Monday club lol

Hi June. I tried to write a post on the alternative therapies forum when I saw you in the B17 lounge. But my computer made it go bye bye and I had to restore. I'm okay. Rads is going terribly and I've cried a lot. Sorry but you asked. I'm on half days at work now and next Wednesday I'm off completely for a couple weeks.

How are you doing? Where are you in your treatments? What alternative therapies are you using and what conventional ones. How do you feel?

Have you heard from Pipers at all? I talk to jodi sometimes on Facebook, are you on fb?

Anyway, hope all is going well and please let me know how you are doing.

Hi June I sent you two big long notes, one here and one on Alternative therapies, but I think the scheduled maintenance made them go away or something. 

Anyway. My rads are going poorly. I'm taking my DH and DD with me Monday. Maybe they can get something other than, o we do this for everybody, cuz I've asked everybody and they don't! Mine get stopped after multiple xrays and adjustments. They finally just give up.

Bah, I'm whining now, need some cheese and crackers with that! Lol.

Sorry about the finances. I'm starting to cash in canada's version of 401k's just to pay the mortgage. So I hear you girlfriend. 

Wish the 4 of us could meet. If someone lived in the middle, maybe they'd host. I'd fly in for that even if it cost me more mortgage money. Ahh, I'm just depressed a bit, font mind me. 

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Hi Jodi, June and Pipers. 

OK, my dietitian said if you've been eating soy for many years, you are probably fine. Like the Chinese, who ate it from birth. However, she also said, if you haven't don't start now. Same with flax. I was actually pretty happy with that because it made sense to me. The Chinese study is quite biased because they have eaten these foods forever. Maybe we should start our babies on some of these foods - I don't know. 

Some of the stuff she said became instant crap to me tho. 7 portions of veggies/fruit, 7 portions of cereal/bread, 3 portions of milk/cheese/yogurt and 2 portions of meat/peanuts/eggs.

I'm not a huge eater, but I am 5'10" and 170. I will no doubt eat 3-4 portions of veggies/fruit, 0-1 portions of cereal /bread, 5 portions of milk/cheese/yogurt and 4-5 portions of meat/peanuts/eggs per day.

I honestly don't know how to switch this up. I believe in milk, yogurt and cheese. I do NOT believe in cereals and grains, although rice and occasionally pasta is okay. And I LOVE meat, eggs and nuts. So her diet is brutal. 

Anybody got a better take on this? 

About 4 ozs

But it depends on age. How old are you?

True but consider a stir-fry. Easy to do 2 portions of rice, 2 portions of veggies and one portion of meat. Add a glass of milk and that's 2 portions of dairy. Having a salad with it (just a small one) another 2 portions of veggies. Dessert? 1 nice sized scoop of ice cream? Another dairy. If you are 55-60 and female, you just maxed out on dairy for the day. 

If you had 2 poached eggs and toast for breakfast with OJ, you just went over on meat products 

Yogurt for a snack? With fruit? Healthy right? You just went over on dairy but so far you're only up to 5 veggies/fruits and 3 cereal/starchy things.

I just can't eat that much. On the other hand have a couple of beers or liquor and the starchy stuff is no problem. Lol.

I can't put my finger on why it seems so wrong to me. But like all wisdom, I will pick and choose. There are gems of wisdom everywhere, so I will take the couple gems from this, and read more.

June, according to the list, for someone your age (and Jodi's) it's:

7-8 veggies and fruits (and potatoes count as veggies not starch) and includes juices - 1 portion is 1/2 cup of everything except dried apricots 1/4 cup and raw greens 1 cup

6-7 grains this is 1/2 cup rice, pasta quinoa, cous cous, 1/2 bagel, 1 Oz cold cereal, 3/4 cup hot cereal, 2 pita triangles or flatbreads

2 milk or alternatives. This is 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup canned milk, 1 cup fortified soy beverage, 3/4 cup yogurt or Kefir, 1 1/2 Oz cheese 

2 meats and alternatives. This is.     2 1/2 Oz of cooked fish, shellfish, poultry or lean meat.1/4 cup cooked legumes (beans), 3/4 cup tofu, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp peanut butter, 1/4 cup nuts or seeds (like flax)

Oils and fats - 2-3 tbsp daily. Unsaturated. Use canola, olive and soybean. Use soft margarine that is low in saturated and transfer fats. Limit butter, hard margarine, lard and shortening.

For Pipers, same stuff just the amounts are different -same as mine. 

OK that took forever. Nite nite.

Hugs'n'kisses 

Deb

June we have a margarine up here that is called Becel. Do you have that in the states? It's the one that is most recommended. Even tho I love butter and it is pretty natural, it's high in fats that just aren't good for anyone. I still eat it, but I trade it off against other good stuff. I guess it's all a balancing act.

I'm going to make an appt with the dietary specialist for people with bc. It'll be interesting to see what she has to say.

Nite nite

No not at all June. I'm still trying to learn, and like I said at the outset, something about this diet doesn't sit exactly right with me. A lot of it is really common sense but some of it seems excessive. I don't believe in eating a lot of grains, for example, so 7 servings a day is brutal. I like meat and eggs so the 2 servings they allow just isn't enough.

Anyway, if we all keep learning and sharing, I think it can only be a good thing.

Pleasant dreams.

Well, June they seem to have straightened out the problems with my rads. The last couple have only been for 10-15 mins. Yay!! AND I am now finished full breast rads!!! I only have 4 boosts to go and I'm completely done. Feels kind of funny. My next appointment isn't until May.  Wow.

Having troubles keeping to the stupid diet. It is way too much food for me. I'm not a big eater, even though I weight between 160-170 depending on the day. I'm 5'9" though so I don't look fat or anything. Just kind of normal sized. Big feet though! Size 10. lol. My DH says I should just wear the box the shoes come in.

Jodi, I'm on Tamoxifen. Started right away in January, as soon as I  got my oncotype. I'm a 28 so they needed to do something right away. Tamoxifen reduced my chances of recurrence to 14%, so I went for it. I am in the middle of menopause tho, so I am only going to be on it for 2 1/2 or 3 years, then they are moving me over to an AI. They figure I'll be completely done menopause by then. I know a lady who was on Tami for 20+ years. She was monitored and it was working for her, so they never did move her over to an AI. She's fine and in her late 70's now.

Pipers, hi there girl. I've seen you on a couple of the alternative sites when I was doing research. June too. I actually wrote you a big long post on one, but the post gremlins made it go away when I hit submit. I didn't have the energy to retype it, so I just went to bed. Are your dental issues all fixed up now? I'm just staying away from nuts in general, but I seem to have developed a craving for gummy bears. Just a few each day and I'm quite satisfied. I have always tried to listen to my body - in reality this is the first time it has failed me. Not saying nothing ever goes wrong, I've had my share of oopsies, but never something that I couldn't control. So I'm eating toward no recurrences or new tumors. Trying to be healthy, listening to what my body says I need. If I find I am eating bananas a lot, I need more potassium, more meat, protein, etc. Beer - must need more B12. lol

Hugs'n'kisses to all of you.

Jodi, I am using something called Glaxal Base. It is the basis for all RX cream medications. It seems to be working well for me. It is non prescription but you'll need to find out what your equivalent in the states is.

BUT, I  think the thing that is working the best is Epsom salts in my jacuzzi. If you don't have a jacuzzi, you can modify your tub for about $50. They sell em at Walmart. I am going thru a bag of salts every three days. Two baths each day with 1 cup of Epson salts in each. It eases the itch and makes my poor breast area feel good and soft and normal.

I have had 16 accelerated breast radiations. More rads less time. And I am burnt, but I'm a redhead so I kind of expected that. I'm ok tho. I don't hurt except in my armpit, so I think whatever I'm doing is working. 

Good luck babygirl! You got this!!!!