Best Of
. So much patience. They are so lovely. 
Re: Inspiration for the week
Oh indeed...My beloved brother died at the South African National Skydiving Championships many years ago. My mother wanted Amazing Grace played at his funeral and wanted lillies or somesuch on his coffin. My sister-in-law and myself agreed that he would be spinning like a top in his box if we did that, so we placed his rig (parachute) over his coffin and played Queens Another One Bites the Dust. All his mates (about 600 of them present) as well as his four children agreed that he would be having a good chuckle at that. After the ceremony, his parachute that was draped over his coffin was ceremoniously folded by his other three team mates (he was in a four way when he bounced...sorry another skydving terminology commonly used by other meatbombs (yet another...we all know the realities of major f**kups), whilst Elton John's Don't let the Sun Go Down On Me was played. The packed rig was then presented to his widow.
AllyJay
5
Re: Our lovely Katie girl hits the headlines !!!
@AllyJay Now that's a plan! His flowers are outside so it's beyond simple and actually quite likely that I would walk past with my weekly bunch. Love it.
However I don't have to get any flowers this week. After the Field of Women the BCNA were incredibly nice and invited me and my husband to their big lunch upstairs. It was a terrific occasion and at the end a group of gorgeous women from WA gave me the table centrepiece, which were being sold as a fundraiser.
However I don't have to get any flowers this week. After the Field of Women the BCNA were incredibly nice and invited me and my husband to their big lunch upstairs. It was a terrific occasion and at the end a group of gorgeous women from WA gave me the table centrepiece, which were being sold as a fundraiser.
kmakm
6
Re: Inspiration for the week
Saw this and thought about our struggles after BC diagnosis
Re: Hello to all the strong women out there!
Hi Sara. Sorry you've found yourself here but having said that, I hope you find it as helpful and supportive as I have.
A word you often see used here is rollercoaster. Having a BC diagnosis is full of ups and downs. You don't get used to it as such, but you do learn that you will pull up out of the downs at some point so you just have to keep hanging in.
I have four kids, two teens, an almost teen and one younger. Just as you get used to your treatment plan, they will too. Be open, give them the info they ask for and bear in mind that you might need to reiterate. I've found that I've assumed they've heard and understood something I've said only to discover later that it's gone in one ear and out the other!
I hope my experience will make them more empathetic and caring individuals as they move through their young lives.
I describe the learning curve as vertical. There is such a lot to absorb. Don't stress, you'll get there. Take notes, take a friend or family member with you to appointments, or record them on your phone. The doctors are used to patients not getting it all clear the first time and are usually very happy to repeat themselves. Do you have a breastcare nurse? If you get a good one they can be an amazing resource for all those questions that occur to you 'later'. Try not to Dr Google! But if you do, stay away from the US websites. Their healthcare environment is so vastly different to ours it can be quite distressing. The BCNA and Macmillan (the UK equivalent) are always a safe bet.
Have you got your My Journey kit? That has excellent suggestions of questions to ask your doctors. And you can always call the BCNA helpline on 1800 500 258. The people on the other end of that line are terrific.
And of course, you can always jump on here for a question (this is an awesome hive mind!), a vent, a fret, a rant and even a laugh! If you're comfortable you could tell us whereabouts in Australia you are and a little about your diagnosis.
Hang in there Sara! Take it one day at a time if it threatens to overwhelm. Big hug, Kate xox
A word you often see used here is rollercoaster. Having a BC diagnosis is full of ups and downs. You don't get used to it as such, but you do learn that you will pull up out of the downs at some point so you just have to keep hanging in.
I have four kids, two teens, an almost teen and one younger. Just as you get used to your treatment plan, they will too. Be open, give them the info they ask for and bear in mind that you might need to reiterate. I've found that I've assumed they've heard and understood something I've said only to discover later that it's gone in one ear and out the other!
I hope my experience will make them more empathetic and caring individuals as they move through their young lives.
I describe the learning curve as vertical. There is such a lot to absorb. Don't stress, you'll get there. Take notes, take a friend or family member with you to appointments, or record them on your phone. The doctors are used to patients not getting it all clear the first time and are usually very happy to repeat themselves. Do you have a breastcare nurse? If you get a good one they can be an amazing resource for all those questions that occur to you 'later'. Try not to Dr Google! But if you do, stay away from the US websites. Their healthcare environment is so vastly different to ours it can be quite distressing. The BCNA and Macmillan (the UK equivalent) are always a safe bet.
Have you got your My Journey kit? That has excellent suggestions of questions to ask your doctors. And you can always call the BCNA helpline on 1800 500 258. The people on the other end of that line are terrific.
And of course, you can always jump on here for a question (this is an awesome hive mind!), a vent, a fret, a rant and even a laugh! If you're comfortable you could tell us whereabouts in Australia you are and a little about your diagnosis.
Hang in there Sara! Take it one day at a time if it threatens to overwhelm. Big hug, Kate xox
kmakm
5
Re: Why is it so hard?
Hi @12paws,
You are definitely not alone as you can see. This is the part that is not in the listed side effects.
That feeling of "I should be grateful" "I should be doing something spectacular with my life now, I've had a second chance"
I am close to two years on from surgery and over 12 months from active treatment.
It does take a while and 12 months is not long in the big picture of what we've been through. I renounce the "new normal" and it can shove off. I'm looking hard for my old one and that in itself presents problems.
Life has gone back to the daily routine.
Sometimes that ticks me off and sometimes I am thankful it kind of has I guess. Family and friends think you're all ok once all the nasty treatment is done, a bit like getting over the flu. You were sick, you got treated and now you're better. The thing is though, we never felt sick before all this.
It is hard to explain that your head just isn't the same. However, yes it does get easier to control those thoughts of recurrence; they are there, but less frequent..
However, I am more compassionate now (mostly he he). I tell myself to slow down more often, be a bit more observant and appreciate the small things. I say yes to all invitations without thinking about it where once I would have been too busy, didn't want to spend the money, couldn't be bothered or too scared to try something, I will go and do it, try it , spend it, whatever. It takes an effort sometimes but I always enjoy myself when I make that effort.
I no longer take shit from anybody.
Actually, I think BC may have given me some kind of tourettes. LoL Fuck it.
Keep on trucking lovely.
Big hugs
xoxoxo
You are definitely not alone as you can see. This is the part that is not in the listed side effects.
That feeling of "I should be grateful" "I should be doing something spectacular with my life now, I've had a second chance"
I am close to two years on from surgery and over 12 months from active treatment.
It does take a while and 12 months is not long in the big picture of what we've been through. I renounce the "new normal" and it can shove off. I'm looking hard for my old one and that in itself presents problems.
Life has gone back to the daily routine.
Sometimes that ticks me off and sometimes I am thankful it kind of has I guess. Family and friends think you're all ok once all the nasty treatment is done, a bit like getting over the flu. You were sick, you got treated and now you're better. The thing is though, we never felt sick before all this.
It is hard to explain that your head just isn't the same. However, yes it does get easier to control those thoughts of recurrence; they are there, but less frequent..
However, I am more compassionate now (mostly he he). I tell myself to slow down more often, be a bit more observant and appreciate the small things. I say yes to all invitations without thinking about it where once I would have been too busy, didn't want to spend the money, couldn't be bothered or too scared to try something, I will go and do it, try it , spend it, whatever. It takes an effort sometimes but I always enjoy myself when I make that effort.
I no longer take shit from anybody.
Actually, I think BC may have given me some kind of tourettes. LoL Fuck it.
Keep on trucking lovely.
Big hugs
xoxoxo
kezmusc
5
Re: Inspiration for the week
Apologies and I do not want to cause offence - as this is not the uplifting tone of most of the inspirational material here - but it made me laugh!! I think nearly all of us develop coping mechanisms (although some may be quite healthy and probably sanity inducing!) and personally I am all for a bit of dark humour.
Afraser
7
Re: Field of Women to be streamed live on Facebook
Woo hoo at the Field of Women. Have written tags for some at the mini field of women for @jennyss
@sister ;
@SoldierCrab
@primek ;
@romla
Sorry if I missed you
@sister ;
@SoldierCrab
@primek ;
@romla
Sorry if I missed you
