Illinois ladies facing bc
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"The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become." - Heraclitus
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makmak Irina might of had the same diagnosis but people are individuals. Don't assume you will have the same outcome. Because are bodies are unique we react to treatment differently. This is why even the doctors can't tell us exactly what's going to happen. Bottom line is you are still here!
Keep fighting. The alkaline diet looks pretty healthy. I do eat a lot of the things on it. I'm not sure I can give up fish, sushi, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar though. I'm willing to bet keeping my diet high in veggies will help.
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Yes, Marina, that list helps so much!
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Just a reminder, this free annual meeting is coming up on Sunday.
Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Town Hall:
"The Promises and Myths of Breast Cancer Reasearch"
Sunday, Oct. 24, 1-4 p.m.
Arthur Rubloff Bldg.
Thorne Auditorium
375 E. Chicago Ave (Chicago Ave & Lake Shore Dr.)
www.cancer.northwestern.edu
Dr. Gradishar will moderate. Joining him: Dr. Cryns (Survivorship); Dr. Hansen (Surgery); Dr. Kaklamani (Genetics); and Dr. Strauss (Radiation).
Be there or be square!0 -
Thanks! I just registered to go. Anyone else going?
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MakMak/marina... thanks so much for the link to that food chart. I printed it out and am going to study it to see how I am doing. Lago is right that our bodies all react differently to treatments, etc. Stay positive.
Lago.... I received a postcard for that town hall meeting with the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Center this Sunday afternoon. Dr Nora Hansen is my breast surgeon. I am still sitting on the fence about going. Haven't really discussed weekend plans with my DH yet. Will let you know if I decide to go. Anyone else? Well, off to rad #10!
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You don't need to give up your fish, I do not think. It is all a 60-40 balance with the acidizing foods in the latter. So for axample, I made a shrimp salad sald for my friends tomorrow. Shrimp is acidizing but everything else (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, celery,marjorim is alkaline) and I substituted apple cider vinegar for thr red wine vinegar. So would that not be a balance allowed in this diet?
I do not totally understand what it is all about, but I think it is smart for me, at least, to at least know what I am eating.
And Marina, do remember Irina did not have health care and had to struggle to finally get the care she needed, and frankly that came too late. She was not a citizen (although she almost got that)and every step of her journey was a struggle. By the time she got to our doctor, she was very ill. We have it so much better than she ever did. You will be good.
Susan
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Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I think it's just a combination of things that got me down.. deep inside I do think I'll be OK!!
Glad you are all enjoying the alkaline foods list. Susan, you have it right.. just because something is acidic doesn't mean you can't eat it.. it means you need to balance the foods out. I eat fish and LOVE sushi.. just means the rest of the day I eat more alkaline..
Went to Didier today.. I think Gab did have fun.. she barked at ALL the animals.. I guess at this point they all say woof woof.. she couldn't do any of the activities yet, but it was her first outing to something like this so glad we went. The weather was perfect for it..
Having sushi at Wildfish tomorrow.. they are the only place I know that has black rice.. Read a few days ago that it's considered very healthy.. since I don't eat 'white' it's a great alternative.. looks pretty too!!
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Hi Rita Jean and Il. Ladies. Just wanted to stop in and say hi. I am still here. Glad you still have this thread going. Good luck to all of you.
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"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
Elizabeth Kubler Ross
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Good morning everyone.
Going to be a fantastic day I'm sure. JFIP ( just for information purposes ) there should be a blurb coming out having to do with Prempo which is the hormone replacement that has ?testosterone and estrogen in it. Seems there has been found some sort of definite link between breast cancer and that pill. The bad thing is......seems herbal and or natural therapies will be just as likely to cause the breast cancer. I did not read the article --- just heard the blurb on the news -- so my guess would be that ( big guess on my part ) that something happens when your body is trying to cut back on hormones during menopause.....and you just dump them all right back in -- and then I think --- this makes a lot of sense when it comes out like this. So why did I and so many others just think it was the thing to do. You who did it --- you know your not dumb, and I know I'm not......sooooo.
I'm sure it is much like former smokers of which I am one. That was fairly universal as I was growing up.....and as both my parents smoked....I fell into it rather easily. Years later after hearing for several years about different kinds of problems caused by smoking -- the phrase came along about "well, what you expect when you put something that is burning in your mouth", and once again.....here I am thinking -- and why wasn't this saying the same thing to me years and years ago before I ever heard it put that way. It starts to make you think that maybe you are a slow learner you know. Well, hope I don't have too many other ah-ha moments though in truth I suspected the hormones for not only the cancer, but the stroke I had.
Now after that I do hope you are all going to have a great day. I really like Elizabeth Kubler Ross and may have put this quote in before. I do repeats and this was I thought a good one. See you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
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I read one of the articles. Part of the issue is it seems like the drug company hid this. What is driving me crazier is my mom it taking HRT for her osteoporosis (it helped reverse it). She had very dense breast just like I had but a lot more of them. Try finding cancer in a dense large breast! I don't know how many years she's been on it.
She refused to stop taking it. I guess the doctor fees she's 73 so no big deal. I just don't know what's up with her doctor now knowing my diagnosis! Ironically she can't understand my issues with taking hormone suppression therapy. Yeah I'm worried about my bones too mom.
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I took prempro for ten years to build my bones up and now I am on arimidex and it is doing a number to weaken my bones. The doctor who prescribed me prempro was giving it out freely. I never even asked for it. She must be a wreck right now and I really do not blame her. DH and I talked about it last night. Like Jackie said, we thought we were doing a smart thing.
What I am not sure about is this. Is the risk still ongoing or is it over now that I have been off it for awhile. I went off it when the scare opened up. I have dense breasts too and mamos never found it....just mrii. Do mris find it no matter the density. Oh, all the new questions!
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Susan - I don't think any "one" diagnostic test is fool proof - especially with dense tissue. For 4 consecutive years (mammos), I was told my 4cm rock hard lump was "just dense tissue". It wasn't until a pea sized lump appeared that the 4cm area was taken seriously and found to actually be malignant bc.
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Just saw this post in a forum here at bco:
Living Beyond Breast Cancer is partnering with Julie R. Gralow, MD to bring you up-to-date medical information on bone health at our next FREE teleconference. On November 8, 2010, Dr. Gralow will lead the teleconference, Bone Health: What You Need to Know and inform you about select treatments that impact the health and strength of your bones, the importance of monitoring your bone health and being aware of therapies available to you, and new advances in treatments and lifestyle changes that are paramount in keeping your bones strong. Register today and call 610 645 4567 for time listings and more information. Visit http://www.lbbc.org/ to register on-line.
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Hey Laura, thanks for the bone health info. I had missed that!
What a lovely day! I bowled this morning instead of golfing. I think I made a poor choice, even if I did have fun bowling. This weather just can't last.............but I'm sure not complaining as long as it hangs around. We're going to try golfing tomorrow if it stays as nice. Unbelieveable!
Hey Susan and Jackie, I hear you on the "thinking that you're doing all the right things." Our medical knowledge keeps shifting on us. Let's just hope that we've done all the right things this time around and forget about those things we did in the past that were supposedly "the proper things to do." We could drive ourselves crazy thinking about all of them, and in my case, that might not be such a very long trip! LOL
WendyTY, thanks for posting. I wanted to call you so badly on Monday afternoon to see how the herceptin went but was afraid that you'd come home and gone to sleep. Hang in there! Hugs!
Well, I need to get off of here. Dave will be home soon and he wants to take the boat out and do some fishing. It appears to be the perfect night for that.
I hope everyone is doing well today!
Rita
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Just got my hair cut off this morning. I wore it about this short 5 years ago. The wig lady isn't the greatest stylest. I think my BS could do a better job… granted a good surgeon is all about details ;-)
So I have my wig. Not bad but not as nice as my real hair of course. I really do/did have nice hair. Oh well hopefully it will come back some day. So when will I go bald?
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Mine started shedding right at the two-week mark. I made it to day 17 before I had it shaved.
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Today is day 15, started shedding yesterday afternoon. Not that much but more than normal. I have a long way before I go bald but I know I will shave it if it startst to get to messy. We don't have a dog or cat so I'm not used to that much hair all over the place. I have enough dust to deal with living in the city.
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Good message, Rita. Time for me to shut some of the worry off. As it turns out I got together with all my teacher retired friends and had a ball. I hosted but kept it simple. I had a Halloween theme as I love the holiday so just put my decorations all over the place. I served Squash soup. I am not sure if it is alkalizing or acidizing but it was so good! And then some salads and rustic crusty bread. The company was wonderful as teachers love to remember the holy terrors, the genius kids and the most obnoxious parents and all the screwy teachers they worked with (who are not present).
Lago, you brought me back to my days when I lost my hair. Four years ago on this date I started to shed mightily. I know because it is was and is now parent teacher conferences and I struggled to keep my hair to get through them. That would be Wednesday and Thursday evenings. I stayed home on Friday and literally pulled it off my head like it was some nest just resting there. My head was shaved on that Saturday and I wore my wig to work on Monday! This is so weird to hear that your are going though this and the memory is so quick in my mind. I hear you about the mess it creates. My DH is a neatnik and he went between hugging me and going around with the dust buster to clean up the mess. I will never forget it. You sound very sensible about the whole thing. My wig was fine. It was very convenient in fact, as I did not need to wash my hair every morning and then style it. I must tell you, however, that it was most surreal to finally lost the hair and be bald.
I am not going to the Northwestern talk. I need a break. I hope you ladies who go will give us the news. Thanks for going.
Susan
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lago - Best wishes to you. It will take a little time, but hopefully, you'll adjust to the whole wig thing.
Mine started falling out two weeks after first chemo. The hair clogged my shower drain. It was a very windy day. I went out on our deck and pulled clumps/handfuls of it out and let it blow away in the wind with tears streaming down my cheeks. It was October...thought maybe some of the birds would find it and use in their nests. Next day, went to the salon and had what was left of it, shaved off - left about 1/4" all over my head. One month after my last chemo ended (16 weeks), it started to grow back. Here's the George look alike:
Susan - Your luncheon sounds great! Wow...
Rita - Are you out fishing? ; )
Budder - Aren't you having surgery on the 26th? or is it the 28th?
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My hair started to go on day 15 and I held off a few more days until Navyson came home on leave. He held my hand and my DH shaved it off. I put on my scarf and that was that. All through chemo I would occasionally shave my scalp. I couldn't stand the stubble and patchiness. My hair is about 3 or 4 inches long now and I had it foiled TODAY! Went pretty blonde this time around And I LIKE MY HAIR again! DH came home and his greeting was "Hey there Blondie" Made me feel good
Good luck to all in treatment. Looking forward to our next get together. I am hoping that Buddy will let me pick her up and bring her. I believe her surgery is the 26th. So we'll see how she is doing as the time gets closer.
Navy
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Laura, that short hair was adorable on you!
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Gosh, I have just been out of the loop. So much has been said, but first OMG Ginger, You look just fabulous. My hair started falling out yesterday for real. I had my 3rd round today which makes it my 22nd day on AC. But than again I am weird.
Feeling much better. Dr yelled at me today when I was talking about the taser like spasms I was having and said WHY DIDNT YOU CALL ME???? Duh, my pain meds were not working so I figured deal with it. Turns out I had something else that probably would have helped had I called. So, I promise to call my DR with ANY questions, no matter when.....
Joan, small victory today. I told DR about the finger cuff and he told me my BP is fine and I will now only get it done on chemo days. He said to use the money and get a night out instead. YEAH Also decided on going with the taxol every week for 12 weeks once the A/C is done. He thinks it will be easier for my wbc.
But, that will have me doing chemo two weeks AFTER I am suppose to go to Aruba for ten days so I will find out if I will have to cancel that as well. And really, can I be in the sun by then????
Wishing all of you a beautiful love filled weekend. : ) Onward
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Oh yeah, include me with the Immodium girls. Wondering if that is why my counts were low.
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Laura you look so cute in that picture. About 22 years old too. You don't look like Curious George.
Hair still not coming out in clumps but lets see what happens in the shower today. It's October, windy and I live by the park. I can always shake it out for the birds there. Granted I don't want to encourage the Canadian Geese to multiply. Every spring they have professionals go around and crack their eggs to control the population. We never had them till about 5 years ago out here.
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Good morning, gals! All you gals who are losing your hair right now need to hang in there. It's such a traumatic and emotional time, but I know several gals who have kept their hair very short once it grew back. They'd never had short hair before but it was so easy and looked so cute on them. Hugs to all of you!
Susan, so glad that you had fun with the other retired teachers. Mary Jane and I try to get together once a month for a shopping trip and every so often, another retired teacher joins us. We're determined to keep in touch and we always have such a good time. You lunch sounds great and very healthy!
We did go fishing last night. It got a little cool once the sun went down but we had a good time. I think that Saturday might be our last day on the lake this year. Several of the boats and pontoons have already been pulled out. We've had so much fun with the pontoon this year that we hate to haul it out. Well maybe we hate to give up the summer activities in exchange for the winter ones! LOL
I'm hitting the golf course around noon today for an "end of the season" golf game, too. I have to admit that we've had a lovely Falll this year in our part of the state.
Where did our summer go, BJ? Have you gotten all settled into the school routine again?
My son will not be home for Christmas this year. His wife was from Nebraska so I get them every other year on Christmas and we have our Christmas with them on their way home from Nebraska after the actual holiday on the off year. I was already beginning to dread the holiday. I am an only child also and with my Mom gone, that pretty much just leaves Dave and me alone. Dave booked us a room at the Grand Casino in Tunica for the Christmas weekend. He doesn't think we need to sit around looking at each other on the holiday and feeling sorry for ourselves. I never EVER thought about spending Christmas this way but it may be perfect solution. I guess we'll see. In the meantime, I'll continue with the Christmas shopping!
Well, I have lots to do around here this morning so I'd better get going. Everyone have a good day!
Rita
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well Rita, I will be driving by Tunica on my way to Vicksburg (to see my mom) on the 26th. Good luck at the casino but more importantly ..... I hope you enjoy another new normal
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I believe that man will not only endure: he will prevail. He
is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an
inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit
capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.
- William Faulkner0 -
Rita - A Christmas get away sounds nice. I'm sure you'll have a great time.
onward - Three down! That's great. Hmmmmm...not sure about your vacation. I would "think" it would have more to do with how you're feeling and how your counts are. Ask your Dr. I went to MX one month after my last treatment. No problems at all, other than being quite bald and wearing a wig in 95 degree heat. lol Talk about sweating...wowwy! lol
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Tomorrow is the dreaded ONC appt. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...if my blood tests come back within range, I hope he'll cut me loose - 4-EVER! I would be quite the happy girl! lol
Hope you're all doing well. Have a nice day!
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