I don’t think the homeopathic remedies affect the bisphos but I guess I’d better check! I used nux vom during chemo, which you know, and I’ve not read anything to say to keep off them. I avoided everything else after the 1st dose including any vitamin supplements, milk thistle etc except for starflower oil in case they intereacted with the good work the chemo did. I’m now back to looking after my body in as natural way as possible so homeopathy is back on the menu! I bet you are glad you can now welcome back some old friends! Any feedback you can give about what helps you would be most appreciated as I do believe they work - unlike some on this website (not this thread)! Also I’ll give accupuncture a go when I get my hot flushes as it’s not an intrusive ‘medicine’ for my ER+ state and has shown to relieve the symptoms effectively.
Luckily I’m still doing part time so don’t think I’ll get too run down but am making sure I am allowing enough ME time at the moment and enjoying life - even if it involves too many vinos - as at the weekend Have yet to have my bottle of bubbly but now you’ve mentioned it I may just have to open it, but I’ll wait for the weekend, otherwise the grey brain cells will wonder what’s hit them - again.
take care - happy programming
Nicky x
may try the gelsemium myself as that’s also in my very limited supply.
Hey Nicky… phoned my Mum with the list of side effects and I’m now on a strict regime of nux at night (the help the digestive system recover), gelsemium for the achyness and arnica (vein repair and tissue damage) alternating hourly for the net 2 days and 12 tissue salts 3 x a day (the 12 essential minerals of all of us). I’m also now on glyco nutrients twice a day and the advanced optimum nutrition vit supplement which has a really well balanced combo and no junk. so away with the poison and back with the stuff that actually makes you well.
I can feel the improvement already, ulcers going down, sores healing, mood improving and bouncing clients demands at a frantic rate… I have returned WOO HOO.
Think the many veg soup may have helped too, even OH was bouncing after that
Sorry Lily, but look at this way, when you get to the end me and Nicky will have a recovery plan refined to a T for you
Yay - my online homeopath is back! Will try some of the above, don’t have tissue salts but do have all the others. Lets hope it all works - can’t do any harm. BTW I meant to say that the bisphos are also prescribed to patients with osteoporosis as it rebuilds the areas of bone that are damaged so I don’t think any of this alternative medicine will affect them.
Keep bouncing
Nicky x
Vertangie
its good to hear you are done and dusted, keep bouncing and go from strength to strength.
It would be useful to keep a list of your homeopathic medicine on here as I would like to give myself some tlc and all the help I can give my body when I get to where you are.
Hi,
I feel like I have wandered into aladdin’s medical cave tonight!! Wooooh I haven’t even heard of some of those things, except I am a keen user of arnica cream for football biffs on the shin - not mine! Anyway I will read with interest and try to take some of it in. I thought I would have a go at this self heal thing as it involves no tablets to annoy my tummy. I can cure headaches with it so why not cancer! Lisa I remember you had a strange experience with some treatment, did you go back for any more? Anyway Angie and Nicky, you two conjure up a brew together, it obviously has a positive effect mentally too. from reading your posts, so must be good. I have to say it is disappointing that you two have not picked up more quickly after the last dose. I imagine myself bouncing so will have to lower my expectations a lot. Angie I hope the rads planning goes ok on Thursday and will be interested to hear about the experience. Nicky have you actually started back at work yet? I hope that you don’t get too tired. I laughed at the action man hair LOL mine would be like a cuddly toy!! I already have very short hair all over but am not going commando yet, after what the children said I looked like. Say no more. If it was a bit thicker I would be ok but it is like wisps that float about in the air. Some clown told me I would have curly or very thick hair when it came back. WRONG! I was interested Nicky that you daughter was reassured by coming with you and hope the same happens when we go. The little dog sits on her lap all the time so going to be really tough. I have to look in tomorrow on it and will be scared in case it has gone when I get there. Sorry you still have a puffy hand, did they say how long they expect it to take to heal? Drippy eyes !! So annoying and the corners of one of mine get really sore at times from it. Enjoy the pickled onions, I am not quite there yet!! Bevy lots of luck for tomorrow, finding a vein first go and high neuts to tide you through. Phew relieved to hear I can keep my fluffy excuse for hair! A stunning figure, yes I think I could stun too but maybe not for the reasons I would prefer.LOL. Did you know they can reduce the dose by 60% and it is still effective but I agree if you think you can manage, it is good afterwards to think you completed your chemo plan. Epi 4 was dire for me but now I just blank over that and think, glad I did it. Keep coming back to us if you need support through these last ones. Then you can cheer us slowcoaches to the end. Hmmm there is an end to CMF I assume, it did not say in the small print. LOL . Keep wondering whether I am in a loop!
Today I suddenly realised I felt completely normal, the first time for ages and went out and ate a jacket potato with cucumber and tomato. YAY. No bite back yet! My BC friend went back to our school today, so felt a bit sad until she rang and said she wanted to be at home still, but only if she wasn’t on chemo still. I will miss her so much, even though we will still keep up. She is much more senior than me, being on a second career, so she will cushion my return when I do get back. I had to laugh at her wig antics with all the kids around. I will not be doing that one, as my tutor group will be studying me intently when I get back. They notice everything I wear, jewellery, whether i need new shoes and they tell me so. I had a big lump in my throat as my stand in lady said they all sit in absolute silence when she says I have sent them a letter. Bet the … are mad as anything when I get back. I love them to bits and they will be missing their birthday pressies and sweets from me. Hope I get back in time to give all my boys a kick up the backside to finish their coursework and get the best grades they can.
Well hope you are all ok and I am ok because I am back on puddings till Monday night so making the most of it. Might
just include a few extras for next week when in the bunker again
Lily x x
Thanks Lily for the words of encouragement yeah not looking forward to today but another one will be over with. My daughter is coming home today for two weeks she is living in France at the present time with her boyfriend. They met in the Alps a couple of years ago when the were both doing a ski season (working for peanuts so they could snowboard) and like it much have stayed for this summer too. So I am looking forward to seeing her but hope my after effects aren’t too bad this time to stop me from doing things with her.
Wow Angi and Nicky you certainly know your homeopathic medicines! I would be really interested to know what to take to get my body back on track but would it be best to see a therapist? or just get a few things to try out. I like Lily have always used arnica cream and tablets for injuries (and I guess this is one big injury physically and mentally) but well done for getting to the end of it all! and good luck with recovery.
Off to hospital in a couple of hours aghhhhhhhhhhhhh! be in touch soon.
Hope it goes well and plain sailing today for you Bev.
I’ll explain and answer the homeopathics after I’ve checked it all over with my Ma at the weekend but yes it’s best to see a homeopath if you can but there is some stuff you can do for yourself.
We always suggest that people check with their clinical team before taking supplements of any kind while receiving treatment. Some complementary remedies can adversely affect treatments so it is best to check.
lily 2000
you are so much like me,i see the funny side of things if its others going through it.and my hubby gets so annoyed at me at times. glad you having a few good days it prepares us for whats ahead. my sister as got to start chemo soon, to shrink the tumour in her liver, she is going to be on a trial one, (i think you are too arnt you?) would you believe it i am sitting here plucking my eyebrows ( theyre not fully back but are growing all over the place) ive noticed my tash is darker than normal, must be this tamoxifen, i am out of lightner too, so i will have to go out with a tash now. its great aint it?
nicky 08
im not too bad on the tamoxifen,thanks just my mood seems to be lower than usual. waiting for hubby to come back from fishing they we will go out somewhere.hopefully he wont be long, cause he called and said hed dropped his flask, and he wont stay long without coffee. its nice to hear your back at work. are you like me though (being careful you dont overdo it because you just dont know what effect things are going to have on you) i went christmas shopping the other day and was jiggered when i came back.
a question for anyone, do you know if taking soya tabs can make cancer worse. because i took them prior to being diagnosed for mood levels due to hormones, and it said they regulate hormones (which they did) but i know they dont recommend them during treatment, and im concerned for anyone who may be taking them.
it just made me think, what if they increase the hormone which encourages the growth of cancer cells. hope someone as some info, its been concerning me.
I think there was some discussion on soya in general back in the complementary therapies category there seems to be mixed points of view on it at the moment so I’m personally staying clear for now. Maybe ask the onc on that one.
I love the boiler plate statement from the InteractiveServicesManager back there. Sadly what my team don’t know about nutrition etc could stun an Ox LOL. Maybe we need to draught in one of those wonderful German oncs who are trained in stuff like nutrition for the BCC helpline… pretty pretty please as my team don’t even know the difference between herbal and homeopathic and that’s really not good
You know I’m going to talk to my BC nurse and ask the question, is there anyone in the system that actually can help with rebuilding us after chemo, rather than just dealing with the onc’s, that would be so good wouldn’t it?
Lily - be careful in the cave and remember not to touch anything and definitely don’t rub the lamp! Sorry if that’s a bit weird but we are approaching panto time aren’t we? So glad you’re on a good week, build up that strength for the next dose and so sorry that you’re still going through it. Only consolation must be that it’s not too far off the end now. Be happy and keep making us laugh
Angie - Oh yes, love the interaction! Guess it’s to be expected and needed in most cases. However you do have very experienced resources and I hope we all can understand what you say or would check it out if not. Maybe PM me if there’s any info you want to pass on? It would also be good to have some advice post-chemo to help us all rebuild our immune systems. We seem to get ticked off the list, ‘keep being careful for 3 weeks’, and Bob’s your uncle (or Dad in my case!)
Bev - really hope you are OK, everything went well and you can count another one down. Let us know how you are and moan as much as you like - we all know how rubbish things can be.
Lorraine - I understood from my 1st dx that soya products/remedies should be avoided. Although it seems that a soya rich diet prevents BC (ie in Japan) there’s other factors to consider as well. Plus introducing plant oestrogens hasn’t been researched enough to say whether they help or cause more problems. My take on it is to steer well clear of them (even though they are good for menopause symptoms) and take things like star flower oil or evening primrose oil which can help but don’t interfere with any oestrogen receptive BC. Hope you are able to pick yourself up and it’s only a passing phase. Maybe you’ll have a little fishy on a little dishy for tea? Don’t know whether OH catches much or puts them back? Take care and hope your sister doesn’t suffer too much with her chemo and it works wonders for her, fingers crossed.
Take care everyone else out there in cyber space, hope all is going well for you.
Hi everyone, (sad sad story, don’t read if already sad)
woke up to my daughter sobbing about her little dog who had lost bowel control, so abandoned my plans and went over to help her. We sat and talked and looked at the poor little thing, all skin and bone, blind now, heart heaving to breathe and trembling all over. I told her what I thought we should do and why and then we sat till she felt she had made her decision. Then we made the last long journey. I was supposed to be supporting her but we both cried all the way through, I just couldn’t stop. They said it was probably cancer and that fits would have followed, so no choice but to do the kindest thing for her and have her put down right then. Then went to buy toys and treats for her other dog who has never known life without her and is naturally getting worked up looking for her. The sad side of having faithful pets.
Nicky I well and truly missed the cheery bit today! If I had that lamp I would be making my first wish for everyone on here, that’s for sure. Are you back in work this week? MY USA BC book says this ’ Although soy acts as like estrogen in some organs it blocks estrogen in others.It has many effects besides hormonal ones. It blocks tumour cells in a petri dish, whether or not they are sensitive to estrogen.We are only beginning to study the properties of this natural substance.Several random studies on hot flushes and soy have shown a reduction in flushes, not only in countries where soy is a large part of the diet like China, but also in the West.I’m often asked if a woman can take soy if they are estrogen receptive. I reassure her that soy is not an estrogen. It is an isoflavone and has many effects. I don’t think there is a risk in one serving of soy a day. I am also asked if soy can be taken by women on Tamoxifen. A study in mice with chemically induced cancer showed soy inhibited the tumour incidence and when they added Tamoxifen the combination reduced both incidences of tumours and the number of tumours developing. In another study genistein seemed to interfere with the effects of tamoxifen. A study in 2004 indicated that soy isoflavones had no biological effect on the indicators of estrogenic activity in post menopausal women.Another study gave women with BC soy tablets to women 2 weeks before surgery and there was no difference in the rate of cell death or cell division in the tumours. The cancers did not grow any faster in women on soy. Barrie Cassileth from Sloan Kettering cancer centre feels strongly that women with estrogen receptor positive tumours should not eat soy at all. On the other hand Mark Messina feels it is safe if you like it, but there is no medical evidence it will improve your survival from BC. I ( her not me ) think its probably safe for women with BC, but the final answers aren’t in yet. You will have to decide for yourself whether to try it. If you do, eat one serving (40g) of soy protein daily. I am confident enough to have a soy drink every morning which has vastly decreased my hot flushes and sleepiness. Ideally you should consume soy as tofu, soybeans or soy milk.I’d advise against soy capsules of isoflavones or genistein. Although these 2 are ingredients of soy, we do not know which one is more important. Nor do we know whether they work the same in isolation as they do in food. It is much easier to overdose on soy if in capsules. Always remember moderation.’
Not sure if that helped, make what you will of it,as it seems the experts are not sure themselves either! I know the US cancer docs seem very anti supplements on some of the posts but say the natural foods are ok. Good luck with deciding what to do. Bionic woman Angie, good luck with your rebuild. If it includes weight loss and increased fitness with no over exertion, book me in for the treatment now! Have you decided on a wedding date yet? Lorraine lots of love and hugs to your sister. I know you will be a rock for her,having braved your treatment so well. I have kept my eyebrows but think you might get missiles from some folk for tweezering such precious items. LOL. Don’t like the tash bit on tamoxifen. A lady at the funeral had a really thick moustache and my daughter’s partner was winding her up saying are you related to her then, so I can’t expect to be safe from jibes if I get that unwelcome effect. My husband had a moustache for years and the children always drew this big black line on any drawings of him, so he was fondly called ‘The black bestache’ when they were little. Heck I don’t want to be the new black bestache!! One Christmas, about 2 years ago we were watching a make over prog on tv and our son said ‘Dad if you went on, the first thing they would do is shave the black bestache off.’
With that he went upstairs and came down without it. I had never seen him without it and didn’t like the change for ages!! Our 3rd daughter came in and dropped everything and said’ where’s my Daddy!!!’ Our Grandson was one then and his Mum said ‘why is he just staring at Dad all the time, before shouting as well.’ He looks much youger but it took some getting used to. Thank you for warning me, will buy provisions in readiness!! Bev hope they hooked you first time today and that your better health will make this one a little easier, getting close to the end now, well done. How nice to have your daughter home and hope you can enjoy her stay.
Love
Lily x
So sorry for your daughter (and you and the dog), we had to do the same thing only a week after my diagnosis back in Feb, the poor cat had a genetic kidney disease (damn pedigree breeders). Needless to say my and OH sobbed, she was like my my alter ego in cat form. It’s so hard but when I look back I realise it was the right thing to do and in all honesty after a few weeks I realised that her spirit had kinda gone the week before. We found it helped to talk about the days when we first got her as it helped us both realise how much of a better life she had had with us which is all you could want for a pet isn’t it.
I’ve got radiotherapy planning today, not looking forward to it one bit but am looking forward to raiding M&S afterwards.
Am actually a tiny bit hung over this morning as we ended up staying up late drinking too much wine and watching the presidential debate which was fascinating but led to us having an hour long debate on what to do with these banks and lots of other political stuff… but you know what it was realyl nice not to be talking about cancer
Anyway, hope you’re all having a good day and lets hope this CT scan doesn’t show anything unexpected… (crossing fingers and everything)
I’m back from rads planning and now have 7 little tatoos each one’s teeny though. Went and did a stock up at M&S and start rads next Wed. Finally met the onc Dr D. unlike everyone I know who’s spoke to him we found him alright actually. He explained why rads to the right side only, didn’t dress anything up or patronise me and accepted that I do have a difficult decision with the hormones, was actually a very useful discussion.
Anyway hope you’re all doing OK, I’d better get on with some work I reckon.
Hi everyone,
do you realise we are coming up for 1000 posts since starting this thread!!! Thats a lot of happiness, sadness, moaning and questions and answers!
Thanks, I am not sure why I cried so much about little Trixie, I just get very emotional when one of my children are upset and also about sad animal stories in general. I am fine and she knows she did the kindest thing but the other dog is barming for England, so obvioysly missing his surrogate Mum. They were rescue dogs.
Angie well done for the tatoos, another step competed and well on the way to the finish line. Hung over and M & S shopping ooh that sounds delightfully like being off chemo. Lots of luck for the CT scan, do you have a date yet? Just remember don’t fall for the ‘what smoothie flavour do you want’ make sure you get the water one. Why are they only doing rads on one side? You might think about starting a new thread about the hormone part. With a bit of luck you will find someone who has already mad a similar decision. Good luck anyway with the decision and being fried. My friend wore silk next to her skin and it stopped all the rashes quickly.
I have been getting Brownie badges all day!! Took son to school. Went straight on to sort all Mother in law’s clothes out for the hospice, etc. Then went straight to take my Mum to the dentist as she was scared and had an hour in the waiting room. Then went to spend time with my daughter’s other dog to make sure he was alright on his own. It was quite nice really, to be doing normal favours for people, felt quite useful. My hair is long enough to be annoyed by being under the hairband and has been springing up and down. I started to think I had head lice!!!LOL. Might have to bring forward my hair dying plan. Temperature problems have stopped but I am not sure whether that is through wearing a hat in bed, my hair getting longer or from the number of days since the last chemo. Nicky when is your next appointment or are you having a break for a bit?
Take care everyone and Bevy hope the latest one went in ok. Still haven’t heard from Kirsty or Joanne. Are you ok?
Lily x
Lily. There is acutally a homeopathy for grief, My whole family was dosed when my grandad died and it seems to work amazingly well on dogs and cats. It’s caleld Ignatia and the dose a dog would need would be 30c in this case. I can post you a couple of pills for the poor little mite if it doesn’t pick up in a few days. It’s so hard on them. In our case the mad collie dog was just so excited to see the vet he totally failed to notice the cat wasn’t actually moving anymore! Madness. We think he now believes the cat’s been eaten by Dyson the hoover (not the onc LOL
Done the CT scan today, it’s part of the rads planning. They need to get a 3d map of the area so they only zap the parts that need zapping. It was bloody cold in there but it needs to be for the machine but it makes a really nice whirring sound that I found nearly put me to sleep (or was that the hangover). There was no smoothie necessary fortunately
It turns out that they don’t always do rads, if there’s no lymph involvement it’s really a question of whether the onc feels it’s worth it. Even thought I was unlucky enough to have a tumor in each breast there was no lymph involvement or lympho vascular involvement but on the right side the margins were a bit close and there was apparently some muscular invasion, I’m not sure this fits 100% with what the surgeon said but hes’ going to give me a copy of the report and answered every question I had honestly and I do agree that I don’t need rads on the left side, after all they have to consider the heart on that side too. As it is the top of the lung gets caught with a little of the radiation and there is only so much rads the whole body can deal with at any one time too so all in all once you balanced out the whole equation we decided that it is best to give full attention to the area most likely to need it.
Thanks for the tip about silk. I have silk thermals… I’ll be wearing them for sure. I think I read somewhere that you lose 70% of your body heat through your head so the hat would make sense.
Anyway knackered now must crash. Hope you have a good weekend planned those of you on the double cmf thang.
I think I’m going to do the hormonal stuff, the long term benefits of tamoxifen seem to be worth it just not looking forward to tellig my ma as she’s been dealing with menopause for the last 20 years do to having only half an ovary left after hysterectomy in her 30’s.
Kirsty, Joanne… speak to us. hope you’re just having computer problems or something menial rather than bad neuts keeping you in hospital or some such rubbish to deal with.
hi all,
Lily so sorry to hear about Trixie. A heartbreaking time that us dog lovers (and cats) have to eventually face. My dogs are 11 and 14 now and I dont want to face that just now.
I am having a battle in my head at the mo. regards when I finish chemo, hopefully 27 Nov. I will be waiting for an op. I want to have a full mx to get rid completely but I am asking myself would it be worth it to ask for a double mx so that it gets rid of the risk in the future. Do you know of the percentages of getting another dx in other boob< I dont want to even have the risk??? am I over panicking or being sensible? Would onc take good boob off??? Yes these are qstns for him but would like to hear from the ‘experts’ the ones who must have had the same thoughts to work out, have been through the sh.t and know exactly waht Im saying/thinking.
Have yet to have my bottle of bubbly but now you’ve mentioned it I may just have to open it, but I’ll wait for the weekend, otherwise the grey brain cells will wonder what’s hit them - again.