Helping ourselves

Deanne
Deanne Member Posts: 2,163 ✭
edited June 2016 in Day to day

My treatment has been mastectomy/partial axillary dissection, FEC/D chemo, radiotherapy, Tamoxifen, oopherectomy and now Femara. I am just over 3 years into this post bc world. 

Throughout this time I have tried to find ways to alleviate the side effects of treatment, prevent further complications and generally achieve the best quality of life I can. 

I have found my doctors (surgeon, medical oncologist and radio oncologist) fairly helpful with advice on how to do this but nevertheless have had to prompt them at times by asking lots of questions. I have had professional help from a physio, Lymphoedema clinic, dietician, osteopath and my GP. Again, I had to do the asking to find this help. But I am so glad that I did.

Some of the BEST advice and info about how to help myself has come from other people on this network. After all, we know what it is like to try and live with these side effects on a daily basis.

So I guess my message is that it is possible to help yourself and have a pretty terrific quality of life despite treatment side effects. Just be your own advocate and ask lots of questions. It's also why I try to stay connected on here, just in case I can share something that might help someone else. We can all help each other and live well after bc. Just ask those questions!

Deanne xoxo

Comments

  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392 ✭
    edited June 2016

    Thanks Deanne, the medical professionals can be good at provided only just enough info. This site is great.

  • skitzy
    skitzy Member Posts: 180 ✭
    edited June 2016

    Hi Deanne you are a big inspiration to the ladies on this site.

    It is nice to see you back from your mountain climb I hope you had a great time & everything went according to plan for you.

    Eileen xx

  • Deanne
    Deanne Member Posts: 2,163 ✭
    edited June 2016

    Hi Eileen,

    I hope you are going as well as you can with chemo. I hope that you are soon through with that part of treatment. It is the hardest bit I think! But it is the best way they have to get rid of any stray cells that might be trying to cause a problem for us one day.

    The trek was amazing and while we had a few changes to the plan, it worked out in the end. It was exhausting but worth all our effort. I think it was possibly the best 3 weeks of my life and certainly the best 'holiday' I've ever had.

    Now I just want to stay well and keep on making the most of any opportunities that come my way. This one certainly worked out in the end. :)

    Sending you a hug and hoping this next chemo goes a bit more smoothly for you. Deanne xoxo

     

  • skitzy
    skitzy Member Posts: 180 ✭
    edited June 2016

    Thank you Deanne I am glad all went well for you.

    This cycle of chemo has been a lot better than the 2nd one thankfully. The unfortunate thing is due to the chemo induced colitis from the last one I am now on the list for a colonoscopy which will be in a few weeks, I was hoping to have got over the chemo & radiation probably in November before having it.

    I did manage to climb Emu Mountain after the 1st cycle which was due to reading your posts, so I again thank you for being a big inspiration.

    Eileen xx

     

  • Deanne
    Deanne Member Posts: 2,163 ✭
    edited June 2016

    That's annoying about the colonoscopy but I suppose they just need to check on things as a precaution.

    You are doing better than me, I did not climb Emu Mountain till a couple of months after I finished treatment! Sometimes you can see whales from there apparently. It's coming up to the right time of year for that. Glad this Chemo is going better for you. Xxx

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