I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange
Comments
-
I liked Crossfire a lot. Pat Buchanan was great, and I wish he was still on MSNBC. He and David Brooks are among the few conservatives that really stand on principle, so it's interesting to get their views.
I miss the days when people couldn't just say crazy things and have them go unchallenged. The Internet era was supposed to make truth harder to hide, but it seems to have done the opposite.
Christmas....sadly, I think I will end up doing everything at the last minute, as usual. Haven't thought of decorations in my humble den yet and the celebration will happen elsewhere.
-
Just came across this news of Dave Brubeck's passing:
-
Belinda, Ken Burn's jazz series was wonderful. Sorry to hear of Brubeck's passing. I think "Take Five" is probably one of the most well known and loved jazz tunes.
-
I love jazz, but other than three or four names (besides Ella and Louis) am completely ignorant of who wrote/played what.
-
I grew up listening to jazz and big band/swing music. My dad would play that at night after we went to bed. It was sometimes a challenge to get to sleep. My mom on the other hand would play Mitch Miller sing-alongs and Bing Cosby and other easy listening things during the day.
-
Oh pastures green.
-
"Risk for death from breast cancer five to 14 years after diagnosis was 12.2 percent among those who continued use versus 15 percent among those who stopped — an absolute gain of 2.8 percent. The researchers observed the greatest benefit during 10 to 14 years after diagnosis."
If the benefit of 2.8% is mainly observed during 10-14 years after diagnosis, the why not stop the drug at the end of year five and go back on the drug after year 7 or 8? The side effects of aromasin have finally brought me to knees. I have two months to go and I decided to quit now. I just couldn't take it any more.
I will consider going back on either arimidex or aromasin after a six month break. But to be on one of theses drugs for 10 years for a 2.8% improvement in recurrence risk, just sound crazy to me. The risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis and cataracts to name just a few of the side effects make a 2.8% improvement look pretty small.
-
While I love American jazz, I am also a huge fan of Latin Jazz/Bossa Nova.
-
Mixed feelings about ten years on an AI to avoid recurrence. Never got that opportunity to make a decision. Hindsight of course is perfect, and I wish I'd had the chance to even question it.
However, I'd probably get out the calculator and be weighing the same pros and cons. -
I'll have been on Femara for 5 years come next September. See my onc in March and I bet she'll say to stay on it for a few more years (ugh!). I want the hair on top of my head to grow back to the thickness I once enjoyed pre BC. I know, I'm vain
. Time to look more carefully at the alternatives, I'm thinking..... -
I love R & B!
-
Lindasa, besides thinning hair, have you had any other side effects on Femara? I'm on Femara.
-
Well, tamoxifen failed me and nobody suggested I return to it after my recurrence. The oncologists I've seen also do not recommend AIs, since the SEs will outweigh any good they will do me (since AIs aren't proven to help with DCIS recurrence). And the killer boobs are gone. I would take tamox again if I thought it would do any good, but since it failed once, I'm not thinking that it would be useful for me.
I had minimal SEs with tamox -- my hair got thick and bushy (so much so that it looked like I was losing my hair by the handful when I stopped taking it!). My feet did hurt a lot and I developed quite a case of plantar fasciitis - in BOTH feet. My lipid profile improved dramatically -- cholesterol plummeted from 220 unmedicated to 160. I do think I had tamo-brain.
But nobody wants me to take it anymore. Just as well.
L
-
Belinda -- During the first year, I did have joint pain, mainly in my wrists, and I do still have vestiges of peripheral myopathy (but that may be due to chemo) and I have to search and search for words -- DH has suggested I simply point and substitute "thingamagig"! Oh yes, I also gained weight around my tummy, although the onc blames that on post-menopause.....And, I have a temper which I used to be able to keep under control
.Having said that (and I know I'm probably forgetting some annoying symptoms) I really haven't suffered as some have, and fingers crossed you won't either!
HL -- Maybe I should ask the onc to put me on tamox!
-
Thanks, lindasa.
-
Hi Everyone!
My tree is up and decorated! It's so cute. I decorated with bows and angels this year. Don't know why I went to all the trouble, as we aren't really celebrating this year. I'll get gift cards for all the kids and get them in the mail, but that's it.
I did get all my Christmas cards addressed and some in the mail today. I enjoy sending out my annual picture cards.
Tomorrow I'm going down to North Carolina to spend the day with Brenda (Naniam). We're going to decorate her tree. She's been having a lot of problems with balance and swelling in her left leg lately, so I'm going to have her put me to work helping with whatever she may need. I'll take my camera and post some pictures tomorrow.
Sending hugs to all,
Bren
-
I couldn't go on tamoxifen if I wanted to (which I don't!) as the stuff almost killed me the first time 'round. I'm on letrozole a little over a year now. In the beginning my oncologist said 5 years combined of tamoxifen and any hormonal. Now she says a minimum of 5 years on letrozole and we'll see what further research says down the road. I say - 5 years - period exclamation point. I will not stay on this @#$%^ a minute over 5 years - and for a 2.8% increase in longevity??? What good is living longer if you're miserable - and getting sick from the drugs! Everybody dies of something - if it's this beast that gets me - well, then that's what happens.
-
About letrozole: I started out with Femara (by Novartis), and then when the generic letrozole came out a couple of years later, my pharmacist just went ahead and filled my Rx with it (TEVA was the maker). The joint pains returned, so I went back to him and asked if my supplemental insurance would continue to pay for Femara. The answer was Yes, so I went back on femara and the joint pain went away. My onc told me later that if my supp insurance would only pay for the generic, she would write on the script "femara, no substitutes" and that would take care of that.
-
I don't have much joint pain. I get the generic from Costco, and they've been filling it with one by Cara (mustardy color) for the last nine months. For the 1st three months I had a pink one from Mylan. I pretty much hurt all over with that one, but haven't had much trouble with this one (relatively speaking
) - my hubby would probably argue with that statement..... I never took the brand name version. Linda, do you take any supplements?
-
GG -- Ah, let's see! Cal/Mag/VitD3 twice a day, plus 3,000 IUs of VitD3 in drops (I include it in my morning fruit/yogurt/milk smoothie). Also a fish oil capusle. And, aged garlic (to keep my cholesterol under control) and lots of cinnamon to counteract "sugar rushes" when I have something sweet.
Oh, and let's not forget the square of 70% Lindt dark chocolate!
-
Linda, thanks for the info. Two questions:
--How much calcium and how much magnesium?
--Have you noticed any improvements in well-being because of CA and Mg?
-
GG -- Oops, made a mistake. The CalMag tabs include zinc, not VitD3. Made by Webber Naturals (Cdn company); 333mg Calcium, 166.6mg Magnesium, and 16.6mg Zinc gluconate.
I remember trying out the glucosamine/chondroitin stuff when the joint pains first started and it don't do a thing. I think the VitD3 might be the secret ingredient that keeps the pains at bay.
-
I don't take the Calcium and Magnesium, what advantage is there of taking them? I take the D-3, a 1,000mg per day in the AM with water (drops). I take cinnamon, but also take:
curcumin phytosome, indole-3-carbinol, quercetin, boswellia, CoQ10, ginger, cod liver oil, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin - plus a multi-vitamin. I think I'm missing something, but cannot recall what... Oh, I take Willow bark - one in the evening and on occasion melatonin when I cannot sleep.
I see a HUGE difference when I forget to take the D-3, as my body will ache badly. I'm fairly rigorous at not forgetting the supplements, but the only thing I've really noticed (other than the D-3) is that when I forget the curcumin I get constipated. (BTW, in case you weren't aware, cinnamon contributes to constipation...)
-
Hmmmm...interesting, Lindasa. I might add calcium to my supplements and see what that does.
I frankly wish my onc would put me back on Zometa. I noticed how sturdy my hair and nails looked on it and I never had joint discomfort. He took me off it after the San Antonio conference findings of 2010 which in the eyes of some (not mine) contradicted the findings of the Austrian study that recommended Zometa for early stage adjuvant treatment in premenopausal women.
I am self-pay at the moment so not anxious to ask for a bone scan, but as soon as I am insured I will do so and see if I can get my onc to give it back to me. I had no SEs on Zometa (I was on an early-stager's dose of 1 mg every six months).
I read somewhere --but I am nebulous on this, so no one take me too seriously-- that the effects of Tamoxifen could last years. I know that TAM has made me feel twice my age. I even had to stop exercising. If I can counteract the effects and get good nourishment for my skeleton, maybe I have a better chance of living a healthy life.
Sigh!
You Know You Are A Cancer Patient When.....you complain of aches and pains more often than your senior citizen mother!
-
Athena, I did have to stop exercising while on tamoxifen (damned doubled damned drug!!!) and it took me a good long time to get back any strength, but I've been (fairly) persistent and the dividends are finally paying off a bit (at least I can walk the hills of Seattle again..
. Can't seem to lose weight, though... I've gain 10 pounds since my original diagnosis, and I eat less and less, but still cannot dislodge the weight. Hubby is convinced that once I retire and my stress level goes down - so will the pounds. Since my 5 week vacation starts next week, I may see whether or not his prediction pans out... -
1,200 calcium/600 magnesium
8,000 ius Vitamin D3 ( in rice bran oil) to get me up to 68 ( YEAH, ME!)
and WOW - does it make a difference.
Nordic Natural Fish Oil Liquid - about 1 tablespoon a day. With food. Bitter Melon, Alpha Lopic Acid, and Blood Sugar support to keep blood glucose levels down ( got a 6 on my A1C = whoa, so close to needs meds)
Gluten free ( no wheat, rye, barley) NO SUGAR, lotsa veggies, lean meat ( grass fed beef, no hormones, local)
YEAH, ACUPUNCTURE, and MASSAGE = both once a month. JOY. JOY. JOY.
In year 6 of Arimidex.....
-
garden - have you had a vitamin D blood test to see what your level is?
ALSO - have you had a TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test - should be BELOW 2.6
MAKE sure you get the results in hard copy - don't accept "normal" as a result.
-
GG - damned, triple damned drug! Gave me a stomach pouch I STILL can't get rid of.
I definitely had to stop exercising while on Tamox. Couldn't work, could sleep, couldn't wake...couldn't clean house. And much more serious SEs also.
After I had thrown my bottle down the toilet and the worst of the SEs wore off two months or so later, I was able to go back to my club, but I have sustained so many exercise injuries that I am on a hiatus until next year. I want to make sure I am nourishing bones and muscles before I go back to exercising.
Honestly, just the weight gain and the inability to sleep put me, IMO, at much higher risk of cancer recurrence.
Damned, damned drug. Wish I'd never been on it.
-
What Sunny says! (I am having the full thyroid panel done too).
Congrats on the D3 levels! Yey!
-
I've been pretty fortunate on Tamoxifen. Hot flashes and some muscle stiffness seem to be my main SE's. I've been on it for 2 1/2 years now, and would willingly stay on it for 10 years if it proves to be beneficial.
Mary
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team