I have blogged a couple of times about the great LA Times article on how to be a comfort to people and not say the wrong things in hard situations. For a refresher, here is the great Op-Ed piece by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman.
Over the past couple of weeks I have found and witnessed that it is often against people's first reactions to practice comfort in, dump out. People sometimes value their own pain over those who are in those inner most rings and it's really hard not to put yourself into the center. It really is ok to not say anything at all, especially if you don't know what to say. Never is this more on display than at a wake or a funeral.
My boyfriend's mother passed away from pancreatic cancer a little over 2 weeks ago. It's a really sad way to meet someone's entire extended family. For those who were just outside the inner circle (the inner circle being: my boyfriend, his dad and his brother) for the most part people were practicing comfort in. My main job was to give my bf a dump out ring and offer comfort in. It involved me biting my tongue when one relative decided to tell us about his theory that a cure for cancer exists and that it's a global conspiracy between big pharma to not release it. Being the "dump out ring" meant it was also my fault that pants don't fit, sweaters shrank and shoes just look stupid. Practicing comfort in can also sometimes mean that you buy a brand new winter coat because your person in the inner circle has become so fixated on it that it becomes a point of anger. A quick trip to Macy's and you get a smile on a face for the first time in weeks. Not all things are that easy. Sometimes you cry together in the grocery store, or you have to just listen and not try to fix during a 3 hr rant about how much the universe sucks right now.
After the funeral my boyfriend's father told me that he couldn't imagine what I went through with breast cancer. I told him that compared to everything he and his wife had been through that it wasn't even on the same level. He said his two sister (both concurrently in treatment for cancer) said the same thing. People often preach that cancer is cancer. There are some universal experiences, but there truly are different levels. I was never faced with writing my own obituary or picking out the outfit I wanted to be buried in. I didn't have to go down those roads. I hope to not have to for another 60 or so years.
I will forever be grateful for being given the chance to get to know my boyfriend's mother before she passed. It will always make me sad how short our time was, but for right now that's something I'll only share with the next circle up.
Rest in peace Joanne.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
A little follow up and a little research
Yesterday, I had my Larry Bird (33 month) follow up for the PRESENT study. It's just blood work, urine and physical exam. You know, the usual. But, what is super exciting is that I am at the 33 month mark for the clinical trial. The 3 year clinical trial. I was given the date of my scans (CT, Bone, Heart, Mammogram) and the date of the last round of injections. Next month I will celebrate my 3 years being NED. Wow.
My follow up was uneventful. I am still Iron deficient. No one is worried. I've been eating less meat and I've been running. Not uncommon. I'm still not deficient enough that I have to take iron supplements or have further tests. So a hamburger and some Grape Nuts (highly fortified cereal) will be in my future.
While riding the bus home from work, smiling about good blood work I came across an article stating that sucrose (sugar) consumption had been linked to breast cancer. My dream bubble filled with cookies shattered into a million chocolate chips. I then hunted down the research study.
The article I read was siting the research study by Jiang et al, A Sucrose-Enriched Diet Promotes Tumorigenesis in Mammary Gland in Part through the 12-Lipoxygenase Pathway, published in the January 2016 edition of Cancer Research. Basically, the group at The University of Texas/MD Anderson took mice who had been injected with triple negative breast cancer cells or breast cancer lung mets and then randomized the mice varying levels of sucrose enriched diets. The control group received 0 g/kg of sucrose, then 62.5 g/kg of sucrose, 125 g/kg, 250 g/kg and 500 g/kg. The study found that those on the higher sucrose diets (125, 250, 500) had an early onset of tumors although no information about the statistical significance is stated. The statistically significant results that the study did find were that the mice on the high sucrose diets had larger tumors than the control (no sucrose) and had a significantly greater number of lung met tumors. Therefore this study did show that the inflammatory pathway (12-Lipoxygenase as referenced in the study title) which is stimulated by the ingestion of sucrose may play a role in the growth and spread of breast cancer tumors. However, the authors admit that the knowledge on the pathway that was being studied was incomplete. It also was testing triple negative breast cancer (that without hormonal markers). And it was also mice. And the results of the mice fed 62.5 g/kg were not mentioned.
Very interestingly, the mice on the higher sucrose containing diets did not gain statistically more weight than the control mice. Therefore, overweight-a known risk factor for breast cancer, cannot be the cause.
What does it mean? Well, it is difficult to ascertain what the results in a human will be from animal studies. Also, the mice were already given breast cancer so it does not address sugar consumption and the cause of breast cancer. It does however give me pause coming off the holiday season were I definitely over indulged in the sweets. It also makes me pull up my dietitian boot straps and start working towards getting back to the American Heart Associations goal of 24 g of added sugar. Which, I have tried to do every year as noted by my post from 2014. But, when I look at today I only had 12 g of added sugar. So, it can be done.
My follow up was uneventful. I am still Iron deficient. No one is worried. I've been eating less meat and I've been running. Not uncommon. I'm still not deficient enough that I have to take iron supplements or have further tests. So a hamburger and some Grape Nuts (highly fortified cereal) will be in my future.
While riding the bus home from work, smiling about good blood work I came across an article stating that sucrose (sugar) consumption had been linked to breast cancer. My dream bubble filled with cookies shattered into a million chocolate chips. I then hunted down the research study.
The article I read was siting the research study by Jiang et al, A Sucrose-Enriched Diet Promotes Tumorigenesis in Mammary Gland in Part through the 12-Lipoxygenase Pathway, published in the January 2016 edition of Cancer Research. Basically, the group at The University of Texas/MD Anderson took mice who had been injected with triple negative breast cancer cells or breast cancer lung mets and then randomized the mice varying levels of sucrose enriched diets. The control group received 0 g/kg of sucrose, then 62.5 g/kg of sucrose, 125 g/kg, 250 g/kg and 500 g/kg. The study found that those on the higher sucrose diets (125, 250, 500) had an early onset of tumors although no information about the statistical significance is stated. The statistically significant results that the study did find were that the mice on the high sucrose diets had larger tumors than the control (no sucrose) and had a significantly greater number of lung met tumors. Therefore this study did show that the inflammatory pathway (12-Lipoxygenase as referenced in the study title) which is stimulated by the ingestion of sucrose may play a role in the growth and spread of breast cancer tumors. However, the authors admit that the knowledge on the pathway that was being studied was incomplete. It also was testing triple negative breast cancer (that without hormonal markers). And it was also mice. And the results of the mice fed 62.5 g/kg were not mentioned.
Very interestingly, the mice on the higher sucrose containing diets did not gain statistically more weight than the control mice. Therefore, overweight-a known risk factor for breast cancer, cannot be the cause.
What does it mean? Well, it is difficult to ascertain what the results in a human will be from animal studies. Also, the mice were already given breast cancer so it does not address sugar consumption and the cause of breast cancer. It does however give me pause coming off the holiday season were I definitely over indulged in the sweets. It also makes me pull up my dietitian boot straps and start working towards getting back to the American Heart Associations goal of 24 g of added sugar. Which, I have tried to do every year as noted by my post from 2014. But, when I look at today I only had 12 g of added sugar. So, it can be done.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Happy Holidays
This holiday season has been crazy. I had something scheduled nearly every day since celebrating Thanksgiving. I am way behind in my reading for the most up to date science in the world of breast cancer. I'll make it my New Year's resolution to keep on top of it better. However, I will also resolve to continue to be present when I am with people and not choose looking at my phone, sending emails or blogging over spending time with other human beings. I will continue to be present and an active participant in life. I will continue to express my gratitude and continue to journal my gratitude periodically to keep me a happy human being.
I resolve that 2016 will be a happy, healthy year full of adventure and updating the world on the latest breast cancer research.
Until then, I have a whole bunch of Christmas cookies to eat.
Below is the Hail and Farewell from CBS Sunday morning. I was reminded while watching it this morning that we lost too great cancer advocates this past year, Stuart Scott and Lauren Hill. It does give you pause and motivation to keep making New Year's resolutions and living your life.
I resolve that 2016 will be a happy, healthy year full of adventure and updating the world on the latest breast cancer research.
Until then, I have a whole bunch of Christmas cookies to eat.
Below is the Hail and Farewell from CBS Sunday morning. I was reminded while watching it this morning that we lost too great cancer advocates this past year, Stuart Scott and Lauren Hill. It does give you pause and motivation to keep making New Year's resolutions and living your life.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Survivor Guidelines for a Survivorversary
Today is the 3 year anniversary of finishing chemotherapy. It is also the first day I have gone to work and not done something fun in the past 2 year. Unfortunately, it didn't work out with my work schedule to take today off, but I still made the most of it. And by most of it, I mean I read the new American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline. Do I know how to party or what? If you too want to be party animal you can read the full text here.
These guidelines are great step towards offering more standardized care and ideally helping to increase breast cancer survivors quality of life. In literature quality of life is often abbreviated QOL and it is such an important marker. The guidelines I also found to be quite comprehensive, so let's review some of the ACS/ASCO recommendations.
Follow up in the post treatment phase, the authors recommend a detailed history and physical every 3-6 months for the first 3 years, then every 6-12 months the next 2 years and then annually every year after with your oncology team. I think this will actually help people with the sudden drop off in appointments, also, after treatment. It can be a little jarring to go from weekly/monthly appointments down to nothing. It's also nice to know that at some point the frequency of trips to the doctor does drop off. That does help with the whole QOL
For screening for recurrence, lab tests and imaging and signs of recurrence the overall recommendation is that the oncology team SHOULD NOT offer routine lab tests or imaging, besides mammography, in patients who have no symptoms. The article goes on to state that patient's should be counseled on the signs of recurrence. These guidelines do not recommend that patients have MRIs as follow ups unless they are at high risk for recurrence (such as BRCA positive), because of the tendency for the amount of false positives. I found this fascinating that an annual mammogram may be enough screening as long as your not having any symptoms. I wonder if there is hope for me and not having to drink mochaccino flavored barium once the PRESENT study is done. It didn't mention anything about CT scans.
One of the major difficulties for breast cancer survivors is to continue on their endocrine treatment, or in my case tamoxifen. These guidelines offer concrete guidelines on how to lessen the side effects and hopefully increase the compliance. Many of the ways that musculoskeletal pain and neuropathy can be combated is through exercise. The guidelines recommend:
150 minutes of moderate or
75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week
and
strength training exercise twice a week.
So as I was reading this as I skipped my run this morning as my plantar fasciitis has flared up, but it is important to find a way to keep moving. Moderate exercise would be walking, vigorous would be running. (For more information on the difference, see the american heart association's definitions here)
Another major side effect that puts breast cancer survivors at higher risk for recurrence is being overweight/obese. I found the statistic astounding that 61% of breast cancer survivors were overweight with 30% being obese. I hear all the time the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and how the breast cancer treatment can make people gain weight, I just didn't realize how many were struggling with this recommendation.
The guidelines outline a basic diet that all human beings should follow without specific recommendations re:soy or flax. They recommend a diet:
High in Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains and legumes and low in Saturated Fat. The dietitian in me was not surprised to read this. This is the general diet that most of the world should follow. And then I got off the bus and ate a cinnamon roll. Because I'm human. (And then followed it with plain nonfat yogurt and berries, for balance) And they recommend limiting alcohol to at most 1 serving/day. Some studies have shown reducing alcohol to less than 4 servings per week to be beneficial, but there was not enough information for the authors to fully comment on that.
Many of the recommendations were for post menopausal women as they make up the largest group of breast cancer survivors, but one particular recommendation was made. A baseline DEXA scan should be done to check your bone health. Apparently, chemotherapy and long term SERM (drugs like tamoxifen) can decrease your bone density and put you at higher risk for osteoporosis. Good to know.
The other major QOL recommendation that these guidelines made was to address FOR. Fear of Recurrence. FOR is real and palpable sometimes. Some of my cancer friends are often paralyzed by it, so it is good to see it being addressed in the guidelines.
The bottom line for me
1) Keep my bottom line in check (i.e maintain a healthy weight)
2) Continue to eat a heart health diet (cinnamon rolls not withstanding)
3) Just keep running or moving or dancing
4) I need to add an additional weight lifting day in as I currently only get one
5) I'll keep taking my 1000 units of vitamin D3 daily for my bone health
6) I'll have to ask my oncologist if I should be getting a DEXA scan? (to check my baseline bone health, ugg do I really want to ask for more tests)
and most importantly
7) Don't let the FOR ruin your QOL
(I think I need a bumper sticker that says this. Except for that I don't drive. Maybe the MBTA would let me put it on my bus.)
These guidelines are great step towards offering more standardized care and ideally helping to increase breast cancer survivors quality of life. In literature quality of life is often abbreviated QOL and it is such an important marker. The guidelines I also found to be quite comprehensive, so let's review some of the ACS/ASCO recommendations.
Follow up in the post treatment phase, the authors recommend a detailed history and physical every 3-6 months for the first 3 years, then every 6-12 months the next 2 years and then annually every year after with your oncology team. I think this will actually help people with the sudden drop off in appointments, also, after treatment. It can be a little jarring to go from weekly/monthly appointments down to nothing. It's also nice to know that at some point the frequency of trips to the doctor does drop off. That does help with the whole QOL
For screening for recurrence, lab tests and imaging and signs of recurrence the overall recommendation is that the oncology team SHOULD NOT offer routine lab tests or imaging, besides mammography, in patients who have no symptoms. The article goes on to state that patient's should be counseled on the signs of recurrence. These guidelines do not recommend that patients have MRIs as follow ups unless they are at high risk for recurrence (such as BRCA positive), because of the tendency for the amount of false positives. I found this fascinating that an annual mammogram may be enough screening as long as your not having any symptoms. I wonder if there is hope for me and not having to drink mochaccino flavored barium once the PRESENT study is done. It didn't mention anything about CT scans.
One of the major difficulties for breast cancer survivors is to continue on their endocrine treatment, or in my case tamoxifen. These guidelines offer concrete guidelines on how to lessen the side effects and hopefully increase the compliance. Many of the ways that musculoskeletal pain and neuropathy can be combated is through exercise. The guidelines recommend:
150 minutes of moderate or
75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week
and
strength training exercise twice a week.
So as I was reading this as I skipped my run this morning as my plantar fasciitis has flared up, but it is important to find a way to keep moving. Moderate exercise would be walking, vigorous would be running. (For more information on the difference, see the american heart association's definitions here)
Another major side effect that puts breast cancer survivors at higher risk for recurrence is being overweight/obese. I found the statistic astounding that 61% of breast cancer survivors were overweight with 30% being obese. I hear all the time the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and how the breast cancer treatment can make people gain weight, I just didn't realize how many were struggling with this recommendation.
The guidelines outline a basic diet that all human beings should follow without specific recommendations re:soy or flax. They recommend a diet:
High in Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains and legumes and low in Saturated Fat. The dietitian in me was not surprised to read this. This is the general diet that most of the world should follow. And then I got off the bus and ate a cinnamon roll. Because I'm human. (And then followed it with plain nonfat yogurt and berries, for balance) And they recommend limiting alcohol to at most 1 serving/day. Some studies have shown reducing alcohol to less than 4 servings per week to be beneficial, but there was not enough information for the authors to fully comment on that.
Many of the recommendations were for post menopausal women as they make up the largest group of breast cancer survivors, but one particular recommendation was made. A baseline DEXA scan should be done to check your bone health. Apparently, chemotherapy and long term SERM (drugs like tamoxifen) can decrease your bone density and put you at higher risk for osteoporosis. Good to know.
The other major QOL recommendation that these guidelines made was to address FOR. Fear of Recurrence. FOR is real and palpable sometimes. Some of my cancer friends are often paralyzed by it, so it is good to see it being addressed in the guidelines.
The bottom line for me
1) Keep my bottom line in check (i.e maintain a healthy weight)
2) Continue to eat a heart health diet (cinnamon rolls not withstanding)
3) Just keep running or moving or dancing
4) I need to add an additional weight lifting day in as I currently only get one
5) I'll keep taking my 1000 units of vitamin D3 daily for my bone health
6) I'll have to ask my oncologist if I should be getting a DEXA scan? (to check my baseline bone health, ugg do I really want to ask for more tests)
and most importantly
7) Don't let the FOR ruin your QOL
(I think I need a bumper sticker that says this. Except for that I don't drive. Maybe the MBTA would let me put it on my bus.)
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Tis the Season to be Grateful
I love Thanksgiving. It combines many of my favorite things; family, food and sharing gratitude. I haven't been writing in my gratitude journal on a regular basis, but when I am having a down week I write in it for a couple of consecutive days. I also write in it when there are things happening in my life that I truly feel grateful so that when I go back and read it I can remember the feeling I had that day/week/month.
In honor of Thanksgiving I went through and found a random sampling of things I have written in the past 6 months;
4/27: Today I am grateful for CLEAN SCANS!!
You betcha. If nothing else, I will be thankful every day for my health.I have multiple entries about being grateful for modern medicine and the excellent health care team and treatment I receive. I also, continue to be grateful for all of those people who came before me and tested out my chemo, radiation and surgery. It is what drives me to continue to be an active participant in the PRESENT trial and send my blood around the country.
3/30: Today I am grateful for peanut butter
Yeah, I have a bunch of posts about being grateful for certain foods. Ginger made an appearance the past couple of weeks with my stomach issues. But, as well documented nothing tops my list more than my Mom's mashed potatoes.
8/21: Today I am grateful for my co-survivors
Honestly, I don't remember why I was so grateful on this particular day for my friends and family, but I do remember everyday why I am grateful for such a strong support system. My co survivors are always willing to lend an ear, offer advice or continue to offer encouragement.
9/18: Today I am grateful for the anticipation of vacation
I have been pretty fortunate to have a job that allows and encourages for ample time off in a year. I have gone to have fun with my niece a couple of times this year, took a trip to Florida with the BF and done multiple little mini trips.
6/15: Today I am grateful that baking remains a stress release
Since last Thursday I have made 17 dozen cookies and two cranberry pumpkin coffee cakes with cinnamon streusel. I'm feeling pretty relaxed headed into the holiday. Nothing like baking with your music blaring to put you in your happy place.
Today I am grateful for keeping my gratitude journal.
It really puts you in the holiday spirit to read all the people, things and ideas you've been grateful for through out the past 6 months. It's an excellent mood elevator.
Happy Thanksgiving!
In honor of Thanksgiving I went through and found a random sampling of things I have written in the past 6 months;
4/27: Today I am grateful for CLEAN SCANS!!
You betcha. If nothing else, I will be thankful every day for my health.I have multiple entries about being grateful for modern medicine and the excellent health care team and treatment I receive. I also, continue to be grateful for all of those people who came before me and tested out my chemo, radiation and surgery. It is what drives me to continue to be an active participant in the PRESENT trial and send my blood around the country.
3/30: Today I am grateful for peanut butter
Yeah, I have a bunch of posts about being grateful for certain foods. Ginger made an appearance the past couple of weeks with my stomach issues. But, as well documented nothing tops my list more than my Mom's mashed potatoes.
8/21: Today I am grateful for my co-survivors
Honestly, I don't remember why I was so grateful on this particular day for my friends and family, but I do remember everyday why I am grateful for such a strong support system. My co survivors are always willing to lend an ear, offer advice or continue to offer encouragement.
9/18: Today I am grateful for the anticipation of vacation
I have been pretty fortunate to have a job that allows and encourages for ample time off in a year. I have gone to have fun with my niece a couple of times this year, took a trip to Florida with the BF and done multiple little mini trips.
6/15: Today I am grateful that baking remains a stress release
Since last Thursday I have made 17 dozen cookies and two cranberry pumpkin coffee cakes with cinnamon streusel. I'm feeling pretty relaxed headed into the holiday. Nothing like baking with your music blaring to put you in your happy place.
Today I am grateful for keeping my gratitude journal.
It really puts you in the holiday spirit to read all the people, things and ideas you've been grateful for through out the past 6 months. It's an excellent mood elevator.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Point of Reference
My heartburn/stomach issues have flared up, hard, lately. Things hadn't really got any better since I saw my oncologist at the beginning of October. Things have been particularly bad the last 3 weeks. And by bad I mean I was only eating twice a day and often skipping dinner or chugging maalox instead of eating anything. I even busted out my dentist forbidden stash of ginger chews. About a week ago, I really had had enough. I made an appointment with my PCP in hopes to being sent to see a gastroenterologist. Unfortunately, my PCP was not available and I was sent to see her physcian assistant. Her PA was everything you could hope for in a healthcare professional. She had already read through my chart and picked out all the instances when I come in for my heartburn. She was curious if this was worse with the tamoxifen (oooh, can I blame this on tamoxinfen...wait I hope not because I have 7.5 more years to go). I explained how this has been worse since I had the 4 rounds of chemo and let her know that currently...
"I feel like I did after the fourth round of chemo"
She paused. Looked at me and stated "That is an excellent point of reference. Let's get you in to see GI. You should not feel that way". I explained that I was concerned because my blood levels had been low when I saw my oncologist and I was concerned that they might be lower. I let her know that it was just my stomach that felt like it was post chemo, and my energy level is good. She took this all into consideration, but she sent me to have my iron levels tested again. Turns out, I am iron deficient. I am down a couple of pounds, but the new medication seems to be working. I am back eating 3 meals a day + snacks. I do not have constant burning. I am looking forward to meeting with the gastroenterologist and seeing if there is anything else I can do. And hoping that I can get my belly up and running in time formashed potatoes Thanksgiving. I also aspire one day to not be Ralph.
"I feel like I did after the fourth round of chemo"
She paused. Looked at me and stated "That is an excellent point of reference. Let's get you in to see GI. You should not feel that way". I explained that I was concerned because my blood levels had been low when I saw my oncologist and I was concerned that they might be lower. I let her know that it was just my stomach that felt like it was post chemo, and my energy level is good. She took this all into consideration, but she sent me to have my iron levels tested again. Turns out, I am iron deficient. I am down a couple of pounds, but the new medication seems to be working. I am back eating 3 meals a day + snacks. I do not have constant burning. I am looking forward to meeting with the gastroenterologist and seeing if there is anything else I can do. And hoping that I can get my belly up and running in time for
Monday, October 26, 2015
To The Person Just Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Dear Newest Breast Cancer Friend,
Welcome to the club you never wanted admission to. I know it's a scary time for you. When those bastard cells betray you and the clinician tells you "It's Breast Cancer" there are many things you want to know, many things you think you know, and many things you should know.
Your path is your own. Some people have double mastectomies, some people have lumpectomies, some people have no surgery at all. Some folks have radiation, some have chemo, some have hormone treatment and some have it all. Find a surgeon and oncologist that you have faith in. Trusting the information you are being provided is very important. It is also important to look for quality in your research. Yes, you want to weigh your options, but make sure you are using a trusted source. Preferably your information and resources should come from your medical team, but if you are going online I recommend breastcancer.org, cancer.org or drsusanloveresearch.org and not some crazy internet blogger. Reading about every single scenario can make a scary time even scarier. If you find you can't keep yourself off the internet, try not to do your research in the middle of the night when your overtired. It can lead to you misreading and misinterpreting information and keep you awake longer than you need to be.
Recently, the folks at Cure Forward reached out to me to let me know about their new service to help build a cancer community around "precision medicine". Their idea is to help folks with cancer to tailor their cancer treatment around the genetics of their cancer. As someone who had her tumor tested multiple time for it's DNA (the PRESENT study just retested the level of the HER 2 in my tumor {which is kept where?} because they developed another, better test for the HER 2 expression) this sounds like a fascinating idea. It also is something I feel like other people should be able to have. My oncologist looked at the genetic profile of my tumor and was able to determine that it was intermediately aggressive and that helped her make the decision to provide me with only 4 rounds of chemotherapy and not more (for which I am very grateful). Here is a Boston Globe article with more information about the company which appears to be a great platform for connecting cancer fighters to the proper scientists.
Our Mother's raised us to be strong, independent women. That is all fine and dandy, but get ready for everyone you've ever met reaching out to you and offering help, kindness, encouragement or anything they can. At first, the hardest thing can be accepting help from other people, but do it. Let them all help, in whatever way you want or need. Hold on to all the cards and letters that people send you. I tacked them to my wall and when I was having a down day, I would read as many as I needed to get that smile back on my face. It often only took one. Or find other ways to get to your happy place; your favorite music or a gratitude journal can help you keep a positive attitude and keep you happy.
You're going to laugh more often than you think. A sense of humor goes ridiculously far in cancer treatment. As a Breast Cancer patient it can sometimes feel like there is a continuity of indignities that testing and examination provides. If you can look at your new scar and quote Monty Python ("It's merely a flesh wound") or hear the Star Wars version of "Call Me Maybe" in your MRI you'll find the entire process more bearable. Who care's what other people think. You do you. Whatever works for you and makes the process easier, do it. Having cancer allows you to be selfish, in order to fight you have to put you first.
Enjoy, and celebrate, the smallest of victories. "I completed my MRI today!". "I didn't make my Mother cry today!" "I woke up!" "I finally got that weird taste out of my mouth". Celebrate each milestone by doing something for yourself. I celebrated in a variety of different ways: running, eating treats, baking, buying myself Red Sox tickets.
Now hurry up and wait. Things can move agonizingly slow in the beginning. Remember, everyone needs a path and things will move once you have a starting path. Paths of care in cancer treatment are very flexible; your plan will morph and change as you work your way through treatment. The more data that is collected about your specific cancer will change the way you are being treated.
We're rooting for you. Go kick ass.
Sara
Welcome to the club you never wanted admission to. I know it's a scary time for you. When those bastard cells betray you and the clinician tells you "It's Breast Cancer" there are many things you want to know, many things you think you know, and many things you should know.
Your path is your own. Some people have double mastectomies, some people have lumpectomies, some people have no surgery at all. Some folks have radiation, some have chemo, some have hormone treatment and some have it all. Find a surgeon and oncologist that you have faith in. Trusting the information you are being provided is very important. It is also important to look for quality in your research. Yes, you want to weigh your options, but make sure you are using a trusted source. Preferably your information and resources should come from your medical team, but if you are going online I recommend breastcancer.org, cancer.org or drsusanloveresearch.org and not some crazy internet blogger. Reading about every single scenario can make a scary time even scarier. If you find you can't keep yourself off the internet, try not to do your research in the middle of the night when your overtired. It can lead to you misreading and misinterpreting information and keep you awake longer than you need to be.
Recently, the folks at Cure Forward reached out to me to let me know about their new service to help build a cancer community around "precision medicine". Their idea is to help folks with cancer to tailor their cancer treatment around the genetics of their cancer. As someone who had her tumor tested multiple time for it's DNA (the PRESENT study just retested the level of the HER 2 in my tumor {which is kept where?} because they developed another, better test for the HER 2 expression) this sounds like a fascinating idea. It also is something I feel like other people should be able to have. My oncologist looked at the genetic profile of my tumor and was able to determine that it was intermediately aggressive and that helped her make the decision to provide me with only 4 rounds of chemotherapy and not more (for which I am very grateful). Here is a Boston Globe article with more information about the company which appears to be a great platform for connecting cancer fighters to the proper scientists.
Our Mother's raised us to be strong, independent women. That is all fine and dandy, but get ready for everyone you've ever met reaching out to you and offering help, kindness, encouragement or anything they can. At first, the hardest thing can be accepting help from other people, but do it. Let them all help, in whatever way you want or need. Hold on to all the cards and letters that people send you. I tacked them to my wall and when I was having a down day, I would read as many as I needed to get that smile back on my face. It often only took one. Or find other ways to get to your happy place; your favorite music or a gratitude journal can help you keep a positive attitude and keep you happy.
You're going to laugh more often than you think. A sense of humor goes ridiculously far in cancer treatment. As a Breast Cancer patient it can sometimes feel like there is a continuity of indignities that testing and examination provides. If you can look at your new scar and quote Monty Python ("It's merely a flesh wound") or hear the Star Wars version of "Call Me Maybe" in your MRI you'll find the entire process more bearable. Who care's what other people think. You do you. Whatever works for you and makes the process easier, do it. Having cancer allows you to be selfish, in order to fight you have to put you first.
Enjoy, and celebrate, the smallest of victories. "I completed my MRI today!". "I didn't make my Mother cry today!" "I woke up!" "I finally got that weird taste out of my mouth". Celebrate each milestone by doing something for yourself. I celebrated in a variety of different ways: running, eating treats, baking, buying myself Red Sox tickets.
Now hurry up and wait. Things can move agonizingly slow in the beginning. Remember, everyone needs a path and things will move once you have a starting path. Paths of care in cancer treatment are very flexible; your plan will morph and change as you work your way through treatment. The more data that is collected about your specific cancer will change the way you are being treated.
We're rooting for you. Go kick ass.
Sara
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