Another bad start to the year

So it is Letrozole for me too!!  I'd geared myself up to being on Tamoxifen (which was the only one mentioned from Jan to now!)  LOL  Slightly different side effects - more joint related & it can impact your bone structure (more breaks!) so will be having a bone scan soon too.  Other than that - everything is just going on 'as normal as can be'!

I am seeing Giovanna - a lovely Onc Fellow who has recently joined Taree Base Hospital & works with closely with Ted Livshin (he dropped in to reinforce Giovanna's discussion with me.)   She was working closely with my Rad Onc in Port Macquarie for a few years who recommended me to see her - and is setting up an office in Forster later this year too.  My Met BC friend is also having her as HER Onc!!  We are only 1 day apart from tablets (tho she I think is on Anastrozole - or something else that sounds like a girl's name!)  I dropped in on her & hubby today & she is going 'OK' & has a very similar outlook to the whole things as me - It is what it is & you've gotta get on with it.  Onwards & Upwards!  All 3 of her kids came down this weekend to stay with them (one from Darwin!) and they are a tight knit family, so great to see that support.

Many Thanks @Romla  - I am taking 2 x Curcumin caps a night, and gone back to my Lipitor due to a higher cholesterol level in the latest blood test and have some Fish Oil Caps that I will take til I finish them then look at Krill Oil.  My Vit D level was pretty good, which I was happy with.  I am hoping that as I already 'have' the joint pain - that it won't make it too much worse ..... as I am already 'used to it' .... only time will tell!  I will keep up my kayak fishing for as long as I can - it is a pedal yak, so I get lots of leg exercise & I am very energetic in my 'casting' - so shoulders & upper body gets lots of exercise as well.  I hooked plenty of bream last week!  :)    

Hopefully I will get out again tomorrow if the wind doesn't come up!!  ;) 

@arpie just in case I haven’t said already - I have 3 friends who have found great relief from arthritic pain with Curcumin which is the potent refined ingredient in Turmeric.Its half price this week at one of the Supermarkets or Chemist Warehouse. BUT not recommended during chemotherapy as counters effectiveness of chemo drugs and also not recommended if on blood thinners like warfarin.

My oncologist recommended Krill Oil for joint pain relief whilst on Letrozole which I take daily .My joint pain has been minimal possibly helped by the Krill Oil but also a daily one hour walk .I think my body has adapted to the Letrozole after 10 months but in early stages was creaky - I did find I could walk thru it though and it would come good.

PS Always check with your doctor before taking supplements as they can conflict with treatment.

@kmakm    @Romla   @Sister    @Zoffiel   @Julesjourney   @Afraser

OK .... I am off to the Onc today, to discuss which tablet to take - not feeling too stressed about it, which surprises me - I guess it is just part of the process that we have to go thru.

I feel as tho I almost know him already, as all my friends mentioned in the previous post have seen him in the last week, including my uke friend's wife, who saw him yesterday.  She sadly, has been confirmed with Metastatic Breast Cancer - found from a rib biopsy as she'd been having rib pain for some time.  She'd had her other breast removed some 15 years ago - and has a wonderfully supportive husband and kids.  The good news is that whilst they now know it is terminal - there is hope of quality of life for a long while yet.  She doesn't have to do chemo - she will be on tablets like me.  It is NOT in her liver or lungs - but she will have a brain scan, to be sure it is not there either.  They are also still able to go on their holiday already booked to Norfolk at the end of the month and she'll have radiation up at Port Macquarie (yet another buddy I can refer to Paula at the Rotary Lodge there!  Another of my uke buddies is currently there for rads on skin cancer!)    

SO ... given the various stages that it COULD have been diagnosed at, so far (depending on a successful brain scan) this has been the best possible outcome, I think.  No mention of surgery at this point in time.

Back to me .... already having quite severe arthritis in the hands, stuffed knees, hips & shoulders ..... which this cold weather snap has impacted badly!  :(  SO .... it will be interesting to see what scenarios are suggested & for how long!

I've Just found out another buddy's husband has been diagnosed with leukemia ..... bugger bugger bugger

Hoping to get out yak fishing tomorrow ..... I tried to go yesterday but it was way too windy - both unpleasant and dangerous.  There are some good bream around just now!  :)

In the mean time - my uke group keeps me busy.  I am now choosing songs for our next set of gigs in late June - we had an absolute blast this week, doing 5 gigs (including a Mothers Day gig) and everyone in the Nursing Homes were bopping along with us, joining in singing, some even dancing .... it was just SO much fun!

If you want to try something 'really fun' - think about joining a Uke Group!  :)  Make new friends, learn a new instrument & just have FUN!  ;) 

Hi guys

I had a terrific time on Norfolk Island - we strummed our way around the island & just had a heap of fun!  We learned a few 'Norfolk Language' songs (a mix of 1800s English & Tahitian) and met some amazing people!!

Congratulations @arpie

Welcome to survivorship 

Wonderful to hear @arpie! All the very best.

Congratulations @arpie ! What wonderful care at Rotary Lodge Port Mac - there are kind people in this world!  It’s great active treatment is over as is very time consuming and exhausting .Just a little  caution tiredness from radiotherapy tends to click in after it ends so be gentle with yourself - it doesn’t last long I found. on ward and upwards - I’ve been on tablets 9 months - hormone therapy as am Er+ and all going well .

OK!!  First up, Happy Easter EVERYONE!!   I hope you are in a good place with your treatment - and that you just have a great long weekend, no matter your religion!!

Woohoo!!  I am now finished with my radiation treatment and only have the possibility of tablets to discuss with the Onc Specialist in coming weeks!!  Wednesday was my last treatment - and I bounced into the clinic going 'Woohoo, Last one' ... but as soon as I lay, face down, the enormity of the day dawned on me & I became quite emotional!  These people had become such an important part of my life, almost daily for a month - So there I am, unable to move with a very runny nose (NOT a good look!) until after the treatment was over ... and the nurses then gave me a tissue & then a big hug of congratulations!!   I continued being teary for most of the day, but felt better in the afternoon.

My specialist is REALLY happy with the way my skin has held up during the radiation - I still have to maintain the calendula cream, aloe vera, a cream called BOZ for at least another 2-3 weeks as the radiation effects 'work thru' - and until the redness and spots go down .... I've only had the odd 'sharp, shooting pain' and the itchiness seems to have settled down .... so that is good.  The 'Hippy' Pharmacist at the Hospital Pharmacy reckons straight up Olive Oil is just as good - so I will give that a go as well!!  She used to make up a Cold Cream from Rose Water, Bees Wax and Olive Oil that worked really well, but had to stop making it as all the hospitals had to be able to provide the same 'stuff' and not all were compounding chemists! ...... I've found a 'recipe' for that - so may even have a go at making some!

Paula, the manager of Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie (a REAL SWEETIE who has supported both my husband AND I thru my journey) had invited both my husband and I to dine with her and the other residents on my last night - as the local Wauchope Rotarians come in now & then & provide a lovely meal for both management & Residents (and themselves.)   It was just wonderful - a lovely home cooked Corned Beef or a Salmon Quiche with lovely accompaniments of a Chinese Salad and Potato Salad, then finished off with home made berry crumble or home made Chocolate/nut Bavarian!  I'd taken a bottle of bubbly & shared it with some residents & Rotarians, to celebrate the finish of my treatment.

Thurs morning, we packed up, had a long chat & hug, farewelled by Paula and the Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie - and headed home for Easter.

My sister & her husband will arrived later on Thurs from Qld - and we are enjoying our Easter together!  

To everyone who has just been diagnosed or is still going thru surgery & treatment - radiation & chemo - I wish you well. There IS an end to it - All the best - take care, even tho 'emotional', it feels really great to be over this tricky part of it.  xxxx 

@onemargie

hahaha - it was like he was trying to upstage me ..... cos I ended up having to look after HIM the whole time thru the treatment, as he fell off the bike in the first week of treatment!  I had to  set up his tablets & make sure he took them - he is in his 80s & and got a bit of dementia!  So no  'all night' sleep for me since end of Feb!  :(  

Yes, it is incredibly painful & he is still on 6hrly meds.  He'll be sore for another 4 weeks Plus, I reckon!  :(   

LOL  I can trip over on the pattern of a carpet - or a blade of grass turned the wrong way!  So I totally understand 'doing a Mum'!!  LOL

No worries, @Sister .... when the time is right, you'll know to mention it! Sorry to hear about your FIL

Many Thanks for that link, @Romla - yep Tumeric is on it - for chemo tho, rather than rads!  However, as an anti oxidant - better to be safe than sorry.   I used to 'make my own' with a 'capsule filler' .... but it was fiddly & my fingers went yellow .... so ended up buying some.  Amazing how quickly the symptoms came back after I had to stop it!  :(  Almost debilitating.

Ah well. ... this time next week & I'll be taking it again, double time!  ;)  

Sounds like it’s all going well for you love. That’s awesome. Sorry to hear about your hubby having a stack. That rib pain is the worst isn’t it. My hubby tore the cartlidge in his ribs once playing footy and that was bad enough.  I’m really clumsy and could tell you many a funny story about me going arse over tit.  My kids and hubby call it “doing a mum” when anyone falls over in our place that’s how common it is for me lol. Xxx