Starting Chemo in September?? where are you ladies

Pampered Chef stuff is expensive but is really worth it, I got a chopper and a pizza stone 4-5 years ago and love them.

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Pax... look good feel good is so much fun, you should have done a before after picture for us. ( can we come over for dinner I loovveee fish !)

Pax I hear you about your frustration but think of how far you came ..I had 1 taxol yet and do not have any tingling but my hand/feet feel warm all the time.  Please do everything that you can now, you know that the first strike is the best one for C give it all you got.

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MJ THANK GOD ! someone else is having the head sweats. Mine mainly happens at night when I am sleeping. so instead of night hot flashes I get head flashes.  And it does not sweat when I workout, go figure !

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Cheryl, sorry that you feel this way about your onc. That is unfortunate cause those are the ones that we will see for follow ups. Although my oncologist is a dear and has excellent bedside manners, I still do not like him. I guess he represents my illness in my subconscious.

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I had a lot of fun stuff going on this weekend  went on an easy 33 mile ride with the slower bike gals 'The Flamingos' then went to the christmas party for the fast rider gals which I used to ride with (Bobbies.. babes on bikes) gals on Sunday. Friday evening went to a xmas party for my rowing club and it was great to see the scullers since I have not been out on the water for 4 months now almost.

The lake water is so contaminated that I am scared that if I take a spill I will catch some weird bacteria so no rowing until I am out of chemo.

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I am having major mood swings but I now know that no matter how bad they are I will swing out of them, so I just keep low and do not bite anyone during those times. If I really need some tlc and I exhausted the resources at home,I go online to the chatroom  here and get pampered by some bc gals .

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Tomorrow heading off to St. Pete to see another surgeon to get an opinion on whether I should be getting further surgery to remove more lymph nodes ( since 2 out of the 6 lymph nodes in the sentinel node biop had tested positive but were relatively small - .2mm and 2 mm)

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I started reading the book 'Meditation asMedicine' because I intend to work on the mind-body connection to ward off this C to get a foot hold again. Little did I know that this book was about Kundalini Yoga which I am definitely becoming addicted to.. well.. signs are pointing towards this from different sources, so I guess I will pursue this path.

I am so excited and scared at the same time. The aerobics coordinator at the club that I used to teach just called me and asked whether I was ready to reclaim my Tuesday 5:45 am spinning/indoor cycling class.. I said YES !!!  I start again tomorrow morning.

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I do not even know where my music is and I have not taught in almost 4 months now.. hopefully I will not make a fool of myself. Do not know whether I can still lead the class and talk at the same time.. ahh.. will have to improvise ifthe heart rate goes up too high.

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Pax - yip I too get freaked out when I talk to rediagnosed gals but then I think thats the way that people without BC think about interacting with us. So everything is relative.

Good morning everyone,

I made it thru Taxol #5 but was totally wired yesterday after I got home.  That hadn't happened before.  I wonder if they gave me less Benadryl and/or more steroids.  Usually, I nap on the couch until the Ben. wears off, but not yesterday.  I could not sit still or focus on anything for more than 10 minutes at a time, couldn't read a book, quilt, or clean house because I was just all over the place.  I even asked my husband last night at 9 o'clock if he had any wood that needed splitting... and he was in bed!  He must have thought I was nuts and still did this morning because he told me he was going to drive me to work.  I said no, I'm fine, and I'm ok now and focusing ok here at work. After finally giving up and going to bed at 10:30 last nite, woke up at 3 a.m., got on eBay and some quilting sites, so I'm going to crash about 2 o'clock this afternoon, right into my keyboard!

The chemo room was jam-packed full yesterday, including a lady who had gotten herself dehydrated over the weekend.  Her husband literally led her in and sat her down in the chair because she was almost to the point of collapse. That pretty much was an emergency for the nurses to handle, and they almost forgot to give me the herceptin and started my flush too early. That was ok though and I don't dare complain to those precious nurses because I could not do their jobs.  The lady sat in the chair beside me and I heard her start crying and saying 'i'm not going to make it through this' and my heart just sank. (I had a crying spell myself before seeing the nurse practitioner yesterday-- I just had a meltdown b/c I was so sick of going there)  I had to start talking to her and tell her that she would make it fine (she's taking A/C now and will start Taxol soon) and that her cancer would be cured and she'd be fine!  She was in her early 60's, sweet and very easy to talk to, and her hubby was so supportive of her.  About 15 min. after they started her fluids, I told her her color was already improving, and it was.  I told her how I drank about 1-2 liters of water the day before, day of, and day after chemo tx's, and for her to try to do that too, and to keep something in her stomach at all times.  When she left, she came over and thanked me over and over for my help.  That made me feel good that I could help someone else and hope to see how she's doing next week.  I had a better appreciation of yesterday after all that than I did when I first got there.  Like I've been told, there are reasons for everything.

Trigeek, you are just so awesome!!!  And I enjoyed your blogs tremendously.  Gee you are one gorgeous fit lady!   And good idea to stay out of the lake water while on chemo, I think.  I have forgone winter camping for that reason.  I wish you the best on your lymph node consultation-- please let us know what you find out and we'll be thinking of you.  And best of luck with the spinning class-- you'll do great!!!!!

Paxton, glad you enjoyed the make-up session.  Don't let the other ladies' situations get you down.  They might not have had all the meds we've had, or found it at a much later stage, etc.  That is the main reason I don't attend support groups-- I tend to think everyone's bad situations are mine too...  Tri had a good point about the relativity of situations.  I think we just can't worry about the recurrence thing, though I know from talking to others who have come thru tx and been declared cured, they always think about it from time to time, but it gets much easier with time.  

Hope everyone has a great day! 

MJ 

Hi again!

Cheryll, you described my sweaty head thing to a "T"!  My hair is growing back also, even though I have 7 more weekly Taxols left to go.  Even though I have officially been menopausal for over a year, I have never had the sweaty head or hot flashes like I have now... then after I get cooled off I freeze!!!  Do you get that also?

Take care and stay in touch!

MJ 

Hi guys,

MaryJo I am with you and the sweaty head. I have been having hot flashes so badly at night that I am not sleeping well at all. My doctor prescribed a sleep aid for me (which made me feel a bit hung over the next day). When I go to the gym the sweat is pouring off of me...and I usually don't sweat much.

Do you guys know about a program for breast cancer survivors called "Casting for Recovery"? My chemo angel is involved in it. They have fly fishing 2 1/2 day retreats for us survivors and it's free. They have them in different parts of the country.  I think it would be interesting to try fly fishing. If anyone would like to check it out the website is www.castingforrecovery.org. 

Have a great day all,

Marietta 

My head gets incredibly sweaty when I exercise, too.  When I'm on the treadmill at home with the music on, I'm always a bit paranoid someone's going to come in.  Only my friend from high school that I spent Thanksgiving with has seen me bald (well, other than the cancer center people).  The other night I said to my bf that I can't wait until I don't have to have something on my head.  He said, "well take it off now if you want."  I thought that was kind of interesting.  I just don't want him to see me like that.  But once I get alittle hair growing I'll take the bandanas off.  I was a little disappointed when I heard your hair won't grow back during radiation (it won't fall out because of rads but won't grow either is what the lady at the Look Good, Feel Better program said).  Anyone else heard that?? I hope its not true cuz then it'll be march before my hair would even start to grow.  I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world.  I'd still get some hair growing by the time the weather warms up.

I'm homebound again with the taxol joint pain.  I look like I'm 80 years old hobbling around.  But it isn't real bad and shouldn't last more than a few days.  I barely had any last tx and thought because I was no longer on neulasta that it wouldn't happen anymore, but it is this time.  But I feel ok otherwise so just have to wait it out.  I've got the house in order so I don't have much to do. 

We've been eating walleye all week.  Bf is planning on going ice fishing after work with some guys.  We had so much fun when I caught my fish last weekend, that we're hoping to take my dad's fish house for a weekend.  I think that would be so fun.  My brother also uses dad's fish house so I'll have to work it out with him. 

Well, I thought I had nothing to say and ended up rambling on and on. 

I'm hoping this stupid joint/bone pain is done soon.  I had to take vicodin last night and sleep in the guest room.  Its interrupting my exercise routine, too.  I feel so fat and I need to exercise.  Sitting around like an old woman makes me just want to eat and sleep. 

One of my friends called to ask what size I was for a christmas present.  I had to tell her not to bother.  I don't even know what size I am right now and I hope not to stay this big for long so buying clothes is the last damn thing I want to do. 

Bleh! 

Sure hope so...almost seems like I can feel myself getting fatter each moment.  My joints were still too bad to exercise today but I did a little stretching and went outside for awhile with the dog.  Of course I also ate the last oreo ice cream bar.   Sense of humor, don't fail me now!

It'd be nice if at least some of the weight was water.  I'm having that chest pressure feeling and shortness of breath.  Bf just left to go pheasant hunting and I'll be sitting here all day.  At least he gave me 2 hugs and asked if I wanted him to stay home.  We have his work christmas party on Tuesday.  I'm going to focus on that I'll feel better then and have a good time.  

M last chemo this wednesday ??? That is awesome are you doing anything special to celebrate ? I have 2 more to go, if everything goes well mine is on January 10. Are you done with your treatment after chemo or will you get rads or reconstruction ?

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M I have a neighbor who was diagnosed with StageIV lung c and is doing well for 3 years now, you never know.. hang in there.

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Pax did you figure out what the scoop is with the weight gain, I am baffled I am not eating more than I did on AC however am gaining about 2 pounds/week even though I am working out.. ,so far  my theories are:

1 - Finally chemapause is taking a toll of slowing the metabolism.

2 - Taxol makes you gain weight ?

3 - Steroid that are given during chemo make you gain weight ? ( not increase of appetite)

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I do not think I am retaining water as my ankles do not seem puffy.

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I did not get the Neulesta this time however am feeling the body ache again on the 3rd day arghhh.. also have a sore throat(where did that come from ??)

My PS threw another decision my way, to do the exchange before radiation.. so now I have to decide.

1 - Get the lymph nodes removed or just move on with rads.

2 - If rads get the reconstruction done before rads or wait 6 months after rads.

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Can someone remind me why I am paying bick bucks for the doctors since I seem to be making my own decisions along the way ?

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Oh and one of my expanders buckled so I have lopsided rock boobs.. lol..

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But overall life is good and off to baking some xmas cookies ..

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Love !

Aylin - the trigeek on the upswing

Hi all!

Trigeek we are coming down the chemo homestretch! I will start radiation on the 14th as long as my labs look good at my doctors appt on January 10th. I have my radiation mapping appt this Monday which includes a ct scan. You really sound like you are in good spirits despite the lopsided boob and big decisions ahead of you, good luck. What kind of cookies did you make?

Mary Jo I can relate to not wanting to go back to the cancer center...I would love to blow off the last treatment...my husband is sick of hearing me say I don't need to go for the last one...OMG I had the worst UTI this week. I never get them, and I have been drinking cranberry juice all through chemo and we ran out and I stopped drinking it for one week and well...it was really bad. I got on antibiotics right away and it was gone the next morning, but I sure was in pain.

Also, as for the night sweats...I found a homeopathic remedy that does not have any soy or promote estrogen and seems to work. It's called lachesis mutus. It's actually made from a snake. If you got bit by a snake you would have a hot flash. By taking this remedy it blocks hot flashes. I took it before bed the other night and did not wake up. My best night in a long time. I forgot last night...woke with a sweaty head at 2:30am... it's worth a try.

I haven't really come up with a celebration idea yet...but I think we will probably celebrate at our friends New Years party that we go to every year. I like the scarf burning idea...

Only 3 more days till my mom and dad get here, yay!!

Have a great night all.

Marietta 

Nail bed discomfort? I did the ambitious thing and pushed the numbers on the microwave and went oooh oooh. I can still type though so that is the main thing.....

Karyll

PAX.. you are too funny ( getting a visual of rolling from the steakhouse) good for you for getting back to your exercise program. It is really hard to get back to working out when you stop it, and we have to go through this how many times during our treatments ??? arghhh,..( hehe.. I was guarding those pheasants girl !)

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The second taxol hit me bad, I have achy shins giving me restless leg again, so no sleep will try 10mg Ambien tonight with onc suggestion.. to top it I also have flulike symptoms, sore throat, slight fever even popping ears. It is the 5th day. Oh and my toes and fingers are feeling a bit numb I always feel like going into a hot shower. Also got something that probably is like IBS ? A really full feeling down there almost as if I am about to get a heavy period. Can not believe I have 2 more of these.

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I thought that Taxol was going to be a breeze.. not happening, had to cancel the spinning class tomorrow morning, no way I can lead and canceled my workout appointments for the week also I feel totally shot !

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Baked too many cookies(gingerbread,spicemolasses, candy sprinkle, mocha crinkle, peppermint candy cane) and ate even more of them !!!! So I guess bad nutrition is also impacting the speed of recovery from the chemo. I have to get a grip soon as we have to keep the insulin levels low to prevent recurrence and I tend to binge eat !

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Pax taxol made me emotional too, I feel like crying a lot (especially in the evenings) did not have this before.

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Karyll.. how many more tx's do you have ? are you on taxol or taxotere ?

Ok gals, maybe if I tell you then I will do it myself.

I believe it was found that  BC cells are fueled by insulin so keeping the insulin levels low by eating good is not only for our figures or feeling good about yourselves. WE HAVE TO DO IT TO KEEP THIS MONSTER AWAY !!!

It is even in the homepage of this site:

http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/environmental/new_research/20071212.jsp

Keeping insulin in check important in breast cancer

By Megan RauscherNEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with breast cancer and elevated insulin levels face a significantly higher risk of death than their counterparts with lower insulin levels, research suggests.Study investigator Dr. Melinda L. Irwin, from Yale University's School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, urges breast cancer survivors to talk to their doctor about how to lower their insulin levels. "Breast cancer patients should take proven steps to lower their blood insulin levels, including exercise and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat," she said.The findings of the study were reported at the American Association for Cancer Research's Sixth International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention in Philadelphia.Insulin is known to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells in the laboratory, but few studies have examined the link between insulin levels and breast cancer prognosis.To investigate, Irwin and colleagues examined data 689 for women who were enrolled in the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) study at the time they were diagnosed with breast cancer. None of the women had diabetes at the outset. At study enrollment and over several years or until death, researchers analyzed blood levels of C-peptide -- a marker of how much insulin the body is producing.They found that women with the highest C-peptide levels at the time of breast cancer diagnosis had almost twice the risk of death compared to women with lower C-peptide levels.For women with invasive breast cancer -- meaning the cancer has spread throughout the breast tissue or to surrounding tissues -- the risk of death was three times higher in those with high C-peptide levels compared with women with low C-peptide levels.The risk of death associated with higher C-peptide levels was particularly high among women in their 40s. "The higher death rate among younger women suggests that these women may have had more aggressive tumors, possibly related to tumor genetics or family history, Irwin noted in a statement."Our findings clearly show that C-peptide and most likely insulin, in and of itself, is a marker for breast cancer prognosis," she added.Dr. Craig B. Thompson, director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, who moderated a press conference that detailed the study results, said the study illustrates the importance of controlling insulin levels in women with breast cancer.

What breastcancer.org says about this article

The study reviewed here suggests women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have high insulin levels have a greater risk of dying from the cancer than women who don't have high insulin levels. This is probably because insulin acts like a growth hormone, promoting the growth of cells, including cancer cells.

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body get glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream and into cells to give the cells energy to grow and multiply. Getting glucose out of blood also keeps the body healthy. Over time, having too much blood glucose can damage the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. People that have diabetes have glucose levels that are too high. Diabetics either don't make insulin or don't use insulin well.

The amount of insulin each person needs depends on a number of factors. In general though, the more carbohydrates and fat a person eats, the more insulin will be produced. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, cause insulin levels to spike as the body works to get the glucose out of the bloodstream. Insulin levels also depend on how efficiently our bodies process the nutrients in the food we eat. People who exercise regularly usually have less fat and more muscle mass and so process nutrients more efficiently and have lower insulin levels.

It's likely that the association between insulin and breast cancer in this study helps explain, in part, the links between a healthy diet and exercise and a good breast cancer prognosis. If you're being treated or have been treated for breast cancer, try to make exercise and a healthy diet part of your daily routine. Think of eating well and working out as another important part of your treatment plan.

If you're not sure what a healthy diet is, talk to your doctor. You also may want to talk to a dietitian or a nutritionist. You also can talk to your doctor about how much and how often you should exercise. Develop a plan that works for YOU and then do your best to stick with it. To learn more about healthy eating, visit the breastcancer.org Nutrition section.

Trigeek,

Thanks for posting that information!  I read that on the bc.org website last night and got so depressed that I just logged off!  But that is what I need to scare me into eating better.  My question is at what point does the insulin cause the bc to grow?  My fasting blood sugar has always been 72, even right up to my very first visit with the mammogram machine.  And I mean even before I lost the almost 50 lbs last year-- it was always 72 as long as I can remember.  I do know it went up with my first blood work after I started chemo to 120, which shocked me to death, but they said it was the chemo that caused it to rise.  SO, I'm curious to know at what point the danger sets in.  

Tri, if you can find some resources, I'd love to check them out-- thank you!! The nurse practitioner at Hope Cancer Center where I go recommended South Beach, but I found that a bit restrictive for eating during chemo.  I'd love ideas on how to modify SB if that is a good one. 

And, so you think exercise is the real key to all this, even more important than the eating plans? 

Thanks for your help on this-- you're great inspiration for us!!!!!!!!

Have a great Tuesday- hugs to all!

Mary Jo