Information and opinions on health from Esther Kowalski at HealthCentral.com. 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/profiles/c/8444/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/8444/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/8444/index http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/18711/change-life Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:05:00 -0500 Esther Kowalski I JUST FINISHED UPDATING MY PROFILE.  MY HUSBAND DIED AT THE AGE OF 67 AFTER SIX WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL.  HE HAD BOWEL SURGERY AND DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FROM THE DIVERTICULITIS ON 12/14/2007. I THOUGHT GOING THROUGH BREAST CANCER WAS TRAUMATIC BUT WATCHING MY HUSBAND DIE WAS WORSE.  HIS FUNERAL IS 1/8/2008. I KNOW I HAVE TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO PREVENT CANCER FROM RETURNING BUT UNTIL I GET THROUGH... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/18711/change-life http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/14922/5k-walk-2007 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:51:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski Today was the 5K Making Strides Walk.  Next year I plan on getting my act together much earlier.  I did have my granddaughter and her friend to accompany me and I was surprised that on my own I had received several nice donations to turn in.  My granddaughter even surprised me with some homade t-shirts for the occaision. It was a beautiful morning and, as last year, I was completely amazed at the wonderful turnout.  I... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/14922/5k-walk-2007 http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/14764/5k-walk Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:11:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski On Oct. 13th. I will do the 5K Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk.  I did it last year although I hadn't planned on it.  I showed up to take photos of my Daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter who were doing the walk.  They convinced me that although I was only a month out of chemo, I could probably do it if I took it slowly.  I did the walk and was really overwhelmed at the turnout of about 3,500 people.  I can... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/14764/5k-walk http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/11305/ai-benefit Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:16:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski Today I went for my three month check up with the oncologist.  I asked him what percentage of benefit does the Aromatase Inhibitors give.  he said it was 67 percent.  He said that if it were only a small percentage, he wouldn't push people to take them.  I hope he is telling the truth.  Anyway, I am now taking the Femara and so far I am doing allright.  I guess I have to really concentrate more on accepting some... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/11305/ai-benefit http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/11076/real-ai Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:20:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski Well, here I am again.  Basically doing well except for my dilemma as to whether I should try the Femara after having such bad side effects from the Arimidex.  I know that ultimately it is my decision.  What I can't seem to find is anyone who really can tell me the percentage of benefit that these drugs can give.  They would have to be really great percentages to make me want to feel as bad as I did with the... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/11076/real-ai http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10864/angels Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:50:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski                ANGEL IN A DOG SUIT   In 2003 my neighbor and friend, Cathy, agreed to take in an elderly friend who she had know for quite awhile.  Cathy went to school in the evenings so she needed help to care for Agnes.  It was a great job for me.  I had been a CNA and Home Health Aide for quite awhile but was no longer working.  Agnes was an... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10864/angels http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10768/brain-back Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:39:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski I got up this a.m. and felt fairly energetic so I busied myself with some things that I had put off doing.  All was going well until the phone rang.  My massage therapist wondered why I hadn't shown up for our 11:00 a.m. appointment time.  First of all my massage therapy is very important for me and for me to forget the day and time was hard for me to accept.  I looked in my daily planner and there it was 6/26 at 11:00 a.m.  For some... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10768/brain-back http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10555/dilemma Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:06:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski I stopped the Arimidex sometime last month.  After my visit with the oncologist, I left with a new RX for Femara.  I filled the RX, however it still sits on my shelf.Although my life will probably never be the same since Chemo, I sat on the beach on day recently feeling happy and serene and hopeful.  My mind was no longer in a fog and I wasn't depressed or bursting into tears or in great joint and muscle pain.I fully intended on giving... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/10555/dilemma http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/9832/arimidex Sat, 26 May 2007 13:44:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski I began taking Arimidex 12/29.  At first the side effects weretolerable.  I can take the joint pain and hot flashes, but now Ifeel like I am ready for a nursing home!  Bad mood swings, severe fatigue and also memory problems.  I stopped taking it two nights ago.  I have a high tolerance to pain but not only is the pain getting worse, it is scary when you feel like you are losing your mind. Chemo was bad but at... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/9832/arimidex http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/8693/arimidex Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:46:00 -0400 Esther Kowalski After finishing chemo and then breast reconstruction, I started taking Arimidex on Dec. 29th.  At first, I didn't seem to have any problems.  I did have hot flashes, etc. but nothing I couldn't live with. As time went on I started to feel a lot of fatigue and mood swings as well as aches and pains.  I know this medication has an excellent reputation and I also know that their are others in this category but they all seem... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/8444/8693/arimidex