Bucket List Trip

izenzo

After beating breast cancer, my bucket list item has literally fallen in my lap. A trip to Europe.

Unfortunately, because of the hormone blocker I'm on to keep the cancer at bay, also causes weight gain and swelling. It's a battle to be sure.

The trip isn't until July, so I am doing what I can right now. Tracking my foods. I'm currently in a foot boot, so I'm moving as much as I can, averaging about 4k steps per day.

yirara

Congratulations on beating the cancer! <3

Lots of Europe is very walkable. I don't know what you mean with 'foot boot' Did you break a bone and need to wear a healing boot? If not, would your health allow you to increase walking distance a bit and to become a bit fitter? Are there hills where you are? Depending on where you want to go you might encounter hills in towns. If you're fitness level is half ok you might be able to enjoy this trip more without fully depending on taxis or public transport. I'd say "being able to do things » looking good" but each their own. Also note that it might be very hot in July unless you plan to visit northern Europe mostly.

izenzo

Yes, a healing boot. I hurt my foot courtesy of our new rescue pup. He is like a toddler and leaves his nylabones strewn near my bed. I put them up, went to sleep, and then stepped on one in the middle of the night because he took a few out again before our son took him to his room for the night. I stepped on one directly on my arch. It took a bit to get an appointment with orthopedic doc, but I go next week. I have no pain in the boot, but have pain out of it. I teach, so I do get some walking in daily, between 4-5k steps.

I have not regained all my strength following chemo and radiation. The fatigue from taking aromatase inhibitors is ridiculous. Not to mention the other side effects.

I will be going to London and Ireland with my BFF who has family in both. She has some health issues herself, and knows my journey in this. She lost her own mom to it.

AnnPT77

I'm really happy to hear about your bucket list goal coming up for you: That's fabulous!

I remember chatting with you on your intro thread. Yes, regaining strength and energy post-treatment takes time, potentially a frustratingly long time. Like you, I took an aromatase inhibitor - though I took Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen for 2.5 years before switching to anastrozole for 5 years.

Have you talked with your doctors about the fatigue and other side effects? Oncologist might have some insights about ways to manage side effects, but if you haven't consulted PCP, that might yield something, too. In my case, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid when my improving energy/strength seemed to stall after a few months post-treatment. I later learned that not only is hypothyroidism more common for women as we age, but it's also more common in women who've gone through BC treatment.

That's just an example - there are other blood tests and such a PCP can run to ensure any other fatigue-causing factor is ruled out or treated, such as some of the micronutrient deficiencies that are surprisingly common. I remember you mentioning the anemia, but wondering if that's fully resolved, or whether there might be other factors.

On your other thread, you mentioned swimming. If you'd like to be more active but are limited in walking, is there anything you can do in the pool with the foot condition? I remember doing drills in the pool that were upper body only, and a kick board can provide some flotation if it's hard to stay up without using feet. There are also a bunch of seated exercise videos on YouTube, including some pretty vigorous ones for wheelchair athletes, or milder rehab ones, if you feel up to that.

I know it's a big drag not to do the things you enjoy most - I went through an injury recovery phase recently myself for a skull fracture and brain bleed - but if there are manageable, viable activities it may actually help with fatigue recovery, backward as that sounds.

It sounds like your trip will have some aspects that make this more achievable, even if your mobility or endurance is still not back to 100% by July: An understanding BFF as travel companion, BFF's family living near the destinations so you have insider insights about transportation and possible destinations that won't be over-taxing, and that sort of thing.

I'm so pleased for you that you're getting to take such an amazing trip. That's great! I'm hopeful that you can find some progress and perhaps some medical interventions that will lead to significant improvements by July.

Congratulations!

izenzo

I see PCP in June, the oncologist in Aug. I've been on Faslodex since Nov. Tried the oral meds but had worse side effects. So 2 shots simultaneously in my backside once a month it is.

I see ortho doc on Tuesday to see what's up with the foot. Took a couple of weeks to get appointment.

Good info on the connections between BC and hypothyroidism. I'll ask about it in June with PCP. My CBC and metabolic general panels all look good. They do those monthly at injection appointment. I had issues with iron level in the fall and needed 3 iron infusions and had to get iv steroids with each one. So I may need that looked at again. They will do that again at oncologist in a couple of months.

Swimming has always been my go to, both physically and mentally. Even had my lifeguarding certification once upon a time. We have one more month of school here, so if I'm clear with ortho, I'll be in the pool once I'm done teaching for the year.

AnnPT77

There are nutritional tests they can do, too. I can't think of a whole list, and some of what I do wouldn't apply to you, but there are blood tests for vitamin D, B-12, zinc, and probably more that could be worth asking about. A full thyroid panel would be good, or at least TSH to start, if that hasn't been tested and hypothyroidism is possible.

izenzo

I went to check my patient portal. My TSH was checked at my physical in January. Normal range, 2.7.

Vitamin D , normal 52 (I take vitamin D daily). I'll ask about the others at my mid year checkup.

izenzo

Today was a big win.

A parent gave our department a huge platter of cookies. Really, really good ones, judging from the store they came from. I did not touch a single one! I really was not tempted at all. I was even sitting next to it for a short time and never gave them a second glance!

girlwithcurls2

^^That's a huge win! We had a parent panel at our school this morning. All of the snacks/treats that didn't get eaten (they always over-order) went into the staff room. I'm staying out. Even though there is fruit and other stuff I eat a lot of and love, I have packed my lunch and snacks and logged it all, so anything else will put me over. I'm impressed with your discipline!

Michieb125

@izenzo Your bucket list title caught my eye while I was scrolling this AM. How special you will be going to London and Ireland in July! And, the fact that you are conquering cancer and want to go is highly admirable and think you will love it. I do want to share that I just returned from London last week (for the first time) and loved seeing all the sights in springtime.

London is very walkable depending upon where you stay and we found the bus systems very easy to figure out and ride. All the locals use them as well and you can plan to use Apple pay on your phone instead of tickets and the cheap fees are charged to your credit card.
However, I still found myself walking 12-14k steps a day just to see what we booked in advance. And we did experience crowds and long lines on occasion. I’m not sure what high season of July would be like to see the higglights. We saw Westminster Abbey, Tower Hill with the Crown Jewels, London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s church, two markets, and over to Piccadilly Circus for a play. So my only advice is to determine an itinerary and be flexible. We found we had to walk up lots of hills and on uneven pavement. You can do it all, some or get out to the country! I must say we were very fatigued each night after being gone each day for about 7-8 hrs. (were there 4 days).
Ireland is super gorgeous and fun! Dublin was fun and Belfast was beautiful. Hope you can see some castles.

I wish you all the best as you prepare for your bucket list trip!

izenzo

Thank you for the advice. Luckily my BFF has been to both many times and has family in both. She's aware of my limitations and herself has some health issues. So she knows all the ins/outs. Even has dual citizenship which will make things easier too. I definitely want to see a Shakespeare play performed at The Globe. I'm an English teacher, so it is my big bucket item.

The tray of cookies are in our classroom still. It's covered with a small blanket so kids don't see it. I forgot they were even there until the end of the day when a teacher came to get one. 😄 Still have not had a single crumb!

Michieb125

You have a big bonus with a having a BFF to go with-I hope you love every moment there! Take good care.