DAWN

Jun 26, 08 - 9:04 AM

6 month checkup Friday

Had my eyes checked last friday in town, Friday is Mayo, with blood test..mammos and radiation and chemo oncolgy meeting..Tuesday in the annual lower unit check in Red Wing...can't combine them to one doctor..oh well.that means more people making sure its gone, right?

I love my hair..even thou it's a bit dark..and it is so soft and sweet. It never tangles or even snarls.

I haven been cheating with the smoking thing more recently...maybe stress..but still taking the chantix so next week with a clean bill of health I can try again!

ray

Jun 26th, 2008 - 9:36 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

dawn - i would not be hard on yourself and i think you got the right attirtude!...i think worry about the check-ups must be really taxing and agonizing. glad to hear you are happy wiht your hair!...must been real tough watching it all come out...good sign though ...means treamteents were working!

by the way i had one cig yesterday and one the day before - around late afternoon...i grabbed a menthol from the worker downstairs as i really do not care for them much

chewing less gun already..hang in girl and will be looking forward to the good news end of the week!

Lola

Jun 26th, 2008 - 9:55 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Good luck with your tests, hope you pass them all!! I'll be having a little dental surgery tomorrow to remove a crooked root. Then it will be me and an icepack for the rest of the day!

.

ray

Jun 26th, 2008 - 11:07 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

lola - ouch - hope it goes easy on you.

bozz

Jun 26th, 2008 - 12:36 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

upper unit and lower unit are never to be checked at the same time...lol....lotsa positive vibe sent your way friend....i've smoked all my beadies, so i've been cold turkey for a few days....not so easy, but manageable...we can all do it......peace

CC

Jun 27th, 2008 - 12:46 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Dawn,
I wish you a "Clean Bill of Health" when you go in. I am sure it will be. From what you have posted over the last several months, you have some great doctors, nurses, and support groups.

PS: Don't be hard on yourself smoking. Keep it in check and continue to try to quit, but take it one day at a time.

ray

Jun 27th, 2008 - 3:34 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

dawn - how did you make out today???

Lola

Jun 28th, 2008 - 7:44 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Hey DAWN, how did it go? All goood news I pray! Any good food tales for the day?

My procedure is done, hardest part is keeping the ice on my face, its just an awkward location, covers up one eye etc. Only a few more hours of icing to go. No real pain, but my lip sure itched during the night as the anaesthetic wore off!
.

bozz

Jun 28th, 2008 - 9:35 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

dawn, let us know if you are ok....thinking of you...

lola, glad you feel better...dental stuff can be a b*tch...

ray

Jun 28th, 2008 - 10:21 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

lola - just hate the lip itchy thing - very annoyin...happy all went well...hope everything is okay with dawwn!

Tammy

Jun 28th, 2008 - 12:24 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Hope you got an A+ on all test. Let us know something.

DAWN

Jun 28th, 2008 - 5:22 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

It went really well. Long day with a hangover. Future roomate talked me into going out and playing bargo..bingo really..she won $225. I was all too happy to help her celebrate rather then sit home and think.

They found a small spot on my incision scar so they ordered an ultra sound too. I threw up in the bathroom between those tests..but ultra confirmed what they thought it was was fluid at the scar. fairly common..they won't do anything like draining as you open yourself up to infection..just watch it.

Dr P said..you don't drink do you? Ah yes..preceded to question me what why and how.."aren't you worried about your liver?" She said the smoking would be easier to kick if I didn't drink too...mentioned that I should get some new friends that don't drink. (wonder were I would find them) Also STRONGLY suggested taking this next year to get healthy and in shape. I look at Windy and myself and think she might be onto something.

All the side effects I still have are "normal" and from the chemo. They just need to work themselves out of my system. She approved my vitamins. And with all this about Vit D preventing cancer.. she approved that I can take up to 800 mg a day. Also mentioned sunshine..I try to sit on my deck every day when I get home, even if only for 10 minutes.

This morning I got up early this morning as I didn't go to the bar and celebrate the clean bill of health. Roasted some jerk bbq pork ribs, made a coleslaw and brownies. Carried them over to my ja friends at the Harbor..Decided I just wanted to be home so I dished myself a plate and left the rest for them to share for dinner.

Now I am curled up on the couch and going to watch a movies...its chilly windy and on and off rain..I am snuggling in with my healthy self!

Lola

Jun 28th, 2008 - 7:29 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Dawn, it sounds like you have a very caring doctor!!

There are plenty of great people for whom drinking is not a major activity; do the other things you like to do & you will find them!!

Thank you AGAIN for sharing your treatment and healing journey with us. I have learned so much and have an understanding and appreciation of it that I never had before.

.

ray

Jun 28th, 2008 - 8:40 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

congratulations on your success of these past difficlut challenges! so glad to hear the good news!

- the only way is up gtom here

new challenges presented

- i m sure you will have continued success - it's a process not an event

well, it seems that your three new challengs go hand in hand - as drinkiung leads to smoking...working on less drinking will lead to less smoking,

the third challenge of eating better is more difficult...may i suggest using a calorie counting system? i say this because one really wants to eat when they quit smoking - finding things that are low cal but full of flavor will let you eat more without putting on weight and you can substitute higher calorie dishes for lower calorie to eat more....i did this the last time i had seroously quit smoking and actually lose weight. integrating some regular exercise will make you want to eat better and burn some calories and smoke less or not at all. attacking these three challenges together in a systematic way will give you greater successs on all three! you can tweak each of them until you have had success on all three!

i m here with you as i am trying to do all three too!!! let's support one another and our fellow boardies!

who knows...maybe it will be contagious...

Lola

Jun 29th, 2008 - 9:14 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

I have found the easiest way to improve my eating habits is to increase the variety of fresh vegetables and fruits in my meals. This is the best time of year for it too! Start every meal with the healthiest items and savor the least nutritious (grain products, fats, sweets) at the end. Your body will digest everything better and you will be less likely to overeat the unhealthy items. Become willing to try new fruits and veggies and take a few minutes to prepare them attractively. You are so worth it!!!

It takes time to change your habits, and if you can stick with it for a week at a time, you will begin to feel positive results. Some people will find they do best with small changes every week, others can manage major changes. Always listen to your own body and intuition. Sometimes you need to 'come off of' certain foods slowly because your body has built up a tolerance to and dependence on them. Some foods you may have no trouble starting to eat or letting go of.

The most believable calorie information I have found is to consume approximately 10 calories for every pound of our ideal weight.
.

ray

Jun 29th, 2008 - 10:22 AM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

how u do that lola? like you tuned into me there ... anyways seriously I was on your wave length this morning!...just picked up some nectarines, peaches, black plums, canteloupe and blueberries...n lettuce, onions and some white corn!

Later getting some grapes, watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, honey dew and bananas and some peps, cucs and broccoli...afraid of he tomatoes though...will just have to wait for my own to be ready!

gonna make some furit salad for breakfast/apps for dinner this week...maybe some lunch, too. I just love some cold fresh fruit salad in the morning to wake you up - with some water or oj...mmm...mmm.

along with fruit on the menu, i got veges, salads nad a batch of rice and peas as well! Rice and peas are one of my favorite dishes of all time. finally, some skim milk and nonfat yogurts to replace some meat...a likkle tuna and maybe some other fish ...n some lean chicken - smaller portions though

was pleasantly surpirsed with the food prices this coming week...some really great deals and gonna stock and rock!

gonna take care on the holiday - a healthy pasta salad instead of potato and macaroni salads...some lean chicken...corn on the cob - no butter of course (i like to slow roast it after seasoning with a little paprika and cayeene pepper...i pull back the greens, season and replace....cut off the very top of the leaves...yummy.) and dessert - what else - some more fruit. appetizers? ....cut up veges with some non fat yogurt dip and of course, what else but more fruit...

and jsut to be a likkle bad...some of ray's world famous baby back ribs - boiled gently with some thyme and sage, a little garlic, onion, pepper, vinegar and wine....the cooled, and rubbed with ray's own homemade rub.....then smothered with my own home made bar-b-q sauce and slow cooked on the grill til it ready to fall off the bone. and maybe some kida grilled shrimp ...

have some freinds over like i am and give them some healthy options...they desserve it and like lola said ...so do you!

oh and by the way - serving hamburgers??? here is a tip add some cooked, cooled, black beans to the meat for an unusal but tasty and more healthy burger - you can add up to half the volume in beans although i found 25% works best!

Tammy

Jun 30th, 2008 - 8:13 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

Well I will be in Florida and more than likely eating friend food with plenty grease. lolol Definitely will not be a healthy kind of weekend I'm sure. I am so ready for the Blue Water, Cold Beer, Sand, and good food. Already got plans for Sat. and Sun. Reggae on the beach. I am ready to get on the road.

ray

Jun 30th, 2008 - 9:22 PM

Re: 6 month checkup Friday

well that certainly calls for some eceptions to me made

have fun - your deserve it there girl!

Author	Comment
DAWN Jun 26, 08 - 9:04 AM	6 month checkup Friday Had my eyes checked last friday in town, Friday is Mayo, with blood test..mammos and radiation and chemo oncolgy meeting..Tuesday in the annual lower unit check in Red Wing...can't combine them to one doctor..oh well.that means more people making sure its gone, right? I love my hair..even thou it's a bit dark..and it is so soft and sweet. It never tangles or even snarls. I haven been cheating with the smoking thing more recently...maybe stress..but still taking the chantix so next week with a clean bill of health I can try again! Email: dawncancook@Yahoo.com
ray Jun 26th, 2008 - 9:36 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday dawn - i would not be hard on yourself and i think you got the right attirtude!...i think worry about the check-ups must be really taxing and agonizing. glad to hear you are happy wiht your hair!...must been real tough watching it all come out...good sign though ...means treamteents were working! by the way i had one cig yesterday and one the day before - around late afternoon...i grabbed a menthol from the worker downstairs as i really do not care for them much chewing less gun already..hang in girl and will be looking forward to the good news end of the week!
Lola Jun 26th, 2008 - 9:55 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Good luck with your tests, hope you pass them all!! I'll be having a little dental surgery tomorrow to remove a crooked root. Then it will be me and an icepack for the rest of the day! .
ray Jun 26th, 2008 - 11:07 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday lola - ouch - hope it goes easy on you.
bozz Jun 26th, 2008 - 12:36 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday upper unit and lower unit are never to be checked at the same time...lol....lotsa positive vibe sent your way friend....i've smoked all my beadies, so i've been cold turkey for a few days....not so easy, but manageable...we can all do it......peace
CC Jun 27th, 2008 - 12:46 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Dawn, I wish you a "Clean Bill of Health" when you go in. I am sure it will be. From what you have posted over the last several months, you have some great doctors, nurses, and support groups. PS: Don't be hard on yourself smoking. Keep it in check and continue to try to quit, but take it one day at a time. Email: negrilblues@yahoo.com
ray Jun 27th, 2008 - 3:34 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday dawn - how did you make out today???
Lola Jun 28th, 2008 - 7:44 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Hey DAWN, how did it go? All goood news I pray! Any good food tales for the day? My procedure is done, hardest part is keeping the ice on my face, its just an awkward location, covers up one eye etc. Only a few more hours of icing to go. No real pain, but my lip sure itched during the night as the anaesthetic wore off! .
bozz Jun 28th, 2008 - 9:35 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday dawn, let us know if you are ok....thinking of you... lola, glad you feel better...dental stuff can be a b*tch...
ray Jun 28th, 2008 - 10:21 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday lola - just hate the lip itchy thing - very annoyin...happy all went well...hope everything is okay with dawwn!
Tammy Jun 28th, 2008 - 12:24 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Hope you got an A+ on all test. Let us know something.
DAWN Jun 28th, 2008 - 5:22 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday It went really well. Long day with a hangover. Future roomate talked me into going out and playing bargo..bingo really..she won $225. I was all too happy to help her celebrate rather then sit home and think. They found a small spot on my incision scar so they ordered an ultra sound too. I threw up in the bathroom between those tests..but ultra confirmed what they thought it was was fluid at the scar. fairly common..they won't do anything like draining as you open yourself up to infection..just watch it. Dr P said..you don't drink do you? Ah yes..preceded to question me what why and how.."aren't you worried about your liver?" She said the smoking would be easier to kick if I didn't drink too...mentioned that I should get some new friends that don't drink. (wonder were I would find them) Also STRONGLY suggested taking this next year to get healthy and in shape. I look at Windy and myself and think she might be onto something. All the side effects I still have are "normal" and from the chemo. They just need to work themselves out of my system. She approved my vitamins. And with all this about Vit D preventing cancer.. she approved that I can take up to 800 mg a day. Also mentioned sunshine..I try to sit on my deck every day when I get home, even if only for 10 minutes. This morning I got up early this morning as I didn't go to the bar and celebrate the clean bill of health. Roasted some jerk bbq pork ribs, made a coleslaw and brownies. Carried them over to my ja friends at the Harbor..Decided I just wanted to be home so I dished myself a plate and left the rest for them to share for dinner. Now I am curled up on the couch and going to watch a movies...its chilly windy and on and off rain..I am snuggling in with my healthy self! Email: dawncancook@yahoo.com
Lola Jun 28th, 2008 - 7:29 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Dawn, it sounds like you have a very caring doctor!! There are plenty of great people for whom drinking is not a major activity; do the other things you like to do & you will find them!! Thank you AGAIN for sharing your treatment and healing journey with us. I have learned so much and have an understanding and appreciation of it that I never had before. .
ray Jun 28th, 2008 - 8:40 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday congratulations on your success of these past difficlut challenges! so glad to hear the good news! - the only way is up gtom here new challenges presented - i m sure you will have continued success - it's a process not an event well, it seems that your three new challengs go hand in hand - as drinkiung leads to smoking...working on less drinking will lead to less smoking, the third challenge of eating better is more difficult...may i suggest using a calorie counting system? i say this because one really wants to eat when they quit smoking - finding things that are low cal but full of flavor will let you eat more without putting on weight and you can substitute higher calorie dishes for lower calorie to eat more....i did this the last time i had seroously quit smoking and actually lose weight. integrating some regular exercise will make you want to eat better and burn some calories and smoke less or not at all. attacking these three challenges together in a systematic way will give you greater successs on all three! you can tweak each of them until you have had success on all three! i m here with you as i am trying to do all three too!!! let's support one another and our fellow boardies! who knows...maybe it will be contagious...
Lola Jun 29th, 2008 - 9:14 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday I have found the easiest way to improve my eating habits is to increase the variety of fresh vegetables and fruits in my meals. This is the best time of year for it too! Start every meal with the healthiest items and savor the least nutritious (grain products, fats, sweets) at the end. Your body will digest everything better and you will be less likely to overeat the unhealthy items. Become willing to try new fruits and veggies and take a few minutes to prepare them attractively. You are so worth it!!! It takes time to change your habits, and if you can stick with it for a week at a time, you will begin to feel positive results. Some people will find they do best with small changes every week, others can manage major changes. Always listen to your own body and intuition. Sometimes you need to 'come off of' certain foods slowly because your body has built up a tolerance to and dependence on them. Some foods you may have no trouble starting to eat or letting go of. The most believable calorie information I have found is to consume approximately 10 calories for every pound of our ideal weight. .
ray Jun 29th, 2008 - 10:22 AM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday how u do that lola? like you tuned into me there ... anyways seriously I was on your wave length this morning!...just picked up some nectarines, peaches, black plums, canteloupe and blueberries...n lettuce, onions and some white corn! Later getting some grapes, watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, honey dew and bananas and some peps, cucs and broccoli...afraid of he tomatoes though...will just have to wait for my own to be ready! gonna make some furit salad for breakfast/apps for dinner this week...maybe some lunch, too. I just love some cold fresh fruit salad in the morning to wake you up - with some water or oj...mmm...mmm. along with fruit on the menu, i got veges, salads nad a batch of rice and peas as well! Rice and peas are one of my favorite dishes of all time. finally, some skim milk and nonfat yogurts to replace some meat...a likkle tuna and maybe some other fish ...n some lean chicken - smaller portions though was pleasantly surpirsed with the food prices this coming week...some really great deals and gonna stock and rock! gonna take care on the holiday - a healthy pasta salad instead of potato and macaroni salads...some lean chicken...corn on the cob - no butter of course (i like to slow roast it after seasoning with a little paprika and cayeene pepper...i pull back the greens, season and replace....cut off the very top of the leaves...yummy.) and dessert - what else - some more fruit. appetizers? ....cut up veges with some non fat yogurt dip and of course, what else but more fruit... and jsut to be a likkle bad...some of ray's world famous baby back ribs - boiled gently with some thyme and sage, a little garlic, onion, pepper, vinegar and wine....the cooled, and rubbed with ray's own homemade rub.....then smothered with my own home made bar-b-q sauce and slow cooked on the grill til it ready to fall off the bone. and maybe some kida grilled shrimp ... have some freinds over like i am and give them some healthy options...they desserve it and like lola said ...so do you! oh and by the way - serving hamburgers??? here is a tip add some cooked, cooled, black beans to the meat for an unusal but tasty and more healthy burger - you can add up to half the volume in beans although i found 25% works best!
Tammy Jun 30th, 2008 - 8:13 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday Well I will be in Florida and more than likely eating friend food with plenty grease. lolol Definitely will not be a healthy kind of weekend I'm sure. I am so ready for the Blue Water, Cold Beer, Sand, and good food. Already got plans for Sat. and Sun. Reggae on the beach. I am ready to get on the road.
ray Jun 30th, 2008 - 9:22 PM	Re: 6 month checkup Friday well that certainly calls for some eceptions to me made have fun - your deserve it there girl!