Calling all TNs

CatWhispurr - we are on the same page! Thank you so much for the info on additional creative ideas!!  I love all your meal ideas, and will try to incorporate the dinner one.  I have either eggs or steel cut oatmeal, cooked the old fashioned way in the mornings.  With all the eggs I eat, I too have really low cholesterol.

What brand of protein bars do you get?  I do stay hungry a lot, and I'm told it's due to the exercise - since that burns usually around 1000 calories.  So I try to get more protein or fiber in to keep me fuller, longer.  The Metformin has dramatically cut my sugar cravings though.

Why did you lose weight on Metformin?  Is it because you were eating healthier or because you were not as hungry?  I just started on it two months ago at 500 2x a day ... but my PCP and I didn't talk about upping it, which I will approach him about.  I have lost the two pounds I gained before starting it.  I was 118 before bc, and got up to 128 during treatment, but have been at 107 ever since. 

For bread, what I use is Ezekel.  It's one of the only breads that Fooducate assigned an A rating too - low in carbs, low in sugar, no fat, etc!  It's amazing stuff.  We have now switched any product to that brand if we need it.  My carbs are from sweet potatoes - plain but really good for you!  And carbs from fruit.  I also do have some organic pretzel sticks whole wheat that I will nibble on at times. 

Today I had a kale/spinach smoothie, and put the whole bag of kale in it.  That was 3 servings of kale.  I don't recommend doing that.

Are you taking any supplements? 

Thanks again for all your very helpful information!!

PS - How did you discover your breast lump? My dates are really close to yours.  I found out 12/27/11 and had surgery 1/4/12. 

Cocker:  I'm saddened by the recent news of Michelle - how did you get your update?  Did you get to talk to her?  Is she able to get outside and sit in the sun?  If you talk to her, please let her know we are all pulling for her!

Debra - I also forgot to say that I like making soups and stews with lots of vege's, kale, spinach and beans.  Three-bean chili is great for those dreary days, like today in Atlanta.   I sometimes put unsweetened applesauce in my oats.   I buy FiberOne or Nature Valley protein bars - I like the ones with almonds and dark chocolate.  I like Balance bars but they are too expensive.  Where do you get that Ezekel and where do you look for it in the store?

It sounds like we are alot alike!!  I think a lot and micro-manage everything too.  My weight went up about 10 lbs during chemo eating comfort food, then after starting Metformin, it went down 20 lb.   I was definitely less hungry on Metformin, then started eating healtheir on top of it, so I think it was a combo.  I forgot to mention that my numbers were pre-diabetic during chemo so my MO used that indicator to start me on Metformin, so those numbers went down after stopping the steroids.  All other Dr's I see always assume I am diabetic when I put that I am taking metformin so I always have to explain that I am taking it for cancer recurrence prevention.  For me too, my psych was very important to me.  After all the treatments, I had no way of knowing if it worked and I was cancer-free.  It was driving me nuts and I couldn't move past it, so my MO found a reason (a constant cough) to order a Pet/CT scan.  After it came back clean, I had a huge relief.  For me, I needed that clarification to move on.

I take baby aspirin, Vit D (it was low when I found the lump), B6 & B12 (because I am a vegetarian), calcium/magnesium/zinc, and milk thistle (for keeping the liver healthy).

I found the lump myself, just felt it when I turned over one night - it seems to have appeared suddenly.   I found it 2 years ago on 9/17/11 but my BS (the one that is not very concerned now about new lump) and radiologist were dragging their feet and I didn't get surgery until 12/7/11.  I only got surgery then because I was stressing out and found my MO to talk about chemo.  He was shocked I hadn't had surgery yet and called the BS to tell him get me surgery ASAP!  So, I was stressing for 3 months and the tumor doubled in size, started hurting and my lymph nodes were starting to enlarge so I know it was trying to spread.  That is why, I guess, that lost my trust in him being proactive on my part.   I rely on my MO for that now.

You should be glad you are ER- so that you don't have to deal with that Tomoxifen.  Did you take your MO all the research and literature on Metformin?  Tell him it makes you feel in control of preventing recurrence.

Cocker - such sad news about Michelle.  I remember all her help for me too and was concerned about her since she had opted not to have chemo at first discovery of lump.  My prayers go out to her.

Angstapp - Yeah for chemo being done!  That is a big step but I can relate that then "what next" feeling creeps in. 

to Inspiredbydolce --- it wore me out just to read your advice on cleaning! Thank goodness I have a small house, and just do one room a day.

it DID take me a long time to get caught up after I finished with chemo. Even doing just one room a day, I was skipping the hard parts. And I was frustrated by that, but my DH didn't seem to care, so it waited for me to get better.

Nat

love hugs support and prayers for our LUVRVing

Maggie

Nat - that's funny. Well, I have OCD on top of things, so I clean daily, but I have been behind before, and have done the room by room to build momentum.  That works well too!  Our place is also smaller now, so easier to maintain. 

Tina - I buy the Ezekel at Trader Joe's.  Someone told me about some great cinnamon bread they get at Trader Joes, and I went there to get it, but when I scanned it, it was given a C.  So the Fooducate App listed this as an alternative. So I bought the Ezekel Cinnamon Raisin bread first, and although it did not sound appetizing, it tastes amazing!  Then I bought the sandwich bread, and last week added in the things that look like tortillas ... well, may that is what they are tortillas.  LOL  I added steamed cabbage to it and rolled it up and ate it.  It was not yummy, but that was the cabbage's fault, not the tortilla.  LOL  I read somewhere that cabbage is excellent as well for bc prevention.

Debra - I'm OCD too LOL.   I had a hard time letting go the house cleaning when on chemo but had some friends come and help once a week which kept it bearable.  I have to do my house in stages, usually by floor since I have a large 3-story house with 12 cats (some special needs) to care for too.  I am now trying to catch up on outside work too which got left behind.  I don't have a Trader Joe's anywhere near me :-(   I get the calcium/magnesium/zinc (it has D3 too) at the grocery store and just take one a day.    I didn't know there was one pill for all three B6/B12/folate.  Do you get it through your doc or is it over the counter? 

My MO actually became a believer in Milk Thistle because of me.   My liver values went really high during chemo and he was talking about having to skip some treatments but I asked him to let me try Milk Thistle first.   I already had my 19 yo kitty on it because of her liver values, so I started taking some of my kitty's    My liver values all came back into normal range and I didn't have to skip any treatments.  MO said he had never seen anything like that.   So, I just kept taking it even though I lost my kitty last year at 20 yo.

My WBC was 3.6 last check end of August which is getting on the low side (3.3-10.5) but it had been staying around 4.7-5.2.

Well, gotta go clean lol!

I was told neulasta boosts the wbc, not the rbc. I just googled it and that appears to be correct from the neulasta website. I was getting the shot, but my dr agreed to let me skip the last one since my wbc has been good, 5.7. I was hoping to reduce the bone pain that I got once I started taxol. My rbc was already low before I skipped the shot so I dont think that was the cause.



Thanks for the information on metformin. I'll read through it.



Cabbage rolls?? There's no way I could manage that right now! I was reading all the things you cut from your diet. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying to make some healthy changes. You might want to try adding quinoa to soups or salads. Great protein and fiber and there are even some pastas made from quinoa.

I need a triple negative kick in my pants. My onc just personally called me to help me shake off my shivers. Finished chemo Thursday. He said the tumour was very small, we gave you chemo and there's nothing left. It' more likely you could die while driving. this is true-he knows my driving:)

I'm scared to death but I should probably get off these boards and go live while the living is good. I feel like a quaking tiger

Cocker~ Thank you for letting us know about LUVRVing. 

Hello my sisters, long time no post. If u have FB, PM me cause I post updates there more often. Been so busy with family, treatments, and surgeries. Finally finished my brain radiation last Tues, also got CT on same day to do radiation on spine and appendix, cause they have been most painful. A few hrs after I got home, I get a frantic call from my radiation onc telling me, I don't have a tumor in my appendix, but rather have appendicitis. He told me to go to the nearest ER before it bursts! I went to my local ER, where they confirmed it was indeed appendicitis, so I had an appendectomy using endoscopy, so less scarring and faster recovery.

I was scheduled for port insertion on same week Thurs, but it was too close to appendectomy, so they rescheduled for this week Mon. Tues was scheduled for another CT for lung radiation, cause cough not going away and having shortness of breath after walking only a few steps. So unfair that I have lung cancer when I never smoked, but did inhale lots of second hand smoke. Tried to get a walker with a chair, but don't have Medi-care, so might have to pay cash. Hope I qualify for Medi-care. Been working on applying for disability back to Oct 2011 to now.

Will try to read your posts later. Been really tired lately, but hanging in there.

Well, I feel real dumb right now.   I checked the lump I was feeling and it has apparently gone away, so it must have been a cyst.   I am going to call and cancel the MRI and wait until March when the next MRI was going to be scheduled unless something comes up before then.   At least, I am relieved.

Okay Ladies: This is how I made the cabbage roll better yesterday - just took a bit of internet inspiration:

In small pot, throw in shredded cabbage (already cut in the bag), chopped green onion, chopped celery and chopped carrot, and a dash (baby dash) of low-sodium soy sauce.  Steam.  Then scoop out and place in a healthy tortilla or wrap.  I used the Ezekel tortilla wrap.  Roll it up and place in heated oven, turned off.  Once oven gets hot, turn the oven off, and place the rolled cabbage roll in there while you clean the pot and boil water for hot green tea.  The heat from the oven will warm it perfectly.  I found this to be very edible this time, and I don't like my own cooking, but this came out very decent.  Cabbage has anti-c benefits!

Hi JenJen,

Glad to hear that you are back at work - that is a big step in moving forward.

I agree with you, the revelation that your DH's Aunt was dx'd with a type of cancer of course brings concern to your mind, and puts this at the forefront for a moment.

The 1st year anniversary ironically, a place of proud accomplishment does also provide some fears. I went through it too, and while I could help everyone else, I couldn't help myself.  It's a challenging time, one of joy and one of reflection.

Here is what helped me:

Have a survivorship plan.  That is, a lifestyle guide that you will follow.  Make it lenient enough to where you will stick to it and not feel deprived, but enough to where you benefit from it.  As Titan mentioned, just a little here and there adds up.  I once heard that at each meal if we can incorporate just 1 healthy anti-cancer benefiting item, at the end of the year we would have eaten 1,000 items to help.  So each meal, just replace one not so healthy item with one healthy item.  example:  hamburger or grilled chicken sandwich, add potato instead of fries  / omelete, load it up but leave off the cheese and replace side item with half blueberries/half strawberries. 

For exercise, start easy - park the car at the end of the aisle (unless you have lots of groceries without a buggy).  Take the stairs, vacuum every day, clean the house more, etc. 

MUSIC!  At my appointment today I read an article that says music strengthens our immune systems.

Don't worry if you don't juce, some research states blending is as beneficial or better due to the fiber that is broken down into the drink ... having fiber instead of pure juice lowers the glycemic index and prevent the sugars from spiking in your system. 

Get rid of anything related to treatment, including wig.  Put your house environment back into the way it was before the bc diagnosis, to try and regain some normalcy.

I sure will be thinking of you.  Just know that the moving forward process is a continual process and does take time.  It's natural to have a day or two where you are not at your best - and that's okay.  I always tell people when you have a bad day, don't try and fix anything that day.  Give yourself a bad day.  Avoid people (or be around people), eat what you want (don't go crazy here), cry, watch a good movie, turn off the phone, spend an obscene amount of money .. whatever it is, take that day to just be in your funk.  Know, that tomorrow that sun will rise in the east, and that life will move forward and that you will get on that ride and you will make the best of it.  You found your bc early, you had excellent treatment, and you will survive this! Know that the majority of TNBC women will not have a recurrence.  Remember that often and set your sies on short-term and long-term goals.  Having goals will help. 

I wish I could make it easier for you .... just take it one day at a time.  If it is any comfort to you, my Onc told me to eat what I want.  LOL  So just remember that it's a combination of things that will get you there, and you don't have to be perfect at everything.  Find what you are good at and excel with that and build upon that. 

Hope you feel better soon!