Motivation

Hi, Jess ~  I had the same thing happen, and I learned that, in addition to chemo, rads can also cause our blood counts to go way down.  I just had bloodwork, too, and mine are finally just barely within the normal range, and I'm 7 mos. past rads.  I don't think it's a big concern.  Are you still seeing your onc every three months?  If so, he'll probably just want to retest you when he sees you.   Deanna 

Deanna, I really love the idea of that 'after' support group!  I would love to find something like that, but you all here on BCO are my 'after' support group!  I will ask my DD when she's at work to see if they offer something like that since its part of the UC system of hospitals.

I'm going to sound so ignorant, its ok to have tofu?  sorry...  I'm trying to learn everything I can.  I'll have to look for those Annie chun sauces.

I cannot believe it about the McDonalds in the hospital!!!!!!!! 

Joy, you GO girl!!  Nice to have that energy, huh??   

kmmd--Your workout sounds wonderful.  I have been doing exercise dvds and the usual  TKD workout, but I am thinking about joining a gym, the first time in years.  I joined one about 30 years ago and first encountered step aerobics.  I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now, except I feel it isn't enough. 

 AND yes, I feel better after reading input about the bloodcounts.  I don't like TESTS anymore!!! wahhhh! I just wanna workout and feel a great sweat...ya know what I mean!!??  LOL!

kmmd, that's the same thing my onc told me about Edamame, said I could have a couple servings a week and would be fine.  Funny you mentioned you didn't feel like working out but then felt better...Same Here!  Got home, had been yawning all afternoon and lethargic, so this time when I got home I ate right away, and then went for a nice walk, but the sun is going down so early!  Then home to stretch and some band work, I felt sooooo good afterward!  

I can't stop eating lately!!!  Ever since chemo and not enjoying eating at all, I really am loving it now!! haha

It's Wednesday (Or Thurs already, hi Helena!), Let's make it a GREAT day all!

Ainm, I started a new book yesterday and its based in Ireland, and of course I thought of you...are you out there???????  How are you doing? 

"Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped."
  ~African Proverb  

Hi everyone! Thought I would join this group...I've been lurking and reading. I'm finding it hard to get my head around this BC stuff. I wake up with it on my mind in the morning and go to sleep with it at night. The weather here is turning cool and the leaves are changing color. Although beautiful, it's a sign of the winter about to be upon us. I suppose I'm a hot weather gal and this time of the year always depresses me. I actually drive my DH nuts around this time because of my talk of selling everything and moving somewhere nice and warm! We're about to go out for a walk and that's always a great motivator for me. Kudos to you ladies who exercise and take daily walks/runs. I realize now how important that is to staying healthy both mentally and physically. Ok, enough of my moaning. Wishing all of you a great day!

Terri

The soy controversy just seems to go on and on. I found this article, which seems to agree with Deanna that moderation is okay.

http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/vn/soy_breast_cancer.php

 Deanna-the author is a nutritionist from CA. Maybe you can call him up and ask him to give us a definitive answer, once and for all.

My biggest questions are: Are Asian women less likely to get bc because of their consumption of soy, or is it because they get so much iodine in their diet from all the fish and kelp they eat? SInce I started on the iodine, my breast tissue has softened noticably. We know that dense breasts may be more condusive to developing bc. So is iodine the real preventative? That is what I am beginning to believe.

My other question-should you actually get hold of this guy Deanna (LOL)-My fear of soy is that it is numero uno as far as genetically modified and pesticide sprayed crops we grow. Could the detrimental effects of soy be due to this? We know that that GMO and pesticides feed cancers. Maybe this is the real reason that soy causes problems.

I just wish some of the $$$$$$$$ going to find the next "miracle" cure for cancer would instead go to study our tainted food supply. If we would clean up the causes of cancer, we would not have to take all these damn drugs. But alas, there is no money in PREVENTING cancer.

OOPs-I guess this conversation spilled over from the natural girls! Back to motivation:

Welcome Terri-hope we can motivate you and not scare you off! Get yourself a far infared sauna. Then all that cold weather will not bother you so much. And they are really great for you. And don't let me hear you say it is too cold to exercise. I walked all through the snowy winter. Walking is snow is a great workout, like walking in sand! I can't wait. Those CA sissies can have their heat! It was only in the 50's yesterday. I 'm lovin it!

Vegie patties have soy in them?  I eat the Morningstar Farms one cause I like them but now I gotta read the ingredients.  There I was thinking I was being good too!

 I am mostly a lurker because I don't feel I have that much to add to this thread. But you gals are an inspiration to me.  I just got the go ahead from my internist to go to a gym so on Saturday, I will join my husband's gym.  He goes every Saturday and Sunday without fail so I figure I will go with him and then try to go one day in the middle of the week by myself. I think that is a realistic amount that I might actually go to the gym in the beginning.  I am supposed to begin very slowly because I still have alot of post chemo issues, but I am so excited to be able to start. 

Vivre don't be too hard on Terri. I lived in Montreal for 5 years and I remember those cold winters...we are not talking about Northeastern cold, we are talking about temperature of below 10 below zero F (not wind chill, but actual temperatures). I would go out wrapped from head to foot with only my eyes peering out from the scarf I had wrapped around my face, so my eyelashes would freeze!!  Terri, I also get sad in the fall for all kinds of reasons. I like the summer and the longer days and warmer weather.  Also since I was on an academic year for some many years, I think it seems as if the year has ended when fall begins.   So Terri, if you want to walk and not be on a treadmill, you'll probably need to go to some place such as Place Ville Marie (and reward yourself by shopping in all of those boutiques afterwards :-) ). 

Everyone have a nice day.

Mandy

I was a McGill student so I had a (tiny) apartment on Stanley Street. I loved living right in downtown Montreal, but I really hated those cold winters!!!  How far outside of the city do you live?

And congrats on your one hour walk in the rain!!!  I still live downtown (in Philadelphia) so I end up walking for alot of errands that I might do by car if I lived in a suburb...today I walked about a mile just to get a pedicure and manecure---this is my post chemo treat to myself--I get my nails done about every 2 weeks.

I've lived in Montreal or thereabouts all my life. My husband and I are living west of the island in the St. Lazare/Hudson area, about 40 minutes from downtown. We've been here for 22 years and love it out here. It's very peaceful and just beautiful and quaint in the summer time. Hudson reminds me very much of England....

You've just made me realize how lucky I am to experience the 4 seasons, albeit the winter one lasts a bit too long but I guess that's what vacations are for!....lol

Terri

Hi all - welcome to all the newcomers - lurkers - occasional poster and the regulars who are the threads life blood!!! 

As usually there are too many posts to address them all individually but I love the lift I get when I read this thread. 

There is always a little nugget of info along the way - today I was interested in the discussion about blood work.  I'm 2 months post rads and due a blood test in a few weeks to check if my blood count has improved.  As soon as my bloods get back to 'normal' I will probably have my port removed.

I have a confession to make ......... I haven't been going out walking :-(  I have increased my Wii Fit to about 60 mins a day to make up for it and I am still losing a little weight and I have cut down on portion sizes and increased my fruit and veg intake. I really hope that I can keep the downward trend going for about another 80lbs or so.  I'd really like my onc to actually notice a visible weight loss at my next visit  which is on the anniversary of my surgery in Jan 2010.

Kari - what book are you reading - is it any good?

Vivre - 'Ainm' is the Irish language (Gaelic) word for 'Name'.  It's just my forum name.

It's always so late by the time I catch up on all the posts - I'm sooooo tired.  I had to go to the hospital today to have my line flushed (80 mile round trip) waited 1.5 hours and then asked if they had forgotten me ...... and ...... they had!!!! Five minute procedure and then hit the road again!!!

Oh - I hope that all the newcomers get as much inspiration from this thread as I do. Must go to bed now while it's still Wednesday!!!

Sweet Dreams.

Way to go Spring and all others.

I am slowly getting back into exercising since my surgery. Walked the dog yesterday, took 50 min (got to let him stop and sniff once in awhile, Joy will know what I mean) this morning got up early and did the elliptical, still not back to my usual but getting there.

Was glad to hear a bit of soy,like in chocolate was okay. Now, how much chocolate is okay? And why is it that really tasty things like chocolate have so many bad things in it that we should stay away from like sugar? I am trying to get off the sugar wagon again, can you tell, all i think about is chocolate! Can't blame it on PMS anymore, dang it anyway! lol.

Oh and welcome all newbies.

Penny 

Oh and Spring--congrats on your amazing diligence while in recovery mode!!

Spring, BRAVA!!!!!  you are DOING it and you WILL be old self again very soon I imagine!

Ainm, the book is called "Scarlet Feather" about a couple of caterers and its really good so far!

Allie, good for you going to the gym!  

Penny and Allie, Had me some dark chocolate and some almonds last night!! yummy!

Ok, NO exercise yesterday.  The PT had aggravated my low back and it was a killin me' so I had to lay off, he also said no going backwards on the eliptical, cause on Monday night that really aggravated it too.  Feel better this a.m. though!!  YAY!

Vivre, boy I really am a sissy, it was 68 in my house this morning and I was shivering!  I do have a condition...Raynaud's that when I get cold my body sends a message to my hands/feet to stop pumping the blood there to protect my core...so my middle finger turned white and I had to run it under warm water to get the blood back in...Been dealing with that for years...now my DD's have it!  So NOOOOOOOO walking in the snow or really cold for me, its just so painful.  I have a good reason to be a sissy, haha

Be nice to people on your way up because you'll meet them on your way down.
  ~Jimmy Durante

Wow, Spring!  You are chalking up the miles this week, which is great!  And I can't believe it's been 4 weeks already?!  And, Allie ~ Glad you got to the gym.  It's amazing how exercise can make us feel so good.

I'm not going to take offense at being called a California sissy, vivre (LOL), but I would challenge any of you Midwesterners to spend a week here in July or August, when an afternoon high of 118 isn't uncommon.  Nothing sissy-ish about that!  On the other end of the scale, I lived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for 5 years, and still recall January mornings when some area residents reported early morning temps of -50!  Now that's cold!!!  And I also lived in Northern Vermont (Jay Peak, which isn't all that far from Montreal) one winter.  So, I've had my share of bitter cold!   But now I'm like you, Kari --  50 degrees and my teeth are chattering, although I'm not sure that will still hold true now that I'm on Iodoral.

When I saw my PCP this a.m., there was a food chart displayed on the huge coffee table in her waiting room that I loved and know you all will, too!  It appeared to be devised and copyrighted by the other woman doc in her practice, but it showed a colorful food pyramid with the following breakdown: The bottom 75% said "75% Fruits & Vegetables."  Then the remaining 25% was divided into 3 equal sections.  The first of those one was "Lean Protein," and showed fish & chicken.  The middle one was "Healthy Fats," with olives and nuts pictured,  And the very top one was -- "Dark Chocolate!"   How cool is that?!  And it was a serious poster because she also had the types and amounts of exercise we need each week spelled out, along with sleep and other components of a healthy lifestyle. So, I say, go for it -- it's advice straight from a doctor!   Deanna