Do I have to do anything first?
BarbaraA - Have you tried Wii Fit2? They have some new games and you can do multi-player without going back to the main screen to switch people, it's just a click or two now. It's fun, one person skiis then right quick the next person can go. Much faster than the previoius version.
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Freeze the blueberries as dry as you can, don't wash them first.
I give great thanks for being able to take hormonal treatment, Arimidex, to try to keep E+ bc from returning.
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Omaz: I must look for those in my local Costco. There are freezing instructions here. Basically ... remove any stalks or bad berries, spread the berries on a flat baking tin or other container, once frozen tranfer to ziploc bags. Using this method, they will freeze quickly and not be frozen together in a lump, so later you can remove only what you need without thawing the rest.
I have a Wii Fit, but mostly use it as a weighing scales and don't like what it tells me.
I have the original WiiSports. When I use that I just play tennis. I enjoy it but it doesn't really give me much of a workout. I bought EA Active 2 but only used it once. I must give it another try. I could do with a class in how to get the most from the Wii. 0 -
Me too, Caerus!
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Mary - My 15 year old daughter is a tech wiz so she helps me along.
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One thing I do remember is both the history forms I filled out for my BS and onc both asked about how much I drink. This might be a good question to ask your onc. I myself wouldn't fee comfortable with 1 glass an evening but that's me.
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Sherri - I was very highly ER and PR too. Did you take HRT at all?0
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susieq58,
I am highly ER+ and I do think HRT had alot to do with my cancer. I was very reluctant to use it but fianlly gave in after years of really bad hot flashes. I used the lowest amount patch but still saw an immediate effect. Hot flashes dissappeared and my breasts filled out again. At the time I thought it was great. . Not sure it definately caused the cancer....but I sure think it fueled the fire. I can't help wondering if I left my body alone, this wouldn't be happening now.
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Well, I have not had any of those horrible Arimidex SE (other than being a little creaky and hot flashy at the beginning while my body adjusted) and I do know that I have had 41/2 fabulous cancer-free years while taking it......so I am thrilled that it's a weapon in my anti-cancer arsenal......'cause this is, indeed, a war!
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I'm with you Ruthbru
I think a reason for writing everything under the sun, is well, part of doing any kind of business in this litigious society. Thankful as are so many for having the option of taking Arimidex. Obviously, all of us taking it have been given all the information the poster felt necessary to post. Wish all my 3N bc friends had similar options.0 -
ruthbru I'm with you. Other than some slight stiffness in the small joints (fingers/toes) in the morning and a little in my thighs (could be herceptin too because I see others have had the issue) I don't have any SE for AI. My hot flashes actually stopped after chemo granted I never had them that bad.
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Lee7 - you said, " I can't help wondering if I left my body alone, this wouldn't be happening now." Whenever I start thinking like this, I remind myself of all the women I've met on this board who exercised more, ate better, drank more or drank less, stressed less, etc etc etc than I ever did.....I never did HRT and got bc, anyway.
I'm with my bs: "Who knows, you might have walked past a nuclear power plant 20 yrs ago. The point now is to get on with getting rid of it, so you can go back to your life."
Doesn't always keep me from fretting over "why me?", but does help me move forward.0 -
rainbowpony~
I am unsure why you are posting about the side effects of chemo, radiation and drugs having a big impact on your decision to say no, when this thread is supposed to be about survivors who had chemo etc.
Not trying to cause trouble, just want this thread to remain peaceful...
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Agreed RP, when they find the true cause/s it will make all those risk factors they guilt us with look inconsequential. I had ILC but rarely drank alcohol. Maybe a sip of sparkly to toast a bride. One drink a year average, though I lashed out and had two glasses of wine at my 60th birthday!
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Sherri - I was diagnosed at 57 - the average age for ILC - I did take the pill for many years too, but I'd only been on HRT for 4 years. It really doesn't matter what caused it - it's been cut out and all the wonderful chemo/herceptin treatment is over. I don't have any lasting effects from the treatment so I'm certainly not complaining. My main issue had been the chemo curls, but even they seem to be finally going. Chemo and surgery saved my DH's life, here's hoping it's saved mine too.
Sue
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I was one of those who never took HRT (because I didn't go through menopause till chemo) and only took birth control pills for a few years back in my 20's over 25+ years ago. I also never drank that much, low fat diet fairly active, no history etc. Yes I had dense breasts but so doesn't my mom and sister. I didn't have kids but my sister didn't have hers till she was in her 30s. Who knows why I got it and they didn't. City living maybe? I still like to blame it on that asshole boss I worked for and the stress he caused. According to my BS if this started 5 years ago that would have been about 1+ years after I was working for the asshole. Year of stress might have started this, who knows.
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Lago - I worked for one of those types for 4 1/2 years but had thankfully been away from him for quite a few years when diagnosed. I hate to think what it would have been like if I had still worked there. My new company have been absolutely wonderful and to my surprise I found out I had income protection insurance in my superannuation fund and didn't know it - something that everyone who works there has. Also had a wonderful rehab girl in HR who supervised my return to work and made sure I did it gradually.
I am very suspicious of hormones in chicken, so have only eaten organic or free range since. Have you noticed how so many people have big breasts these days - including men. When I was growing up my breast size (DD) was unusual and I had trouble getting bras - now look at the sizes available. One of our major supermarket chains here is now selling only hormone free beef, which is great.
Hope you are recovering from your surgery.
Sue
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I ws offered chemo for my first cancer, Staage 1 Grade 1. Not due to any NCI guidelines, but because of my age. I was 44. The thought of A/C and the potential side effects swayed me a lot. But also the fact that for ME, chemo had only about a 3% chance of improving my overall survival. I got lots of crap from some women in a support group about deciding NOT to do chemo. And I have no regrets. Had it been aggressive, or with different prognostic features, my decision would have been different.
When I got the second cancer 5 years later (again Stage 1, Grade 1), my oncologist said he would even offer it to me.
For some, the chemo decision is a slam dunk. For those of us in gray areas, it can be an agonizing decision to make. My oncologist recommended exercise and keeping my body fat percent low as the best tools in my personal tool box.
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I imagine it is a combination of everything, a lot of it environmental and out of our control. And the fact that with modern medicine we aren't all dying young in childbirth, of the measles, typhoid fever, appendicitis, infected wounds, cholera etc. etc. etc. all things that killed most people at a young age not that long ago (the average lifespan in 1900 was 47 years old!). Most of us would never had gotten old enough to be dealing with cancer.
But like someone else said, it really isn't productive to dwell on 'if only I would have or not have done____' (fill in the blank). We can't change the past. The important things are the things we do now.
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I love this poem.
"Lean on the future. There
if anywhere
you walk upon the water,
All that was true at first
is true at last
but there is no way back
into the past.
But through the future. There
if anywhere
the miracle must happen."
Sydney Carter
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Susieq I didn't have big breast, little ones matter a fact (A/B cup) but I have big ones now
My PS said I would be around a B/C. I feel like a C at least. I'm only 3 weeks out from exchange.I'm a big girl now
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I also had no family history, had my son at the right age, breast fed, the only bad thing was I was put on birth control pills at the age of 14 because of my periods being so irregular. Stayed on them until age 25 when I got married. I also have dense breast, otherwise I have no risk factors and I too got BC. I don't dwell on what caused it, just glad I was able to get treated for it.
Lago you make me laugh about you being a big girl. I am also small breast, I will be having a BMX next March and I hope to be a big girl then as well. I am not a candidate for implants so will have to do diep and I don't have enough body fat for two boobs right now. I have to gain weight and my PS said he will make them as big as he can it is up to me to make the fat for him to use. I figure the holidays will be a good start to gaining weight, I'll cave in to the sweets.
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Caerus-Sunflowers: Yup, I'd take any of those side effects, rare or otherwise, to reduce the chance of cancer again... but as TN, no choice in the matter.
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SherrycI will never be a candidate for diep even for 1 small A/B boobie prize and certainly not for 2. As it is my PS couldn't find enough fat for fat grafting in my entire midsection (love handles too). He plans on doing more when I get the nipples. Hope this time he looks at my thighs. I never had a tummy. I'm all butt and thighs.
Do I need to send you my cookie recipe?
Maybe some peanut sauce recipies? 0
