Well yesterday I went for my 3 month appointment at the Oncologist office. I also got the bone density results back. I have osteopenia, which is just a fancy word for thinning bones. He told me to take Vitamin D and Calcium and get another bone density test in a year.
I also had my surgery pre-op appointment. While I'm getting my labs drawn, EKG, and a chest x-ray, it dawned on me that this is really happening! YAY
I cannot wait to get rid of my ovaries since they are producing estrogen that my body hates, but I'm not looking forward to the hot flashes... I've already scoped out a spot on my side of the bed for my personal fan!
The woman that did my pre-op is the same person I had back in July 2010. I told her that and she said "what did you have surgery for last time?" (while she is taping the EKG leads all over my chest and my boobs are there for everyone to see) I said "a double mastectomy, can't you tell?" She said "Oh no, I thought you just had a breast reduction, those look real!" then she says "look" and pulls my gown all the way down to show the nurse in the room my boobs... She was such a hoot and did an excellent job drawing my blood.
Well I am busy at work trying to get everything ready to take off for 2-4 weeks. I can't wait to spend the holidays with my family!
Love to all,
C.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
December 1, 2011 - Importance of Exercise and Eating Healthy
I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving. I know I have a lot to be thankful for!
I was contacted by a fellow blogger, David Haas, to try and spread the word on the importance of exercise and eating healthy after a cancer diagnosis. Below is his article...
"The Importance of Exercise for Individual's Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis
When you are going through the various emotions associated with a cancer diagnosis, one of the last things you are interested in thinking about is exercising to stay fit. However, when you have cancer it is very important to maintain some degree of movement every day, doing this can positively affect how you feel physically and emotionally. Exercise will help you to have more energy, which in turn, will improve your quality of life.
To achieve the aforementioned benefits, you do not have to become a body builder or exercise fanatic, all you need to do is take 10 minutes out of your day to ride a bike or walk around the block.
Exercise Components
Experts have stated that every sensible exercise program has three components. Even an exercise program that includes only a little of each of these components is ideal.
Stretching
Stretching helps keep your muscles and joints flexible, which is important for everyone, from the people diagnosed with colon cancer to the people diagnosed with a rare cancer like mesothelioma. Any individual that is bedridden for any length of time would find stretching extremely beneficial.
An Aerobic Workout
An aerobic workout gets your blood pumping by speeding up your heart rate. Some of the more common aerobic exercises include brisk walking or jogging, bicycling on a stationary bike or outdoors and swimming.
Strength Training
When you strength train you build your muscles and tone your body. This helps you maintain your strength while you are dealing with your disease and when a patient is receiving treatment that can weaken the body.
Exercise is Important
In 2009, the American College of Sports Medicine conducted a study that stressed that cancer patients need to avoid being inactive. Dr. Schmitz, the lead author of the Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia stated that programs for cancer patients that are similar to the cardiac rehab programs would be extremely beneficial.
Dr. Schmitz has stated that the cancer patient’s quality of life will improve and is the main benefit of maintaining a regular exercise program.
Dr. Schmitz, along with her partners in the study, has created realistic, but aggressive guidelines for the cancer patients’ exercise program. This program avoids any tasks that may be too difficult for a cancer patient to overcome. For instance, certain medications or therapies that are used to treat cancer have a tendency to make the patient prone to have bone fractures. This must be realized when creating an exercise program tailored to the cancer patient.
You can ask your support person at the hospital if they have a personal trainer available that caters to the needs of cancer patients. If they do not, contact your local health clubs to inquire about fitness personnel that are trained to work with cancer patients. Do not be apprehensive about asking for the trainer’s documentation concerning his licensing and/or experience."
I was contacted by a fellow blogger, David Haas, to try and spread the word on the importance of exercise and eating healthy after a cancer diagnosis. Below is his article...
"The Importance of Exercise for Individual's Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis
When you are going through the various emotions associated with a cancer diagnosis, one of the last things you are interested in thinking about is exercising to stay fit. However, when you have cancer it is very important to maintain some degree of movement every day, doing this can positively affect how you feel physically and emotionally. Exercise will help you to have more energy, which in turn, will improve your quality of life.
To achieve the aforementioned benefits, you do not have to become a body builder or exercise fanatic, all you need to do is take 10 minutes out of your day to ride a bike or walk around the block.
Exercise Components
Experts have stated that every sensible exercise program has three components. Even an exercise program that includes only a little of each of these components is ideal.
Stretching
Stretching helps keep your muscles and joints flexible, which is important for everyone, from the people diagnosed with colon cancer to the people diagnosed with a rare cancer like mesothelioma. Any individual that is bedridden for any length of time would find stretching extremely beneficial.
An Aerobic Workout
An aerobic workout gets your blood pumping by speeding up your heart rate. Some of the more common aerobic exercises include brisk walking or jogging, bicycling on a stationary bike or outdoors and swimming.
Strength Training
When you strength train you build your muscles and tone your body. This helps you maintain your strength while you are dealing with your disease and when a patient is receiving treatment that can weaken the body.
Exercise is Important
In 2009, the American College of Sports Medicine conducted a study that stressed that cancer patients need to avoid being inactive. Dr. Schmitz, the lead author of the Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia stated that programs for cancer patients that are similar to the cardiac rehab programs would be extremely beneficial.
Dr. Schmitz has stated that the cancer patient’s quality of life will improve and is the main benefit of maintaining a regular exercise program.
Dr. Schmitz, along with her partners in the study, has created realistic, but aggressive guidelines for the cancer patients’ exercise program. This program avoids any tasks that may be too difficult for a cancer patient to overcome. For instance, certain medications or therapies that are used to treat cancer have a tendency to make the patient prone to have bone fractures. This must be realized when creating an exercise program tailored to the cancer patient.
You can ask your support person at the hospital if they have a personal trainer available that caters to the needs of cancer patients. If they do not, contact your local health clubs to inquire about fitness personnel that are trained to work with cancer patients. Do not be apprehensive about asking for the trainer’s documentation concerning his licensing and/or experience."
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