Dance to Heal

Managing Life with Breast Cancer

The world does not stop when you learn you have breast cancer., Research shows that active coping - acknowledging the disease and making a plan to manage it - can help you live well with cancer.

Become Informed  Searching for information on the Internet, contacting cancer-related organizations or visiting the library can help you feel more in control. Talk with your about what you find to make certain the information is accurate,.

Seek Social Support    Friends, family and clergy can help with everyday tasks and provide emotional strength.  Other cancer survivors that understand what you are feeling are a great source for support. Healthy Steps is a great group to join for upbeat exercise, dance, and fellowship.

Eat Right   Food often does not taste as good during treatment, but you need enough calories to keep a healthy weight. Ask a nutritionist for tips on preparing meals that appeal to you.

Exercise   If you have breast surgery, stretching and strengthening your arms and shoulders lessens its side effects.  Walking, swimming or yoga may provide energy and relieve stress.  

Antioxidants in Fruits and Vegetables

The American Cancer Society recommends eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day to help prevent cancer.

Oxidation  can sometimes produce reactive substances known as free radicals that can cause oxidative stress or damage to the cells.which can cause conditions such as diabetes, infection, atherosclerosis and cancer. Free radicals cause cancer cells to grow. Many studies have linked cancer, including those of the stomach, prostate, colon, breast, bladder, esophagus and pancreas, to free radicals. Eating your fruits and vegetables may not prevent cancer altogether, but can give your body the fighting chance that it needs. Antioxidants can neutralize cancer cells before they develop into a mass. Oxidation can also affect the course of degenerative diseases related to aging, such as cataracts, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. Because oxidation is a naturally occurring process within the body, a balance with antioxidants must exist to maintain health. Antioxidants are molecules that can slow or prevent cellular damage caused by oxidation.

Fortunately, you can easily increase your antioxidant intake through diet. They are naturally found in numerous foods and are added to some processed products. There are three main antioxidants found in the diet: vitamins A,C and E.

Many antioxidants are often identified in food by their distinctive colors—the deep red of cherries and of tomatoes; the orange of carrots; the yellow of corn, mangos, and saffron; and the blue-purple of blueberries, blackberries, and grapes.

Fruits and vegetables  provide the body with an added source of antioxidants that is needed to properly wage war against free radicals. Without the necessary intake of healthy fruits and vegetables, free radicals can spread and eventually lead to stroke, heart attack, arthritis, vision problems, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and various types of cancer.

Breast Reconstruction

Let me begin by saying that whether or not you choose to have breast reconstruction surgery should be your decision alone.  Do not allow someone else to dictate whether you do or do not have this procedure.

Breast reconstruction is a type of surgery for women who have had a breast removed (mastectomy). The surgery rebuilds the breast so that it is about the same size and shape as it was before. The nipple and areola (the darker area around the nipple) can also be added. Most women who have had a mastectomy can have reconstruction. Women who have had a lumpectomy may not need reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is done by a plastic surgeon. There are several different methods for reconstruction.

Immediate reconstruction is done at the same time as the mastectomy. An advantage to having immediate reconstruction, is that the chest tissues are undamaged by radiation therapy or scarring. This often means that the final result looks better. Also, immediate reconstruction means one less surgery. While my TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap  reconstruction was immediate with my first round of cancer, it took almost a year of healing to be complete. For some unknown reason, I had a difficult time healing, causing all of my procedures to be delayed. The recovery from this surgery was not easy.

Delayed reconstruction means that the rebuilding is started later. For some women, this may be advised if they need radiation to the chest area after the mastectomy. Radiation therapy given after breast reconstruction surgery can cause complications. Due to radiation treatment, my second reconstruction surgery was delayed for three months.  I had  Latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction the second time around. I will say that recovery from this procedure was much easier.

Breast Cancer Enriched My Life

As odd as it may sound, breast cancer has enriched my life. I now take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. Life is precious and I prefer  concentrating on everything that is positive in my life rather than focusing on negative things.  I live a more spontaneous life and my priority is having fun and spending time with those I love and cherish. I did not just survive breast cancer twice, I ended my journey through cancer world a much stronger, determined person. I have been given a third chance at life for a reason. Reaching out to others that are going through a challenging time has become my passion. 

Chemo Brain

You would think when going through chemotherapy that hair loss, nausea, and fatigue would be enough to have to deal with. Cancer survivors have discovered that thinking and memory problems can occur after cancer treatment. It is not clear that chemotherapy is the reason for concentration and memory problems. Many cancer survivors with memory problems continue to score well on  cognitive tests, which baffles doctors. 

The Mayo Clinic has compiled the following symptoms of Chemo Brain: 

Signs and symptoms of chemo brain may include:

• Being unusually disorganized
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty finding the right word
• Difficulty learning new skills
• Difficulty multitasking
• Fatigue
• Feeling of mental fogginess
• Short attention span
• Short-term memory problems
• Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks
• Trouble with verbal memory, such as remembering a conversation
• Trouble with visual memory, such as recalling an image or list of words

Signs and symptoms of cognitive or memory problems vary from person to person and are typically temporary, often subsiding within two years of completion of cancer treatment

Signs of Lymphedema

The signs of lymphedema may include:

• swelling in the breast, chest, shoulder, arm, or hand
• area feels full or heavy
• skin changes texture, feels tight or hard, or looks red
• new aching or discomfort in the area
• less movement or flexibility in nearby joints, such as your shoulder, hand, or wrist
• trouble fitting your arm into jacket or shirt sleeves
• bra doesn't fit the same
• ring, watch, and/or bracelet feels tight but you have not gained weight

The lymphedema may be relieved by raising the affected limb and the skin usually stays soft. But over time, the swollen area may become hot and red and the skin hard and stiff.

If you have had any type of breast surgery, lymph nodes removed, or radiation treatment, look at your upper body in front of a mirror. Compare both sides of your body and look for changes in size, shape, or skin color. If you notice any of the signs listed above, and if they last for 1 to 2 weeks, call your doctor or nurse.

What is Lymphedema?

During surgery for breast cancer, your doctor will  remove at least one lymph node from the underarm area to see if the cancer has spread. Sometimes doctors remove more than one. When lymph nodes are removed, the lymph vessels that carry fluid from the arm to the rest of the body are also removed because they are wrapped around the nodes.

Removing lymph nodes and vessels changes the way the lymph fluid flows in that side of the upper body. This makes it harder for fluid in the chest, breast, and arm to flow out of this area. If the remaining lymph vessels cannot drain enough of the fluid from these areas, the excess fluid builds up and causes swelling, or lymphedema. Radiation treatment to the lymph nodes in the underarm can affect the flow of lymph fluid in the arm and breast area in the same way, further increasing the risk of lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues just under your skin. It usually develops slowly over time. The swelling can range from mild to severe. It can start soon after surgery or radiation treatment. But it can also begin months or even many years later. Women who have many lymph nodes removed and women who have had radiation therapy to the breast and/or underarm area may have a higher risk of getting lymphedema.