User Profile
Tasia
Member
Joined 6 years ago
User Widgets
Contributions
Re: Overseas Travel (with breast prosthesis, travel insurance)
@Afraser and @arpie - thank you. Will check Covermore Yep that is what I recall reading - the screening was in public. Iʻd be mortified if I had to remove my prosthesis (which Iʻm yet to develop a bond with) in public. Or pending my mood (reaction), I could use some creativity and mortify them - my payback to their insensitivity and disrespect for my privacy and dignity. There is a serious lack of education amongst our fellow humans and industries.8Views1like0CommentsRe: Post TNBC: cope and hope
@wendy55 and @Julez1958 - <3 <3 It warms my heart to read your messages and so very happy that my words held some meaning for you. Staying positive and using language that reflects positivity alone isnʻt enough (my thoughts of this experience) I feel it is important that we have these ʻopen kitchen tableʻ conversations to take some of the emotional and mental heat off - to simply chat with each other; speak of the crap and of what widens our smiles. To validate our distressing stories, our reality of life after breast cancer and see what we find and how to cultivate a path of hope, in moment to moment - a new and different of doing life. Please know that you, anyone can reach out and PM me any time to have that ʻopen kitchen tableʻ chat :-) Many thanks for your wonderful travel wishes - Iʻve booked my tickets, going in mid March ..and yep, I am excited and frightened of the whole newness of it all, at the same time. I donʻt have a time machine so return to the past to swallow my previous me is not an option...so I have to stay ʻpresentʻ and when the hard days muscle their way in, I will need to face a cloud a day. The kinder days, Iʻll let the blue sky silky fabric and itʻs mate the smiling sun take me on a daily outing :-) Those days, I will give thanks to my body, mind and spirit for its ongoing determined attempts to keep me going - that is the inner magical power we hold - the wellness of hope to heal. Hugs, love xx P.S. I wonder if I should start a post/thread ʻOpen Kitchen Table Gatheringʻ and invite us all to share to chip away at some of the lonely/alone silences (?) xx5Views0likes0CommentsOverseas Travel (with breast prosthesis, travel insurance)
Hello, Has anyone travelled with their breast prosthesis overseas? I read a tiny article ʻsomewhereʻ that going through security was a nightmare with the BPʻs. Second question - pre cancer, travel insurance was a must for the added security. With cancer being ʻa pre existing conditionʻ I see that travel insurance is not as straight forward for a cancer affected person. Anyone have experience on this topic ?206Views0likes6CommentsPost TNBC: cope and hope
Hello all, It has been a good solid 12 months since I posted on this forum. Have jumped on a few occasions but didnʻt quite feel that I was ready to contribute anything meaningful. An enormous warm hug to all the women with a TNBC diagnosis; I also am part of this camp. Diagnosed Aug 2020, had AC/Paclitaxel until Jan 2021 and the rest of that year was a medical health nightmare with a bilateral mastectomy (last minute alarm bell decision), radiotherapy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and I tested positive to a rarer gene mutation. I have had rehab to give my body and mind the support it needed, rounds of extra physio and I raised my hand for any other wellness activity, on offer. I acknowledged that my walking ability had changed and let that change guide me, I also took up qigong daily in whatever recrafted way, I could. I was just going with the flow of my body and its energy in that moment. I ate healthy with or without appetite (that was a challenge), made fresh veg/fruit juices, drank litres of bottled water as my taste buds couldnʻt tolerate tap water amongst other things, rested and tried versions of sleep, journaled to keep my emotions in balance and my sanity, spoke to plants (that in itself sounds like I a batty escapee lol), reflected in the ʻreview mirrorʻ, couldnʻt stand the ʻpresent mirrorʻ and tried to find a good story, one of hope, change, acceptance, newness and inner strength in the ʻside mirrorsʻ that kept me going in smallish forward movements. I worked through it all on the days that my body/mind gave me the green light indicator. Between the red and amber, yes, I shed a waterfall of tears for the loss...of self as I knew me, of hair, skin - texture colour, free mobility, independence, friendships (I discarding many of these), family pain, body image, confidence and the list goes on in length. There were other lesser losses and symptoms that the body, mind, soul and spirit struggled with - inch by inch, moment by moment, thought by thought...hope was showing up. What we encounter once we have been handed membership of BC (and I was waving my fingers, stomping loudly and making noise - heck no! I donʻt want your bloody membership - well that fell on deaf ears) is traumatic. There is grief and loss, and it is scary ...we have no protective gear and significant pieces of our being were hurt (external and internal) and weeping - for self and others we love. The weeping tears help our wounds to heal, scars to form and fresh growth to reveal itself - what emerges in this chaos is a field of smiles - for life in every breath, every moment. I feel that the most precious take away learning is how much more awareness we have of self, others, our surroundings, life. Cope by giving self permission to be selfish, to gift self with gentleness and kindness, gratitude to your body, mind and spirit. Respect it with wellness (I walk a fair bit, and without fail do my daily integration of qigong and tai chi - truly marvelous. Iʻd love to do more swimming) sprinkle it with the ʻhope effectʻ - feed it dreams, ideas, smiles, creativity, celebration or whatever words resonate with you. My place of hope has been to gain enough courage and strength to gradually start to return to overseas travel in this new body, new me - and I am smiling as I write - I am going to Japan for a short trip to test me out :-) Fear of some degree, will walk alongside us, like a shadow - this was our membership subscription. There are many hurdles that present in day to day life - some feel like old friends now, others strikingly new. Grief and loss will hold a permanent spot and as the fresh growth expands around us - it will feel less dominant. I share this lovingly and with a sea of positive energy that ʻhope and wellnessʻ shine upon us all. Love and hugs xxRe: Breast Cancer Survivor - then why don't I feel like it
Hi @CatNev, I get what you are saying and I believe we each use words (survivor, warrior, etc) to comfort and heal. They donʻt work for all of us and sometimes, we search for language that is better suited to our needs (thatʻs me).You may find that a useful exercise. Cancer doesnʻt necessarily have the upper hand, you have been medically cleared by the gurus :-) Cancer occupies a chapter in our story (as does chemo, surgery, rad etc) and I feel it always will yet when we get to a point where our chapters grow and there is distance from where we were to where we are now, cancer is no longer a protagonist but a mere passer-by, a character from the past. Plough forward and start your new chapter <35Views3likes0CommentsRe: Radiation treatment
Hi @ajs, I had rad treatment in March/April 2020. They spoke to me about the option to use Mepitel film or Strata cream. They gave me a sample of Strata cream to try first. I chose Mepitel and feel it was the best choice for me, it acted as the barrier my skin needed for the entire duration, no moisturising as you donʻt remove it. It gets replaced or patched up by the rad nurses. It is a bit fiddly but worth the trouble. Skin still burns but it isnʻt as severe and they also have an ointment they give you to apply upon completion of the treatment for the burn area to help it all heal. It takes some time. My warmest hugs xx8Views1like0CommentsRe: Cancer Australia FAQs COVID-19 Vaccine
@Julez1958 - that was also my drs guiding advice. I also only had the sentinel lymph node removed on my left side and I had quite severe blood clotting in my right arm (result of chemo and port infections). I had the vaccination on my left as it was safer than on my right, same applies for any blood tests, etc8Views0likes0CommentsRe: Music: what song you are listening to...invites and answers the question ‘how are you’
@Cath62 - Hubby has hit the jackpot, nothing beats the old turntable. Love it! You have also discovered that you are sitting on a little wealth. Collectors may be willing to top that $78 price point :-) You have now taken me down memory lane - thank you. I was a young girl, pre teens when I heard California Dreamin for the 1st time https://youtu.be/N-aK6JnyFmk6Views2likes0Comments
Groups
Choosing breast reconstruction
PRIVATE GROUP. Choosing breast reconstruction after single or double mastectomy can feel overwhelming, and deeply personal. This group is here to connect you through others' stories and images. Please respect everyone’s privacy—do not copy or share content outside this space. Information is based on personal experience and is not medical advice; always consult your healthcare team for guidance. ⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️ Members may share photos of breast surgeries. These images or discussions may be distressing or triggering for some. If you need support, please contact the BCNA Helpline - we are here for you.
