Still wonder..but what if

Thanks Donna.  I've been taking D3 4,000 ius per day.  Doctor prescribed me 1,000 ius per day, which I took for months until I was dx.  I increased to 2,000 ius at that point since I thought it was not enough.  Since being on this site I increased to 4,000.  I'll increase it again until I get it tested just to be safe. 

Cigi,

I agree with Pam.  The Vitamin D test is just a simple blood draw.  When my onc does it they just draw another vial when they're testing my blood.  Keep pestering them until you get what you need!

Thanks for commenting on my new pic.  Yes I was so happy - we were on a family vacation that I couldn't have imagined a year ago.  Last summer I was recovering from surgery, hairless and going through tx thinking my life could be over.  I've been changing my pics, first with the wig, then when the hair started growing back I kept updating it. 

Hugs,

Donna

MsBliss,

You are so right.  Constantine Edge-CAM says it should be 66 or higher for anti-tumor effect. 

MsBliss, thank you for your kind words and honesty. "what if" will eventually apply to everyone of you. In our situation, decisions were made based usually on the docs recommendation, in addition when things got worse we went to Mayo (apparently the leaders in breast cancer, but aren't they all..) for another recommendation, they were consistent. We did 'fire' the first onc but were surprised to find the 2nd onc at Baptist in Jax wanted to take the same approach.  I was the complete opposite of your opinion in participation. I attended every appt, every chemo, every surgery, every plural, etc..I researched the PARP before most docs even knew of it. Practically read every thread on this forum, read the very morbid statistics of TNBC, I was not frightened and if anyone spoke discouraging about Heather, I would rip them, including the docs, nurses, including family and friends.

One can break down issues to molecular, DNA, minerals, etc until red in the face but what I saw was a medical community who was clueless in what they were dealing with. Treating symptoms and calling success on anything that changed for the better. A great example is tumor size, when its a .5mm smaller we should double the dose.  But doc, my arms and neck hurt, doc says you shouldn't have pain, the other patients dont. here take some 7.5 hydocodone apap, whatever its called.  But she really needed morphine or something.  I demanded the doc give her stronger, he was worried about the DEA or something, that is BS.  He finally obliged.  Not until the next MRI, Pet, x-ray, ultrasound and plasma-beam(sarcasm) were used that lo-and-behold we have mets in your arms and neck..Doc says, holy smokes this isn't supose to happen at the same time we are shrinking the other one by .5mm.  Its all sort of pull the trigger and see what happens thing.  This is were I asked the most important question all of you need to 'How many triple negative patients have your treated and what was your outcome'.  I will leave it at that.

Another place that pissed me off was these Cancer Centers of America.  My conversation with them lasted 5 minutes.  There first words were not I am sorry about your wife, what type of cancer, etc but what is your insurance number. 

MsBliss I dont believe vitamin D would have helped my wife. Her cancer all the sudden spread everywhere only after being poked, biopsied basically messed with but we asked them to.


Edited by cdenunzio - Aug 30 2010 at 3:25pm

Ladies - please, please and pretty please - do not let me steal any hope from you.  Like I said earlier I am going thru my emotional thingy dealing with my loss.  I read my post and sound negative, maybe its best for me to not think about this topic right now.  It is not my intention to make you lie in your bed at night and deal with the 'hard truth'.  This is wrong for me and yes you asked I vent and say whatever but in hind sight I would never have spoke to Heather this 'hard truth' and would be positive and reassuring.  Sometimes its best not to know.  I surely don't know what will happen with you.  My wife died because ....I can put a million periods in that sentence to represent a pause of the unknown.  I want to believe she is in a better place without pain and worry but who would steal a mommy from little children.  It's sucks.  I am sorry for not being sorry.  You are beauty and wish all of you comfort and peace.

Chris



Edited by cdenunzio - Aug 31 2010 at 2:32pm

Chris,

So, I am reading that Vitamin D2 does no good and D3 is needed?  My Vit D level was at 22 before chemo started.  It was tested by my gyn at my request.  She recommended 1000mg D2 daily, which I have done since.  So, has no good since I haven't been taking D3?

You are right.  I just checked and I've been taking D3 all along.  Duh!

To Cdenunzio: I am so sorry for the loss of your wife, Heather. I am new to this site today. I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer Jan. 8, 2008. I had a lumptectomy on Jan. 16 and my tumor was almost 3 cm. Like your wife, I was told that my body was clear after surgery and I went on to have radiation and chemo. But, I survived. However, the effects of chemo have greatly reduce the quality of my life since I was given cytotoxin, taxotere and adriamiacin. I have regreted taking the chemo but the cancer has not returned. Hearing about Heather helps me to understand that we simply do not know much about triple negative cancer and, in fact, there is no way to predict its return whether we take action or not. I do not want to by cynical but it does seem to be in the hands of God. I pray that you find peace. It is a difficult thing to do. I lost my firstborn child, a little girl when she was only 2. I know loss. May God show you the way to peace and may you understand the love of God in your lifetime and find a way to move forward knowing that closure is merely a genteel phrase and not a reality. Time eases the pain but your heart records the loss of a beloved souldmate forever and ever. God Bless.

Chris: