What did you do to mark the end of active treatment?

MicheleR

So im kindof limping over the end of active treatment.

There has been no fanfare, no celebrations and no bells. 

I finished chemo late. Id been looking forward to finishing before new years and then chemo got delayed buggering up my plans for a great new years eve celebration.

Then i looked forward to my birthday which was nearly 2 weeks out from radiotherapy. I did not feel like celebrating due to the ouch factor on sunday. 

Now what? 
How did you celebrate? Did you feel like celebrating? What happens after the  celebrating?  

Locksley

Hi Michelle I wanted to celebrate after chemo but I didn't have the strength then a week later when the port came out I had blood clots and ended up in hospital.  I was determined to celebrate after radiation. We managed to go out for dinner as a family one day before we had another covid lockdown.   Definitely do something for you that makes you happy.

Abbydog

I didn't do anything special, in terms of celebrating. But we had a long weekend away to Mount Gambier with family.
We left the day after I finished Radiotherapy. It was a nice change from all the appointments etc.

Sister

Nothing major but I did take a beautiful friend who had been a major support to me, out to the movies.  Ladies in Black was showing at the time and we had a wonderful evening of smiles and laughter.

MicheleR

arpie

Yep - you've nailed it with your drawing (and VERY CLEVER IT IS TOO!!)  Are you an artiste??

Absolutely Nothing happened when I finished my Rads - other than me bursting into tears whilst still on the table, as they'd become an important part of my life for 4 weeks ....  snivelling, face down, unable to wipe my nose was NOT a good look, believe me!

At Port Macquarie, they don't have a bell to ring (unlike some cancer centres) as they think it is inappropriate for those who will never finish treatment .... and I can understand that - but like you - mine was a real fizzer!

Well done for getting thru it with a good sense of humour still intact xx

I LOVED Ladies in Black @Sister - I am pretty sure I went to see it with a buddy on your recommendation!!  It was on TV last week too & I watched it again & enjoyed it even more so!!

Afraser

I took the staff a big bunch of flowers and a lot of chocolate! They had been terrific for so long. I sort of missed them but was really happy to be on the other side of treatment. 

MicheleR

Hi @arpie, i used to dabble. Just a quick thing.  Im going to do it again, painting, drawing etc. Ive already resumed crafts like crochet. My guitar is also in waiting. When i had kids i got too busy and kindof gave up. 

Im seeing my breast surgeon on April Fools Day. My friend said " you should say you want your other boob off then yell April Fools". God  id never tempt fate. 

Im going to do something just not sure what. Just so anticlimactic.

I agree with the chemo bell ringing not being ideal. I met tonnes of lovely people who will never get off it - mainly bowel cancer - but you know they are thrilled for people who do get off chemo. Its hope you know. 

I did send chocolates to my surgeon after my mastectomu to say thanks to him and his staff. I still see the chemo nurses monthly for an injection. Im planningbon making some beanies and headwear to take for the hospital when im well enough to get some happening. 

Michele

arpie

Yep, Definitely not worth tempting fate there!  

Good on you @MicheleR .... it is SO important to do stuff that YOU want to do - not just what you HAVE to do!  

Definitely, get back into your art & music and craft (whack some pics up on our Craft Corner thread!!  I bet there are other crocheters there too as we have MANY knitters already!)  I lead the local ukulele group - so if you ever wanted to muck around with other people, playing & singing - join a Uke Group! If you get a Baritone Uke, they use the same chord shapes & names as Guitar (but you play only the 4 highest strings instead of the 6.) I love it.  We had our first 'live session' back at a Nursing home yesterday & it gave ALL of us a lift - the residents AND us!!

When hubby finished his chemo, he gave them a lovely drawing that he had done of a young lad playing a cello - Pointillism - all dots!!

take care xx

Julez1958

Hi there
I figured I might feel a bit flat at the end of active treatment which was mid December so apart from a bubble bath and lovely home cooked meal by my husband on the night of , I booked a holiday for a week at the beginning of February down the south coast of NSW ( I am in Sydney) at a holiday house.
It was on a hill with a great view and next to a state forest , had lots of kangaroos.
It was very restorative .
I have been on a few holidays to South Australia and there are lots of great places to get away , my picks would be the Flinders Ranges and McLaren Vale.
it is definitely worth celebrating!

JennyD78

I lucked out and managed to line up a week in one of the Otis Foundation's properties in Bendigo so that was my main celebration.  The private clinic I did radiotherapy through have a tree mural which you can put your fingerprint on which was a nice way to put a full stop on it.

Locksley

I also gave staff chocolates as a Thankyou for looking after me.  

arpie

Pretty sure I left some Easter Eggs with the Nurses .... cos my treatment finished literally, today, 3 years ago!!

FLClover

I didn’t do chemo, but I had radiation. My birthday was a week before it finished, so I got them a chocolate marble cake. They loved it, and I got known as the girl who brought her own birthday cake (I explained where I’m from this is normal). A week later, when I finished, I got them more chocolates and a card. And I had my picture taken on the bed with the silly snorkel and nose peg. I took them and the shield home as souvenirs. I had my picture taken with my onco too cos she was so lovely. And that was that. It did feel a bit empty afterwards, and also somewhat emotional. So I took myself and my partner for dinner, and bought myself a present for everything I’d endured til then. It’s a strange feeling. 

Your not wanting to tempt God comment was funny 😂😂. Last year, I thought about messaging a couple friends post surgery and telling them, then thought they’d just think it was a joke 🤷🏼‍♀️

arpie

OMG ... I WISH I’d asked them for a pic of me ‘up up in the air’ as mine was done ‘face down’ (and I am NOT well endowed in that particular Area, so it really surprised me!) 

A couple of times, they almost had to restrain me, as I tried to ‘get off’ whilst still in the air ...
 

NewBoobsPLS

@Julez1958 that sounds so lovely and yes regenerating.
Celebrating the wins for me is important. My sister and mum organised a fancy girls dinner the night of my last injection. They surprised me. All the wonderful women in my life.
Round Two my girl friends organised a night out to watch Magic Mike 😜 then my bestie treated me to my own hotel room in Sydney CBD.
Finally after Easter hubby and I are going on a weekend away. Lets see if the new girls can add some spice back to the bedroom. During treatment I was super turned off knowing i was cytotoxic. Fingers crossed.