Diagnosed on 1 May 2017
I am 58 and have a lifetime habit of healthy living. Therefore,when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, like everyone else I'm sure, I couldn't believe it. It never occurred to me I would get cancer. After I competed treatment I did everything I could think of to ensure I would be healthy and cancer free. Early this year I started to experience inexplicable back pain. I also didn't feel myself - hard to explain. After many visits to the doctor trying to figure out what was wrong, I ended up in Emergency at 4am with unbearable pain. I was diagnosed later that morning with metastatic breast cancer - Monday 1 May. Within a week I was receiving chemo and had my first radiotherapy treatment. I am blessed to have a highly skilled, caring and compassionate medical team that I have complete faith in. The resources on this site have been informative & helped me a lot, especially during the first few terrible weeks after I was diagnosed - I'm sure I took advantage of every scan and test available at North Coast Radiology during those weeks. The scans show I have extensive metastasis in my spine, hips and a few areas on my scull; and spots in my liver. The liver is already showing a lot of improvement. Fortunately my brain and other organs are clear. The scans of my spine and hips are VERY scary and the associated pain is no fun. Mindfulness meditation, eating healthily and exercise certainly help. I'd love any advice or suggestions you have in helping to live with bone pain. I read messages of hope and inspiration on this site during that first scary week. I can't find words to express how much those stories helped - I latched onto the hope and advice to live every day well and to set goals. Kitty's message that, "in a strange way, those of us with advanced disease are lucky – we know that the important thing is to enjoy today and to live as well as we can" is forefront in my mind. So ... thanks to Kitty, one week to the day after I was diagnosed I ordered my dream campervan (over the phone on my way to Lismore for more scanning). Since I was a child I have always wanted to own a two tone Kombi campervan (my god parents, who I adored, had one) My partner and I are had saved and planned to buy a modern version in a couple of years but we brought our plans forward. We do have a basic 20 years old campervan we love but is doesn't have aircon. Not so comfortable driving in summer since we moved north! Thank you all for being here. I look forward to 'meeting' at least some of you.
A helping hand
Yesterday after work I called into my local supermarket to collect a few things and had a mind full of what I needed and what I had to do next, as I walked around the corner of an aisle I came face to face with a lady that looked just like I did a year ago. She had on a lovely blue headscarf and was that deathly colour of grey with no definition to her face, I smiled and walked on. As I passed her by I stopped myself and turned back to talk to her. Never in my life before have I been so intrusive to a stranger, but I introduced myself and asked was she a breast cancer patient to which she replied yes. I explained that I was too and chatted with her for some time. It turns out she has the same surgeon and oncologist as me. Anyway I discovered that she is not a member of BCNA or any support group and has been doing it on her own. So I provided details as to this forum, explained that we have a group in our area that meets regularily and gave her my email if she wants someone to be in touch with. As I was readying to leave she grabbed my hand and thanked me profusely for stopping and talking with her, that she has had no-one that understood her situation. I went home feeling a little teary as it bought back so many memories but I felt good to have helped this lady out even in a small way. Its amazing the power of talk and touch on another human being.Tattoo
HI Ladies, well today I went and did something special just for me. I am now the proud owner of a pink ribbon tattoo in my left wrist. Yesterday I was off having blood tests done (as you do) and I suddenly thought, I hate having needles what the heck am I thinking getting a tattoo, thats lots of needles! Anyway I was brave and fronted up today and the tattooist was just fantastic. I am posting a photo but its a selfie and of course it still have plastic wrap, but it gives you an idea. This is a close up of my wrist, its not that large and I love it. cheers Donna
