Another bad start to the year
Hi guys I was diagnosed last week with Breast Cancer after my GP did a boob check at a routine Pap Smear in Nov. She sent me for another mammogram in early Dec (altho the July 2017 one was clear ...
Forum Discussion
WOW!! Where has the time gone ..... from having my first 3 sessions - now about to start my final 3 sessions next week!!!
I've been staying at the Rotary Lodge for the whole time since Feb 28th - and finish on March 28th, coming home for weekends. I can only praise Paula and Phil for their wonderful management of the Lodge - they are such caring & supportive people. They've really made my stay at the Lodge as pleasant as it could be. The local Rotarians even come in every 2 weeks or so and cook up an evening meal for both management and residents - and next Wed, after my final session, I will stay on for the 'celebratory dinner' that night, before coming home on Thurs, in time for Easter!
So .... what's been going on in between .... there's been a little bit of drama when my husband fell off his stationery bike, badly bruising his ribs but luckily X-rays in Emergency showed no breaks, so that was good. However, he's been on regular pain medication ever since at 6hrly intervals ever since - so most nights, I've had broken sleep. We've had the ambos to him twice more as he was in such extreme pain and we've been seeing Drs regularly for more pain killers for him! Sadly, he will be in pain for many weeks to come, so is very sore & sorry for himself! :( Then it was MY turn - I fell over in a park, but luckily only sprained my ankle, which healed virtually the next day! Phew!
OK ... my radiation treatment .... on the whole, it has gone really well by my own expectations!! I've gone a bit pink, a bit hot, a bit acne spotted and quite itchy (probably the worst bit!) and a little bit tender! My boob still 'feels normal' and looks relatively normal, altho the nipple is a bit white. I was thinking it may be quite 'cooked' & become hard or even mis-shapened - so unless it happens in the next 3 sessions, it probably won't .... At least I hope not!
I've been staying at the Rotary Lodge for the whole time since Feb 28th - and finish on March 28th, coming home for weekends. I can only praise Paula and Phil for their wonderful management of the Lodge - they are such caring & supportive people. They've really made my stay at the Lodge as pleasant as it could be. The local Rotarians even come in every 2 weeks or so and cook up an evening meal for both management and residents - and next Wed, after my final session, I will stay on for the 'celebratory dinner' that night, before coming home on Thurs, in time for Easter!
So .... what's been going on in between .... there's been a little bit of drama when my husband fell off his stationery bike, badly bruising his ribs but luckily X-rays in Emergency showed no breaks, so that was good. However, he's been on regular pain medication ever since at 6hrly intervals ever since - so most nights, I've had broken sleep. We've had the ambos to him twice more as he was in such extreme pain and we've been seeing Drs regularly for more pain killers for him! Sadly, he will be in pain for many weeks to come, so is very sore & sorry for himself! :( Then it was MY turn - I fell over in a park, but luckily only sprained my ankle, which healed virtually the next day! Phew!
OK ... my radiation treatment .... on the whole, it has gone really well by my own expectations!! I've gone a bit pink, a bit hot, a bit acne spotted and quite itchy (probably the worst bit!) and a little bit tender! My boob still 'feels normal' and looks relatively normal, altho the nipple is a bit white. I was thinking it may be quite 'cooked' & become hard or even mis-shapened - so unless it happens in the next 3 sessions, it probably won't .... At least I hope not!
The rad nurses (and all the staff) at Port Macquarie are all just amazing & make it as 'easy' as it can be! I am face down on the table & my boob hangs thru a gap on the table, to be nuked. Initially, to get off, I would turn over, sit up, and step down from the table ... but about halfway thru the sessions, I found it easier to just slide my legs & lower half of the body off the table, whilst still face down, feel for the floor & stand up. hehe, I've just gotta remember to let them get the table down low enough so it isn't a bigger step than anticipated, as the table is lifted to about 6ft height during the treatment! LOL
I've been using a mix of different potions after all the sessions - the nurses there had suggested Sorbelene so I used that initially, but I never really liked the smell of it as it actually makes me feel a bit ill. My husband had some Epaderm which I used, as well as Calendula, Aloe Vera, and Renu 28 by ASEA (as given me by a nursing friend was was now 5 years BC free.) They have all worked well - I don't think it would have mattered what I was using, I was always going to get the acne/dermatitis on the upper breast/neck area that had been exposed to sunburn in my youth .... it is annoying - but not too debilitating tho.
Right now - I am back home for the weekend - my uke group was supposed to be playing at the Relay For Life Fundraising this Sunday - but it has been totally rained out, so has been rescheduled to mid April - but I will be in Norfolk Island, enjoying a break after my treatment finishes!! :smile:
All the best to everyone going thru this treatment or who are about to start - it is very daunting initially, then becomes easier as you go thru it & I can't believe how fast the last 3 weeks have gone ....... just 3 more sessions to go!
I've been using a mix of different potions after all the sessions - the nurses there had suggested Sorbelene so I used that initially, but I never really liked the smell of it as it actually makes me feel a bit ill. My husband had some Epaderm which I used, as well as Calendula, Aloe Vera, and Renu 28 by ASEA (as given me by a nursing friend was was now 5 years BC free.) They have all worked well - I don't think it would have mattered what I was using, I was always going to get the acne/dermatitis on the upper breast/neck area that had been exposed to sunburn in my youth .... it is annoying - but not too debilitating tho.
Right now - I am back home for the weekend - my uke group was supposed to be playing at the Relay For Life Fundraising this Sunday - but it has been totally rained out, so has been rescheduled to mid April - but I will be in Norfolk Island, enjoying a break after my treatment finishes!! :smile:
All the best to everyone going thru this treatment or who are about to start - it is very daunting initially, then becomes easier as you go thru it & I can't believe how fast the last 3 weeks have gone ....... just 3 more sessions to go!
Take care out there!