Best Of
Re: Single or double mastectomy
My left had gone feral on me and the right had "abnormal geography" according to the ultrasound and other scans. I insisted that I wanted both off and was initially given all the "Not necessary, that's overkill, we'll monitor you very carefully "routine. I then told my surgeon that I felt that my right breast was a threat to my mental and emotional health, as well as potentially my future physical health. I asked her how she would feel if she knew that a convicted rapist lived next door to her...and that he had a duplicate key to her front door. No amount of reassurance such as "He has to report to his parole officer twice a week. He's completed a course in how to deal with his perverted behaviour, he's wearing an ankle monitor, so we know where he is at all times" and so on would ease her concern. After that, she said she understood completely my fear, real or imagined, and would remove both. Good move, as it turned out...the right side "abnormal geography" was an area of precancerous cells which apparently have a strong history of going bad. I wear my "fake titties" when going out (sometimes), but otherwise go F & F. My one big regret is that I no longer have a handy place to keep mt crochet hook or pen for marking off knitting patterns.
AllyJay
6
Re: 3am
@ kayB55 A valued counselor put the idea of finding the whole business interesting into my head years ago. It's been my stabilizing response when everything gets all screwed up because it is interesting. Frightening, sickening, confronting, confusing and painful on occasions, but always interesting.
Even now--13 years since the shitfight started and dealing with a raft of complications that I could use to float across the Pacific--I find the whole process endlessly fascinating. I do wish for peace, relief and normality, but if I can't have that I might as well be entertained. You can learn a lot about your body, personality and relationships if you distance yourself a bit and view your treatment and survival as a bit of a case study.
It's great that you are coping; if you have managed the first one with minimum fuss, you are well set up for the rest. Things can get a bit horrible toward the end of your first week if you have a strong response to the drug they give you to boost your white blood cells and learning to manage your bowels can be a challenge, but that passes. Well done, you. MXX
Even now--13 years since the shitfight started and dealing with a raft of complications that I could use to float across the Pacific--I find the whole process endlessly fascinating. I do wish for peace, relief and normality, but if I can't have that I might as well be entertained. You can learn a lot about your body, personality and relationships if you distance yourself a bit and view your treatment and survival as a bit of a case study.
It's great that you are coping; if you have managed the first one with minimum fuss, you are well set up for the rest. Things can get a bit horrible toward the end of your first week if you have a strong response to the drug they give you to boost your white blood cells and learning to manage your bowels can be a challenge, but that passes. Well done, you. MXX
Zoffiel
5
Re: Newly diagnosed .. Glad I've found a safe place
@Hils,
It's a common thing to try and find a "reason" that it happened to you. What you did to yourself to get it so to speak. All the scientists and medico's still don't know so please don't beat your self up. There is no room for guilt in this little trip. This thing does not discriminate. I work in a hospital on the surgical ward. I have seen everything from a 16 yo old girl to a 92 year old man deal with breast cancer.
You did nothing wrong lovely.
It's a common thing to try and find a "reason" that it happened to you. What you did to yourself to get it so to speak. All the scientists and medico's still don't know so please don't beat your self up. There is no room for guilt in this little trip. This thing does not discriminate. I work in a hospital on the surgical ward. I have seen everything from a 16 yo old girl to a 92 year old man deal with breast cancer.
You did nothing wrong lovely.
kezmusc
4
thank you for my birthday wishes
Hi ladies,
to all of you who sent me birthday wishes for October 25th,I say a very big thank you, you know who you are!. I havent been very active on the bcna online forum, in fact I havent been very active at all!Life has been very quiet, chemo three weeks out of 4, and as its a 4 hour round trip and then factor in the chemo infusion it makes for a very long day,however, you do what you have to do,my hair is growing back all white and curly, at 64, not sure about the white, however I will take whatever comes.It has been 4 months since I have been on abraxane and whilst in the beginning it had very little side effects,it seems to be catching up with me,however its a lot better than the vinoralbine that I was on before.
Its a beautiful spring day and I have just been outside and picked some of my glorious roses,they are my pride and joy and the best I have had so far,to all of you I wish you well and hope that you are all chugging along okay, or as best you can.Its been 6 and a half years since my original diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and I would like to think that I will still be writing to you in another 6 and a half years, this was not how I had planned my retirement, however its all a matter of how the cards fall.
I am so very fortunate that I have the most caring,loving and supportive partner, who at 75 I am sure did not plan on looking after me,
but he has taken on the job and is simply a champion.
I had a phone call from my oncologist this morning and he is trying to get me on to a access program for a combination of drugs, so things are looking up, I will not know all the details until Nov.16th but certainly is something to look forward to.
So with the sun shining and a blue sky outside, things are looking up!!!.
Once again, thankyou, your ongoing encouragement and support is very special, and at times is simply what gets me through the day.
Wendy55
to all of you who sent me birthday wishes for October 25th,I say a very big thank you, you know who you are!. I havent been very active on the bcna online forum, in fact I havent been very active at all!Life has been very quiet, chemo three weeks out of 4, and as its a 4 hour round trip and then factor in the chemo infusion it makes for a very long day,however, you do what you have to do,my hair is growing back all white and curly, at 64, not sure about the white, however I will take whatever comes.It has been 4 months since I have been on abraxane and whilst in the beginning it had very little side effects,it seems to be catching up with me,however its a lot better than the vinoralbine that I was on before.
Its a beautiful spring day and I have just been outside and picked some of my glorious roses,they are my pride and joy and the best I have had so far,to all of you I wish you well and hope that you are all chugging along okay, or as best you can.Its been 6 and a half years since my original diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and I would like to think that I will still be writing to you in another 6 and a half years, this was not how I had planned my retirement, however its all a matter of how the cards fall.
I am so very fortunate that I have the most caring,loving and supportive partner, who at 75 I am sure did not plan on looking after me,
but he has taken on the job and is simply a champion.
I had a phone call from my oncologist this morning and he is trying to get me on to a access program for a combination of drugs, so things are looking up, I will not know all the details until Nov.16th but certainly is something to look forward to.
So with the sun shining and a blue sky outside, things are looking up!!!.
Once again, thankyou, your ongoing encouragement and support is very special, and at times is simply what gets me through the day.
Wendy55
wendy55
5
Re: Cancer Australia and Metastatic BC
We so need a 'shitbags/oh bugger/gargh response button @Patti J . Confidence is all, particularly if you think that your team is up on what is happening in your space.
I've worked for Cancer Oz as a grant reviewer for over a decade and to see them actively change focus from not just early detection and treatment of identified disease to dealing with what we currently see as incurable stages could inject millions of dollars a year into new research. Bring it on.
I've worked for Cancer Oz as a grant reviewer for over a decade and to see them actively change focus from not just early detection and treatment of identified disease to dealing with what we currently see as incurable stages could inject millions of dollars a year into new research. Bring it on.
Zoffiel
5
Re: What are your easiest, tastiest meals - quick to prepare when you can't think of anything!!
One of my family's fave dinners and easy as, is my super easy meatballs!
1kg mince (I use beef), add shredded zucchini if you have the energy (got to get hidden veges into them somehow), 2 eggs, about a cup of breadcrumbs (or almond meal if you're avoiding the carbs), half a cup of tomato paste, and squirt of Tabasco or Worcestershire or a bit of chili if you want to give it a kick - can adjust the dry/wet ingredients a bit....
Stick a pot on the stove and bring to the boil 2 x bottles of your favourite tomato passata or puree ( I use the 700g ones) + an equal amount of water. (ie empty the bottle of passata into the pot then fill the same bottle with water and add the water in).
When the passata is boiling, roll the mince mixture into small balls with wet hands, and throw them in.
Boil over medium heat until the sauce reduces and thickens - takes about 40 mins - leave the cover off and it will reduce quicker just make sure the mince is cooked through.
So yummy with pasta or mash or veges or cauliflower mash!
Make enough to freeze
1kg mince (I use beef), add shredded zucchini if you have the energy (got to get hidden veges into them somehow), 2 eggs, about a cup of breadcrumbs (or almond meal if you're avoiding the carbs), half a cup of tomato paste, and squirt of Tabasco or Worcestershire or a bit of chili if you want to give it a kick - can adjust the dry/wet ingredients a bit....
Stick a pot on the stove and bring to the boil 2 x bottles of your favourite tomato passata or puree ( I use the 700g ones) + an equal amount of water. (ie empty the bottle of passata into the pot then fill the same bottle with water and add the water in).
When the passata is boiling, roll the mince mixture into small balls with wet hands, and throw them in.
Boil over medium heat until the sauce reduces and thickens - takes about 40 mins - leave the cover off and it will reduce quicker just make sure the mince is cooked through.
So yummy with pasta or mash or veges or cauliflower mash!
Make enough to freeze
Eastmum
5
Re: Back off please
"I love you dearly and I truly appreciate your interest, but right now I really don't want to talk about it. I hope you don't mind."
or
"Do you mind if we don't talk about it anymore? I just want to focus on other things for a bit."
It's very challenging isn't it? I hope you can get your friend to back off. K xox
or
"Do you mind if we don't talk about it anymore? I just want to focus on other things for a bit."
It's very challenging isn't it? I hope you can get your friend to back off. K xox
kmakm
6
Re: I’m back
Great news from your scans @TripleTea
I too have had a localised recurrence of Triple Negative and know and feel exactly what you're going through.
I had to have another round (5 months) chemo, but a different regimen to the first time. I hated every bit off it, but knew if this was going to beat the retched thing, then I had to do it !! Then radiotherapy again as well.
I'm now nearly three year post the recurrence and heading down the path of reconstruction at the moment.
Sending you bunches of hugs and just know that you can do this.
I too have had a localised recurrence of Triple Negative and know and feel exactly what you're going through.
I had to have another round (5 months) chemo, but a different regimen to the first time. I hated every bit off it, but knew if this was going to beat the retched thing, then I had to do it !! Then radiotherapy again as well.
I'm now nearly three year post the recurrence and heading down the path of reconstruction at the moment.
Sending you bunches of hugs and just know that you can do this.