Best Of
Re: What health or lifestyle changes have you made since diagnosis
I’ve made some pretty big changes, mostly to help my peace of mind. If it comes back, I want to know that I’ve done everything in my power to prevent it.
i’m a Dietitian/Nutritionist and thought I had a pretty good diet before. But when I really looked at it, there were lots of areas for improvement. I read lots of studies on breast cancer and diet, and decided a vegan whole foods diet was my best bet (I was mostly vegetarian before).
I only drink wine on special occasions - could easily get through 1-2 bottles a week before. I thought I would miss it more than I do.
I drink 1.2 L of green tea (caffeine free) per day. I cold brew each 300ml for 2 hours for maximum catechin levels.
I have a smoothie for breakfast everyday with 1.5 cups of kale, 1 cup of berries, flaxseed meal, mushroom powder, turmeric and almond milk.
i also started running again. I have a toddler and I had slacked off with exercise since giving birth. So I decided to run everyday in the month before my surgery so I could going into treatment as fit as possible. I exercised throughout chemo, but wasn’t able to run everyday. I still don’t run everyday now, but will get in around 20km per week. On the days that I don’t run I make sure that I move as much as possible. This helps with the menopause symptoms too, and helps with stress.
Looks a bit crazy with it all posted out! I was I only diagnosed in March 2018, so who knows how long I will keep it all up for.
Everything I do is based on scientific evidence, and I try to see everything I’m doing like another bit of medicine, which helps when my brain slips into ‘it’s going to come back and I’m going to die’ mode.
i’m a Dietitian/Nutritionist and thought I had a pretty good diet before. But when I really looked at it, there were lots of areas for improvement. I read lots of studies on breast cancer and diet, and decided a vegan whole foods diet was my best bet (I was mostly vegetarian before).
I only drink wine on special occasions - could easily get through 1-2 bottles a week before. I thought I would miss it more than I do.
I drink 1.2 L of green tea (caffeine free) per day. I cold brew each 300ml for 2 hours for maximum catechin levels.
I have a smoothie for breakfast everyday with 1.5 cups of kale, 1 cup of berries, flaxseed meal, mushroom powder, turmeric and almond milk.
i also started running again. I have a toddler and I had slacked off with exercise since giving birth. So I decided to run everyday in the month before my surgery so I could going into treatment as fit as possible. I exercised throughout chemo, but wasn’t able to run everyday. I still don’t run everyday now, but will get in around 20km per week. On the days that I don’t run I make sure that I move as much as possible. This helps with the menopause symptoms too, and helps with stress.
Looks a bit crazy with it all posted out! I was I only diagnosed in March 2018, so who knows how long I will keep it all up for.
Everything I do is based on scientific evidence, and I try to see everything I’m doing like another bit of medicine, which helps when my brain slips into ‘it’s going to come back and I’m going to die’ mode.
Easter Basket.
My grandson with his two Easter baskets, one shop bought, and one knitted by his Devoted Slave...
AKA Granny.
AKA Granny.
AllyJay
5
New Study for Stage 4
I was really heartened to read about this study in the metastatic area of breast cancer. "Stage Four Needs More" is a phrase I've heard a lot and I know several members here have voiced concerns about the number of studies being done. Hope it's of interest. K xox
https://nbcf.org.au/research/our-research/search-our-research/can-exercise-and-diet-help-women-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/
https://nbcf.org.au/research/our-research/search-our-research/can-exercise-and-diet-help-women-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/
kmakm
5
Re: The Secret Suckiness Of Life After Breast Cancer
Dear @StarGirl
I suspect you may have given up, or had to give up, a number of things but guilt is something you might now give up without a single pang. In my book, guilt is entirely the province of those who have done something truly bad and even then is slightly pointless - repentance or restitution may be more useful. Surviving cancer - for however long - deserves acclaim for resilience and optimism. Most of us will never change the world, few people do. Enjoy your good days and wellbeing with a vengeance, far too few people in robust health do and you will be making up for all of them, if that makes you feel better! Other people's opinions can stay with them, they need not affect you. Be happy, all of humankind needs more of it!
I suspect you may have given up, or had to give up, a number of things but guilt is something you might now give up without a single pang. In my book, guilt is entirely the province of those who have done something truly bad and even then is slightly pointless - repentance or restitution may be more useful. Surviving cancer - for however long - deserves acclaim for resilience and optimism. Most of us will never change the world, few people do. Enjoy your good days and wellbeing with a vengeance, far too few people in robust health do and you will be making up for all of them, if that makes you feel better! Other people's opinions can stay with them, they need not affect you. Be happy, all of humankind needs more of it!
Afraser
6
Re: Newly diagnosed BC but I dont know stage and type
@Eunyoung @kmakm @primek. Hi there. Thanks ladies for tagging me in this post. Nice to chat to you guys again. @Eunyoung I’m brisbane Northside too but had treatment at Redcliffe. I’ll tell you my story and I’ll pm you also.
I had a routine mammogram end of April 2016 aged 43 I had a fibroadenonoma like you the year before that I was told was benign so was just following up and I had lumpy boobs so was having yearly mamms since turning 40. No family history either. I’m a nurse like you too.
When I was told my results of my mammogram (triple neg) I was referred to Redcliffe for surgery but I decided to see dr rod borrowdale privately as he does private and public breast surgery and he put me on his public list so that sped things up for me I had surgery publically at Redcliffe within three weeks would of had it sooner but dr borrowdale went away. He was great. I knew I wouldn’t get the stage or the grade until post op with the oncologist. I saw dr Kieran bigby and still do 6 monthly.
So my formal diagnosis was stage 2a grade 3 (3cm) triple neg left breast no lymph nodes involved and all scans clear. I chose to have a mastectomy so I only needed chemo and not radiation as well. (My choice) I then had a prophlaxis mastectomy of my right breast as my guts told me too and I’ve decided not to do the recon. You will need to get your results first to know what’s best for you. Please remember this is what I did i and you will need to get advice from your surgeon and oncol to see what’s best for you. Please feel free to ask me any questions and like I said I’ll PM you.
Hang in there love once you get a plan you will feel better. It can be advantageous having a nursing background but can also be a pain in the arse as we know too much. We will catch up for sure. Whatever the outcome you’ve got this and no matter what there is always someone on this forum to hold your head up out of the shit creek that is breast cancer. It is doable. Big hug. Margie x
I
I had a routine mammogram end of April 2016 aged 43 I had a fibroadenonoma like you the year before that I was told was benign so was just following up and I had lumpy boobs so was having yearly mamms since turning 40. No family history either. I’m a nurse like you too.
When I was told my results of my mammogram (triple neg) I was referred to Redcliffe for surgery but I decided to see dr rod borrowdale privately as he does private and public breast surgery and he put me on his public list so that sped things up for me I had surgery publically at Redcliffe within three weeks would of had it sooner but dr borrowdale went away. He was great. I knew I wouldn’t get the stage or the grade until post op with the oncologist. I saw dr Kieran bigby and still do 6 monthly.
So my formal diagnosis was stage 2a grade 3 (3cm) triple neg left breast no lymph nodes involved and all scans clear. I chose to have a mastectomy so I only needed chemo and not radiation as well. (My choice) I then had a prophlaxis mastectomy of my right breast as my guts told me too and I’ve decided not to do the recon. You will need to get your results first to know what’s best for you. Please remember this is what I did i and you will need to get advice from your surgeon and oncol to see what’s best for you. Please feel free to ask me any questions and like I said I’ll PM you.
Hang in there love once you get a plan you will feel better. It can be advantageous having a nursing background but can also be a pain in the arse as we know too much. We will catch up for sure. Whatever the outcome you’ve got this and no matter what there is always someone on this forum to hold your head up out of the shit creek that is breast cancer. It is doable. Big hug. Margie x
I
Re: The Secret Suckiness Of Life After Breast Cancer
StarGirl - I'm also a 'statistical outlier' and that's part of who I am. I also knit, crochet, embroider, must have my tea in fine bone china, if people make annoying or unwelcome, unsolicited comments I sometimes feel annoyance or anger and at other times just let it be. Thing is, so many comments come from those who have not had the actual experience of diagnosis, waiting for results, being 'invaded' by procedures or having their vitality severely diminished by the side effects of strong drugs. I don't think I'm interesting except to a medical statistician. I agree with Afraser, an opinion is just that, an opinion and I will be my own gatekeeper and select those that I deem positive for me, if not I watch them dissolve into nothing - not solicited? Then shut up! Such things can strike a chord on a 'not so good day' but I'm the one in control of my reactions and/or responses. I was dealt the 'C' hand and like any card player, will play my hand my way.
Beryl C.
6
Re: The Secret Suckiness Of Life After Breast Cancer
@stargirl the one big takeaway my long suffering shrink, generally referred to as That Poor Woman, gave me was the instruction, when faced with the generally perplexing, that I should push my thoughts toward 'Isn't that interesting?'
It's a very sensible approach which can absolve you of pointless guilt. Surviving against the odds and being a statistical anomaly? Isn't that interesting? It really is. Suffering every possible side effect and blighted by unexpected difficulty? That's really interesting too. There is no fault attached to either circumstance. If I'm having a good day I can even employ the strategy when faced with some mindless, spiteful and ill equipped door bitch. 'Wow honey, look at that, you are a complete fuckwit and, today, you have a job. Isn't that interesting?'
It's a very sensible approach which can absolve you of pointless guilt. Surviving against the odds and being a statistical anomaly? Isn't that interesting? It really is. Suffering every possible side effect and blighted by unexpected difficulty? That's really interesting too. There is no fault attached to either circumstance. If I'm having a good day I can even employ the strategy when faced with some mindless, spiteful and ill equipped door bitch. 'Wow honey, look at that, you are a complete fuckwit and, today, you have a job. Isn't that interesting?'
Zoffiel
10
Re: So ... I received a Breastscreen NSW reminder for my 2 yearly mammogram!
I must be getting stroppy in my old age ..... I've just sent this off to the Nurse Counsellor with Mid Coast Health, who had difficulty explaining why they don't advise women with dense breast tissue that they should have other tests!
Many thanks for that. I just thought of something else ..... when I was trying to find a contact address/email to send my letter, I found it difficult to find one - hence I used the messaging system on Breastscreen NSW on Facebook. Maybe there needs to be a tear off section on the letter with a box to tick to be removed - with another box to indicate that they have been diagnosed, with a self addressed envelope?
I understand that breast screening is actually available to women aged from 40, not 50 as most of the advertising seems to indicate? Why doesn't it show as at age 40?
Just days ago on the Breast Screen NSW Facebook page it shows: "over 50? "Regular breast screening is by far the best way to pick up breast cancer in its early stages ......"
Yet then says - early detection saves lives! There are MANY women between 40 & 50 who get breast cancer too, as you will know
Re the Dense Breast Tissue issue - if you ask anyone who has been diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer if they knew they had dense breasts and that the mammograms were virtually useless in identifying their condition -(white on white) most say No - they didn't know. If asked if they would have had an ultrasound or other scan if they'd known - most say yes. They are also incredibly angry that they weren't advised. It is actually malpractise by omission, as the radiographer can see it on the film when they check it on the day - and it could be a death sentence if it is not picked up til Stage 4 - as it is difficult to feel, even by hand.
I wonder what would YOU do? Knowing that you had dense breast tissue and the issues around identifying cancer - I bet you would be having an ultrasound or other scans, to be sure?
It is pretty obvious to me that women with moderate to high dense breast tissue need to be advised, on the assumption that invasive lobular IS already being picked up via mammogram already on the lower dense breast tissue women? Can you confirm that? But how would you know, if they are not advising you? If they are also being missed .... obviously EVERYONE with dense breast tissue needs to be advised. I'd been having mammograms for 15 years with 'clear results' every time ...... if I'd waited until my 'reminder letter' last month - it may now have been much worse, in my nodes or even stage 4 - and still not likely to be picked up by mammogram.
THE WOMEN WITH DENSE BREASTS NEED TO HAVE THAT CHOICE! If they decide not to - so be it. But they need that choice to KNOW that they have dense tissue breasts.
With WA already advising their clients (and now the USA - see the press release below) - why isn't Breastscreen NSW asking them how they got around that 'who do we tell' issue. Just tell all of them!
This has become a bit of a hobby horse of mine & I am madly advising any women that I know - to make sure they know whether they have dense breast tissue. Mine were always called 'lumpy' - so I am assuming that is another 'term' for dense breast tissue?
Can you let me know when the Computer Dept has sent the Films to my breast surgeon and my GP
BIG NEWS IN BREAST DENSITY - IF THE USA CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T NSW & ALL THE STATES?
Recently in the US, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) now providing mandatory guidelines for the reporting breast density:
Breast density is a known risk factor for breast cancer. The breast is comprised of a mixture of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue (dense) and fatty tissue (non-dense). The proportions of these tissue types vary from woman to woman.
Approximately 8% of women between 40 and 74 years of age have ‘extremely high density’ breast tissue.1 These women have a 50 to 70 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer.1 In addition, dense breast tissue appears similar to tumours on a mammogram, which can hide the presence of cancer.
It is not possible to tell the density of your breast without having a mammogram. A dense breast is not necessarily firmer, and cannot be detected by touch.
This gap in knowledge has now been addressed by the US Congress, who have directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish minimum reporting standards. Mammogram reports in the USA will now have to state:
A qualitative assessment of the individual patient’s breast density.
An explanation of the effect breast density has on hiding the presence of breast cancer on a mammogram.
A reminder to patients that they should talk with their medical care providers if they have any questions about their breast density.
http://ow.ly/VDSA50mIb4I (To read more)
arpie
5
