TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

I drink a product called Zero which has no sugar but contains electrolytes as well as vitamins.  The lab tech of my primary doctor's office told me about it.  Most energy drinks are just too loaded with sugar.  The price ranges from about 80 cents to 1.29 per bottle.  Many times it is on sale.  Other than water, decaf coffee, and tea, it is the only product that I drink.  I  think it would be helpful for anyone undergoing chemo.

Artificial sweeteners… just get through chemo. It's only a few months. Dump that crap when you are done with SE! Stevia hasn't been completely tested yet although it is said to be safe.

Yep Lago - I only started buying this crap again after I started chemo. 

Ashla, 

I had a 3D Mammo at my last checkup. I've no idea if it would have found my tumor. An MRI would have. Any idea on the amount of radiation in 3D v. regular mamma?

I would have loved for my BC to have been caught earlier. I have to believe that for some tumors, if you get them before they spread and become systemic, you have saved your life.  That said, it is true that some are so aggressive early detection doesn't matter. 

anyone in the San Francisco area. Army of Women is starting a research project on environmental pollutants and breast cancer. Looking for volunteers.

bluepalace you aren't alone. I lost my job 5 months prior to diagnosis. I have freelanced and had one 6 month job with ACS but so far no luck. Like you I'm 53, look good for my age (in my 40's). I've been beaten out of jobs by folks in their 20's (ACS did that to me. Hired someone who hasn't even volunteered or worked for the organization) even though I am willing to work for the same wage. I too am over educated. I've removed my Master's from my resume. 

But I do see the job economy picking up. The age thing is really tough especially when you live in a big city with lots of young unemployed people to compete with. And if you are in a field like design, as am I, it's always been rough for over 40's… because we all know you can't be creative after 40.

Have you registered with any recruiters. I have landed a few jobs that way.

I worked out for 70 minutes on the elliptical after my first TX of taxotere (with Carboplatin and Herceptin). Photo on the left is 2 weeks after my 4th tx with my wig: linky  I don't look that good now! LOL

Lago, removing your Master's from your resume just makes me sad.  What have we all come to?  But the ageism is real and hits hard after 50.  

Bluepalace, is there any way in your field that you can go learn something that is really odd or different?  As an example, with me, I'm in regulatory in my company.  We are the people who submit products to FDA for sales in the US.

The majority of people in regulatory positions worldwide are in pharmaceuticals (I'd say ~95%).  They are falling out of the trees there are so many.  But I'm in regulatory for our diagnostics division (blood, urine, cerbrospinal fluid, tissue, genetic tests...ie. BRCA I and II or Her2 receptors on a tumor).  We diagnostics people who understand this obscure area of FDA are so dang rare that I have recruiters calling me every single day.  They are like fruit flies that I'm always swatting away.

This doesn't mean I'm brilliant or way better than others in my field, it just means my experience is unique.  Do you think there is a niche area like that for you in your field?  I completely stumbled into this, being adept in clinical pathology (which is not rare) and had no idea I was making a smart career move (tee hee, I'm not a strategist...).  Now I could go just about anywhere to work even though I'm 54.

So GOOD NEWS!!  --clean mammo on my left breast this morning!  (6th month check up on the cancer breast).  My tech was so sweet.  She came and gave me my letter and results and told me she admires brave women like me and she understands how hard this screening process is.  I started to cry and told her I'm so far from brave it is amazing!  I'm wussy, but whatcha gonna do when you get that diagnosis?

Whoo Hoo Pbrain

Ashla -sorry about the cysts. I got one too, right along the scar line. Both my onc and PS said they could drain it simply. I just havent had it done yet. Its not really a terrible nuisance, so its low on the priority totem pole. 

On a happy note, all the fatgrafting seems to have paid off a bit. I am quite a few years past it but I really notice feeling across my breasts again. Its nice not to have a complete "dead zone". Maybe it wasnt fatgrafting and nerves just regenerate, but Id like to think all those surgeries weren't for naught.

Great news Pbrain!

PBrain--yeah squared on the good news. Ashla and GW-hope the cysts are just that. Cysts that will go away.

Ashla-thank you so much for the writing compliments. I just let go! Have had others tell me I should write about my experience though. And I might. As a nurse-I really think I can add to what is told and what is real.I also want to find all of the little ones I gave adriamycin, cutoxin, vincristin, 5FU to and told them and their parents we could take care of the pain and nausea with medicine. That is what I was taught and that-as all of you know is just top of the line excretement from bulls. 25-30 years ago I gave littles the same drugs I got. I have written before-but just articles in nursing journals and textbooks and edited textbooks. Those writings are so boring I bore myself. This would be fun. 

Well to add to the  humor of the day. Last summer when I was in a drug induced stupor after my 2nd mastectomy a friend talked me into joining our time.com. Yes, I was bald, just had my 2nd breast cut off, no reconstruction planned as 2nd PS said probably not, and was on drugs. Anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? She-and her clueless husband come up with a profile, upload a couple of pictures--oh yes--pictures---and leave me drugged. After 3 months of being hit up for money, admired as an older woman, and generally felt the entire thing was creepy-I dropped. Still-every few days I get and email with "Oh boy! Here are your top hits of the day!" Very rarely I click on the email and look @ the site. Well-hang on to your big girls---today guess who checked out my profile? You guessed it. #$%^%@# ex-husband from hell. Yep. Gastric bypass, penile implant, supposed to get married, but still will not respond to requests to finalize the property settlement looks like Eben Schrooze. WTF! I feel violated. And. To top it all. And #$#@ won't remember this. He can hardly remember where his nose is. Today is the 2nd anniversary of my signing the new contract to take the new position  @ work-happened @ 1000, having the mammogram @ 1:00-that I was sure was just another pile of dense breast tissue, and @ 6:00 discovered #$$%$^ had a date with a former nursing student--that I helped through her divorce, found a therapist for her cutting daughter, etc. I spent the w/end with friends nursing a very very old bottle of scotch. With that memory of the day-I am off to watch the first episode of True Blood. Yes. I have already established I am shallow. Bill and Eric are fine specimens of vampires. I am old, Not dead. 

much love

fluff - Ebenezer Scrooge?

Ebenezer Scrooge. Yes. Tall, skinny, stooped, not nice. Going from morbidly obese to anorexic. 380 to 195 and 6'6". But-this is all reported. Have not seen him since he walked out day of port placement-July 23, /12. Walked out my backdoor into some poor woman's back door. Bless her heart. Granted-I am way past the day to become a bracelet on some gents arm. Or even the walking cane. But seriously. I am so so grateful THAT bag of cancerous bones is out of my life. Thank god I did not genetically reproduce with him. So I can say we did not "know" each other in the biblical way

Great news Pbrain!!!!