This is where I'm at

Blossom1961

Fifteen years ago I started on a journey to stop using man made chemicals in or on my body. It took ten years to find alternatives that worked for me but I finally made it. Headaches, hiatus hernia, hot flashes, mood swings, arthritis, IBS, TIAs, hayfever, muscle cramps, and whatever. All under control with natural products and cranial osteopathy. Unfortunately cancer doesn't care how healthy you are. It is happy to attack anyone. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April this year, so with disgust I accepted that I needed to poison my body with chemotherapy, but I would do so also using complimentary therapies.


Ten years natural solutions down the drain. Chemo has a mind of its own and takes over everything. My natural remedies no longer work. I am trying to find new natural solutions but so far have had limited success. Headaches, hot flushes, heartburn plus the usual side effects of chemo are now all controlled by more chemicals. Arghhhhhhh.


On the positive side, chemotherapy has taken over the cancer and shrunk it to miniscule proportions. Hooray! My arthritis seems to have disappeared. Hooray! My IBS has not played up. Hooray! I have not had any TIAs. Hooray! On top of that, the blisters I have on my toes as a result of the chemo are responding well to lavender oil, hooray! and the blood nose is reduced by poking lucas paw paw ointment up it, hooray!


I know I have glossed over lots of negatives, but by keeping hold of what is good I can keep moving forward. On Tuesday I have an appointment with the Psych to try to deal with the overwhelming sense of grief that hits me unawares. One step at a time!


I have now finished all four rounds of AC and am currently in the Paclitaxel cycle (four down, eight to go) with Herceptin every third week for a year. I will be having a mastectomy and lymph node clearance before Christmas.


Love to all
Melody

Brenda5

Well done so far, you are acing it! Just think, one day you will be all done with hardly any appointments due. Not a fun time of life but a necessary one. Keep on the natural remedies where possible.

Sarnicad

I hope the psych really helps. I have a couple of visits and cried the entire time of my first and yes just really angry about the whole situation but I have found a bit more calm after the visits

primek

It's the pits but know your complimentary therapies will be crucial in your chemo recovery period once all completed as your body heals itself from the chemical onslaught. Power to you. Kath x

Blossom1961

Thank you for all your encouragement. It is so nice to be able to share with people who understand, although I wish none of us did. A world without cancer. Maybe one day. 

Zoffiel

Weird, isn't it, chemo does wonders for your skin (unless it makes it all fall off) sorts out your arthritis ( while destroying your connective tissue) and kills off both good and bad gut organisms in equal quantities. 
 It's really heartening to hear the chemo is having a measurable impact, that gives everyone hope it is worth the drama. Keep plodding MXX

Blossom1961

Well the psych was a waste of time. She kept asking why I was tired. She is supposed to be an oncology psych specialist. When I kept pointing out it was a result of the chemo she resorted to my childhood experiences. She could not accept that chemo could cause these issues and suggested that the mental health program might be worth considering even though she felt I was dealing with everything really well. Apparently Nothing wrong with me but lets stay in the system! I think she was a bigger nut than me. I thanked her for her time and said I wouldn't be back.

primek

Oh dear. The counselling though helps you cope with the constant fatigue and life change. Maybe worth a second visit. ..but so get it. I went to a psychologist as my GP insisted as I was tired. Whilst I work in mental health myself I also appreciate what chemo does. My work with post cancer patience is all about sleep and self care and pushing oneself a little but not overdoing it. Together we set mini goals. 

Zoffiel

Did she suggest mindfulness and daily doses of gratitude swallowed with liberal quantities of antidepressants?
Ah, I've had a long running relationship with a shrink though I occasionally cheat on her and see other mental health professionals. The majority make me feel certifiably sane. I assume there is a method in their madness though I would prefer it wasn't $70 a session out of pocket to find out.  MXX

arpie

Gosh!  @Blossom1961  -  that physc sounds loopy!!  Is there anyone else around that you could switch to that is in your local area?

Well done with how you are handling all of this - and all the best with your remaining treatment  xx

Afraser

Oh dear! While I am a great believer in getting counselling assistance, you need the right one. A friend of mine encountered a similar thing, a shrink delving into childhood, including a 22 page questionnaire. My friend had just lost her partner of 20 years (yep, cancer) and was looking for some help dealing with grief. She wisely ditched that shrink and the 2nd one was much more helpful! Tick a box counselling doesn't help anyone. 

kmakm

@Blossom1961 It's a real chemistry thing finding a good psych eh? I've been seeing a community funded one who specialises in breast cancer. She's good, and because she's community funded, she's cheap. She's helped me but I don't think I've entirely clicked with her. I picked up a card for another one today. I don't know if I'll change but I'm thinking about it.

Annski

Dear @Blossom1961, what a dispiriting experience. But I love the way you responded, good on you. While I'm sure there a good traditionally trained psychologists it's so often a tick the box mentality. And this widespread view that the treatments don't cause these effects just makes you feel inauthentic and belittled ... I found a wonderful counsellor, he does not get Medibank rebates so it's expensive but totally worth it. He listens and hears, he sees his role as sustaining and holding his clients through their pain and offering compassionate service. I hope you can find someone good for you too.

Kiwi Angel

@Blossom1961 what a horrible experience. Please don’t let it out u off - u just need to find the right person for u. My shrink seems quite nice - I have only had one session with her but she didn’t immediately offend me like the person u unfortunately had to deal with xoxo

Sister

I don't know if the woman I am seeing is the "right" one but she seems nice enough and at the moment all she's had to do is listen.  However, she seems to understand cancer and the impact it has.  @Blossom1961 I honestly can't believe that anyone can say that they specialise in cancer issues and then come out and say stuff like that. 

I wonder if anyone in the Geelong area has recommendations?

Blossom1961

Thank you everyone for your positivity. I started the mindfulness sessions on the same day and found them incredibly helpful. The trainer is very supportive and so much more helpful than the 'trained oncology' psych. I will just continue with these weekly sessions unless I start to feel I need more. I have to admit, banging my head against a brick wall would probably be more effective than visiting that same woman again. Fortunately, I think the mindfulness classes are going to do the job that the psych gets paid for.