Is there a July 2011 group?

I start zometa in March.  Doc said that while some studies show it prevents recurrence, the jury is still not officially in.  One study says it only helps if you're post menopausal for more than 5 years, another says only if you're premenopausal and over 40, etc.  So she wouldn't write it off label for prevention, but by doing a bone study on me, we found osteoporosis, so it became a good option.  I've read about some pretty miserable side effects.  Sounds almost worse than chemo (other than the hair thing).  But for bone loss or preventing mets it's every 6 months.  I think women with mets who are on it get it more frequently (monthly?).  Unfortunately my infusion is a Monday morning, so I've got to make it through 5 days of work with the se's.  So glad to see some of you on it as well so we can share experiences.

Hi Rabbit - I did lose about 10 pounds at diagnosis and through treatment and I've gained it back.  I am working out 6 days a week but I need to make more changes to my diet. 

 I eat pretty well, but sugar is my biggest struggle.  Not sure I'll ever be able to give it up.  I'm interested in how much sugar a normal person eats.  I tend to want something sweet after lunch and dinner.  I don't eat a whole box of cookies or anything, but I do eat a small bowl of ice cream or a couple cookies or a brownie after dinner.  Is this way more sugar than the average person eats?  I know we had cancer, and so I should eat none, but I can't.  I gave up other things, but here's where I stumble.  Anyone else?

Rabbit - I wanted to mention my approach to losing weight and eating healthy - it is all about vegetables and lots of them.  I got into this before the BC, for my husband's health.  I cook a lot of vegetables - squash, sweet potatoes, yams, brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, spinach, beets, etc.  Mostly I roast them in large quantities in the oven and then store them in the fridge.  Then I make big salads - use prewashed salad mixes, add cut up beets, sectioned clementines, chickpeas, mustard vinaigrette.  I also cook quinoa and serve my vegetables with it.  Quinoa is high in protein.  I eat more quinoa than rice or pasta, since rice and pasta are higher glycemic index and tend to stimulate your appetite rather than sate you.  If I make rice, I stick to brown rice (more fiber) and add beans.  If I make pasta, it is whole wheat.  Be careful with pasta; it is easy to eat way too many calories.  I also don't eat regular (russet) potatoes, just yams and sweet potatoes (both much lower on the glycemic index).  In the summer, when I can get fresh zucchinin and eggplant, I make ratatouille in large quantities and store some in the freezer for the winter.  I make squash stew and will saute mushrooms with kale or collard greens or beet greens.  Don't get me wrong, I love meat and enjoy a burger now and then, when I eat out.  However, if you stick to eating tons of low calorie, high fiber, vegetable-focused meals at home (plus regularly exercising) the weight will come off.  The cooking is a lot of work, but I think it is so worth it.  Let me know if you want more tips or a recipe.

bcisnofun and PhillyBird, I posted this long post and lost it a few days ago..and I'm so tired right now I can't possibly get into all this. But I totally agree that we need to eat better, less sugar, more veggies. 
I used to cook almost every day, and during chemo I lost that desire..I have to start getting back into it. I love my stir frys and soups. 

When I have more energy I will post more, radiation daily and working (helping my friend out which has turned into a 35 hour a week job) is wearing me out!!

J-Bug, hang in there, keep us posted, I'm sure you'll be getting that port out soon!! 

love you all! 

jbug - I just read your post.  I don't know anything about the levels they are wanting to check on, but I wanted to send you hugs.  Will you keep us posted on this thread too as you get your pet scheduled?  I'll have you in my thoughts. 

Here is my 4 month PFC picture. I have been exercising like crazy, and yesterday my husband insisted on taking a picture- to show me how strong I look as I come up on my year cancerversary. I am practing lots of yoga, hence the silly pose. I feel strong, all things considered.

Wow, I just got some shocking news. A coworker passed away within the past couple of days. Sounds like he had a migraine and then reacted to the meds they gave him. I'm even wondering if it was an aneurysm. Young guy, early 30's. Pretty sad.

Dexxy, you are BEAUTIFUL!

Shiny, I am so sorry for your loss

misswim, you look AWESOME, your body and your hair!!! I need to post a 3 month PFC pic...had a cold from hell for almost a week now and not in any mood to take a pic, but will soon!

shinypop, sorry about your friend, that is horrible news, such a young man, so sad.

dexy you look fantastic! And your kitty cat is precious!

Oh..........my sis and I got a tattoo, in the same spot, above the left ankle. Will have to post a pic of that too once it heals! It's a purple butterfly with a pink bc ribbon as the body, very tasteful I think.

Friday night is a women's night, slumber party at Gilda's, I can't wait, I so need this, hoping my cold is much better by then.

J-Bug, hang in there, fricking insurance sucks the way they make you wait for approvals and deny you for things, I get so aggravated with their BS sometimes, yet I'm so glad I have it.

love you all!! 

Hi everyone,

Misswim - you inspire me to keep up my lifting regime.  Dexy - is that all your hair?  You both look fabulous!

Sorry about your co-worker, Shiny.  Another reminder to enjoy life while you can.

Rabbit - enjoy the party at Gilda's.  Been thinking about getting a tattoo too - I mean, besides the 12 dot tattoos I already have!  I think there are 12, I sort of lost count.

My husband just took off to France to visit with his folks.  MIL is still in hospice at home with stage IV ovarian cancer.  She still eats well and has a strong heart.  Not much in the way of communication or moving around; needs round the clock care.  Very sad.

I'll be trying to keep busy at work and my sister is coming to visit me this weekend.

Rabbit - you look great!!!  Your eyes are really sparkling too!  Don't cut it, just put in a little "product" and feather the sideburns forward to frame your face, rather than attempting to tuck behind your ears.  Possibly, ask someone to clean up the lower part of your neck with a shaver, but only if it seems curly or unruly.  Otherwise, just use product to shape it.

Good luck!

Does anyone else have a terrible metallic taste and a bit of acid reflux from Tamoxifen? bleh.

hi shinypop, I was just saying a few days ago that I felt like my taste buds were not really back to normal, and maybe it is the tamoxifen! I have also had a problem with my food not going down well, it's getting stuck, I had this problem really bad through chemo and it kind of came back. I thought maybe the rads were getting too close to my esophagus but maybe it's the tamoxifen again....hmmmm

On another note, if you all don't mind, can you vote for me to walk in the survivor parade at the Kentucky Oaks? Voting started a few days ago and goes til the 23rd at 5pm. You can vote once a day til then, and I found out you can vote from your phone and your computer each day They are taking 138 cancer survivors for the walk, and I really want to be a part of this!

http://admin.kentuckyderby.com/oaks/survivors/ellen-shelbyville-kentucky

Thanks all! xoxoxoxo 

J-Bug, my fingers and toes are crossed! I'm sure you are just fine, but I know that you must be a bit stressed worrying about the results. What is alk phos numbers? I've never  done bloodword that I'm aware of for bc. A friend of mine that has ovarian cancer said she gets certain blood tests done that show levels of possibility of ovarian cancer. 

I agree with you on the voting thing but since they only do 138 people, that's the number of years the Oaks has been running...I guess it's the only fair way?? Thanks for voting!

Hugs