'Getting on with life' tips

Hello @Batjam and welcome to the site.  Perhaps if you'd like to tell us a little about yourself and others will join the conversation.
Have you joined the private metastatic cancer group on here ?  You can chat more privately in that group and the ladies know just what you are going through.
Getting on with life is just that, we all have to put one foot in front of the other and try to go along as if we'd never had the diagnosis.  We all do the best we can.
I am in Victoria so am absolutely hating the very cold windy weather which is stopping me from going for walks.  The cold is OK, just the winds make it incredibly difficult and I end up with more pain.
If you are an animal lover like me you will find a post on what pets we have so that may be of interest to you.
If you look at the groups (see list in the top blue banner) you may find one you'd like to join.
There is a post relating to all the clever 'crafty' ladies so that may be of interest.
Keep in touch and ask if you need assistance navigating this site.  ❤️❤️

Hi @Batjam - welcome to the forum!!   I hope you've recovered well from your hip fracture xx 

Where abouts are you? You can add your 'town/city/area' on your profile - and other members may also be able to point you to specific services that may be available to you.   If you live in a rural/regional town, you can also access some fuel & accommodation rebates thru your local state's Patient Travel scheme ..... as we don't have the luxury of just being around the corner from treatments, as most city dwellers do.

As June says ... let us know a bit more of your story 'so far' .... which BC you've been diagnosed with and treatments you're having .... It is all such a shock & rocks your life bigtime.  I hope you have supportive family & friends surrounding you xx

Feel free to check out this thread for other areas of interest on the forum that are 'off topic' - including showing off your pets, your garden, art & craft .... and there are also some tick sheets (down the bottom) that you can use to 'self assess' how you are going, physically & mentally xx. We even have some 'funny' threads, as we all need a laugh!!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

Re 'getting on with life' ..... I find that keeping busy is one of the best things ..... and if you are up to it, get out & about as often as you can - even just a walk in the sun every day, going to a movie with a buddy, or a coffee catchup with family & friends .... 

Have you been able to get back into your old 'hobbies & passions'?  Maybe even consider trying something new as well?    I run a ukulele group & it is terrific fun, plus we 'give back' to others, by doing regular Gigs at Nursing Homes etc .... all good fun!  

Take care xx

Hi - yes a bit more detail about me…I live in the Blue Mountains in NSW with hubby and hopefully a.pooch soon. I am teaching myself to crochet in my spare time and getting back to enjoying being creative. I used to stage manage for community theatre groups but that has sadly proved to much. I’ve taken up with the fabulous Dragon Abreast Blue Mountains. I do love the cold so getting out in a Dragonboat when it is 4deg is ok but yes the wind factor is not the best. I do enjoy getting out and about - enjoyed a wander around Vivid a few weeks ago, love going to theatre (do love a good musical)
I’m currently on Palcociclib, Letrozole, venlafaxine and monthly Zoladex Zgeva Denosumab injections. Has kept things stable for abt 18mths now which is great but I’m really not enjoying the side effects…but I’m upright and breathing so I am learning to live with them. I’m an open book so happy to share my experiences, very welcoming to listen to others and be part of a community of people who get it! Cheers for now.

OMG @Batjam ..... early morning dragon boating in WINTER? ..... it is cold enough HERE let alone up in the Mountains!!!   I kayak fish & the wind is definitely a 'no no' .... bitterly nasty cold & dangerous .....

Have you had to travel much for your appointments/treatments?  IPTAAS (Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme) will reimburse a lot of your fuel costs, and also contriute to any accommodation costs .... you have 12 months to put the 'bills in' for reimbursement.   (We have a private group where we update any info as it occurs ....).
Your GP fills in the first form (to your out of town specialist) and you fill in the 'diary dates' & get the specialist to initial those ones .... and send them in for processing.
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/28-living-in-regional-rural-and-remote-areas

Get the forms here:
https://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/

Wow! You would have had to be incredibly organised to run all those theatre groups!!  Well done YOU.

Feel free to check out 'Creative Corner' - we have many who crochet/knit & may be able to help with patterns & tips ..... @cranky_granny, @"Annie C", @iserbrown, @AllyJay
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/14979/creative-corner#latest

Great that your treatment is keeping you stable, even with some side effects .... yes, it sure beats the alternative!  

Take care & all the best xx

Dear @Batjam,

from jennyss in Western NSW

Hi @Batjam, fellow mets girl here. I have early breast cancer in 2020 and mets diagnosed in 2023 with spinal fracture. Mets to bones and liver. My current treatment is Fulvestrant injections monthly, ribociclib and xgeva every 3 months. Side effects are tolerable atm for me. I have joined the mets private group and that is also good to join but I do post here as well. 

I am a early morning walker. I hate cold but rug up. I live in Brisbane so most days the sun shines and I love that in winter.  Fatigue is the hard one but I balance my days with a nap here and there. 

Do you have good support? My hubby is amazing and I have a son who has a little boy and a little girl due next month. They are my world. I have aging parents (88 and 90). I use to do alot more for them but not as much now.

I do yoga weekly and enjoy a few other alternative treatments too. I love a nice lunch out with friends and escaping in our camper. I am crocheting at blanket but have not got too far with it. 

Great photo of you. 

Hi @Batjam welcome to this fabulous support group.  i live down the hill in Penrith. Where abouts  are you having your treatment. I go through the nepean cancer care centre for just about everything. 

I’m at Genesis Care just down the road in the Somerset centre. Down there once a month now for my jabs. Had port taken out as it wasn’t flushing well so eliminated that hassle. I’m working as a public servant so work mostly from home now - the upside of covid. Head into town one day a week. I will join the other group for sure.  I’m getting better at juggling time between health, life and work - dropped work hours has helped. Definitely helps to still use my brain (albeit foggier thanks treatment) and stay creative- all good therapy. Just started with exercise physiologist get some strength back. I call myself my work in progress 😂

@Batjam the Genesis centre was out of my reach financially. I have heard its a great place. I have no complaints about the cancer clinic, they haven’t let me down. I’ve been going there since 2016. I got a great team there. My next appointment is the 19th, We are hoping to stretch out to every 8 weeks instead of 4, my meds are oral  Palbociclib  and Armidex so no jabs plus all the junk to counteract the side effects. hope to stay that way. My mets are still just hanging round in my bones so things are working.