Forum Discussion
Blossom1961
8 years agoMember
This is where I'm at
Fifteen years ago I started on a journey to stop using man made chemicals in or on my body. It took ten years to find alternatives that worked for me but I finally made it. Headaches, hiatus hernia, hot flashes, mood swings, arthritis, IBS, TIAs, hayfever, muscle cramps, and whatever. All under control with natural products and cranial osteopathy. Unfortunately cancer doesn't care how healthy you are. It is happy to attack anyone. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April this year, so with disgust I accepted that I needed to poison my body with chemotherapy, but I would do so also using complimentary therapies.
Ten years natural solutions down the drain. Chemo has a mind of its own and takes over everything. My natural remedies no longer work. I am trying to find new natural solutions but so far have had limited success. Headaches, hot flushes, heartburn plus the usual side effects of chemo are now all controlled by more chemicals. Arghhhhhhh.
On the positive side, chemotherapy has taken over the cancer and shrunk it to miniscule proportions. Hooray! My arthritis seems to have disappeared. Hooray! My IBS has not played up. Hooray! I have not had any TIAs. Hooray! On top of that, the blisters I have on my toes as a result of the chemo are responding well to lavender oil, hooray! and the blood nose is reduced by poking lucas paw paw ointment up it, hooray!
I know I have glossed over lots of negatives, but by keeping hold of what is good I can keep moving forward. On Tuesday I have an appointment with the Psych to try to deal with the overwhelming sense of grief that hits me unawares. One step at a time!
I have now finished all four rounds of AC and am currently in the Paclitaxel cycle (four down, eight to go) with Herceptin every third week for a year. I will be having a mastectomy and lymph node clearance before Christmas.
Love to all
Melody
27 Replies
- arpieMemberOne foot in front of the other, @Blossom1961 - I hope your anxiety lessens & your upcoming surgery goes to plan xx
Maybe Chatting with the BCNA Counsellors will help .... BCNA Helpline 1800 500 258
All the best xx - Blossom1961MemberTenth round of Paclitaxel done. However I really am not appreciating the cumulative side effects. I just keep telling myself, only two more weeks. The last three rounds have given me the addition of headaches and mild depression starting during treatment as well as swollen ankles. So far I have been able to control the depression but constant headache and swollen feet are now part of me. I actually let the depression run freely whilst I am having my treatment as I am in a safe place and I find it is easier to then control before I need to leave the hospital clinic. Not sure how I am feeling about my upcoming mastectomy and node clearance. I think I am okay with it but part of me says I have buried it under all this other garbage. I guess I will find out closer to the event.
- Blossom1961Member@iserbrown The 29 th October is my last round of Paclitaxel so I can use that to celebrate!
- iserbrownMemberhttps://www.bcna.org.au/media/7045/thebeacon_calendar2018.jpg
For those of us that like chocolate check out 29 October on the calendar - iserbrownMember
- iserbrownMember
- Blossom1961MemberOkay so I might have eaten a block of Lindt. At least it was the 78% one which is healthy?! Just when you think you have the side effects worked out, another comes and bites you. I really cannot complain as so many people are doing it much harder than me but sometimes my big girl panties are only good for hiding under. Besides, I only ate one block, there are another five waiting.
- arpieMemberYAY!! Looks like you are on the right road @Blossom1961 !! ;)
Hopefully there are no more speed bumps!! xx - kmakmMemberCompletely agree with you @Blossom1961.
- Blossom1961MemberOkay. So I had my oncologist appointment today. She was appalled at the oncology psych and apologised profusely and then when I told the BC nurse she was also horrified and apologetic. Apparently the psych was out of line and my oncologist was worried I may have been traumatised by the woman. Nope. Fortunately I had the mindfulness session beforehand where we practised being grounded. However it was nice knowing these two agreed with me that the psych was useless. Sometimes just having someone agree with you is enough.