You got that right that the FDA cannot be trusted! Look at all the products that drug companies have turned out that proved to be very harmful, including thalodomide, and how healthy can it be to inject botulism into your lips, but the "experts" all pronounced these drugs and treatments as "safe", they also recommended formula for babies over breast milk, and then there are the hormones and antibiotics that dairy cows are given, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. For years the researchers out on the fringes talked about free radicals and it sounded like somebody's fantasy, but, lo and behold, even the medical profession has had to acknowledge that it's been proven. It's a revolving door in D.C. anyway, from the AMA to corporations to the gov't. I didn't know that lycopene had been looked at for preventing prostate cancer- I've only heard of it in relation to colon cancer and that runs in my family, so I'm glad I like tomatoes! I do think it's really hard to get products that are truly natural or organic- there's so much pollution- the air, the land, the water. Sorry if I dinned your ears! It's been proved too many times- you can't trust the gov't! Brandy

Oh Carolyn! No, I've never heard of it but *I* am fine! I went in, they took some (painful) images. One density spot was near my chest wall, so 'ouch'. Turned out to be swollen lymph glands that pressed out. Cooperbailey, you win the cake this time. My internet has been down all day or I would have checked in much sooner. Carolyn, an old girlfriend was in the breast imaging center and she was having cysts removed. I swear, being a female is complicated. Thanks for the prayers and positive thoughts. I must have really felt them. I was amazed at how calm I was. I didn't freak out at all. I just kept thinking, if it is something, better deal with it today than in 6 months. Still have to get a colonoscopy and my blood work. I'm turning 55 in November so I'm getting my 55,000 service. LOL! I'm going to be thinking of you Carolyn. Don't forget to update us here!

It bothers me that soy is touted as a healthy food, and many people are eating it thinking it's a good thing. But it's NOT. I avoid all types of soy, and I've never had cancer. I've considered almond milk, rice milk, etc. but have you read the labels on these products? Carrageenan is in them all, another thing I avoid. It's also in a lot of dairy, so I read labels to find products without it. Soy, carrageenan, aspartame, the list goes on of poisons we consume. The worst of all may be genetically modified foods, and most everyone is eating loads of GMO "foods" and they don't even know it. The only way around it is to eat a whole-food, organic diet with no pre-packaged foods, snack items or restaurants. This is very hard, time-consuming and expensive. But boy can I tell a difference in the way I feel. I'm just coming off of several months of lots of eating out and snack foods, and it is hard but I'm determined to get back to a healthier diet. From the studies I've read, soy is very bad for those with cancer and thyroid, but it also is bad for anyone. Just be aware of all the other bad things in our food supply, and take the time to read up about GMO's. It opened my eyes about the FDA, for one thing, and made me realize that we are all on our own for finding healthy foods to consume.

I wanted to say the same thing that kathi did...you don't really know what kind of side effects you will have from chemo. It is way different from what it used to be. I heard so many horror stories that I was very worried but it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined or had heard it would be. I have had some side effects but the biggest one is just fatigue and we can all live with taking a nap or resting when we need too. I am losing my hair but it's only hair. I gave up the biggest part of a breast to beat cancer so I can easily give up my hair cause I know it will grow back...The others go away fast enough and I usually only have two days of feeling really punk and the rest of the week I am OK...I manage. I have help cleaning the hard stuff in my home like baths and kitchens etc but I still keep up with the daily stuff including the laundry and do most of our meals as well. Many of my friends have worked during their whole chemo so don't expect the absolute worst.....Just do what you need to do to get through and it goes pretty fast. I started in Sept if I remember correctly and I will be finished by the end of Jan. You will probably appreciate help when you need it but you'll get it done before you know it....