Goodreads Giveaway to Aussie Readers

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My Book Currently in the top 10

My book is available as an e=book or paperback on Amazon.com Fighting The Storm - My Breast Cancer Journey

http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Storm-Breast-Cancer-Journey-ebook/dp/B017UTFFRQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1453013528&sr=1-1&keywords=fighting+the+storm

Sugar

This Common Dietary Ingredient May Increase Breast Cancer and Lung Metastasis Risk
According to a recent study, 30% of mice in a controlled group developed breast cancer after six months compared to 50%-58% of mice that were given this ingredient commonly found in your kitchen.
This dietary ingredient could be a trigger for breast cancer and lung metastasis
One commonly hypothesized "trigger" of cancer metastasis that researchers have been focused on for years is an item found in basically every American household: sugar. Sugar is a source of energy for healthy cells in our bodies, but researchers have long postulated that it could also be the energy source that kicks cancer cells into overdrive. However, proving this hypothesis has been a challenge -- until now.

Headscarf or Wig?

When you are about to start chemo and you know you will lose your hair one of the big decisions you will have to make is whether to wear a headscarf or wig,some people also decide not to wear anything. What will you choose? A headscarf or wig? Whatever you decide you have to choose the option that you feel most comfortable with. I couldn't bring myself to buy a wig, for me it was an easier option to choose to wear headscarves, beanies and hats. They were comfortable, pretty, and fun. I wore an under scarf/headwrap of cotton fabric and wore slouch beanies over the top when I went out. Some days I wore a headscarf but I was most comfortable with my beanies. When I was in the privacy of my home I wore only the cotton under scarf/ head wrap. My beanies were pink, black, white and beige.They became a kind of security blanket. I have kept them as a reminder. I wore the slouch beanies because they are larger than the average beanie and fit better on my head so people couldn't see my baldness

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Tamoxifen and Zoladex

I was on tamoxifen and zoladex for two and a half years. My belief was that both of those together would stop any recurrence, especially a recurrence of the same er+ pr+ breast cancer. After all, tamoxifen is used to block or kill any cells and zoladex puts my ovaries to sleep, so I will be producing little to no estrogen. For two and a half years I was in menopause, hot flashes, the works. I was safe, at least from getting breast cancer again, maybe I would get a secondary cancer but it wouldn't return in my breasts, right? WRONG.
Apparently, there is only a 4% chance of a recurrence or being diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast when on this treatment . I am in that 4%.
My point, if you are on this treatment, keep checking your breasts, don't think that this treatment will stop your chances of getting breast cancer again. It does lower your chances, yes, but it doesn't stop the cancer from coming back. Be and stay vigilant.


Tamoxifen and Zoladex (chemical name: goserelin) are hormonal therapy medicines used to lower the risk of breast cancer coming back (recurrence) in premenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. A study found that tamoxifen and Zoladex work about the same to lower the risk of breast cancer coming back.

Estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers grow. Hormonal therapy medicines treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers in two ways:

by blocking the action of estrogen in the body
by lowering the amount of estrogen in the body

Being Bald

Found this on Pinterest. Awesome

Breast Cancer Treatment - The nasty Zoladex Injections

What is Zoladex??

Zoladex (goserelin acetate) Implant 3.6 mg is used in men to treat symptoms of prostate cancer, and in women to treat breast cancer or endometriosis. It is also used in women to prepare the lining of the uterus for endometrial ablation (a surgery to correct abnormal uterine bleeding).
If you are on zoladex implants as part of your treatment then you will be familiar with the not so wonderful side effects. Let's start with the more serious side effects-

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

back pain, severe numbness or tingling in your legs or feet;
muscle weakness, problems with balance or coordination;
loss of bladder or bowel control;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
pain or burning when you urinate;
blood in your urine or stools;
feeling like you might pass out;
trouble breathing;
pale skin, easy bruising;
nausea, loss of appetite, increased thirst, muscle weakness, confusion, and feeling tired or restless;
high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);
sudden numbness or weakness, sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision or speech; or
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

hot flashes, sweating, headache, dizziness;
mood changes, increased or decreased interest in sex;
vaginal dryness, itching, or discharge;
impotence, fewer erections than normal;
breast swelling or tenderness;
bone pain;
diarrhea, constipation;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
acne, mild skin rash or itching.

Yes, yes and yes. and let's add to that list tiredness.

What is it used for ?
Zoladex prevents the production of certain types of hormones in the body. It is used to treat prostate or breast cancers which are sensitive to hormones. It is not suitable for children or for treating cancers which are not sensitive to hormones. Zoladex is also used in women who are having surgery or other procedures to treat uterine fibroids or other uterine problems. Zoladex is also used to treat endometriosis or as part of a programme of fertility treatment in women.

Zoladex is an implant – it will be implanted by a healthcare professional. The person responsible for giving you your medicine will make sure that you get the right dose.

Some people will have zoladex injections every twenty eight days for two years. Others, like me will have them evry twenty eight days for five years.

Doc Neeson

Sad news today that Doc Neeson, frontman for The Angels, one of my favourite bands as a teenager, has passed away from a brain tumour . R.I.P Doc Neeson.