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Topic: What do you do all day?

Forum: Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment —

This is a place to discuss concerns, tips and strategies for all types of side effects from all types of medications and treatments, (chemo/rads/hormonal/targeted/pain meds/etc.

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Posted on: Sep 5, 2020 01:48AM

Seilien wrote:

"Managing" is fine but what do you actually DO. I realized everyone else walks or gardens or cooks. I really don't have the mental or physical. My mom often comes to cook, clean, get me to eat. But I would say this is generally what I do: I try to get up to dress my daughter. Most days I can. We sit together as my husband gets ready for the day. I deal with SE or take my meds. My husband and child go to work/daycare. I stare at the wall for a while, thinking what will ido. This step can last me to lunch. Or I listen to soothing music. Someone will come try to feed me because I don't eat enough. I sit and "watch tv" but really end up napping. My family comes home and I contemplate eating. Then about my daughter's bed time routine I also start mine and go sleep about 8-9. I feel I'm not very productive but my weakness in my limbs, fatigue, lack of appetite, and emotion are so low. I'm hoping these kinds of days are temporary, its been like a month 😛
Dx 7/30/2018, Right, Stage IV, metastasized to brain, ER+/PR-, HER2+ Radiation Therapy 6/1/2019 Whole-breast: Breast, Brain Surgery 11/22/2019 Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Chemotherapy 7/28/2020 Xeloda (capecitabine) Surgery 8/28/2020 Reconstruction (left)
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Sep 5, 2020 05:08AM illimae wrote:

Since brain surgery in January and covid, I mostly watch movies/mysteries, some cleaning and cooking and sorting/packing to sell our house and move. I spent about 6-7 months unable to eat solid food but now that I can, I feel much more strength and energy. I plan to begin short walks soon but haven’t quite made it there yet.

Diagnosed at 41 Stage IV De Novo Dx 11/16/2016, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to bone, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Chemotherapy 1/1/2017 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Surgery 6/26/2017 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary Radiation Therapy 8/10/2017 Breast, Lymph nodes Dx 10/5/2017, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to brain, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+, HER2+ (IHC) Radiation Therapy 10/19/2017 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 4/18/2018 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 5/22/2019 External: Brain Surgery 1/21/2020 Radiation Therapy 2/16/2020 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 7/20/2020 External: Bone Radiation Therapy 12/4/2020 External: Brain Targeted Therapy Tukysa (tucatinib) Chemotherapy Xeloda (capecitabine) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Sep 5, 2020 07:29AM - edited Sep 5, 2020 07:31AM by etnasgrl

This Post was deleted by etnasgrl.
Diagnosed at 41. Diagnosed 2nd time at 45. Dx 11/5/2015, IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 12/9/2015 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Radiation Therapy 1/12/2016 Whole-breast: Breast Hormonal Therapy 2/17/2016 Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone) Dx 2/13/2020, IDC, Left, <1cm, Stage IA, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Surgery 2/24/2020 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Chemotherapy 3/19/2020 Taxol (paclitaxel) Targeted Therapy 3/19/2020 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Surgery 8/20/2020 Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): DIEP flap; Reconstruction (right): DIEP flap
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Sep 5, 2020 07:43AM Spookiesmom wrote:

Don’t beat yourself up. Do what you can, when you can. You could have some depression or PTSD going on. Talk to your MO, maybe a therapist who specializes with cancer patients.

As for what *I* do? Not much. It’s a good day if I manage a shower and get groceries to make dinner. Bonus if I manage laundry and run dishwasher. I can’t blame all of that on age, almost 72. A lot of it is Ibrance. The highlight of the day is going to dog park with my 2. If I feel like it.

Reoccurrence 3-19. Dx IDC, Stage IIIA, Grade 3
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Dec 5, 2020 07:06AM Octoberwind wrote:

I hope that you are feeling better. For me, it’s very important to have a routine. I live by myself in a rural area and with COVID, there’s not a lot of places I can go. I get dressed every morning. Granted, some days it’s only PJs to sweats, but it’s a change. I also go outside and walk after breakfast. If I can tolerate, I go along the road. If not, it’s to the mailbox and back. And napping is fine.

Dx 7/2020, IDC, Right, 2cm, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- Surgery 8/24/2020 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Chemotherapy 10/1/2020 Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel) Radiation Therapy 1/4/2021 Whole-breast: Breast Hormonal Therapy Arimidex (anastrozole)
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Dec 5, 2020 11:43PM WC3 wrote:

During chemotherapy and many months following I didn't have the energy to do much all. I spent most of my time in bed browsing the internet or streaming videos on my phone between napping or sitting in the livingroom doing much the same. I was simultaneously incredibly bored and too tired to do anything particularly engaging. I would start reading something or replying to a post here and get incredibly sleepy and fall asleep.

Pathologic complete response (pCR) to chemotherapy. Dx 2018, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (FISH) Chemotherapy 5/31/2018 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Surgery 11/14/2018 Lymph node removal: Left, Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Hormonal Therapy Arimidex (anastrozole), Zoladex (goserelin) Targeted Therapy Perjeta (pertuzumab) Targeted Therapy Herceptin (trastuzumab) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone) Surgery Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
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Dec 6, 2020 07:59PM nopink2019 wrote:

I'm no shining example, but I did talk to my MO about the 3rd week on Kisqali cycle when I was so fatigued that I spent 3-4 hours in bed each afternoon. She prescribed Ritalin just for that week. It helps. I'm also on daily Lexapro for depression. Ask MO for suggestions.

Dx 2008, IDC, Stage IA, Grade 3, ER+/PR-, HER2- Dx 2019, Stage IV, metastasized to bone/liver/lungs, ER+/PR-, HER2- Hormonal Therapy Faslodex (fulvestrant) Targeted Therapy Kisqali
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Dec 6, 2020 09:40PM mtspacekace wrote:

To keep my spirits up, when going thru chemo, I would make myself change clothes, wash my face, and brush teeth every morning. It may be noon before I felt like changing clothes, but I would. Then at some point I made sure my bed was made. The worst days were spent on the couch, watching tv, napping, or listening to podcasts or audio books. My mind was too cloudy to read some days. I would try to eat at least a yogurt, and would make sure my dishes were done and pick up a bit in the afternoons. Try and eat something for dinner, and go to bed. Some days bedtime was at 7, some days earlier. There were days I felt better and would go for short walks, or do a load of laundry. I also started a knitting project and would work on that when I felt like it. The really good days usually right before I went back for more chemo, I wanted to get lots caught up before I felt bad again, and would get frustrated I would get so exhausted...but would take daily naps still! But there were enough good days I would get laundry caught up and linens changed, and the house picked up for the cleaner to come.

Diagnosed at 38. Dog mom. Wife. Rancher turned warrior, currently busy kicking cancers ass. Dx 6/3/2020, IDC, Left, 2cm, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (FISH) Dx 6/3/2020, IDC, Left, 2cm, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Targeted Therapy 7/6/2020 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Chemotherapy 7/7/2020 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Targeted Therapy 7/7/2020 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Surgery 12/15/2020 Lymph node removal: Left; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement

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