Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Molly50

Sloan, fun at the beach? Hooray! Fitbit, I need to lose the weight I gained since I started anastrozole. I am game to step up my activity level.

Melclarity

Molly - that is tough, but sounds like you are in good hands.

ChiSandy

Regular milk is high in sugars and carbs--the lower the fat, the higher the sugar content. But when comparing nutritional info, make sure the serving sizes are identical or at least similar. The nutrition labels on milks (regular, carb-reduced such as FairLife, soy or almond) specify an 8-oz. serving size. For eggnog, it's 4 oz. And for heavy cream or half-and-half? As little as one ounce. I get FairLife because it's got half the sugars & carbs and twice the protein of conventional or organic unfiltered milk. I usually make my cappuccinos or breves with a mixture of cream and water, or cream and FairLife skim.

As to Clemmy's, I'll look for it, but I suspect it's regional. Our WF carries a brand called Halo Top and Mariano’s has Arctic Zero. As I'm not into vanilla pr strawberry ice cream, I bought the chocolate versions of both--blech! Tastes like frozen Metrecal--remember Metrecal? (Even Atkins shakes aren't that bad). A waste of freezer space. I find that, except for sugar free candy, anything chocolate-flavored that's sugar-free tastes awful--even unsweetened chocolate almond milk. Add sweetener and.....it tastes cloyingly sweet, but no more chocolatey. Ersatz rarely works. And watch out for “no added sugars:" read the ingredients and you'll often find fruit juice concentrates, dates, or agave nectar.....they're still all sugar, just not refined. If you must have sugars, eat them as raw honey or real maple syrup.

1step

Mel, I agree that long hair one doesn't look like a wig at all. Neither really does to me, but that first one really looks amazing. Of course, I rarely can tell when someone's wearing a wig. Guess I don't look too hard at people's hair.

marijen

Clemmy's may be a new product, I only saw vanilla bean and chocolate. It is very good, creamy. I checked all the milk at WF, all were 12 grams. Not nice. I meant to mention ice cream usually has 25 grams of sugar per serving. Fruit juices are almost as bad, so the only one I buy now is prune. It really does get manageable in time to remove sugar, it's only two or three meals. But I do like cereal with milk and half a banana. Not good I like dates for something sweet but they are loaded with sugar. Dole has a less sweet version. I keep it to two, they have good nutritional value. My food is very plain, that keeps things simple. Don't eat out much.

ChiSandy

I buy about 1/3 ea. of my stuff at Whole Foods, Mariano’s, and online from Peapod. I like Mariano’s for my low-carb bread (though WF now carries it too sometimes), FairLife milk (organic & hormone-free, half the carbs and 2/3 the calories). and either Amish or Blue Sky (whichever is fresher) pasture-raised eggs at under four bucks a dozen. Sometimes the Blue Sky eggs are so fresh there’s bits of feather on the shell. The flavor of a pasture-raised farmhouse egg is so much richer, especially the yolks which are deeper in color. Mariano’s also has an in-house pit BBQ. Whole Foods is around the corner and has the freshest produce (though a smaller selection) and fish often on sale. It also has the freshest coffee beans. Peapod has a wider selection than Mariano’s of brand-name stuff, especially household goods.

marijen

I'll look for the Mariano's bread and the milk next time I go but I haven't noticed either before. All these little tweaks do make a difference. Now if I have sugary food it makes me feel sleepy and I feel out of sorts, especially without protein to balance. I like their 365 shampoo, it doesn't lather but it doesn't dry either, then the conditioner citrus grapefruit. Followed with Pantene Lisse on wet hair keeps it soft and under control. Like to wash my hair everyday

Praline

Hello...This is my first post on this site.I am 74 years old. A problem was discovered in my right breast during routine mammogram in November 2015. This was followed by a diagnostic mammogram, then ultra sound, then biopsy.Got diagnosis of IDC December 17. Not exactly a nice Christmas present... I had lumpectomy and sentinel nodes removal January 11. I have an appointment to talk with a radiation oncologist Thursday.

LovesToFly

1step I'm sorry your mom isn't the support you hoped she'd be. Cutting my hair definitely helped me be in control, but I know other women find it easier to keep their hair is long as possible, I guess it's a choice you have to make.

Melclarity i love your wigs!! So pretty and very natural looking!!

PontiacPeggy

MelClarity, If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known those were wigs, same with LovesToFly's wigs. Such pretty ladies!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

Praline, Welcome to the best place you don't want to be. We are warm, comforting, informative and definitely a little nuts. There aren't too many of us 70+ gals. It IS a shock. How are you doing? Have you talked with an MO (medical oncologist)? Will you be doing chemo as well as radiation? Where are you located? Ask your questions and we'll be glad to answer.

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

ChiSandy, just looked at my double chocolate chocolate chip Haagen Dazs ice cream. Oops 27 grams of sugar in a 1/2 cup serving (which is actually how much I usually have). I rarely indulge but did last night and it was so yummy. My particular bugaboo is how much sodium is in everything. I don't need to watch my salt, I just don't like very much of it. And so many prepared foods use far more than necessary for good flavor. I love how some manufacturers seem to think that because it is "sea salt" it is so much better for you. I don't believe that. End rant!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

1Step, that's rough about your mom. I wonder if it is because she IS your mom and can't cope with you, her little girl, having cancer. We're certainly here for you.

HUGS!

Molly50

Welcome Praline, what a shock it must be to find yourself here. In addition to your radiation oncologist do you have an appointment with the medical oncologist? Since you are triple negative is chemo on the table? How is recovery going?

MLP3

1step- that's a good thought that maybe your mom is looking at you like her "little girl". My parents have been very supportive but they are over the top sometimes with check in calls and "I love you's". Like... I may drop tomorrow! Maybe tell your mom that you need her to be strong for you...?

Sloane- my Fitbit is still in package from Christmas and I'm going to break it out and get it going today. I'd love to join the group! I'm going to try an easy hike or walk in the woods this weekend in NH. Still healing from surgery, so don't judge me too badly;)

On the topic of healing through foods, I have been making fresh juices that combine all of the important vitamins neccessary for healing, detoxifying the liver from anesthesia and promoting healthy tissue regeneration. I eat my vitamins as opposed to taking supplements. I'm not big into fruits as I like to stay away from sugar, but my carrot, Apple, orange, lemon and ginger juice is amazing! It's an immunity booster, collagen regenerator and antioxidant power juice. And of course I thrive on green juices.

I have two juices a day in addition to a healthy lunch and dinner.

I'm vegan and have a vegan page on FB. I just posted yesterday about my ordeal and I'm focusing my energies to find recipes that will help with healing before and after surgery and throughout cancer treatments. Check it out! There are amazing recipes for soups, zucchini pasta, vegan pestos, "toasts" and smoothies. If you want me to share on here as well, let me know;) Here's the link... https://www.facebook.com/thedailyveganbymichelle/p...:0

But I honestly think that my quick recovery and energy only days after surgery have a lot to do with diet... i have minimal bruising and swelling and stopped taking Tylenol. Was yours the same LTF? And of course I have my team of nurses by my side...

LovesToFly

mlp yes I had a very easy recovery from surgery. I have no clue if it relates to being vegan or not, but I'll so I'm a very healthy eater in general. I will join your Facebook page! If you look at my blog, I have loads of great vegan recipes. My mother also overdoes it with the I love use, she texts me XOXOXO all day long! Sometimes it kind of feels like I have a stalker.

LovesToFly

I did not have a lot of pain or swelling after surgery, however it did take about a week for my energy to come back. I think it was the anesthesia! I've never had surgery before so I don't know for sure, but I think I just had a bit of a hard time working it out of me.

MLP3

Anesthesia and I have a horrible relationship! But I've been flushing out my liver and kidneys with tons of water and I think that's a big help. I also hydrated like crazy on days leading up to surgery. Citrus, sauerkraut, pickles, cinnamon and tumeric help detox the liver too! I always sprinkle cinnamon on my coffee;)

I've had neck(skiing injury), total hysterectomy and now this surgery in the past 5 years unfortunately. Neck surgery was absolutely horrific and full of narcotics. That's how I found the raw diet. It was tough but really got me clean and healthy and helped prepare me going into the next surgeries.

A vegan diet isn't for everyone, but with all of us ladies needing to stay strong and healthy throughout surgeries and treatments, being a part-time vegan can still have huge benefits. I never push it on anyone! But I've learned a lot and consider myself living proof😉

Peachy2

MLP3, thanks for the link! I'll go like your page. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I do like to try new recipes to mix things up. I made a lentil shepherd's pie last weekend that was delish (although I cheated and added milk and butter to the mashed potatoes.)

Melclarity, so pretty!

Chisandy, I think you need a Food Network show. How you describe making and drinking an egg cream was so fun to read.

Praline, welcome! Because I grew up in Louisiana, I am reading your name and hearing the pronunciation "praah-lean" rather than "pray-lean." Oh, and those are puh-kawn pralines, not pee-can pralines. ;-)

MLP3

LTF... I LOVE your blog!! We share very similar thoughts and beliefs. We have to meet up once my treatment is mapped out;)

Chisandy- I agree with peachy... That egg cream recipe was a fun read!

Mel- that long wig is sooo gorgeous on you!

Where do you ladies find the best wigs? My gut is that I'll need chemo. When I discovered my lump, I also discovered a node the size of a pea. And as my lump felt like it was getting bigger, my node did too. And this is the sentinel node they found via radioactive medicine. Also, my tumor was 6mm on 12/22 via us. Then MRI two weeks later showed 9mm x 1.8cm. My bs said they must have oversized it but we will see on surgery day. Sure enough... Tumor was a little bigger than a quarter which is a little over 2.4cm. Ugh. And the tissue area she took is about the size of a silver dollar(including tumor).

Needless to say that I'm a silent wreck that this thing grew so aggressively. And so fast. This is the first time I've expressed that and my husband is worried because he's the one who told me that my bs said it was bigger than first thought.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm heading out for a walk and lunch with my oldest;) they gave her two days off grad school and teaching to hang with me

pennsygal

ChiSandy - what brand of C and B12 gummies do you like? I imagine many contain a lot of added sugars.

Thanks!

Peachy2

MLP3 - I will message you on sources for wigs.

MLP3

Thanks Peachy!

Pennysgal... If you have a health food store nearby, there's a great vit B12 sublingual spray that's all natural and no or low sugar. One shot under the tongue daily. Being vegan and going through surgery, I need to make sure I get enough of it to avoid excessive bruising. and it's working;) Gummy vitamins are really all sugar.

Another great source of B12 is nutritional yeast flakes. I use it instead of Parmesan cheese. I make vegan pesto with it too and I've served it up without telling people and they kicked their bowls👍🏻

mairew

hi my lumpie friends. Sorry I dont post much, but I am following along, cheering everyone on, giving hugs, and travelling in pockets.


Will start rads mid Feb. I lurked on the rads pages but it was overwhelmin and scary so I will stay over here with you all.

Love all the pics. LTF I love the latest wig. Very you. Mel, you look great too, the longer hair is my fav. You both look fantastic.


I am still thinking about that Oncotype score. What if its a mistake? My Ki67 was 30%.Gah. Its a crap shoot either way.


I had sex! Whats the deal with birth control? I have just realised all the drs I have met with no body brought this up. I wasnt on anything.

PontiacPeggy

Mairew, I think you should call your MO or BS and ask ASAP about birth control unless you are ready to add to the family. Since I was so old at diagnosis, that wasn't an issue. Nice that you had sex! Made you feel a whole lot better, I'd imagine!

HUGS!

1step

My mom has always been so very strong for all of her kids, but it's been hard to really read her with all of this. She's taking anti-depressants due to her numerous medical issues, and I think that plays a part. She's the one I wanted to go through the whole haircut thing with, but I'm fortunate that there are others with whom I can. And really at the end of the day will help me better with it since they'll be able to get behind me with it more easily.

MLP- I'm so happy for you that you get to spend time with your daughter. I feel like time with loved ones helps keep me positive and I hope the same goes with you. Hearing about that rapid growth sounds tough.

Praline- welcome and I hope your recovery is coming along.

MLP3

mairew... Great for you with the sex! I just couldn't go there after I felt my lump, so it was a month and a half of hands off. Two nights before surgery we got a room in Boston and played tourist. And had the best sex! I thought I would cry, but it was just too good that I was grinning ear to ear! Maybe because we have a totally different connection now... Who knows. But I'm actually wanting it again only 4 days post-op;)

Ok... Heading out for a walk!

marijen

TMI

pennsygal

Thanks, MLP3!

LovesToFly

mlp we have to meet. I love Nooch!!!