after treatment

Thankyou so much ladies,

Leonie i am so glad that you are feeling a little better but whoa what a couple of months you have coming up. I hope you have a lovely time overseas. Thankyou so much for your offer to come along with me, sometimes i really wished i lived closer to some of my BCNA friends as i feel i have stronger friendships with other survivors than i do with my friends in the real world.

It is reassuring Liz and Anne Marie that you have been told the same thing. It makes it a little easier to trust my oncologist if it is common practice and not him thinking he is superman.

And yes Amy i agree it is so hard to ignore basic daily pains and not think that they are cancer returning for another round. Sometimes i wonder did i have all of these pains before my diagnosis and never took any notice. One thing that is good i think after treatment we are much more in tune with our bodies.

Thanks so much lovely ladies, i feel much better now after reading your comments. 

Danielle xx

Unfortunately we don't have Qi Gong here where I live.  I might check again re the Tai Chi.  The Movement meditation I'm doing is what I learnt when I did a Mindfulness course through Cancer Coucil Queensland. XLeonie

Hi Danielle

Isn't it funny how we worry about making a nuisance of ourselves and how we don't want to cause a fuss or put people out.  I was the same but I am slowly changing and realise that I have to speak up about my concerns etc.

I had my oncologist look at a couple of small spots on my neck area the last time I was in.  She was very good about it and assured me it was not cancer-related and that I should tell her about any concerns even if I think they sound silly.  Very nice of her.  But as a double check up I got my GP to check the spots yesterday (I was in there to get a new referral).  She agreed that they were nothing but gave me a cream to put on to see if it makes them go away.

Can't help being paranoid about every little spot/blemish/ache/pain now! 

Amy x

PS Leonie - maybe you should try Tai Chi or Qi Gong for a while until you feel ready to take up yoga again?

Danielle, If I was living near you, I would go with you.  I am glad that you are thinking of taking your husband with you.  I feel that everyone needs to know their own body really well and when you think there is something amiss - then get it checked out.  I know we could get a bit paranoid but heh how many chances do we get?  My shoulder is getting better - I am going to give it a workout this Sunday with dragonboating - weather permitting.  I am trying to be a bit careful with it though as we have a lot happeing in the next couple of months.  We are going to Thailand in mid February for my nephew's wedding and when we return I have to get ready for us to move house.  I am presently organising tradespeople to do renovations at our new place when the present tenants move out. in March. Then it will be all systems go.  So I have to stay well and healthy.  I though that I would try and go back to Yoga tomorrow but after doing some movement meditation at home this arvo I realise that my body is not ready for yoga yet.  iI would just be a waste of money as my hands and arms have no strength and I can't get up and down to the floor yet - still too stiff.  I wil have to wait a while yet.  I am off to Brisbane next week to see a Neurologist just to ascertain what nerve damage I have.  Will get to see my little ones again.  Just go with how you feel and put your chest out and make yourself seen and heard. XLeonie

My specialists have told me the same thing that I don't need any follow up scans or other tests. I've also been told that I don't need to see my oncologist anymore because chemo is finished. I just have follow up appointments with my surgeon. It's a bit hard to get my head around this after having so many appointments during the treatment period.

If you feel that you need to "get something checked out" then do so with a specialist who will listen. My oncologist told me not to worry too much and start looking for problems unneccesarily and that if a problem is to arise it will present itself with its own symptoms. That makes it sound like we just panic for no reason.

I guess if there was some sort of regular tests/scans it might be more reassuring that we are in control and something is being done. On the other hand, sometimes it's nice not to have to do continuous testing so that we can try to put it behind us (to some degree) without being reminded of our past troubles.

Take care

Liz :)

My specialists have told me the same thing that I don't need any follow up scans or other tests. I've also been told that I don't need to see my oncologist anymore because chemo is finished. I just have follow up appointments with my surgeon. It's a bit hard to get my head around this after having so many appointments during the treatment period.

If you feel that you need to "get something checked out" then do so with a specialist who will listen. My oncologist told me not to worry too much and start looking for problems unneccesarily and that if a problem is to arise it will present itself with its own symptoms. That makes it sound like we just panic for no reason.

I guess if there was some sort of regular tests/scans it might be more reassuring that we are in control and something is being done. On the other hand, sometimes it's nice not to have to do continuous testing so that we can try to put it behind us (to some degree) without being reminded of our past troubles.

Take care

Liz :)

Thanks so much Leonie, you are such an angel. Your kids/gran kids are very lucky to have you!!

Yes i think i need to have the scan just one so i know everything is ok then it may be easier to trust my body.

I am a push over i know it, (unless its about my kids) so i might take my husband with me to my next appointment he seems to have a way with words unlike me. I am always too worried about upsetting someone when i speak up but not speaking up this time in the end will only hurt myself and my loved ones if there is something going undiagnosed.

I hope you are well and your shoulder is getting better.

Danielle xx

Thanks so much Leonie, you are such an angel. Your kids/gran kids are very lucky to have you!!

Yes i think i need to have the scan just one so i know everything is ok then it may be easier to trust my body.

I am a push over i know it, (unless its about my kids) so i might take my husband with me to my next appointment he seems to have a way with words unlike me. I am always too worried about upsetting someone when i speak up but not speaking up this time in the end will only hurt myself and my loved ones if there is something going undiagnosed.

I hope you are well and your shoulder is getting better.

Danielle xx

I just go with my own feelings.  If I feel like I need to "get things checked out", I just ask for a referral to have a CT scan.  DEMAND if you have to or go to another doctor.  Your GP can also give you a referral and send the results to the oncologist!!!!!.  I have not had an ultrasound or mammogram since my Dec 2010 diagnosis.  I suppose with all the treatment, my body should be okay.  I did have a CT body scan a few months ago (can't remember why).  Anyway I will have an ultraosound and mammo before I see the specialist surgeon (he is my primary carer) in June.  I get to see the medical oncologist every 6 months as well so really I am having checks every 3 months.  It gives me an opportunity to ASK in two avenues if I feel something is wrong.  Just because you are small don't let them tell you what you need. XLeonie