Calling all TNs

aeryno

LookingForward - we all have our down days but it's important to come back with up days as well. You'll receive lots of love and support on here - sending you good vibes and well wishes!

So sad about Naan - I really enjoyed her posts. Here's hoping she's watching over her family and all of us

InspiredbyDolce

I have never done Yoga, but my Onc asked me to reduce my miles each week. I dropped to 65 miles a week and he still was not completely thrilled with me. We agreed to 60 miles, and then we started talking about Yoga! I asked about the benefits of it, and he said it would be an EXCELLENT activity to try. Also, the lady that I've talked about who is a 10 year survivor of stage 3 TNBC, she does Yoga as part of her regimen and her husband even does it now a couple of times a week.

Yoga classes around here are expensive! I'm going to start with a CD. We have 2 cats though ... and every time I get on the carpet, they come over and start purring and rubbing against me, and pawing at my hair. They think I'm a big cat. LOL I don't know how this will work out trying to do Yoga with 2 cats around, but I'm giving it a try. I think in addition to the physical benefits of it the soothing / calming quality of it will be helpful.

And did I tell you all that at the breast center a few weeks ago they had literature that music is supposed to be very effective at boosting the immune system!

Has anyone tried those Suja drinks? They are 100% organic pressed fruits and vegetables. A bc member on here told me about them recently. Well, the price is not for the faint of heart, but they are on sale right now for $6 at Whole Foods (that is for 12 ounces which is 2 servings), and the Suja rep was handing out buy 5 get 1 free coupon. I got few varieties, and just had this one called Spark. It is actually pretty good, but it has cayenne pepper in it. LOL I feel the heat! There is one called Supreme Green. That is the one that tastes identical to lawn mower clippings, but when you read what's in it, you power through it. It helps if you are watching tv or on the computer and kind of not paying attention to what you are drinking, when you drink that one!

Enjoy your day everyone - hugs.

NavyMom

I've been doing yoga for about 6 years. It is an "acquired" taste for us gals that are used to hitting hard as far as exercise goes. Took me a year or two to really enjoy yoga and appreciate the benefits of it. I go to my local park district once a week for yoga class. I also found a living social deal this summer for 4 classes for $25. A good bargain and nice to see a new place and new faces. You really should shop around, Inspired. Try it! I think you'll like it. Good for mind, body and soul!

Cocker_Spaniel

That is such terrible news about poor Naan. I feel so sad for her wee girls and her family. Many prayers have been sent to Heaven for her and those little girls.

Welcome to all of the newbies (ladies and gents ). This is a supportive and loving thread and these ladies are nothing but pearl's of wisdom.

I am just ticking away never taking any day for granted. I have been through all what you ladies go through the doubt, fear, anxiety, depression and you name it and none of it helped me at all. So now I try to laugh more, don't sweat the small stuff, take each day as it comes because you just never know what is around the corner just like poor Naan. So do your yoga (Navy), exercise and running (Titan) and drink your grass clippings (Inspired) and do whatever makes you happy because you aint never gonna pass this way again. I know it's hard but as Karen OBXK said once 'don't let it take the joy out of your day'.

Cocker_Spaniel

Oh and by the way Kathy I felt that pinch on my arse!!!

Luah

So very surprised and saddened to hear about Naan -- just doesn't seem right or fair. I will miss her posts, and will keep her family in my thoughts.

On a personal (and brighter) note, I am celebrating 4 years out from my surgery today, and hopeful of many more years of NED to come, touch wood. I don't post much anymore, but read this, my favourite thread, all the time. It was a wonderful support for me during treatment, and a lovely way to connect ever since. Thanks ladies...

Cocker_Spaniel

Luah that certainly is a brighter note, four precious years from surgery. That is just wonderful for you and your family. I hope you will celebrate up large with all of your favourite 'tiples' and may be even some chocolate. We will touch wood for you too every single day.

mags20487

Well Cocker..My husband would just love it if I would touch "wood" everyday o_o! just kidding...and being naughty.

Luah....woo hoooooooooooo on 4 yrs....this is happy news...thank you for sharing

Maggie

Cocker_Spaniel

Mages I think my old feller 'wood' enjoy that too lol.

I don't think much of this moving house lark. My God I didn't realize I had so many dinner sets. My daughter would say 'you are so anal' mum cause every piece has to be washed and shining before I can place it back in my cabinets so it almost takes me years to finish it. It's spring (although you wouldn't know that) cause its windy, cold and raining but I've got a roaring log fire going and some great music on so I am happy. I've got three days off making it five with the weekend woo hoo and it's almost lunch time yay. I can't prise the bloody dogs away from the fire but they seem happy with the new house.

Titan

you guys crack me up..touching wood indeed...my dh would like that too! lol

Stupidboob

lookingforw I am so glad I could help. I am happy you made it to yoga and that you are doing better. I have never read that book but I do think that Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Segal is a great book. I need to read it again myself

Stupidboob

Congrats Luah

rachelvk

Luah - Congratulations. Wishing you many, many more such milestones.

I had Celia add Naan to the Angels list.

I did yoga last year through a local breast cancer resource center and really found it helpful. I haven't felt comfortable doing it myself yet (the one time I tried, my knee gave out doing one of the warrior poses...) I haven't been able to go this Fall yet but hope to pick it back up. I'm realizing how bad my breathing habits are, and I'm hoping I can get a grip on that.

Jianchi

My goodness! I was told by my breast surgeon that my cancer is TN and its normL with young woman (i am 34), and my kind will response well to chemo. The more I read about TN the more i feel i have to be worried? Just diagnosed and so out of clue!

scouser47

Hi Jianchi, PLEASE PLEASE don't be worried. I was told the same as you by my specialist, then started to read more about it and slid into an awful depression. I am 66 so no longer young, and have TN. The information on TN can be quite worrying but there advantages too.I had lumpectomy,chemo,rads. All treatment finished in June I feel great and intend to be around as long as possible. My friend has hormonal BC and is still suffering side effects from the tamoxifen and Heptarin two years later.Try not to dwell on the " negatives " and just start getting well again. Ladies on here are really lovely and supportive.There are lots of ladies out there who are long term survivors but think us TN ladies DO worry more and of course you will find that as people finish treatment and get on with their lives they no longer post as much.((( HUG )))

Moderators

This is so sad... Rest in peace. Our sincerest condolences to Naan's family and friends.

The Mods

Jianchi

Hi Scouser47！

Thank you. I am still learning through testing. Worrying is my nature. I guess it's through my childhood experience. :-(

HUGS back!

J

Jianchi

Hi Lookingforward,

Sorry to hear about your experience. I am a newbie here so not sure I can offer much help on the medical part. I can give out Hugs and encouragement though.

Take care!

J

Stupidboob

Jianchi I am sorry you have to go down this journey in life with the rest of us who did not chose this disease. My breast surgeon told me that even though I was TN with a high Ki-67 to try not to worry because they are treating women with Ki-67 of 100. I will not tell you not to worry because that is my nature too but you know what I have come to accept that because that is how we were meant to be (speaking of people who do worry) it is part of our personality and to take that away would be asking us not to be us.....:) Just try like I do to not dwell on it to the point that we can't enjoy the now. I have bad days where I can't seem to get the worrying in control but then I try to read the success stories. I go play my games online and it gets me off myself for a bit and then there are days when I cry off and on all day but then I feel better because crying is a great stress reliever. The biggest thing I struggle with is not feeling useless on my bad days. I see other women going like crazy and I can't get off the couch and I have to remind myself again, I am not them and this is my body and I have to do what my body says not theirs. Incase you do not know this the American Cancer Society is there 24/ 7 to answers questions and just be there. They were great when I first got diagnosed. I had one night where every question that could come to mind came to mind and it was like 1 or 2 am and they stayed on the phone with me for an hour. I felt so much better because they explained what all the terms I was having thrown at me meant. I trusted them more than just learning it from the internet which is not a good place in our case. Although it is getting better with a few good stories thrown out there too. There is a magazine called Cure that gives us a free subscription and you can read online too. 1-800-210-2873 (cure) or http://www.curetoday.com/subscribe

it is a great magazine. There is a good thing like scouser47 said we don't have to deal with the side-effects from the Tamoxifen and etc. My cancer unfortunately came back and I have just finished up my second round of treatments, so it is almost like I am starting all over again in my mind. Therefore, I can not offer a lot of support on the worry part but I can offer support with the whole cancer thing and the feelings that come with it. I hope that some of this helps a little because I feel like I am rambling but I typed it so I am sending it.....:)

scouser47

Stupidboob. you DIDNT ramble on, I love your posts !! We know it can come back but I have been told that if it does we are now in the system so everything moves faster re treatment. I couldn't get through a day without worrying then thought SOD IT !! My dear old Mum used to say " don't worry until there IS something there to worry about " Try to follow her advice. Hope your scare is rads damage like mine, sure it will be, my new lump appeared two months after rads finished so needless to say went into panic mode. They tested me very quickly and reassured me, so now relaxing a bit.Life is for living and the way the world is NONE of us know what the future holds.My only concern is the exercise part, can't get enthusiasm up to walk for miles especially as British weather dreadful right now. Doing ballroom and latin american dancing just once a week. Hate Yoga, but have Tai Chi DVD#s might try, just wonder how much it affects our future if we just have normal activity ? Also sugar, I am diabetic have been for 25 years so really strict with myself even so many items have hidden sugars !! Rant Over.

Jianchi

Stupidboob,

Thank you for taking time to write to me. I really appreciate your insights. I am sorry that you bc came back . Is it on the other boob? I saw you had a mastectomy on your left one. My bs gave me some info on mastectomy yesterday to study and think about it just in case I end up needing to have it done.

Jianchi

Hi Scouser47,

I heard people say sugar feeds cancer, is that true? I know you are diabetic so you must be controlling your sugar on that reason as well. I am just wondering whether I should keep doing my fruit/veggie blend for breakfast or i should take away the fruit part.

Thanks!

J

Stupidboob

Scouser47.......here I go again, I had typed a good bit then went to see how to spell something and used this page.....DUH. My hubby says the same thing...........do not worry until you have something to worry about. It is easier said than done. I am thinking about ordering the Dancing With The Stars video and see if I can stick with that. We have the Xbox Kinect and there is a lot of things to do in with them but I just do not do it. I do not control my sugar intake either and I get angry with myself for that. You would think that I would be exercising and eating better for the fear I have but I don't. I hope that it is just scar tissue too. Glad that is what yours was.

J......no it came back in the same side but it was in between the major and minor pectoral muscle and the lymph nodes up to the collar bone.....(see why I can't not be fearful). If I had to do it over again though, I personally would still chose mastectomy because for me (we all have to go with what we feel and how important our boobs are to us) but I did not want to leave it anything to grow in and I knew that I would be worrying every single minute as to whether it was still growing in there. Good thing I did that too because there was more cancer in that breast when we did the surgery. I did have the breast MRI which did show other spots in that same breast but we did not biopsy them until after surgery because I knew 100% what I wanted. I did not expect it to come back though, but mine was in my lymph nodes at the time of surgery too. 3/15. The sugar thing you will get so many different answers to that. I still am not sure how I feel about it because we grew up on sugar but was moved all the time, outside playing and etc. and now people watch tv., play video games and etc. Some say sugar itself feeds it some say it is the lifestyle and the lack of good food when we feed on the sugary foods. My dilemma that I can not come to terms with is that if sugar does not feed cancer then why do they shoot us up with glucose to do a pet scan because the glucose runs right to the tumor.....you would think that would be the answer right there but they say it is a different kind of sugar. I think it all boils down to being like we have always been taught everything in moderation. I think that your fruit and veggie is better than say a poptart. I would stick with it.

ALHusband

Kath's primary care doc says he'll be happy to write an Rx for Metformin. I'm glad! Onc won't do it, but also says he wouldn't object if her primary was to do so. I just feel we gotta do everything we can to keep the beast at bay.

ALHusband

Congrats Luah on 4 years! Wishing you 40 times 4 more!

Stupidboob

Just got this from the ACS:

Stupidboob

Got this from the ACS today:

Today, we want to report back to you on what some of our brightest researchers have been doing — to give you a sense of the kind of breakthroughs your support makes possible. As a committed American Cancer Society supporter, you are a vital partner in the fight to make this cancer's last century.



Just this week, it was announced that a former American Cancer Society research grantee is one of the three scientists receiving the 2013 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology! Dr. James E. Rothman, along with two colleagues will be honored for defining the control of the movement of membranes in cells; which contributes greatly to the understanding of cell functioning in numerous diseases, including cancer. These internal cell membranes are key to the function of cells and the ability of cells to move, both of which are hallmarks of cancer cells. In 1982, while at Stanford University, and in 1988 while at Princeton, Dr. Rothman's research was supported by an American Cancer Society research grants.



Investing in researchers like Dr. Rothman is possible because of people like you. Here are just two of the other advances that may help cancer patients in the future that have been made possible by American Cancer Society supporters like you:

new device that can detect tumor cells in your blood The Herringbone-Chip is capable of finding rare circulating tumor cells also known as CTCs. CTCs are living tumor cells which are thought to be metastasizing and they are very hard to detect because very few of them are in the bloodstream. With this new microfluidics-chip, tumor cells could be found much earlier and could save lives.

A new way to predict if aggressive cancers will spread or not The presence of a specific type of molecule called miR-101 may be the link that allows doctors in the future to predict whether a tumor will remain contained or if it will be very aggressive and spread. What's more, new research suggests that some cancers could be contained by putting miR-101 into tumors that have lost it.

We thank you; cancer patients across the country thank you; and future generations thank you for being part of this fight.



Thank you. Please feel free to share this with friends or family who might be interested, as well.



Sincerely,



Your American Cancer Society



P.S. If you're inspired to make a gift today, please donate here. Innovative and deserving projects as well as critical programs and services for families touched by cancer are always in need of funding

gillyone

Congrats Luah. There are quite a few of us here with four years under our belts now, though I notice we don't post so much any more.

I belong to a support group that meets once a month. Our speaker (a doctor) on Monday talked about recurrence, and what we can do to lower the risks. I thought I'd share a couple of things she said. I'm sorry I can't give sources for her information, but she did back everything up with stats and graphs etc. from reputable sources.

Alcohol - one or two drinks a few times a week does very little to increase our risk until we hit age 75, so don't sweat a few drinks. (But the increase in risk at that age may or may not have anything to do with alcohol, just an observation of stats.)

smoking - increases our risk of recurrence by 50%, so don't. This was the one think she spoke about in strong terms.

weight - try to keep it reasonable

exercise - every little bit helps. It's better to be fat and exercise than thin and sedentary. So even if you're on the heavy side and feel that exercise is not doing anything for your weight, the exercise is still a positive thing.

food - go light on animal protein, eat more veggies, fruits etc, stay away from processed food as much as possible

supplements - calcium and D3 for us older ladies, a multi vitamin and perhaps fish oil. Green tea is good. Mostly she is not much into supplements. She did say a little orange juice is good with calcium and vitamin C helps our bodies absorb the calcium. Also spread your calcium throughout the day, not all at once.

And an interesting final point that has nothing to do with recurrence - chemotherapy can mess with your metabolism!!!!

Hope this is of some interest. Nothing earth shattering, but perhaps a reminder to be reasonable with ourselves.

ksmatthews

Hi ladies! I have been gone away from the boards for a while now. I slightly skimmed over some of the pages. I just had a question. I have been going to my dr's every 3 months now graduated to 6 months. Sometimes, not all the time, I have a slight pain under my arm and also if I go without a bra, i have pain. I have told all my dr's about this and they just tell me its a side effect from the surgery and radiation. I am a 2 years out from treatment. Should I insist on a ultrasound or something? Does anyone else experience this? Do you notice you need to wear a bra 24/7?

Jianchi

Stupidboob,

Thanks again for your input. I also worry about lymph nodes test I am going to have. Wish you best luck in dealing with the comeback. I can imagine it's not easy.

Hugs.

J