Anxiety and depression

Hello to all my bc sisters,

It has been a long time and I just wanted to hear from you and hope that all is as good as can be expected   xx

Yesterday I saw my oncologist and my physical examination was good...now for my mammogram + ultrasound + bonedensity ...fingers crossed !!  It just doesn't get any easier, does it ??   I was doing so well and then the phone  rang , it was the friendly reminder about my next appointment... then the usual ,  anxiety, fear etc...starts all over again.

I have been having some sciatica on my right leg, so the doctor requested a cat scan of my lower back.  Honestly, I just thought that I may have over done it in the garden...not so !   Results:  2 stenosis ...one pressing on the L5 nerve root and another on the other nerve root. One bulge plus diffuse bony ostioporosis,  etc...all and all quite nasty as sadly, nothing can be done, except for physio and should it become unbereable...surgery !!         I must add, that I am happy to know what it is that I do have , so that I can now be careful when doing certain tasks and specially gardening, because I would not want my hips to crack under weeding pressure  hahahah!     No time to get bored and I am still loving life and trying to keep as active as possible . 

Hope to hear from you soon,

miss you all

with all my love

Finita xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello everyone.  I am glad that your news was good Finita and like you I am a gardener.  My tomatoes are  getting friuit on so now I have them netted to stop the birds attacking them.  I can relax in my garden.

Kathleen, I don't feel so bad now that I have problems with driving.  I am fortunate to have a good Friend who does drive me around a lot but I still have to drive into the nearest town which is 30 minutes away.

Bella, I hope your recovery goes well.  My Daughter is having a full hysterectomy next Monday as she also carries Braca 2 and Lynch Syndrome..  The Breast Cancer Nurse told me that this will give her an 85% of not getting Breast Cancer.

As for me, I have to wait for another scan as I've not long had one.  The physio was worried about my scar but I was reassured that it is the way it is because I've had radium treatment.  I have alump under my breast that she said looks like another seroma.

Anyway, take care and look forward to hearing from you all again soon'

Love Ruth xxxxxx

Hi Bella,

Thank you so much for your re-assuring words, and yes..you are right...  Positive thinking and remaining happy by doing things that we like , is wonderful and the way to go !!

I am ever so glad that all went well with you ...and now ... enjoy your 2 weeks off by relaxing , spoinling yourself terribly , and recovering totally.   That was great having your onco-gynocologist telling you that all looked good .

with all my love

Finita xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi ladies

First of all, Ruth I hope you have good news from the urologist - but 3 months seems a long time to have to wait if there is anything nasty going on.  Is there any chance of you getting in earlier?  It might  put your mind at rest if you could.

Finita, I am so glad that your bone tests were clear, that is such a relief.  As far as worrying and being anxious, I really don't know how you can deal with that, other than say, just keep doing all the things that make you happy, like planting your tomatoes and spring cleaning.  I'm a great believer in the power of positive thinking etc, which is easier said than done, but if you try to do things that make you feel happy, then it becomes a little bit easier.

My news, I'm home today after 3 nights in hospital, having my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.  As a carrier of the BRCA2 gene fault, I felt it was a no brainer to have the op, but I have to say in the days leading up to it, I was very anxious about the outcome.  Fortunately I had a wonderful surgeon, who is an onco-gynocologist, who reassured me.  He didn't find anything nasty while he was in there, and here I am back at home.  Have a couple of weeks off work, and the drive home was challenging to say the least (hubby driving).  Coughing and sneezing hurts, but it's all good, and I'm so relieved its done.

Take care ladies, we all face our challenges and hurdles, but we have each other to talk to.

Love, Bella xxx 

Hi ladies,

I hope that you are all as well as can be expected .

I got my results of the bone scan , and I was so relieved to hear "" All Is Good ...no Metastasis """      It took me 3 days before it sank in, and then all I want to do is ,sleep , sleep and more sleep .  This time around it really hit me, and I was very stressed and anxious. Happily I don't have to worry till next February for my next lot of tests.  In the meantime I am happily gardening and planting my tomatoes and doing some Spring cleaning too . 

I guess that this is how it is going to be from now on, and I do hope that I can deal with it better next time, although I cannot see it as being   possible ...how can it be ???

with all my love

Finita xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Ruth,

I am so happy for you about your kidnyes draining, that is great news indeed ! As for the lymph nodes , fingers crossed till your scan, and I will pray for you . Honestly , you are so brave raising money for bcna ...good for you my darling girl, and keep up the good work.

Yesterday,  had a full Bone Scan and CAT scan of my ribs and scapula . As my husband is having his lumpectomy on Friday, I have decided to postpone getting my results till next Monday, so that we can have a couple of good days without bad news.    I will be back next week with my results!

Take care and God bless

Finita xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

well done Ruth!  you are still out there helping others, even while fighting your own battle.  You are strong and inspirational woman! xx

Hi Ladies!  I went to the Urologist Yesterday.  The good news is that both Kidneys are now draining.  The bad news is that the lymph nodes are growing.  I have to have another scan is a couple of Months as I have Lynch Syndrome which affects the Kidneys ( another cancer gene).  I saw on Television last Night that fear and depression often follow Breast Cancer.  I found that very interesting. I also did "Relay for Life" on the Week-end.  Our team raised the most money again this year.  Overall $105, 00 was raised for Cancer.  It was a great effort for everyone involved.

Hi Ruth and Finita,

I think you're both being very wise (and brave) admitting to your fears and limiting your driving to what you are comfortable with.  Power to you!  and don't let people bully you (because that is what it is) into something you're not comfortable with.

xx  Bella