Bone health after breast cancer

I attended a session on Bone Health - informative for all women. It was done by a physiotherapist, a nutritionist and a pharmacist. It was on how to decrease your chances of developing Osteoporosis (a disease that makes bones thin and weak, meaning you are more susceptible to fractures).

We are done building our bone strength around age 18. We maintain it during our 20's, and start to slowly lose it in our mid-30's. Women start to lose it rapidly at menopause because of the drop in estrogen levels. There are lots of major and minor risk factors - but the one that stands out for cancer survivors is early menopause (before age 45, typically caused by chemo).

What to do? Make sure you are getting enough Calcium, Vitamin D and exercise. The amount varies depending on your age, but a post-menopausal woman should get 1500mg Calcium and 1000 IU's of Vitamin D each day.

Your body makes vitamin D when you are in the sun, but apparently you need your arms and legs exposed, no sunblock, for 5-20 minutes, between the hours of 10 and 2. Not many of us Canadians can do that year round. Most people need to take a mulit-vitamin or supplement to get enough.

The physiotherapist was there to tell us that physical activity helps to keep bones strong - both weight-bearing exercises like walking and running, and resistance/strength training like free weights and push-ups.

They didn't recommend any specific multi-vitamin, just had us all bring whatever we take so we could see how much was in it and think about how much we're getting in our food. My multi-vitamin has 400mg of calcium and 200 IU of Vitamin D. I drink 2 glasses of milk a day, but that still doesn't get me there. I'm going to look for a different multi-vitamin or take some extra calcium and vitamin D...

7+ Months post-chemo

I had my 6 month follow-up today and all is good. My bloodwork is 100% back to normal (finally!!) My oncologist will continue to monitor me, he'll see me in 6 months and do bloodwork again. He ordered a bone density scan (I have never had one yet). I'll have annual mammograms. And just keep my fingers crossed.

Here's my hair - I'm going to keep it this short through the summer and then we'll see. This is my natural hair color, but I'll probably get some highlights soon. It sure is easy!

As for side effects, I still have some numb toes, but not all 10 anymore. They do drive me crazy some days. It still hurts where the original surgery was, but I've stretched enough that my fingers don't fall asleep or get numb anymore. My taste buds are pretty normal, although coffee has never been quite right again. I've pretty much given up on it and mostly drink green tea now.

My eyebrows didn't come back the way they used to be. They're very light and patchy, but that's what eyebrow pencils are for!

My port incision is healed, but still is sore to touch. It took a long time for the last little stitch to come out.

I still have an ache in my lower back and my right hip. It's faded, or I've just gotten used to it. But if I think about it, it's there.

I've been back to work 7 weeks now, full time for the last 3 weeks. I'm tired in the evenings (so are most working people!) It's manageable. I'm enjoying being back, its gone a long way to making me feel 'normal'.

That's all for now. Take care...
Beth

3rd week back at work...

I worked 30 hours this week (6 hour days). Next week will be 7 hour days. I like being at work, I enjoy my job and I work with great people. My plan is to focus on keeping work in its place and not get too stressed about it... Yeah right... Like a lot of companies, it is tough times, and people are asked to cut costs and work smarter. In the 3 weeks I've been back, we are reducing our office space (downsizing the cubicles), and we've done some layoffs (people I respect and know well). I'm glad I'm back if I can help make this easier for anyone, but it sure makes it tough to 'leave work at work'. My advice to others on returning to work is to be sure you have a strategy for handling the stress. For me it is walking/running (outside) and loud music while I fall asleep (blocks out the thoughts running through my head). Headphones.

I'm not going to blog about work, this is my cancer blog. I think I'm almost done, I want the cancer story to come to an end. My oncologist bumped this month's appointment to next month. I want to hear that my blood work is back to normal and have him confirm the mammogram was clean. I want to tell you the follow-up plan, and then be done.

Take care everyone.
Beth

2nd Week Back at Work

It was a good week, I worked 25 hours over 5 days. I am enjoying being back in the middle of things, it makes me feel much more normal. I am still walking most days, and even ran a few km last night (avoiding the slushy puddles). It felt good.

Kids are rebelling in their own special little ways (they are used to me being home, even if they are teenagers now). Mornings are not so wonderful, Zach missed an entire morning of school (just didn't wake up until noon - not his fault you know). He may be one of those guys that needs 2 or 3 alarm clocks in his room...

Have a great weekend!

Goodbye Renee

Rest in Peace, Renee

obit

Working and Sleeping

I'm enjoying being back at work. I feel like I'm playing dress-up everyday (business casual office). And all these friendly people around (I'm so used to being alone on my couch, in my sweats or jammies). The thing is though, after 4 hours each day, I need a nap in the afternoon, and I'm still in bed by 8:30pm. Asleep in a second. I'm not getting up any earlier than I was - I still drive Carter to school and then head on to work instead of returning home, but wow am I tired. Can't keep my eyes open.

Yesterday evening I drove Carter to the outdoor skating rink, which is only a couple of blocks away. I made 2 wrong turns. He was looking at me funny. He asked me if I was okay to drive, if I was on any pain medication that could affect my driving. He's 12. I said no, not on anything, this is what being tired does to my brain. Hard to focus on what I'm doing.

We'll see if I can stay up tonight (I have to, we watch "Survivor" !!)

Back to Work

I started back to work this week. I'm happy to be back. Tired in the evenings, but hopefully that will get better quickly.

My son left me a note yesterday saying 'your manogram is good'. I was quite suprised that they would leave the message with him, but they probably thought it was my husband, he has such a deep voice now. Excellent news, now I just want some good bloodwork next month and all is good.

Have a great day!