Sorry that I have been absent.  Stupidboob: all my best wishes to your brother!  BanR:  sorry to hear about your itchy side effects, and hopefully, you are finishing up!  My third one remains the same, no major SEs.  I get my last chemo next Monday.

M husband overheard the news this morning on TV says that Evista can help with TNBC?  Anybody knows this?

 inspired:

thanks for info about the test. will ask him tomorrow for sure.

social isolation and stress have strong links with cancer..i have come across a lot of articles .. sending a few links of studies talking about the same in animal model. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8279425.stm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/09092...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22610067

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/consequential-...

http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/c...

Stress, depression, social isolation, unhappiness etc do trigger a lot of other diseases so why not cancer too. Just like you even I feel that one of these could have triggered mine too. I met a woman in the hospital who was getting treated for a recurrence. She said she was fine for 4 years but then her elder sister expired and 1 year after that she got this recurrence...maybe a trigger, may not be. 

But cancer needs an environment to grow. Let us not give it that environment anymore...I will try my level best to keep myself away from situations which create stress/depression/ isolation etc. 

Jianchi: Havent heard about it, will ask my doctor. Good to hear that your taxols are going fine. I finish off tomorrow and you finish on Monday..High Five for that!!

Cocker: Thanks for your words of encouragement. I need ice under my feet now and then. Will carry few ice packs for chemo tomorrow too...else this burning sensation wont allow me to sit for 6 hours.

sending warm wishes to everybody here..

PS - I have also wondered why the cancer rate is so low in the prison population.  I rarely hear of anyone having cancer in the system.  They do get daily vitamin D though, and usually do not eat processed food, as everything is made in the kitchens in large batches there. 

Also there was a story of that researcher who was in Alaska and she developed bc - they had to drop down medicine to her until she could be rescued or finish her research and then be rescued.  I know I'm missing some facts on that story and will try to find it.  It was basically she was alone in this arctic region, and got bc. Because of the lack of sunshine I have always wondered if that is what it was from, lack of vitamin D. 

Two things that I did not have much of the two years prior to the dx was the social stuff during the day and lack of direct sunshine.  Yet also, I had just started drinking coffee daily, diet coke and eating lots of turkey meat during those 2 years.  I'm suspicious of it all, and now I've cut out all three items 100%.  I drink only water and organic green tea (from Canada) daily.  Pepsi has changed their caramel coloring in CA due to 4-Mel being possibly carcinogenic.  Other regions, like NY, still have Pepsi with 6x higher the amount of this chemical than is approved under the CA standards for CA

http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/01/pepsi-one-carcin...

For me, I really have also felt it could have also been the chemicals. Chemicals change things in your body, which I didn't really think about too deeply before this dx. I am okay with eating dark chocolate though!  

Coffee is also known to be a possible carcinogenic and in CA at Starbucks and other coffee places in CA there are Prop 65 warnings about the potential carcinogens from coffee.  In my research, the darker the roast the higher the level of possible carcinogens.

Ladies & Al Husband too!

Just got back from giving my 3 month blood donation (small joke) for my check up tests, but when I saw my primary doctor he told me he wanted to chat with me for a minute.  He told me he went to seminar recently & was discussing (other topics than seminar) with a oncology researcher. He indicated it looks as if people going in for chemo will be asked to fast for 24 to 48 hours before to deny the cancer cells their glucose fix that way when chemo hits the cancer cells are more open to they drugs. Eating is 6 to 8 hours after chemo. 

He thought I might like to pass it on.  That's all I know. But makes some sense to me. 

Have a good day All!!

Marsha

There is an Onc who documented his patients - they came from all different background, cities, upbringings, etc.  The ones who were TNBC, almost every single one had a vitamin D deficiency.  I have read numerous sources that correlate low Vit D increases risk for breast cancer. So much so, that many Oncs are now running the test on their patients.

Regarding no eating before chemo --- I wonder if they borrowed that idea from Metformin.  Metformin is in some trials exploring that when added to a chemo regimen produces better results than chemo regimen without Metformin.

Yes, I am on Metformin.  I will send you the links in a PM so that you can share with your Onc!

Okay, I will try to find you all something.  My genetic counselor explained this, and I had already seen a table about this.  Many researchers feel that cancer is actually something that happens after repeated insults (insults in this example meant events).  It showed a square with boxes in it, and each box had a name.  Environmental, stress, BRCA gene, etc.  The more boxes you had filled in the more your risk of bc increased in percentages.  My genetic counselor told me it was great that I was not BRCA positive otherwise it would mean that I had one more box filled in, and when you connect enough of those boxes, if you have enough of them filled in, your risk of cancer is increased. Each box increases that risk.  One box said diet. Then if you click on that box, it takes you to another page that shows you a huge long list of possibilities of things for that box.  It might sound weird the way I explained it, but it was very technical and scientific.  So I think with the list you made, it reminds me .... how many of those things are in separate boxes and how many boxes do we have colored in?  

I don't doubt that the fasting came via metformin trials as he said he might put me on metformim if my tests (blood work results) indicate it is not contraindicated for me & if my system will not have an allergic reaction to it. For me it is always a guessing game on my system & drugs. 

The tests I had done today (a laundry list)

CEA.   CA 15.3.     CA 125.    CA 27.29

CBC,  Comprehensive metabolic

Vit B 12,  Vit D3,   Thyroid and a 

Urinalysis

This is what my MO wants done. Easier to go to my primary & he does them as soon as I walk in office. I am spoiled. I go see BS & MO 1st week of June.  I just feel better if my results come back in same ranges as always have been. 

As to blood in urine. I have a genetic predisposition to that problem. It has been in the females (via Mothers line) for 4 generations that we know of.  We just watch the amount of trace in urine. 

Inspired. I tried to go to the link, says page not exist or under construction. Can you retry posting it?

Take care all

Marsha

Breezy - CONGRATS on being finished! 

Lori, my PS also had very strict guidelines (no caffeine for 6 months) - also my Breast Surgeon said my drains were ready to come out at 1 week, but Plastic Surgeon made me keep them for 2 weeks.  Regarding labs, my PCP wanted me to tell my Onc that my wbc was low.  I looked at the number, and it's been the same number for 2 years.  But I did take the report straight over to my Onc and he looked at it and said "you look great - those are your numbers and you are in excellent health!  It runs a little low on you because you do such intense exercises."  I think I've also read that Taxotere has a side effect in some people of a low wbc.  Then I called the PCP back to update him and he said "Oh I didn't think there was anything wrong, just wanted you to update him."  ((sigh))   LOL

Yes, Peggy I am considering a different surgeon, if this guy cancels again (would be third time) I am done with this guy.   I was suppose to have this done back in October.

   Interesting stuff on this thread....so cool, glad to be back on...

Anyone on this thread that has had the Tram Flap Reconstruction?  I had it done last April and I seem to be going backwards in my recovery.  Having a lot of discomfort in my ribs and torso area.  I have never not been without the discomfort since the surgery but this seems to be a little different and has been acting up the past two weeks.  It is just wearing me down.  Emailed my BO and she told me to talk with my PS.  I am having a lot of anxiety about what it could be. I just had my tattooing done end of January and mentioned to the PS Assistant that I am still uncomfortable but it was before I was having this new type of discomfort .  She told me I should wait until April to call the PS because it wasn't quite a year.  I may be getting my self all worked up over nothing but I am really worried and will call the PS but is the PS going to order scans or anything?  He doesn't seem much into the cancer part of my recovery but doing what he does best.  I have a really good team in Boston at B&W and Dana Farber so I am a bit confused at the lack of concern.  The discomfort was before I was doing shoveling, can't seem to recall moving in a such a way I pulled something but who knows.  Would love to hear from someone that has had the Tram Flap Reconstruction.  I had it the same time I had the BMX.  Thanks!

Inspired I think I just figured it out - white blood count - mine were pretty normal as far as I know - nothing was mentioned to me during chemo this time but I do recall from the last time I had chemo it was mentioned that the blood counts were good

Simple, that is funny!  You did ballroom dancing with drains?  LOL  I bet that felt good to resume a normal activity!

WBC is white blood count.  I've always been at the low end of normal since Taxotere, I clock in right on the edge of normal, which starts at 4.0. My Onc said this is normal for me. Even before the Taxotere, my wbc has never been much higher.  He said that is okay, normal is normal and for me not to try and make normal more normal.  

LPBoston - Since your BS said to see your PS, then I would go ahead and go see your PS. I do think it's a good sign that your BS is not suspicious.  Your doctors probably all share the info about you electronically, and he probably knows that your most recent labs show everything normal, so they probably don't expect anything cancer related.  Your PS will feel things and move things around and he will have a real good idea of what is going on. Definitely go to him first. Also, you could have done something to strain yourself without realizing, such as:  have you flipped your mattress, tried to reach far up high for something, carried a grocery bag at a weird angle or pulled something heavy out of a cart without using your leg muscles first, driven for an extra long period of time, used a new vacuum or changed the vacuum bag (which makes it harder to push at first), etc. Definitely see your PS as soon as you can, but I really feel it is part of the healing process, maybe even some scar tissue building.  Are you supposed to do boob exercises?  I read on the internet sometimes they recommend 15 seconds of moving your boob first north, then south, then east, then west and holding each position for 15 seconds on a daily basis forever.  I did not have flap, but just wanted to chime in on some ideas for you.  If after meeting your PS you don't feel that things were investigated thoroughly or that there is not a good explanation that suits you, than it is okay to request an ultrasound or other screening measure at that time.  Whatever happens, do voice your opinion and keep going forward until you have confidence that the question mark has been answered.  Also could extreme cold weather have altered what you feel? I do think since the feeling has been there all this time (although at a different degree) that it's still related.  Maybe you are starting to get back even more sensation, as more swelling continues to go down, etc. If this was me, I would probably even try one of my standby muscle relaxers or pain pills to see if it just is a bit of inflammation going on.  If you decide to do so, run it by your doctor first.

Hello, I'm new to the group (so happy to have found it) but I first wanted to tell lpboston that I also am still developing weird aches and pains after flap surgery. Scar tissue continues to build up and after effects of radiation have tightened the area. It can be quite uncomfortable at times.

Inspired, I will try the NSEW exercises. Thanks!

New to this thread.  Surgery, dbl mastectomy jan 29th, TE with one fill. I was diagnosed in August 2013 tnbc, dcis, 2b with one node biopsied positive. I am working with a teaching hospital and have the utmost confidence in their treatment plan for me. All the research I've done supports their plan for me. I had 4 dd a/c followed by 4dd Tax, I opted for the bilateral even though the left side was free and clear. My doc tried to do a test (not sure what it is called) during surgery, using a die inserted into the tumor to follow the die through the lymphatic system. Unfortunately the chemo had obliviated the natural flow of this system so my OS took the sentinel node and 6 ancillary nodes as a pre caution. I had tissue expanders inserted during surgery. My biopsy results showed clear margins on the tissue and nodes removed during surgery. The next course of treatment should be 5-6 wks of rads. However, I am a candidate for a clinical trial where some will receive rads and some will not. The theory is no rads are necessary with a mastectomy with clear margins.

I am out here now looking at reoccurence stats and other opinions to decide if I want to be a part of the trial. I could save myself from unnecessary rad risks if the overall survival rate and reoccurence rate are going to be the same without as with rads. I am open to comment on this decision.