About

Nancy, last month didn't you have an article on the new redefinition of the cancer stages? where is it? thanks! carol

Nancy, I just finished reading your book "Cancer was not a Gift..." and wanted to thank you for writing something that I could relate to. I was diagnosed in June of 2015 at age 50 with Stage 2A breast cancer, had a lumpectomy with not clear margins, and then decided on a bilateral mastectomy in August of 2015. Reconstruction with expanders, implants and then nipple reconstruction. Lymph nodes were clear so I started with Tamoxifen for a little over a year and have now been on Arimidex since then. Went off the Arimidex for a month this past August because of side effects, but am now taking it again. Two days after I had my surgery to remove the expanders and put in the implants I and feeling great to be done with all of that, I went to a friends birthday party. As I was feeling on top of the world for a brief moment I had someone start a conversation with me and ask me "Now that you've been given a second chance, don't you think you should give back to society?" I went from a 10 to a 1 in seconds and cried all the way home. I felt I just went through hell and this is what someone says to me? Not asking how I was, but giving me a lecture. Then I felt guilty that he was right. Trying to stay positive was so stressful. I had to tell you your book was so on point for me! As a child we always went to Ely, Minnesota and we currently have a vacation home in northern Minnesota. I have always been fond of the north woods and hate missing the change of seasons, especially the fall up there. My mom also died of cancer...ovarian cancer when she was 50 years old. So, when I was diagnosed at 50 with breast cancer it was very scary for me. Again, I really felt I had to let you know how important your book was to me and thank you for putting it all out there!

Thank God! Somebody finally told the truth! I appreciate your words so much and it resonated with how I felt. But what makes me most angry is when people (well meaning perhaps) saying trite things - like - well, at least it wasn't stage IV. I have neuropathy on top of my right foot and it is painful to walk bare footed on hardwood floors or in most shoes (for that matter). Not all the time but a great portion of the time. I struggle with the fear of lymphdema as I feel my left arm, hand and under arm have some moderate swelling that only I and close friends admit to. It apparently has to be a pull blown cases before your surgeon will recognize it. Probably because it might mess up their perfect record. I have a visible pocket of fluid in the pocket of the hand between the pointer finger and thumb area. But I am still here! Sometimes angry and sometimes depressed and sometimes happy to be alive - regardless!! Thank you, again. I will buy your book.

I have tried Arimidex and Aromasin. Now am going to try the Letrozole. For a 4 percent increase of keeping the cancer from returning for stage 1 breast cancer the side effects seem like a huge health risk factor that one needs to seriously consider. One of the most difficult side effects for me has been the changes in my mood and personality and depression. I am already on an antidepressant for anxiety and depression so this drug has multiplied my symptoms. I feel it speeds up the aging process and accelerates whatever joint/arthritic issues you were going to deal in later years~~~not to mention what it does to your bones~~~it is a doomed if you do and doomed if you don't dilemma that is laid upon us~~~~~

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone has heard of, or taken the antidepressant drug Cymbalta as a joint pain reliever from the effects of an Aromatase Inhibitor? My oncologist recommended I try it (have significant joint pain from an AI) and I read some info on a website that even though it’s an antidepressant, it has pain relieving properties and is prescribed for fibromyalgia and diabetic nerve pain. The website I looked at talked about AI joint pain and some women have had good relief. I’m at the end of my rope trying to stay on an AI (have been on it a year) but the joint pain is almost constant and not relieved with anything.