Bony Mets = Hip Replacements x 2
Dear lovely ladies
Amazing how all can seem to go 'swimmingly well' for a while - once we are in that so-called stable phase.
In Jan I decided to sell our house and buy a new stunning 3 level townhouse (great for a 10 and 12 yr old) and a fresh start as a single mum, even though ex-husband has some equity in new place at least it all works - well for now. Doing a financial settlement and will is an interesting exercise, not!
Then on a whim in March (and after tumour markers rose), I had an opportunity to go to Whistler - all the way from Sydney - which I did!
Then preparing for the big move in late April....
School holidays underway and niggling back pain - making me think what move or position from pilates or yoga had caused it; then physio for 2 consecutive days, valium from local Dr, and immediate suggestion of hospital....
5 and a half weeks later - incredible:
back pain was attributed to fractured pelvis, hence the hip replacement; then there was talk about radiation to the other hip and possible hip replacement later.....and brain kicked in at the 3 day mark post-surgery - painful yes and lots of rehab needed but NO WAY was I going to get better from first surgery and do it all again, so hip replacement no.1 (May 1 - daughter's birthday - she turned 10 but we had surprise party day before in hospital - all seems a bit surreal now!), and then my b'day May 8 (in hosp) and hip replacement no.2 on May 15.
Looking back - quite a lot happened but its strange when you come out of hospital after being in there so long. And I was scheduled for bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction next Tues.
But MDTM (multi-disciplinary team meeting) last Wed has resulted in surgery being postponed til Sept (3 months) because I did have a mild infection in first scar (in hosp) and also a DVT - enough to send surgeons (that didn't know me running in opposite direction....!)
But strange when I look back - Dx de novo in Feb last year - still wish I'd had breasts off then, like ovaries. But c'est la vie. Been responding to Ibrance, X geva and Letrozole relatively well since June 2016 (good until Feb this yr when tumour markers started rising).
So prognosis now is radiation next week as a "chaser" to hips to mop up remaining cancer cells, resume Ibrance for 2 mths then go off again whilst I have bilateral masectomy & reconstruction in Sept.
On that note I'd also be keen to share stories with any of you who have had mastectomy PLUS reconstruction (same op)?
I'm now 53, and as I said to oncologist, I don't know what the future holds, but I'd like to think I may re-partner (single for last 7 yrs), and even if I don't femininity is important to my overall sense of identity. If that means I live one year less, then so be it - but I don't think they (or me) can really calculate that "what if"......
Would LOVE to hear from anyone who has had hip replacement or bilateral mastectomy/reconstruction.
best wishes, Elaine xxx (Sydney)
PS - Karen - I LOVED reading your 10 yr post - it gives us all hope!! as it does with similar ladies in Sydney (albeit not many)
PPS I still intend to organise and hold the inaugural flashmob dance in SYD in MBC day this year on Fri October 13th. If you're SYD based - please let me know!! We have Qantas behind us and also Fitness First, and hopefully BCNA!
Amazing how all can seem to go 'swimmingly well' for a while - once we are in that so-called stable phase.
In Jan I decided to sell our house and buy a new stunning 3 level townhouse (great for a 10 and 12 yr old) and a fresh start as a single mum, even though ex-husband has some equity in new place at least it all works - well for now. Doing a financial settlement and will is an interesting exercise, not!
Then on a whim in March (and after tumour markers rose), I had an opportunity to go to Whistler - all the way from Sydney - which I did!
Then preparing for the big move in late April....
School holidays underway and niggling back pain - making me think what move or position from pilates or yoga had caused it; then physio for 2 consecutive days, valium from local Dr, and immediate suggestion of hospital....
5 and a half weeks later - incredible:
back pain was attributed to fractured pelvis, hence the hip replacement; then there was talk about radiation to the other hip and possible hip replacement later.....and brain kicked in at the 3 day mark post-surgery - painful yes and lots of rehab needed but NO WAY was I going to get better from first surgery and do it all again, so hip replacement no.1 (May 1 - daughter's birthday - she turned 10 but we had surprise party day before in hospital - all seems a bit surreal now!), and then my b'day May 8 (in hosp) and hip replacement no.2 on May 15.
Looking back - quite a lot happened but its strange when you come out of hospital after being in there so long. And I was scheduled for bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction next Tues.
But MDTM (multi-disciplinary team meeting) last Wed has resulted in surgery being postponed til Sept (3 months) because I did have a mild infection in first scar (in hosp) and also a DVT - enough to send surgeons (that didn't know me running in opposite direction....!)
But strange when I look back - Dx de novo in Feb last year - still wish I'd had breasts off then, like ovaries. But c'est la vie. Been responding to Ibrance, X geva and Letrozole relatively well since June 2016 (good until Feb this yr when tumour markers started rising).
So prognosis now is radiation next week as a "chaser" to hips to mop up remaining cancer cells, resume Ibrance for 2 mths then go off again whilst I have bilateral masectomy & reconstruction in Sept.
On that note I'd also be keen to share stories with any of you who have had mastectomy PLUS reconstruction (same op)?
I'm now 53, and as I said to oncologist, I don't know what the future holds, but I'd like to think I may re-partner (single for last 7 yrs), and even if I don't femininity is important to my overall sense of identity. If that means I live one year less, then so be it - but I don't think they (or me) can really calculate that "what if"......
Would LOVE to hear from anyone who has had hip replacement or bilateral mastectomy/reconstruction.
best wishes, Elaine xxx (Sydney)
PS - Karen - I LOVED reading your 10 yr post - it gives us all hope!! as it does with similar ladies in Sydney (albeit not many)
PPS I still intend to organise and hold the inaugural flashmob dance in SYD in MBC day this year on Fri October 13th. If you're SYD based - please let me know!! We have Qantas behind us and also Fitness First, and hopefully BCNA!
