I finished Radiation on Monday! I'm clear of active treatment at last!!!I still have six months of Herceptin injections, but my intensive treatment has finished after eight months! I found my lump in April and since then I've survived Lumpectomy, portacath insertion, AC Chemo for 8 weeks, Paclitaxel for 12 weeks, portacath removal and then four weeks radiation! I now have no new doctors appointments until the New Year, 2020! How strange that seems, quite surreal and I'm not quite sure how to feel about it all yet. In fact I'm sort of relieved I still have Herceptin continuing on so I don't feel an abrupt finish to working so hard to rid my body of cancer! How mixed up is that lol.I'm slowly feeling my way into survivorship. Any hints welcome. I feel a bit unsettled and my sleep is bad again! I talked to my doc about some counselling, I think its time. And I'm going to see an Integrative Oncologist in the New Year.Anyway, I wanted to come on here and celebrate because this site and all of you have been a great source or information and empathy and companionship over the 'journey' for me. Thanks everyone <3 To all of you still going through it or just starting, you will get there. I'm feeling well and healthy, a bit vague and tired and pink from rads but probably the best I've felt for months!! You will come out the other side - and you will be braver, stronger and with more empathy and understanding for people in this world!!!Oh, and I'm finally getting some eyebrows growing back, who knew that would be such a great excitement :D

Woot! Congrats! It is weird isn't it. I'm 4 years out and down to just one appointment with Oncology and the breast clinic per year now, with the usual mammogram/us appt. Its almost as if it never happened!

Awesome @shs14.It is kind of a weird feeling afterwards isn't it? You get so used to chasing goal posts and getting through all the appointments it's a little bit limbo landish. Like what the heck do I do now???? I think most of us find this somewhat surprising and it can take a little to work through. Enjoy your holidays lovely...you've well and truly earnt it.xoxoxoxoxoxo

@shs14 Thanks. I wouldn't say I'm really changed a lot after having cancer. At first I was feeling lumps "everywhere" but my doctors just checked them out and it was never anything. I'm a lot more relaxed about it all now because I know if something happens I'll be on top of it fast and I can handle it.

@shs14 Glad you enjoyed your break. I have no appointments this week for the first time in a year! I feel neglected haha@Mira - I feel the same way. This experience has taught me to go with my gut feeling, get things checked as soon as possible, no matter how many eye rolls they may give me. :p

Thanks @arpie All great advice. I'm actually getting out of town this weekend to celebrate my anniversary. Will be great to head off without the chains of treatment after so long.I am keeping up the creams. And hopefully Christmas and holidays will keep me busy. I'm thinking of getting a rashie for swimming so I don't have to worry too much about my burnt bits!I will go and read about your night oils. I was thinking of researching melatonin.I am going to go onto the Otis site, thanks for that prompt. I love the sound of it and Thredbo sounds like a great spot to visit. What a lovely program. xx

Finished at last! Kind of... | BCNA Online Network

Nefertari
Member
6 years ago
@shs14 Glad you enjoyed your break. I have no appointments this week for the first time in a year! I feel neglected haha

@Mira - I feel the same way. This experience has taught me to go with my gut feeling, get things checked as soon as possible, no matter how many eye rolls they may give me. :p
shs14
Member
6 years ago
A good way to think about it all. Thanks @Mira
shs14
Member
6 years ago
Thanks @nefertari we had a lovely break. So good to be free to travel at last. I know what you mean about being lost without treatment, but I have another six months of herceptin to ease into it. :D
Have fun in Alice Springs, what a great trip to do!
Mira
Member
6 years ago
@shs14 Thanks. I wouldn't say I'm really changed a lot after having cancer. At first I was feeling lumps "everywhere" but my doctors just checked them out and it was never anything. I'm a lot more relaxed about it all now because I know if something happens I'll be on top of it fast and I can handle it.
Nefertari
Member
6 years ago
@shs14 Congratulations! Enjoy your break away this weekend.
I am 3 months post radiation and I can honestly say I feel almost like my old self, well except for the numb bits.
I am oficially off the hook till my May checkups. I feel lost without appointments haha
Hubby and I are heading off to Alice Springs in February, woo hoo :) I cannot wait, he deserves it too poor soul.
shs14
Member
6 years ago
Thanks @PV123 you are nearly there. I was moving very slowly by the end of Pac though I started well. The good news is you will start to feel better from the week after you finish. I am so much better now than I was, I can feel my energy flowing back, despite four weeks of radiation on top.
I love the idea of a drop of lavender oil. I'll try that for sure!
Good luck with it xx
PV123
Member
6 years ago
Hi @shs14
Congratulations and wish you the best with everything. I have completed 6 weeks of paclitaxel, have 6 more of those as well of radiation and Herceptin. I am just looking forward to finishing paclitaxel - this has given me a few side effects.
I apply lavender oil mixed with another oil on my forehead for sleep.
shs14
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Caz1
Thank you so much.
I hope you are near the end too. Was lovely to talk to you earlier on.
The eyebrows are the last straw aren't they! And my hair has been so slow returning! But eight weeks out it is all slowly starting to happen.
xxx
Caz1
Member
6 years ago
Congrats @shs14 Susie! You made it! How wonderful! Enjoy your freedom and extra free time :)

I can relate to the eyebrow comment....I'm losing mine now and it's the last straw , let me tell you!

Stay in touch lovely

Caz x
shs14
Member
6 years ago
@Mira Congratulations on four years. Almost as if it never happened, I love the sound of that - though I imagine you are changed at a fundamental level for ever. Great to think it will fade a bit though from being my whole life this past year! I have lasted the course but low on resources now.

@kezmusc limbo landish describes it perfectly!! It is good to have people on here talking about the next stage, what's that phrase - alert but not alarmed. Hoping to ease into that without discounting the toll of what's gone before. All the doctors and everyone on here seems to say the same that it is not straight back to your old normal. Happy holidays to you too.