Commenced Radiotherapy
Hi My Friends. Well I have commenced radiotherapy. We left our town and one and a half hours later arrived at the unit. I had to have an echocardiogram and then off to 'learn the ropes' and then my first session. I don't like lying flat on my back anywhere, kind of sends me a bit 'spinny' any how I got through ok and it was pretty quick and painless. We settled into our accommodation that evening at about 6.30ish - still had to get tea (one we prepared earlier, thanks to hubby's forward thinking!). The next morning I had to return to my home town, to go to my hospital for a Herceptin infusion, but first had to wait for the results of my echocardiogram. My appointment in my home town was at 10.15, we didn't leave until 10.30 (keep in mind that it is a one and a half hour one way trip as I mentioned) So finally we headed off and arrived late but the onc nurses were fine and started my infusion. Hubby went off to do some things and later returned to collect me so as we could drive back the 1 1/2 hour journey. I was plumb tuckered out - but we settled into our accommodation. Once again hubby had planned our meals, so we only had to heat it up. This morning I had my third radiation, and as the weather was very good (and the radiation therapy is in early days and haven't suffered the fatigue as yet) we thought it was an excellent time for us to go out for the day - we had a lovely day but my feet were sore as by the time we got back to the unit. I still don't like lying flat on my back - freakes me out, but I have to admit, it's getting a little better, five weeks down the track I won't give a stuff. We have met a couple of people here at the accommodation, but I have to say I am not really interested in socialising - the last thing I want to do is 'discuss and trade info on cancer' - I just want to get this over and done with and get back on track. I can't tell you how excited I am to be going home after radio tomorrow - just want my little bed, my little home, and my little 'lazy-boy' lounge chair that I can stretch out on! Well ladies, I hope you are all doing well, hi to any newbies - big hugs to all, Josie x x x
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I did my radiation in Sydney in March / Apr/ May this year. I travelled 5 hours. I looked on my time away as a holiday and did things I would normally do on a holiday. My radiation session was in the middle of the day but they changed my time occasionally if I had something on. Make sure you slather lots of sorbolene cream (not lotion) on from early on and this will minimise any burning you have as you get towards the end of your therapy.
Good luck
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Hi Josie,
I am glad you are going well with the radiotherapy so far and it sounds like your husband has everything else under controll - what a great support.
Good luck and enjoy your weekend on the 'Lady-boy'
Cheers, Daina
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Hi Josie,
It sounds like you have quite a bit of travel to do! You may already know this, but I thought to mention the Patient Assisted Transport Schemes, which provide people living in rural areas with financial assistance towards the costs of travelling to, and staying near specialist medical services for treatment.
We have a fact sheet which contains information on the state and territory based schemes, if you're interested in finding out more.
All the best for the remaining weeks of radiotherapy.
Annie
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Hi Josie my dear rads buddy. Good to hear you are settling into your accommodation. Whenever I complain about having to have radiation treatment everyday I think about ladies like yourself that have to stay away from home to have theirs & then think I have nothing to whinge about!! I started mine on Wednesday & have had a bit of trouble holding my right arm back. I also find the thing you lay on to be not very comfortable. I hope you enjoy your time back at home this weekend. Take care Loretta xxx
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Thank you Rose, I will do that though my poor old mastectomy is still sore from the echocardiogram (like an ultra sound) and the guy really pressed hard, I think the plonker bruised me so I am going to have a whinge to someone about it as he is as gentle as a bull in a china shop! Thank you again, x Josie
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Thank you Daina - and yes, hubby is an expert cook - he really plans ahead, makes strogenoff, casseroles and yummy chicken stuff, easy to freeze and heat up! Cheers Josie x
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Dear Annie, yes, we have the forms and fill them in on a regular basis - we pop them into an office in a town nearby on the way home - sure helps a lot, that's for sure! Thank you, Josie x
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Dear Loretta, yes its good to know that I get my treatments early in the day (later on Mondays so we don't have to leave home so early) and we have the rest of the day to ourselves. I don't like big towns, they are so busy - where I am living, we don't have traffic lights or parking meters (how spoilt are we!) it's only a tiny town but I love it. One of the ladies at the accomodation came from the same town, she said she hates it! She hates the fact there are minimal shops and it's boring and isolated - all the things I love! I don't find it boring at all, we have four lakes near by and a beautiful mountain range that goes for miles and miles and is so magnificent, there are lots of different drives to go on and hubby loves taking me on them - the scenery is ever changing as the seasons progress and I am always amazed at the beauty - I never get tired of it, even if we go the same route, there is always something to see, at the moment the spring lambs are being born, and the baby calves - not to mention kangaroos, emus, the birds and at the moment the wattle is in full bloom. At a certain time the Canola feilds burst into the most amazing blanket of yellow as far as the eye can see! I lived up in Queensland for 20 years and it is wonderful to come home and appreciatte the state of Victoria - so underated, but so very beautiful! From our unit, you can see the Grampian ranges - some mornings there is a layer of fog below the range and it is awesome - they seem to change colour and some days look so clear you can touch them - No I don't like big towns and the city - rush, rush, rush! I feel very blessed and am looking forward to coming home and after the radio - we arrived back home today about 1.30, but we stopped at our local for lunch - it was really yummy and very cheap! By and large the people here are really lovely, very pleasant and in the shops, nothing is ever too much trouble - no grumpies! I have another nine months of Herceptin infusions, but at least I have them here in our little hospital where I know all the staff and I feel quite at home! Thank you for your comment and yes! Suddenly the weekends take on a whole new meaning! x Josie
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HI Josie
Like you I didn't much like lying under that ticking whirring machine so I used to count it all down and some how that helped get through it all. My biggest problem was having a hot flush just when they all left the room and having to put up with running water down my face and not being able to move! I thought 70kms round trip a lot but you seem to be doing a marathon hope it all goes ok.
Will soon be in the past and you can get on with your life.
Sarahx
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Hi Sarah - I know what you mean about the hot flush! Actually I went outside early this morning and it was very cold and wintery - I had a hot flush and the cold wind brought a breif but welcome relief! Fancy that! it shows how vicious those hot flushes can be! x Josie
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Yes Tonya - the same chap I threatened I would turn around and tell say to him that I would grab his manhood and ask him if it hurt (lol!) but somehow I couldn't pluck up the courage - all talk! that's me! x Josie
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Yes Leonie, the counting does work - above the machine someone has put a giant picture of a galaxy of stars - I feel like I am at NASA! x Josie
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