Having another meltdown

I found something onhere. butmy computer won'tlet me cut and paste.

{{Cheryl}}  I'm right there with you - melting down! But I'm way behind you. Where are you at exactly in terms of treatment? When did you finish rads? I'm just starting Taxol. I think it's so weird how many different chemo regimens there are - how we all get something different, even if we have similar dx. I can't stop the meltdowns myself. So much fear of recurrence.

That said, I really do believe it's true that exercise reduces recurrence. I think that's pretty well established. I'm not sure you even need to join a gym per se. I think running/race walking for 45 min to a hour a day is good. And you can lift small weights at home. I'm too sick to do the stairs now but before I got sick from chemo I tried to go up and down the stairs in my house a certain number of times a day, picking up the pace each day. If you do join the gym, the elliptical is a good piece of equipment.

I also choose to believe in the aspirin thing. I'm not allowed to have aspirin on Taxol but after Taxol I'll go back on baby aspirin four times a week. I would also like to do the metformin trial. (Well, actually I'd like to just go on metformin but my onc says no; haven't asked primary care doc yet.) And I'm giving up sugar, white flour, and other foods that are inflammatory.

I know you were on cancermath.net and got spooked. Are you sure you did it right? You want to be sure to use the one that allows you to put in your treatment. That's the one that says "Therapy Calculator." And remember, grade 3 cancer is the cancer that chemo actually works on. Grade 3 patients have a more aggressive cancer, yes, but they also are the ones who often have total pathological response to chemo. I'm enduring chemo as a grade 1 -- knowing it probably doesn't even work on my cancer because the chemo kills fast growing cells not slow growing ones like mine.

Anyway I just wanted you to know you're not freaking out alone. My brother told me statistics break down in populations under 100 so don't pay attention to statistics. {{Hugs}}

Here's one link to the recent aspirin story. But google aspirin and breast cancer recurrence and you'll see lots more.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/bernadine-healy/articles/2010/02/18/aspirin-a-blockbuster-therapy-for-breast-cancer-survivors

There is an ongoing double blind trial to see if metformin (diabetes drug) reduces recurrence of BC but lots of women are just getting their PCPs to prescribe it instead of participating in the trial.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01101438 

Stay off cancer math, don't let Dr. Google pay house calls.  Those stats are outdated!  They lump everyone together and don't account for diet, exercise, taking your meds as directed.  There are so many variables. 

Exercise is great during chemo, and especially good after active treatment is completed.  That is time when many women feel vunerable.  I was lucky enough to get my rads in Monterey, CA and everyday I would ask my rad techs where I should hike next.

You also need to think, if it comes back (I still think your chances are excellent for a long life) you have made your body strong to withstand further treatment.  You've improved your quality of life right now, and that means alot!