Met my oncologist yesterday for the first time. She was great in answering my long list of questions and telling me everything I need to know. Well I start chemo next Tuesday - my Melbourne Cup lunch will have to be cancelled! It will be 4 rounds every 3 weeks....TC....scary but all part of the journey ofcourse! I will travel 2 hours to the chemo unit which my husband and I had a tour of yesterday...a lovely looking new building of 5 months at SJGH Bunbury....and I admit I cried when I was walking out - not sure why, maybe just overwhelmed by all the emotions of the past 5 weeks since being diagnosed and losing my beautiful Mum! I read SHAZINOZ tips on handling chemo and it was just fabulous to get others' tips on how they handled the possible side effects. So as usual, will take things one day at a time!

That's the way,one day at a time!I have my second round on Tuesday.Make sure you drink all your water,leading up to,during and two days after chemo.It is really important.My oncologist also told me the importance of exercising,and so far,I haven't missed a day.I go for a walk every day,and even though I had a couple of days when I didn't go too far,for the most part I was able to walk as usual.I am having TC too.I will be thinking of you on TuesdayRobyn xox

Hey Jen Good on ya hun. You take it day by day or hour by hour. I remember when I went to the chemo unit at SCGH I absolutely freaked but it wasn't all that bad. Sounds like Bunbury is lovely. Make sure you make up for the cancelled Melb Cup with at least coffee and cake afterwards to celebrate chemo number one done and dusted. Robyns advice of water and some exercise (even a gentle walk) and Shaz plus other girls tips will help you get through it. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones who sails through the chemo. I am sure your mum will be looking down and wishing you all the wellness she can conjure up for you or she will be by your side helping you get through. You have a great attitude so this will def help you through. Wishing both Jen and Robyn a wonderful Melbourne Cup Day and make sure you get to celebrate in some way. Treat yourselves. Lots of love always, Mich xoxoxoxo

Yep,I feel the same as last time.I actually feel no different than I did yesterday.My oncologist said I may feel more tired as it goes along,and she said to me again about the importance of trying to get out and walk every day.I haven't missed a day yet.I was reading on some American site that said if you can do some walking for about 10 minutes in the hour before you have chemo,it is beneficial.I can't remember why,but I will try anything!So I did a couple of laps of the hospital grounds today,while we were waiting! can't hurt anyway!Good luck Jodie.xox

Thanks all you gorgeous "surrogate sister" and my gorgeous twin-sis, I am feeling relatively relaxed today and know the main reason is because of all the positive engery and beautiful thoughts being sent via the cyber airways! Have been drinking heaps...and although water is my preferred choice of beverage (apart from a few others ocassionly!) 2-3 litres and continuous trips to the loo is interesting! The things we have to do hey? Robyn, congratulations and glad to hear you are getting on fab with your 2nd! Jodie I will defo be thinking of you on Wed for the 1st one - dauting hey?......Dianne, best of luck for your 3rd on Thurs...you're an old hat at this game already and great to know you are getting thru if with a good positive attitude. Will be in touch and let you know how it went....big hugs Jen xx

Such a long day Robyn...you must feel drained! Was it waiting for others to go through as well? Anyway, glad you made it through eventually.......2 down now hey??? Just fab.....smile and enjoy the sunshine over the next 3 weeks too....xx

Chemo starting soon! | BCNA Online Network

20 Replies

Mich_x
Member
12 years ago
Thank you Jossy I am more than happy to be there for your sister. If she ever needs to come to Perth we can catch up for a coffee and a chat.

I am doing okay so don't worry too much about me.

Lots of love always, Mich xoxoxo
jenpen
Member
12 years ago
Hi Mich....don't know why I thought you lived Sth West! Sorry about that......we stopped in Port Denison on our way back from Geraldton (too long ago)...and wow...what a little piece of Paradise!

It was so nice to drive thru Dongara then discover your lovely hometown....you will be so glad to get home after your treatment....great you have got your Perth home too...defo make sense being such a distance away....I'm sure your grandkids/kids love it too!

Sending you big hugs...and best wishes...Jen x
jenpen
Member
12 years ago
Hi Mich....don't know why I thought you lived Sth West! Sorry about that......we stopped in Port Denison on our way back from Geraldton (too long ago)...and wow...what a little piece of Paradise!

It was so nice to drive thru Dongara then discover your lovely hometown....you will be so glad to get home after your treatment....great you have got your Perth home too...defo make sense being such a distance away....I'm sure your grandkids/kids love it too!

Sending you big hugs...and best wishes...Jen x
jenpen
Member
12 years ago
Hi Janey,

Thanks for the lovely flowers! Lunch was lovely thanks....romantic day out with my husband was a nice positive memory for my first chemo!

Hope you are going ok.......and getting through this week.....

Big hug....Jen x
Jossy
Member
12 years ago
Aww ...just beautiful Janey !!!

Soz to intrude ....

xxx Jossy
Jossy
Member
12 years ago
Thank you for your lovely message Janey .....I really have to congratulate Jen on her selection of friends ..she seems to have hit the jackpot in the Bingo game of winning new sisters......

Hoping your own journey up this difficult mountain to wellness is not proving too difficult Janey ??

xxx Jossy
Jossy
Member
12 years ago
Jen , glad that you are over one peak on your journey ...& yeah, it was fantastic chatting hey ???

Hope the next few days arent too horrid ...... If thoughts had wings I'd be landing on your roof about now ..... we would sit together on your swing chair drinking tea and dunking digestives ...

Be kind to yourself Jenpen & know I 'm always thinking of you ...oh gees here I go again , landing on Alans shed this time !!!! Love you xxx Jossy
Jossy
Member
12 years ago
Thank you soosoo much for your reply Mich.......Yes it is tough not being there for my twin jenpen ....How wonderful that you are !!!

This morning ( my morning..her arfo) Jen & I Facebook chatted for almost 2 hours ( my kids got lunch sandwiches made during me sending messages... A horrible Mum ?? )

As Jen welcomed her new friend 'chemo' to slip inside so that she could start evicting those horrible unwelcome tenants from the inside ....we laughed and chatted ( & remembered our lovely Mum... whos funeral was this day 4 weeks ago) ...How wondeful technology is ....we miss each other so much but still being in contact is just great .

Mich you sound like a wonderful lady....Thank you for 'minding' my jenpen ,she invited me to join this site so I could witness first hand the beautiful support that all the women on here offer each other....You are one of those lovely ladies ..even though you are still also travelling on your own journey to wellness .....I wish you a speedy recovery Mich ....

xxx Jossy
Mich_x
Member
12 years ago
Hey Jos

So hard for you sweet and my heart goes out to you. To have to watch your sister and even worse a twin sister go through this from so far away.

Please be assured that she does have many new pink sisters here to walk her journey with her.

We will take good care of her the best way we know how.

She will not be short of love, support, advice, hugs and kisses and anything else she may need on her journey.

Lots of love always, Mich xoxoxoxoxo
Mich_x
Member
12 years ago
Hey Jen

Thank you for your kind words. I am doing well in that I am coping okay with my treatment day by day. I am still to know if it has all been worth it but I am keeping a very positive attitude and just grateful I have been given this opportunity to make something so wrong, right again and just hope like hell it works.

Due to all the treatment I have had and are having we have bought a "lil place in Perth as the travel was impossible and would have made my current treatment totally out of reach.

Our actual main home is in a lovely spot on the coast but North of perth by 400klms at a place called Port Denison but most people know it as Dongara. It is 70klms South of Geraldton. There you have the best of both worlds with the ocean but also the country atmosphere with so many properlies and farmers close by. It is lovely and I call it Paradise :-) I will get back to Paradise one day soon but for now I am in our lil place in Midland.

I finally got the Trauma cover payout that I fought so hard for and went through so much to get it and won in the end. I am so glad I didn't give up as that is what helped us buy our lil place down here. I am lucky enough to be able to drive to Freo and back now for my sleeping beauty treatment of which I am on countdown for now with only 2 weeks to go yayyyy.

Thought I would just explain how things have turned out for us....... Our lil Midland place has been such a god send not only for myself and hubby but for other family members as well. So glad we bought it.

It is good that you are close to home for treatment and I am so glad you have hubby by your side and that you have a lovely lunch together. Make every chemo day special in some way sweety. Then you will remember that more so than your chemo day.

Bug hugs comin your way Jen, lots of love always, Mich xoxoxoxoxo