Gaining wait after being told I have breast cancer.?

Question

I must have gained 20 pounds over the last 3 months after being told. It must be the wait-I have been waiting 2 months just to get my appointment for my mastectomy. Is this a normal wait? Am I dying in the meantime? How in the world do I get emotions and eating under control with a wait like this?

Sorry I spelled weight wrong. :(((

Answer 1

exercise, be motivated, and even though breast cancer is terrible the last think you need to do is feel sorry for you'reself. Society will not treat you any different when you have breast cancer, exercise and stay active remain on a low calorie diet. In this time you will need you're families support.

God bless you, and god be with you every moment.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear about your cancer. There's no easy answer to getting the emotions under control. And the eating is linked to the emotions.

Maybe try to do a little more exercise - walking is good and not too stressful on your body...and it's pretty easy to get up and go for a 10 minute walk instead of hitting the fridge. Still hungry / got the munchies when you get back? Fine, hit the fridge...at least you worked off some of the calories already :-)

Try to keep a grip on the eating....(ha, ha easier said than done I know)...you'll want to look good when you get the all-clear after treatment, and 20 pounds extra won't help you feel good about yourself.

I don't know if a 2 month wait for the mastectomy appointment is normal - I guess it depends where you are living, the health care there and your particular cancer. But I do know that in most places, if they are letting you wait, then the cancer is not seen as aggressive (unless of course they are doing chemo / radiation or other treatments pre-surgery). "Aggressive" here means fast-growing, likely to spread and make surgery much more difficult or less successful. It's time to panic when they whisk you into surgery before you blink!

Have you had your staging done (assessment of the size of the cancer, whether it is in more than one place)? Why not give one of the cancer support groups (like Macmillan or Cancer Research or Cancer Backup in UK, American Cancer Society in US) and ask them what you can expect in terms of waiting. They'll also be able to help you work through some of the emotions around the eating.

The waiting is the worst bit. Once treatments are underway, somehow it all gets easier to handle. Good luck.

Answer 3

Eat whatever you like it is not important. You can take care of your weight later. It is more important to find out, why you have to wait 2months to get a mastectomy. Call your insurance and put some fire under their butts and your surgeon. This is not acceptable. I had breast cancer and the biopsy and surgery was done within 2 weeks. At this time I had HMO insurance and it didn't take that long. What is wrong with those people. Go to another Doctor in the meantime and tell him what's going on. Hang in there and don't give up. Those are all jerks working at an office and don't give a S***.

Answer 4

I'm sorry to learn that you're going through so much. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2006, had a lumpectomy that month. Unfortunately, the doctors found that my cancer was invasive - so I had a mastectomy on my left breast in March. Deciding to have a mastectomy is a difficult choice. Have you looked at all your options? Are you needing to go through chemo and/or radiation treatment in addition to your surgery? Or, like me, the mastectomy surgery I had was able to rid my body of the cancer and do not need have chemo or radiation treatments done. I am taking Femara (an aromatase inhibitor) to make sure that the cancer does not come back.

It's difficult to decide how you're going to be able to cope through all of this. I was very sad to think that I was going to lose a breast, however, when the doctor explained the invasive nature of my cancer, I thought it best that I get rid of the cancer before it started to invade the rest of my body. I figured better to be without a breast than not be able to enjoy being with my grandson.

There are a few websites you can look at to help you get through this difficult time. Here's some suggestions on a few websites that may help you out:

http://www.y-me.org/
http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/abstract/52/2/92
http://www.thechainfund.com/
https://www.cancerprofiler.nexcura.com/Secure/InterfaceSecure.asp?CB=25086

I also found this book helpful with practical advice on how to get through this thing called cancer:

"Just Get Me Through This! : The Practical Guide to Breast Cancer " - by Deborah Cohen. You can find it on Amazon.com

Educate yourself about your condition - that will give you control over your treatment. Find a doctor that you feel comfortable talking with and expressing your fears and concerns. It is important that you have a good relationship with your doctor.

In the meantime, if possible, try to get a second opinion. There are many teaching hospitals that are available to give second opinions. Don't readily accept what you doctor says about your diagnosis - finding a second opinion doctor may help you make more decisions about what you need to do to care for yourself.

I'm sorry that you've joined the sisterhood. Remember you have many sisters out there who have gone before you and have beat this nasty thing called cancer. You can decide if you will allow cancer to take the upper hand or if you are going to take control of your life. There are many of us out there ready to support and help you - all you have to do is ask.

Take care and I hope all goes well with you.

Answer 5

You must be in the first stages and can be put on hold so that others who can't wait can have the procedure done.

I would in the meantime start taking high doses of Vitamin C's known to fight cancer. Get the Maureen's Salmon's Cancer Diet Book and check out her other Nutrition books. She is good and it would help you while your waiting.

Worrying about it isn't helping so why bother wasting valuable healing energy on worry. Direct those worry energies along with prayer and get back on track.
God Bless

Answer 6

Just focus on all the things you would normally be doing. If this includes a whole-bunch-of nuthin, then take up a class at your local craft store or something (beading, quilting, etc...).

You sound like a stress-eater, like me. Unfortunalty gaining weight will only stress you out more, plus its bad for your body to put on that much so quickly.

Just remember that you are waiting to do something good for the well-being of your body, and if you eat and eat and eat as a stress-reliever, you are doing something to your body that is not good for your well-being. You are contradicting your efforts in a sense.

If you constantly need to chew on something, (seriously, this sucks compared to Fritos but it works) get a large pre-cut pre-washed veggie tray from your grocery store. Who cares about the fat in the veggie dip... just dont eat the whole tub in one day. You'll be loading your body up with cancer-fighting vitamins and minerals by eating all those veggies. You'll be "regular" and skinnier by the time you get your surgery. And you'll feel better about yourself, which is a major bonus to fighting cancer... a good ATTITUDE ABOUT YOURSELF!!

Good luck and stay strong!

Answer 7

gainging weight has nothign to do with the cancer in itself, it has to do with the emotional distress caused by the simple fact that you got the bad end of the stick

keep fighting, breast cancer is curable, and i dont want to scare you but cancer rampages through out the body each day and could be cause harm, but if your doctors waited this lomng oit must be good...


BEST OF LUCK
Smoky780
future Career in meds.