thank you so much for the wise words. it really does help to know there are others who do understand.
good luck and God Bless you as you battle this malady.
Mary

Sounds like we really have a lot in common in our thinking. Never thought I'd feel that at my age I would be eliminating those I felt were so close to me, but looks like when I made up my mind to fight the battle, it meant colateral damage too. If people don't understand then it is because they don't wish to understand. It is a hard nut to break but oh well. Ah yes, bc is a lesson in itself. I wish all of you who are going through this event, peace. Sometimes you just have to go it on your own. I have great faith in my onc probably because she herself is a bc survivor, and I truly believe she understands what I am going through. Thank God my husband has not disappointed me too but I wouldn't have expected him to be any different. I believe I will be on this site for quite a time yet as I work my way through it all. I was informed by my onc dr on Friday that I will be on herceptin until the end of March. I will stay positive.
Mary

I know many of you try to eat well and so do I, but one problem I have is being very sensitive to the steriods. Even when I try my best to eat well, I have very strong cravings for sweets, Cheetos and other non-nutrious foods. I have gained so much weight since I started chemo and when I was on break from chemo I began to lose it very fast, but gained it all back when I started taking them again. Does anyone else have these tremendous cravings and how do you keep from gaining so much weight. I feel like the steroids have so much control over my life and I feel so weak. Any suggestions?

Vanessa,

I get the cravings for the sweets with the Decadron and I just let my body tell me what it wants. I'm fortunate that my weight has remained stable so I'm not going to worry about it. I think we're supposed to be enjoying life and if eating some things that we know we shouldn't is enjoyable then do it. Don't sweat the small stuff. There are bigger battles to fight than gaining a few pounds.

Thank you Kate for the reassurance and I think you are right. I just feel so uncomfortable. I gained 40 lbs during my first chemo, then lost 20. Gained 30 back when I started chemo again. I feel miserable, but my appetite just won't stop. Maybe I worry about my weight in lieu of worrying about my fate, because it does seem like the least of my worries. I hope you are feeling well these days and your treatment is going well.

Vanessa, Don't beat youself up about the weight gain. I think the stress of worrying over the weight gain is worse than gaining the weight. Stress can play such havac on our bodies. Eat the best way you can and don't worry about it. Concentrate on enjoying life and laugh alot. That I believe is the best way to defeat this disease.

VANESSA, don't worry about the weight gain. You are going t hrough so much right now and the steroids are horrific. Treat yourself good and indulge yourself. If possible exercise even if it is only 10 minutes 3 times a day of walking. That may help, but I can tell you I was so miserable towards the end of my chemo w/the steroids I actually wound up having to get insulin, my sugars went over 400. My onc kept telling me it was the steroids and chemo and would go back down to normal, but my family dr put me on the insulin anyway. I am still on herceptin and my appetite is too good, but I refuse to worry about something that is out of my control, if I am hungry I eat, and I try to watch what i eat, but nobody knows what it is like unless they are going through it. You will get back to normal but it WILL take time, maybe over a year, but you can do it THEN. Mary