Tag:"family" in "News and events"

Friday Update From The Roller Coaster!
While I sit here at the top of my Roller Coaster, with my ear phones belting out Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing", I thought I would update the week that was.... I have even handed over the Remote Control to the Hubby....He has been watching some monotonous toned show about some equally monotonously boring hypothetical evolution of The Mayan. (Are you asleep yet from reading that?) Imagine me prior to the headphones, being held hostage because my computer is in the lounge room!!!!! L..M.A.O. Poor Man, he has had a seriously rough week and finally let out all his worry and stress after me quietly asking him too - so I gave him the remote control. I know, I am a good wife but he is bloody Amazing!! Monday, I woke up to TWO things: 1. A brand new song in my head. 2. Pathology / Scan Day 1. Seriously, a new damn song! If I didn't know myself so well,.....I might have the inclination to believe, Lois needed some meds or intervention! L.M.A.O. Even, I had to take a moment to elevate the relevance of this latest song - simply because the title has so many connotations! I got woken to The Gorgeous tones of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibbs singing "STAYING ALIVE". Minus the luscious image of a very gorgeous young John Travolta Strutting down the streets of New York. (Disappointment). So, while the Gibb Men belted out the song, i laid there, thinking about the title, the lyrics. I believe in fighting for my life, my family, my beliefs, my moral code and have always advocated for the underdog through situations in my life - I am going to "Stay Alive" and walk the streets of my life journey, head held high and give it all my determination, strength and courage. Staying Alive, Staying Alive...yeah! 2. The Bone Scan / Pathology meeting. the Bone Scan was easy - get injected, come back a couple of hours later, lay down, pretend you are on a beach for an hour, get up and leave. I was in agony with my arms being placed behind my head but least this radiologist tried helping me ease the pain with pillows. 1 pm: I met with the Surgeon and Breast Care Nurse. Got belted into my seat and prepared for being blasted out into a momentary flash of "wow I can cope with that view, before hurtling off at warp speed into diabolical, death defying angles.....of my roller Coaster. First words I got greeted with: Wow, we did not expect "Brian" to be so H.U.G.E.! or get 4 Positive nodes!" You and Me both! the C.T. full body scan showed I was clear of any metastases to the organs - YOU know the relief that brings! - the bone scan imagery "looked all clear" but within an hour of leaving the appointment, I was being told I was having a P.E.T. Scan done Thursday, because it was "ambiguous." Polite term for: Oh Geez, I seriously can't make my mind up and I am feeling slightly overwhelmed with having to make a decision - right now! As my kids would say: YOU HAD ONE JOB!!! lol. The appointment got even better:- Any thought of "escaping" with a lumpectomy and a zap of radiation went out the door. Instead, I have been upgraded to the Penthouse Suite - Mastectomy of the left breast, complete removal of nodes, chemotherapy and radiation. Discussions about: time frames, surgery, Oncology teams, hospital appointments and mastectomy bras, scars, healing, chemotherapy (that was an eye opener!) and what seemed like a brain overload of info - all within an hour. However, one discussion brought up a slight bit of "Doctor - I could cheerfully smack you over the head".....being left with one size 22DD boob hanging off my chest wall and why the hell I cant just get both removed NOW! yes, yes, I know the cancer is the primary occupant to be evicted but seriously, the absurdity of the "look", "weight born on one side' and yes, I will admit - that one boob being a constant reminder. I left there feeling relieved, frustrated and feeling like I could have sunk at least 8 very stiff, dry Martinis with super ease!!!!!!! Another few days sitting at the top of the roller Coaster, while I wait for the results to the P.E.T. scan and surgery date for the mastectomy. So, as I sign off.....I leave you with a Song title "Better Together" by Jack Johnson! My Life is always better spent together with my man and family. Big Hugs, Lois (who has also been making Chicken Noodle Soup, while listening to music in the kitchen!)
LoisLois
5 years ago Place News and events
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Central Coast Support Lunch
Central Coasties - come and join us for lunch. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends, share gems of information, ask your questions, and enjoy great food together. Our next lunch is on Sunday, 13th August at 12.30pm - The Point Cafe in The Japanese Gardens - 36 Webb St, East Gosford. We will have guest speaker from CoastCanCare Wellness Program, Tia Covey, telling us about what the program offers on the Central Coast. Don't forget to RSVP and we look forward to meeting you there.
Alpal
8 years ago Place News and events
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Central Coast Support Lunch
We enjoyed a beautiful warm Autumn day for our Central Coast Support lunch on the weekend. Wonderful discussions, support and encouragement and lovely to welcome a few new faces.
Alpal
8 years ago Place News and events
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Friday Update
Hi everyone, Welcome to the Friday update where we share you with some information about the online network and what's happening within BCNA. Community Highlights We had 22 new members join the online network this week from all over Australia. Please welcome sammi17, Neptune 6, Krissy32, Bee123 and all the other new members. There were 50 posts and 334 comments this week. A big thank you to everyone who shared a post about their journey/what they are experiencing & an even bigger thank you to everyone who has provided support through wonderful comments. You may have missed these three posts, all from different stages of members journeys - And so it starts - Kester Last Herceptin - CatherineMary I'm good thanks - Cook65 BCNA News & Events Held in rural, regional and metropolitan locations around Australia, our Information Forums are free events for women and men diagnosed with breast cancer, and their partners, family and supporters. The BCNA team are getting ready and looking forward to a big week of forums in Perth, Busselton and Kalgoorlie. Click here for more information - We hope to see you there! (Image from Burnie Forum) ‘Spa Day for Breast Cancer’ is coming up on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 June. $10 from every spa treatment at participating Day Spas around Australia will be donated to BCNA. Click here to book your place now! The Beacon is our free quarterly magazine for women and men with breast cancer and their families and friends. There is a great article around Art therapy in our "Ask the expert" section and some amazing personal stories in the latest issue. Read more here. Did you know we have a section on our website for information on local events happening in your state? To find out what's on - click here. Have a lovely weekend everyone, Ann-Marie x
Ann-Marie
9 years ago Place News and events
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Young Families With Breast Cancer November Catch Up
Hi All, Just to let you all know that Young Families with Breast Cancer will be meeting up at Ballam Park this coming Sunday 9th November at 12noon. BYO Picnic / BBQ. See you there
NarelleD
11 years ago Place News and events
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Happy New Year
Gosh just realised I have not blogged for while but rest assured I'm still here!! I've been having ups and downs by the bucket load and am currently having some more radiation as woke up on Christmas Day and couldn't lift my arm or leg. I rang the home nurse and she fixed me up so I had a lovely day. I LOVE christmas and all the festivities. My hubby cooked an amazing meal he was in his element! We are off on our beach holiday at the end of the week . I find since I don't work anymore I need breaks from routine as I sometimes feel all I do all day is jobs round the house. I AM going to find a way to feel better this year whether by changing treatment or going to a shrink OR BOTH. Let's all remember it's a new year and a year I never expected to see at any stage of this cancer. So let's all have a good one!!
Josie13
11 years ago Place News and events
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The absolute best medicine
I have discovered the absolute best medicine to recover from the trauma of the diagnosis and surgery, and then from chemo, and I highly recommend this medicine to all. The name of the medicine is “hide from the world and escape to somewhere beautiful with your family”. ......Post continued on my Wordpress blog.....
Stemgirl
12 years ago Place News and events
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Grey Day Doldrums
Just thinking, girls, about nine years ago when I was diagnosed. SO much has happened and I am bright and cheery (most of the time) but these grey wintry days get us down, eh?This morning we had thick fog till after 11, which is unusual for Launceston but I see Sydney is also experiencing weird weather. Last week I had a CT scan and saw the specialist today- no cancers but signs that the two nodules on thyroid have grown a bit so have to get them checked out and also signs of lessening blood supply to part of the brain related to memory loss. GREAT! I am tired of tests.Things to look forward to- smelling the 12 red roses my husband gave me this morning AND seeing my daughter, son-in-law and two grand children in Ballarat next week.The sun is out now, autumn leaves glowing on the trees and a gentle breeze. Gotta be happy, eh?
Custard
12 years ago Place News and events
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reflection & where to now?
Hello my fellow pink sisters! I hope you are all smiling and laughing- well as much as you can be! Its been a long time so I am going to write a long blog today so apologies! I finally finished 12 months of herceptin 6 weeks ago! yay!!!!!!!! but im back there next week to get my port flushed! bbooooo! how long did people keep their port after treatment? Im gonna miss my port when they take it out lol! Its been an emotional rollar coaster these past few weeks- me finishing herceptin, my mum had a massive heart attack, and a close friend of mine (Tondra Taylor) passed away- 3 weeks after finding out her cancer spread to her body. Both of these traggic things have really put me in a place of dispair. I cry alot, I ask why them? but im also cherrishing everyday more than I ever had. I had dyed my new hair BLOND haha it came back Black after treatment! i got another peiercing in my ear. and im getting a tattoo next few weeks...its like im rebelling in life. Im finally doing things that Ive never had the balls to have done. I also wanna do a makeup course and do of charity work amongst other things but I cant think at the moment haha!:) Im helping at the glen shopping centre and chadstone selling merchandise for pink ribbon day, doiing a talk at a morning tea about my journey and also starting the encore swimming program on October 10th :) Im finding Im wanting to get involved more in breast cancer things like going to the living centre in the city every week to do different programs, but then I find I need to pull away for my own sanity...does that makes sense? I need to find who I am and sometimes too much "cancer" talk can be upsetting. So at the moment Im trying to find a happy medium. As you can tell from this post Im all over the place! my oncologist has booked me into a menapuse clinic at monash clayton as Im not coping well on Tamoxifen and Zoledex. They also put me in contact with another Psychologist as well :) i had a pap smear done again last week and boy did that kill! apparently im very dry and swollen "down there"! so im on some cream and oitment to help me lubercate again! haha TMI i know sorry! Im currently looking after my mum as well.... shes ok but they has a few doctors appopintments and now getting tests for a stroke! poor mum....upsets me just writing it. She is the rock of our family and this has devastated me and my sister something shocking...and I cant help but feel guilty. what if I didnt get sick...would she be ok? i know silly but I do feel a little responsible. I got married during my treatment too and the stress of that and my father (wanka) put her into a terrible place..... ok slap me now- i know i shouldnt be thinking this! and the friend that passed...she finished rado 2 days before me..and then started getting pains, got diagnosed with secondary and 3 weeks later- gone! we were close and I miss her everyday...this disease is so shit! and my best friend merylee (silly sam) is going in for a dble masectomy tomorrow....her reacurrence has knocked me for a 6 as well. i love her so much and appreciate her frienship to the moon and back and i feel guilty that I havent helped as much as I wanted too. I fear cancer everyday....reaccurrence is everywhere I look, people on same treatment plan as me and scares the shit out of me! I felt a lump a few weeks ago and panicked...my doc said its a rib! can you believe it! I get sore back every few days and its hard to walk...i think cancer in the spine... i get head aches... i think cancer in the brain.. does this feeling ever go away??!! they checked my stomach a few months ago for cancer as I was bleeding out of my bowel...doc said "you have symptoms of bowel cancer" lovely! but no all clear :) thank god! this journey is def a hard journey...one day im laughing and loving life, the next Im hundled in my room crying to my husband "i hate my hair (when it was dark) and I dont wanna walk in public". But I know I will get through this as I have ALL OF YOU holding my hand! THANK YOU! PEACE AND LOVE TO YOU ALL XOXOXOXOX
joadavis
13 years ago Place News and events
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Happy Mother's Day
Yesterday I celebrated Mother's Day a week early with my three beautiful kids and my Mum, Dad and sister. I will be in hospital three hours away from home on the real day, having neurosurgery on my brain metastase, hence the early start. It was a beautiful day that started with a two course brekky in bed cooked by my kids! My compliments to the chef, it was delicious! After much excited gift giving, including Pandora bracelet breast cancer ribbons, we all went out for a lovely lunch at Tranquility Gardens at Legana. The food, company and walk around the lake was exceptional and relaxing. The day was topped off with a roast lamb dinner cooked by my Mum, sister and niece. Thanks ladies I hope you enjoyed Mother's Day as much as I did!
SoniaWhite48
13 years ago Place News and events
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