I am having some issues with my thermal regulation. The drastic shifts in weather this week have been mirrored by my internal thermostat. Thursday morning while at work I found it intolerable to have my lab coat on, spent time using my consult sheet fanning myself and turned a nice shade of purple. The social worker asked if there was anything I could do to stop it/make it less. When I told her take my shoes off, I got a sympathetic "oh". This long burn lasted a good 45 minutes before I froze for part of the day.
Friday, it was gorgeous out and I enjoyed being sans coat. Mom and I, while at the grocery store had a flashback to a year ago. A bald woman with glasses (right on sister friend you rock that bald head!)was grocery shopping with her mom. This was such a frequent task her and I did together it was surreal to see. Even better was when the cancer fighter's mom asked if she wanted her to pay for some of the groceries. Is it 2012 again? Am I watching film from the Somerville Stop and Shop? My full head of hair says nope.
Saturday I did not have anymore flashes, what I had was major foot fire. I believe if I were a super hero my super power would be shooting flames out of the bottom of my feet. (We all know my kryptonite is not being awkward). My feet were so hot all day it wasn't until a solid 6 hours were spent sock free that they and the rest of me cooled off.
Just now a I was able to thwart a flash by getting rid of the blanket I was napping under. Sleep + heavy blanket= tinfoil wrapped baked potato, and your the potato when you are internal thermostat has gone berserk.
We'll see if I can wear anything but short sleeves this week. Maybe I can put my socks in the freezer...
This week I have definitely had my crazy pants on. Pretty much cemented on. No idea why. My main ravenous research focus has been milk and specifically recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). And guess what? I got many of the facts wrong while not fully reading things, but hear is what I learned now that I have simmered down a bit and actually read through some things.
First, rBGH is only approved for use in the US. The European Union, Canada and other countries don't allow it. rBGH is a synthetic hormone given to cows to increase milk production. rBGH increases the cow's milk production by increasing the hormone Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1). The main concern is not rBGH, because as humans we wouldn't use this hormone (we don't have the receptors), but rather the end hormone result IGF-1. IGF-1 is a hormone that helps cells grow, and in some cases helps tumor cells develop. Now here is where the science gets murky. Early studies found a link between prostate, BREAST, colorectal and other cancers, but the strong link has not been repeatable. Some studies have found the correlation to a lesser extent.
IGF-1 concentrations are higher in milk from cows treated with rBGH. IGF-1 is not destroyed by pasteurization. However all people who drank milk, treated with rBGH or not, or those who drank soy milk not cows milk also had higher circulating levels of IGF-1. So it is unclear if there is enough of a direct relationship.However, rBGH milk adds an additional 0.9% (Cancer.org) IGF-1 according to studies.
So while the American Cancer Society doesn't take a formal position on rBGH, I am going to go with Ben and Jerry on this one. As a scientist it pains me to go with murky evidence, but as a cancer survivor I am going with no rBGH containing dairy. Potential carcinogen is good enough for elimination for me. This means I check the label to make sure it says that it is hormone free on my dairy products or pony up the big bucks and by the organic. Oh my goodness, can we talk about how delicious organic milk is? And how long it lasts. It might be in my head, and I am ok with that.
Because I really didn't want to be this guy:
Sources:
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/recombinant-bovine-growth-hormone. Accessed 11/12/13.
Epstien, SS. Unlabeled milk form cows treated with biosynthetic growth hormones:a case of regulatory abdication. Int J Health Serv. 1996, 26(1):173-185.
This time last year I was bald. I am reminded everytime I put on my favorite hat. Do you know that I still check for hair inside my hat? I know it's not falling out, but I still check because the soft inside used to be filled with hundreds of bits of peach fuzz. Little black specs in the white fleece inside.
In order to celebrate having hair and halloween I did this:
Wearing my shirt that my friend gave me for chemo. I wore the shirt with my pajamas on the day after nuelasta shots. Now it is part of my halloween costumes/everyday wear. Love it.
Everyone has decided that because I used to be the bald girl I should just start doing crazy things with my hair. Faux hawk one day, head full of spikes the next, spray color. It's hilarious. And fun.{and don't worry Mom, I probably won't} Because I never appreciated a head of hair before, but I appreciate my full scalp coverage now.
I think I may have already posted this. But it's just that good. And I sing it in the morning while I do my hair.
I haven't posted in awhile. In fairness I haven't had many thoughts besides this:
Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Halloween Sleep PARADE!
Basking in the World Series win, 'cuz every little thing is gonna be alright.
The color pink to me is a representative of everything that I and other Breast Cancer Survivors/fighters have gone through. I wear the color proudly. However, it does frost my cookies a little bit when companies slap the pink ribbon on everything, especially products that may be toxic/have a link to breast cancer.
Apparently I am not the only one. There is an entire campaign against those companies called Pinkwashers. Those that say the products go to support breast cancer charities without naming the charities or saying how much money goes towards it. There is a whole "Think Before You Pink" campaign led by Breast Cancer Action. Not that I necessarily agree with everything they say, but it was definitely some great food for thought.
They give 4 key things to think about before you pink: 1. Does any money from this purchase go to support breast cancer programs? How much? I think it's always important to know the organization that is being supported. If too small an amount is going to the charity and you don't need the product a direct donation might be a better bet. I like when companies are transparent. For example, that is why I loved "Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer" 93% of the money raised goes to charity, mainly Dana Farber.
2. What organization will get the money? What will they do with the
funds, and how do these programs turn the tide of the breast cancer
epidemic? I think this question is great because it goes a step beyond identifying that the product is linked to a charity, but also what they do with there money. How exactly are they raising breast cancer awareness?
3. Is there a “cap” on the amount the company will donate? Has this maximum donation already been met? Can you tell? This to me is digging further into whether a company is using the pink ribbon for advertising. For example when a product says it will donate up to $100,000. Well how do you know? Can you look up where in the donation process they are? 4. Does this purchase put you or someone you love at risk for
exposure to toxins linked to breast cancer? What is the company doing to
ensure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer
epidemic? As well documented on this site, I have really started to dig through chemicals we use every day and how they may be toxic to your health. Secret Deodorant with a giant pink ribbon on it, is what really sticks in my craw right now. Especially because while thousands of woman have to undergo breast radiation they cannot wear that type of deodorant because of the aluminum. Not to mention the aluminum can end up in the breast tissue/cells and mess stuff up in there. Interesting points. I will think before I pink. And I will continue to proudly where the color and my ribbon.
Today was the skin test round for the Vaccine Trial. After 6 months of shots they do a skin reaction test to make sure I haven't developed an allergy to the preservative used. I can confidently say, I did not. I have zero reaction. The shots felt like bee stings like the last time and bled a little. Fun.I had a new study nurse and she was overly apologetic about causing me pain. I told her, I signed up for this. In the name of SCIENCE! I also had to give extra blood this time, only to find out later that because of the government shutdown the study people sent the wrong tubes and I have to give them more blood tomorrow with the right tubes. If only the blood tube shipper hadn't been furloughed! (Ok so I don't know if any of that is true).
At the end of my appointment when I got my appointment summary and I was given my appointment list. For the first time in 14 months (14!!) I do not have an appointment next month. At no point to I need to go to the doctors for a visit, check up, blood, nothing! Moving on up.
To celebrate I decided to go for a little run. I put my Red Sox running shorts on and did my usual 3.5 mile loop. Well about a quarter of a mile from home I noticed that their was a car banging an illegal U turn in the next crosswalk that I was approaching. What I didn't notice was that the cement lifted up about a quarter of an inch. What I then noticed was the fast approaching cement. Luckily, many years of klutziness have prepared me. Hands out, tuck and roll to the left (away form oncoming traffic). Bounced right back up, waved to the lady in the car who had rolled the window down to see if I was ok {she was a little stunned-mouth gaping open} and ran home. Minimal road rash. Tiny road burn on my knee. Was still able to do my planks. All I kept thinking was, good work. The irony of the situation was not lost on me. Celebrating not needing a doctors appointment by almost hurting myself. Oops.
And of course I sang this to myself on the way home....
Last week I had my sixth month follow up with my radiation oncologist. She was happy with what she saw/felt and let me know that from now on I would see her every April and the surgeon every October. That seemed like a fair deal so I took it. Those will be their annual visits. Getting down to annual visits. Really getting there.
Today I am 32 years old. Happy Birthday to me. People have asked me if I feel weird about turning older. I give them the same answer I started with last year "Happy to have another birthday.". I am pretty sure that side affect of being a cancer survivor will never wear off for birthdays. It's also one of the reasons I love the American Cancer Society's campaign for more birthdays. Seeing as I feel like I have been celebrating since February 27th I kept the birthday celebration low key-a brunch with friends and then watching football with my parents. For the record, Tom Brady had his 32nd comeback win yesterday. I believe in honor of my 32nd birthday. Just saying.
Today I celebrated by going to work, having a flu shot and eating brownies at lunch with my colleagues. Then on Wednesday the celebrating will continue with a follow up with my oncologist for skin testing for the vaccine study. Yup party party party.
However, there was a decision made by me to help make more birthdays, but may make me a little more smelly. I switched back to natural deodorant. After reading a couple of studies about aluminum from deodorant being found in breast tissue/breast cancer tumors {especially those close to the chest wall} I decided to switch back to what I was using during radiation. I will have to read the studies again (not good to read anything when your in crazypants mode prior to your mammogram), but I don't think I'll be going back to aluminum for deodorant. Oh boobtober your getting in my head.
