The gift that keeps giving 😞

@lrb_03 thanks for sharing that...there was something very poignant that she said and something I have lived by and spoken constantly of since my 2nd diagnosis and that is...

"But most importantly, I need to learn (again – sorry, Mum!) to help myself. To put myself first and not say “Yes” to giving three talks in three different cities in one week, knowing I’ll crash and burn for two weeks after. 

Time to just ‘be’ for a while and see what takes my fancy. It’s actually quite exciting!"

It's something I constantly have to remind myself to do because as women, mothers, daughters, sisters we just don't, it's not a natural thing...it's learned and something I had to choose...to put me first.

I had to leave the School I was at due to my inability to combat physically my role any longer, to only find myself out of Special Ed in a mainstream school, leading Behaviour Management and upskilling 20 ES. This is in ways more demanding and I get to the end of each week and think phew I made it. Nobody knows how incredibly hard it is to work full time after a diagnosis and subsequent treatments, most of us dont have a choice. I suffer alot of pain and nothing avails it, the worst is from radiation in 2011 and chemo in 2015 irreversible side effects that they dont tell you about. We are told to be grateful...and of course we are absolutely...but it would be so nice to be acknowledged by the medical profession that in fact they have a long way to go with treatments and quality survivorship for everyone. 

M x
.

Yes, I read that post this morning and was so sorry for Liz to have to make that decision for her own mental health safety.

She has been so incredibly honest in all her dealings with BC since first diagnosed - any one who hasn't followed her whole story on her blog - really should.

Coming from a well educated Healthy Professional who happened to be a Breast Cancer Surgeon (who is highly believable) - it more than validates all our own perceptions of this fucking disease.

That survivorship can be so challenging to Maslow's hierarchy of needs is comprehensively under reported, under highlighted and under served, ie allied health provisions. Five a year? That's a fricking joke...

There are so many reasons we don't want this disease culminating, of course, with the fact it can kill us.

The degree of loss can be catastrophic or it can be marginal. The problem is the threat never goes away and even the most dedicated self care can't protect us from the fickle finger of fate.

Ms O'Riordan losing her job because she simply can't do it any more mirrors the experience of so many. No one is lucky in those circumstances but some can adapt their skills more readily than others. Those who rely on packing supermarket shelves or picking fruit or other menial, physical jobs find  themselves in a diabolical situation with no prospect other than poverty and charity and the cruel strictures of a welfare system not designed for their experience This really is a shit of a disease.

@Afraser. Yes, I  am very grateful also to my breast surgeon and my plastic surgeon.
I have never had any pain after a reasonable amount of time. So lucky.
Any scarring has been flattened with needling.
Even now, with mets, I have never had pain.
Wouldn't it be good if everyone could say the same thing?

I have learned through this website to
be very grateful to my surgeon for my painless mastectomy and axillary clearance. No underarm scarring, no
painkillers (one push on the button to show I could do it!) in hospital or at home. Full mobility within 2 days. Yes, I did have a seroma but it wasn't painful either (just a nuisance). Everyone is different, physiology, tumour, options, but nevertheless I was very fortunate.

@lrb_03 thanks for the link!  Your story here was also interesting to read

Goodness no one is immune regardless of their occupation, experience et cetera

I found a line within very interesting as I have had this discussion online with @primek and others "...given my own experience of chronic post-mastectomy pain..."

It's a so and so that just keeps giving in many ways and yes post mastectomy pain syndrome is a shocker!



Take care