@Anne65 I hope you aren't doing too much before your next surgery ..... make sure you allow sufficient time for recovery afterwards! A few extra days off is better than going back to work early!! To be sure, to be sure! Re the forum - you could always pen a few words & they read it on your behalf? I am sure your insight would be invaluable to others!
How FANTASTIC that your skin is not even red or that itchy after your rads, with the Mepitel being removed just now! That is absolutely brilliant. Hmmm .... maybe I should have gone 'chest up' rather than 'chest down'! Nah .... not really .... even tho you are not 'red' .... can you still feel the heat from the rads? Or after the 2 weeks since you've finished, has that heat also reduced now? My sister was quite surprised at the high temp of my right boob compared to the left! I am using more Calendula Cream and Aloe Vera than anything - and the 'hippy' pharmacist at the hospital actually suggested just using Olive Oil after my final treatment, even over the suggested BOZ cream which is rather stiff! She also used to make up her own version of 'Cold Cream' using Rose Water, Olive Oil & Bees Wax .... but had to stop dispensing it, as the creams had to be identical throughout the hospital systems - and the other hospitals weren't compounding pharmacists! :( I've found a recipe for it & may a go at making it! ;)
I actually went into the last day of my treatment quite 'Gung Ho' & high spirited .... going Woohoo, Last Day ..... but once on the table, face down, I suddenly went really emotional & started sniffling & tearing up ..... with snot running out of my nose for the whole treatment & of course, I was unable to do ANYTHING until the treatment was 'over' - and the nurses gave me a tissue & a BIG HUG ..... It really caught me 'unawares'! I hadn't expected it, even tho my Specialist had said it 'may occur'! I was quite emotional the whole day, but slowly got 'over it' over the next 24hrs.
The evening of my last treatment - the Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie had the Rotarians from Wauchope coming in to cook dinner for the residents & management - and we were asked to stay on & join them and we really enjoyed the evening with them! I took a bottle of bubbly to help celebrate the completion of treatment!
I am still red, hot & itchy ..... (the original Red Hot Mama??) I hope it lessens over the next 2 weeks, before I head off to Norfolk Island for the Uke Festival!! Yes, I have 2 uke sessions on Tues & Wed, then 4 gigs the week after - prior to heading to Norfolk, but I LOVE being kept busy! It beats twiddling your fingers, that is for sure! My sister & brother in law are here just now & they play uke too, so will join me in my Tues night session before they return to Qld on Wed - the first time with my uke buddies since my treatment started in late Feb.
Thank you so much - My ankle has healed up beautifully (within 24hrs!!) and hubby is going OK tho still on regular pain control. It will take weeks before his ribs are less painful! :(
Well done on making your Hot Cross Buns, Anne, with such an emotional connection! We cheated & bought some! ;)
I will be in discussions with the Onc Dr at Taree late in April/early May - re taking Tamoxifen or other tablets - and will be guided by him. Silly not to give them a 'go', I guess? We'll see how we go!
@Sister and @sandramj - thinking of you both ..... all the best xxx
All the best to everyone already undergoing treatment - whether just diagnosed or had surgery, chemo or radiation - it all takes a toll on you ..... right from the diagnosis, thru to the completion ... and none of it is 'easy'.
Stay Strong - and take care xxxx
