Calling all TNs

Fighter_34

Lovelyface no worries BE strong!!! Yes it's a fact no node involvement gives us a better chance and the assitance of vitamins and taking really good care of yourself gives you an even better BOOST.

MEDICAL FACT CANCER CELLS ARE WEAKER THAN NORMAL CELLS BOOST THOSE NORMAL CELLS. It's usually when cancer goes un-daignosed it gets a chance to out power  normal cells don't LET IT. HOP OFF THE COMPUTER  STOP WORRYING, AND WORK ON YOURSELF.

Your battle to prevent a re-bound starts NOW go low-fat, work-out, SLEEP 9 hours or more rechargers your system and get those D levels up as high as possible.

Fighter_34

Titan you are basically two years out. HOORAY!!! How do you feel I hope some of your fears have left the building?? You will be fine and all will be well. Do the happy dance this summer because you will be so close to 3 years you can taste it.

PauldingMom

Thank you all for your concerns and prayers. Part of me wants to know all the answers and part of me wants to bury my head in the sand. One day at a time. 

My Onc. did not do a CT scan or any other scan. I was told that at the time it was not neccesary because it would just show up every little dot and we would be doing biopsies all over the place. In fact I had a CT scan ordered by another doc. for back pain. That's when they found the liver lesions and biopsied them. That was inconclusive. Crazy illness. There really is no rhyme or reason to it all. 

Teka

Hi! PauldingMom,

I feel all members of this board should read your post in (Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis + Just Diagnosed with a Recurrence or Metastasis,(I don't know where to begin)).   Finally a Nurse Prac. got concerned and sent you for a CT Scan, and you had lost close to 40 lbs. at this point.   I'll always remember this sentence in your post (I told them I was sick!!).

Lovelyface

Everyone - thank you so much for the information, links, Vit D and dietary, exercise, advice.  I have not exercised through chemotherapy since September 21st,  and I am feeling very guilty and scared, but I am going to start right now, today at least 20 minutes on the treadmill, no matter how I feel.  My Onc. gave me 2 weeks regimen of Vit D, but then has never checked the levels again.  My Vit D was 22 at the time of my cancer diagnosis, which was low and I need to bring it up to at least 45.  My onc. nurse told me to stop all vitamins during chemo.  Does anyone take Vit D during Chemo or have you stopped taking it for now?  My last visit with my Onc., he told me that there was no evidence of cancer and that he could guarantee it.  Hoping he is right, I will then assume that even though I have not exercised and eaten right during chemo, and have been pigging out, that I have not done much damage to my cells yet.  That even if I begin to be healthy from today, I still have a chance to stop a recurrence.  You ladies, agree, don't you?  Yes, I am extremely anxious about getting a recurrene, very scared.  Thanks again, everyone.  I love you all and pray for all you strong, beautiful women.

Titan

OMG..LovelyFace..don't worry about being "perfect" just yet..you could drive yourself crazy.   Since you are still doing chemo, a little exercise will probably make you feel better but don't over do it...Those are some strong drugs going through your body right now...and if you are enjoying your food then so be it...recovering from breast cancer and its treatments is a long process.

Teka

Hi! Lovelyface,

Why would you think for one minute that you've done any damage to your cells?   You don't need to help BC beat you up.   Think positive.

MicheleS

Lovelyface,

Chemo is so haaaard... Don't worry about doing everything "right"... Just get through it.  There will be plenty of time to worry about diet and exercise.  (And I say this as a diet and exercise perfectionist!)

xxoo

JenC

Lovelyface - Dont stress you have been under enough of that through this whole process.  I was not able to excercise really since January.  I have had 4 surgeries this year, then chemo so I have been pretty much out of the viggerous exercise mode for some time and have put on the pounds.  I am now doing radiation and with the holidays comming up I am not "pigging out" but I am also going to enjoy them and all the goodies that come along with them, there will soon be a new year to start fresh

Fighter_34

PauldingMom sending gentle hugs your way. Hard to say relax because I know you can't. It took me two weeks just to come to terms with things, and I still have my low times. I just have my moment and jump back on the bandwagon.

TiffanyF4

As usual I agree with Titan, don't over do it. YES excercise if you feel well enough and if not don't stress about it. Pushing yourself to do things that your body is just ready to will set you back. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

jenn3

Lovelyface - I am echoing what the others have said - be kind to yourself.  I started chemo with the mindset that I would get certain things done, eat only organic foods, nothing processed and exercise everyday.  That changed when all I wanted to eat was instant mashed potatoes, followed by a few days in which I couldn't walk further than the driveway.  There were the good days that I walked for a few miles and ate everything the right way, but there were the self pity days and bad days.  I was really hard on myself at first, then realized I need to rest and I would be able to cook something homemade later.  It was more important that I did what my body needed at that moment. 

Tomorrow I am off from work and will be going shopping with a group of friends from work.  I'm not a big shopper, but I do enjoy the group of friends - they are really fun to be with.  I should end the day with a few good stories to tell..........

Claire82

i could only eat corn lol

it seems ages ago

this too will pass

MonikaV

Lovelyface: Welcome to the board. I know AC is very hard. I was miserable and very hungry. I was supposed to have 4 Taxol but thankfully I was allergic to Taxol and they swichted to Taxotere. Last last 4 rounds were really mild. I felt ok . Don't freak out thinking you cannot sit for 3 hours , instead take a airplane pillow, a blanket , close your eyes and imagine you are on your way to getting healthier. I kept doing this exercise with my mind and the last 2 chemo I woke up and the machine beeped. So hang in there. Soon you will be done with that chapter of your life.

Hi ladies, so sorry I haven't posted. The last 3 days I have been feeling pain from my MX. Everything is so tight and they haven't even filled yet. It has been bothering me. I finally took my drains off yesterday. Thank God! I was very annoyed by that. So today I was able to take a nice shower. Yay! Hugs and kisses to all of you. Good night. 

Lynn18 and Laurajane : How are you ladies? 

Have a great night .

Titan

Hey everyone!  Good to hear from you Monika!   A nice warm shower can do wonders!   Sometimes I think I fall asleep when I'm showering!

OK..Paulding Mom..I've been thinking about things...seriously..if you can't get in a trial in Georgia try for one at the Cleveland Clinic.or at the James Cancer Center in Columbus....you can stay with me...I'm only an hour away from both cities and I will help you out..I'm very, very serious about this...We are all ticked off at your doctors but we have to move on and get those mets under control.  I have plenty of room for you...really, really, really... think about it...

Oh..I remember the AC and the FOOD!  I loved Kentucky Fried chicken and mashed potatoes..I couldn't get enough of them...KFC gags me now...the bland comfort foods seem to be the thing when you are taking AC...eat them if you want them...worry about the weight later...I figure there is a reason why we crave these kind of foods during chemo...

Thanks for your kind words Fighter.  Am I doing better..putting cancer out the door?  Sometimes..but it is always there.. I don't feel like I'm far enough out to be too excited yet..maybe at 30 months out..you know me and that dog eared chart!

MicheleS

during AC I ate Chick-fil-A... and I was a vegetarian! LOL!

PauldingMom- Listen to Titan... I think we can get you in under "compassionate care"... same for LauraJane.  Do you want help with a letter of medical necessity?

LRM216

Michele:

I wrote to Paulding Mom in a post above that I am about 1/2 hour from her and that my onc is using Parp under the Compassionate Care program.  I don't know what the ramifications are, but I offered her the telephone numbers so that she could call.  God, I hope she has switched doctors and has put herself in more diligent hands.  She had no scans prior to her treatment either and was Stage II.  I wonder if all this stuff was just sitting there and spreading all this while.  It just makes me sick thinking of what she is going through, and all the wasted time she was going to different doctors trying to tell them how much pain she was in and how she wasn't feeling well.  This just shouldn't be happening in this day and age.  My heart breaks for her.  I wish I could just go find her, and drag her off to my doctor. 

Linda

Lovelyface

Ladies, thank you all very much re: exercise.  I am relieved to hear that it is okay to eat like the way I have been eating, at least until I finish chemo. I am really getting ready to start taking short walks, at least a few times a week.

I just wanted to tell you something which I have begun to do.  I take coconut oil and try to massage my body with it everyday.  Coconut oil is supposedly very nourishing for the skin.  I massage my legs, thighs, breasts (yes, breasts), abdomen area and arms, while watching TV.  If there are any knots, like the ones I usually have behind my knee, I notice that they get softer after a few days.  Massage is incredible, try it.  This is a good way to keep a close relationship with your body.  In the East Indian culture, we use massage for healing various diseases and start massaging our kids since the day they are born.  I had stopped doing it all these years  as there was no family members to do it for me, but I find I can do just as good a job by myself.  Try it ladies, you will see a difference in the acceptance of your bodies especially after cancer.  You sort of feel a closeness with the different parts of your body.

Michelle - I totally agree with you re: Pauldingmom, how could her doctor have neglected her like this.  It breaks my heart to learn that there are doctors like this out there, even in this day and age.  I know a few myself. That's why one needs to be smart, research, and demand certain tests.  Based on what happened to Paulding mom, I called my onc. office today and demanded that the doctor talk to me about how he will  monitor me after chemo.  They gave me a longer appointment with him on Dec. 1st.  We have to learn from each other's experiences.  I suggest we all get a very clear plan for our monitoring with our doctors, which I am sure most of you already have.

Vina

Teka

Lovelyface,

You going to be good and worked up for onc. appointment on Dec.1st?   Been there.

Lynn18

Lovelyface:  That is interesting what you said about massage.  About it being used in India to treat disease.  It certainly feels good.  I am going to try it.

I pigged out during chemo also.  I think you should eat what tastes good to you,  within reason. 

Linda:  It's good to hear that your onc is using Parp.  I also wish you could take Pauldingmom to your doctor.  Hopefully she will get the Parp from hers.  I am seeing my onc next week and will ask her about it.

Monika:  I am glad you got your drains out.  I am still enjoying being able to take a shower.  Do you have pain meds to take?  I have been taking them but I am starting to feel better and taking less.  Will you see a physical therapist?  I was referred to one.

I hope everyone sleeps well, good night.

Anonymous

Senior Moment as experienced by the dinosaurs:

Titan

Ha ha Heidi!  So that explains why dinosaurs are extinct! Now we know!

PauldingMom

You women are just to great! Thank you for all the offers. My Onc. is in on the study, but it's still a lottery, one in three women are choosen. Today I do plan to check into what the Cancer Centers offer. I don't know if there are any close by. We live west of Atlanta. I would really like to be close to my family at this time. Understandable. But the fact that you have offered you help fills my heart to overflowing. 

God Bless you all ((((Hugs)))) 

jenn3

RE:  Massage....  my sister has always been a firm believer in chiropractic care and massage therapy.  She actually avoided having to have surgery to remove bone spurs on her heels using deep massage and manuel techniques to break up the spurs (painful, but better than surgery).  She also seemed to avoid sugery on her neck after an accident when ALL of her doctors told her she was crazy and she  stuck by what she felt was right.  During chemo my sister treated me to a massage in which the therapist was experienced in working on cancer patients, she knew not to to massage deeply into the muscles, it was more relaxation.  OMG it was the best massage I'd ever had!!!!  I was like a big jellyfish when it was over.  I do believe massages help you to relax not only the body, but the mind, which in turn helps the body to heal itself and reduce some of the aches and pains.

LJ/Lisa (((hugs))) just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you.

Monika - glad to hear you were able to get those dreaded drains removed.......and take a hot shower without having to fumble with drains.  I know it's hard, but do the exercises they gave you to loosen up the area and I hope you feel better soon.

Heidi - as always LMAO......I've gotten to where I look forward to your daily funny.

Anonymous

Finally... headed out to drive my horses by the water! I have been so busy teaching Naturalist classes they were beginning to think I'd forgotten them! Never...manure clean-up is too good a reminder.

MBJ

Sorry I have been MIA the last few days and I am again rushed this morning!  Guess it's good to be busy and not think about cancer for a few hours a day.

Pauldingmom:  We are all hoping that you can get in somewhere.  Please put yourself first and take the offers of help.  That is why we are all here--to lift each other up the best we can.  I will say the same to Laurajane:  Don't give up hope!  I had a lousy first dr and he made me upset to the point that the thought of him doing surgery on me put me in a state of complete panic.  I joined a bunch of BC support groups and I asked everywere I went who was good, what was available to me, what were my options and those ladies came through and I found, eventually, great care and great doctors.  You will too!

Laurajane:  Thinking of you and hoping you find a more compassionate Onc. Never give up hope as there is always something out there!  I had my appointments this week and all is good so far.  Back to check again in 3 months.

Heidi:  I too look forward to all of your funny posts--Thank you for the dinosaurs explanation! LOL!

MBJ

Lovelyface:  I too ate like a pig while under chemo--nothing smelled good, nothing tasted good and all I wanted to eat was eggs!  Massage is so great!  When I first had my MX I had one PT appontment and a lovely woman from India massaged my MX area and I just cried with relief it released so much!  Very healing.  I get to see her today again and I so look forward to it.

Claire82

My PT appts wee the highlight of my journey. People couldn't believe i actually looked forward to going.

MBJ

I love PT!

Swanny

LauraJane:  So sorry for your roller coaster ride.   Hope the meds are helping keeping you calm.  I'll PM in a few days and give you another life story (hopefully a funny one).

PauldingMom:  We will be keeping you in our thoughts.  Hope you get into the trials.