Illinois ladies facing bc
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Thanks to all of you for your cholesterol info. I met with my oncologist today who thinks the rise is probably due to the Arimidex. Since my "good cholesterol" is fairly high, he suggested that I wait 3 to 4 months AFTER I finish my Arimidex. I finish on August 10th of this year. After the 4 months, he suggests testing the cholesterol level again. If it is still as high, he then would consider cholesterol-lowering meds. In the meantime, he told me to get out and walk. I told him that didn't always work for me since I had the leg and feet pain so he amazed me when he told me to take ibup. before and after my walk.
Jackie, I do remember you telling me about the chocolate a long time ago but I thought it was mainly for weight loss. I guess I never made the cholesterol connection. I am interested in where to buy it. I will take the cholesterol-lowering drugs if they are indeed necessary but would prefer to try some other things first. You gals have given me some good suggestions and things to try. It looks like I've got a few months to get working on this and that's what I'd better do. I took 2 ibuprof. about a half hour ago and I'm ready to try for 2 miles! I used to walk 3 miles a day (except for the weekends) so this should be a snap! LOL
Once again, thanks for your PM's and your advice on the thread. It's so nice to have somewhere to turn when the chips seem to be down and you get a little scared.
Hugs to all of you,
Rita
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Hey DoingwhatIhavetodo...your post was just what I needed to hear :-). THANKS!!
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Good evening ladies. I went for my weekly herceptin infusion today and ended being admitted to the hospital for some much needed r&r. I had a neutropenic fever, my white blood cells were 0.7, and my temp 101.9, no wonder i felt like crap! So here I am, I will probably miss my little girls dance recital tomorrow night and I am just broken hearted about it.
I hope everyone else had a better day than I did.0 -
RoulaG - So sorry you're in the hospital. I hope someone tapes your daughters dance recital for you and they understand you want to be there. This must be frightening for them. How old are they? My daughter danced for years and still does in her mid-twenties.
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Thank you Doxie - my kids are a boy 11 and a girl 8. I am so upset that I won't be there.
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Roula: ((hugs))!
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Oh Roula, I am so sorry you're going to miss your daughters' recital, but I'm sure your family wants your health to be the number one priority so they can have you home. I bet they'll give you a personal recital when you get home.
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Roula this stinks. One thing to remember is there is never a good time to get cancer. There will be more recitals… that's why we do all this treatment. Miss one but see many more. Hang in there. ♥♥♥0
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Thank you Lago and Spunky. Yeah, this definitely sucks, but there will be more recitals. Has anyone else ended up in the hospital while on chemo?
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Roula I did not but it does happen. Even my BS asked me about chemo and if I ended up in the hospital. Neutropenic fever is can happen especially if you are not given nuelasta. Nuelasta is about 3K a shot so many treatment centers wait till you need it. Not sure if you got it. And then some people still get neutropenic fever even with the Nuelasta.
From what I hear once you get that transfusion you feel 200% better.
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Roula - that stinks! I did not end up in the hospital at all but I had the worst constipatation ever!!!
I hope you get some rest and feel better. If someone taped the recietal, I guess you guys can pop some popcorn and get out some chocolate and watch togther cuddled on the couch!As far as those with high cholesterol, my DH has high cholesterol and he was on meds for it for a while and it came down. Then he went off the meds and it went up. He did not want to be on the meds so we tried a natural approach. He takes Red Rice Yeast. His cholesterol has been back down to the same level it was while he was on the meds. Just an FYI in case you don't want to take more meds.....I feel like a little old lady with all my pills and vitamins these days:)
We took my son to his first game at Wrigley last night - against the Detroit Tigers of course! It was fun and he loved the hot dogs (go figure!). It was even better when the Tigers won! (sorry Cubs fans....)
Invisible - hoping for a low oncotype for you. If you want to get together at all next week....let me know. My son is in a daycamp all week so I have childcare. Next week I plan on finally starting to paint some of these rooms in the house. We have lived here since November and I have not begun to decorate. I guess it's time.
I hope all are well. If you are still in the middle of treatment....big hugs! Tomorrow is Friday!!!! Something to smile about
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Roula....I wrote an earlier post and guess forgot to submit it. I come home tired for work......and have pressing things that need to be done here before I sit down to the computer. I am so sorry that his is happening to you.
It is so true.......that dealing with your heath right now is SO important..........so that you won't be missing the other important things in you and your families lifes' when your tx is done. I think it is a good idea anyway....to have this taped.
Probably no one thinks of getting so many problems during warm weather....I would not. I did all my chemo in winter and expected dire events, but for the most part.....they never really happened -- I bought a thermometer I never used.
I'm wishing you well and hope you will get through everything else ok.
HUgs, Jackie
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Jackie my thermometer is still in the packaging too. Had to toss out the immodium as well. Like MDG I had the big C instead. (NP said I would get the D but I told her I would get C.)0
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I had the neulasta shot on
Monday- It hasn't had a chance to kick in yet I guess0 -
{{{hugs}}}} to Roula. I am so sorry you are having problems.
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Roula, Since you had Neulasta, they might let you go today if the fever lowers and WBC increases. It does dip very low before the shot kicks in. A week after chemo my WBC tested .3 w/o N. My fever was .2 below the threashold of having to go to the ER. Because I was then allergic to N and didn't have it, I had to wear a mask for a week until it recovered. I'm sure hope yours will resolve quickly and maybe, maybe let you go to the recital. Still, as everyone is saying, better to get yourself better, than risk a worse set back.
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Roula~ I just returned home from te hospital on Monday.., same thing, Neutropenic fever. I did have neulasta shots.., it just happens. I trust that you are in good hands and your numbers will rise and you will return home soon.
CC
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Oh Roula, so sorry that you're having these problems. Hugs! I'm sending healing vibes your way.
CC....Are you feeling better now?
mdg...Thanks for the cholesteral info. I'm waiting for my ibup. to kick in and then I'm off down the lane for my walk. I'm researching all the different options that many of you have suggested. Thanks a bunch. I really hope I can avoid the meds for this, but if not, I'll do what I have to do to get it under control.
It's supposed to be a hot day here today but I love hot! I hopefully plan to play a round of golf this afternoon. Hey, mdg.....I'll be riding in my CUBS golf cart! :-) If you ever get down this way, give me a call and I'll give you a ride! LOL It's a very pretty blue color, with white seats and red trim!
Everyone have a good day.
Rita
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The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
By John Ruskin 0 -
Hope you are all going to have a beautiful day. I for one, am glad its Friday. I'm eager to get some things done here.....it's always work,work, work, at home and if I can manage enough...I'll have time to do a little studying which I have been missing for some time.
Heat is in the forecast....but that will be ok as I don't think we will be humid....so the sting won't be there.
See you all after work.
Hugs, Jackie
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Lago, nice to see your face again.
I contacted you couple month ago, when I was brand new to the scene.., I didn't even know how to read my Onco type results, remember me??
I completed my 33 radiations yesterday. Now facing next step, next dilemma, should I say YES to hormonal therapy? I am ER 100% positive, PR 90% positive, Onco type score 14%, assuming taking 5 year treatment, I just turn 60, yet I don't want to believe it....
I want so much to be done with it, and have back my life. Is it fairly safe to refuse hormonal therapy?
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{{{{Roula}}}}} Sorry you had to be admitted but hopefully you'll soon start feeling a lot better than you have been. It's hard to miss a recital, I'm sure. My daughter danced from 2 yrs old until she left for college. I have scores of recitals and competitions on ancient videotapes that I need to get transferred to digital one day. You'll have a lot of recitals to attend in your future.
I've been looking into the bone loss and calcium supplement issue lately. A nurse friend of mine who lives in Canada and is married to a cardiologist sent me an article from one of the medical journals they have online access to. I'm actually leaning towards increasing my dietary calcium intake and cutting back (a bit) on my supplements. It's too long to post here, but if anyone wants to read it, just drop me a PM.
Btw, TGIF. What a long week this has been.0 -
Eva2012Y-me Hormone therapy might be your best gun given your 100%/90% status. Not everyone suffers bad SE. So far I'm fine except for some stiffness… but how bad could it be? I just did 3 miles in the gym 30 lunges, 60 squats plus a total of 45 minutes of other strength training exercises. So far my bones seem to be holding up. We'll find out about the cholesterol but I'm not too worried.
Thing is you can always quit. I was so scared to go on the ESD (estrogen sucking drug, in my case Anastrzole). You read so many stories on this site about people who have trouble including some of us IL ladies. Remember people post their problems here to find solutions. You won't find too many threads that say "I have no SE from ESD how about you?"
I say try it and quit if it's too much. That's what my plan is/was and I'm only 30% ER 5% PR.
BTW I do feel the exercise helps both with warding off bone loss and stiffness.0 -
Roula... Oh so sorry you are going through a rough spot. Darn chemo! Hope your counts improve soon and get you home to your family. I got the Neulasta shots also, And thankfully no SE's other than some bone pain. CC... Glad you are home and recovering.
I have a 6-month follow-up with my rad ONC next week. Not sure why he still wants to see me after finishing rads over 18 months ago. My calendar is filled with lots of PT, my Pre-op visit with my spine surgeon, Pre-op surgery clearance, a 6-month follow-up with my PCP and still have to schedule a fitting for my back brace and blood donation. Whew, going to be a busy couple weeks!
Renee... I am working on getting more calcium in my diet too. Unfortunately, I really do not like milk, but I love cheese. I make a smoothie every morning with Greek yogurt, tart cherry juice, frozen blueberries, and whatever other fruit I have around. I started this during chemo and have kept it up for 2 years. My afternoon treat is usually a frozen Greek yogurt bar... Costco has them.
Adey and Renee... Put me down for the date with Vinnie early next year. Rather be in NOLA than Baltimore if we go in the winter.
Hot, hot weekend. I really do not like A/C, but it looks like it will be running for the next several days. My brother has been in the city for a conference this week and is coming out here to spend the weekend with us before heading home. It will be so nice to have him visit without his wife along. I had a bad moment with her a few weeks ago when she let me know that she disagreed with how I chose to go with breast reconstruction. Geesh! I would never think of advising her on how to handle her diabetes. I have been struggling to forgive her for her insensitivity ever since. Shas has always been a "Miss Know It All" and this time, she really went too far. On that note, I am off to get that afternoon treat!0 -
Ah Joan ---it must be because I've worked all day and am a little tired. What you said about your in-law struck me so funny. Made me think of how many "experts" I and many others have talked to.......none of whom had the disease ---- and unless they actually get this disease they will never know that they don't know. Ignorance really is bliss sometime....too bad it can't be appreciated.
Hope you all are looking forward to a good week-end. I'm off to my recliner.
Hugs, Jackie
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Joan-Enjoy you're time with your brother. It is amazing how inconsiderate people can be-glad you were the "bigger" person. Stay cool this weekend~
Hope everyone is doing well. I think about what a blessing you all are every day.
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I've been lurking here since February, when I was notified of my suspicious mammogram. Since then, I have been diagnosed with IDC, stage 1, and I've undergone a lumpectomy and radiation via SAVI. I am taking anastrozole now, for at least five years.
I am 66 years old. I am still in a state of denial because I hate the thought that I am a cancer patient. But a friend told me I was a cancer survivor, which makes me feel a little better. Still, I will now be a cancer patient/survivor until I die, which is rather depressing.
I am rather shy, so I probably won't be posting much here, but I wanted to check in.
I live in Lake County.
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FemTenor - Welcome to the Illinois forum. Sorry that bc has brought you here. I'm glad that you have made it through most of your treatment and am in the less intense TX of anastrozole. Many of us are on this now.
Shy is just fine. We take anyone. Post as much or as little as you wish, but please do follow along.
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Joan the next time your SIL tells you how you what you should have done regarding reconstruction just say "well that sounds like a perfect plan for you." Then change the subject. People are just stupid some times. I forget who asked me if "they got it all." I really wanted to say "nah, they left some" but instead I replied "Hope so."
Even many of us who have been through it and now have the knowledge realize that we didn't have all the information we needed at the beginning to make those decisions. I feel lucky that I did make the right decision for me but I'm more sure of that now than I was 2 years ago because I have more information and am living with it.
FemTenor you are not a cancer patient. You are NED (no evidence of disease). But even those who are not NED are not "patients." We don't call people with diabetes or heart disease patients. It's just a disease we manage. BTW there is a woman in my building that is 35 years NED breast cancer. How could she possible be a patient.
I too am on Anastrozole that I call ESD for short (Estrogen Sucking Drug). It's been almost 15 months. Glad you joined us. Welcome.
I'm off to the Evanston fair this morning with Char. It's gonna be a hot hot hot one.
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FemTenor-Welcome. You'll get a lot of great information and support here, check in often, post when you're comfortable.
My favorite comment I get is "you look great" which makes me want to say 1)guess I should have gotten bc sooner, or 2)what did you think I would look like? Instead I just say, "thank you".
It's going to be hotsy totsy today. Heading to Pink Ribbon Fitness class and anticipating sweating off a couple lbs...
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