Am chuffed to report that I have lost another kilogram. That is 3 down in about a month. Am sure it will help reduce those millimetres of puffiness from my arm. Had to tell now cos am still in bed, having just done manual lymph drainage massage.
Sometimes I think those blog could be titled Fighting Lymphedema! It's not as if there is nothing else in my life though. Going to two art exhibition openings and a symphony concert tonight, out with friends for dinner tomorrow night but first up have to go for thyroid and cholesterol tests this morning, and with no veins thanks to the chemo, hope it won't be too painful. They must just take blood from my feet.
Anyway, no point in getting tense about it now, Gonna have a fab day...
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday January 15 2009. This is my journey with cancer and other musings as surveyed - initially temporarily hairless - from under my hats.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
super-duper pissed off
My arm both looks and feels terrible. I keep hoping that I am imagining it but don't think so. Last week it was perfect and I pranced around feeling fantastic. Now my left arm feels particularly wobby. And looks thick, plus it was up on Monday when I saw The Lymph Lady.
I will be in despair if I have to wear the compression sleeve. Part of me wants to wear it for a few days to bring my arm down; the other part of me thinks: just enjoy your last days free of a compression sleeve 'cos if it's up on Monday when I see The Lymph Lady, it'll be a compression sleeve for me.
Am praying that it's nothing.
I will be in despair if I have to wear the compression sleeve. Part of me wants to wear it for a few days to bring my arm down; the other part of me thinks: just enjoy your last days free of a compression sleeve 'cos if it's up on Monday when I see The Lymph Lady, it'll be a compression sleeve for me.
Am praying that it's nothing.
Monday, October 4, 2010
my weight
Went to the dietician again today. Even though did not have a satisfactory weekend eating-wise (ie, I ate too much), I was down a kilogram from September 13 although up 1.2kg from Saturday morning on my scale.
Have cut down my eating radically - breakfast and lunch still the same - one slice of rye bread with a protein, and a fruit, for breakfast; and a home-made salad and a fruit for lunch - I have been eating salads only in restaurants, and steamed veggies as per usual at home, but with minimal protein.
It feels great to have lost some weight - am down 2kg, well, that's presuming I will have lost the weekend weight today.
Interesting that The Tango Man told me I would lose weight - said I would get thinner, not thin, and he was sure I would lose the 2kg I had gained in the last few months.
What he didn't say was that I would have to diet stringently to do so but am beginning to think it's the herceptin. The dietician said that her patients have gained weight from herceptin, so it kinda makes sense that now I am no longer on it, the weight is falling off a little. I cannot remember if she said weight gain is stated as a side-effect of herceptin or not but just went to herceptin website and could not find it.
I am so desperate to lose weight cos I was already fat when I was diagnosed - then when I went on tamoxifen, was told I would gain 5% of my body weight and I did, despite running to the dietician the minute I gained over a kilogram.
Then it is said - but not the oncologist surprisingly - that if you're thinner, you have less chance of the cancer returning.
And for me, the big pressing need is my arm and the threat of lymphedema following radiation. The thinner I am, the better my arm is. Today my arm was up 2mm in two places, one surprisingly below the elbow, and it doesn't feel great at all but so far, no compression sleeve again. Seeing The Lymph Lady again next Monday.
Have cut down my eating radically - breakfast and lunch still the same - one slice of rye bread with a protein, and a fruit, for breakfast; and a home-made salad and a fruit for lunch - I have been eating salads only in restaurants, and steamed veggies as per usual at home, but with minimal protein.
It feels great to have lost some weight - am down 2kg, well, that's presuming I will have lost the weekend weight today.
Interesting that The Tango Man told me I would lose weight - said I would get thinner, not thin, and he was sure I would lose the 2kg I had gained in the last few months.
What he didn't say was that I would have to diet stringently to do so but am beginning to think it's the herceptin. The dietician said that her patients have gained weight from herceptin, so it kinda makes sense that now I am no longer on it, the weight is falling off a little. I cannot remember if she said weight gain is stated as a side-effect of herceptin or not but just went to herceptin website and could not find it.
I am so desperate to lose weight cos I was already fat when I was diagnosed - then when I went on tamoxifen, was told I would gain 5% of my body weight and I did, despite running to the dietician the minute I gained over a kilogram.
Then it is said - but not the oncologist surprisingly - that if you're thinner, you have less chance of the cancer returning.
And for me, the big pressing need is my arm and the threat of lymphedema following radiation. The thinner I am, the better my arm is. Today my arm was up 2mm in two places, one surprisingly below the elbow, and it doesn't feel great at all but so far, no compression sleeve again. Seeing The Lymph Lady again next Monday.
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