Christina Applegate and radiation
I saw Cristina Applegate on the Larry King Show the other night. For some reason she was chosen to speak on their special for HEROES. I really don't know why she was chosen. She made a statement that upset me very much. I just finished 35 rads treatments a month ago. I have to say I feel great. I feel healthy, can run up my 5 flights of stairs , if I need to. But I do feel a pychological tiredness, a feeling like I need to rest after this whole ordeal.She said something like rads was suggested for her, but she turned it down, because she couldn't deal with putting this awful stuff in her body. Well you know what there are those of us still alive because we had rads, and we don't need to be reminded of how bad it is. Or for that matter those who may need it, do not need to be frightened. She attributed her positive attitude, to going to some church. I was positive before cance, and am still positive, and I never go to church.
Comments
-
I had a friend diagnosed with DCIS at the same time as me (I was diagnosed at stage 3) and she said she couldnt imagine the side effects of chemo - I said "Number one side effect will be keeping me alive". It is all relative. I am glad for her that she didnt have to do chemo and rads, I dont have a choice.
That being said, she should have said it. It is just inconsiderate - but fortunately we are smart enough to know that we have to do what we have to do to survive . If she HAD to do it, she would too. Lets hope she never has to.
-
I think it goes without saying that we cannot look up to people that do not live this real life so manyof us do. the real heros are the people who struggle with bills, work hard for what they have and we are suffering treatments to be there for our families. This last chemo or me has been awful and i sooo want to quit but it is the loving people (real people) around me that rally me in the times i want to curl up and die. You are a HERO in my book!!!!
-
You know, I'm always amazed at people's reactions to what I've been dealing with. Some people just feel the need to make sweeping statements about what *they* would do if faced with BC. I had a family member tell me, "I would just have the doctors take both breasts. I wouldn't want to deal with them anymore." Okay, good for you. I, however, was in a place where I was trying to decide btwn a lump. and a mast., so that statement didn't help me at all. Now that I've found out I'm BRCA pos, this same relative is all in a tizzy that I'm having my other breast prohylactically removed. "Don't rush into surgery and start cutting out body parts," she tells me. Hmmmm, weren't you the one who would have amputated both breasts in the first place? Now that I'm faced with this, you take the slow road? Huh????
Then there was the friend who believed with enough positive thinking, I wouldn't have to face BC again. Hmmmm, I wonder how many "positive" women die of BC each year?
I don't get it at all. One thing I've learned through this whole ordeal is to NEVER give people unsolicted advice about subjects with which I have NO personal familiarity. Someone remind me of this the next time I open my mouth to insert my foot. LOL!
-
Amen to what Emily said. I had DCIS so I'm not a real trooper like you all with breast cancer. I did elect the bi lateral mast. I'm 43 with 2 girls under 4, little joys.
People are generally full of bull when they are faced with a person who has a real problem. I've been guilty of it myself. I don't know if they are nervous and feel the need to say something or what.
Christina Applegate is pardon my casual manner, the flavor of the month poster child for breast cancer. I'm not trying to offend Applegate lovers. It's wonderful that she's interested in helping people get MRIs and genetic testing.
Real heroes are those with lots of bills, losing their hair, puking and doing radiation and all that stuff. Tomato Juice don't focus on Applegate. You've been through a lot. You're a hero. AND, I'm glad you feel well enough to run those stairs if need be.
Amy B.
-
Amy B, I gotta say, anyone who was faced with a diagnosis and elected to undergo a bilateral mast, with all that that surgery and recovery entails, IS a REAL TROOPER!!! So, you have most definitely joined the ranks of troopers since you chose to do all you can do to be around to raise your precious little girls.
-
I've had numerous people say "You must admire Christina Applegate. She's been so brave." I'm not bragging or complaining, but since February '08, I've undergone a needle biopsy, three surgeries (one being bilateral mast.), six infusions of TAC chemotherapy, two CT scans, a bone scan, 30 rads, an infected chemo port, Tamoxifen, and next month I'll have a Zometa infusion and an oophorectomy. And I've gotten up every morning and gone into the office. So exactly what am I suppose to admire? Yeah, as ACAB said, she's the flavor of the month breast cancer poster child, but there are soooo many women out there who have fought much harder battles without having Oprah's shoulder to cry on. I feel bad for her or anyone who has to join the breast cancer ranks, but I can't find a lot of reasons to look up to her.
-
yep...was Celtic said!
-
I think Christina Applegate should have thought before she made that off-the-cuff comment about rads. She does influence people, as anyone in the public eye does. Saying she wouldn't put that "awful stuff" in her body might make others who really need it, decline radiation. As I recall, she had DCIS - her cancer wasn't invasive - so it's very easy for her to decline rads, especially with a full mastectomy. Try not to feel bad, Tomatojuice. She's an actor - not a trained oncologist. I don't think she even went to college. She was also a child actor - she may not have even finished high school. I'm not saying this to be mean, just to point out that she is not in a position to make educated statements about radiation and its pros and cons. As to the positive attitude... I'm like you - I have one, but don't go to church. I attribute it to the power within.
-
I am also sorry that Cristina Applegate had to join the Breast Cancer Sisterhood, but I certainly don't look at her as a hero figure. There are many more women on this board and not on this board that deserve that title. We've all had our battles to fight, I've gone thru testing, lumpectomy no good margins, a burst hematoma, bilat-mastectomy and Lymph node removal, infection on the surgery scar, T&C 4 treatments and now on Femara and doing 33 Rads and just as someone else said earlier, I continued working throughout it all. 4 Days after my Mast. I begged my clients to bring me work to keep me from going crazy and they did. Thank the Good Lord. But I do not consider myself any kind of hero for I really had no side effects or what I would call lousy days. But I have read of others who have had horrible side effects and still went about with raising their families and keeping up with their schedules. Those ladies, to me, are heroes. I've been in Public Relations for many years, keep in mind Christina is a celebrity and although she is trying to raise money for a good cause, it's still publicity for her and her career.
-
I think a lot of people are scared of rads. I never was - I was scared of chemo. People hear stories of bad side effects and that scares them off treatment. I'm sure if she had to have rads, she would have. I am scared of the side effects of chemo. However, if my doctors tell me I need it, I will get it. I know I will pull through because I know so many brave women who have gone down that path and are just fine now.
-
I love that, everyminute - "Number one side effect will be keeping me alive". Well said.
-
When Christina was on Oprah she did say she was all ready to do lumpectomy with radiation, but then went on to say she tested positive for the BRCA and didnt want to go through hell every 6 months afterwards when it was time for her mammos. So I did think she intentionally was planning on rads.
-
I was more scared of the chemo -- almost didn't do it. DH didn't seem concerned with poison, but was all weirded out by rads. Go figure!
agree w/you everyminute about the SE
Beth
-
I just finished radiation also, and was glad for it. Any thing that has some medical proof behind it that will reduce my risk I am willing to try. I did not have to have chemo, I am glad, but would have done it if I needed to. I just saw a friend die of lung cancer -- she was not dx until it was pretty far along. She had the most positive attitude, kept on working till 1 week before she died, great sense of humor, but the treatments just did not work on her. I get a little nervous when people talk about how important apositive attitude is, sure it is, for your own peace of mind and those around you, but it is not a cure. ask my friend.
As far as Christina, I feel for what she has gone through. But instead of being negative about a treatment, why not say everyone has to make their own personal choice when dealing with cancer, I made mine, she made hers. Unfortunately, like everything else, people hang on to celebrities words like they were the only truth. People also say to me that they would just get them "cut off" -- no one knows until they have been there.
-
Do any of us going through this really care what a celebrity like Christina says publicly. Its all a personal decision and celebrities certainly should not affect us or breast cancer awareness unless they want to financially support it.
-
For some reason the whole Christina diagnosis just erks me. Especially her comment, " I'm 100% cured. I definatly won't be dying of breast cancer"
Positive attitude is great and all but....when I listened to her and that comment I felt like ringing her neck.I screamed at the TV " educate yourself you " bleep" !
I had just finished treatment, Port in, ACT X 8 chemo, mastectomy, 28 rads, 52 weeks of Herceptin and I still have Tamox, Lupron and Zometa. I have been at war physically, but mostly emotionally. Christina a hero? I think NOT. There are more woman on these boards that are heros in my opinion than she'll ever be.
Sorry , just had to rant
-
Celtic_Spirit and all of the rest of us like her are the heros!!! Honeslty...
- "I'm not bragging or complaining, but since February '08, I've undergone a needle biopsy, three surgeries (one being bilateral mast.), six infusions of TAC chemotherapy, two CT scans, a bone scan, 30 rads, an infected chemo port, Tamoxifen, and next month I'll have a Zometa infusion and an oophorectomy. And I've gotten up every morning and gone into the office."
Honestly!!!
Springtime.... -
Personally, I am not sure of what I think of the whole Christina Applegate thing.I like her, I do admire her that she came out and told her story,FYI she never said she had DCIS.She had TWO lumpectomies and was not able to get clear margins.I also did not have DCIS and did not have to do chemo, I did rads and that is it and I was stage one.I wished if anything I would have had DCIS.
She is also in her early 30's.I am not knocking anyone on here,I have no idea of your ages but as someone diagnosed with breast cancer just out of my 20's I can tell you I was VERY angry.I had to make the decision as to try to have children, would I see them grow up, would I live until my 35th birthday?
I have not been through as much as some of you, but please this is not a "whos a hero competition" I had virtually no support...from friends, barely any from family.I had 2 surgeries in 6 weeks, radiation and now??? I have been told I am cancer free.I certainly hope I am not being naieve in saying I will not die of breast cancer.Truth be told, no one was there when her Dr and her discussed things, no one knows her prognosis, or how serious her cancer was.
By documenting my struggle above,I in no way compare myself to anyone else.We each struggle, and we each deal with it in our own way.
Myself, I had had some complications, so no matter how "easy" my journey and radiation may have seemed to some of you..I can tell you its not.There are some people such as myself who don't "go into the office daily" and I am OK with that...anyway....
-
I just have to throw in a comment about Christina Applegate. I saw her on Jay Leno and she was saying how hard her surgery was and how physically awful it was. Then she said she was in the hospital for 7 DAYS being taken care of! Jeez, I was in the hospital for about 28 hours with my bilat mx and recon. I've been totally irked with her since. jennywren, you're right, this isn't hero competition and anyone who is given a diagnosis of BC goes thru all the mental agony. Everyone has different physical journeys. What irks me is that this girl had all the support and pampering and the best care money can buy and I feel like that somewhat diminishes what we've had to go thru without such luxuries and like yourself, pretty much alone. People are looking at her as the typical breast cancer surviver? I just don't think we need to bow too low.
-
I know this won't win me any popularity contest, but.......
"I saw her on Jay Leno and she was saying how hard her surgery was and how physically awful it was. Then she said she was in the hospital for 7 DAYS being taken care of!"
'What irks me is that this girl had all the support and pampering and the best care money can buy and I feel like that somewhat diminishes what we've had to go thru without such luxuries and like yourself, pretty much alone.'
'For some reason the whole Christina diagnosis just erks me'
I could find more, but you get the idea.
Christina Applegate has CANCER, lost both her breasts, I am sure it was hard for her and still is. Just like it was hard for me to lose one and still is. I am sure no matter how many docs and nurses or how much money or how many days she spent in the hospital made it any easier for her. Would you be this judgemental to another person with exact same situation? It irks you that someone who has cancer has money and that might make things easier on them? I say good for her if it made things a bit easier for her. Do I wish I had tons of money so things woould be easier? Yes, but I don't. So be it. Just because she had an "easier" road to travel through "cancerland" than some of you, doesn't mean it was easy! I am sure she had the same gut wrenching thoughts when she was told she had cancer that we all did.
I would hate that she would come on here and see how insentitve people are being towards her. SHE IS HUMAN.
Instead of stepping on people who don't understand, why not try to educate them?
-
Of cours I agree with the above.There where times when I could have my mom and husband pampering me, changing bandages, buying me food and getting my pills for me.Waiting on me.But you know what>
You guys should know this...you are all alone.I am sure there where nights when CA woke up and sobbed her face off, snot running down her face, in pain and alone.How can woman who have been through this not remember those dark days
Did she always have a great attitude? Most likely not and maybe we will never know.Lets try and be less judgy.
-
Hi all, the only thing we truly have to go on is statistics. They overwhelmingly recommend rads for certain situations and most of us do just fine with them.
I am 10 years post rads and fine. No repercussions at all.
If you do a lot of reading, and remember when they had NOTHING to treat this disease with, it becomes clear that while we all have choices, it is best to go with the treatments that have been tested for 30 years on literally thousands of women world-wide, and are known to work.
So you always have a choice, just make this choice for the right reasons.
Gentle hugs, Shirlann
-
I think we might be a tad confused here.It is not about her NOT choosing rads, it is about not being required to have radiation.If I had a mast I would not have done radiation either..those where the 2 choices and I chose to save my breast.
I believe rads has its own downfalls..I almost backed out a few thousand times.Now I am in chronic pain and feel like crap.What will it do to me in 10 years?? 20 years?? who knows.
CA was not required to have them and she didn't.End of story.
-
i had a double mastectomy and have decided to have radiation because the BC expert at UCSF (dr. mark moasser) said he doesn't consider anything less than 2mm a clear margin, and mine was 1mm from the chest wall. the pathologists on the tumor board agreed with him about the 2mm. my radiation oncs disagree - one says i need radiation, one says i don't. but i'm following the advice of the UCSF expert.
-
ddlatt - My case also went to the tumor board at UCSF after my 2 lumpectomies without clear margins. I had to wait for the answer but felt it was worth it to have all those experts discuss my treatment. They recommended L mastectomy. I had both done since I didn't want to go through it again. Luckily those margins were ok so I didn't have rads. I'm on arimidex now. And the original topic here - CA? I'm sorry she had to endure any of this, pleased she chose to go public, and relieved she caught it early and won't be a statistic.
-
Wow...I didn't realize how many spiteful people are on this forum. I think it needs to stop. This woman has breast cancer. Regardless of what you think you know about her, her situation and how easy it has been on her...you know really nothing about her. She has watched her mother battle this disease. Can you imagaine? Many, many of you can. Lets just try to be nice or say nothing
-
I had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo but no rads. How sad for Christina Applegate. I can't imagine being in the public eye while having to deal with breast cancer. None of us know the tears she sheds when alone, losing her mom to bc and being bcra+. I give her alot of credit.
Suzanne Somers on the otherhand really irks me.
Mary
-
Suzanne Somers pissed me off one day - she actually made fun of Restless Leg Syndrome. It is not funny and she should not make light of the diagnosis of this. My family members suffer from this and there is nothing funny about sleep deprivation, leg pains, arm pains and very few meds/treatments that have any effect on it.
-
abinneb ~ I didn't see the Suzanne Somers interview/comment that p'd you off, but I'm wondering if the point she was making is that many people because of TV advertising self-diagnose to get prescription drugs they may not actually need for problems that might actually be stemming from nutritional deficiencies and could be resolved without drugs.
I, too, find it ridiculous that drug companies come up with these "ailments" -- and restless leg syndrome is just one -- that in many cases are common symptoms of nutritional deficiences. In the case of RLS, many times calcium/magnesium and B-complex deficiencies are at the heart of the problem, which resolves when those nutrients are taken in sufficient amounts for that particular person's needs. (Which I'm mentioning here on the chance your family has never heard this and the long shot that it might possibly help them.)
I'm sorry about your family's problem with RLS. I have been dealing with some residual pain in my leg after chemo, so I would never make fun of or try to minimize what they are dealing with. I just wanted to comment on the broader problem, which I think is drug companies advertising to encourage people to self-diagnose to increase sales, and which I'm thinking may have been Suzanne's point.
On the other hand, while I have always been very natural-minded re. healing, I seriously wonder about the wisdom of the treatment she has chosen for her bc. And I hope her celebrity won't influence other women who may not even have the same dx, to rely on herbs when they really needed chemo.
Just my two cents worth... and sorry to continue in this OT direction... Deanna
-
Sorry - just wanted to clear things up! My mother, and other family members, suffer from Wittmaack-Ekbom's Syndrome a.k.a. RLS which is not an ailment that a drug company came up with. She, my grandfather, one aunt and one uncle all had it many, many years before a drug company came along, as do 3 of 4 brothers and one sister. My mother has suffered exhaustive sleep deprivation because of this. Yes my family has heard of every possible link to mineral/vitamin deficencies and none have been found that have helped cure or treat this disease. And yes, one of the drugs has helped one of my brothers, while others have had no results.
What I was commenting on was that Suzanne Somes made a very flip and off-hand comment about RLS. I don't care if she feels drug companies 'come up' with ailments, she should not make offhand comments on something she knows nothing about. I would never make an off hand comment about her treatment choices - I have no experience with her research, so I could not say one way or the other about her choices.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team