Best Of
Re: Newly diagnosed
Welcome @ HelenSusie7.
The beginning is terrifying. Scattered emotions, overwhelming fear and a brain that just won't quit with all the negativity. It's perfectly normal what you are feeling.
Chemo is the big bad boogeyman of the trip. It's the unknown that's the worst part. Some of us get through quite ok, I worked as well, and was able to continue on with life fairly close to normal for the majority of the time. Once that first one is out of the way you'll feel a bit more in control.
All the best.
xoxoxoxo
The beginning is terrifying. Scattered emotions, overwhelming fear and a brain that just won't quit with all the negativity. It's perfectly normal what you are feeling.
Chemo is the big bad boogeyman of the trip. It's the unknown that's the worst part. Some of us get through quite ok, I worked as well, and was able to continue on with life fairly close to normal for the majority of the time. Once that first one is out of the way you'll feel a bit more in control.
All the best.
xoxoxoxo
kezmusc
6
Re: Fear of exercise
Update
well, I’m in my second week of boxing (I found here in Melbourne a great gym that teach you in a safe way at my own pace)
after 3 years of exercises hiatus (would it count as exercise the classic once in a while a power walk around the river??) ...
my body is moving muscles that I never knew I could move (nor have) ... sore in every way but OMG so happy... there must be something about punching a bag that makes you feel free.
I got my own gloves and wrists protectors (all in pink obviously ) ...
the only exercise that I’m avoiding is push ups or planks (I don’t want to push my luck) but as an alternative I’m doing sit ups. The instructor knows about my surgeries and let me take punches slow until I get the technique and learn to used the core to get extra power for hitting ... in the meantime Im building confidence and have fun with it. And all I can say it’s that im having so much fun. Arms are sore (good sore) my chest not to much, coz I’m using my legs and core to turn and punch. I’m trying to get the proper technique so I can relay in other muscles rather than just used my chest. So far implants in the right spot and I think they r enjoying as much as me of this new craze 😂
cancer probably made me reconsider many things but having fun won’t be one of them.
Thanks for all your support and keep u posted if anything changes !!!
well, I’m in my second week of boxing (I found here in Melbourne a great gym that teach you in a safe way at my own pace)
after 3 years of exercises hiatus (would it count as exercise the classic once in a while a power walk around the river??) ...
my body is moving muscles that I never knew I could move (nor have) ... sore in every way but OMG so happy... there must be something about punching a bag that makes you feel free.
I got my own gloves and wrists protectors (all in pink obviously ) ...
the only exercise that I’m avoiding is push ups or planks (I don’t want to push my luck) but as an alternative I’m doing sit ups. The instructor knows about my surgeries and let me take punches slow until I get the technique and learn to used the core to get extra power for hitting ... in the meantime Im building confidence and have fun with it. And all I can say it’s that im having so much fun. Arms are sore (good sore) my chest not to much, coz I’m using my legs and core to turn and punch. I’m trying to get the proper technique so I can relay in other muscles rather than just used my chest. So far implants in the right spot and I think they r enjoying as much as me of this new craze 😂
cancer probably made me reconsider many things but having fun won’t be one of them.
Thanks for all your support and keep u posted if anything changes !!!
Surprise Birthday
Today we went out for breakfast. On the way home I got a text from my SIL saying she was on her way over with a Birthday present. She arrived just after us and made us hide in another room. When we came out, our baby girl from Micronesia was here. Her boss bullied her so much that Australian Volunteers pulled her back home. Best birthday ever. She will go somewhere else overseas in a couple months as UNICEF loves her.
Re: How to curb the fear
I've chosen to believe I am cancer free until proven otherwise. Any other way would send me nuts. Thats not to say I don't have dark days...at times I truly believe I've beaten cancer, on other days I'm just as certain I will eventually die from it. Hearing of another bc sister not making it highlights it. I've had a number of scares too and what seemed like an endless wait for results. All clear. I've found I'm struggling presently. Depression is definitely there. But I keep working at it. I get up. I work in a job I love and I'm getting back to exercise again now my shoulder issues are resolving (medication related ).
I've decided to just deal with what I know. There are so many what ifs...but as we don't know the future we just have to live in the moment.
Practise those mindfulness techniques. ..they really do help you stay in the now and not in your head. Jeep seeing your counsellor.
And lovely...should it be cancer...well we already know you are strong enough to face it again. And we are hear to help you any way we can. X
I've decided to just deal with what I know. There are so many what ifs...but as we don't know the future we just have to live in the moment.
Practise those mindfulness techniques. ..they really do help you stay in the now and not in your head. Jeep seeing your counsellor.
And lovely...should it be cancer...well we already know you are strong enough to face it again. And we are hear to help you any way we can. X
primek
5
Re: 'Together Towards Tomorrow Adelaide Survivorship Conference 27 & 28 July 2019 registrations open
Lovely to catch up with @anne65 and to meet @Marianne_BCNA (couldn't see @Rosie_BCNA)
Some fantastic speakers at the conference. I don't know who to highlight but really got a lot out of
Charlotte Tottman (Psycho-Oncologist) - I wish I'd been able to make an appointment with her last year when I needed to speak to someone but understand now that she probably had other things on her mind
Helen Donovan (Exercise Psychologist)
The lady who spoke about lymphoedema (I didn't write her name down).
Every speaker highlighted exercise as one of the major things we can do for ourselves (that and diet/healthy weight), whether it be for some protection against recurrence, improved state of mind, aid against lymphoedema. It wasn't pushed as a guarantee for anything but that nothing else is either.
I asked Helen Donovan about the link between psychology and physiology and whether there is any evidence that prolonged negative stress has a bearing on developing breast cancer. Her response was "absolutely" correlated though no evidence as causative - holds true for many chronic conditions.
I hope BCNA recorded these sessions and will put them up online.
Some fantastic speakers at the conference. I don't know who to highlight but really got a lot out of
Charlotte Tottman (Psycho-Oncologist) - I wish I'd been able to make an appointment with her last year when I needed to speak to someone but understand now that she probably had other things on her mind
Helen Donovan (Exercise Psychologist)
The lady who spoke about lymphoedema (I didn't write her name down).
Every speaker highlighted exercise as one of the major things we can do for ourselves (that and diet/healthy weight), whether it be for some protection against recurrence, improved state of mind, aid against lymphoedema. It wasn't pushed as a guarantee for anything but that nothing else is either.
I asked Helen Donovan about the link between psychology and physiology and whether there is any evidence that prolonged negative stress has a bearing on developing breast cancer. Her response was "absolutely" correlated though no evidence as causative - holds true for many chronic conditions.
I hope BCNA recorded these sessions and will put them up online.
Sister
8
Re: 'Together Towards Tomorrow Adelaide Survivorship Conference 27 & 28 July 2019 registrations open
Thanks BCNA for a really informative conference. I agree @Sister the speakers were great. I really liked your question about negative stress. I’m always a bit worried about over emphasising the correlation between stress and cancer as some people can feel a sense of having brought it on themselves. It was good that they emphasised that there is a connection, but not causation. I spent way too much time wondering what caused it when I was first diagnosed. I also liked the positive psychology bits and would love to see a BCNA podcast on this topic, with perhaps one on mindfulness or meditation.
I was thinking about what I took away from the conference and it was this mind body connection, the time it takes to recover, self compassion and a sense of connection to other men and women in the same boat. I’m almost at the 5 year mark and there really is no ongoing support, apart from BCNA, a yearly mammogram and a visit to the overly busy GP who works part time. This conference has reminded me that although my life has continued and I’m grateful for that, there are scars and they are not just physical.
I was thinking about what I took away from the conference and it was this mind body connection, the time it takes to recover, self compassion and a sense of connection to other men and women in the same boat. I’m almost at the 5 year mark and there really is no ongoing support, apart from BCNA, a yearly mammogram and a visit to the overly busy GP who works part time. This conference has reminded me that although my life has continued and I’m grateful for that, there are scars and they are not just physical.
Re: Newly diagnosed
I had a similar diagnosis, nearly seven years clear. The panic at diagnosis affects almost everyone but things do become less scary when you have a plan and start treatment. Reactions to chemo vary a lot but in the first two weeks or so you will get a good indication if how it may be for you. Not everyone has bad reactions - I had no nausea for example and worked through six months of chemo. Herceptin treatment extends your active medication time but has proved to be effective and I had no adverse reaction to it at all. Best wishes for next week.
Afraser
6