Update on cancer

[Guest guest]

2 weeks since last chemo, a lot of the side effects are going away

for this month, except for the thrush, or candida in my mouth and

throat (a new experience for me) and some minor nausea and the

ongoing fatigue and weakness. (Not to mention the psychological

effects of having Stage IV cancer).

My doctor's office thinks I am handling this chemo pretty well (my

body is able to tolerate it) in spite of the fact that I have reacted

to both infusions and have numerous side effects (minor to them, if

you read my journal you might not think they were so minor). This is

a chemo many people cannot tolerate, so apparently I have a strong

constitution. I am not losing major weight and I am tolerating the

side effects. Next month they do another heart scan to be sure my

heart is ok, as this chemo is a heart antagonist. The chemo is

working, at least to the degree that it has drastically slowed the

fluid build up in my pleural cavity. I hope to have no more

thoracentesis (no more syringes draining the fluid between the ribs

in my back). The amount of fluid after 10 days was less than half

what it was after a week last time.

We have found several ways to help avoid the worst side effects (the

hand-foot syndrome) and these strategies (ice on ankles and wrists

and sipping on iced drinks during chemo + 7 days of tapering decadron

(steroids) seem to be working fairly well. Now if I could find one

to avoid the mouth problems......................

I still have my hair, so we shall see if that goes in the next 3-4 treatments.

I am working through the stages of grief that we all have to go

through with an illness like this. I am working my way out of

depression, but it comes and goes, as does the anger. I am pretty

sure this will not be a short-term process.

I pinned the doctor down on statistics and prognosis. If the chemo

works, 40% of women with metastatic cancer like mine live 5 years.10%

live 10 years. 3-4 years is average, but as all of your know, I

don't plan on being average. The treatment after the chemo is a drug

called Femara. It has side effects also. It works on women with

estrogen and progesterone positive cancers, which mine is. When it

quits working, there is little they can do unless they find new

treatments. That is what I have learned from my oncologist and a

number of other sources. Now, if you all know of any miracles out

there, please let me know. I could use a few right now.

Lynda

[Guest guest]

2 weeks since last chemo, a lot of the side effects are going away

for this month, except for the thrush, or candida in my mouth and

throat (a new experience for me) and some minor nausea and the

ongoing fatigue and weakness. (Not to mention the psychological

effects of having Stage IV cancer).

My doctor's office thinks I am handling this chemo pretty well (my

body is able to tolerate it) in spite of the fact that I have reacted

to both infusions and have numerous side effects (minor to them, if

you read my journal you might not think they were so minor). This is

a chemo many people cannot tolerate, so apparently I have a strong

constitution. I am not losing major weight and I am tolerating the

side effects. Next month they do another heart scan to be sure my

heart is ok, as this chemo is a heart antagonist. The chemo is

working, at least to the degree that it has drastically slowed the

fluid build up in my pleural cavity. I hope to have no more

thoracentesis (no more syringes draining the fluid between the ribs

in my back). The amount of fluid after 10 days was less than half

what it was after a week last time.

We have found several ways to help avoid the worst side effects (the

hand-foot syndrome) and these strategies (ice on ankles and wrists

and sipping on iced drinks during chemo + 7 days of tapering decadron

(steroids) seem to be working fairly well. Now if I could find one

to avoid the mouth problems......................

I still have my hair, so we shall see if that goes in the next 3-4 treatments.

I am working through the stages of grief that we all have to go

through with an illness like this. I am working my way out of

depression, but it comes and goes, as does the anger. I am pretty

sure this will not be a short-term process.

I pinned the doctor down on statistics and prognosis. If the chemo

works, 40% of women with metastatic cancer like mine live 5 years.10%

live 10 years. 3-4 years is average, but as all of your know, I

don't plan on being average. The treatment after the chemo is a drug

called Femara. It has side effects also. It works on women with

estrogen and progesterone positive cancers, which mine is. When it

quits working, there is little they can do unless they find new

treatments. That is what I have learned from my oncologist and a

number of other sources. Now, if you all know of any miracles out

there, please let me know. I could use a few right now.

Lynda

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the update Lynda. I'm sure you won't miss having your chest drained!We'll keep you in our prayers!I'm sure you'll do much better than "average" . . . You've got the fighting spirit that's so important!Would it help to rinse your mouth with Nystatin? . . . It comes in a powder that can be mixed with any kind of liquid. However, I would think that your doctors would have already recommended it if that was an option though.While I was in the hospital I lectured the nurse (turned out she was the head nurse) about why they give patients on antibiotics food with sugar in it, instead of probiotic foods. . . I was pleasantly surprised when she said she would write a

recommendation to the hospital to do just that. She had attended a seminar that mentioned the sugar/fungal problem recently and understood what I was saying.They are doing some incredible things with genetics now . . . I'm reviewing a course on genetics (www.teach12.com) . . . The stuff they are learning how to do is incredible! . . . Hang in there . . . and thing that buys you time will help!Love,Rogene

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the update Lynda. I'm sure you won't miss having your chest drained!We'll keep you in our prayers!I'm sure you'll do much better than "average" . . . You've got the fighting spirit that's so important!Would it help to rinse your mouth with Nystatin? . . . It comes in a powder that can be mixed with any kind of liquid. However, I would think that your doctors would have already recommended it if that was an option though.While I was in the hospital I lectured the nurse (turned out she was the head nurse) about why they give patients on antibiotics food with sugar in it, instead of probiotic foods. . . I was pleasantly surprised when she said she would write a

recommendation to the hospital to do just that. She had attended a seminar that mentioned the sugar/fungal problem recently and understood what I was saying.They are doing some incredible things with genetics now . . . I'm reviewing a course on genetics (www.teach12.com) . . . The stuff they are learning how to do is incredible! . . . Hang in there . . . and thing that buys you time will help!Love,Rogene

[Guest guest]

Lynda,

My niece's future mother-in-law had cancer 20 years ago and was told

she had months to live. She meditated her cancer away - I know a

book is being written about her experience but I don't know when it

will be published. I'll check with my sister.

Sis

>

> 2 weeks since last chemo, a lot of the side effects are going away

> for this month, except for the thrush, or candida in my mouth and

> throat (a new experience for me) and some minor nausea and the

> ongoing fatigue and weakness. (Not to mention the psychological

> effects of having Stage IV cancer).

>

> My doctor's office thinks I am handling this chemo pretty well (my

> body is able to tolerate it) in spite of the fact that I have

reacted

> to both infusions and have numerous side effects (minor to them,

if

> you read my journal you might not think they were so minor). This

is

> a chemo many people cannot tolerate, so apparently I have a strong

> constitution. I am not losing major weight and I am tolerating

the

> side effects. Next month they do another heart scan to be sure my

> heart is ok, as this chemo is a heart antagonist. The chemo is

> working, at least to the degree that it has drastically slowed the

> fluid build up in my pleural cavity. I hope to have no more

> thoracentesis (no more syringes draining the fluid between the

ribs

> in my back). The amount of fluid after 10 days was less than half

> what it was after a week last time.

>

> We have found several ways to help avoid the worst side effects

(the

> hand-foot syndrome) and these strategies (ice on ankles and wrists

> and sipping on iced drinks during chemo + 7 days of tapering

decadron

> (steroids) seem to be working fairly well. Now if I could find

one

> to avoid the mouth problems......................

>

> I still have my hair, so we shall see if that goes in the next 3-4

treatments.

>

> I am working through the stages of grief that we all have to go

> through with an illness like this. I am working my way out of

> depression, but it comes and goes, as does the anger. I am pretty

> sure this will not be a short-term process.

>

> I pinned the doctor down on statistics and prognosis. If the chemo

> works, 40% of women with metastatic cancer like mine live 5

years.10%

> live 10 years. 3-4 years is average, but as all of your know, I

> don't plan on being average. The treatment after the chemo is a

drug

> called Femara. It has side effects also. It works on women with

> estrogen and progesterone positive cancers, which mine is. When

it

> quits working, there is little they can do unless they find new

> treatments. That is what I have learned from my oncologist and a

> number of other sources. Now, if you all know of any miracles out

> there, please let me know. I could use a few right now.

>

> Lynda

>