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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / October 2006Almost there
Hi, I have just 3 more radiations left and then I'm done with my active treatment except for Tamoxifen. I told my husband that it was kind of scary that I won't be doing anything actively to kill the cancer and now we'll just have to wait. His response was "No, now we'll just live". It gives me hope. Best, Tamara > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tamara Tamara, the chemo is to 'mop up' any stray cancer cells which are still in your body. It's unlikely that when your chemo stops there will be anything left! Tamoxifen will help prevent a recurrence, it's active. By taking it you won't be killing cancer but you'll certainly be doing something actrive. And your husband is right, just live, don't be scared, there are too many things to enjoy. Being scared takes up your time and energy, it's a waste of time and energy. Don't go from here though, your experience will help others! Hugs to both of you, Mary > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > we'll just have to wait. His response was "No, now we'll just live". It > gives me hope. Congratulations, Tamara - it's great that the end is in sight for the most annoying/intrusive kinds of treatment. It does kind of become a lifestyle, though, doesn't it -- so it can be hard to move on to the next, seemingly less intensive, phase of recovery. I like your husband's attitude, too! Of course Mary's right; Tamoxifen is a very major active component in treatment. Though we all hope the chemo/radiation will've killed any local or roving cancer cells in your body, the Tamoxifen will also be there blocking the opportunity for cancer to grow or thrive. Though I wouldn't want you, me, or anyone else to think BC is somehow our fault, it's also important to realize there are certain things we can do, that we have control of, that can perhaps nudge the future in a bit more positive direction. For example, some research suggests that regular moderate exercise improves outcomes. There's a popular-press (Washington Post) summary of some research at: http://tinyurl.com/y5yg9x Though the evidence concerning diet seems weaker to me than that for exercise, there are also some suggestions that diet influences recurrence risk. There's an overview at: http://www.breastcancer.org/nutr_bc_reduce_risk.html You're going to do just fine, and you'll be feeling better & stronger day by day & week by week, as you get past chemo/radiation. You'll keep posting, right? Take care, Ann T. Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email Hi Ann & Mary, Thanks for the positive thoughts. It is hard to move on. When I first heard someone voice this opinion, I thought "what - is she nuts - I will only be too happy to have treatment end" but the monkey is forever on your back and he won't let you forget it. Ann, you have been especially supportive and helpful to me and I am very grateful. I will stay around and lurk and probably post too - maybe I can be of similar help to someone else out there in a similar situation. Funny you should mention the exercise - I've already been in contact with our local Dragon Boat team "Pink Steel" and hope to join in the Spring when they resume training :). Something I probably wouldn't have done in my other life but now all bets are off and we're doin different!!! Hugs and Good Wishes to all. Tamara >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > Ann T. > Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email > .... I will stay around and lurk and probably post too - maybe I can > be of similar help to someone else out there in a similar situation. ----------------- Tamara, don't forget to keep us posted about your reconstruction! Believe me, I know how you feel. I felt the same way in June when I finished my Herceptin treatment. "What? You mean there's nothing but these teeny little Arimidex pills protecting me now?" It's scary but the fear loses some of its edge over time. Best wishes, Eva Hi Eva, Thanks for the wishes - it's been a long 10 months of treatment and almost 1 year since I found the lump. Yes, reconstruction - I have a few months off before I get to think about that :). Will keep everyone posted. Tamara >> .... I will stay around and lurk and probably post too - maybe I can >> be of similar help to someone else out there in a similar situation. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Best wishes, Eva Hi, Tamara! > Funny you should mention the exercise - I've already been in contact with > our local Dragon Boat team "Pink Steel" and hope to join in the Spring > when they resume training :). Something I probably wouldn't have done in > my other life but now all bets are off and we're doin different!!! Ooooo, cool! One of the moments that helped me get through treatment involved a breast cancer survivors dragon boat racing team! It was when I was at a real low point, feeling tired, discouraged, thinking I'd never have any strength or energy again. Then I saw a segment -- I think it was on the "It's a Miracle" show -- about a BC survivor dragon boat team that was out practicing when a guy tried to commit suicide by jumping from a bridge. An instant after he jumped, he was having second thoughts, but figured the die was cast. But he survived the fall, and was rescued from the water by the dragon boaters. They had sorta adopted him, he would come to watch them race, etc. Missing the main point of the segment <G>, I was absolutely riveted by the idea of a BC survivors dragon boat racing team. I thought "if they can do that, maybe I *can* be strong and capable again someday!" It really gave me hope. I cried (I never cry, hardly). I did some web research, and found out that there were *lots* of BC survivor dragon boat teams. Wowzers! Being a long-time recreational canoeist, I wished that I could do that. Sadly, there were no teams within driving distance for me at the time. Then, about a year after I finished treatment, lo & behold, I found out there was a BC survivors *rowing* team forming in my city. I was *soooooo* there. The rest is history -- now I'm a late-blooming rowing addict, have started working on coaching certification, etc. So I'm also totally with you on "all bets are off and we're doin different". A boat I've been training with (all BC survivors) is deciding whether we really want to enter a long, hard race on what will likely be a cold and unpleasant day. I'm invoking my twin post-BC philosophies of life: "There may not *be* a next year" and <bad taste alert!> "Boogie til you puke" (metaphorically, of course), and voting for "enter". Once you start dragon boating, please post & tell us all about it, OK? Ann T. Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email ... > A boat I've been training with (all BC survivors) is deciding whether we > really want to enter a long, hard race on what will likely be a cold and > unpleasant day. I'm invoking my twin post-BC philosophies of life: > "There may not *be* a next year" and <bad taste alert!> "Boogie til you > puke" (metaphorically, of course), and voting for "enter". LOL! Ann. Always an inspiration! Mary Hi Tamara, It's been almost 23 years since my diagnosis and 22 years since the end of active treatment, but I still remember feeling like I'd geared for battle and it was hard not to be "doing" something. Back then, I wasn't given tamoxifen, so when chemo ended, I did nothing except see the oncologist periodically for tests. Just three years ago, he cut me loose too! It took a while until I could really put cancer on a back burner and get on with living. I prayed daily for health, like it was some distant goal. I finally realized that I wasn't really living each today when I prayed for health like it was some elusive bubble. What a lot of wasted todays there would have been, if I couldn't begin to believe in my health! Now, that's not to say that there haven't been scary times since. I get nervous with each new health concern, but I guess I don't automatically think that everything is cancer either. Here's hoping that you are going to begin to breathe easier and that you'll enjoy continued good health for many, many, many years! Best wishes to you. Barb Hi Barb, Thank you for the positive thoughts. It will be awhile until I have your confidence - the paranoia is lurking just beneath the surface but if it stays there I'll be satisfied. Tamara > Hi Tamara, > It's been almost 23 years since my diagnosis and 22 years since the end of [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Barb > Thank you for the positive thoughts. It will be awhile until I have your > confidence - the paranoia is lurking just beneath the surface but if it > stays there I'll be satisfied. > > Tamara Hello again Tamara, I hope I didn't sound like the process came in a short amount of time. It took me a loooooog, looooong time. In the first years, I believe that I was clinically depressed and panic was also close to the surface. The mental and emotional struggle was as difficult as the physical, easily! I posted only because I would have liked to have someone say (way back then), that things would eventually get better..... Hoping all good things for you, Tamara. Barb Thank you Barb - I hope so too. For all of us. >> Thank you for the positive thoughts. It will be awhile until I have your >> confidence - the paranoia is lurking just beneath the surface but if it [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Barb Wonderful news.....HOPEFULLY no more treatments in your future > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tamara Yes- it's great to be done and I hope no more too! Tamara > Wonderful news.....HOPEFULLY no more treatments in your future >> Hi, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> >> Tamara |
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