again with the blues

[eric]

Joy,

I'm so sorry that you have to go thru this as well. Someone on this site said something that's stuck with me a while back...
"This disease MIGHT dictate how long you live but it doesn't have to dictate how you live". As so many have said, none of us really knows what the future holds but one blessing is if we can all learn to appreciate the "now". Enjoy your kids and all that you have and try not to worry about the future (I knoow it's easier said than done).

Big Hugs,
Eric

[Zoid]

Hi Joy,
We all have those days when everything seems grim. What I try to keep in mind is that there is a ton of research going on. When I was initially diagnosed in 2002 at age 32, I had stage IV breast cancer and no one had heard of herceptin. I assumed I wouldn't live long since the tumor was so aggressive. I got AC/T and radiation.

3 yrs ago I found out I had mets to brain and liver - figured that was it, but had Herceptin and Navelbine for 2.5 yrs.(no one had heard of Tykerb then). It was effective for the longest time my oncologist had heard of. After that, the scans showed the tumors were growing again.

I managed to get into the tail end of a clinical trial for Xeloda and Tykerb. 6 weeks in, the scans showed that my tumors were significantly smaller and some had even disappeared.

I assume this combo won't work forever either, but try to keep in mind that by that time, they may have found something even better.

In a wierd way, we're lucky we have such aggressive cancers because they have much more research focusing on them, and it's easier for differentiation between rapidly growing normal cells (i.e. hair) and even more rapidly growing cancer cells.

Hang in there.

Hope this helps,
Susie

[TriciaK]

You have received some wonderful suggestions, Joy! Remember we are all praying for you and thinking of you. One more thing: it has been proven that if you will make your self smile when you feel down, you will actually begin to feel better. Look in the mirror and make yourself smile and then laugh---you really will feel better! I know I can't look at your wonderful smile without smiling! Hope things are better, and remember: keep smiling! Hugs, Tricia

[R.B.]

This is another very recent trial suggesting the importance of omega three to mental well being.

RB


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum


ABSTRACT


"......Experimental studies in animals have shown that diets lacking omega 3 PUFA lead to substantial disturbances in neural function, which in most circumstances can be restored by the inclusion of omega 3 PUFA in the diet. In the past 10 years there has been an emerging interest in treating neuropsychological disorders (depression and schizophrenia) with omega 3 PUFA. This paper discusses the clinical studies conducted in the area of depression and omega 3 PUFA and the possible mechanisms of action of these PUFA. It is clear from the literature that DHA is involved in a variety of processes in neural cells and that its role is far more complex than simply influencing cell membrane properties."

PMID: 17392137 [PubMed - in process]

[karen raines hunt]

Hi Joy,

You were so helpful and encouraging that first day I called "Hope Lives. " Thank you for being there for me. Please know that I will be sending lots of positive thoughts for your scans next week.

Karen