Calling all TNs

It helps to be here with everyone. I appreciate the update on Dawn.

As to vitamins, I am doing the budwig diet with flax seed ground and flax oil as well as D3 4000 units and a B complex and a multivitamin. Could not handle the metformin- made my stomach a mess but I have been getting headaches and taking excedrin so I am probably getting too much aspirin. I did not know that was a recommendation.

Luv...you are amazing. I know how honest and direct everyone is here and I really appreciate that. I know you will face what you need to but I sure hope that whatever you do it kicks things back and gives you plenty of time for your bucket list. I want the best for you nd all of my sisters here.

I feel it is so important to be in the moment and appreciate every day. Have a friend with pancreatic cancer and a cousin in Nova Scotia with brain cancer but she is 16 months out after a 4% prognosis of being alive in a year and they actually think they have killed the cancer. But the surgery has taken away her motor skills on one side of her body and she is wheel chair bound at 56. Her husband is a doctor or she would have been on a list for an MRI that could have taken 6 months to happen.

And I am going to bitch, that hospital I started with sent me a $4110.00 bill for my MRI because someone forgot to put in a pre-auth. The hospital is appealing it but they said they will work out a payment plan with me if BC doesn't pay. I said they can work out a legal plan as it is their job to get the pre-auths. The error rate in hospital billing can be so stupidly high. More to come on that in January depending on which way the insurance company goes.

Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate. My this december is warm.

Hello ladies. I've been catching up tonight. I read all the news from San Antonio and agree that although a lot of emphasis is being placed on TN, answers aren't coming very fast and it just seems they are finding it is more complicated than originally thought.



My second AC treatment is tomorrow. I'm hoping the changes they will make to anti-nausea meds will make a difference.



I've read a couple of articles on chemo hair loss that said many times hair initially comes in different but will eventually be the way it was before. And speaking of hair loss -- I started shedding yesterday. No major loss just lots of loose hairs.

For all you amazing ladies.

Irish Superstitions for the Christmas Season
by Bridget Haggerty

Irish superstition said it was lucky to receive a Christmas card which pictured the Three Wise Men.

In the old days, children were usually charged with the responsibility of gathering the Yule-tide decorations and finding a holly bush loaded with berries was considered very lucky. Holly is a symbol commonly associated with Christmas and has been used in Yule-tide celebrations for almost two thousand years.

To the Druids, it was holly's evergreen nature that made it special. They believed that it remained green to help keep the earth beautiful when the other trees shed their leaves. It was also their custom to wear it in their hair when they ventured into the forests to watch the priests collecting mistletoe. Holly was also once used for protection, and in ancient times, people would decorate doors and windows with it, in hopes that it would capture, or at least dissuade, any evil spirits before they could enter the house.

In the Celtic language, Mistletoe means "All Heal." It was believed to have all sorts of miraculous qualities including the power of healing diseases, banning evil spirits, bringing good luck and bestowing great blessings. In fact, even enemies who happened to meet beneath a Mistletoe in the forest would lay down their arms, exchange a friendly greeting, and keep a truce until the following day. From this old custom grew the practice of suspending Mistletoe over a doorway or in a room as a token of good will and peace to all.

It was once believed that on Christmas Eve, an angel stands on every spike of the holly leaves. It was also said that the Good People would come in out of the cold to find shelter in the holly branches and that the mischief of the evil spirits was suspended for this Holy Night.
In the old days, people believed that animals celebrated the arrival of Christ and that the cows in the cattle-sheds and the deer in the forests went down on their knees at midnight. Others believed that animals were able to speak like humans on Christmas Eve - but it was bad luck to try and listen in!

The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas Eve is still practised today. Primarily it was, and still is, a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter.

After evening meal, the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could come in. It's also said that leaving a loaf of bread on the table will ensure bread for the coming year. And, you should also leave a bowl of water out to be blessed by the travellers - this water would be used for cures.

It was believed that the rooster would crow at unusual times, and to hear him crow at midnight was a good omen, as was a new moon. A clear star-filled sky would bring good crops in the summer, and shoes placed side by side would prevent a quarrel. For good health throughout the following year, you should eat an apple at the stroke of midnight.

There were also sinister superstitions associated with the eve of Christ's birth. If, when all were seated round the fire, one shadow on the wall behind them was headless, then the person who cast the shadow would be dead before the end of the year. Someone would also die if a hoop fell off a cask. If the principal candle goes out for some reason during the Christmas season, it is a bad omen - possibly the death of the head of the household.

It was commonly held in Ireland that the gates of Heaven open at midnight and those who die would go straight in. It was also believed that no prayer would go unanswered on this most holy of nights.

As for Christmas Day itself, according to an old verse,
"If Christmas Day on a Sunday fall
A troublesome Winter we shall have all."

It's said to be lucky to eat breakfast by candlelight on Christmas morning. You should eat plum pudding on Christmas to avoid losing a friend before next Christmas.
Refuse a mince pie at Christmas dinner and you will have bad luck for the coming day.
Drink three sips of salted water before Christmas dinner for good health - But on the second day after Christmas, abstain from meat to prevent fever.

Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green. A blowing wind on Christmas Day brings good luck - but, wearing new shoes will bring bad luck. And never turn a mattress - very bad luck for the turner! The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune and good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season. To bring luck and blessings, you should take a wisp of straw from the nativity scene at the church and bring it home.

The weather on each of the twelve days of Christmas signifies what the weather will be on the appropriate month of the coming year. And, all decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas or Twelfth Night - the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. It is considered to be bad luck to take them down before then. Also, you shouldn't fix a leak in the roof during the twelve days - the leak will come back if you do!

The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is:
'Nollaig Shona Duit'
......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'. 

English Rose - I tried to cope after all treatments were done but my worry was so great not knowing if I was cancer free (I had chemo/rads after surgery, not before, so I was left wondering).    So, I used some symptoms I was worried about to ask the MO for a scan.   He agreed and everything came back clear.  I had to fight insurance a bit, but I think I would have paid it anyway just for the peace of mind.   I know some others on here don't like scans, but I found that I now don't think as much about recurrance/spread after my clear scans.   I also have had trouble sleeping for years and found it much harder to sleep these days, so I now take Trazadone at bedtime.   It has really helped me get a good sleep and it doesn't have that drugged feeling in the morning.  I see a therapist every few weeks too.

I know you will find something that will help you cope.  Talk to your MO.

Hopex3:  The baby aspirin is supposed to help keep cancer at bay because it has anti-inflamatory properties.  I think I got the idea from the recommendations at tnbcfoundation.org.

My hair fallout is getting worse today. Did anyone just let it fall out or did everyone go ahead and shave it? It's getting messy, but it's hard to get that razor out.



Second treatment today. Have a bit of headache and starting to feel a little nausea. They told me not to take my zofran until tomorrow because they gave me a full days worth in my iv today. They did say I could take phengran (not sure about spelling) so I think I will and go to bed.

5thSib - once I could pull out my hair, like a shedding dog, I shaved it. It was just too messy! Once you shave it, I found it helped to wrap my pillow in a nylon half slip, to cause less friction when moving my head. Once your hair grows a bit, it's not a problem. It will grow back, before you know it. Hugs.

Went to onco today. Pet scan showed a spot in my lymph node in my arm pit and one in my mammory chain behind my sternum. The radiology report stated the lump in my breast is9.5 cm! Doc can't believe its more than doubled in such a short time and is going to call the radiologist. Chemotherapy is going to start as soon as insurance approves. What does all this new information mean!!?? Doc said it doesn't change the current game plan. He is so kind. This all is such a shock. What next?? word metastatic disease was mentioned.

You ladies are amazing! Because we are strong, we can face the reality, and what future may hold for us. Yet be present, and enjoy the present. My first chemo (TC) starts this Thursday, but we have tickets to see my child's first Christmas perform at the city symphony hall. I hope I will feel ok to go!!

5th sib - wishing you an uneventful night. Let's hope that nausea passes. Keep on top of the meds - that's what works best.

My hair is at the coming out in clumps stage - but I just cannot bring myself to getting out the razor. I go for my wig consult tomorrow, so perhaps after that I will have the courage to take it all off. 

I went to see my oncologist and surgeon today, and we have a plan.  You can read the details on my blog www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com

Bottom line - port placement on Monday, PET/CT next Friday, weekly carboplatin starts Dec. 26.  Will be adding generic Actos as a kicker.  Dana Farber had a clinical trial with this combo a few months ago and my onc thought it was a good idea. 

Welcome Leigh Ann! Glad you found us. And YAY!!! for your shrinking tumor. I had AC too and it did shrink my tumor to being not palpable after the 3rd too. Are you getting Taxol next? If so, I had the 12 weekly Taxol it went pretty well.

Mags - thanks for the kind words.

HopeFaith - I hope you are able to start chemo soon and that it kicks butt!

Michelle - so glad you have a plan you feel good about. Wishing you the best Christmas ever!!!

KSMatthews - thanks for stopping by. So glad you are back to living.

Leigh Ann - welcome! So happy we have a nurse on board :)Good to hear your treatment is working.

Annie - your church cake sounds lovely. Photo?
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I started my 3rd round of Gemzar/Carbo today. My counts were good - they had let me skip my neulasta shot from hell, at the end of my last treatment. If they stay up - I can skip it again I go next week for Gemzar only to complete my treatment cycle.
I will have a CT scan in between
treatment cycle 3&4.

Hugs all around... I must go continue to eat my way through the house - my neighbor may not get that chocolate halvah I bought him for Hanukkah

Hi ladies. It's been a while since I've posted but I think of you often. I just really haven't had much to say lately. I did have a good check up with my oncologist last week and now I only go once a year. Hope you're all doing well have a nice evening.