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jo1234's avatar
jo1234
Member
14 years ago

let the treatment begin

I have been trying to wait patiently for my Radiation to begin. As the days go bye i become a little anxious and begin cursing the Hospital for the huge delay (in my mind).  I look on here and see everyone starting and finishing their treatment and I am so happy for them but a bit envious as i just want to move on. 

Finally a phone call from Radiation Oncology yesterday asking if i would like to go private at the oncologists private practice and they will cover all  costs. Apparently the hospitals machine broke down several weeks ago and i wouldn't  get in until mid November otherwise. 

Yeah !, who wouldn't take up that offer, so much better and less mucking around. Gosh if i wait any longer that little critter that was inside my boob could  put his feelers out again. 

No more trying to find parking in the middle of the city at peak hour, and paying through the nose for that concreat slab that they think is gold.  No more traipsing through the hospital to find you have taken the wrong lift or gone the wrong way and heading towards the car again,   Hmmmmmm !  that happens a lot. 

More one on one contact i guess. Let the  journey continue again. "Yay"  Cheers Jo xx

7 Replies

  • jennywren's avatar
    jennywren
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tonya, good to hear from you and thanks for the well wishes. You are right, we will live with this for the rest of our lives, and can never get complacent.  It is a long haul, but one I will continue with and hope for a good outcome :)

    Hi Jo, I am being treated privately at the Mount hospital, my surgeon is Dr Diana Hastrich, and my oncologist, Prof Arlene Chan, both wonderful women and very switched on. However the Mount don't do radiotherapy hence I am seeing Dr Mandy Taylor at Charlies. The Mount Hospital has been amazing, from the chemo nurses, physiotherapist right up to the Dr's I have been very lucky.

    Look forward to keeping in touch, xx

  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Jenny,  it's good to find someone in Perth , i was starting to think i was all alone over here in the west lol.although the ladies on this network have been fantastic and a real inspiration .

    So your at Charlie Gardner, how are you finding them?.Who was your surgeon over there?  I  had 2 x Knee replacements at Charlies at the end of March this year and found them fantastic with me.  I have been going to  RPH for BC but will be now going  to  Wembley (Perth Radiation Oncology).  Cant wait as i really don't like RPH except for the Breast Clinic itself. They are beautiful in there.

    I am so sorry for you, you have really been dealt a bad blow with this BC, but by sounds of things you have made the right choices. If it wasn't for the mastectomy things may have been different.  It doesn't  make it any easier though does it?  Be strong,  time will heal. You are a brave lady to have gone through it all, and you are nearly at the end of this journey. There are a couple of other ladies on here that very similar has happened to them with chemo and radiation.       You have every right to be scared about the effect  the chemo had, i think everyone would be the same. Have they given any reasons as to why a tumor  that size survived chemo?

    You will be OK after radiation, it will zap any remaining little critters out of  your body and you will be up and raring to go.  I too still think that i have lumps everywhere, and feel that they did not get them  all out.  I really do feel i will get cancer again and it does frighten me big time. I guess everyone thinks like this.

    Your BC lumps were so big , mine was only 2cm (grade 2) IDC with lymph nodes and margins all clear thank god, but it doesn't matter if it was one lump or ten lumps it is one hell of an emotional ride for everyone.

    I had a lumpectomy (the bottom half of my boob has now gone) but that's ok, because i did not need chemo which i was panicking about.  I am on rads for 6 weeks, Tamoxifen for five years and zoladex injections for three years. These are making me go into Menopause which i am feeling really lost about even though i had finished having children it still feels wrong as i wasn't ready for menopause   I guess i have to go with the flow.

    What is the knew hormone drug, let me know.  Keep in touch and try to be strong. Good luck.

    Cheers Joxxx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    So sorry to hear about your latest pathology.Yes,you do wonder sometimes if these treatments are doing any good.I had a lumpectomy with clear margins,aux clearance and radio back in 2003.My mammo's were all clear until last year when the cancer came back in the same spot ,3cms in size(7 yrs later).I thought the radiation had done it's job.It really does your head in and in the end what choices do we have.I guess we can't get complacent and think that the treatment has"fixed"us.But we can certainly be hopeful and pray that it's gone.Good luck in the coming months for your ongoing treatments-it sure is a long haul.

                                                                      Tonya xx

  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    Thanks  Tonya, i am just so glad i am not having chemo, it still scares me just the thought of it. (i must have  been just so lucky  to miss out on it).  Hey if i have to have a male draw all over my boob then   i  will be putting my order in for one cute,  dark hair, muscular specimen  about 6. 2 with no spikes or piercings ( no thanks yuk).  No male youngster either . This would be nice. LOL  .   Cheers Jo xxx

  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Chris, No final date  has been set yet,  but they made an appointment straight away at the private place for this Tuesday. So it looks like things are finally moving.

    I hope you are ok, things must be very stressful and worrying for you at the moment. You have been through so much but are still having  to make some really big decisions recently,  life can be just so unfair at times. 

    You are a  brave woman to opt for a second mastectomy , not sure if i could be so brave.  You will soldier   through this  and will soon be on your way to a happier and healthier life style. I really do wish you all the best for Wednesday and remember you have everyone here thinking and wishing you well.

    Cheers Jo xxx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    Glad you can start now and get it over with.Your first session will be a bit weird cos you'll be lying on a table semi naked and the radiogragher will be drawing all over your chest with a texta.Hope you get a female cos I had some young guy with spikey hair and several piercings! It is tedious going every day but it's nowhere near as bad as chemo.I got abit tired half way through and my boob was glowing like a hot plate but my skin never broke down.After the last session it took about 2 weeks to recover.For many years after,my boob had some discomfort and felt abit harder.Many women don't have any problems and I hope you'll be one of them.Good luck.

                                        Tonya xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    Glad you can start now and get it over with.Your first session will be a bit weird cos you'll be lying on a table semi naked and the radiogragher will be drawing all over your chest with a texta.Hope you get a female cos I had some young guy with spikey hair and several piercings! It is tedious going every day but it's nowhere near as bad as chemo.I got abit tired half way through and my boob was glowing like a hot plate but my skin never broke down.After the last session it took about 2 weeks to recover.For many years after,my boob had some discomfort and felt abit harder.Many women don't have any problems and I hope you'll be one of them.Good luck.

                                        Tonya xx