Breast Cancer in the News - - Here's What I'm Reading

When a Breast Cancer Surgeon's Mother Undergoes a Double Mastectomy
Washingtonian - July 5, 2011

Brooklyn Cancer Survivor Receives Donations Of Breast Milk For Her Baby
CBS New York - July 28, 2011

Breast Cancer: Tamoxifen Saves Lives but Some Women Go Without It - ABC News
July 29, 2011

            

'nuff said

Found this picture on another blog and thought it was perfect for mine: Live the Charmed Life

Clean Boob of Health

If you hadn't guessed by my month-long departure from this blog, we finally went on that long-awaited, much-deserved vacation I had been looking forward to. We went to Brussels, with day trips to Bruges, Leuven & Amsterdam, for about 9 days in May and had a wonderful time. Usually when we go on vacation I can immediately forget about everything I'm leaving behind and just bask in the relaxation and fun and culture of the trip. This time, it took me until at least half-way through the trip to finally start to relax and shed all the stress I had brought with me. Leading up to the trip I had been trying to finish up all my coursework, from my two incomplete classes at school. I had assignments and exams to makeup and was such a stressed-out mess that my face broke out in stress-induced dermatitis (according to my new dermatologist). We've been back from Brussels just over two weeks now and I'm finally beginning to feel like a normal person again. And it's summer, my favorite time of year, so I'm the happiest girl in America right now!


Today was my first post-mastectomy, post-implants mammogram of my right breast. I was really nervous about squishing my implant in that crazy machine. I had to sign a paper stating that I understand that while it is extremely uncommon, there is a possibility of implant rupture and further, that the benefit of the screening outweighs the risk of an implant rupture. It was explained to me that normally only two images are taken of each breast (only one breast in my case), but that with implants four images are taken: two of the whole breast (front & side) and two of just as much breast tissue as they can image while pushing the implant as far into the back of your chest as possible (front & side). I have had a mammogram before so I wasn't surprised by the yanking and pulling, followed by incredible pressure; but when the technician had to push the implant out of the way in order to take a picture of just breast tissue alone, that was definitely a bit uncomfortable. In the end all that matters is that when the doctor called me to her office to review the results of the exam, she gave me a clean boob of health! Woohoo!


My technician was a young girl who's friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer. The friend, who is only 37, has two young children. I told her to please tell her friend about Young Survival Coalition, so I think it's fitting that I give another "shout out" here to the YSC. Young Survival Coalition's website and support group meetings were very helpful to me before each of my surgeries. Check out their website here.

S-T-R-E-S-S

The word "stress" does not even begin to describe what I've been experiencing the past few weeks. Between still reeling from our cancer experience, running around like crazy in order to take make-up classes at school during lunch breaks and early evenings from work, and deadlines for a final paper and final exam approaching, plus the non-stop stampeding of the toddler upstairs, I've been ready to blow my top any second.


Over the past two or three weeks I developed some scaly dry red patches under my nose and on my chin. I went to a dermatologist who decided it looked like a type of dermatitis triggered by...you guessed it, stress! She said "Have you been under a lot of stress recently?" My first reaction was just to laugh. Sometimes when there's nothing else left, that is all you can do. This morning, D went to a cardiologist for a chest pain he'd been having. After thoroughly checking his heart and lungs it turns out it's probably just...yep, stress.


The good news is that after busting my butt for the past few weeks, I've crossed most of my responsibilities off my list and this weekend all I need to do is make two tiny adjustments to my final paper and continue studying for my exam next Wednesday. I'm so prepared that I don't have to cram all weekend either. Our yoga teacher is out tomorrow but I think we're gonna hit up our back-up yoga spot. The best news of all? Our vacation is getting closer and closer.

Bottom's up?...Hold that thought!

Recently I decided to limit my alcohol consumption to no more than 3 drinks per week (giving up alcohol for Lent helped me "reset" my wine-drinking habits). I decided to make this change because I know that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. I want to do everything I can to prevent a recurrence or new cancer. When I explain this to people they are always surprised. They had no idea that consuming alcohol could increase your risk for breast cancer and that the risk increases with increased consumption of alcohol.

The American Cancer Society says:

The use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and liver. The American Cancer Society recommends that women limit their consumption of alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

While the American Cancer Society refers to a "one drink a day" recommended limit on alcohol consumption, a pamphlet I have at home, from breastcancer.org, entitled "Your Guide to Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer" recommends limiting your alcohol intake to "fewer than 5 drinks a week."

If you want to know what you can do to reduce your breast cancer risk, limiting your alcohol is one place you can start.

For more information on reducing your risk for breast cancer, visit the American Cancer Society website or breastcancer.org.

Time to hit the books...and get some "Crazy Sexy" inspiration!

Two weeks ago I did my best to sneek into a classroom and be the best "guest" I could be, sitting out of the way and being as quiet as possible.

This week, however, was my first week really back in the swing of things, as I returned to both of the classes that I had taken incompletes in last fall. I spent Monday running back and forth between work and school in order to fit 2 classes into my day. Once again, I sat in a corner and didn't participate. I felt like I was crashing a party. This wasn't really my class, so I should remain as invisible as possible. Then I realized, "I'm doing it again. I need to stop apologizing for my cancer!" I have just as much right as anyone to raise my hand and speak up, plus it will probably help my grades. So, with the 3-1/2 weeks I have left of this make-up semester, I plan to fully participate as much as possible.

On another note, I got a great reminder today about a cancer survivor who's story and website I absolutely love. Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer in her early 30s. Her reaction was to set off on a hunt for alternative therapies, filming the whole thing along the way. I saw Kris Carr's documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, when it premiered on TLC in 2007, and immediately fell in love. I remember thinking Ms. Carr was so likable and truly admirable. But I completely forgot about this wonderful resource as I was going through my own journey, until a friend reminded me about her today. Just this morning I was thinking I wanted to get a new book for our upcoming vacation. I think I'll get Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor. Cancer or no, I strongly recommend you check out Kris' websites (also listed under "Breast Cancer Resources" in the right frame):

Crazy Sexy Cancer

Crazy Sexy Life

A New Start, Courtesy of Lent

Lent began just over a month ago on Ash Wednesday, March 9. Catholics traditionally give up something during the observance of Lent, from Ash Wednesday until Easter. I love Lent because I view it as a fun and exciting opportunity to challenge myself and start fresh with a change of pace. I love that Lent comes at the start of Spring. It's the perfect time to make a new beginning by changing bad habits. This year, Lent came at a time when I was also thinking about how to take even better care of my health, to do everything in my power to protect my body from a cancer recurrence or a new cancer. From the time I found out I had cancer, I had slacked off on my healthy eating behaviors and I had developed some bad habits I wanted to correct. I know that alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk and that this risk increases with increased consumption of alcohol. I love wine and was in the habit of drinking a glass or two with dinner every week, a few nights per week. I also had some food consumption habits that I wanted to break. This year for Lent, I really went for it, giving up all of the following:

• Meat, 100% (For the past year we've been vegetarian with a once-a-month meat benefit but during Lent meat is completely off limits for both me and my husband. We still eat eggs, dairy, fish & seafood.)
• Wine (& all other alcohol)
• The decadent milk hot chocolate from my absolute favorite spot (I'm not giving it away that easy!)
• Butter (I had been using the best real butter option, Land O' Lakes Light Butter w/ Canola Oil, but have switched to I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light)
• My favorite Organic Valley 1% Organic Chocolate Milk (I have limited these to one per day. It was not a regular occurrence for me to drink more than one per day but it certainly happened every now and then. I am limiting these because they are 1%, not skim, and the chocolate flavor means added sugars.)

For more information on risk factors for breast cancer, please see this page from the American Cancer Society website.