Best Of
Re: What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?
Six months after I finished all treatment I purchased a French Bulldog. She makes me laugh so hard. I wish I had purchased her during treatment, she would have made the days so much more enjoyable (except for the farts but then I would have been competing with her)
Re: What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?
Me too @kmakm. I got myself a proper ruby ring, cos it’s my birthstone, and I was lucky and found it half price. I also got myself a male Persian kitten (found him half price too 😊). That was all for the hard year that was, and to celebrate life, hopefully cancer-free from now on 🤞🍀♥️
FLClover
5
Re: What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?
And a couple of weeks after I finished, I went to Norfolk Island with 10 ukulele players, for the ukulele Festival there .... it was great fun! How could I forget that?? 
arpie
5
Re: What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?
I took the staff a big bunch of flowers and a lot of chocolate! They had been terrific for so long. I sort of missed them but was really happy to be on the other side of treatment.
Afraser
5
Re: COVID 19 jab
Statistics are just that...numbers. I'm not too sure where your figure of 99.98% survival rate originates, but according to the Johns Hopkins statistics, the mortality rate in the USA for people who've contracted covid is 3%. Not 3% of the entire general population, but 3% of people who have tested positive. I have three medical conditions (aside from the cancer) and also was treated for a brain aneurysm. Each of the three conditions have a roughly 40% mortality within ten years of diagnosis. The one affects 5 per 100.000 people, the second one 20 per million people, the third 4 per 100.000 people and the type of aneurysm I had affects 2.4% of all intracranial aneurysms which affect 4% of the population. The percentage of 2.4% of 4% is 0.00096%. Oh...and the breast cancer is 1 in 7 in Australia...used to be 1 in 8. I'm the lucky one who has struck the jackpot with all of these which probably explains why each time I've been admitted to hospital, I have a line of students wanting to do their "long case studies" with me. (It comes up on an internal computer). I've been swooped upon by quite a few of their professors too for teaching purposes. I don't mind, if they learn something that refutes the old chestnut in medical circles of "If you hear hoof beats...think horses, not zebras". The lecturers say to the young students...."Behold...a zebra". These highly qualified doctors have kept me alive well past what was expected, so I think I'll stick with their advice. Each person is responsible for their own decisions regarding their medical treatment and I respect that.
AllyJay
7
Re: What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?
I lucked out and managed to line up a week in one of the Otis Foundation's properties in Bendigo so that was my main celebration. The private clinic I did radiotherapy through have a tree mural which you can put your fingerprint on which was a nice way to put a full stop on it.
JennyD78
6
Re: COVID 19 jab
I am having AZ Saturday week. My husband is having his at the same time for moral support lol!
The reason it has been so quick is that the framework for the vaccine was already in place and it was easier to get it through the various clinical trials stages because of demand and also ,because we were mid pandemic so there were plenty of people to test it on.
With regard to side effects, the risk of clotting is much less than the pill. I will be alert to any side effects and seek appropriate help. The more corona in the community there is , the more chance of variants forming and escaping. That’s why it is important to get as many shots in arms as possible.
There will be many more vaccines to come for covid. There is an insane yet reassuring number currently in development. Of course the second and third wave will probably be better , this usually happens in vaccine development. Down the track and probably fairly soon, this is something to look forward to. In the meantime, I will have AZ. Winter is coming . If it’s good enough for Norman swan, it’s good enough for me
Disclaimer, I am a (retired) Medical Scientist. I don’t know everything, but the evidence seems to stack up.
Caz xxxxxx
The reason it has been so quick is that the framework for the vaccine was already in place and it was easier to get it through the various clinical trials stages because of demand and also ,because we were mid pandemic so there were plenty of people to test it on.
With regard to side effects, the risk of clotting is much less than the pill. I will be alert to any side effects and seek appropriate help. The more corona in the community there is , the more chance of variants forming and escaping. That’s why it is important to get as many shots in arms as possible.
There will be many more vaccines to come for covid. There is an insane yet reassuring number currently in development. Of course the second and third wave will probably be better , this usually happens in vaccine development. Down the track and probably fairly soon, this is something to look forward to. In the meantime, I will have AZ. Winter is coming . If it’s good enough for Norman swan, it’s good enough for me
Disclaimer, I am a (retired) Medical Scientist. I don’t know everything, but the evidence seems to stack up.
Caz xxxxxx
Caz1
6
Re: Mastectomy due to DCIS
So I had surgery yesterday and it all went well. I was scared to look at my chest and when I finally gathered the courage to do so, I found it was not as bad as the mental picture I had. Am now at peace with it and feel this was the right decision. Here is to getting better and new beginning🍷...
Re: What it feels like to finish treatment - the aftermath - add your experience
It’s been a while since I was one year out (hooray!) but the following:
* I changed my job. I had worked through treatment and was grateful for the support I received but the time was right for a new challenge. And a switch to a four day week!
* I joined a gym.
* I planned my next overseas trip.
In the intervening years, I have travelled a lot, become a grandmother (two grandsons), joined a choir, I am going back to gym after a long COVID absence, lost my mother but was able to be with her and support her, taken long service leave and retired. I am a happy, calmer, rich (in experiences) person. Wouldn’t have missed it for quids.
* I changed my job. I had worked through treatment and was grateful for the support I received but the time was right for a new challenge. And a switch to a four day week!
* I joined a gym.
* I planned my next overseas trip.
In the intervening years, I have travelled a lot, become a grandmother (two grandsons), joined a choir, I am going back to gym after a long COVID absence, lost my mother but was able to be with her and support her, taken long service leave and retired. I am a happy, calmer, rich (in experiences) person. Wouldn’t have missed it for quids.
Afraser
5