Information and opinions on Breast Cancer from Judith Rosenthal Schwartz at MyBreastCancerNetwork.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788 http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788 http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/37993/effects-chemo Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:05:00 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz For the last year-and-a-half I've been really suffering with painful feet.  Now I'm not the sort of person to run to the doctor every time I sneeze, so I tried to figure it out myself.  I tried orthotic-like supports: nothing.  I tried 800 mg. of ibuprofen: nothing.    In April I took my son on a college road trip to Johns Hopkins, Princeton and MIT.  It was excruciating for both of us - he wanted to walk quickly... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/37993/effects-chemo http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/9195/mri-showed Fri, 04 May 2007 14:15:01 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz I scheduled an MRI with my HMO the day after the American Cancer Society recommended them for women like me.  I knew my remaining dense breast would not reveal the presence of any potentially malignant masses on a mammogram.  It was fairly easy for me to arrange for the MRI, surprisingly, but my oncologist told me that anyone who fit the American Cancer Society criteria and asked for an MRI could get one.  This should be great news for... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/9195/mri-showed http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/8450/breast-cancer Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:06:01 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz As all of us who've had breast cancer will agree, Elizabeth Edwards' news hits us hard.  I think it's important to say, once again, that a clear mammogram cannot be relied upon for women with dense breasts.  Eighteen months ago I found a 5 cm. lump in my breast.  I literally found it - there I was sitting at my dinner table, gesticulating, when my right hand went to my chest for emphasis and my fingertips felt the... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/8450/breast-cancer http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/7617/friend Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:33:00 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz I'm the kind of person who is extremely self-reliant and independent, plus I'm blessed with a truly remarkable memory.  But when I met with my surgeon to discuss options soon after my Stage III breast cancer was diagnosed, I was waaay too overwhelmed with information to keep any of it straight in my head.  I learned the hard way that it's critical to have another pair of eyes and ears to attend these appointments with me, because I... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/7617/friend http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/6962/thing-chemo Fri, 02 Mar 2007 23:54:00 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz Luckily I never actually threw up during chemo, although some days it would have been a big relief.  I had Taxol for the second half of chemo, which lasted 8 looong weeks for me.   It was hard to find any desire to eat at all during that time.  The taste in my mouth was metallic, even when my teeth were freshly brushed.  While I enjoyed the texture of food the taste was just never right.    I think my friends... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/6962/thing-chemo http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/6806/prosthesis Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:09:01 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz I'll never forget my first thought about how I'd manage without one breast.  'OMIGOD,' I thought, 'I will never ever be seen in public with half a rack!'My first thought was breast reconstruction, and the way my (adorable and young) plastic surgeon put it, I'd lose my belly (baby fat no more, since the baby is 9 now) when it would be moved to build a new left breast.  I had a whole routine to tell... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/6806/prosthesis http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/3616/plan-long Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:45:00 -0000 Judith Rosenthal Schwartz While it's true that we're told to expect fatigue during radiation for breast cancer, no one really explains thoroughly how long it can last after all the treatments are finished and your skin has recovered from the burn. For six months following radiation treatments I was so exhausted that I'd need 10 or more hours of sleep every night. I wish I'd known to expect that, and I understand it's different for each person, but... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/6788/3616/plan-long