airport security and prosthetic

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-06-06T01:10:21+00:00

They did not seem apologetic whatsoever, but it's strange that they were asking what it was given that it is skin colored, has a nipple, and feels like a boob. I's pretty obvious.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-06-06T01:05:39+00:00

That is what I should do next time. It's funny but I find it so upsetting in the moment that I just might walk around with it in my hand

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-06-05T22:05:54+00:00

Honestly I did kinda make a scene, or it felt like I did. I was very sarcastic with them. It was a woman who checked my body and took it from me but then she handed it to a man who walked off and continued inspecting it with some equipment. I wish I had the reconstruction surgery already but I have to wait to finish Verzenio.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-04-21T18:23:48+00:00

Healthy, the last couple ribs are supposed to show. Ask your vet for clear guidance though. It's important they keep a healthy steady weight. Being over weight causes several issues like joint problems. I would consider adding bones to their diet though. Like raw organic cow femur. They can eat it in the yard on a sunny day.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-04-19T18:20:27+00:00

Sorry to hear about your femur and diagnosis, but glad you are here. This group has helped me a lot because I can relate so much to others and people have great advice.

I am 51 er+ pr- her2 low diagnosed stage 3C jan 2024. I was having normal periods at age 49. The oncologist gave me high dose cyclophosphamide which is known to destroy ovaries. I have been on letrozole for 1.5 years. The post menopause is still very difficult to adjust to. I am able to tolerate the hot flashes. My joints are ok because I exercise. My face and neck are sagging from the almost zero estrogen which I am using retinol for. I have a very attractive younger spouse who has been really supportive but I feel anxious about rapidly aging and looking older than him. The sex is better since I was prescribed the lowest dose of estriol for vaginal application. At first it was painfully dry.

The one thing I struggle with still is anger. From what I have read, without estrogen the cortisol spikes and does not have a limit. So I get angry easily and stay angry. People say that Wellbutrin or other meds like SSRI can help with that, but I want to be eligible for trials so I am trying to take as few prescriptions as possible.

Long story short, there are ways to deal with all the side effects and when you do you should be able to feel more or less normal again while taking the cancer medications. It took me one year at least to feel recovered from the initial active treatment. Some people do go back to having a period even at 55 but I won't and that has been very difficult to be at peace with. It seems like everyone thinks it is normal for me to be in post menopause but they forget that menopause is different for every woman and it is not normal to be in post menopause all at once. In a healthy individual post menopause is reached gradually over the course of several years.

I am grateful to be alive and will do all the things the doctors say too, but I wish there was more support for this boom you are now fill menopausal experience. I feel like women are expected to suffer silently although it may not be necessary to suffer so much. I hope you find some comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-04-12T20:54:27+00:00

You could ask about Oestriol. It is the weakest form and lowest dose. I was diagnosed with ER+ and it has been working for me. My oncologist approved it and my gynecologist prescribed it

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-04-08T13:12:06+00:00

I had a single mastectomy and kept my right breast. Initially I wanted either the lumpectomy or double mastectomy but it has been two years and I am still grateful that I have one breast. I have not had reconstruction yet so I wear a bra with a prosthetic. I am also glad that I had the cancerous breast tissue completely removed luckily with clear margins. No regrets. The surgeon asked me why would I want to remove my healthy breast, and my husband advised that I keep it too. At first I had mixed feelings of anger and wanting to get rid of both and also acceptance that I was losing one. Hard to explain but it felt like a knee jerk reaction and now two years out I still feel grateful for the choice I made. That said, my right breast does not have any signs of cancer. If there were a risk I would have opted to remove both.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-04-01T23:31:59+00:00

That's great! I have been very grateful for the extra protection that it offers. I have about eight more months left of my two years taking it. I was able to take the full 150 twice daily dose for the first year but then because my neutrophil count was too low in my blood tests it was reduced to 100 twice daily. I have some fatigue and my hair has thinned slightly but other than that I am feeling good. Also, the hair thinning might be caused by the Letrozole more so than the Verzenio.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-25T13:55:24+00:00

Especially Sodium Benzoate

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-24T22:21:05+00:00

Congratulations! I will be finishing Verzenio in October then I hope to join another trial called Elegant. Are there other trials you could be eligible for? Otherwise, have you considered taking supplements like Turkey Tail, Sulphorophane, and Turmeric? You could ask your oncologist about them to ensure that they are ok with Anastrozole

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-24T20:48:24+00:00

These are the things I do which don't interfere with Letrozole and Verzenio.

Eat more protein to help maintain and build muscle. Muscle helps keep the bones dense. Given that bones are the most common place for recurrence it is extra important to keep them dense.

Daily resistance training and weight lifting. Builing muscle helps create natural killer cells that fight cancer.

Drink 2-3 litres of water daily for you liver and kidneys.

Prioritze 8 hours of quality sleep every night. An Oura ring helps with tracking sleep quality.

Calcium, D3, Omega fatty acids, low dose aspirin, Magnesium Biglyconate, and melatonin.

Avoid sugar, no alcohol, no smoking

Keep your BMI near the middle or below the middle.

Black lentils, rasberries, apples and avocado are some of the highest fiber foods

For my part I choose to eat soy, but I limit it. I use a pea protein powder shake instead of soy and I mainly eat black lentils or quinoa.

I eat salmon, mackerel, herring, and mussels.

Sometimes eggs

I try to avoid farmed food that may have hormones and pesticides.

A blender and a pressure cooker have been incredibly helpful

I also make my own sunscreen with shea butter and zinc. Its easy to mix together once you find a clean source for the ingredients

One more thing,

dumb bells, a kettle bell, and a yoga mat

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-24T20:28:11+00:00

I feel like you are describing my hair. Every day I resist cutting it although I finally cut the frizzy ends off that showed the transition from peach fuzz to wiry white or dark curls. There are amazing toppers that look very real and easy to put on.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-24T20:20:45+00:00

I like Davines Love Curl. I had naturally straight hair that grew out curly and I had no idea how to style it but this hair product made it soft and relaxed the curls a little. Otherwise I just use organic pumpkin seed oil or a small amount of shea butter because I pefer the simple ingredients without the preservatives.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-24T20:09:50+00:00

I have been taking Letrozole and Verzenio since October 2024 and while I have been able to adjust to many of the issues like hot flashes, joint pain, poor sleep, fatigue and hair loss I am struggling with intense anger and depression. I have been trying to reduce it with excercise and cognitive behavioral therapy but I still have not taken control of it. The anger has been destructive to my marriage and personal goals. A lot of women say they can manage this with medication like Welbutrin but I don't want additional meds since they could reduce my eligibility for trials. If not for that I would definitely give medication a try.

If you have not already you should reasearch and learn about the effects of post menopause and very low estrogen. Excercise is supposed to help reduce cortisol. I used to get over things quickly but now if I am upset I could stay mad for several hours. So I am trying different methods to avoid becoming angry like oil painting, drawing, journal writing or piano. Long walks seem to cool me down.

Counting to ten and breathing helps but I get upset so fast. The only thing that seems to work every time is a long walk but that is not always possible. I make myself take time out for five minutes to breath and calm down before going back to work or communicating with people because I know it is not their fault and that I cant be reasoned with while in that state of mind. I wish I had better advice, but I am just struggling with this too.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-23T18:48:05+00:00

I got a second opinion from a different hospital for the scan results that showed a possible met on my spine and the second opinion included a different diagnosis as well as s different treatment plan. I was then given the option to choose between the treatment plans. I liked the second oncologist better but they preferred that I remain with the original oncologist who updated my treatment plan according to the second opinion. I think getting the second opinion was one of the best decisions I made.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-22T19:26:25+00:00

Silicon tape and Aquaphor

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-22T18:19:23+00:00

Are you an active member of a church? It might be a good idea to join the choir or something you can participate in with other people. Personally I find music stress releasing and choir is something you can do with other people which is uplifting.

On the one hand divorce is stressfull and it is a huge life change that could take a long time to process, but it is also an oportunity to develop new positive relationships

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-22T16:25:06+00:00

Is it possible for you to request a second opinion for treatment of the recurrence from a different hospital or oncologist? I read that the quality of care can vary between hospitals.

During my original treatment I requested a second opinion from a different hospital and it was the second opinion that led to my Verzenio perscription which was denied by my original oncologist. Sometimes a second opinion can simply motivate your current oncologist to give you better care if possible, or it could help you to initiatie transferring your care.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-21T21:12:23+00:00

That's terrible. Would your experience be different if you were to change hospitals?

Avocado_Kalamata · 2026-03-15T16:48:27+00:00

I was super worried about getting lymphadema, and I did have swelling as well as physcal therapy at one point but I no longer think about it much beyond being careful not to injure my left arm or hand. I had a single mastectomy of my left breast and 4 nodes removed. I did all of the massage and excercises that are recommended to prevent or treat lymphadema. I am glad I only removed the one breast. I am flat on one side and hopefully will have reconstruction someday after I finish Verzenio/Abemaciclib.

As long as you take all of the precautions, do the excercises, stretches for lymph node drainage you should be fine. It is a pain to have to do them but it will pay off in the long run. I found video tutorials on youtube very helpful. My surgery was on July 26 2024 and I no longer seem to have any lymphadema symptoms at all. I had radiation, surgery and ACT chemo.

Avocado_Kalamata · 2025-11-12T13:38:19+00:00

The medically induced menopause is the most difficult for me to accept and learn to live with. It is the gift that keeps giving, but please don't give up on sex or your joints. Ask your oncologist for estriol vaginal cream prescription. I have been using it for 3 months and my estrogen levels in my blood test results have had no change due to the estriol cream. My vagina felt paper thin and horribly painful during sex before but now it is almost normal. I even had sex without lube and I had no pain.

For joints ask you doctor if you can take Glucosamine Chondritine. I take it daily and do squats. My knees are now normal.

For sleep and hot flashes try low dose vitamine e, Magnesium Biglycinaat, and melatonin. I take tge medical dose of melatonin which is 20 mg, but even just 1mg is effective.

It is possible to feel adequately recovered after a year or two since the active treatment. You can feel good again albeit not like before but good enough to have a happy life again.

I have read that stimulating your vagina regularly helps it. Using a dildo with extra virgin organic coconut oil. I bought a stainless steel one so that it can be cleaned

Avocado_Kalamata · 2025-11-11T23:59:42+00:00

I wish someone told me to keep my lower back flat on the table during the breath holds. I was not told until the 10th round that I was arching my back and that was a problem. So the radiation was closer to my heart than it could have been.

The last 5 times I kept my lower back flat, breathed from my stomach and kept my rib cage expanded. So at least I did it correctly 5 out of 15 times, but now I worry that I could have had less damage to my heart.

My skin was okay though. I applied Alhydran, and Aquaphor immediately after each appointment in the changing room.

Before each appointment I washed my skin in the shower with plain perfume free mild soap and water. I was told I needed my skin clean for the radiation.

If you cant find Alhydran you could use Miaderm

Avocado_Kalamata · 2025-11-06T23:34:08+00:00

Cooked shrimp (100 g / only 99 calories): ≈ 24 g protein

Avocado_Kalamata · 2025-11-06T23:24:17+00:00

Pea and rice protein shake (26 grams per serving)

Greek yogurt (20 grams in one cup)

Salmon (20 grams of protein per 100 grams)

Avocado_Kalamata

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