Share Your Caregiving Story
November is Caregiver Awareness Month and we thought it'd be a great time to thank the members of our Community (and our lives!) for the help they provide while assisting their loved ones in navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Please share with us your story! We'd love to share it on our site, on the Member Stories: Caregivers pages. Please feel free to share here or send us a PM with a photo we can use!
If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, please weigh in with your thoughts on things such as:
- What do you want to hear from your caregivers?
- What do you need from your caregiver?
- What kind of tips do you have for them?
- What has having a caregiver done for you?
On the flip side, caregivers:
- What do you recommend to other caregivers?
- What challenges have you faced?
- What has being a caregiver done for you?
We welcome any and all thoughts on this topic. Let's share our appreciation for the loved ones that help us through!
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my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer to her lymph node brain liver and bones. This was back in April 2014 she was 43 she is now 44. She got blood clots from her port and was in the hospital for two weeks in May of 2014 then she had two different chemos and her cancer shrank and her bone cancer went away then she had radiation on her brain and she got rid of the two brain tumors then in the beginning of 2015 she went on horomone therapy and it didn't work all her cancer came back accept the brain he put her back on chemo pills and in august she had a small stroke (t.i.a) caused by a tiny hole in her heart and a blood clot went through to her brain then the chemo pills caused her cancer to become stable then in December 2015 the xeloda stopped working and her onc put her on vinorelbine iv chemo she has had a new picc line put in and after 2 rounds she has gotten sepsis and is recovering in the hospital. It just one thing after another and I just feel empty her husband is to scared to take care of her so at 23 I am my mothers caregiver I am not around any family or friends and have no one to vent to and she often takes her anger out on me I know she doesn't mean it she has 7 kids and a step son her kids range in ages from 5 to 24 and five of them are under 1. It was so unexpected she went to the dr for arm pain and came back with stage 4 cancer .in the pastel most 2 yeas I have watched my strong young mom deminesh to being bed ridden And in and out of sleep. I know she is scared and so am I why does someone who has so much to live for get this horrible disease without even a chance.
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Popcorn, I am so sorry for al that your family is going through, you are right this is a horrible disease. I can't tell how young your siblings are because your post is missing a digit but I hope that you can organize them to help you as much as possible. I am certain that your mom appreciates you immensely and is frustrated that she can not be the mom that she wanted to be because of this awful disease.
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Popcorn,
Thank you for sharing your story here. We're so sorry for what your family is going through, You'll all be in our thoughts, please come here for support any time you need it.
The Mods
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My mother was just recently diagnosed (Feb 8) with stage IV mets to bone. Her initial diagnosis of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma was almost exactly 5 years ago. She had a top breast cancer doc who suggested she have a mastectomy on the right side. Subsequently, some lymph nodes were removed to be sure the cancer had not spread. All the lymph nodes came back clean. My mother was told she would not have to undergo chemo or radiation as the cancer was "gone". Her only long-term treatment related to the ILC was Arimidex. My mother has had joint pain since taking the Arimidex. Fast forward 5 years. My mother noticed recently she was having some issues urinating and micro study showed hematuria. Her urologist wanted her to have a CT as he was concerned she may have some kidney or bladder stones. And BAM!! White spots light up all over her bones of the CT. After a panicked call that night at home from her urologist, my mother went to have a full body CT, bone scan, and bone biopsy. Feb 8 2016 the Doc confirmed mets to bone - right hip, pelvis, cervical/thoracic/lumbar spine, skull, ribs, breastbone, and right femur as well as to some deep lymph nodes on the right side axilla. The good news is the lungs, liver, and brain look clear. So the plan of action is to take Femara and Ibrance and see from there.
So I am a RN and I am not naive to know what these reports mean. When I see the word "extensive" throughout the reports its not good. The Doc told us that Ibrance is not chemotherapy and that my mother should not lose her hair, which she is very concerned about. Then the Doc wants to make sure she signs up for the "chemo class" and I see when looking up side effects for Ibrance that hair thinning and loss is listed. So now I'm slightly confused. To add insult to injury and allow me to vent, but how in the world would someone who does not have insurance be able to cover a medication that is $21,800 a month??!!! Luckily my mother has insurance. I do not know how Big Pharma can sleep at night.
And to make this a little more stressful/complicated, I am a caregiver to a very close family friend who is progressing quickly with bulbar ALS.
These are all such terrible diseases. I'm only 37 and an only child. I lost my father in 2010. My mother still has both per parents alive and kicking strong. I can't stress enough that life is not fair. So all the projects and ideas I have for my loved one with ALS for her family before she leaves this world, will also be done for me with my mother. The difficult conversations about death and final plans/wishes that I have all the time with my ALS buddy will also need to be done with my mother as well. Just different layers of sadness. . . .and anger.
Thanks for reading my rambling novel here. Had to vent. I put the soapbox away.
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Treadingwater-
Thank you so much for sharing your story. We're so sorry for your mother's diagnosis, and for the pain and anger and sadness. It is so very difficult, and we're keeping you and your family in our thoughts.
The Mods
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My wife was diagnosed STAGE IV in September of last year. It has been a wild ride getting to where we are, at this time she is stable no progression n the disease. She is strong so very strong. I strive to be the best I can be easy really I love her she loves me and there is nothing that we would not do for one another. My main struggle is trying not to think of the future.
For me the future was always so far away I still have 12 years to retirement and always thought of us going off and doing all that we wanted to do. We have been together for 16 amazing wonderful years and I want so much more. So now that we were getting closer to that time and starting to make those plans this hits us.ILC IDC METS to bones(extensive and systemic). Those terms kind of make thinking of the future very hard. I never want to be without her, she is my life. We have three beautiful daughters that each have angels wings in my eyes, as well as a grandson and my oldest is expecting another(so cool).
I have heard all the sayings take it one day at a time live in the moment and we do but it's always in the back of my mind what next. For her I will tackle what's next with her for her but I wish we did not have to. Childish I know to say I wish as if those could make it go away.
I am proud of her the grace and stoicism she has displayed at being given this kind of diagnosis is nothing short of sainthood. She has moment when she slips she is human but still an angel my angel sent from God to keep this lowly guy filled with love.
I think you have an idea how much we love each other and how we will fight to stay together
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I got back with my old flame in November 2016. I let my home forclose and moved in with her in January. We were so in love, and happy to be happy again.
This all changed in March with her stage 4 diagnosis. At that time, she warned me that she will be very hard to get along with, and that the chemo will make her crazy. She assured me that no matter what happens, that she will always love me.
Well, I had taken a lower paying job in order to be available for her and her appointments. She has not worked since the diagnosis. September came, and so did the bills . We were living beyond our means due to the lack of income.
I may also add that there are meds involved, oxycodone and alcohol. She was getting prescriptions from another network than her oncologist. My fiancé has a history with both opioids and alcohol. She started the oxy's before chemo, it was noticeable to me.
She was becoming angry and distant. The Oncologist would not start treatment until she was off of the oxy's. She lied the whole while, every time we went to the Oncologist , she lied.
September 15, she went into a rage, throwing me out of the house and her life. No contact, she has shut me down. The story she tells is that I have taken advantage of her and spent all of the money. Before she had a chance to stop me before dropping me as power of attorney, I notified the social worker and Oncologist about the oxycodone and alcohol.
I absolutely love the girl that is in there, somewhere. I am heartbroken as her family is taking her ridiculous story
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My Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer Mets to the bone in July 2017. She will be 85 on November 30. She has had mammograms and bone density tests every year with all coming back clean. What is the point of these tests if they are not reliable? It makes me so angry! I am an only child and her primary caregiver. A year ago she was doing well enough that we were attending concerts, plays, and traveling. Now she is mostly bedridden. She takes a couple of steps to use the bedside commode, or to a chair, but cannot stay up long because of the pain. She is on 100 mcg. Fentanyl patches every 3 days, with Dilaudid pills for breakthrough pain. My heart breaks to see how much she has deteriorated in the last year. Her mind is no longer sharp, her body is shaking with movement, and she is pretty much helpless. Her MO has started her on Femara and Ibrance telling her she could survive 5 years of more with this treatment. I think he is an idiot. In just her first month of both drugs, she lost her appetite, dropped several pounds, became even more unstable on her feet, developed 2 urinary infections, developed a blood clot in her leg, had a nosebleed, has blood bruises popping up without hitting anything, has had sore throats and in general feeling yucky. Is this med gonna help her or take her out quicker? We just lost my Dad 2 years ago to pancreatic cancer. He only lived 3 months after diagnosis. I am so stressed, most of the time I don't know what day it is. Is there any chance for this med to help, or are we just grasping at straws? I just need the truth and can't seem to get straight answers from her doc.
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My wife was diagnosed with triple positive stage three breast cancer of the right breast at 35 just 4 months after our wedding in 2012. We have been married for 6 years and, for the most part, our marriage has always been about the cancer and her treatments. She went through the double mastectomy, all the lymph nodes on the right side were excised as well as some surrounding tissue, reconstruction, chemo AC and Taxotere, radiation.
Later she had a historectomy (which she got a staph infection!), hormone blockers, which, btw, the side effects were awful for her! She went through all of them and none were real tolerable but she stuck it out with the lesser of the evils for as long as she could. She stopped taking them about a year after she was declared cancer free for the first time. She did well and She had been cancer free for almost 5 yrs. We were just staring to get some similance of a normal life and marriage.
Now the cancer has come back in the liver which makes her stage 4 metastatic. They found the golf ball size mass by chance when she had to have an emergency appendectomy. That mass was not on her last cancer scan 6 mo ago and it was about another 6mo before the next one! This is fast growing and aggressive so having to go in for the appendectomy was a blessing! They have done the y90 radiation treatment, which put her In the hospital for almost a week sick as a dog. Her oncologist put her on faslodex shots and Ibrance. These are supposed to be the ideal treatment for her type of cancer. Well the large tumor shrunk and continues to but smaller tumors are growing around it even through the current treatment. So back on the IV chemo! It's so hard to watch the strongest, most independent woman I know be beat down to a shell of a person, and I'm helpless to do anything except motivate, support, listen and love. We will get through this but it hard knowing that this is here for good now and will not go away and she will never hear those words "cancer free" again.
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TheMotivator and all the caregivers who shared their story here, thank you! We're sorry that you had to find our Community for this reason, but glad you've found us and decided to post!
If you're okay with that, please send us a photo of yourself or something that represents you to include with your story. It can be here or using the private messages function.
Thank you, and welcome again!
The Mods
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First, let me thank you for the wonderful opportunity for catharsis.
Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer back in 2008. she found a lump in december 2007 and in June 2008 we were undergoing surgery. My sister is an ENT so she got one of her teachers to perform the surgery like it was his own mom. As a result, she got 43 ganglii removed.
What would I recommend other caregivers?
When we returned home, the vac that was attached to my mom's chest broke! So the first thing I recommend: get a list of suppliers. You will need a LOT of bed covers, the right soap (so that when you wash bed sheets they do not feel scrapy); you also need to have at least one more of the items that you will need for recovery, such as needles, syringes and even the vac. I remember I called the entire city's list of pharmacies to find a replacement and found ONE. Some pharmacist decided to stock his pharmacy like 5 years ago and there was only one left. And at that moment I had relatives and friends knocking the door to visit! hahahaha I am so glad I can laugh now.
Also, have another physician's number near by. In Mexico, for instance, institutional medicine (which is the insurance type one) often lacks committment and not because the doctors are bad (which some ARE) but because they have 70-80 patients to see in one 8-hour day! that is less than 10 minutes per patient! So sometimes you need to get a more thorough examination or give a doctor more time to really READ the results of the lab or studies.
What challenges have I faced?
To not accept what the doctors say at blind faith. I do not sit down and accept what they say at their face value. I ask more questions and I combat their statements until I am satisfied.
Smiling and having a good temperament. It is probably one of the hardest things to do as there are times when you want or need to do something else and it is at that time and moment that your loved ones needs something special or takes more time than what you should give him or her
All in all, taking care of your loved ones will give you peace and strength. The strength to be there for them when they need it. It is not easy to adjust to handling their depositions, to clean them, to accept the humor of a sick person and to understand that there are times when they are bitchy and upset because they are sick with one of the most terrible diseases of all times. It is not easy to realize that their life seems to be slipping away through YOUR firngers and that more than once, friends and relatives look to you saying: "so what are YOU doing to prevent/change/correct this"? As if the illness is your fault and the matching care is your own doing onto yourself.
But stay strong, because in the end; when all has been said and done, you will have peace of mind and soul.
UPDATE. A lot has passed since then. My mother was diagnosed with Mets in Liver, lungs, hip and spinal column in 2018. The oncologist that made the surgery and who was in facto her treating oncologist WINKED at my sister when he told me that there was a chance for full recovery for my mother. Well, we visited any number of private oncologists as I had been here and I had seen that some of you guys have fulfilling active lives with mets. I could not find one (I do not live in the USA and moving over there was not an option). So we decided to go back to the oncologist that treated mom for her surgery (the surgeon oncologist decided he "could not treat my mother" and shooed us away)
This doctor (the new again treating oncologist) treated her with chemo and radio. they stated that my mother was cancer free. yet today she was diagnosed with liver mets (the liver is fully occupied) and mesenthelioma (abdomen) as well, fully occupied.
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Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.
My close friend was diagnosed in 2014 december with Breast Cancer. She decided to follow a holistic treatment plan . All pros and cons were presented to her but in the end it was her body and her decision. I accompanied her to various IV treatments /healthy alkaline based cooking classes and sat and held her when she was discouraged with results. But she had a very strong spirit and a strong will to live. For 4 years she lived her best and healthiest life not knowing the dangers that lurked within. If she felt weak , she never showed it.
Unfortunately in 2018 March she complained of inability to breathe and after an emergency admittance in the hospital it was discovered that her left lung was retaining quite a bit of fluid. This was the first time she started traditional treatment.
I accompanied her to every doctors appointment and to procedures to remove fluid from her lungs till in April 2019 it was discovered that her cancer had spread everywhere and she started her traditional chemo treatments. The doctors put an external drain for her left lung to be drained at home and I was trained to do that. In June of 2019 she made the decision to go thru the Issell immunotherapy program and after driving her cross country I accompanied her to the Issel clinic in Tijuana. I do beleive that this alternative therapy is a good program but it was too late for her. After 7 days there I made the decision to pull her out at midnight and bring her to a US Hospital in San Diego via ambulance. She had developed fluid in her right lung and was put on 45 litres of oxygen. The family decided to fly her back via air ambulance and I accompanied her on the trip back at the end of July..Eventually she had to have adrain in her right lung too and I drained both lungs on alternate days.
Her quick deterioration after that has left me in tatters. She passed away on September 9, 2019 and the last words she spoke to me was to ask if I had passed my reflexology certification test that I took on September 7.
I am now a certified reflexologist and I strongly beleive that my treatments helped her in managing her pain symptoms . I miss her everyday and I continue my practice in her memory by completing my advanced training in Reflexology Lymph drainage so I can help others.
There are no words to express my loss of her presence but God bless all the caregivers and families because it is a very compassionate and brutually raw emotional experience.
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I am new to this support forum, and caregiver to my Mom who was diagnosed in May with MBC (she originally had a stage II tumor removed ~10 years ago, followed be chemo, radiation and 5 years of Arimidex) and a clean mammogram in August. It showed up with Mets to many internal organs (including lung) and spine.
Her oncologist was confident Letrozole and IBRANCE combo would be helpful but she's had SUCH a rough time since May with everything continuing to go downhill, trouble breathing. several visits to emergency room, two hospital admissions. She hasn't been able to eat and without taking in enough her potassium fell to dangerously low levels. Then in one of her hospital visits she broke the head of her femur and had to have a partial hip replacement so now she is also rehabbing from that. Then a UTI, treated with antibiotics which lead to terrible c difficile infection where for a week she couldn't even make it to the bathroom.
Now she's essentially bedridden, constantly exhausted and can't even walk, she's so deconditioned. This has all happened so quickly. And Friday a week ago we learned that her cancer is responding to the IBRANCE/Letrozole and the lymph nodes are shrinking and less are positive. so it's working. But why does she feel so sick? She just says she wants to die even though she's only 75. Her oncologist says she shoudl feel better. I don't know what to do anymore, it's hard working full time, raising my daughter and trying to spend full time caring for Mom. I want her to get better. Has anyone been through this? Has your loved one regained their mobility and positivity as the cancer got under control?
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Bless your heart I’m so sorry about your Mom. She has literally been to hell and back.
I was not a caregiver but my BIL was for my sister. She suffered terribly like your mother. He was exhausted but determined to be at her side and he was.
Don’t feel guilty that you have a family and a child to take care of who depends on you. There is only so much of you to go around. You do what you can but not at the detriment of your child. Not trying to be insensitive but there is only so much you can do for your mom.
It sounds like the drugs are working but I’m sure it will take time to recover from what she has been through which is a lot.
She knows you love her. Keep the faith.
Diane
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Haven't been a breast cancer caregiver yet. I've done 2 rounds of the dementia process caregiving. First was my mother after my father dropped dead (most likely from caregiving!) -then after Mom dies, my mother in law and step father in law were not doing well. It took a while to get things under control. Ultimately, they are also both gone now. I was diagnosed during this last round.
You really need to take care of yourself as well. Very, very important!!!
I recently lost my husband to cancer (well actually pneumonia set in and killed him)-as I look back I learned all I could and how to best adjust to his attitude of his diagnosis to remain positive and for the most part, we succeeded. He was positive and a true fighter. Towards the end though he didn't want to take meds and now looking back I wished he would have told me he may have been done fighting. He went fast and for that, I am grateful. He was never placed on hospice. We were sort of also blessed that our state was on lockdown and my daughter and I were with him every day. Working from home and sharing the load of driving to appointments and treatments. Being together like that was special and will be unforgettable thanks to our ever changing world.
My sister has ILC with mets to her spine. Just recently she was found to have slight progression, so her MO has switched up the treatment plan. First diagnosed in 2014 she had Arimidex and Xgeva. Now, she is off Arimidex and taking the Faslodex shots along with Xgeva. Hope this works for many more years. If she ever needed me I would care give again for her in a heart beat. I pray I won't have to and I go first.
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I feel I am the rare caregiver to my 95 yr old mother who is on hospice for 2 yrs now. She is on hospice for congestive heart failure, but she developed inflammatory breast cancer in her left breast in Jan of 2020. At least it became obvious at that time. She decided not to treat for it and we all had to respect her wishes. Fast forward to now - May 2021 and her left breast is full of cancer both inside and outside her breast. All kinds of growths coming out. Hospice comes in a few times a week to dress her breast as it is leaking heavily now. Last week, while the nurse was dressing her breast, she noticed that the right breast was indeed having the same symptoms as the left breast a year ago. So the IBC is now in both breasts. My mother is insisting they are only cysts and she does not want to accept more help around her house. She needs it now, but she does not want anyone in her home more than what she has now which is only one CNA once a week, and the nurses visits, plus an occasional social worker and me of course. But I can't do it all. I have cancer too and I'm still treating. I have a blood cancer. My mother is starting to get more debilitated now and I need for her to accept more help which hospice is prepared to offer her. She is in deep denial now. She thinks if she accepts more help, she is one step closer to going to the hospice facility close by. But hospice is trying to keep her independent by offering help. I know there's nothing much I can do to convince her, but I'm honestly shocked she is still able to manage as much as she does. I know with my cancer, I am greatly fatigued at times. She is very stubborn about this, but I wish she would meet everyone half-way. I worry about so many things that could happen now. What can I expect in the near future in regards to her condition?
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What may cause you to suffer from breast cancer( part 1)
I knew a patient who used to applied medication of birth control which stopped period for few years. Physician believed her in a higher risk of breast cancer though she had no family history of cancer. She was screened for breast cancer with mammogram untill she stop screening.
What caused cancers to human, or breast cancer , specifically?
According to Physicians, many reasons, carcinogens, ie. chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, UV, food preservatives, food additives, etc. A carcinogen is something that can cause human to have cancer. It may be a substance in the air, a product you use, or a chemical in foods and drinks.
The known common 10 carcinogens are :
Tobacco
Inhaling smoke of tobacco causes carcinogens into bloodstream. These more than 60 carcinogens in cigarette smoke and at least 16 in unburned tobacco, including tobacco-specific nitrosamines (such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN)), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzo[a]pyrene) and aromatic amines (such as 4-aminobiphenyl) seem to have an important role as causes of cancer. The Carcinogens result in biomarkers in human such as DNA adducts, protein adducts and urinary metabolites which are used as objective measures of carcinogen uptake , metabolic activation and detoxification, or are otherwise exposed to, tobacco products. It is common to suggest : donot use tobacco , if you do, quit it. ( Nature Reviews Cancer volume 3, pages733–744 (2003))
Radon
It's the primary cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. According to the National Cancer Institute from NIH, "Scientists agree that radon causes lung cancer in humans. Recent research has focused on specifying the effect of residential radon on lung cancer risk. In these studies, scientists measure radon levels in the homes of people who have lung cancer and compare them to the levels of radon in the homes of people who have not developed lung cancer."
"Researchers have combined and analyzed data from all radon studies conducted in Canada and the United States. By combining the data from these studies, scientists were able to analyze data from thousands of people. The results of this analysis demonstrated a slightly increased risk of lung cancer for individuals with elevated exposure to household radon. This increased risk was consistent with the estimated level of risk based on studies of underground miners."
Asbestos
Chrysotile, known as white asbestos, is a magnesium silicate belonging to the serpentine group and is the most common type (about 95% of all asbestos use). The other asbestos types belong to the amphibole group and include crocidolite, known as blue asbestos, amosite, also called brown asbestos, and anthophyllite.
Asbestos caused induction of early response fos/jun proto-oncogenes in rodent tracheal and mesothelial cells correlates with fibrous geometry and pathogenicity of asbestos. Our study was the first to suggest that the aberrant induction of signaling responses by crocidolite asbestos and erionite, a fibrous zeolite mineral associated with the development of malignant mesotheliomas (MMs). (Free Radic Biol Med 2003;34:1117–1129)
If you come into contact with it at your job, wear protective gear. If it's in your home and needs to be removed, hire an expert.
Crispy, Brown Foods
When some vegetables, like potatoes, are heated to high temps, they can give off a chemical called acrylamide. Studies show that rats who took in acrylamide in their drinking water got cancer, so researchers think humans might also.
You can cut the amount you eat by baking, roasting, frying, and toasting foods until they're a tan color instead of golden or deep brown. Acrylamide is also found in many products you buy as well as in tobacco smoke.
Formaldehyde
From plywood to some fabrics, this chemical is used in many household products. Studies on lab rats and people who are around formaldehyde at their jobs show it can cause cancer.
Before buying any wood products or furniture for your home, find out if they contain formaldehyde. Air out your house every day and keep humidity levels low with an air conditioner or dehumidifier.
Ultraviolet Rays
Studies show that ultraviolet (UV) rays, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, get absorbed into your skin and damage the cells there. Most skin cancer cases are due to UV rays.
Pollution and climate change make these rays stronger. To stay safe, protect your skin with sunscreen, wear a hat and sunglasses, and avoid tanning salons.
Alcohol
The more alcohol you drink, the greater your odds of getting certain kinds of cancers, such as:
Head and neck
Esophageal
Breast
Liver
Colorectal
One reason for this may be carcinogenic chemicals produced when beer, wine, and hard liquor are made. Experts suggest women have no more than one drink each day and men no more than two.
Processed Meat
Bacon, salami, pepperoni, sausage -- any meat that's been preserved or flavored can raise your chances of getting colon cancer. Experts reached that view by looking at more than 800 studies.
Eating a hot dog every once in a while is fine, but limit how much processed meat you have as much as you can. Try to limit foods that have been salted, fermented, cured or smoked.
Engine Exhaust
Trucks, buses, trains, and even some cars run on diesel fuel. The gas and soot in diesel engine exhaust are believed to cause lung cancer and other types of cancer.
When you can, avoid idling in traffic or spending time next to diesel-run vehicles. If it's part of your job, follow workplace safety guidelines to protect your health.
Pollution
Aside from exhaust, polluted outdoor air contains dust and traces of metals and solvents that can lead to cancer. Experts know this from looking at data from over 1.2 million people across the U.S.
You can't avoid pollution, but you can do your part to avoid contributing to it by walking or biking instead of driving. Follow local public health warnings and stay indoors on days when air quality is bad.
Glyphosate is a popular herbicide used to kill certain plants and grasses, manage how plants grow, get crops ready for harvest, and ripen fruit.
It's been in the news recently because of concerns about health risks.
Glyphosate is one of the world's most common herbicides. It's the active ingredient in popular weed-control products like Roundup, Rodeo, and Pondmaster. Many farmers use it during food production.
You may have heard in recent news that oat-based products like oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, and snack bars have glyphosate.
In one report from California scientists and the World Health Organization, 43 of 45 oat-based products tested had it. Popular breakfast foods like Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and Cheerios had above-average levels.
It's also in grain and bean products like pasta, buckwheat, barley, kidney beans, and chickpeas.
Just because you had contact with a carcinogen doesn't mean that you'll get cancer. Your chance of getting sick depends on many things. Such as dose, exposure timespan, as well as human genetics defects, and human decomposition these carcinogens, immune system resistance.
By Dr. Yan Yan, AMP
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