LIsaG

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LisaG
LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
edited September 2016 in Supporting someone with breast cancer

Well the support of friends has been amazing! My social life was pretty great already but I seem to be constantly meeting friends for breakfast or lunch out - better enjoy it while I can.., I find I have a whole new appreciation for sunrises and sunsets... I bought myself a new chair just to sit on the beach and enjoy the view - winter in the tropics is just magic  ;-)

I am nervous about my appointment with the oncologist on the 28th. I have been warned that I will probably be on chemo before radiation and as I am a Warfarin (blood thinners) patient, this could mean moving on to daily self injections of Clexane as well as the yucky treatment! I guess I shouldnt get ahead of myself and wait to see what the specialist says but all this waiting plays games with your head, doesnt it.

I have been shopping for trendy looking scarves and beanies (lucky its winter) but I think there is also a wig library here in Cairns so that may be worth visiting too!

 

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  • georgiebz
    georgiebz Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2015
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    Hi Lisa

    Great to hear you are out and about and enjoying luncheswith friends and yes I to have been enjoying the sunrises on the beach each morning when I walk my dogs,  watched the sunrise on the winter solistice and with just s tiny sliver of cloud on the horizon it was magical breath taking and I got a lump in my throat and tears down my face at the beauty of the morning and the fact I could appreciate it so much - I'm at the southern end of the gold coast and we have been blessed with stunning weather over the past week.

    My parents have been living in Port Douglas for the past 26 years so I know your part iof the world pretty well and winter there is always stunning...

    I understand your nerves with appointment with oncologist but hang in there and as the ladies on this site will say when you have a plan you have something to focus on - all things are doable is another great one to think of.  I have private msged you and hope to catch up soon.

    Cheers Georgie

  • chipmunk
    chipmunk Member Posts: 280 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Hi Lisa

    Welcome!!

    Yes, the waiting game is always a killer....

    Like Georgie has said, once you know the treatment plan you can then focus on that. Take one step at a time. Take someone with you when you have your appointment, as you will not take in everything. And write a list of the things you want to ask.

    I was told by my BC nurse, that this journey is like "Snakes n Ladders"... some days you will slide down the snake but other days you will advance with the ladder. But there is an end to the game, as is your treatment.

    Just remember, where are always here ready to help in any shape or form. If you need advice there is always someone here to help.

    Let us know how you get on, and will keep our fingers crossed.

    Love Julie XX

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Thanks Julie :-)
    I have a very close and reliable friend who has kept me company and made notes for each of my appointments so far. My husband will be home for this next one so I am glad to know he will be here to ask the questions that must be whizzing through his head.
    It is great to know I can come here and chat to others in my situation when things get difficult - thanks again!
    PS - congratulations to your husband - he sounds like a gem ;-b
  • chipmunk
    chipmunk Member Posts: 280 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Thanks honey

    You seem to have the best anyone can ask for - a true friend and fantastic husband.:)

    Yeah, here you seem to feel at home. As at times everyone else around you doesn't really seem to understand how you feel. Here I find everyone does in one form or another.

    Yes, my adorable husband I call my rock and my two boys my little pebbles.I cherish them all very much. They make me laugh when I have a "down" moment. But I keep smiling.

    I live in Brisbane, and the weather here also has been lovely. Sunny days ... great to take in those beautiful rays of sunshine.

    Keep smiling my honey Love Julie XX

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Well here I am in the last days of "good health".... I have had a couple of fantastic outdoor experiences in the past week and have been preparing my home for convalesence. The dustings done, windows and screens hosed, venetians cleaned and today I'm going to make a huge pot of pumpkin soup and freeze single portions. I am an action type of person and I think I function better with a battle plan. I have been reading the notes and tips in the (mountain) of paperwork they give you and feel that I am ready to face whatever comes at me now. I am trying to prepare myself for the worst and reckon if it happens, then there will be no surprises and if I actually react really well to the chemo, then that will be a bonus.

    My four grown children are working out a roster for who will be here with me - one is coming up from the Sunshine Coast next month - and there are a wealth of great friends lining up to fill the gaps. I'm starting to think I may have to schedule in time for when they all give me a bit of space for "me time"! LOL.  I went for a wig fitting yesterday and have found a nice funky one in strawberry blonde with a short, flicky type of style. It feels a bit tight because I still have a head full of thick hair but at least it will be there for the choice when I need it. I also picked up a few scarfs and turbans. As the lady said - I wont want to be sitting for hours in a chair for chemo with an itchy wig on....  we actually have a "wig library" here in town. What a fabulous idea! I am going to promote this to everyone I know and see if we can get more wigs donated as the service is only new so the stocks are still a bit low. I am happy with what I found though  :-)

    I am nervous about the chemo - I have crappy veins that are hard to find so I am having a PICC line inserted in to my left bicep tomorrow morning. I wont be able to put my arm above my head for three months so that counts out any sneaky outrigger paddles I may have had planned. I had my last paddle this morning with a friend in time to see the sunrise from a seat on the water so that has really made my day. As they say - "hang on to your socks, we're going in....."

     

  • georgiebz
    georgiebz Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2015
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    Great to hear from you again - I did send you a private message but don't know if you ever received it?

    You sure do sound prepared and I like you function so much better when I have a battle plan in place,  it sounds like you have wonderful kids woh are really supportive and great friends, I love the "me time" comment and yes you will need plenty of that - I have read other ladies posts and they also say that time to just rest under the doona -( or in your case maybe just a light cotton blanket ) is what they needed.

    I too have a freezer full of food I have prepared over the past month but lucky for me haven't had to rely on it much yet.

    Your wig sounds fantastic and you just flick away girl when the time comes - is your hair short now as it is in your profile picture?

    I can just imagine how beautiful your paddle must have been, the sunrises in the far north are breath taking.  I have been thinking of you and hang on to the socks!!Good Luck and take care Georgie

     

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Hi Georgie! I was hoping to hear from you again. I know you said that you had sent me a private message but I never did find it...? How are you going? How is the radiation? Did you give that cream a try? (Radx). Yes my hair is still short as my profile pic is only about four weeks old - though the red is definitely fading! I have tried to attach a pic but the screen keeps freezing so I will try and add it to my profile in a minute.

     

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    So my PICC line went in today. I must admit it was a little bit uncomfortable but not necessarily painful. It has been a long day and I am almost ready for bed (its only 8pm - how pathetic is that?!) The discomfort in my bicep is diminishing as the day goes on but it is aching a bit. My grown daughter who lives with me has come down with a cold so I am desperately dosing her up with my natural tonics - I dont want those germs around when I get home tomorrow! I have cooked up a huge pot of chicken soup and will feed it to her with garlic toast when she finishes work at 9pm tonight (if I can stay awake that long).

    This is a question that is running through my mind.... do all of us feel the same way.... I had my last shopping trip this afternoon and found that I was freaking out whenever people around me were sniffling, coughing or otherwise displaying obvious signs of a "lurgy" of some type - which is quite normal for this time of year - but I must be automatically going in to self preservation mode! how selfish...?! I gave my hands a good scrub when I got back to my kitchen and unpacked my bags!!

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    First chemo session went well and the support from the day unit is fabulous. My daughter is not handling all this as well as she could be and the social worker gave me some great info for her to read on CANTEEN - I didn't realise they provide support for kids who have cancer in the family home (parent, aunt, uncle, etc) as well as the kids who actually have the disease.. I think my girl will do much better if she has people her own age to talk to. She comes down physically ill with stress - has a phobia about illness which, as you can imagine, is not real good just now! She tried to drive me in for my session yesterday and we had to come back home and put her to bed with a bucket! I headed for the bus stop instead but a friend spotted me and took me in. It made for a funny story, really.
    I feel good so far but very bloated and peeing like a tap! The Dexamethasone makes my legs ache and is keeping me awake but hey - its worth it to skip the nausea for a couple of days ;-)
  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    First chemo session went well and the support from the day unit is fabulous. My daughter is not handling all this as well as she could be and the social worker gave me some great info for her to read on CANTEEN - I didn't realise they provide support for kids who have cancer in the family home (parent, aunt, uncle, etc) as well as the kids who actually have the disease.. I think my girl will do much better if she has people her own age to talk to. She comes down physically ill with stress - has a phobia about illness which, as you can imagine, is not real good just now! She tried to drive me in for my session yesterday and we had to come back home and put her to bed with a bucket! I headed for the bus stop instead but a friend spotted me and took me in. It made for a funny story, really.
    I feel good so far but very bloated and peeing like a tap! The Dexamethasone makes my legs ache and is keeping me awake but hey - its worth it to skip the nausea for a couple of days ;-)
  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Still no nausea - yay! Lots of indigestion and a blurry head and my mouth tastes yuck.... normal for this stage, I guess. I had a day out yesterday and went to a "Look good, feel better" workshop - it was fantastic! Had lots of fun and the most important bit was meeting other women going through the same thing I am and comparing notes. Four of them had already lost their hair so I had al lot of useful information from them  ;-)

    I went to a naturopath on the way home and picked up some organic bubble bath, epsom salts and essence of ginger for a long soak in a bath.Showers are awkward with this PICC line.. she also recommended slippery elm bark for the indigestion. I stirred a teaspoon full in to a glass of warm water (as instructed on the pack) but it turns in to glug and tastes just like what it is - tree bark.... I am searching for ideas to make it taste better before I try it again today! 

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Still no nausea - yay! Lots of indigestion and a blurry head and my mouth tastes yuck.... normal for this stage, I guess. I had a day out yesterday and went to a "Look good, feel better" workshop - it was fantastic! Had lots of fun and the most important bit was meeting other women going through the same thing I am and comparing notes. Four of them had already lost their hair so I had al lot of useful information from them  ;-)

    I went to a naturopath on the way home and picked up some organic bubble bath, epsom salts and essence of ginger for a long soak in a bath.Showers are awkward with this PICC line.. she also recommended slippery elm bark for the indigestion. I stirred a teaspoon full in to a glass of warm water (as instructed on the pack) but it turns in to glug and tastes just like what it is - tree bark.... I am searching for ideas to make it taste better before I try it again today! 

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    All I can say is Bleh.... feel yucky. My tongue is grey and feels like a solid block at the back of my mouth, my head aches and I have broken out in red spots across my face and neck.... not a pretty sight! Yuck..

    Hope you girls are faring better. I have retired to bed with my laptop and a movie - sleep well  :-)

  • LisaG
    LisaG Member Posts: 62 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    All I can say is Bleh.... feel yucky. My tongue is grey and feels like a solid block at the back of my mouth, my head aches and I have broken out in red spots across my face and neck.... not a pretty sight! Yuck..

    Hope you girls are faring better. I have retired to bed with my laptop and a movie - sleep well  :-)

  • chipmunk
    chipmunk Member Posts: 280 ✭
    edited March 2015
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    Oh LisaG

    Sorry to hear that you are feeling yucky. We all have some sort of horrible side effects with having chemo.

    Just make sure that you don't get thrush in your mouth...

    Hope you feel better real soon and just take it easy. Have heaps of sleep as this helps..

    Love  Julie XX

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