Really new

Hi ,this is Karen's husband Jeff. I became interested in shiatsu about 15 years ago, I bought books and finially did an accredited course a a local natural therapies college. Shiatsu is of Japanese origin and we have all heard of japanese girls walking on mens backs. Shiatsu use the meridians as does accupressure and the pracitioner can use hara or the pulses to diagnose problems. I tend to use touch and feel to see where the meridians are blocked and than work on those blockages. While books are excellent I found that doing a course with a skilled teacher takes you to the next level and beyond.

Jeff

Hi Kathy

I thought Jeff was in more of a position to answere your question about shiatsu.

Take Care Karen

I was HER negative, oestrogen receptor negative, and progesterone negative.. the first lumpectomy on R side in 1998. had chemo and radiation.

In 2003.. i was oestrogen equivical.. had radiation only. i think i was progesterone receptor positive. i did not have any hormone treatment, or chemotherapy in 2003.

 I have passed the 5 year mark; fingers  crossed, but BC still impacts my life today, though i have also found new friendships, new interests and am happy with my lot in life.

re SHIATSU and cancer... i googled it..

 acupressure points are similar to many shiatsu points.  interstingly it mentions it can help LYMPH drainage, PAIN REDUCTION, plus reduce ANXIETY pre and post surgery.

http://www.helenhuntshiatsu.com/?page_id=398

I use acupressure  to help with  discomforts / pain. I am interested to  learn more about it.

Kathy.

Hi Julia,

Great to hear you are feeling the benifits of your physio treatments.

I am not sure if you've found our online Local Services Directory yet -- But it is a great place to submit a service you recommend for others to find | http://www.bcna.org.au/ldirectory/listing

The online directory is still new, so we are relying on our members to recommend services that they have used and have found helped following their diagnosis of breast cancer. I thought you might want to check with your physio and see if he/she would be happy to be listed in the directory.

Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss further, 1800 500 258.

- Daina

Hi Karen,

I had surgery in May(3 ops) and am still having problems with arm/shoulder area.  I have now found a fantastic physio-recommended by oncolgist who has made a big difference.  I took too long to find her so have some further problems than I would have if I had seen her earlier.  If you are in Sydney, I can recommend her?

good luck!

Julia

Hi my name is Jenny I am 55 and diagnosed with BC in June this year. I have had a mastectomy, 5 rounds of chemo, last one in November and radio in December. I have a supportive family, husband Peter and son Adam and daughter Kelly. Our youngest son pasted away in 2009 at the age of 28. This cancer just feels like another slap across the head with a baseball bat.  I have given my cancer to the professionals to deal with and I am just going along for the ride. I have taken time off work until this is all over.. Yesterday I felt uncomfortable under the arm and back, called the specialist and after visiting him he tells my its lymphoedema under my arm and back. Great. I hope my story isn't to down some days are ok. Funny that OK has been my most used word if anyone ask   how I feel over these past 2&1/2 years. Im ok.xxJenny

Hi Karen,

Im 33 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 21/10/2010 my world was shattered. I had the lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy on the 4 nov 2010 ,when the results came back i was classified stage 1 grade 3 triple negative breast cancer. I was so determined not to do chemo but gave in when the results came through ( i had waist length hair and my hair was something very important to me.) chemo started on the 6 dec 2010 on FEC  i have just now completed my 4th cycle ( i am so counting this down) chemo has been awful i feel awful and week for about 8 days then my stomach plays up , the chemo has been setting my wisdom teeth off like no tommorrow....each cycle is so different. i cant stand the taste in my mouth, the weakness and fatigue for the first week and a half.. and then gradually i pick up. unfortunantly this cycle i had to have a picc line inserted

because the FEC had damaged my veins so bad i cant even hold my kids hands ( i also have 2 kids one 6 year old girl and 4 year old boy). its been really rough and i feel like a miserable zombie.... 

i just cant wait to finish the treatment and get on with my life, and try to have a normal life again which wont be the same. im scared that after treatment where do we go from here..... i would love to hear from others whom are also triple negative.

good luck with your treatment.

Sen

Hello Ladies

This has certainly been a frightening journey, but I do believe that emotionally I feel abit better now that  I know what treatment entails even though I do feel yucky from the chemo.  Fortunately I have been incredibly lucky only to have had very mild side effects from the chemo so far. My secret weapon for the treatment of side effects is shiatsu massage (acupuncture without the needles).  A few times I have felt quite yucky and thought it could develope into nausea, diarhoea, etc., and I have had a shiatsu treatment which fortunately my husband does and it seems to knock the side effect on the head.  I dont know whether it is a coincidence or not, I dont care, as long as the side effect goes away and I start to feel better.  Shiasu may not suit everyone.  If you are interested google "Shiatsu and Cancer". Chemo was on the 23rd of December so I was expecting the worst for christmas, but I think it didn't turn out too bad.  So its day 12 after 1st chemo and I still have trouble eating as well. 

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thanks for all the support

Karen xx

Hi Jacqui

Firstly Happy new year to you.  Wishing you loads of Health, love and happiness for 2011.  Glad that they are looking after you well after your reaction to chemo.  You will notice in my profile pic two gorgeous girls with me, they too are triple neg and doing well after their diagnosis in 2007.

I did want to also convey to you a couple of interesting points about triple neg that you may not be aware of. Triple negative Breast cancer responds very well to chemo and secondly the stats you refer to above does not mean that there are not women alive 5-10 years after diagnosis.  As studies on survival rates for triple negative are realatively new, there are limited statistics available prior to 10 years.  So this means that there are many women still alive and doing well 10, 20 and 30 years after diagnosis of triple neg cancer but we just do not have the data recorded.  Many, many years ago, breast cancer was just that, now with technology in pathology, we are aware to different characteristics of cancer cells and this has lead us to Triple negative cancer.

Also, another positive characteristic of triple negative cancer is that at the 5 year mark patients with Triple negative cancer are "for want of a better word"  cured (whilst this word is not one that those in the medical profession use lightly or often when it comes to cancer),  In short it is much less likely to reoccur than other receptor positive cancers.

Hope I havent given you too much to process.

Hopefully the next chemo will treat you better.  I too had a terrible reaction to the first, but thankfully the following 5 were kinder to me than the first.

Tanya xx

Hi Jacqui

Firstly Happy new year to you.  Wishing you loads of Health, love and happiness for 2011.  Glad that they are looking after you well after your reaction to chemo.  You will notice in my profile pic two gorgeous girls with me, they too are triple neg and doing well after their diagnosis in 2007.

I did want to also convey to you a couple of interesting points about triple neg that you may not be aware of. Triple negative Breast cancer responds very well to chemo and secondly the stats you refer to above does not mean that there are not women alive 5-10 years after diagnosis.  As studies on survival rates for triple negative are realatively new, there are limited statistics available prior to 10 years.  So this means that there are many women still alive and doing well 10, 20 and 30 years after diagnosis of triple neg cancer but we just do not have the data recorded.  Many, many years ago, breast cancer was just that, now with technology in pathology, we are aware to different characteristics of cancer cells and this has lead us to Triple negative cancer.

Also, another positive characteristic of triple negative cancer is that at the 5 year mark patients with Triple negative cancer are "for want of a better word"  cured (whilst this word is not one that those in the medical profession use lightly or often when it comes to cancer),  In short it is much less likely to reoccur than other receptor positive cancers.

Hope I havent given you too much to process.

Hopefully the next chemo will treat you better.  I too had a terrible reaction to the first, but thankfully the following 5 were kinder to me than the first.

Tanya xx

How did your chemo go? I hope you are feeling better by now. I too walked around in a fog for the first little while. I think this is a normal reaction to shocking news. I still dont have a grip on my new life, but I feel stronger every day and have begun taking control of my life again. Good Luck with your journey...stay strong, Jacqui