How often for checkups? What about diet?
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Topic: How often for checkups? What about diet?
Posted By: Ms.Pat
Subject: How often for checkups? What about diet?
Date Posted: Nov 18 2008 at 2:10pm
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Hello Everyone--
Thanks for all your generous and sensitive replies.... Spoke with my radiation-oncologist today. He's an optimistic guy who thinks my chances of testing positive for BRCA genes are unlikely, although I have an appointment Dec. 9 with my other oncologist to talk about this. He emphasized that I've had "maximal" care and good physicians--which is true, I've been very happy with them. He said, yes, the chance for recurrence is higher with TNBC. Looked it up and found out the chances of surviving five years without a recurrence are 77%--a little better than I first thought--not that I'm not still at the holy crap stage. Most recurrences occur during the first three years. Which makes me wonder if getting checked up every six months is wise--more like every four months would make more sense to me, especially after what I've been reading here. I think I'm going to ask for a mammo/sonogram three times a year now... 
Other than that, gotta live one day at a time and hope for the best. What a cliche, but it's true. Just curious--has anyone become a vegan since their diagnosis? I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for years. But I gotta wonder about the hormones, pesticides and antibiotics fed to most farm animals. I worked for the FDA many years ago and discovered that we've been giving cattle DES since the 1950s. Pat ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Replies:
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 18 2008 at 2:51pm
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Pat, I thought DES was "outlawed" years ago. My mother's generation was given DES in a vitamin pill--to "prevent" miscarriages. My oncologist wants to see me every 3 months. The 77% is what my doctor told me.  |
Posted By: Ms.Pat
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 7:17am
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Hi Krisa--
DES for human use was outlawed many years ago. But we gave it to cattle throughout the 70's. I worked for FDA 78-79 and used to see the files there. I'm going to ask my oncologist about three-month checkups, too. I have a good friend who was a DES baby and her mother died of BC in the 60s--my friend had cervical cancer.
Pat ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 7:34am
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Ms. Pat let us know what you find out. I'm not so sure 3 mammos a year would be good for you but interested in what your Onc has to say.
Usually you get a check-up every 3 or 4 months and then graduate to 6 months and then a year. My first time after my lumpectomy I had mammos ever 6 month. Once for both sides and the other was a single mammo. per year. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 9:45am
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Pat,
The impression I had was that DES was banned for human and for animal consumption in the 70s.
I read "My Year Of Meats" by Ruth Ozaki (sp) and that led me to the DES digest group. I believe my mother was given DES in a vitamin form before she had me. My younger sister and I have more health problems and similar reproductive abnormalities than our older sister. My mother had a miscarriage before she had me. But, I will never know for sure, if she was given DES.
 |
Posted By: chaya
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 11:11am
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My healthcare plan calls for exams every 3 months - alternating with the onc and the radiation onc. I see the latter today for the first time since treatment. From what I can tell, I only get a mammogram on the times when I see him. When I see the onc, she asks for blood tests.
One of the things I'm most curious about is what about distance recurrence. Sure mammos will find more breast cancer, but they won't find mets. I've been a vegetarian for about 15 years but refuse to take the drastic step of becoming a vegan - can't live without cheese. |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 3:33pm
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Chaya,
When you are thru with your treatments than besides your check-ups, mammos and whatever else the doc might do you will need to be vigilant too.
If anything comes up that concerns you and stays around for two weeks then that is the time to call your Oncologist. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: chaya
Date Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 5:23pm
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Pam - oh yes. When I saw the radiation doc today I asked about how you can tell if it's spread. He gave me a form for a tumor marker test.
One thing I've learned here & at bc.org, it that you have to be vigilant - they are not going to do it for you know matter how good you are. I like having the two week roll - thanks, susan |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 20 2008 at 6:35am
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Ok Susan dumb question here, what are you supposed to do with the tumor marker form? Does it give you an idea of the good and bad numbers so that you can look at your results to see how you are doing?
I know my Onc has me do bloodwork one week before exam. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 20 2008 at 11:58am
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Hi, my onc group doesn't do scans and I see both rad and med onc every six months. I asked my med onc how I would know if something was wrong. He said, "You'll feel sick, may be throwing up..." He didn't say the 'two week' waiting period, but I've heard that my whole life and most recently from my regular internal med doc. If something doesn't lessen or go away after two weeks, go get it checked out.
I find (so far, at least) that anything that is making me wonder (weird pain, for instance) that once I start focusing on it, it seems to get worse, but eventually I stop obsessing, and realize it's 3 weeks later and I haven't had it for quite a while. I think we are traumatized going through this and it takes a while to get our normal senses back whenever we get a scare.
My youger sister (51) and I have many more health (gyne) problems then our older sister (62). Makes me wonder about DES with our mom, too...She had uterine cancer when she was in her early 60s. ------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 20 2008 at 12:02pm
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Hi, my onc group doesn't do scans and I see both rad and med onc every six months. The med onc does bloodwork. I asked my med onc how I would know if something was wrong. He said, "You'll feel sick, maybe throwing up, or nauseau..." He didn't mention the 'two week' waiting period, but I've heard that my whole life from my mother, and most recently from my regular internal med doc. If something doesn't lessen or go away after two weeks, go get it checked out.
I also read recently that tnbc is related to a bit higher chance of intestinal cancer. Maybe that's why he mentioned feeling nauseous.
I find (so far, at least) that when anything is making me wonder (weird pain, for instance), that once I start focusing on it, it seems to get worse, but eventually I stop obsessing, and realize it's 3 weeks later and I haven't had it for quite a while. I think we are traumatized going through this and it takes a while to get our normal senses back whenever we get a scare. And I can make myself scared about something daily.
Does it get easier the further from diagnosis we get? I hope so...
------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 20 2008 at 5:57pm
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Hi Pat
Yes, I no longer eat meat, fish, dairy (not even cheese!) It was the first thing that my oncologist asked me to give up...I said, Hey doc, I'm Italian and I love my cheese!
I gave it up...however, once in a while I'll sniff some fine grated cheese! Does that count?!
 Naah, can NEVER go back to the society's way of eating any longer, it just doesn't work. I was born in the 50's so all that DES must be stored in my body from years of eating government approved crappy foods. Eating RAW and my body naturally Purging from it however, is what I am doing now...ya see, every now and again I think I'm smart and return to eating flesh and dairy. THEN Those devil of a pac-men start in my breast all over again.....so back to the RAW eating I go...and Happily this time.
I to am going for a BRCA test for my daughter and my twin grand daughters sake. I pray I am not a carrier! Good luck to you on Dec. 9th.
So, we're in the 77% bracket! That is good news; however, I to am not over the holy crap stage either! I get checked every 3 months with a PET Scan & Sono's -they are great little devices aren't they?
Chin Up, Smiling Side Forward
Huggs of Love,
 Tia
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Posted By: kirby
Date Posted: Nov 20 2008 at 8:39pm
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Yes Jacqui, it does get easier. I have even forgot some of the detail. I like to keep up...so I feel prepared....in case it does come back. I kept most of my wigs for that purpose too ! The fear tends to go away. Life isn't/ doesn't center around cancer. People know me that aren't even aware that that was my past. I still like seeing the onc 2X a year. I dropped the surgeon to 1X a year last year. Life goes on... ------------- kirby dx Feb. 2001. Age 44 Lumpectomy 2cm. no nodes stage 1 grade 3 4 rnds AC, 35 rads |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 6:37am
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Hi, Tia,
Did your onc give you a specific reason for not eating cheese? ------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 6:40am
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Thanks, Kirby! I am surrounded by a family who believes in the power of positive thinking, but once in a while I need a kick in the butt from someone who actually truly knows. ------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: Ms.Pat
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 6:58am
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Hey Tia--
You might want to check out the UN-Cheese Cookbook. I think giving up cheese is probably the hardest thing. I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for many years, but don't drink milk. In fact, last night I had pasta with pesto. Couldn't quite do without the parmesan. Have also wondered if goat cheese is maybe better...
Pat ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 12:22pm
Jacqui,
Yes, it is because it comes from an animal, and animal products (meat & diary) help cancer grow.
Huggs of Love,
Tia
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Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 12:31pm
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Pat, To me cheese is cheese and I love the texture, the aroma and the flavor of cheese. It is so difficult for me to not have cheese...but it comes from a cow or a goat...it is still an animal and difficult to digest for us and easy for the cancer to feed on...and think about when someone gets a cold....if you stay away from dairy there is less mucas, which in turn gives you a rush of sniffles and also makes cancer grow! I will try to get the ingredients from the Raw Chef for what he turns into a cheese flavor...his burgers are awsome...no meat and it comes with gravey! MMMmmmmm. I have not heard of th UN-Cheese Cookbook...since there is no Cooking involved...but it is essentially a cook book since it has to be classified somewhere where us non meat eaters what to find new ways to create veggies! Thanks, I'll look for it! Huggs of Love,
Tia
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Posted By: anna921
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 1:00pm
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I'm kind of a pseudo vegetarian. Didn't ever want to go that route, but radiation took my ability to eat meat totally away from me. Chemo aready pulled my sweet tooth and made me cut out the coffee and milk, but I'll draw the line on cheese. In a way it's good that I can't drink milk because I'm not too keen on the growth hormone additives. I tried the soy milk, but that did not go down too well. What I'm doing, since I don't want the growth hormones, I do buy imported cheese, not from England, but continental Europe. There, adding the growth hormone outlawed and the cheese and butter are more pure and much better. Since I can't eat no more meat, I did some research to find out what I can take for the protein I need; my Oncologist recommends a protein rich diet since it helps keep the immune system strong. It looks like a grain from South America, Quinoa, has all the amino acids and it's cheap too. It is totally tasteless and because of it, can be fixed any which way. Sometimes I have it 'sweet' by adding orange juice, cinnamon and raisins, and sometimes with salt, pepper and different vegetables.
It's quite hard to find foods without preservatives and when it's there, it's terribly expensive. ------------- August 2007, Stage III, 5+ cm, Grade 4F, 4 FAC with booster after 4 days, 12 weekly Taxol, radical mastectomy, 36 radiation treatments. Houston, Texas |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 21 2008 at 1:17pm
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Anna
Quinoa is great! It also comes in flavors. It sounds to me like food is becoming boring. lol I always thought the regular 'pedestrian' food was boring until my eating habits had to change...whoosh like wildfire I dove into raw food like a freight train flying in a tunnel. I'm ok with it since I love olive oil so much and my salts have changed as well I use celtic sea salt only since it has so many minerals in it.
I think I am going to try to get a recipe to post on here for everyone to take a taste! (that is if he'll allow me...everything is so secretive!)
Meanwhile, here is my morning smoothie:
1-coconut (slice top off-I usually do this with a hammer and with a good thickness of a knife on the opposite of the blade) then pour the juice into a blender. Scoop out the meat (mmmm that part is so yummmy) place in blender.
1- whole bag of either baby spinach or a bunch of kale (take your time blending this into the juice of the coconut & the coconut meat.
1 or 2- banana's according to how thick you would like it...for added sweetness you can add either
2 -3majool dates (pitless)
or honey (preferably raw)
Blend it up and drink up!
Huggs of Love,
Tia-
-- |
Posted By: Ms.Pat
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 10:53am
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Hello All--
I am really enjoying this discussion about diet (as I sip on my soy hot cocoa). Anna, I am reminded of my neice who discovered that she wasn't lactose intolerant, after all--after spending time in England and eating cheese there which didn't seem to have the additives of American cheese. Of course, there is the issue of cheese which has rennets (cow stomach to make it harden) and those that don't. I suppose one could invoke the Golden Mean--moderation in all things, as the Ancient Geeks said. At this point, I am happy to not be smoking! Tia, here is a good juicer recipe, especially for morning: one apple 2 stalks celery cup of spinach leaves juice of one lemon and juice of one lime I think this one may be close to the recipe Dr. Oz used on Oprah some months ago, and lo and behold, Oprah actually liked it...I just wish my juicer wasn't such a pain to clean.... As for protein, I am just nuts about almond butter! Pat ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 11:49am
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I LOVE IT!
So glad to see someone has jumped onto the healthy bandwagon! Everyone Loves Dr. Oz...he is in NYC which is 1/2 hour ride from me! I have tried this juice recipe with variations and often do that one when I'm in a rush. Its pretty easy and very tasty! I haven't moderated in anything...I'm in or I'm not! a Personality defect I think they'd call it............ and CONGRATULATIONS on not smoking! Not into soy; however,...I did have almond butter for breakfast this morning along with almond milk! (unsweetened of course) it is so coooold outside I thought I'd treat myself to something yummy along with a coconut date roll! Movies and munching! It is so nice to find a 'sister' in common!
Thanks Pat!
Hugs of Love-
-- Tia
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Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 12:00pm
| Dr. Oz wrote an article in my local paper the other day about the fake claims of coconut oil ie.----doesn't help with the immune system---fat is fat and not good for you----. I sure hope he doesn't write a negative article on hemp milk...I am quite fond of the chocolate hemp milk. |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 2:24pm
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Oil vs Milk...kinda like oil and water! lol |
Posted By: kskitn
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 5:55pm
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I am not a healthy eater so I can't chime in on that but I thought I would tell you my Onc checks my tumor markers every visit and after the chemo I will have scans every 6 months for 3 years and then yearly for 2 years. He said that I will see him and get the tumor markers checked more often than 6 months.
My best friend is completely organic even meat and when she got her turkey for Thanksgiving she received a picture of them still alive. I told her I couldn't eat it after seeing how happy they are alive. But, she also wanted to put chickens in the back yard for the eggs. Her husband said that he had to draw the line somewhere. She is an RD so she has the paperwork to go along with being the food police.LOL
This has been fun,
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Posted By: KatePV
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 9:36pm
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Hi-
I am confused. My onc. said there is no definitive study to say to not eat meat, but rather eat everything in moderation. He said it was more important to have a low fat diet. I was eating healthy and exercising a lot before being Dx with cancer, and still got cancer. I honestly can't think this is casued by eating animal products. Since our cancer is NOT hormone related, then eating meat won't make any difference with estrogen. Who really knows???
Living in CA, we are fortunate that I am able to buy most of my fruits and veggies from our farmers market and try to eat organic fish and poultry. We even have chickens in our backyard. But is it really bad to have red meat once a month or sweets in moderation? I thought chocolate was supposed to bo good for you.
My mother had breast cancer in her 40's and now 19 years later, she is still with us and has had no mets. She eats a normal healthy diet, inlcuding milk, eggs and meat.
Enjoy the cheese, but try some from the farmers markets. ------------- DX 11/29/07 Stage 2, Grade 3 No Nodes involved, DD ACT chemo, Rads, bilateral mastectomy, hysterectomy Lumpectomy Dose-Dense chemo 4 A/C 4 Taxol 30 radiation |
Posted By: kirby
Date Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 11:32pm
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When I was dx I met a woman that had just finished tx for her her2 bc. She had felt guilty about her meat & potatoes diet until she met a hindu woman in her support group that had an almost identical dx but being hindu had never eaten meat. ------------- kirby dx Feb. 2001. Age 44 Lumpectomy 2cm. no nodes stage 1 grade 3 4 rnds AC, 35 rads |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 4:52am
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My onc told me to cut back on RED meat, but he also said humans should be doing that in general anyway. He told me if I want a piece of chocolate cake, have a piece of chocolate cake. I do think that it's important to watch our weight and more importantly lead a healthy lifestyle. I read (in fact I believe I read it in YOU, Dr. Oz) that everyone has the "ability" to have cancer start in their body at any moment on every day. Something is the catalyst to get it started. I believe STRESS, extreme stress, is a key factor for much of it, and genetics plays a key role, as well. I was the "healthiest" I've been in years right before my tnbc was diagnosed (low cholesterol 198 - meat eater, yes - all vitals great, had stress test, and so on, walked couple miles a day, had lost 12 pounds, blah blah blah), then BOOM. CANCER walks in the room. But, I do believe that because I was so healthy - otherwise - that my sentinel nodes (I had FIVE sentinel nodes) were fighting like the dickens to keep it from spreading, and it was due to being healthy - in general. I think we know what our own bodies need (we get thirsty when we need fluids, and so on) and there is not yet anything definitive in terms of diet pointing to the causes of tnbc. I am more inclined to believe that it is the use of computers and microwaving food, and a stressful lifestyle. ------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 5:46am
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I definately believe STRESS did kick off my cancer. I was so unhappy with my relationship that I wished I were dead! Crying all the time. Feeling helpless and hopeless. Now see what I've done to myself! Oh and my dad died from this disease to top it off Ya see all Onc's are not equal. My Onc said eat every shrub you see! He said its ok for fish but no red! I gave up eating flesh for three reasons. I don't like to chew my food (thats a quote from my mother), I never liked meat as a child and had and still have moral issues with the FDA on how they treat animals in their mass farming issues. I love animals and I am very happy we are not mass farmed for anything that could eat us! Sugar NEVER! So chocolate cake is OUT! A minute on the lips is not only forever on the hips but,
 Sugar fuels cancer! That can be read on the ACS website. I read alot of informative issues with general health at Dr Ben Kim's- online, info @ Dr Ben Kim dot com, if you'd like to take a look.I'm so glad you feel healthy  and I hope you feel that way for the next 50 years! Ok 75. (don't know how old you are)
Hugs of Luv, Tia
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Posted By: Ms.Pat
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 6:18am
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I was talking to my rad-oncologist the other day and mentioned diet. He surprised me by saying that in his view, we may discover that diet causes more cancer than smoking. That surprised me. Twenty years ago, when I was without health insurance, I developed a breast lump. I went on a vegan diet for a few months, consumed all the "anti-cancer" herbs I could read about, did self-massage, had many saunas, and the lump went away. Of course, I have no idea what the lump was since I had no diagnosis. That's not a course of treatment I would necessarily recommend, but I've shared it with my doctors this time around who have sort of scratched their heads and gone, "Hmmm." ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Posted By: Nancy
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 10:14am
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Ladies,
Lori has recommended a book just out and I bought it yesterday. Can't put it down.
Anticancer: A New Way of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. This Dr had brain cancer twice. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Integrative Medicine. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA and Paris France.
I think you will all find this book to be very informative, and is about the diet.
Nancy ------------- Nancy DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
Posted By: jacquio
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 12:08pm
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this link explains the role sugar has and does not have with cancer. it also explains why my ob/gyne told me they see more cases of uterine cancer in obese women, due to diabetes. ALSO, the book Nancy recommends has very good reviews on Amazon.com at a decent price, as well! http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/sugar-and-cancer-is-there-a-connection.htm ------------- Jacqui 11/9/07 at age 53, Stage IIb, grade 3, 1/10 nodes DD 4 x A/C and 4 x Taxol, 33 rads with boosts 8/2010 dx early stage endometrial cancer, total hysterectomy 9/3 via da Vinci robotic system. |
Posted By: anna921
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 12:48pm
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Wow, reading all the posts about diet, I'm starting to feel really positive about not ever again having to deal with cancer. I'm not eating sugar, Chemo pulled that tooth long ago. It also made me turn away from ground beef, coffee and milk. Then, along came radiation and the refusal to have meat. No more beef, no more pork, no more chicken. I can eat fish and other seafood. One warning, watch the Potassium intake. I was on diuretics because we wanted to see if they'd help with the fluid in my torso and when I had to go every week for blood tests I decided, rather than take the horse pill, to up my Potassium intake. I found out that tomatos, potatos, fresh pears and figs, have more of it than bananas. I also drank the no sugar added Ocean Spray Cranberry-Pomegrante Juice which has 150 mg per 8 fl oz. Drinking that and eating 4 tomatos and 3 pears, besides everything else, every day, spiked my Potassium level and with it my blood pressure besides giving me a stern warning from my oncologist and the look she gave me with it wasn't very flattering either. ------------- August 2007, Stage III, 5+ cm, Grade 4F, 4 FAC with booster after 4 days, 12 weekly Taxol, radical mastectomy, 36 radiation treatments. Houston, Texas |
Posted By: Nancy
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 1:30pm
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Ladies,
You just have to read this book Lori reconmmended. The Tumeric and the green tea alone are shown to combat cencer cells. Just read....I cannot put it down, and Lori and I have talked 2 times on the phone now and we are just amazed at the information. Food ladies....food!! Not just the chemo...food along with your tx's.
Hugs,
Nancy ------------- Nancy DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 23 2008 at 7:30pm
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Is it true that in order for turmeric to be effective, peppers or spices that are used in curry are a must? i will have to get the book! hope he has lots of good things to say about hemp! |
Posted By: Diane in AZ
Date Posted: Nov 24 2008 at 5:48am
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Hi Nancy,
I bought that book about a month ago and you're right. It's great! I know that some doctors will tell us that diet has little or no role in preventing cancer (or its reoccurence) but even if that is true, this book teaches us how to eat healthy. And I believe every little bit helps . . . diet, exercise, vitamin and mineral supplements, even things like massage and meditation.
I believe that, in a few years' time, that there will be supportable evidence out there that your mind can affect your health for the better (and not just the other way around). Heck, if we can make ourselves sick, we can darn well heal ourselves!
Ladies, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Diane ------------- Diane Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune--without the words, And never stops at all |
Posted By: Nancy
Date Posted: Nov 24 2008 at 12:57pm
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Krisa,
Yes from what he says, and to quote...
"to be assimilated by the body Tumeric must be mixed with black pepper (not simply with peppers). Ideally, it must be dissolved in oil (olive, canola, or linseed oil, preferably). In store- bought curry mixes, tumeric represents only 20 percent of the total. So it's better to obtain tumeric powder directly. Recommendationds for use: Mix 1/4 teaspoon of tumeric powder with 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and a generous pinch of black pepper. Add to vegetables, soups, and salad dressings. A few drops of agave nectar can remove the slightly bitter taste".
I have not read anything about the hemp...as yet.
Nancy ------------- Nancy DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 24 2008 at 2:18pm
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Thanks Nancy! Today I received a free facial at a salon owned by a woman who's mother died of breast cancer last year. Her mother ignored the symptoms and when she went to the doctor, her cancer was too advanced to do anything. Since the facial was free, I will donate money to TNBC in memory of her mom and send this gal a Thank You and let her know about TNBC foundation and the donation...we never know who can/will help the cause. I don't know what type of breast cancer her mom had but this young gal is an advocate for early detection and finding a cure. |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 25 2008 at 5:45am
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Krisa,
That is precious.  ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Nov 25 2008 at 6:54am
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I looked online for this young gal's mother's name.... a women of achievement http://www.ous.edu/news_and_information/news/092907.php - http://www.ous.edu/news_and_information/news/092907.php |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 25 2008 at 2:27pm
Dear Ladies,
I do have a book that backs up everything I have written about...{clearing throat} and the links I am an advocate for, if you got to my links before they were taken off!
Anyway this book is written by a Doctor who had brain cancer! He co-founded the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
 Anti cancer-A New Way Of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD,PhD
I think you'll enjoy this one. Talks about chemo, radiation and the chemistry of your body and why you should eat natural foods!
Hugs of Love,
Tia
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Posted By: Nancy
Date Posted: Nov 25 2008 at 2:36pm
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Tia,
I just posted about this book on the previous page! Great book!! Lori had recommended it and then I went and bought it on Saturday. So much valuable info....so much. Why won't the medical community listen?
Nancy
What do you mean befor they were taken off? ------------- Nancy DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
Posted By: Diamond2Wheels
Date Posted: Nov 28 2008 at 6:43am
| Hindis like sugar! |
Posted By: Cheryl51
Date Posted: Nov 29 2008 at 8:42am
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I think diet is essential. Particularly alcohol...boy do I miss that chardonnay!!!! However, I think that a diet for the soul is essential. I certainly can't say what that might mean to each of us as an individual...that is personal...but I do believe that something beyond eating broccoli and drinking lots of water carries us into a deeper place of recovery. Just a thought...
Cheryl51 ------------- Diagnosed 3/07, Stage IIB, Grade 3, 2/10 nodes positive |
Posted By: Ms.Pat
Date Posted: Dec 01 2008 at 11:52am
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Hey Cheryl--
I think there's something beyond eating broccoli, too. I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for a number of years and every now and then someone would ask me, don't you find it limiting in what you can eat? Don't you get bored? And the truth is, this choice actually expanded what I chose to eat. If anything, there was greater variety. Most meat-eaters plant their meals around whatever meat they're having, but vegetarians can plan around having pasta, beans, rice, etc. Lots of choices, really. However, I am still resisting giving up cheese, especially goat cheese which I love. I do think it's possible to eat well without taking in any animal products, though. Every time I eat at my favorite Thai restaurant, I'm reminded of that. Pat ------------- Age 57, Diagnosed May 2008, Stage II; gr. 3; 4 A/C, 3 Taxol; lumpectomy Sep. 30, 2008; Radiation Oct. 28, 2008. |
Posted By: Arnica
Date Posted: Dec 05 2008 at 5:26am
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My checkup schedule is to see onc and dr at the imaging center every 3 months for the first two years, then every six months after that. The surgeon saw me every 3 months for the first year and will see me every 6 months after that. The doctor at the imaging center sees me herself because of my high Ki-67 score. I'm having ultrasound on each side every three months along with mammo on alternating sides, so have mammo on each side every 6 months. ------------- Dx 4/15/2007, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER-/PR-,HER2- Lumpectomy 5/23/07, Re-excision 5/30/07, Completed 30 Rads 8/22/07 |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Dec 05 2008 at 4:13pm
Wow Arnica it looks like you are being watched very closely, that must make you feel better. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: anna921
Date Posted: Dec 05 2008 at 5:32pm
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I also have a very concerned oncologist. She still schedules to see me every month and sometimes I feel she's more worried about me than I am about myself. I'm starting to get afraid mentioning any pain, as soon as I do, I'm scheduled for some kind of test. So far, all came back negative which is great, but the days leading up to the test are stressful. Lately, I have increased heartburn and I'm debating if I should tell her when I see her in two weeks. Heartburn is not a sign of stomach cancer I should think, otherwise millions of people would have it. Mentioning it might get me send to a scan involving drinking some obnoxious fluid. ------------- August 2007, Stage III, 5+ cm, Grade 4F, 4 FAC with booster after 4 days, 12 weekly Taxol, radical mastectomy, 36 radiation treatments. Houston, Texas |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Dec 06 2008 at 7:36am
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Hi Anna, you might try something off the shelf to see if it helps the heartburn? Hopefully that would work. ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: Barb-42
Date Posted: Dec 14 2008 at 4:12pm
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when I finished Chemo my medical onc. saw me at 2 weeks, then 8 weeks, then at 3 months which is what it will be for a while, my radiation onc. saw me at 2 weeks, then he will see me in 6 months.
My surgeon is seeing me very frequent. She first would see me 1 week then 2 weeks then 3 months only because she did not want me having to run to another apt. but I was to call if I needed anything. Then it has been every 3 months unless I have a scan of some sort then she want's me back right after them. I feel like I am being watched very carefully. ------------- dx-1/2/08 @ 42 yrs.old lumpectomy w/close margins/ 1/14/08- no nodes/stage 1/gr.3 1.5 CM IDC chemo-AC-3 Dose Dense Taxol wkly 12- 2/21/08-7/17/08 Rads-33 w/8 boosts 8/6/08-9/22/08 BRCA 1/2 Neg. |
Posted By: anna921
Date Posted: Dec 14 2008 at 5:20pm
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I've started drinking chamomille tea in the evening, Pam. It does soothe my stomach and also calms my nerves and helps me go to sleep. All this is good because I'm going cold turkey on Neurontin/Gabapentin which I took since January of this year, between 300 and 900 mg. per day, depending how I felt. I just found out that a side effect is weight gain and here I was driving myself bonkers wondering why I couldn't loose an ounce even with watching my caloric intake. ------------- August 2007, Stage III, 5+ cm, Grade 4F, 4 FAC with booster after 4 days, 12 weekly Taxol, radical mastectomy, 36 radiation treatments. Houston, Texas |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 4:15pm
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Anna,
I'm so glad you've found something that relaxes you of an evening and helps you sleep.
I didn't realize the Neurontin caused weight gain. I've been on it for some time and have had a weight problem I could't explain by my diet. Hmm gonna look into this one, thanks for the tip!
Warm hugs, ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: Nancy Bell
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 5:59am
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I had trouble with the Neurontin as well. I only took it for maybe 3 months because it wasn't helping. I had horrible swelling in my calfs & feet which made the Neuropathy worse. That's when I read the side effects.... edema! I told my oncologist I will not take those anymore. So he put me on Folbic (B12, B6 and Folic Acid). It helps to regenerate the nerves without the side effects, not to mention it helps my energy level. ------------- dx 8/17/2007 IDC Grade 3 Stage2 lumpectomy 9/19/2007 1.2cm w/extension into multiple intramammary lymph nodes SNL 0/1 Ki-67 81% Dose Dense AC/T completed 2/21/08 37 rads completed 5/02/08 |
Posted By: asinglerose
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 10:42am
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Is it ok to take any kind of vitamins while chemo?
Wanted to make sure, taking, VITAMIN C, B COMPLEX, VITAMIN D, MULTIVITAMIN, CALCIUM (CALTRATE)
FISH OIL.
Is this too much? My onc said the multiviatmin would be fine, but I over do things and now, I am thinking hmm, well vitamins cannot hurt you.
Thanks
Aleida ------------- Aleida dx 8/22/08, TNBC, IDC, Lumpectomy/10/6/08 right breast/ 8mm/ clear nodes/ clear margins/ Stage1/ TAXOTERE/CYTOXAN every 3 weeks X4/ 45 RADS! PRAYING FOR THE BEST!! |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 11:50am
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too many vitamins can hurt you, whether or not you are on chemo. don't over do the vitamins; it has been shown that certain vitamins can interfere with what the chemo is trying to accomplish...your doctor should be aware of this, and probably is . I recently attended a lecture put on by Dr. Miles Hassell at my hospital. He has written a cookbook and recommends the Mediterranean diet. He talked briefly about studies that have shown negative effects from a high dose of certain vitamins. (vitamin A and E for instance). He believes a balanced diet and vitamin d-3 is all most people need. On a case by case basis, he will recommend a vitamin or mineral to one of his patients. On the power point handout, the studies Dr. Hassell cited are listed in fine print; I can get the magnifying glass out and see if I can read them and post for you to peruse. |
Posted By: asinglerose
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 12:53pm
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Oh no! Then i am messing up my chemo? Well i will stop then and just take the mulitvitamin only, so confusing to me, just trying to make things better for myself, easier, and here i am messing up my chemo, probably
Thank you, please post the vitamins
Aleida ------------- Aleida dx 8/22/08, TNBC, IDC, Lumpectomy/10/6/08 right breast/ 8mm/ clear nodes/ clear margins/ Stage1/ TAXOTERE/CYTOXAN every 3 weeks X4/ 45 RADS! PRAYING FOR THE BEST!! |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 2:12pm
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Aleida, Discuss your vitamin regime with your doctor. I'll get the magnifying glass out and get back to you.  |
Posted By: asinglerose
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 2:51pm
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I do not think anything in the world coud ever get in the way of something as strong and powerful as chemo, but pls get back to me when you can
Thanks so much,
Aleida ------------- Aleida dx 8/22/08, TNBC, IDC, Lumpectomy/10/6/08 right breast/ 8mm/ clear nodes/ clear margins/ Stage1/ TAXOTERE/CYTOXAN every 3 weeks X4/ 45 RADS! PRAYING FOR THE BEST!! |
Posted By: anna921
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 2:57pm
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Alaida, your oncologist will let you know if you are overdoing it and what supplements you should drop while on chemo. When I received radiation, I was told not to use any supplements outside the run-of-the mill multi vitamins which I don't think are doing a good job anyway and never took them. I could have all the vitamins I wanted from food and I did eat a lot of vegetables and fruit throughout my treatments, but I also found out that what I thought might be beneficial to me was actually the contrary when I loaded up on foods rich in potassium while on diuretics. I didn't know how to balance it correctly and ended up with a potassium level of 6.2 which in itself was a danger to my health. ------------- August 2007, Stage III, 5+ cm, Grade 4F, 4 FAC with booster after 4 days, 12 weekly Taxol, radical mastectomy, 36 radiation treatments. Houston, Texas |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 3:13pm
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Aleida, Most of the citations are from JAMA and you have to pay to get the articles. Flaxseeds have been mentioned many times on this forum and the health benefits: from the power point presentation.. "Women who ate 25gm (4 tablespoons) ground flaxseed in a muffin research study (my kind of study) had reduced tumor growth at 39 days. Flaxseed lignans reduce breast cancer cell adhesion, invasion and migration in in vitro and animal studies." cite: Er- cell lines Chen & Thompson Br Ca Res Treatment 2003 ;80:163-170 Didn't mean to freak you out. others may weigh in with what they know about taking vitamins, etc. during and after treatment. we al have our opinons based on what we know. |
Posted By: asinglerose
Date Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 4:07pm
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Very helpful.
Thank you, ladies
Aleida ------------- Aleida dx 8/22/08, TNBC, IDC, Lumpectomy/10/6/08 right breast/ 8mm/ clear nodes/ clear margins/ Stage1/ TAXOTERE/CYTOXAN every 3 weeks X4/ 45 RADS! PRAYING FOR THE BEST!! |
Posted By: krisa
Date Posted: Dec 18 2008 at 7:40am
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an article about the wonders of broccoli...one reason why Dr. Hassell doesn't recommend vitamin pills, companies can manufacture a particular vitamin or mineral, but, scientists do not know everything about the components of a food and how they work together. Broccoli compound targets key enzyme in late-stage cancer By Robert Sanders, Media Relations | 02 December 2008 BERKELEY — An anti-cancer compound found in broccoli and cabbage works by lowering the activity of an enzyme associated with rapidly advancing breast cancer, according to a University of California, Berkeley, study appearing this week in the online early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The compound, indole-3-carbinol, is already undergoing clinical trials in humans because it was found to stop the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells in mice. The new findings are the first to explain how indole-3- carbinol (I3C) stops cell growth, and thus provides the basis for designing improved versions of the chemical that would be more effective as a drug and could work against a broader range of breast as well as prostate tumors. Indole-3-carbinol, or I3C, is a chemical compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables and which is known to stop the growth of breast cancer cells. UC Berkeley researchers' discovery of how I3C works will help them modify the compound to improve its anti-cancer effects. (Firestone & Bjeldanes labs/UC Berkeley) "I think one of the real uses of this compound and its derivatives is combining it with other kinds of therapies, such as tamoxifen for breast cancer and anti-androgens for prostate cancer," said coauthor Gary Firestone, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology. "Humans have co-evolved with cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, so this natural source has a lot fewer side effects." "This is a major breakthrough in trying to understand what the specific targets of these natural products are," said coauthor Leonard Bjeldanes, UC Berkeley professor of toxicology. "The field is awash with different results in various cells, but no real identification of a specific molecular target for these substances. The beauty of identifying the target like this is that it suggests further studies that could augment the activity of this type of molecule and really specify uses for specific cancers." Firestone, Bjeldanes and their colleagues showed that I3C inhibits the enzyme elastase, which at high levels in breast cancer cells heralds a poor prognosis: decreased response to chemotherapy, reduced response to endocrine treatment and reduced survival rates. Elastase is an enzyme that shortens a cellular chemical, cyclin E, that is involved in controlling the cell cycle. The shortened version of cyclin E accelerates the cell cycle, making cancer cells proliferate faster. Firestone showed that I3C prevents the elastase shortening of cyclin E, thereby arresting development of breast cancer cells. 2 For more than 15 years, Firestone, Bjeldanes and their colleagues have studied the anti-cancer benefits of vegetables in the cabbage family that are lumped together in the genus Brassica and, because of their cross-shaped flowers, are often referred to as cruciferous vegetables. Though the anti-cancer benefits have been recognized since the 1970s, the mechanism is only now being discovered, in part through the work of Firestone, Bjeldanes and their UC Berkeley colleagues. "We have connected the dots on one extremely important pathway" by which indole-3- carbinol works, Firestone said. In previous work, they found that indole-3-carbinol interferes with more than cell proliferation. It also disrupts the migration and alters adhesion properties of cancer cells, as well as counteracts the survival ability of cancer cells, all of which are implicated in cancer cell growth. To have such broad downstream effects, I3C must act at the beginning of a major cellular pathway, Firestone said. The newly reported research pins this activity to elastase and its effect on cyclin E. Bjeldanes noted that I3C is available as a supplement and is a preferred preventative treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a condition involving non-malignant tumors of the larynx. Improved versions of the chemical could thus help treat cancers other than those of the breast and prostate. Graduate student Ida Aronchik and recent Ph.D. recipient Hanh H. Nguyen, along with colleagues in the Firestone and Bjeldanes labs, have already chemically modified I3C and boosted its activity in cell culture by at least a factor of 100. The lab teams currently are probing the elastase structure and how I3C interacts with it to identify the best parts of the I3C molecule to modify. I3C is only one of many plant-derived chemicals, called phytochemicals, that Firestone is investigating in his laboratory as potential anti-cancer agents. Among them is the antimalarial drug artemisinin. Last month, the Journal of Biological Chemistry accepted a paper by Firestone and his colleagues showing that artemisinin blocks prostate cancer cell growth by interfering with the same intracellular pathway as does I3C. This pathway involves the transcription factor SP1, which latches onto other genes to boost their activity. "SP1 could be a generalized target of phytochemicals," Firestone said. "Phytochemicals work because they interact with and inhibit enzymes that control a host of cellular processes, including migration and adhesion." The research is supported by the National Cancer Institute. Other coauthors of the paper are Gloria A. Brar, currently a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and former UC Berkeley undergraduate David H. H. Nguyen, now a graduate student at New York University. http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/12/02_indole.shtml |