Illinois ladies facing bc

OMG it's hot outside even with the wind. Just came back from power walk. Feels like late March to me.

Lisa so glad you could finally give birth… at least that's what it seemed like to me.

Rene I find that working out (walking) doesn't shed a pound. I think if you are in the 10lbs or less range you really need to build muscle and eat less. But overall you will have more energy, feel better and be healthier so keep walking.

These are good!

Cocoa (coconut oil) "Brownies"

Servings: 14
Preparation Time: 25 minutes

An intense chocolate treat blessed by the richness of organic fruit juice concentrate and the tropical flavor of virgin coconut oil. A typical serving is one piece (a mosaic-like tessera), but two or three pieces for an extended coffee break often become a symbolic "celebration of cacao".

• 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil, warmed
• 1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa
• 3 tablespoons fruit juice concentrate*
• 2 tablespoons finely shredded coconut (optional topping)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts (optional topping)

In a small bowl, warm coconut oil and stir in cocoa. Add fruit juice concentrate (or concentrate mixture) and stir to complete intense flavor blend and to create a smooth texture.

Pour mixture into a flat bowl lined with wax paper (press a sheet of wax paper between two bowls), then sprinkle on toppings if desired.

Turn the second bowl upside down to create a temporary cover and refrigerate for several hours.

When firm in the center (chilled, but not completely hardened), slice into squares and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

* Use single juice concentrate or mix several to create unique flavor combinations (try tart cherry, cranberry, elderberry, blueberry, pomegranate or black currant).

For more coconut oil recipes:

http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/index.cfm/2012/2/29/tessera-de-cocoa-coconut-oil-chocolate-squares

I had never suffered from constipation in my life until chemo.  One colasce in the morning and two at night with a dulcolax took care of it.  i do worry if I'll ever get back to normal, my body has gotten so used to this routine.

Question:

I have this lump on my scar.  It's a long thickening.  I wonder if I posted about this before?

My memory is shot.  But it's growing and I'm freaking out.  One dr said it was breast tissue.  Two said it was scar tissue.  But it's been 7 months since the surgery.  I have gained 30 pounds on chemo.  Could that cause growth of a scar tissue?  I'm laughing as I write this because I've grown in all directions! 

Is anyone else hungry all of the time?  I think it's the steroids.  Or it could just be me.  lol

LauraGTO-do you deliver?

Timbuktu-keep asking until you get some answers,

Madismom-hold on to your hat!

It's so windy the basketball hoop unit in my driveway blew over-luckily the car wasn't parked under it as is usual.  And the temp dropped a lot-saw kids walking home from school in shorts, yikes!

..."it doesn't help when LauraGT posts chocolate brownie recipe"

LOL They're NOT made with chocolate that's why I posted the recipe.

I'm making garlic/dill pretzels. If they turn out good, I'll post the recipe. Bon Appetit! 

it's really hard to find the line between denial and panic.  I had a breast lump for months and thought it was a fibroadenoma that i had in the other breast!  It felt exactly the same and was in the same spot.  So for six months I ignored it.  Actually, I think it was there 2 years before.  I remember telling the dr, while she was examining me, that the fibroadenoma was in the left breast, not the right.  she had written the right.  Then, two years later, we had the exact same conversation, only this time, she did feel it and it was cancer.  I wouldn't have believed this was possible except my husband was in the room with me and he heard it too.  Now the same dr is telling me that the new lump is just scar tissue.  How can I believe her?  So I have to have a biopsy once I'm off of chemo, and with someone else.  I guess having people make mistakes like this has made me very wary and I dont' trust what they tell me.  So I'm always a little frightened.

But i guess that's par for the course. 

Timbuktu - I totally understand. My 4CM malignant "lump" was dismissed as dense tissue for 4 years. I questioned it numerous times. They all said "you're too young to have bc". Hang in there. And yes, I agree that another opinion would help settle your fear. Best wishes.

LISAK - I pm'd you about lunch.

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A heartfelt urgent request: PRAYERS PLEASE! My best gal pal, Barb, is having Aortic Replacement surgery this morning. Very serious surgery. She's only 43 - but was born with a heart condition. When she was 9 yrs old, she had open heart surgery (very successful). Recently had symptoms - after tests, they said she was "due" again for more surgery. She flew to a hospital in Ohio...the best place for heart conditions in the U.S.

Henri-Dominique Lacordaire

Lisa.... i don't know if you are a hat person or not, but what I found i really like wearing the most with my own hairloss are the halos and a hat.  Especially after my "chemopause" kicked in and i was having 20 hot flashes a day.  I bought several different hats to wear with it.  I bought my first halo at Naturally Yours in Willowbrook.  Not sure if that's where you are going tomorrow or not?? 

Ladies I do have a question for you all..I am having the  taxotere and cytoxan cocktail and I was wondering about menopause..I am 39 and was wondering if any of you ladies have had this cocktail

have started having symptoms  yet?  I was told this cocktail could cause me to go into it but just wanted to ask all of you.

Thanks,Lisa

Katie...I'm working with thick peach fuzz and that's it....I'm 11 weeks pfc this week. I'm hoping to be able to go "topless" by April 13th (vacation). And WOO HOO that there was no cancer!!! That's awesome news!!!!!!



Lisa...I have been wearing ball caps and a lot of newsboy type hats with my halos.



I haven't had a period since September.... I'm 36 and was told chemo and the tamoxifen would most likely put me into premature menopause....so far it's true. Hot flashes are insane....day and night and no sign of a period since right after my 2nd chemo.

HI ladies!

zap - thoughts and prayers for baby Violet. 

mdg - we go to the Wisconsin Dells every year - we always go to the Wilderness Resort - perfect for a 5 year old!

Lisa - I was 39 when I started chemo.  I did not have Taxotere but had Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol.  I went into immediate menopause - did not have another period after the first chemo.

Glad you have some hair madismommy!  Exciting!

Have a great weekend everyone!

COMPLETE RESPONSE that's awesome. I thought complete response, although can happen is not as common. So happy for you Katie. OK start jumping for joy with happy dance music.

lisak my wig(s) were all too big for me. I just had too much thick hair. They did try to thin it out when I tried on the wig but once my hair fell out my head was a lot smaller.That's probably why I hated my wig. I think the place I went to was OK but the women waiting on me wasn't so good. I went to the same place as MadMom. One of the women in my building had bangs in her wig. You would never know she had a wig on. Hers is a real hair one. I could never justify paying $1000+ for a wig.

I was 49 when I went through chemo but taxotere worked instantly with me. My last cycle was 2 weeks before chemo. I was peri though. My hot flashes weren't too bad. Just a few warm flashes between 2-5am. I fell back to sleep no problem. My mom didn't have bad hot flashes… actually I think I had an even easier time than her. 

Yay Katie:

Great news, Katie!



Thinking of Violet every day!



Glad Barb's surgery went well, Laura!



Yay! For fuzz...hair is on its way!



Hope ur vacay was terrific, Rita!



If you all have a minute...BIL in FL had a massive heart attack Wed night...had one stent placed with clot removal but they need to further assess before anymore surgery as there is significant heart damage. This came with no warning, was in great health, exercise nut....but had chest discomfort for 2 days before saying anything...thought if you didn't have pain that went down your arm you were ok.



Snow coming again I see... but 60's next week...and my tree out in front has buds/teeny green leaves...and this tree usually doesn't bud til mid-April!