Forum Replies Created
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- December 8, 2010 at 6:14 am
Hi Pepper,you have a great attitude and I think will have a lot to do with your husband's outcome. I was diagnosed Stage 3 in 2002 and had a complete lymph node dissection in my left axilla, and no interferon. At that time it was the only option for Stage 3 and I don't think that has really changed in the past 8 years. Back then my oncologist tried to convince me to do the interferon but also told me that my chances were slim to survive more than a few years (even with the interferon). I figured that if I might only have a few years left (I was 58 and divorced) I sure wanted them to be good years. I have never regretted my decision and have made the most of my life since 2002. I thank God when I wake up every day, each one is a blessing. By 2004 I had all my legal details finished up and since then have taken 5 cruises and travelled as much as I can afford. I adore my kids and my grandchildren and any time I watch TV or movies I try to make sure they are comedies. Laughter is so important.
I also changed my diet immediately. I would have preferred to go vegan but I am allergic to soy and had no idea how I would get enough protein, so I eliminated red meat first. For me that was the easiest. I eat organic chicken and wild salmon a lot, and have taken various supplements over the years. Vitamins D, C, calcium, zinc, and many others. I eat as much organic food as I can afford and have eliminated white flour and white sugar from my diet. If I can't get fresh fruit and vegetables, I buy organic frozen and make lots of protein shakes. I am not rigid about any part of my diet or lifestyle and more or less 'go with the flow' when I am not at home. I now have few x-rays or scans or skin checks. When you are already Stage 3, I consider skin checks kind of a waste of time (sorry if that offends anyone), as I found my own primary and know darn well that I would never let another one go as far as that one did. Another primary is pretty unusual anyway and I know the first 2 years that is all I thought about. Now the only thing I worry about is sub-q's, and I have many many lumps under the skin on the lower part of my cancer arm as I call it. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last spring and a strange thing is I can't get enough blood out of those fingers on my left hand to do my blood glucose checks, so my poor four fingers on my right hand are getting worn out ;-). Again I have had to change my diet and again it has been for the better. In a way I'm lucky to be on my own.
Life is good, God is good, best wishes to both of you.
Susan M – Stage 3
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- December 8, 2010 at 6:14 am
Hi Pepper,you have a great attitude and I think will have a lot to do with your husband's outcome. I was diagnosed Stage 3 in 2002 and had a complete lymph node dissection in my left axilla, and no interferon. At that time it was the only option for Stage 3 and I don't think that has really changed in the past 8 years. Back then my oncologist tried to convince me to do the interferon but also told me that my chances were slim to survive more than a few years (even with the interferon). I figured that if I might only have a few years left (I was 58 and divorced) I sure wanted them to be good years. I have never regretted my decision and have made the most of my life since 2002. I thank God when I wake up every day, each one is a blessing. By 2004 I had all my legal details finished up and since then have taken 5 cruises and travelled as much as I can afford. I adore my kids and my grandchildren and any time I watch TV or movies I try to make sure they are comedies. Laughter is so important.
I also changed my diet immediately. I would have preferred to go vegan but I am allergic to soy and had no idea how I would get enough protein, so I eliminated red meat first. For me that was the easiest. I eat organic chicken and wild salmon a lot, and have taken various supplements over the years. Vitamins D, C, calcium, zinc, and many others. I eat as much organic food as I can afford and have eliminated white flour and white sugar from my diet. If I can't get fresh fruit and vegetables, I buy organic frozen and make lots of protein shakes. I am not rigid about any part of my diet or lifestyle and more or less 'go with the flow' when I am not at home. I now have few x-rays or scans or skin checks. When you are already Stage 3, I consider skin checks kind of a waste of time (sorry if that offends anyone), as I found my own primary and know darn well that I would never let another one go as far as that one did. Another primary is pretty unusual anyway and I know the first 2 years that is all I thought about. Now the only thing I worry about is sub-q's, and I have many many lumps under the skin on the lower part of my cancer arm as I call it. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last spring and a strange thing is I can't get enough blood out of those fingers on my left hand to do my blood glucose checks, so my poor four fingers on my right hand are getting worn out ;-). Again I have had to change my diet and again it has been for the better. In a way I'm lucky to be on my own.
Life is good, God is good, best wishes to both of you.
Susan M – Stage 3
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