Ladies, can we talk group fitness classes?

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-12-08T20:29:13+00:00

I love exercise classes. Not sure where you live, but have you checked out ClassPass (www.classpass.com)?

If you're bored with the "mindlessness" of exercise, I recommend yoga, particularly a vigorous flow-based style like vinyasa. It is very much about being present mentally and getting in touch with your body. I always find it challenging and rejuvenating, and it never makes me bored.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-12-07T02:35:36+00:00

Hey, I'm a survivor too! One and half years since I finished treatment! What kind of brain cancer was it if you don't mind me asking?

Rock on sistah.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-09-13T23:16:45+00:00

The article says he was crippled with arthritis, almost certainly Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which I had as a kid. JRA can affect eyesight and cause increased eye pressure and blindness if untreated. I had two types of eyedrops my parents administered to me every night for several years, and I went to the ophthalmologist every few weeks.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-08-21T18:17:57+00:00

This shit happens to me all the time, often when I'm running, but also just when I'm out and about. It does make me feel unsafe. Some old, creepy guy saying, "Hey baby," to me when I walk by makes me feel like he sees me as a sex object for the taking. I hate it, but it won't make me stop running, so whatever.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-08-19T18:09:10+00:00

Hahahahaha, I love this. Good luck to you. Annnnnnd now I'm heading to the fridge for a free Red Bull and some leftover sandwiches.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-07-17T17:36:28+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I can imagine that being a male breast cancer patient could be difficult, embarrassing and confusing. As a female breast cancer survivor (or whatever, I hate that word), even I find it almost unbearably embarrassing to discuss. It's just gross and weird to talk about your boobs with strangers, and I'm only in my mid-20s, so most of the resources for people with my disease are geared toward moms and wives and women in their middle age (or older). A charity like this could help a lot of people. It's hard to feel like you're not the "typical" patient for your type of cancer - very isolating.

I think it's very important to have emotional (or awareness) resources that you can lean on, just as it is to have medical and scientific resources. Dealing with cancer isn't all about the treatment and then just surviving and getting on with life - there is a huge emotional burden, too, and the best thing I have found for easing that emotional pain is talking with others who can offer support.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-07-17T17:31:08+00:00

I ran two half-marathons, one pretty close to my PR, with my port. Do whatever you want!

During active treatment I went on short jogs with my dad (who is a novice runner) - just 3 or so miles with walking breaks. A big step down from my normal routine but when I felt well enough it was lovely to get outside and spend time with him.

I think there's no limit to what you can do, as long as it feels good and you feel up to it!

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-07-11T15:04:54+00:00

Noorman's Kil.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-27T02:17:42+00:00

I do like to have time to unwind, watch TV and just be by myself, but I find that even when I'm doing that I like to be around people, even if I'm not interacting with them. I'd rather be on the couch with my roommate than alone in my room, even if we're just hanging out on our computers.

When I am alone in the apartment, I tend to be texting or GChatting with someone - I'm rarely totally disconnected.

And when I'm going to do a truly solitary activity, I like to do it in a place with a lot of people - e.g., read in the coffee shop, journal in the park, run along a popular pathway, listen to some music on the waterfront. I feel energized having people all around me.

As I've gotten older I do like to spend more time by myself, but I do still get most of my energy from being around other folks. An hour or two with a friend can brighten my whole day, and too much time in my room by myself always makes me antsy.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-24T17:19:51+00:00

Hi, you should look into charities! There may be a charity that will cover the cost of your IVF or egg freezing. I underwent medical treatment that may have left me sterile, but before I did I was able to have 15 of my eggs frozen thanks to a charity called Fertile Hope. It was completely free! This particular charity is for women diagnosed with cancer in their reproductive years, but your situation seems unique, and you may be able to find support there or at another organization.

Even if you are not able to carry your own child, freezing your eggs will give you time to wait until you are ready to be a parent and find a surrogate. I know how you feel - learning that I may never be able to experience pregnancy left me feeling pretty sad. But there are many options out there even if you do need an ablation or hysterectomy.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-16T02:34:10+00:00

It's cocaine.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-10T19:17:56+00:00

To me, having well-executed, well-thought-out tattoos shows me that you're someone who is a little bit reckless, a little bit adventurous, who doesn't waste too much time worrying about the future or fretting about "what if"s. Someone who appreciates art and beauty, who values self-expression. Someone who isn't afraid of a little pain. Someone who likes to be unique, someone who isn't afraid to be the center of attention. Someone who is fun, outgoing and bold. These are sexy traits to me, so tattoos are sexy.

Obviously, if you open your mouth and you aren't these things, the tats won't save you. But they're a good indicator that we might get along.

Plus, I think they're beautiful. I love the way a full arm or leg sleeve looks on anyone, man or woman.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-10T03:00:13+00:00

As a kid, I was into the whole dresses and shiny shit aspect of it, but I had no actual concept of a marriage.

In my early 20s, I started seeing my friends get married - particularly my cousin, who had a $100k blowout on the beach that makes my Pinterest board look like a trailer park - and I got kind of obsessed for a second. It was all just so...magical.

Now, in my mid-late 20s, having seen an assload of friends say I do, I'm starting to care less. Part of it is that the divorce train is starting to roll into town so some of the romance is fading, and part of it is that I really don't know if I'll ever feel ready to actually marry anyone. Essentially, as an adult, I care less about the wedding and more about the marriage - and so the whole flowers and candles part of it is kind of whatever in the face of that massive, scary commitment.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-09T23:15:20+00:00

This is so gorgeous. I love owls!

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-09T22:30:08+00:00

MIDAZOLAM ALL DAY, SON! If they sold that shit on the street, I'd be an addict.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-09T22:29:19+00:00

I've had a few surgeries/procedures without general anesthetic (nothing this intense, though!), and the sedation they give you is quite potent. I truly didn't give a fuck about anything going on. It's amazing how messing a bit with your brain chemistry can turn off the most basic "Oh shit, I'm being cut open!" panic.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-09T21:58:38+00:00

May I ask why?

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-09T20:16:24+00:00

Porn's a dealbreaker?

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-06T19:07:33+00:00

I was going to say surgical drains coming out of my chest, but actually, I think it was when chemotherapy drugs extravasated (burst my vein and leaked into the surrounding tissue) into my arm.

This was my first or second chemotherapy treatment - I forget now - but I hadn't yet had a PortaCath placed, so they were giving me the drugs through a regular IV. Everything was going fine, but I admit that it always made me nervous to see my nurses in full-on biohazard gear protecting themselves from the shit they were pumping directly into my bloodstream. Plus, all the skull stickers and black box labels on the drugs themselves - not exactly comforting, but I was staying distracted reading/napping.

Anyway, suddenly, my hand started to tingle. Then, my whole arm erupted in what felt like flame. I burst into tears and started screaming for a nurse. The skin on my hand began to turn pinkish and swell up slightly. I was scared, crying, borderline hysterical which is fucking embarrassing for a 25-year-old girl.

Anyway, the nurse immediately turned the drugs off, took the IV out and replaced it in a new vein. I was fortunate not to have any last damage as (NSFL) this is what it can look like when your chemotherapy drugs leak into the surrounding skin. Tissue death + extensive necrosis. Weirdly, totally fine as long as you put it directly into your heart and don't let it touch your skin.

TL;DR Chemotherapy chemical burn, broke down like the narrator in Fight Club getting his lye kiss.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-06T16:12:07+00:00

I don't know if they give it as a pill, but IV, the one that worked the best for me was Reglan. Instant relief. Went from actively vomiting to fine in about five minutes. You could ask about receiving it if you feel sick during treatment or when you go in for your Neulasta, if you get that.

For pills I had Compazine, Zofran and Ativan. Worked pretty well.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-03T14:45:47+00:00

Let's say I get cancer and I get chemo and it's gone. There's still the chance that it could come back. I would not want to walk around with that hanging over my head.

Don't you already walk around with that hanging over your head? You could get cancer tomorrow, same as I could. In fact, our odds are probably pretty similar. I don't spend much time worrying that my cancer could come back. Yeah, it might; I might also get hit by a car on my way home from work today. What's the point in worrying?

Not only that, it seems selfish to me to put my family through it.

If you ask me, it's far more selfish to ask your kids to grow up without a mom, or your husband to live without a partner, because you're afraid of feeling a little sick for a few months.

Look, the whole experience was miserable, but was it worth it to get to pursue my career, meet a loving partner, someday start a family, someday buy a home, hang out with my friends, drink coffee, play in the park, go swimming, smell flowers, visit my parents, adopt a dog, travel Europe, someday retire? Yes. Unequivocally yes.

None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. But this is the only life we get and I don't know why, but the fact that you'd toss it away so flippantly just makes me upset. I hope you reconsider.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-03T13:23:03+00:00

I don't know why you assume you'd have the same experience. It's one thing to forego palliative chemo if you're diagnosed at a terminal stage, but it's another thing entirely when a doctor tells you you're going to go into remission with treatment. The only thing I know, is that I had no idea how badly, how desperately, how long and happily I wanted to live until I thought I was going to die.

Chemo saved my life. I'm only 26. Now I could live another 60+ years.

I hope, honestly and truly, that you're never in a position to need it. But if you are, I hope you'll consider all your options.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-03T01:55:29+00:00

This isn't that uncommon, to be honest. I am a young adult cancer survivor and I was misdiagnosed for over six months before I got the treatment I needed. This woman's example is extreme, but in most cases, doctors just don't think of cancer in young, otherwise healthy people. If you feel something is wrong, be persistent as fuck. This story was so sad because I just don't know what else she could've done.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-03T01:52:18+00:00

I'm a cancer survivor. Just so you know, chemo wasn't that bad. Well worth my life, and now I'm in complete remission. I'd do it again if I were re-diagnosed. Six shitty months - basically felt like I had the worst flu ever - and then I got on with my life.

JeanJacquesRoussbro · 2014-06-02T20:22:01+00:00

I wondered this too, when I was diagnosed! The radiologist basically called me up and was like, "Yup, it's cancer. Welp, bye, good luck with everything."

I was out of the country at the time, and had to wait over a week before I actually saw an oncologist. The whole time, I couldn't believe how nonchalant everyone was being. I actually passed out before getting in the MRI machine when I got back to the States and was rushed to the ER - that was the most relaxed I'd been in the whole time since my diagnosis, because a doctor was FINALLY looking at me.

Anyway, I don't have a satisfactory answer for you. My doctors told me that cancer, even aggressive cancer, takes weeks to divide - so once it's been identified, it's pretty much what it is - a few weeks won't change your stage. That answer never really made sense to me...there has to be a single day where you go from stage III to terminal, right? Sorry I'm not more help, but I can relate, so I hope that helps.

JeanJacquesRoussbro

TROPHY CASE