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Andrea Barnett Budin · 10-25-2007, 12:25 PM

-- they'll poison your minds and impact your outcome!

Oh Marie and Ed!! I read the bad news and I embraced the good within it. No organs involved. Brain mets no progression. Great advice from our Sisters. I remember how important it is to stay ahead of the nausea -- not to wait till you feel horrid (like w/migraines). Catch it before it takes hold. My onc and chemo nurses told me at the first sign of queasiness to take Zofran. It worked miraculously for me. That was my big gun. For milder general queasy feeling I took Phenergan. That didn't wipe me out but controlled the problem. I never threw up. I lost 33 lbs, which sounds good now, but I don't recommend the Adriamycin diet. So make it your business to eat or drink calories! A hand full of nuts. Smoothies. Whatever you can tolerate -- 8 X a day. That's your job! A great contribution to HEALING. Try not to focus on hating the cancer but rather on stomping the life out of it, shrinking it into oblivion!

I drink 10 glasses of water every single day of my life. Started w/Adriamycin in '95 and am sticking with the program! Keeps you well hydrated, kidneys functioning, flushes out the toxins and makes your skin less dry, flaky, itchy. Ice chips or whatever during tx so no mouth sores. Saltines or as Pink says those little soup crackers, help absorb toxins I was told. I carried them wherever I went. That and a huge bottle of water.

Pain meds when needed. DO NOT BE A HERO. They don't give out medals for toughing out pain. There is no need to suffer. Anti-depressant or Ativan (anti-anxiety) to keep your morale boosted and yourself in good fighting Spirit!

Hug each other daily. Do not waste a single day without laughing! Watch silly movies. Love and cherish each day and one another generously.

I believe you will find YOUR perfect recipe for success. I wish you had already found it. But, I BELIEVE it exists. When one combination doesn't work, move right along till you find the magic bullet with *your* name on it! Hold on to each other and to that truth, Marie and Ed. THOSE WHO DWELL IN YES ARE THE SURVIVORS. Do not give in. Do not give up. Cancer cannot touch your Soul. Let it guide you through this storm. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will ramp up my torrent of prayers for you to help speed the process. Dwell in YES... I know how discouraged and disheartened you must feel right now, but do your best to shake it off and reach for the awareness that IF ONE PERSON HAS SURVIVED YOUR KIND OF CANCER -- SO CAN YOU! Focus on that. May it give you strength. May the love of all of us give you courage. God bless you for the grace and compassion you live your lives with. And may it be returned to you tenfold!!!!!!!!!!

MUCH LOVE AND MANY HUGS TO YOU BOTH,
Andi

10-25-2007, 12:25 PM	#17
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Stand Clear Of What Ifs And Worst Case Scenarios -- they'll poison your minds and impact your outcome! Oh Marie and Ed!! I read the bad news and I embraced the good within it. No organs involved. Brain mets no progression. Great advice from our Sisters. I remember how important it is to stay ahead of the nausea -- not to wait till you feel horrid (like w/migraines). Catch it before it takes hold. My onc and chemo nurses told me at the first sign of queasiness to take Zofran. It worked miraculously for me. That was my big gun. For milder general queasy feeling I took Phenergan. That didn't wipe me out but controlled the problem. I never threw up. I lost 33 lbs, which sounds good now, but I don't recommend the Adriamycin diet. So make it your business to eat or drink calories! A hand full of nuts. Smoothies. Whatever you can tolerate -- 8 X a day. That's your job! A great contribution to HEALING. Try not to focus on hating the cancer but rather on stomping the life out of it, shrinking it into oblivion! I drink 10 glasses of water every single day of my life. Started w/Adriamycin in '95 and am sticking with the program! Keeps you well hydrated, kidneys functioning, flushes out the toxins and makes your skin less dry, flaky, itchy. Ice chips or whatever during tx so no mouth sores. Saltines or as Pink says those little soup crackers, help absorb toxins I was told. I carried them wherever I went. That and a huge bottle of water. Pain meds when needed. DO NOT BE A HERO. They don't give out medals for toughing out pain. There is no need to suffer. Anti-depressant or Ativan (anti-anxiety) to keep your morale boosted and yourself in good fighting Spirit! Hug each other daily. Do not waste a single day without laughing! Watch silly movies. Love and cherish each day and one another generously. I believe you will find YOUR perfect recipe for success. I wish you had already found it. But, I BELIEVE it exists. When one combination doesn't work, move right along till you find the magic bullet with your name on it! Hold on to each other and to that truth, Marie and Ed. THOSE WHO DWELL IN YES ARE THE SURVIVORS. Do not give in. Do not give up. Cancer cannot touch your Soul. Let it guide you through this storm. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will ramp up my torrent of prayers for you to help speed the process. Dwell in YES... I know how discouraged and disheartened you must feel right now, but do your best to shake it off and reach for the awareness that IF ONE PERSON HAS SURVIVED YOUR KIND OF CANCER -- SO CAN YOU! Focus on that. May it give you strength. May the love of all of us give you courage. God bless you for the grace and compassion you live your lives with. And may it be returned to you tenfold!!!!!!!!!! MUCH LOVE AND MANY HUGS TO YOU BOTH, Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...