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Lyn_Swinburne's avatar
Lyn_Swinburne
Member
15 years ago

Back on deck!

After 2 weeks down the beach at Lorne, I am back in the CEO's Chair in my pink office, refreshed and ready to attack 2011.  It does feel strange to think this will be my last year as CEO, and so I am even more determined than usual (a scary concept, eh?) to have a sensational year.  There's heaps to do.  One thing about BCNA for sure is that we always have so many ideas and plans for making life better for women affected by breast cancer......we're never short of energy or ideas!

In a couple of weeks time it will be 18 years since my own diagnosis - amazing!  In one way it feels like this happened to someone else in another lifetime; on the other hand, it feels like only yesterday.  I can still recall with extraordinary clarity not only words said to me at that time, but inflections in voices and looks on people's faces (the woman doing the ultrasound, my mother, my kids).  Anyway, so many things have happened since and with the anniversary approaching and knowing it is my last year as CEO, I am pausing to reflect.  Hey, life's bloody good really.

Enough navel gazing.  This is actually my first 'go' at blogging and I am feeling very grown up!  Trouble is, as I am with so many of my mates here, I will turn out to be a neglectful buddy - not enough hours in the day to be blogging and re-blogging....this year anyway.  So if anyone sends me a message, please don't take it personally if I don't reply...it just means I'm head down, bum up with work....or I'm out celebrating my last 18 years!!

Love to all,

Lyn x

 

10 Replies

  • Kaye's avatar
    Kaye
    Member
    15 years ago

    It is so nice to feel the friendship that comes through with each post e.g. Leonie/ShirlO/Moira1, it's very important to have someone to communicate with when you are going through treatment.  I can relate to a comment made in the post by Lyn Swinburne in early February. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 1990,  I made a point of visiting my Mum the weekend before I was due to have a mastectomy, so she could see that I was still the same Kaye. When I told Mum that I was determined to be back at my job at a high school in the new year, I caught the look that passed from my mother to my husband clearly showing that she did not share my optimism.

    I did go back to school in the new year and had chemo for six months.  Looking back, I don't know how I did it, I had 3 children, 16,10 and 6 who all handled the situation in very different ways, but I was incredibly lucky with support from family and friends.  It must be extremely stressful if you don't have family or friends around at a time like that.

     Like Lyn I am also planning on retiring this year and having time to enjoy gardening, reading and movies.  I am also interested in volunteering with various organizations.

    I am very slack at replying to e-mails, posts, facebook etc. so if a few months pass and I remain non communicative, please don't take it personally

     

  • Kaye's avatar
    Kaye
    Member
    15 years ago

    It is so nice to feel the friendship that comes through with each post e.g. Leonie/ShirlO/Moira1, it's very important to have someone to communicate with when you are going through treatment.  I can relate to a comment made in the post by Lyn Swinburne in early February. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 1990,  I made a point of visiting my Mum the weekend before I was due to have a mastectomy, so she could see that I was still the same Kaye. When I told Mum that I was determined to be back at my job at a high school in the new year, I caught the look that passed from my mother to my husband clearly showing that she did not share my optimism.

    I did go back to school in the new year and had chemo for six months.  Looking back, I don't know how I did it, I had 3 children, 16,10 and 6 who all handled the situation in very different ways, but I was incredibly lucky with support from family and friends.  It must be extremely stressful if you don't have family or friends around at a time like that.

     Like Lyn I am also planning on retiring this year and having time to enjoy gardening, reading and movies.  I am also interested in volunteering with various organizations.

    I am very slack at replying to e-mails, posts, facebook etc. so if a few months pass and I remain non communicative, please don't take it personally

     

  • moira1's avatar
    moira1
    Member
    15 years ago

    glad you are getting through all the c..p, AND LOOKING GOOD into the bargain, so good on you.  What a nice valentines pressy your getting eh. but at least you are home for a little while, and its handy you will have family to stay with while having your radiotherapy, you take care of yourself, and tell that husband he better watch out... Wolf whistles are only the start hehe.  Good luck Leonie, thinking of you Take Care

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi there - and tell m why shouldn't you get wolf whistles and compliments???  I guarantee that if I was out and about and got whistles I wouldn't feel threatened or "degraded" I'd turn around , go back and say " I'll have another one of those thank you very much!!!!"

    Re the Arimidex .... yes I get the "hots" on a regular basis and sometimes my skin feels as if it's crawling.  Don't know whether to go and find another tablet to make it go away .... taking so many supplements now I'm just about rattleing when I move.

    Haven't got a need for floaties and flippers yed, though we have been fairly well dumped on lately - been raining here constantly since 4pm yesterday.  There has been flash flooding in Mildura - they got 100ml in 2 hours.

    All the vic rivers are on flood alert again and as they flow into the Murray our rivers will start spreading out over the low lying areas.  This new lot is courtesy of Qld's Anthony and Yasi.

    I'm pleased you're taking your car with you to Brisbane ... it's great you can be independant and come and go as you please.  Just make sure you take care of yourself

    luv ... Shirl

  • Leonie_Moore's avatar
    Leonie_Moore
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Shirl

    I'm home until next Friday when we set off by car to Brisbane.  I start radiation on Monday 14th Feb.  I am down to have 25 sessions maybe 3 more if my surgeon has informed them that he didn't get clear margins.  I will be in Brisbane for 6 weeks though because we have tickets for Doobie Bros concert.  My husband is a great fan so I suppose I will have to pretend I like them too.  (bloody old farts!!! but their music is okay)  I will have my vehicle with me (driving down) so I will be able to visit my family whenever I want to and also go "home" whenever I feel tired.  I will be staying with my sister and her husband and it will be very comfortable for me.  I will drive into town each day to have radiation.  (My trusty "Tom Tom" will show me the way.  Not sure when I will start chemo but it will be some time in April.  How have you been with the flooding? (I did send you a message re your safety but it's out there somewhere maybe)  Anyway looks like you are still here!!!!!! Thank goodness.  Another question Shirl, did you get the itches whilst on Arimidex?  When I first started on 20th Dec I was getting a bit hot from the inside out but now I have the itches and boy am I hot!!!  Worst time is at dinner time at night.  I thought I had lice because I couldn't stop scratching my head.  My sister is a teacher so I had her searching. I find I can't have a cuppa at night time because I just get soooooo hot.  One of the dragonboat ladies said she was the same - thank God - I thought it was just me.  Anyway she said her GP put her on an antidepressant to stop it.  I'm wondering if there is a natural alternative.  Talking about HOT.  Got to tell you a funny story - it must be the new hairdo.  I got a "wolf whistle" yesterday.  It made my day.  My husband asked if the person was walking or driving (must of been blind if walking).  Anyway he was driving so I felt pretty stoked.  Then the day before an old fella - dressed nicely and clean but looked a little lost - told me I was a 10 out of 10!!!!. I said a big thanks inside - something to keep me going for a while.   Funny heh!!!! but nice.  I will be online whilst away so I feel good about that.  I have bought a pre-paid broadband stick. Chat soon.XLeonie 

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi there, great to see you here again ..... how are things progressing with you?  Arfe you still home or down in Brisbane.

    Take care .... Luv shirl xx

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Thought I'd replied to you Lyn, but put it in the wrong place .... but I can do it again, I've never been at a loss for words.

    Welcome to the "Land of Blog", for a first effort you've done very well!!!

    It has been a pleasure knowing you, even for just a short time.  Listening to you talk in Mildura brought me out of my self-imposed depression and I thank you for that.

    Congratulations on your 18th anniversary, and I'm sure you are looking forward to the next 18+++++

    I'm sure even when you step aside as CEO you will be hovering around as do many mothers watching  their "children" grow.  Between the lot of us we WILL look after your "baby".

    I have already started plotting for October in Wentworth ..... as you say, it will be a bloody good year.

    Thank you for being you

    Luv ... Shirl xx

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Thought I'd replied to you Lyn, but put it in the wrong place .... but I can do it again, I've never been at a loss for words.

    Welcome to the "Land of Blog", for a first effort you've done very well!!!

    It has been a pleasure knowing you, even for just a short time.  Listening to you talk in Mildura brought me out of my self-imposed depression and I thank you for that.

    Congratulations on your 18th anniversary, and I'm sure you are looking forward to the next 18+++++

    I'm sure even when you step aside as CEO you will be hovering around as do many mothers watching  their "children" grow.  Between the lot of us we WILL look after your "baby".

    I have already started plotting for October in Wentworth ..... as you say, it will be a bloody good year.

    Thank you for being you

    Luv ... Shirl xx