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12-03-2006, 04:07 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
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Anxiety
I'm very blessed to say, I'm cancer-free. But I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately. Just with the normal things we do in life that never has bothered me before and it's starting to affect me on a daily basis. I would love any advice to get rid of this terrible feeling. Thank you!
__________________
Betty,dx 39yrs
--8/05:Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer w/bone met to hip joint
--Her2+,ER+,PR-
--9/05-4/06:(4) AC/Cytoxan every 2 wks & 14 Taxol/Herceptin Weekly
--5/06:Right mastectomy w/tissue expander
--7/06-8/06:(34)Radiation Trmts
--11/06:Reconstructive Surger
--Present:Tamoxifen(5yrs) & Herceptin(every 3wks until January '07)
--Update: CANCER-FREE :o)
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12-03-2006, 05:27 PM
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#2
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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The HER2 Support Group will launch its first program of a series of Teleconferences on December 10th, 2006. Our first guest will be Matthew Loscalzo, MSW who will speak on dealing with the stress of cancer and fear of recurrence for both patient and caregiver. For More Information: MORE INFORMATION
Register Now !!! Attendence is limited: REGISTER HERE
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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12-03-2006, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 543
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Bschutt,
Hopefully you will find a way to overcome your anxiety without recourse to medication.
If this does not happen, besides many antianxiety prescription drugs an MD can choose from, you may consider a non prescription supplement containing Honokiol which is available from various sources ( the most common being Relora). In the lower doses (around 30mg) Honokiol is said to be effective without being sedative as many other medications can be.
Honokiol is also being investigated as an anticancer drug.
Of course you should get the blessing of your caregiver before taking any supplement.
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12-03-2006, 08:24 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Hudson Valley, New York
Posts: 124
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hi
thank you for your post. It seems to us, even at this early stage of our journey, that anxiety is probably going to be at least an occassional visitor, so your post speaks directly to us.
As was already suggested, there are all sorts of very good anti-anxiety meds out there, and a good physician can certainly find the right one for you. Stick with an MD's advice on this if you should consider a medicinal cure.
If this is not a desired course for you at this time, we can suggest formal meditation, which we use. There are great resources for learning how in any bookstore. Focusing on your breath is a great meditation for calming.
We are so glad to hear you are cancer free. Thank you.
---Kevin and Sue---
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12-03-2006, 08:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Try the meditation and supplements, If they don't work, talk to your doc and try the meds. I went for quite a few years trying to ignore the anxiety. The avoidance manuevers to evade the attacks just got to be too much. The meds take the edge off but you still feel like yourself. Good luck, BB.
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12-03-2006, 09:04 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I also tried to avoid meds for anxiety. Finally decided that if chemo and herceptin are good things, maybe the anti-anxiety drugs were also a good thing, at least to get me through treatment. I didn't get addicted. In fact, cut back naturally over time. I Just had to stop Herceptin due to some heart problems. Am glad I had some anti-anxiety medicine left.
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MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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12-03-2006, 10:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I suffered from severe anxiety 4 years ago when my son passed away and my doctor at that time put me on medication - can't remember the name of it. I took it for several months and it really helped. After a few months I found I no longer needed the medication. Now, are being diagnosed with breast cancer I too suffer from anxiety. I think it's due to the fact that it makes you realize just how precious life is. I am currently taking ativan which takes the edge off. It's prescribed for me to take 3 times daily but I don't follow those directions. Some days I need it 3 times and other days I don't need it at all. Meditation helps but sometimes you also need something else. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about it. There is nothing wrong with needing something to help you with the anxiety. Best of luck to you.
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Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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12-03-2006, 10:55 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
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Thank you everyone for your postings. It truly helps to hear all the great advice....this will definitely help me.
__________________
Betty,dx 39yrs
--8/05:Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer w/bone met to hip joint
--Her2+,ER+,PR-
--9/05-4/06:(4) AC/Cytoxan every 2 wks & 14 Taxol/Herceptin Weekly
--5/06:Right mastectomy w/tissue expander
--7/06-8/06:(34)Radiation Trmts
--11/06:Reconstructive Surger
--Present:Tamoxifen(5yrs) & Herceptin(every 3wks until January '07)
--Update: CANCER-FREE :o)
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12-04-2006, 03:20 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 148
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You should look into an AYurvedic Herb called Ashwagandha...It is easily availble in US as tablets. Its really good antioxidant and also is great for anxiety...
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12-04-2006, 04:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 212
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I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, too, after my cancer treatment ended--couldn't make any plans for the future, etc. I sought help and started taking Paxil, which really helped. I also worked with a social worker on stopping those "OH NO, what if..." panic spirals. Finally, I treated myself to regular Reiki treatments at our local wellness center and learned how to do this on myself. All these things were helpful--I know you will find something that works for you, too.
__________________
Audrey
diagnosed July 2001, at age 36
large tumor, 11+ nodes
Stage IIIb, er/pr-, Her2+
treated with A/C, weekly Taxol
radiation, + year of Herceptin
on clinical trial. double mastectomy
followed by reconstruction
NED!!
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