TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
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SpecialK, I forgot to mention - thanks for the stress links! I have all four of them open to look at later today. I've been going through a lot of stress since finishing chemotherapy (not bc related but I need to get on top of it so it doesn't impact my overall recovery).
Rhonda, lol re: eyebrows! What a difference they make. I had no idea until I had so few of those little hairs left.
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LeeA - I have thought about adding curcumin to my supplement arsenal because joint pain/trigger joints are really my only SE from hormonal therapy - thanks for the nudge! The knee will work itself out eventually - it has just been frustrating. Thanks for the congrats - we are pretty excited, of course, all she has done since graduation is sleep!
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Pbrain I did meet some locals here but I did not join a support group. My concern was I would get too much sucked out of me. As you can see I like to help people (the teacher in me). Some people can be very needy… going through this journey I couldn't afford to get too sucked in. At least on the forum I can walk a way if I want without hurting someone's feelings (except for a few that I've blocked
)Special K That's awesome. I hear those drugs can be hard on the liver. Congrats on your daughter as well.
Eyebrows. Use the Anastasia Brow Duo. It's amazing stuff. I have my mom using it now too.
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Just back from the BS and got the path report. It looks like I had a complete response to chemo because all the nodes were clear! Happy dance, happy dance! And because things "looked good in there" during surgery he only took the level one nodes and didn't take any level 2 nodes. We talked about doing radiation, and in his words "I wouldn't do it, if it were me". He thinks I should go talk to the the RO and make my own decision, which I will do, but I am really thinking that I would like to take a pass on rads. He also gave me a scrip for PT and said that they would be the one to order the sleeve if it is needed. Oh, and he also pulled the drain. 2 snips to remove the stitches holding it in, then a quick yank and it was out. Thought DH was going to pass out as he watched. It felt very wierd but was not too bad. It definitely had a clog in the end and that is why it was leaking out so much. I feel like such a weight has been lifted from me knowing that all the nodes are clear.
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Bren58,
Awesome news...0 -
Bren58
Doesn't get much better than that!
So happy for you and your family! Celebrate !0 -
Bren-- Yeah!! Happy dance indeed...
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Great news Bren58! All of it.
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I love the Anastasia brow kit. I use it in combination with a great eyebrow pencil that was included in the Look Good Feel Better kit.
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lago, I know you take Biotin for your hair. Have you ever heard anything negative about taking it? I was given the okay not once but twice by my medical oncologist - even during chemotherapy - in fact, I went as far as to pull the bottle out of purse and say "is this okay?" and he waved his hand and said "no problem." (There's a discussion about this elsewhere and I thought I'd ask your opinion and/or if you had heard anything about biotin causing cancer - thanks in advance!).
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Wonderful news bren. I've been reading about the idea of privacy and was wondering if folks have generally kept their diagnosis a secret. I haven't - I've told pretty much everyone at work, my students, family, friends.... are people who keep their diagnosis a secret afraid of discrimination at work? or negative judgements from other people? Or just a concern about privacy?
My lumpectomy with reduction/reconstruction is on Friday - so, moving forward....
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BIG YAY BREN!!!
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Bren, YIPPEE! Great news.
LeeA I've been on biotin since 2005. Took it all through chemo. Onc had no problems with it. My dermatologist that I saw for my nail issues was also pleased I was on it.
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lago - thanks for the Lipitor ending congrats and the DD graduating congrats! Now I just need to fix my knee and I am all good!
bren - yay!!!
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flaviarose, one close pal of mine chose to not disclose her cancer because she feels it is a very private part of her life, and for no other reason.
A.A.
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Bren58,
I have NO idea how I missed your post earlier but I did.
CONGRATULATIONS!
I am so happy for you! This has been a long journey but it sounds like you're getting very close to putting this in your rear view mirror!
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Bren, congratulations!
Flavia, I tend not to tell people. Two main reasons: 1) having to deal with bc has been an emotionally painful experience, and just as I would not want to talk to acquaintances about it while i was going through some other painful experience, like a divorce or being fired fom a job, I don't necessarily want to talk to acquaintances about having cancer. 2) some people have really weird responses, and I don't necessarily feel like dealing with them. Sometimes you have to assure people that you're fine. For some people, they cease to see you and just see a cancer patient, even though I never did look like one. Some people tell you idiot things like how I'll be grateful for the cancer, that if I relate to it properly it could be the best thing that ever happened to me. Some people ... it just makes them really uncomfortable. Having to deal with this is hard enough without having to deal with some peoples' stupid responses, so I pick and choose whom I tell.
Also for professional reasons I kept it quiet while in treatment b/c I didn't want anyone thinking that I couldn't do the work so they would give a job to someone else. Or to put someone in an awkward position where they weren't sure if i could handle it and didn't want to be blamed if they gave me an assignment knowing I was going through chemo, if it turned out that I couldn't handle it. Turned out I was pretty functional through chemo so it wasn't an issue.
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Bren - awesome news
Specialk - congrats to you & your DD too.
Lee - I just added glucosamine to my supplements (osteobiflex) and am going to add turmeric/curcumin too. How much do you take per day? I'm also wondering if it's ok to take with Tamoxifen.
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What is Biotin used for? Trying to figure out what supplements will help me thru tx.
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Biotin is good for hair & nail health. Not sure it does much during chemo but my onc didn't want me to change what I had been doing (except for the minoxidil because that just would have been a waste of money. The hair was going to fall out).
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Special K,
Congratulations to your daughter and to you and your hubby on her graduation! Must have been very difficult for all of you as you were facing the beast of breast cancer.
Hip,hip hooray!0 -
Thanks for the congrats - yes, I worried that BC would derail her while in college but she did OK - she was emotional for a bit right after diagnosis but she came to BS and PS appointments, and did see things close up because she lived at home while in school. I had so much surgery she was instrumental in taking me around because I could not drive from 11/1/10 - 2/17/11! She was fortunate that my DH was a great support to her as well as to me, and she had several good friends whose mothers had dealt with BC successfully also - they reached out to her and supported her in a way that DH and I could not. We are very proud of her coping skills, and the successful completion of her degree!
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Thanks for all the congrats. And a huge thank you to the ladies on these boards that were so very helpful and encouraging through the whole process. I learned so much practical information on these boards that I never heard from any of my docs. It makes such a huge difference when you hear things from people who have been through it before and "get it".
SpecialK, what great news about your daughter! Congrats to her and to your family!
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Hi ladies,
LeeA, you look beautiful. I can't believe you are in your 50s (that's a compliment!!).
Ang7894, don't hate me for the link I am about to leave on this board as it relates to the benefits of consistent aerobic exercise in POSSIBLY altering how estrogen is metabolized. I am one of the gals on this thread who has exercised consistently since the age of 15 ( I am 50 now), and I really do think it helped me to get through the treatment phase and to bounce back quite quickly. I have also always found exercise to be a great stress reliever, and many studies indicate it is as effective as taking anti-depressants for many patients who are prescribed medication for depression. Those "feel good" hormones, serotonin and dopamine, course through our body when we exercise vigorously, and the "bad, stress" hormone, cortisol, well, its level is reduced. Also, excessive cortisol in the body promotes the storage of abdominal fat, especially. Here is the link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130507061143.htm
Bren58, what spectacular news you have received. I am doing a happy dance for you here in Toronto, Canada.
SpecialK, a HUGE congrats to you, your daughter and your DH on your daughter's graduation. She is strong, like her mom, no doubt about that.
As for support groups, this is my support group. I opted not to attend one in person as I did not want to make BC a huge part of my identity. For me, I did not want to talk about all the trials and tribulations of the whole episode as I find looking back on it and bringing it all to the forefront once again painful and depressing. It weighs me down, it does not help me jettison any "weight" remaining from the past year. Everyone is different, and I am certain the support groups are great for some gals, but for me, I am moving forward, not looking back and pondering a great deal about what I have endured, and that works for me. Whatever works for each person on this thread, of course, that is wonderful.
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Thanks ladies for the congrats on DD's graduation - a wonderful moment for our family - hopefully, next year at this time we will be celebrating our DS doing the very same!
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gratitude--- Lol no would not hate Anyone Hate is a strong word. What does confuse me is if not in the family never smoked or drink, Eat well and exercise then what happened why do people still get breast cancer? I am a firm believer that it is in our foods. With that said I am watching what I eat and I am exercising treadmill 30 min a day 15 sit-ups with weights on my stomach and 15 weight lifts for arms.. Each day. But I am also comfortable in my life if I don't lose anything I'm fine with that I still will exercise daily.. I love my life, BUT being home though is a struggle to not eat all day I'm home 24/7 and get board that is my problem.... I am doing everything I can for no recurrence however in my mind you can do ALL you want and we still will have that threat there!! or still get it back. Sorry but that IS how I feel . I want to be happy and enjoy life also not just live. Like lago said in moderation and I think that is best I would still get my pizza or bad day of eating lol maybe every 2 weeks and I'M satisfied with that.
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Sorry I am having difficulty with links but it seems they are now recommending PREVENTIVE anti estrogen meds for women who are at high risk for breast cancer. Interesting but from what I recall here not many of us in this forum were considered " high risk" for breast cancer. http://www.cancernetwork.com/breast-cancer/content/article/10165/2139382?GUID=004458D2-1345-46E9-B900-CC69BA9ECBBD&rememberme=1&ts=08052013
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Bren!! Fantastic!!! You have been through enough, so time for some good news!
And if you do decide on rads, I have to say they aren't bad at all. I had no problem with them, just a little annoyed by all the markings and stickies on my poor boob. I finished today and they actually gave me a diploma that the entire team signed. I cracked up!!Ang, one of the nurses at my oncology practice has been treating breast cancer for years and she had an interesting thought the other day during my exam. She told me she thinks so many of the estrogen receptor cancers grow and are fueled by hormones given to chickens. I thought about that for awhile and it makes sense, but I would be a bad example of that because I barely ever eat meat. So let's all steer clear of chicken nuggets!
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Pbrain--Hmmm never thought about chicken. Lol on chicken nugget's .
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Pbrain, glad you are finished rads and that they were not bad for you. One of the problems with me doing rads is that because I had my BMX and recon with implants years ago, the rads would most likely "turn my breast into a rock" as one doctor put it. That would then set me up for a whole new round of surgeries. Normally you don't have the final recon until after rads are finished. As with everything else with my particular case, I fall into that "special" category.
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Bren....fantastic news!! Thanks for sharing!
SpecialK, Congrats on your daughters graduation.
Good news all around!!
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