I'm halfway through week 4 -- so I have 2.5 weeks left. So far so good, though Alan and Em agree that it's not pretty. It's a bit spotty and red I guess, and if I touch it in the middle of my chest it feels a bit itchy. Also, when I roll over to sleep face down it bothers me sometimes, so I've started using that pillow I got in the hospital (moon shaped) that i used to sleep fact down soon after the surgery. It works well.
I'm also still using vitamin E oil and the stuff Janet sent me on the chest site, and washing my chest in the morning before I go in -- since I think those things help my skin heal, and the doc is worried about the oil making me burn more.
SOmetimes bras hurt, but only tight ones -- so I'm wearing mostly large and extra large ones now. Sports bras, these are -- it turns out all sizes fit -- everything from small to XL. (I figured this out when target was having a clearance on their brightly colored sports bras.) The cool thing about sports bras are, they fit any size breast -- or non breast! And the two sides of the chest don't have to match; I don't have to wear anything on my right side for the bra to look fine. I think it looks quite nice -- I think people are just used to women looking symmetrical. So now I'm not symmetrical. People will get used to it. I got used to wearing mismatched earrings -- which was hard at first! And now the mismatched earrings go rather nicely with the lopsided chest! Course.... if I had realized I would be losing my right breast maybe I would have had the extra two piercings done in my right ear to balance it out -- so I'd have more earrings where the chest is flat Now I'm left-side heavy, both boob and earrings. It's not really noticeable though.
ANyway -- today I saw the radiation onc. He said that if he were in my situation he'd stop swimming now. He can see that I feel fine, though, and he knew just looking at me that I'm not ready to give up swimming. I will keep an open mind, and watch the skin for breaks..... I think he likes my spirit....
I have this stubborn voice in my head. People said I might not be able to bike through chemo, and the voice said, just watch me. Now I am hearing that maybe I should stop swimming..... and I'm thinking, maybe not.
Probably should go to bed, though. Going....
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
almost halfway through
When I saw the doc this week he said I might need to stop swimming for awhile...... actually he said I would want to stop swimming for awhile. I had to press him to clarify, because I would keep swimming if I could, and pain would not stop me..... Aside from my knee jerk stubborn reaction (when they tell me "YOu won't be able to" I think "Oh yeah? Just watch me!") swimming's been real helpful for the post surgical troubles....... I've had just a slight bit of lymphadema (1 cm swelling in the top of my right arm, gone after PT) but I have roping under my arm -- like trolley lines! I think the swimming helps address it -- not to mention working out the biking kinks, helping my knee, and helping me sleep and relax......
ANyway when pressed the rad onc said that I might need to stop swimming for as much as a month, starting in a week. He said that I can swim if the skin is red, but if it breaks he wants me not to -- he's worried more about germs and infection than chlorine. (With all that chlorine, you'd think the germs wouldn't have a chance!) I am going to work on keeping my skin in good shape so I can swim -- or at least cut that month down to a week or two. And.... I hear tell there is something that can be put on the skin to protect it during swimming. If anyone knows what it is...... please share!
ANyway when pressed the rad onc said that I might need to stop swimming for as much as a month, starting in a week. He said that I can swim if the skin is red, but if it breaks he wants me not to -- he's worried more about germs and infection than chlorine. (With all that chlorine, you'd think the germs wouldn't have a chance!) I am going to work on keeping my skin in good shape so I can swim -- or at least cut that month down to a week or two. And.... I hear tell there is something that can be put on the skin to protect it during swimming. If anyone knows what it is...... please share!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Radiation Protection
I've been getting radiation every day for the last almost 2 weeks -- and additionally I get x-rays on Thursdays, so the doc can check on what they are doing and make sure it's still right. It's a very nice team and the radiation onc is great -- quite possibly the best doctor I've seen yet, though that's a tough one. (Have I mentioned that since I changed medical oncologists to do the last course of chemo I am now in a quandary about which one to stick with, because I like them both, and they both seem to be good at what they do.....?)
I haven't had to wait very long yet, except for the first two days when they were working on getting the positioning of my radiation exactly right. Usually that's just one day but the doc said he decided afterwards that there was a better way he could aim the radiation which would involve less of my lung. (I'm lucky that the breast cancer was in my right breast, so no heart issues with radiation.) About 10% of my lung will be affected, which should be okay since I'm not a smoker, the doc said. And of course you know my theory on all this stuff: as long as I keep biking and swimming and walking, lots, as usual..... well I mean it has to be like the opposite of smoking, to some extent, right? except for when I'm swimming and somehow there is cigarette smoke at the far end of the pool..... I've never SEEN anyone smoking; it might be in the next room and coming through the vents..... and there was a time when they actually had people come paint on the far end of the pool.... during the midday swim! At the high school pool, while school is in session! OKay, the pool is open every day, but if they had waited til summer the doors are open, at least.... Sorry, major digression there.
Anyway, back to the radiation thing. While I'm doing radiation I see the radiation oncologist every week, generally on Tuesdays, after I've had radiation -- though he's flexible if I have something else I need to do. He's good at explaining things, and he has okayed my bringing my bike in, should I be planning to ride with the Babes after rads, in which case I need to ride my nice bike to treatment. (I am unwilling to risk locking it outside -- bike theft is apparently big business around here, and no lock is unpickable.) MOst days I ride my 20 yr old mountain bike, and double lock it out there, hoping it would not be worth the trouble to steal -- most of the other bikes on the rack certainly look more tempting. Anyway last Tuesday I asked the doc why I have no lead protection while I am getting radiation, for the parts of my body that don't need it. I can feel it in my eyes..... (I close them, but my lids are not lead.) I was thinking he would say it was aimed very specifically, and that lead was not needed. Alan thought so too. I was planning to ask for lead aprons anyway, for my peace of mind. I still want them. I will have to try again. I was so taken aback by the doc's response that I forgot to ask for them.
What he said was quite the opposite of what I was expecting. There is so much radiation, he said, that I would need something the size of a safe to protect the rest of me from it -- and of course it would crush me. However, he also said that we have been conditioned to fear radiation, when in fact it is mostly children that are at risk from it, while their cells are still flexible. He said that it's not a big deal for the rest of us. (I did find myself wondering whether some of us have more flexible cells as adults..... but then I decided it probably bears no relation to personality....or inner youthfulness....) He said that they do sometimes administer radiation to children, but it's sad -- because they only do it when they must, when the child has something that would kill him or her now -- because s/he will probably get some kind of tumor 10-15 yrs later, from the radiation.
That gave me some pause, and some perspective on my situation. Whew, thank goodness I only have breast cancer, and not a kid with cancer who needs radiation badly enough to have it despite the likelihood that s/he will get a tumor later.....
I haven't had to wait very long yet, except for the first two days when they were working on getting the positioning of my radiation exactly right. Usually that's just one day but the doc said he decided afterwards that there was a better way he could aim the radiation which would involve less of my lung. (I'm lucky that the breast cancer was in my right breast, so no heart issues with radiation.) About 10% of my lung will be affected, which should be okay since I'm not a smoker, the doc said. And of course you know my theory on all this stuff: as long as I keep biking and swimming and walking, lots, as usual..... well I mean it has to be like the opposite of smoking, to some extent, right? except for when I'm swimming and somehow there is cigarette smoke at the far end of the pool..... I've never SEEN anyone smoking; it might be in the next room and coming through the vents..... and there was a time when they actually had people come paint on the far end of the pool.... during the midday swim! At the high school pool, while school is in session! OKay, the pool is open every day, but if they had waited til summer the doors are open, at least.... Sorry, major digression there.
Anyway, back to the radiation thing. While I'm doing radiation I see the radiation oncologist every week, generally on Tuesdays, after I've had radiation -- though he's flexible if I have something else I need to do. He's good at explaining things, and he has okayed my bringing my bike in, should I be planning to ride with the Babes after rads, in which case I need to ride my nice bike to treatment. (I am unwilling to risk locking it outside -- bike theft is apparently big business around here, and no lock is unpickable.) MOst days I ride my 20 yr old mountain bike, and double lock it out there, hoping it would not be worth the trouble to steal -- most of the other bikes on the rack certainly look more tempting. Anyway last Tuesday I asked the doc why I have no lead protection while I am getting radiation, for the parts of my body that don't need it. I can feel it in my eyes..... (I close them, but my lids are not lead.) I was thinking he would say it was aimed very specifically, and that lead was not needed. Alan thought so too. I was planning to ask for lead aprons anyway, for my peace of mind. I still want them. I will have to try again. I was so taken aback by the doc's response that I forgot to ask for them.
What he said was quite the opposite of what I was expecting. There is so much radiation, he said, that I would need something the size of a safe to protect the rest of me from it -- and of course it would crush me. However, he also said that we have been conditioned to fear radiation, when in fact it is mostly children that are at risk from it, while their cells are still flexible. He said that it's not a big deal for the rest of us. (I did find myself wondering whether some of us have more flexible cells as adults..... but then I decided it probably bears no relation to personality....or inner youthfulness....) He said that they do sometimes administer radiation to children, but it's sad -- because they only do it when they must, when the child has something that would kill him or her now -- because s/he will probably get some kind of tumor 10-15 yrs later, from the radiation.
That gave me some pause, and some perspective on my situation. Whew, thank goodness I only have breast cancer, and not a kid with cancer who needs radiation badly enough to have it despite the likelihood that s/he will get a tumor later.....
Saturday, February 14, 2009
First Week of Radiation
I biked all week. It was just so nice out, i had to. And -- until Friday I didn't stop at just going to Georgetown and back. I will tell the biking/swimming story with the radiation/medical story mixed in. (I know it might be harder to read that way, but it's easier to write -- sorry!)
On Monday I did a late start radiation, got a bone scan, and biked home the long way -- the rest of the "Arlington Loop," which is this wonderful loop of almost continuous bikepath. There has always been a place down by Alexandria where the bikepaths disconnect and we've had to ride on roads -- but the path got finished, and MOnday was the first time I'd ridden it like that!
Starting on Tuesday my appointments have been at 8:50am. that takes arranging for me to get there, because I have to leave home at 8, but as long as Matthew makes his bus I should have almost a half hour to myself before I have to leave. (If he doesn't make his bus and I have to drive him I will have to keep going to G-town in the car. I will try to do this only when I choose.... like on a day that's rainy or something.....) Anyway on tuesday I saw the radiation onc after the radiation -- that's going to be the weekly plan, though I can arrange to see him on a different day if I have plans on a particular Tuesday.
Radiation took forever on both Monday and tuesday because they were getting it right. APparently for all the time they took on Monday the doc decided to try to change the angle to involve less of my lung. He said that 10% of my lung will be damaged, which should not be an issue as I am not a smoker. (I think it must be lucky for my heart that the cancer was in my right breast.)
ANyway between the long radiation time and the MD visit, it was 11 by the time I was done. I had put my pool stuff into my backpack, so I biked to the pool and swam -- only 2/3 of a mile because I had to make it to a 1pm PT appointment. Then I biked home. (I worked at fitting the pool in because sometimes i get kinks from the biking, and my knee complains a little, and swimming really fixes something about both of those things.)
On Wednesday I rode my nice bike to radiation and brought it into the building as I had prearranged. (BIke theft is big business around here, and I hear that no lock is unpickable....) Afterwards I met the Babes and rode the Loop with the group.
Thursday I rode the old bike again, and after radiation biked up to Maryland to see my oncologist.
By thursday afternoon I was kinda sore from all the biking (90 miles) so instead of signing up to lead a Babe ride on Friday I decided to swim. I biked to radiation and then HOME again for a change. Then I had a little rest (really little, like 20 mins. I was surprised that that was all I wanted.) I ate lunch, and went for a swim. I felt bad about driving to the pool, because it was the only day I'd used the car!!! BUT we were out of groceries, and if I biked to the pool I wouldn't be able to bring many home on the way back..... so, boring as it was, I had to bring the car and fit that one errand in.
And then Janet came! Just for the weekend, from Ithaca. Now what were the chances of that? She is helping with so many things...... cooking, kids.... all the things I'm too tired to do a good job of.
WHich reminds me..... I'm pleased and proud that I have been keeping up with the fitness throughout this treatment -- but there is something I have to say. People say I'm amazing and stuff, and it's not quite like that. I realized this weekend with Janet here to help cook and tend to the everyone's emotional needs (mine included) that the thing is..... it's not that I don't get tired, but where the tired shows up is not where you would think. I'd have to be really tired to give up biking and swimming and walking...... like I was the weekend after each dose of adriamycin/cytoxan. But figuring out meals/cooking and dealing with kid squabbles are the first things to go for me. Boy do I get too tired for those things.
Course to be honest I was often too tired for those things by the end of the week, before my diagnosis & treatment.... before I moved to DC.... but the last time I was as tired about meal preparation as I was towards the end of the chemo was I think when the kids were little and I was juggling them with the clinic job, by the end of the week.
So we will see if that happens again towards the end of radiation. I was pretty tired Thursday afternoon after all that biking...... The doc said tamoxifen will make me tired too -- but as Mom pointed out, I can't be tired for 5 years! So I wonder how that works -- do I get used to it, or do I just lower my standards for energy?
And does tamoxifen have side effects about taste buds? My taste was coming back but it's wierd again. I've tasted wonderful oranges for 2 days now, but something else is off. I can almost taste it when I'm not even eating......
I will check. Meanwhile, if you guys find anything out, do tell!
Meanwhile, Happy Valentines' day!!
On Monday I did a late start radiation, got a bone scan, and biked home the long way -- the rest of the "Arlington Loop," which is this wonderful loop of almost continuous bikepath. There has always been a place down by Alexandria where the bikepaths disconnect and we've had to ride on roads -- but the path got finished, and MOnday was the first time I'd ridden it like that!
Starting on Tuesday my appointments have been at 8:50am. that takes arranging for me to get there, because I have to leave home at 8, but as long as Matthew makes his bus I should have almost a half hour to myself before I have to leave. (If he doesn't make his bus and I have to drive him I will have to keep going to G-town in the car. I will try to do this only when I choose.... like on a day that's rainy or something.....) Anyway on tuesday I saw the radiation onc after the radiation -- that's going to be the weekly plan, though I can arrange to see him on a different day if I have plans on a particular Tuesday.
Radiation took forever on both Monday and tuesday because they were getting it right. APparently for all the time they took on Monday the doc decided to try to change the angle to involve less of my lung. He said that 10% of my lung will be damaged, which should not be an issue as I am not a smoker. (I think it must be lucky for my heart that the cancer was in my right breast.)
ANyway between the long radiation time and the MD visit, it was 11 by the time I was done. I had put my pool stuff into my backpack, so I biked to the pool and swam -- only 2/3 of a mile because I had to make it to a 1pm PT appointment. Then I biked home. (I worked at fitting the pool in because sometimes i get kinks from the biking, and my knee complains a little, and swimming really fixes something about both of those things.)
On Wednesday I rode my nice bike to radiation and brought it into the building as I had prearranged. (BIke theft is big business around here, and I hear that no lock is unpickable....) Afterwards I met the Babes and rode the Loop with the group.
Thursday I rode the old bike again, and after radiation biked up to Maryland to see my oncologist.
By thursday afternoon I was kinda sore from all the biking (90 miles) so instead of signing up to lead a Babe ride on Friday I decided to swim. I biked to radiation and then HOME again for a change. Then I had a little rest (really little, like 20 mins. I was surprised that that was all I wanted.) I ate lunch, and went for a swim. I felt bad about driving to the pool, because it was the only day I'd used the car!!! BUT we were out of groceries, and if I biked to the pool I wouldn't be able to bring many home on the way back..... so, boring as it was, I had to bring the car and fit that one errand in.
And then Janet came! Just for the weekend, from Ithaca. Now what were the chances of that? She is helping with so many things...... cooking, kids.... all the things I'm too tired to do a good job of.
WHich reminds me..... I'm pleased and proud that I have been keeping up with the fitness throughout this treatment -- but there is something I have to say. People say I'm amazing and stuff, and it's not quite like that. I realized this weekend with Janet here to help cook and tend to the everyone's emotional needs (mine included) that the thing is..... it's not that I don't get tired, but where the tired shows up is not where you would think. I'd have to be really tired to give up biking and swimming and walking...... like I was the weekend after each dose of adriamycin/cytoxan. But figuring out meals/cooking and dealing with kid squabbles are the first things to go for me. Boy do I get too tired for those things.
Course to be honest I was often too tired for those things by the end of the week, before my diagnosis & treatment.... before I moved to DC.... but the last time I was as tired about meal preparation as I was towards the end of the chemo was I think when the kids were little and I was juggling them with the clinic job, by the end of the week.
So we will see if that happens again towards the end of radiation. I was pretty tired Thursday afternoon after all that biking...... The doc said tamoxifen will make me tired too -- but as Mom pointed out, I can't be tired for 5 years! So I wonder how that works -- do I get used to it, or do I just lower my standards for energy?
And does tamoxifen have side effects about taste buds? My taste was coming back but it's wierd again. I've tasted wonderful oranges for 2 days now, but something else is off. I can almost taste it when I'm not even eating......
I will check. Meanwhile, if you guys find anything out, do tell!
Meanwhile, Happy Valentines' day!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
First radiation treatment
It was fine. They even gave me pretty much the appointment I need, given that I have to have the same time every day and some of them are biking days ..... though it is going to be a &%@#$!!! getting myself up and out in time to Georgetown at 8:50am every day!!!
They drew an outline on my chest marking the outside boundaries of where they were to radiate, in black marker. It looks like a great big continent outline. I thought, Cool, I'll have something cool to show the kids. The only thing is...... they never warned me it would come off on my clothes...... it's because I biked home -- I biked more than that actually -- and I sweated. I was wearing proper biking clothes.... I have this nice new new white gore-tex shirt that I got at the last Spokes Babes special...... It's cut nicely, and unzips at the belly for ventilation (or overindulgence, some of us joked.)
Well the marker got that and my new yellow sports bra. I have them in a bucket of cold water & salt..... I really hope it comes out! I will have to wash my chest off every time before I leave, if they are going to do that every time..... They knew I was biking. ONce again I have to wonder -- have they really NEVER had a biker before? That seems strange, especially given the daily thing, which means that you have to choose a radiation place that is at least somewhat convenient..... Maybe no one mentioned it before? All the bikers had the forethought I lacked and realized before they got on their bikes that they would sweat and the marker would come off on their clothes...? Well I will be sure to tell them -- so that the next biker gets warned.....as long as I remember!
There wasn't much choice about appointments, but luckily I got one for the time I needed. All they asked was "morning or afternoon?" I got 8:50. It will be brutal to get there that early all the time, but it ought to help me make bike rides...... And maybe after this week I will be able to offer Matthew rides to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays -- which will mean driving to Georgetown straight from his school. This week I have too many appointments (which I will bike to after radiation, so I'll need my bike there) and besides it's springlike weather this week. He seems to be interested in cooperating, though -- he's asked me to wake him a little earlier. COurse what I want is for him to start out by going to sleep earlier..... well it might happen..... I told him I'd be needing to get myself to sleep earlier, and that I'd miss our time together -- and he said he might go to sleep earlier too.
I know the path to h#@(( is paved with good intenions, but sometimes they are the start of something positive -- aren't they...? Maaaaybe?
They drew an outline on my chest marking the outside boundaries of where they were to radiate, in black marker. It looks like a great big continent outline. I thought, Cool, I'll have something cool to show the kids. The only thing is...... they never warned me it would come off on my clothes...... it's because I biked home -- I biked more than that actually -- and I sweated. I was wearing proper biking clothes.... I have this nice new new white gore-tex shirt that I got at the last Spokes Babes special...... It's cut nicely, and unzips at the belly for ventilation (or overindulgence, some of us joked.)
Well the marker got that and my new yellow sports bra. I have them in a bucket of cold water & salt..... I really hope it comes out! I will have to wash my chest off every time before I leave, if they are going to do that every time..... They knew I was biking. ONce again I have to wonder -- have they really NEVER had a biker before? That seems strange, especially given the daily thing, which means that you have to choose a radiation place that is at least somewhat convenient..... Maybe no one mentioned it before? All the bikers had the forethought I lacked and realized before they got on their bikes that they would sweat and the marker would come off on their clothes...? Well I will be sure to tell them -- so that the next biker gets warned.....as long as I remember!
There wasn't much choice about appointments, but luckily I got one for the time I needed. All they asked was "morning or afternoon?" I got 8:50. It will be brutal to get there that early all the time, but it ought to help me make bike rides...... And maybe after this week I will be able to offer Matthew rides to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays -- which will mean driving to Georgetown straight from his school. This week I have too many appointments (which I will bike to after radiation, so I'll need my bike there) and besides it's springlike weather this week. He seems to be interested in cooperating, though -- he's asked me to wake him a little earlier. COurse what I want is for him to start out by going to sleep earlier..... well it might happen..... I told him I'd be needing to get myself to sleep earlier, and that I'd miss our time together -- and he said he might go to sleep earlier too.
I know the path to h#@(( is paved with good intenions, but sometimes they are the start of something positive -- aren't they...? Maaaaybe?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Transition time
Well next week is my last week before radiation..... I'm feeling well, energy's good (back on Thursday or Friday I'd say.) HOwever, lots of gas and bloating this time. Alan really thinks it's chemo related -- it ate the intestinal flora, is his theory. COurse I take acidophilus.... and eat yogurt, but I guess it is just going to take time.
Looks like no chemo vein burn though! I will have to make sure the nurses know that what they did last time worked. I think so many patients have ports (surgical openings up in their chests to receive chemo more directly) that they didn't realize...... I still have burn marks from the chemo 7.5 weeks ago and 4.5 weeks ago -- the earlier one is the worse of the two, and still uglier. However, from 1.5 weeks ago looks great, though it itches a little. Last time the nurse gave me saline "next to" the taxotere, which means at the same time. The line had a little divider, and a bag of saline went into one side and the bag of taxotere into the other. Two bags of saline accompanied the taxotere and then another extra bag dripped in after the whole thing was done. That was last time -- and that was what was needed. The time before that there was only the extra bag after, and the burn is maybe 1/3 the size of the burn from 7.5 weeks ago. Don't know why the first taxotere didn't leave a burn mark -- luck? Or maybe the first nurse did somehting -- I didn't know to worry about it then.
I bike back there tomorrow -- same building, but to see my eye doctor -- to make sure my pressures are still okay despite all the steroids. I want to get off of the xalatan (eye med I started to keep pressures controlled during steroids) but my eye doc wants to leave me on it because my pressures are so nice and low with it. It's tempting. I will keep using it through winter -- because I always get spikes in winter. (Maybe because I exercise less -- the weather makes biking iffy, and the days I don't bike I work out for just an hour..... which is fine, but not really comparable to a 3 hour bikeride.) Also I'm more tired in winter I think, and tend to do more caffeine. I noticed it this winter -- and this time I do have the chemo thing going on -- but I think a lot of it is actually seasonal and seems familiar.
I'm lucky the weather was warm today (broke 50) so the ice has mostly thawed -- so biking should work. It might rain..... I'll bring the hurricane jacket in case it does. OH and ALan's sunglasses if he remembers to find them for me. I have to get dilated -- and get this..... there used to be these great reversal drops I used to use after I got dilated, so I could get my pupils back to normal for the ride home and the afternoon/evening with the kids. WELL they stopped making them. They stopped making them because they make no money! I would buy my own bottle happily and bring it to dilation appointments...... but that option apparently doens't exist either. Now there's a failure of the free market/capitalist health care system..... Last time I got dilated the production had stopped already and my eye doctor had saved some -- but it was his last bottle..... that was a year ago. SO tomorrow will be my first time coming home without these drops. One more thing to worry about.
And after that -- I have to think what to do next. I have to say I'm getting bored. Probably it's because I couldn't bike last week...... but I'm starting to think it's time to start taking jobs again..... Let's hope that does it. I'd like to start working on doing some more challenging interpreting -- but do I have time....?
Looks like no chemo vein burn though! I will have to make sure the nurses know that what they did last time worked. I think so many patients have ports (surgical openings up in their chests to receive chemo more directly) that they didn't realize...... I still have burn marks from the chemo 7.5 weeks ago and 4.5 weeks ago -- the earlier one is the worse of the two, and still uglier. However, from 1.5 weeks ago looks great, though it itches a little. Last time the nurse gave me saline "next to" the taxotere, which means at the same time. The line had a little divider, and a bag of saline went into one side and the bag of taxotere into the other. Two bags of saline accompanied the taxotere and then another extra bag dripped in after the whole thing was done. That was last time -- and that was what was needed. The time before that there was only the extra bag after, and the burn is maybe 1/3 the size of the burn from 7.5 weeks ago. Don't know why the first taxotere didn't leave a burn mark -- luck? Or maybe the first nurse did somehting -- I didn't know to worry about it then.
I bike back there tomorrow -- same building, but to see my eye doctor -- to make sure my pressures are still okay despite all the steroids. I want to get off of the xalatan (eye med I started to keep pressures controlled during steroids) but my eye doc wants to leave me on it because my pressures are so nice and low with it. It's tempting. I will keep using it through winter -- because I always get spikes in winter. (Maybe because I exercise less -- the weather makes biking iffy, and the days I don't bike I work out for just an hour..... which is fine, but not really comparable to a 3 hour bikeride.) Also I'm more tired in winter I think, and tend to do more caffeine. I noticed it this winter -- and this time I do have the chemo thing going on -- but I think a lot of it is actually seasonal and seems familiar.
I'm lucky the weather was warm today (broke 50) so the ice has mostly thawed -- so biking should work. It might rain..... I'll bring the hurricane jacket in case it does. OH and ALan's sunglasses if he remembers to find them for me. I have to get dilated -- and get this..... there used to be these great reversal drops I used to use after I got dilated, so I could get my pupils back to normal for the ride home and the afternoon/evening with the kids. WELL they stopped making them. They stopped making them because they make no money! I would buy my own bottle happily and bring it to dilation appointments...... but that option apparently doens't exist either. Now there's a failure of the free market/capitalist health care system..... Last time I got dilated the production had stopped already and my eye doctor had saved some -- but it was his last bottle..... that was a year ago. SO tomorrow will be my first time coming home without these drops. One more thing to worry about.
And after that -- I have to think what to do next. I have to say I'm getting bored. Probably it's because I couldn't bike last week...... but I'm starting to think it's time to start taking jobs again..... Let's hope that does it. I'd like to start working on doing some more challenging interpreting -- but do I have time....?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Parabens & other Chemicals
This post is really by Alan, who hasn't posted in a loooong while. He sent me this info in an email, after I read some info Joan sent me about parabens and bought a pile of paraben-free soap, thinking I was home free....... Anyway I thought it worth sharing. At this point I'm looking at trying to avoid more cancer, prevent recurrences and metastases..... There's a lot of overlap with what everyone else is trying to do, though the intensity of the efforts you all might be willing to put out may vary. I find myself looking at a lot of these links with the eyes of a parent as well.... especially the stuff about girls going through puberty younger. (Did I mention that mine started growing breasts before my cancerous breast was removed? Did I also mention that she's only 11? Sigh.) Anyway here's Alan's email w/ the links.....
See http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=1203361
You might in fact be even more interested in the Breast Cancer Fund report called State of the Evidence 2008: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment. See http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=206137, it looks at all sorts of chemicals and other things.
Two cautions about the first item.
First - the data are not yet in that say there is a clear causative connection between parabens and breast cancer. You might want to cut them anyhow, as a precaution, but it's not a proven thing.
Second - I don't know why titanium dioxide is on this list. I can't find anything about that having any connection to breast cancer or any other kind of cancer (except a protective effect for skin cancer, of course).
See http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=1203361
You might in fact be even more interested in the Breast Cancer Fund report called State of the Evidence 2008: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment. See http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=206137, it looks at all sorts of chemicals and other things.
Two cautions about the first item.
First - the data are not yet in that say there is a clear causative connection between parabens and breast cancer. You might want to cut them anyhow, as a precaution, but it's not a proven thing.
Second - I don't know why titanium dioxide is on this list. I can't find anything about that having any connection to breast cancer or any other kind of cancer (except a protective effect for skin cancer, of course).
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