Best Of
Re: Going ahead Alone
Thank you so much ladies, I really appreciate your support xx It is a long, lonely road ..... I've been out in the kayak a few times & am back at Uke, leading the group again - so that keeps me busy a few days a week.
I saw my Onc yesterday & she has suggested I stop the AIs for 5 weeks, as they can make you more emotional again .... so as of today, I am on an AI break!
xx
I saw my Onc yesterday & she has suggested I stop the AIs for 5 weeks, as they can make you more emotional again .... so as of today, I am on an AI break!
xx
arpie
7
Re: Going ahead Alone
Thinking of you at this very difficult time. You have always been a great advocate and support for others so take all the support, practical and emotional, that you can now. You will need to find your sea legs in yet another new normal. Your own advice, to keep busy, may help to do this. Take care.
Afraser
5
Re: Radiation - with or without tattoo
Funnily enough, I don't mind my three tiny blue dots.
I'm not a tattoo person, but I can now say I have several. Which I can be suitably mysterious about and refuse to discuss.
This infuriates my son who seems determined to colour himself in. Particularly when we discuss money. My 'time' which apparently is the term you use to calculate the cost of a tattoo, works out about $7500.
That, in his world, would be a full torso done by an expert. He's trying to figure out how much ink could possibly be on his mother. Somewhere that is not on display.
I'll put him at ease. But not quite yet.
I may no longer be cool, but I'm enjoying being enigmatic.
I'm not a tattoo person, but I can now say I have several. Which I can be suitably mysterious about and refuse to discuss.
This infuriates my son who seems determined to colour himself in. Particularly when we discuss money. My 'time' which apparently is the term you use to calculate the cost of a tattoo, works out about $7500.
That, in his world, would be a full torso done by an expert. He's trying to figure out how much ink could possibly be on his mother. Somewhere that is not on display.
I'll put him at ease. But not quite yet.
I may no longer be cool, but I'm enjoying being enigmatic.
Zoffiel
5
Re: Bouncing forward - can we do this?
Who has the energy to 'bounce forward' ?
I much prefer the old saying re the rearview mirror:
I much prefer the old saying re the rearview mirror:
"The reason the windshield is so large and the rearview mirror is so small is because what's happened in your past is not near as important as what's in your future".
June1952
5
Re: Going ahead Alone
I have been very privileged to have you in my breast cancer life for the past five years. Very soon after I plucked up courage to post of my struggles you responded - on line and in a private message. I felt supported. What I did not know at the time was that you also had recently been diagnosed.
Over the years our friendship has strengthened. We had the best time together in Darwin in July, 2019. We have walked together in our joys, our sorrows and our successes.
Recently you put aside your grief and provided support when I had a mammogram call back at exactly 5 years and 1 day to my original diagnosis.
Through your support to all on the forum I have learnt the importance of advocating strongly for ourselves, I have learnt patience, I have learnt the true meaning of caring and above all I have learnt to be grateful for every day.
Now is the time for you. Lean on us, we are here to support you.
Annie C
8
Going ahead Alone
2022 has been a tough year - and then it got tougher again.
Hubby's chemo treatment changed in Dec and from then on, sadly, he lost his hair (of which he was always VERY proud, to have a full head of luxurious hair at age 85) & sadly also had trips to hospital for infections & reactions to vaccinations.
Then, when his cancer markers went thru the roof in late March, the decision was made to stop chemo.
Sadly, after doing so well til the end of last year (after being diagnosed Stage 4 in January '21) my beloved husband passed away on May 29th after a sudden downturn in mobility and function. He was active & alert, swimming at the Hydro Pool on the Monday & attended the dentist with me on the Tues, but then had difficulty standing up. I had to call the Ambos and he was taken to hospital on the Wed, where I was told he would not be going home. I was with him 24/7, with a bed/chair set up for me in his room and helped the nurses with his care. Family gathered, including our stepson & wife who flew in from NZ - and he passed peacefully, early on the Sunday morning.
We had a lovely Farewell Service overlooking his favourite beach that he had run along daily, for almost 20 years.
It is tough. It is just SO tough, going it alone after a wonderful partnership of nearly 40 years.
The grief is 24/7 and ongoing - in small waves & big waves - at any time, night & day.
I've had wonderful support from family & friends & also my close friends here on the forum and I thank you for that. xx You've helped keep me sane. xx
The paperwork & legal stuff is ongoing & very emotional ....
And then, just to make things even more difficult, our ground floor level & garage were water impacted by the deluge 3 weeks ago & I now have carpet pulled up & stuffed tools & musical instruments & am awaiting an insurance assessment re repair or replacement.
It is not what I really needed at this point in time - tho it is keeping me busy, which is good, sort of.
Life is tough just now.
take care xx. Give your partner a special hug xx
Hubby's chemo treatment changed in Dec and from then on, sadly, he lost his hair (of which he was always VERY proud, to have a full head of luxurious hair at age 85) & sadly also had trips to hospital for infections & reactions to vaccinations.
Then, when his cancer markers went thru the roof in late March, the decision was made to stop chemo.
Sadly, after doing so well til the end of last year (after being diagnosed Stage 4 in January '21) my beloved husband passed away on May 29th after a sudden downturn in mobility and function. He was active & alert, swimming at the Hydro Pool on the Monday & attended the dentist with me on the Tues, but then had difficulty standing up. I had to call the Ambos and he was taken to hospital on the Wed, where I was told he would not be going home. I was with him 24/7, with a bed/chair set up for me in his room and helped the nurses with his care. Family gathered, including our stepson & wife who flew in from NZ - and he passed peacefully, early on the Sunday morning.
We had a lovely Farewell Service overlooking his favourite beach that he had run along daily, for almost 20 years.
It is tough. It is just SO tough, going it alone after a wonderful partnership of nearly 40 years.
The grief is 24/7 and ongoing - in small waves & big waves - at any time, night & day.
I've had wonderful support from family & friends & also my close friends here on the forum and I thank you for that. xx You've helped keep me sane. xx
The paperwork & legal stuff is ongoing & very emotional ....
And then, just to make things even more difficult, our ground floor level & garage were water impacted by the deluge 3 weeks ago & I now have carpet pulled up & stuffed tools & musical instruments & am awaiting an insurance assessment re repair or replacement.
It is not what I really needed at this point in time - tho it is keeping me busy, which is good, sort of.
Life is tough just now.
take care xx. Give your partner a special hug xx
arpie
11
Roller-coaster of a Ride - Sad, Scared and feeling paraysed
So I had my second surgery on June 21 - re-excision and full node clearance. They cleaned up the tumour (found a bit more) and one more node was positive (all up 5 from 27 were no good - a bit sad). I had just come to terms with my Stage 3, Grade 3 dx., when this week, when I saw the oncologist for the first time, he questioned the previous CT report. The CT from ~ 6 weeks ago showed a couple of small benign liver spots - and the report indicated no evidence metastatic disease - a relief. However, when I saw the oncologist this week he said he was more concerned about the spots and his expression and face made me feel doomed. I am having US later next week on Liver. My brain has now gone into overdrive and to the worse case scenario and I feel paralysed. After accepting my Stage 3a, grade 3 dx. it could now be worse. I know worrying doesn't change anything and worry steels the joy from today, but its so hard to now go back to waiting and what this will mean for the future. I am starting Chemo this week, which I was planning to do, as I had already made the decision to throw the kitchen sink at the stage 3 dx., and I had set my brain up to prepare for this, now this "new" thing is messing really really badly with me. I am trying to stay positive but it is so hard. 10 weeks ago I was swimming 10kms a week, lifting weights 3-4 days a week, working full-time, getting ready to apply for a job promotion and enjoying life with my Husband and Dog. How at 51 did I end up here? Having BC was always one of my fears and now I am here. I have organised a counsellor for next week, but I feel like I am crying constantly. I feel physically fit and healthy, how can I (any of us) have this shitty disease. I am still exercising, which I have always loved, but it's even hard to get focussed to do this. My husband is positive which is great, but I'm still sad and scared of what's to come. I just needed to write this down, and I know many here understand.
Molly71
5
Re: One Year since the diagnosis feeling strong and well
Im new here and Im so glad I read this post!! Thank you for posting something that gives me hope! I was diagnosed this past March (2022) and have had a lumpectomy and a mastectomy followed by 25 Radiotherapy treatments. Im now dealing with the burns that RT caused. I will have to start hormone therapy sometime soon and all the possible side effects are a bit scary but I know that I may not get them all...or many of them. Im going to celebrate in March 2023 because I know I will get through this. I am thankful for many things that have happened as a result of my diagnosis, but I still wish it didn't happen.