femara: others here?

Others taking this? Anyone courageous enough to NOT TAKE IT, if all signs of
BC are gone? Anyone courageous enough to take it a shorter time than
recommended?

I've been on it about seven months and I don't like it much. I seem to be
at very low risk for recurrence but, cutting that risk by more than half is
still...er....recommended. But in exchange....expense (very spendy med!),
side effects.....

On Jun 18, 8:27*pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Others taking this? Anyone courageous enough to NOT TAKE IT, if all signsof
> BC are gone? Anyone courageous enough to take it a shorter time than
> recommended?
>
> I've been on it about seven months and I don't like it much. *I seem tobe
> at very low risk for recurrence but, cutting that risk by more than half is
> still...er....recommended. But in exchange....expense (very spendy med!),
> side effects.....
Somewhere, I read that many women hate the side effects and
discontinue the drug--I think the joint and muscle pain are really
unpleasant. Check out breastcancer.org--maybe someone there wrote in.

Judy

thanks, I've seen some messages on the mayo clinic board. I already had pain
because I have fibromyalgia and idiopathic neuropathy, so I can't really
tell the difference! what I dislike is the total aging...skin, resilience,
everything....dry eyes, sore throat, wrinkles (I didn't have them before!),
and yes the joint pain. it's no fun!

"judy.n" <judy.nudelman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ec0c7c4d-1ff0-49ed-8f88-5ece82f893f7@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 18, 8:27 pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Others taking this? Anyone courageous enough to NOT TAKE IT, if all signs
> of
> BC are gone? Anyone courageous enough to take it a shorter time than
> recommended?
>
> I've been on it about seven months and I don't like it much. I seem to be
> at very low risk for recurrence but, cutting that risk by more than half
> is
> still...er....recommended. But in exchange....expense (very spendy med!),
> side effects.....
Somewhere, I read that many women hate the side effects and
discontinue the drug--I think the joint and muscle pain are really
unpleasant. Check out breastcancer.org--maybe someone there wrote in.

Judy

"fortunata" <pacifist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:loz6k.58016$102.32733@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> thanks, I've seen some messages on the mayo clinic board. I already had
> pain because I have fibromyalgia and idiopathic neuropathy, so I can't
> really tell the difference! what I dislike is the total aging...skin,
> resilience, everything....dry eyes, sore throat, wrinkles (I didn't have
> them before!), and yes the joint pain. it's no fun!
--------------
You forgot to mention that it's murder on your sex life. It's an estrogen
blocker, after all.

Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. I
actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
*ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death! You've
*got* to take it!" So, I bit the bullet and took it. Three years so far,
two more to go. (If I live.)

Eva

On Jun 19, 9:10*pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
> "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:loz6k.58016$102.32733@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...> thanks,I've seen some messages on the mayo clinic board. I already had
> > pain because I have fibromyalgia and idiopathic neuropathy, so I can't
> > really tell the difference! what I dislike is the total aging...skin,
> > resilience, everything....dry eyes, sore throat, wrinkles (I didn't have
> > them before!), and yes the joint pain. it's no fun!
>
> --------------
> You forgot to mention that it's murder on your sex life. *It's an estrogen
> blocker, after all.
>
> Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. *I
> actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
> *ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death! *You've
> *got* to take it!" *So, I bit the bullet and took it. *Three years sofar,
> two more to go. *(If I live.)
>
> Eva

Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
sex life is intact. Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? I'm already in
menopause hell before starting this stuff. It's so hard that in order
to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.

Les

"downwinder" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:9ee6c1a5-edd5-4ad9-94dd-8f38705ce4b1@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 19, 9:10 pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
> "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:loz6k.58016$102.32733@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...> thanks,
> I've seen some messages on the mayo clinic board. I already had
> > pain because I have fibromyalgia and idiopathic neuropathy, so I can't
> > really tell the difference! what I dislike is the total aging...skin,
> > resilience, everything....dry eyes, sore throat, wrinkles (I didn't have
> > them before!), and yes the joint pain. it's no fun!
>
> --------------
> You forgot to mention that it's murder on your sex life. It's an estrogen
> blocker, after all.
>
> Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. I
> actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
> *ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death! You've
> *got* to take it!" So, I bit the bullet and took it. Three years so far,
> two more to go. (If I live.)
>
> Eva

Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
sex life is intact. Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? I'm already in
menopause hell before starting this stuff. It's so hard that in order
to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.

I've had Tamoxifen and Arimidex at different times, it's never affected my
quality of life. But I do have an excess of oestrogen (at my age!)which has
benefits.

I do think thought that people have different responses to all sorts of
medication.

Mary

downwinder wrote:
>
>
> Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
> sex life is intact. Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? I'm already in
> menopause hell before starting this stuff. It's so hard that in order
> to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.
>
> Les
>
>
Tamoxifen didn't ruin ours. I guess the weight gain she got with it made
her objectively less attractive, but that didn't have much impact on our
established relationship. Sex still worked reasonably well until close
to the end: I suppose you could say it was her death that ruined our sex
life.


Tim Jackson

On Jun 21, 1:20*am, Tim Jackson <t...@tim-jackson.co.uk> wrote:
> downwinder wrote:
>
> > Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
> > sex life is intact. *Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? *I'm already in
> > menopause hell before starting this stuff. *It's so hard that in order
> > to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.
>
> > Les
>
> Tamoxifen didn't ruin ours. I guess the weight gain she got with it made
> her objectively less attractive, but that didn't have much impact on our
> established relationship. *Sex still worked reasonably well until close
> to the end: I suppose you could say it was her death that ruined our sex
> life.
>
> Tim Jackson

I guess the only thing to do is try what the oncologist recommends and
see what happens. I read somewhere that most women gain weight during
breast cancer treatment. It's early days for me, but so far I've lost
8 pounds. Any more and I'll be too skinny, so I'm not too worried
about weight gain. Also, isn't it true that there's estrogen in the
fat I'm burning up? It's probably not a good time to lose weight.

Tim, you and my husband are princes for not letting cancer blind you
to a woman's charms. Condolences on your wife's death.

Les

"downwinder" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:95664a85-60b8-443b-b16d-9f02375f6fca@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
.....I read somewhere that most women gain weight during
breast cancer treatment. It's early days for me, but so far I've lost
8 pounds. Any more and I'll be too skinny, so I'm not too worried
about weight gain.
---------------
I gained 10 lbs. *after* I completed my treatment. I had been so awfully
sick for so long that when I finally started to feel better, food tasted
like heaven to me. I ended up 10 lbs. overweight and had to work very hard
to get back to my "normal" weight!

Eva

On Jun 21, 11:09*am, downwinder <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:
>
> I read somewhere that most women gain weight during
> breast cancer treatment. *It's early days for me, but so far I've lost
> 8 pounds. *Any more and I'll be too skinny, so I'm not too worried
> about weight gain. *Also, isn't it true that there's estrogen in the
> fat I'm burning up? *It's probably not a good time to lose weight.
>
I lost 10% of my body weight from the time I was diagnosed until
chemo, operation and radiation was over. Not recommended, but I was
unable to do anything about it.

At this point I would like to keep the weight off, as women who gain
weight are more likely to have their disease return and to die from
the disease. My prognosis is not too good to begin with, so I'm
motivated.

Tamoxifen is making it very difficult not to gain, however. I'm really
glad I was aware of the Tamoxifen - weight-gain connection ahead of
time. It has allowed me to be vigilant at a vulnerable time. Exercise
would help, but I find both Tamoxifen and Herceptin are hard on the
joints, so I'm less active than I would like to be.

Ixia

aren't the post-menopausal ones recommended for only two years? I wonder how
great the risk decrease is if you take it for just one, or for just two?
Recurrence incidence is highest in the first two years so.....it's always
checks and balances, risk against benefit.

"downwinder" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:9ee6c1a5-edd5-4ad9-94dd-8f38705ce4b1@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 19, 9:10 pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
> "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:loz6k.58016$102.32733@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...> thanks,
> I've seen some messages on the mayo clinic board. I already had
> > pain because I have fibromyalgia and idiopathic neuropathy, so I can't
> > really tell the difference! what I dislike is the total aging...skin,
> > resilience, everything....dry eyes, sore throat, wrinkles (I didn't have
> > them before!), and yes the joint pain. it's no fun!
>
> --------------
> You forgot to mention that it's murder on your sex life. It's an estrogen
> blocker, after all.
>
> Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. I
> actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
> *ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death! You've
> *got* to take it!" So, I bit the bullet and took it. Three years so far,
> two more to go. (If I live.)
>
> Eva

Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
sex life is intact. Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? I'm already in
menopause hell before starting this stuff. It's so hard that in order
to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.

Les

>>
>> Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. I
>> actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
>> *ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death!
>> You've
>> *got* to take it!" So, I bit the bullet and took it. Three years so far,
>> two more to go. (If I live.)

I hope you do! but I always think, 20-40 years ago women had breasts
removed, and they are still alive now. there were no adjuvant therapy
options then. Isn't it true that recurrence is (as I mentioned above) 30%?
So that means (in general) that most women will NOT have a recurrence, no
matter what they do....sorta. kinda. I know statistics are not hard science;
it's all about odds. My onc. said 1% per year, meaning 30% if I lived
another 30 years. the med more than halves that risk, but it certainly
doesn't eliminate it. What one wonders about is, how much do you improve
your odds if you skip, say, one pill a week? or if you take a 'break" every
two months and skip 4 days, or if you take it a year and then stop 3 months,
or? and would the side effects abate or RECUR or.....

sigh.

oncologists might be principled, or they might want to please the medical
companies, or who the heck knows. I don't want stroke, high cholesterol,
endometrial cancer or...(I still remember the oncologist saying "Well, with
endometrial cancer, we just do a hysterectomy" and he smiled, as if, piece
o' cake! he's comparing it to the worst sorts of circumstances, but I'm
comparing it to not wanting endless surgeries and invasions and horrors. ah
well.
>>
>> Eva
>
> Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
> sex life is intact. Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? I'm already in
> menopause hell before starting this stuff. It's so hard that in order
> to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.
>
> I've had Tamoxifen and Arimidex at different times, it's never affected my
> quality of life. But I do have an excess of oestrogen (at my age!)which
> has benefits.
>
> I do think thought that people have different responses to all sorts of
> medication.
>
> Mary
>
>

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f2ce57d6-588f-48d4-a277-9403f97fb5b4@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 21, 11:09 am, downwinder <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:

....


Tamoxifen is making it very difficult not to gain, however. I'm really
glad I was aware of the Tamoxifen - weight-gain connection ahead of
time. It has allowed me to be vigilant at a vulnerable time. Exercise
would help, but I find both Tamoxifen and Herceptin are hard on the
joints, so I'm less active than I would like to be.

Because of (neurological) pain I haven't been able to exercise - even gentle
walking - for a long time. Last August I decided that I had to lose weight
so began simply eating less.

It's worked, I've lost two stones (28lbs) and counting - and now I can walk
and stand for much longer than before.

What I'm saying is that exercise isn't the only way top lose weight. I
haven't been on a 'diet', just eat all my normal food but less of it.

And I rarely feel hungry, oddly.

Mary

On Jun 22, 4:57*am, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Because of (neurological) pain I haven't been able to exercise - even gentle
> walking - for a long time. Last August I decided that I had to lose weight
> so began simply eating less.
>
> It's worked, I've lost two stones (28lbs) and counting - and now I can walk
> and stand for much longer than before.
>
That's great! Congratulations :-)
>
> What I'm saying is that exercise isn't the only way top lose weight. I
> haven't been on a 'diet', just eat all my normal food but less of it.
>
Less is my method also, but a year ago I was pretty active, pre-
menopausal and weighed 10% more. In order for this "new" me not to
gain, I have to eat /quite a bit/ less than I did then. Less than
expected.
>
> And I rarely feel hungry, oddly.
>
That's good. I'm not bothered by /physical/ hunger, but I must have
eaten for social reasons, comfort, and so on, much more than I
realized.

Ixia

On Jun 22, 3:04*am, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
>
> oncologists might be principled, or they might want to please the medical
> companies, or who the heck knows.
>
Well, one thing they have done is treat lots and lots of people with
cancer, year in and year out...

I don't know what you do for a living, but after 30 years of doing
what I do, I have certainly learned a thing or two, and my clients
benefit greatly from it.

I'm not about to dismiss my oncologist's 20 + years of experience with
breast cancer! I picked her because of it. She has seen women like
myself die and others live. She is tough and competitive and does not
like to lose. Any tricks, "gut feelings", or new drugs she has up her
sleeve that will help put me in her survivors group, I want.

Ixia

On Jun 22, 12:04*am, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
> >> Myself, I'm on Arimidex, but AFAIK the side effects are the same. I
> >> actually did stop taking it in the beginning and my oncologist went
> >> *ballistic* on me, she was like "This is a matter or life or death!
> >> You've
> >> *got* to take it!" So, I bit the bullet and took it. Three years so far,
> >> two more to go. (If I live.)
>
> I hope you do! but I always think, 20-40 years ago women had breasts
> removed, and they are still alive now. there were no adjuvant therapy
> options then. Isn't it true that recurrence is (as I mentioned above) 30%?
> So that means (in general) that most women will NOT have a recurrence, no
> matter what they do....sorta. kinda. I know statistics are not hard science;
> it's all about odds. My onc. said 1% per year, meaning 30% if I lived
> another 30 years. the med more than halves that risk, but it certainly
> doesn't eliminate it. What one wonders about is, how much do you improve
> your odds if you skip, say, one pill a week? or if you take a 'break" every
> two months and skip 4 days, or if you take it a year and then stop 3 months,
> or? and would the side effects abate or RECUR or.....
>
> sigh.
>
> oncologists might be principled, or they might want to please the medical
> companies, or who the heck knows. I don't want stroke, high cholesterol,
> endometrial cancer or...(I still remember the oncologist saying "Well, with
> endometrial cancer, we just do a hysterectomy" and he smiled, as if, piece
> o' cake! he's comparing it to the worst sorts of circumstances, but I'm
> comparing it to not wanting endless surgeries and invasions and horrors. ah
> well.
>
Pumpkin,

All I can say is, compared to this breast cancer siege, my cervical
cancer hysterectomy was a piece of cake! No radiation, no chemo,
instant recovery if done vaginally, 23 years later no worries. Of
course it did cause a lot of menopause guesswork.

Les




>
>
>
>
> >> Eva
>
> > Gals, one of the bright spots in my whole cancer experience is that my
> > sex life is intact. *Does Tamoxifen ruin that too? *I'm already in
> > menopause hell before starting this stuff. *It's so hard that in order
> > to save our lives we have to lose so much quality of life.
>
> > I've had Tamoxifen and Arimidex at different times, it's never affectedmy
> > quality of life. But I do have an excess *of oestrogen (at my age!)which
> > has benefits.
>
> > I do think thought that people have different responses to all sorts of
> > medication.
>
> > Mary- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:8a9abf1b-bdda-48d6-afd7-96072d280476@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 22, 4:57 am, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Because of (neurological) pain I haven't been able to exercise - even
> gentle
> walking - for a long time. Last August I decided that I had to lose weight
> so began simply eating less.
>
> It's worked, I've lost two stones (28lbs) and counting - and now I can
> walk
> and stand for much longer than before.
>
That's great! Congratulations :-)
>
> What I'm saying is that exercise isn't the only way top lose weight. I
> haven't been on a 'diet', just eat all my normal food but less of it.
>
Less is my method also, but a year ago I was pretty active, pre-
menopausal and weighed 10% more. In order for this "new" me not to
gain, I have to eat /quite a bit/ less than I did then. Less than
expected.
>
> And I rarely feel hungry, oddly.
>
That's good. I'm not bothered by /physical/ hunger, but I must have
eaten for social reasons, comfort, and so on, much more than I
realized.

I ate a lot because I love good food. Now, instead of having a slice of
bread with lemon curd, one with bramble jelly, one with cheese, one with
another cheese, one with hummous, one with just butter ... I just have one
piece of bread with one mouthful of the toppings on each bite :-)

But the lower my weight is I've noticed that the slower is the loss.

Mary
Ixia

"pumpkin" <billowroad@att.net> wrote in message
news:3Em7k.64130$102.40505@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> aren't the post-menopausal ones recommended for only two years?
---------------
No, where did you get that idea? Arimidex and Femara are taken for the same
5 years.

Eva

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f2ce57d6-588f-48d4-a277-9403f97fb5b4@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

I lost 10% of my body weight from the time I was diagnosed until
chemo, operation and radiation was over. Not recommended, but I was
unable to do anything about it.

At this point I would like to keep the weight off, as women who gain
weight are more likely to have their disease return and to die from
the disease. My prognosis is not too good to begin with, so I'm
motivated.

Tamoxifen is making it very difficult not to gain, however. I'm really
glad I was aware of the Tamoxifen - weight-gain connection ahead of
time. It has allowed me to be vigilant at a vulnerable time. Exercise
would help, but I find both Tamoxifen and Herceptin are hard on the
joints, so I'm less active than I would like to be.
--------------
The best thing I did after my treatment, when I was just about half dead,
was start to attend a beginners' yoga class. I'd always turned up my nose
at yoga before, thought it was a bunch of "mystical claptrap," but it
decreased my pain *markedly*. It made a *huge* difference in allowing me to
get back some semblance of a life. I don't go to yoga classes any more
because I am concentrating on my daily walk/jog to prevent osteoporosis and
maintain my current weight, but I still do many of the stretches and
breathing exercises whenever I have pain or stress (and sometimes just for
the hell of it). I *highly* recommend yoga. The beginners' routines won't
burn up the calories, but they will teach you how to relieve your pain so
that you can progress to more intensive weight-loss exercises.

Eva

maybe it was wishful thinking. I don't even want to be alive another week.

"Eva" <EvaDStructionNO@NOverizon.net> wrote in message
news:TNC7k.4057$7g.1002@trndny05...
>
> "pumpkin" <billowroad@att.net> wrote in message
> news:3Em7k.64130$102.40505@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>> aren't the post-menopausal ones recommended for only two years?
> ---------------
> No, where did you get that idea? Arimidex and Femara are taken for the
> same 5 years.
>
> Eva
>

On Jun 22, 10:21*pm, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
>
> maybe it was wishful thinking. I don't even want to be alive another week..
>
Dear pumpkin, you need to make an appointment with your oncologist
asap - get a new oncologist if you don't trust your current one - and
discuss what your options are.

Find out what the benefits of your current hormone therapy is (what is
your chance of relapse, and how does the therapy influence that). Are
there other options you can try, that may have fewer, or other, more
tolerable side effects? Are there medicines that can help you with the
side effects you are experiencing. And so on. Let us know what
happens.

Skipping doses, the way you suggested somewhere, can make your hormone
therapy less effective, while you still have to deal with the side
effects.

Ixia

On Jun 22, 3:15*pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> I ate a lot because I love good food. Now, instead of having a slice of
> bread with lemon curd, one with bramble jelly, one with cheese, one with
> another cheese, one with hummous, one with just butter ... I just have one
> piece of bread with one mouthful of the toppings on each bite :-)
>
Great diet plan! ;-)
>
> But the lower my weight is I've noticed that the slower is the loss.
>
Yes, as your weight drops, so does your basal metabolic rate (BMR). It
also drops with age. You can search for "BMR calculator" on google and
do some calculations.

Ixia

On Jun 22, 9:23*pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
>
> breathing exercises whenever I have pain or stress (and sometimes just for
> I *highly* recommend yoga. *The beginners' routines won't
> burn up the calories, but they will teach you how to relieve your pain so
> that you can progress to more intensive weight-loss exercises.
>
Thank you, I'll try it.

Ixia

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:00b41217-7cd7-4978-8686-e1baf7d2e410@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 22, 3:15 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> I ate a lot because I love good food. Now, instead of having a slice of
> bread with lemon curd, one with bramble jelly, one with cheese, one with
> another cheese, one with hummous, one with just butter ... I just have one
> piece of bread with one mouthful of the toppings on each bite :-)
>
Great diet plan! ;-)
>
> But the lower my weight is I've noticed that the slower is the loss.
>
Yes, as your weight drops, so does your basal metabolic rate (BMR). It
also drops with age. You can search for "BMR calculator" on google and
do some calculations.

I dopn't need to do the calculations, I'm happy so far. If the weight loss
stops at 10 1/2 stones by March 2010 (which even at a slowing rate it will)
I'll be very happy. I'll be able to get into my wedding dress, which will be
sprayed silver for our golden wedding party :-)

Mary

yeah I know, I cancelled my oncologist appointment last month because I had
to see a doctor about different problems and really cancer is the least of
my life-threatening worries at the moment. You're right, I know, I should
meet with him but....all the questions you asked can be answered with
anecdotal or on-line research.....

thanks, though! it's the terrible depression (unrelated to cancer) that is
the crushing anvil.
"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:93770467-f3fd-4ac7-b9d7-98eae674f541@z72g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 22, 10:21 pm, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
>
> maybe it was wishful thinking. I don't even want to be alive another week.
>
Dear pumpkin, you need to make an appointment with your oncologist
asap - get a new oncologist if you don't trust your current one - and
discuss what your options are.

Find out what the benefits of your current hormone therapy is (what is
your chance of relapse, and how does the therapy influence that). Are
there other options you can try, that may have fewer, or other, more
tolerable side effects? Are there medicines that can help you with the
side effects you are experiencing. And so on. Let us know what
happens.

Skipping doses, the way you suggested somewhere, can make your hormone
therapy less effective, while you still have to deal with the side
effects.

Ixia

Noga here. Noga noga noga!

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:41e11c43-9e9f-4c2e-a38b-5daf77618ddb@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 22, 9:23 pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
>
> breathing exercises whenever I have pain or stress (and sometimes just for
> I *highly* recommend yoga. The beginners' routines won't
> burn up the calories, but they will teach you how to relieve your pain so
> that you can progress to more intensive weight-loss exercises.
>
Thank you, I'll try it.

Ixia

On Jun 24, 12:33*am, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
>
> You're right, I know, I should
> meet with him but....all the questions you asked can be answered with
> anecdotal or on-line research.....
>
Look here: They can be answered in theory, but those "answers" have
done nothing to solve or help your actual problems so far. You have
nothing to lose and much to gain by making an appointment with your
oncologist asap, and asking for help. Again, if you don't like, or
don't trust your current one, find someone else.

I picked a woman oncologist and a woman surgeon, both about my same
age, thinking they would understand better than most. Both have a lot
of experience, lots of connections I don't have, they read articles
and go to conferences that are not available to me, and that are not
online yet. Remember, a MD can order /any/ medicine they have a hunch
might help - it /does not/ have to be recommended for the problems you
have.

Also, I have found that the nurses and nurse-practitioners in my
oncologist's practice, and in the infusion center, to be real problem-
solvers. If anything, they see even more patients than the doctors,
and spend much more time with them. They solved a couple of really
vexing symptoms for me during chemo, that my doctors indicated I would
have to just live with.
>
> thanks, though! it's the terrible depression (unrelated to cancer) that is
> the crushing anvil
>
Yes, and It would surprise me if the depression is not contributing to
your problems. It's a great mimmic. And it's a lethal disease. It has
lots and lots of treatment options, however, both medical and non
medical.

Start right away: Make the oncologists appointment, sign up for yoga,
take up meditation :-)

Ixia

On Jun 23, 12:22*pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:

> I dopn't need to do the calculations, I'm happy so far. If the weight loss
> stops at 10 1/2 stones by March 2010 (which even at a slowing rate it will)
> I'll be very happy. I'll be able to get into my wedding dress, which willbe
> sprayed silver for our golden wedding party :-)
>
Great! :-D

Our 30th wedding anniversary was swallowed up by chemo last year. I
think I'll plan something for the 31st. What color spray-paint I
wonder ;-)

Ixia

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:22d391ec-004d-47d1-84f5-d6abab8ef2e0@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 24, 12:33 am, "pumpkin" <billowr...@att.net> wrote:
>
> You're right, I know, I should
> meet with him but....all the questions you asked can be answered with
> anecdotal or on-line research.....
>
Look here: They can be answered in theory, but those "answers" have
done nothing to solve or help your actual problems so far. You have
nothing to lose and much to gain by making an appointment with your
oncologist asap, and asking for help. Again, if you don't like, or
don't trust your current one, find someone else.


I agree absolutely. Relying on internet or books is NOT good and won't
satisfy you.


>
> thanks, though! it's the terrible depression (unrelated to cancer) that is
> the crushing anvil
>
Yes, and It would surprise me if the depression is not contributing to
your problems. It's a great mimmic. And it's a lethal disease. It has
lots and lots of treatment options, however, both medical and non
medical.

Start right away: Make the oncologists appointment, sign up for yoga,
take up meditation :-)


Yes.

Do as you're told :-))

Hugs

Mary

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c2dbd654-3454-4256-8905-1cee24060820@a1g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 23, 12:22 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:

> I dopn't need to do the calculations, I'm happy so far. If the weight loss
> stops at 10 1/2 stones by March 2010 (which even at a slowing rate it
> will)
> I'll be very happy. I'll be able to get into my wedding dress, which will
> be
> sprayed silver for our golden wedding party :-)
> ^^^^^

Goodness knows why I said my frock will be sprayed silver - it will be gold
of course!


Great! :-D

Our 30th wedding anniversary was swallowed up by chemo last year. I
think I'll plan something for the 31st. What color spray-paint I
wonder ;-)


Oh, re-live the 30th and have pearl - very pretty!

Mary

my 30th (nonmarried) anniversary was kind of ruined when he dumped me the
week after we returned from our celebration trip! technically we were at 29
years 7 months and one week.

silver and gold dresses! Lovely! Make them miniskirts! ;-)

"Ixia" <ixiaviridiflora@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c2dbd654-3454-4256-8905-1cee24060820@a1g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 23, 12:22 pm, "Mary Fisher" <mary.fis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:

> I dopn't need to do the calculations, I'm happy so far. If the weight loss
> stops at 10 1/2 stones by March 2010 (which even at a slowing rate it
> will)
> I'll be very happy. I'll be able to get into my wedding dress, which will
> be
> sprayed silver for our golden wedding party :-)
>
Great! :-D

Our 30th wedding anniversary was swallowed up by chemo last year. I
think I'll plan something for the 31st. What color spray-paint I
wonder ;-)

Ixia

"fortunata" <pacifist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:WKw8k.72621$102.33102@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> my 30th (nonmarried) anniversary was kind of ruined when he dumped me the
> week after we returned from our celebration trip! technically we were at
> 29 years 7 months and one week.
-------------
Did he dump you because he learned you had cancer?

Eva

"fortunata" <pacifist@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:WKw8k.72621$102.33102@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> my 30th (nonmarried) anniversary was kind of ruined when he dumped me the
> week after we returned from our celebration trip! technically we were at
> 29 years 7 months and one week.

You're probably better off without him then :-(
>
> silver and gold dresses! Lovely! Make them miniskirts! ;-)

Um. With my knees? I only wear long sleeves except at home these days :-)

I've dug out a low cut long frock I made in the 70s, I can get into it and
notice that it shows my lumpectomy scar.

Tough if it upsets anyone :-)

Mary

On Jun 25, 3:10*pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> my 30th (nonmarried) anniversary was kind of ruined when he dumped me the
> week after we returned from our celebration trip!
>
ouch....

That's a long time, lots of shared experiences, friends and so on. You
have my sympathy. I hope you had/have some good friends to hang out
with.

Ixia

"
Start right away: Make the oncologists appointment, sign up for yoga,
take up meditation :-)

LOL! I've actually been paid money for my essays about why I don't do yoga
(Noga, Noga!) and why I can't meditate ;-) and I have a female surgeon for
ALL of my biopsies and mastect....nationally known one. I wouldn't use her
again. heck, wouldn't use the male one either. I do like my PCP though and
she has ovaries.

when I read the no yoga essay at Barnes and Noble it killed! but it didn't
fly at the vegan cafe/grocery, LOL, but I love those guys....

I'll probably see a gynecologist next....or what, psychiatrist?
Psychologist? finally got the optometrist out of the way, and did the
colonoscopy today (YAY, and NO anesthesia or meds or sedation,
yippee)....depression is such a problem one can't even pick up the
newspapers on the living room floor, let alone call a therapist,
particularly when one is a phonophobe (as am I)....but I still do volunteer
work obsessively, manage to take care of my kid, save my clients' lives (or
so they say) and...exercise 6-7 days a week. Never mind that inside the
shell is rotgut....

thank you so much for wanting to help, and for caring. I'm so exhausted that
many things take huge effort, but of course no one can tell that from the
outside.


Ixia

>
> I agree absolutely. Relying on internet or books is NOT good and won't
> satisfy you.

I don't want to be disputatious, but my experience has been quite the
opposite. Doctors (by their own admission) are just people who have read
certain books and had certain experiences. They can't know "everything."
Talking to the parents of autistic children will teach you WAY more than
talking to a pediatrician who might have seen a couple dozen of them (and
didn't know what they were). I could list at least 20 instances in which
physicians were "wrong" and Gray's Anatomy or the PDR was right. Before the
Internet, I used Medline at the library, and POSTAL MAIL to people to get
information. I'm a reporter/researcher, and no I am not "anti doctor" my
sister is a surgeon, my nephew is a surgeon, I've had many doctors as
clients; but my goodness, doctors are OVERWORKED and sometimes can't even
remember which patient you WERE. I'd much rather interview 25 women who've
had mastectomies than hear what the surgeon thinks about them. I know that I
myself have helped people with various conditions because I can offer my own
success/failures...

even doctors are now on record as touting the Internet as a wonderful tool;
some of them tell their patients to che