Chemo/radiation

Sorry to hear about the ulcers, @Mich15 - check out this post for some tips to try:
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/19828/mouth-ulcers-and-tongue-sores/p1

All the best with your chemo xx

Yep, it's certainly a road we don't want to head down.. 

Definately learning to live in the moment has been the best medicine, taking small steps..so helps with this 'new journey'.. new normal...

..And gives strength down this road..knowing we are Not alone..

To find a group like this (I just have)and with  fellow persons living with Breast Cancer, who can share stories and advice is  also such a silver lining..

I was diagnosed in April, double mastectomy,nipple saving, recon in June, then 2 seperate surgeries to remove both recons.

Started Chemo last Monday, exercised before and after treatment.

See Catalyst ABC I View Cancer and Exercise. 
It is really encouraging. 

Spoke to the manager of my Chemo Unit and she is keen to have an exercise room set up for people to use immediately  before and just after treatment.  This will have great benefits.
The exercise room will take time to set up though . Not on my time during Chemo.

I have bn feeling grt so far. No fatigue, no sickness and exercising regularly.

Have had my haircut short in readiness and my teenage boys are ready with the clippers to shave it all off if and when needed. Their humour helps heaps.

One of them said he's going to shave his off too when it happens and wants to raise money for the very special McGrath nurses. 

Have seen an Exercise Physiologist, specialising with people living with Cancer and given advice on what exercise is good for me.

Just wishing that I had brushed my teeth after each mealtime and rinsed  my mouth with warm salty water more regularly as advised..last 3 days have ulcers and soo so painful to eat and talk.. 

Started back in voluntary post, once a week for 2 hours.
Not sure about back to work though.. Work in aged care sector.

Remember to be gentle on yourself and allow yourself rest and to be able to receive help too..

If not for you, for the rest of the family, who I found were running around like headless chickens at the beginning, trying to do everything..

Love, strength, hope, hugs and new positive connections on this new road..💗

 @Di1965  :* 

Sounds to me like you are doing well kmakm. You must be so busy. Here is a 30 second hug from me 🤗 stay strong and keep in touch 😘

Thank you @Di1965. No point in sugar coating it! This is the one place you don't have to. So much energy goes into keeping up a good front for your family and friends. The relief to not have to pretend here is very handy.

My husband is lovely but away much of the time. He is such a steady chap that my emotional turmoil is beyond him. He wants to 'fix' me of course! He's very good at giving me my space. The kids, well, I have three teenagers and a very needy 11yo. They are tightly bound in their own centre of the world headspace most of the time, and sometimes their careless behaviour can bruise. But that's teenagers!

Once the crisis of treatment is over people move on. My friends are great but everyone has their own lives and problems to get on with, and my woes are but a hill of beans.

Survivorship is wonderful because you get to be alive when so many don't. But if you struggle like me it is nonetheless a lonely place. The only way, the only person who can fix this is yourself. The oncologists shrug when you say you're struggling on the drugs. So I'm all about mitigating the worst of side effects (which currently for me is regular osteo, and painkillers. I've tried supplements and acupuncture with no success with the former and only a tiny bit with the latter), working with my psychologist on my mental health, and have recently returned to pilates to help regain some strength, and gentle yoga for stress relief. I'm committing to my health to try to reduce risk factors for further cancers, and to improve my quality of life. I'm the only person who can do this.

I also started a support group in my area for some face to face connection. And this week I've applied for a volunteer position at a local hospital. I'm trying all the things! Here's hoping they all work sufficiently to make me feel life's worth living again.

So hugs gratefully received and returned. As long as they're at least 20 seconds long so we get that Oxytocin! K xox

Thank you for your honesty kmakm it just sounds so brutal. I hope you have the love and support you need. There is so much information shared on this site. It is great to think we have this bond even though it is under such hard circumstances. I send you hugs xxx

@Di1965 Physically I am healed, though I don't feel my hands have come back to full strength. They were very affected by the chemo. I am on Letrozole and have numerous side effects from that, and then there's the brutal medical menopause... Emotionally, survivorship is proving to be hard, but I recognise that a lot of other baggage has come with me. I'm trying really hard to do all the things that are suggested to help. And then some! I don't feel like me anymore. I suppose that's what's meant by 'new normal', so I'm working on acceptance. K xox

Thankyou mighty star love and strength to you too. Xx

Hi Di, I have a similar situation to yourself, my lump was removed 5 July. I was very lucky my oncotype dx test result was 10, chemo would not be beneficial. I was mentally preparing for it. I’m now 7 sessions in to RT now and tamoxifen to come. Love and strength to you and hope you soon get the answers you need xx

Thank you so much. How are you doing?