Calling all triple negative breast cancer patients in the UK

Hello Val,

Thank you for that information about tamoxifen. I am so glad that I have never had to take it.

Fond thoughts.

Sylvia xxxx

Hello Mary,

Thank you for your post from February 5^th.

I have been following all the political news from France and, yes, it is quite true that Marine LePen is now calling for France to separate from the EU and to get out of the Euro. It is indeed Frexit! I think France is going through the same problems as in the UK and in the US. I think we can no longer talk about left and right in politics, but in terms of the ordinary people of the country versus the political elite and the establishment. There is so much anger out there. I think Marine LePen will get through the first round of the Presidential elections but I do not know whether she can end as President in the two round system, I have my doubts. There is a lot of scandal around François Fillon of the centre right. He may have to step down as a candidate. There are two others who are on the left in old terms.

I cannot believe the venom being spouted against Donald Trump in this country. The latest thing is about not letting him come on a State visit or addressing the Parliament. As far as I am concerned, he is full of common sense and is trying to carry out his campaign promises. I cannot see what is wrong with a President who wants to protect the people of his country from terrorists. I do not take any notice of what our media says. They are toxic. Nigel Farage is treated in the same way. We would never have had a referendum without him and now the majority of politicians are trying to go against the will of the people of this country. As far as I am concerned, it is the people who are sovereign and not the MPs. They are just on hire to serve the people. It is so easy to call people bigots, racists and anything else they can think up, just because they want to control immigration, make their own laws and have a nation state.

I think the phone-in show on LBC radio started a couple of weeks ago. I think you can listen to it on the internet, and they have a studio camera. This is the third week and I have listened to most of it. I do not know how he puts up with some of the abuse and ignorance from some callers. Last night the programme was about the role of the Speaker of the House of Commons. He is supposed to be politically neutral but he let forth a tirade of abuse against Donald Trump and said he would not allow him to address Parliament. Nigel Farage nominated him hypocrite of the week and I agree. I think the Speaker should be sacked. On Monday he was talking about health tourism, whereby foreigners turn up in A&E for treatment when they are not eligible and are supposed to pay. Of course, they do not pay!

On a different matter, I think we are doing the right thing not posting too many details of the Chris Woollams emails. I think we need to do it very gradually so that those going through treatment are not overwhelmed by it all. Gently does it and one day at a time.

That is all for now.

Love.

Sylvia xxxx

Hello Gina,

I was sorry to read about your friend and I do hope she makes a good recovery.

I think you may be doing too much research about tamoxifen. All this information will be about women with hormonal breast cancer, and not triple negative breast cancer. You cannot go by what is happening to other women.

If you have doubts about what your oncologist is recommending, then get a second opinion.

You will not find the answer on these threads, as we are not doctors.

Look forward to finishing your chemotherapy in a few weeks time and getting back to a normal life.

Thinking of you.

Fond thoughts.

Sylvia xxxx

Hello everyone,

I think I have now caught up with the posts and have not forgotten anyone.

Hello to Rhonda, I hope all is going well as you come to the end of your chemotherapy.

Hello Kath, I hope all is going well as you continue with your radiotherapy.

Hello Chris, I hope there are no problems with your radiotherapy sessions.

Hello Pam, how are things going post-surgery for your bilateral mastectomy? Have you had any problems with lymphoedema? I remember how important it is to start physiotherapy exercises the next day after surgery and to continue them as long as needed. I had very minor problems and did not need to go to the clinic regularly. There are measurements that are taken to diagnose serious lymphoedema and I have seen women wearing special sleeves and bandages.

This is all to do with damaged lymph flow as a result of removal of lymph nodes.

Hello to Lamis, I hope your mother is coping with the Taxotere.

Hello to Maggie, what is the latest news for you?

Hello 4everStrong, how are you and are you following the French elections?

Hello adagio, I hope you are enjoying your holiday in Mexico.

Hello Hanieh, I hope all is well and hope to hear from you.

Hello Amanda, I hope you are feeling better and will keep in touch.

Mid-week has brought us some sunshine in Exmouth.

Apparently one day last week was world cancer day (Saturday February 4^th) but nothing much seemed to be made of it here.

Best wishes to all.

Sylvia xxxx

Hello Rhonda,

I was sorry to read that you have a swollen lymph node under the arm, and that your oncologist is talking about going right to surgery.

I can understand this is a worrying time for you. It may well be that the swollen lymph node is just an infection. Let us hope so.

It is probably a good idea to have a PET scan just to see what is going on.

For the moment, try to look on the positive side and get your chemotherapy finished.

Can you remind me whether you are having radiotherapy?

Thinking of you and sending best wishes.

Sylvia xxxx

Hello everyone but especially Gina, who is trying to make up her mind about taking aromatase inhibitors when she is triple negative, but has 5% ER+.

You might want to read the cover story on the magazine What Doctors Don't Tell You (Helping you make better health choices).

On the front cover the heading is Preventing Breast Cancer.

Inside the magazine there is a six page feature article entitled Preventing breast cancer, and underneath this heading there is written "An industry-funded movement is afoot to put healthy women on bone-thinning and heart-risky drugs to prevent cancer. Celeste McGovern investigates the conventional advice and better alternatives". On th same page it is stated "You do not have to take a pill to prevent breast cancer. You can protect yourself by cleaning up your lifestyle and including a number of natural cancer killers in your daily diet".

The article then begins by saying "Most people have never heard of aromatase inhibitors, even though they have been used for years to prevent breast-cancer tumour regrowth amongst women who have already been diagnosed and treated for the disease".

There follows a very detailed article about aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole.

It looks as though doctors are now being encouraged to prescribe the drug off-label for purposes that the FDA has not yet approved to treat women with no personal history of cancer but with factors that put them at a higher risk of disease.

I cannot put all the details here but urge you all to read it and comment. All the heavy side effects are listed and there is also a detailed section about healthy ways to prevent cancer, including eating Asian style, Maitake mushrooms, Green Tea, Turmeric, Seaweed.

It is interesting to read "The reality is that most women – 88% - will never face breast cancer in their lifetime".

My own personal opinion is that it is wrong for the whole emphasis of prevention is based on taking pills that have very nasty side effects.

There is another section in this long article entitled "What to do instead" with the following headings: Rethink mammography, eat your greens, look to lignans, with the following quote: "Post-menopausal women eating 25 grms a day of flaxseed or 50 mgrms a day of lignans have the lowest risk of breast cancer".

For those of you who do not know about these nutrients, it says the following "Flaxseed (linseed) is high in beneficial anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and fibre, and also contain 100 times more lignans than any other edible food. Lignans are also found in other seeds, vegetables, beans, legumes and dried fruit like apricots and prunes, and give plants their structure".

This part of the article goes on to talk about the extraordinary anti-cancer properties. "When oestrogen levels are too high, they block oestrogen receptors (like tamoxifen does) and oestrogen production by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. Lignans also provide significant protection against the development of degenerative diseases like cancer.

There is much more information in this article than I can put in my post.

Please try to read these pages in the magazine if you can. It is the February edition. You can click on www.wddty.com or email info@wddty.co.uk.

I hope, Gina, that you will read this article.

Best wishes to everyone and have a good weekend.

Sylvia xxxx