Birads 5 with calcification
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@lisat8828
I also had an easy time with Chemo. Don't worry.. Your concern is a common one.. They may actually scan your tumor at some point to see what is happening to it, but that is something to bring up to your Oncologist. For now, be grateful that you are doing well. Chemo is NOT like they portray in the movies,, at least it wasn't for me.. lol
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Thanks so much lovely ladies. It’s relieving to hear that those of you who did chemo had an easy time. I have kids and a million things to do every single day. I was prepared to struggle so this is music to my ears lol! 🎶
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@lisat8828
Hope you are still feeling well. Have the food aversions started?
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@lisat8228 Yup, that’s the steroids and it’ll change. This morning I stopped eating an everything bagel with cream cheese after 3 bites because it wasn’t worth the effort of chewing it. Fortunately, my husband likes eating my garbage, lol
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@illimae Haha, I love that your husband is happily taking care of “quality control” on your leftovers, true love right there! 😂😄
Do you think food choices really play a big role in cancer growth? I’ve seen people say to stay away from red meat, pork, or that sugar “feeds” cancer, but honestly, I’ve still been eating whatever I want. beef, pork, fried foods, snacks, sweets, you name it! Before I was diagnosed, I actually baked and decorated cakes for money, so turning down dessert just isn’t in my DNA.
Do you think diet really makes that much of a difference?
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@lisat8228 It’s so hard to say either way. I always ate fairly well, real food, real ingredients and splurged on treats with minimal ingredients on occasion but my bad habits were wine and candy (at work only), I honestly think work stress was the biggest factor and a suspected but unconfirmed hereditary link (the science isn’t there yet for me).
I was encouraged to try a more Mediterranean or plant based diet early on. I did try and cut all added sugar for over a year but I still had minor progression in my brain and was definitely missing out on the little things that brought me joy. Eventually, I went back to my old but still decent habits with far less sweets and alcohol but I never denied myself something I really wanted. I’ve noticed no change good or bad can say that for me, chemo has had a bigger impact than diet by far. I do stay active and walk regularly, just for basic good health. Others swear by diet changes and that may work better for their bodies, it didn’t for me. Humans are so different, cancer is so different, I don’t think there’s one way to go. Later, my oncologist said that if all I can eat on chemo is ramen and ice cream, do it and just try to do better when I can. That’s the advice I find helpful and realistic.0 -
Tailor your diet to foods that help you feel better (physically). What you eat influences your metabolism, energy, digestive function (and comfort), immune system, inflammation, allergies, sensitivities, etc. Nobody needs simple sugars ("added sugars" on nutrition labels) but they do NOT affect cancer one way or the other. The Gerson diet of the 1930s-40s has long been debunked. Yes, tumor cells "use" glucose—but so does every other kind of functional cell in your body (especially brain). A basic misunderstanding of how PET scans work has led to the misconception that "sugar feeds cancer."
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@lisat8828
I try to avoid a lot of processed foods and limit red meat to once a week. I have never been a drinker, but was told to minimize alcohol for a smaller chance of recurrence after active treatment. That said, I love sweets and have never been told to avoid them.. Just that a healthy BMI also makes recurrence less likely.
Interesting that you are still on the steriods. I was only given them for 3 days after my treatments. Since Taxol was so easy for me, I was able to avoid them completely. It will be interesting to see what happens once you are off of them.
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@illimae i also was advised to try Mediterranean. I think I’m going to look into that one more
@chisandy that’s good information. I was definitely wondering where the assumption that sugar feeds cancer comes from. The pet scan misconception makes total sense
@scaredme thankfully I’m not a much of a drinker as well, so turning down alcohol hasn’t been hard. I just chose to let it go completely. Im not on pills but I was given a steroid shot the day after chemo. I do know that steroids increase your appetite but I’m unsure how long that effect lasts after the shot is given.
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@lisat8828
Did they give you oral steriods to take? I was prescribed some to take for 3 days after each infusion. I am thinking that the Udencya was a shot to boost your WBCs (like Neulasta).. If they didn;t give you any steriods, I'm impressed with how well you've done!
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@scaredme the only oral medicine I was given was Compazine, a nausea medication that’s supposed to be stronger than Zofran, and I haven’t taken that since the day after my chemo session. Can you please describe the bone pain you had from chemo. I have some lower back pain today. It’s not unbearable but it’s throbbing 😭
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@lisat8828
Honestly, I do not remember specifically what hurt since it has been so long, but it definitely was there! Those drugs are literally causing your bones to pump out white blood cells, which is above and beyond the call of duty.. lol
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@lisat8828
Treatment #2 this week? Hopefully you are feeling good!
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Hey @scaredme 💕 Thanks so much for checking in. I actually logged in today to give a little update. Physically I’m still feeling okay, but yesterday I noticed pubic hair shedding. it was all over the washcloth in the shower. And then today, I lost a small clump of hair from my head. I didn’t think I’d cry, but I did. It wasn’t really about the hair itself, more so the reality starting to set in. My sister asked if I wanted her to come cut it for me, but I told her not yet. I feel like I still have a little time before I need to take that step. I remember someone mentioned week 3, and either you or one of the other ladies said around day 17. I’m on day 12 now. I’m just not ready yet, so as long as it’s not coming out in huge clumps, I’m going to use these next few days to prepare myself mentally. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support. It’s truly unmatched. It means so much to log in and see that you were thinking of me today.
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@lisat8228 I had my husband give me a buzz cut when my hair started falling out and I can say that the breeze on a hot day was amazing. Also, I cried too, not that I had great hair but like you said, it’s just real and weird but it can also be very badass. As an added bonus, I found that people are extremely nice to bald women, especially around town and at the grocery store.
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@illimae @illimae I ’ve honestly never had short hair before, so part of me is kind of looking forward to what that freedom will feel like. But at the same time, I don’t know if I’m ready for the stares and curiosity that might come with being bald in public. I’ve always been more of an introvert. I even work from home just to avoid crowds and I’ve spent most of my life doing my best to blend in. That’s why the idea of suddenly standing out feels overwhelming. It might sound a little crazy, but my fear isn’t the bald head itself, it’s the attention that might come with it.
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@lisat8228 I am absolutely an introvert but I don’t recall anyone staring, maybe a few sympathetic looks but that’s all. I definitely recommend paring a bald head with big sunglasses and a little attitude. Strut like you own the place! Here’s my old look and I don’t recall what happened to the other half of my face, lol
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@lisat8828
I 100% understand the emotions coming from losing your hair. I also shaved my head when my hair started falling out... it made me feel empowered. Google "hair halos".. I used to pair these with hats and they looked great! Ironically, no one stared at me until I started wearing scarves in the warmer weather, so I don't think they noticed. My insurance covered a beautiful wig, but I found it scratchy and preferred my hats.
Hugs to you.. It's a journey.
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@illimae You look gorgeous ! That red lipstick is giving pure attitude in the best way. I honestly wouldn’t have guessed you’re an introvert. you come across so strong, confident, and outgoing. Just goes to show you really can be both. lol! My partner’s been encouraging me to try the bald look too, so I just might.
@scaredme I had no idea hair halos even existed ! I’m definitely going to grab a couple. they seem way more convenient than wigs. Thankfully the weather’s cooling down soon, so I can get away with scarves and hats and still blend in.
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@lisat8228 That strong confidence is really just post cancer idgaf, lol. Online is easy but in real life, I prefer to exist quietly in the shadows. There isn’t much to be thankful for with cancer but going through what we do often changes our perspective on so many things. In my case, I found a kind of freedom and power in living for myself primarily and surviving it all.
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@lisat8828
Check out headcovers.com
Fantastic website.
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@illimae You couldn’t have said it better about cancer changing your perspective on things. I often catch myself reflecting and feeling disappointed at how much energy I used to give the little problems in life. If only I knew then what I know now. On the flip side, I’ve learned to be more grateful for the small things and I’ve realized life is way too short to stay caught up on things like money.
Deep down, I truly believe stress played a big part in my cancer. Last year was such a hard one for me. my car was stolen in April and I went through a depression just trying to get around without it. Then in August my landlord told me I might have to move because of his divorce situation (his wife was threatening him with a divorce and taking all of the rental properties. She also had mentioned moving back into the house I was living in). by December he called again saying I only had 30 days to find another place. It was right at Christmas and I was devastated. Thankfully I did find somewhere to go, but it was a stressful, overwhelming time. I honestly feel like all of that took a toll on my body and showed up in the form of cancer.
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@lisat8228 I strongly suspect that stress was a big part of my diagnosis too. I’m very fortunate to finally be able to just relax.
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@lisat8828
Hope your infusion goes smoothly today (Today's the day, right?) Another day to mark off your chart…
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@scaredme It was actually yesterday. Wednesdays are my days. I don’t know why in the beginning I kept saying, “I start on Thursday the 13th,” when the 13th was really a Wednesday. With all those appointments, I barely knew what day it was. lol. But everything went well. I fell asleep. I’m pretty sure it was the Benadryl. They had some trouble drawing blood from my port, flushed it several times, and eventually just had to go old school and take it from my arm. Yesterday I felt a little weak and tired after treatment but I perked up by the evening. Today I’m feeling okay, so I’m hoping the next two weeks are just as smooth as last time.
PS: I shaved my hair. It was coming out from the root of my scalp in patches like crazy on yesterday afternoon. I had no other choice. 😭
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In addition to the hair loss, I think my taste buds are officially off. I baked some chicken yesterday and could only taste the herbs, no salt at all. Then I tried the rice and corn, and they tasted like nothing. I didn’t think much of it until today when I grabbed food from my favorite Mexican spot and couldn’t taste a thing, not even the salsa or the heat from the jalapeños. I was so disappointed because it’s always soooo good. Lol! The only thing I could taste was my lemonade, but that tasted a little salty. So basically, the food tastes saltless while the drinks taste salty. Lol.
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The day my favorite pizza turned on me I cried but I also lost 35lbs easily. It’s definitely a struggle but your buds will rebound. It’s sucks and I’m sorry.
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