Come & try dragon boating for breast cancer survivors in Melbourne!
Do you live in the greater-Melbourne area? Come and try dragon boating for free for breast cancer survivors! Experience the wonderful benefits of outdoor exercise and support from fellow breast cancer survivors in beautiful Victoria Harbour, Docklands! You can come as many times as you like for 1 month for free! We can't wait to meet you! Dragons Abreast Melbourne Pink Phoenix is a Group Member of the wonderful Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). Sign-up for your free 1 month Dragon Pass here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/pinkphoenix/registration
What books helped you? Opportunity to suggest and/or review books
Hi everyone, We are excited let you know about a new page on the BCNA website for book reviews. On this page, we will publish reviews of books that may be helpful to people affected by breast cancer. There are a number of book reviews up already, which you can have a look at here: https://www.bcna.org.au/news-events/book-reviews/. What books helped you? We would love for you to tell us what books helped you when you were diagnosed. You might like to write a review of the book for possible inclusion on the webpage. Reviews should be between 300 and 500 words. Your review might discuss things like: - Did you find it helpful? If so, how? - Is it best suited for particular people, circumstances or situations (e.g. women newly diagnosed, young women, women with metastatic breast cancer, men with breast cancer, partners or others supporting those with breast cancer? - How did you feel when you read it? What parts appeal to you? Alternatively, you might just like to tell us the name of the book and we can try to find someone to read it and write a review. How to submit a review or let us know what books helped To submit a review for possible inclusion on the page, please email your review to the Policy Team on policy@bcna.org.au. Please include your name and contact details in your email so that we can be in touch with you. If you would like to tell us the name of a book that you found helpful, please also email the Policy Team on policy@bcna.org.au.
I'm not ok ... looking for book recommendations that will chase the blues away
The past few months have been particularly tough. While I remain BC free, my health has really declined in the past year. I spent 2 weeks in hospital in July then I left hospital early to be with my wonderful beautiful Dad who was dying of severe dementia. I am grateful I got to be with him for those last few weeks and hold his hand as he passed but it was an extremely difficult time. I took some time off to take care of my mum, organise the funeral and grieve but am now back in hospital with cellulitis to the face caused by a simple bee sting to the top of my head. This is the fourth time this year I have contracted cellulitis - twice before it lead to sepsis. It's my sixth hospital admission this year (and I don't even have BC anymore). I feel like I should receive frequent flyer points. So over the last few days, I have been feeling a bit down, and for the first time, a bit sorry for myself. I really need to read something uplifting. Any recommendations? Even if it isn't uplifting, maybe a real page turner, something I can't put down. Thanks in advance
Liz O'Riordan - breast surgeon with BC Recommended to Read
I found this blog by an English breast surgeon who got BC herself to be incredibly useful & informative when I was first diagnosed. And then most especially the chemo guide when I found out I had to have it myself. She hasn't posted for a long time but a notification just popped into my inbox, she's writing again. So if you're into blogs, check it out. http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/MovingOn_files/this-is-who-I-am.html
Tattoo Questions
I’m over a year out of mastectomy, and 6 months since corrective surgery on the dog ear I ended up with. I’m in regional WA, and looking for recommendations for a tattoo artist who has worked on scar sites. I know I will have to travel to Perth or maybe further. Has anyone in WA had a tattoo over their mastectomy site and who do you recommend? With thanks! cle
Dark Humour is good for your health...
I joke around when I'm going through hard times, its just the person I am. I have a dark and quirky sense of humour that can leave some people perplexed, but for me, its an important way of coping. Scientific studies have shown the value of humour in hard times and I have given links to a few of them. If you feel like a laugh, have a look at the "A bit naughty - but funny!!! Show us your 'naughty ones'! Please note some posts may offend" page and the 'Friday Funnies' pages? https://www.curetoday.com/view/breast-cancer-isnt-funny-but-humor-can-heal https://blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/cs-dark-humor-therapy/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/scs.12203 https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2015/08/cancer-humor-eases-stress.html
Cancerversary 🍀
Hello lovely ladies. Today, on April Fools, I celebrate one year since my double mastectomy. Mixed feelings, for sure. It hasn’t been easy, that goes without say, especially with the whole surgeon saga happening. I’ve found out he left tissue behind in both breasts, in areas that were shown suspicious on the pre-surgery MRI. And he didn’t highlight those areas for pathology to check, so not sure what there even was there. He also refused to test further post surgery. Luckily my beautiful current surgeon is on top of it. However, I am still grateful that I had the surgery, as it rid me of those treacherous lumps in both of my breasts. I felt very happy after it, because my body knew most of the ‘evil’ was gone. So it’s definitely a positive thing, and I will celebrate in some small way. Emotionally, I’m so much better than what I was then, it’s hard to put in words. This forum had a lot to do with me getting better ♥️. It’s a special place 🕉. So did my current surgeon and her practice manager 💜💙. Anyway, to all the newbies, and all those struggling, it does get better. Hard to see that in the midst of despair, but nothing is permanent, so happiness and confidence will enter our lives again when we are ready to accept it and fight for it. Cheers to a cancer-free future 🤞🍀🥂Otis Foundation holiday
Something positive. This is a pic of the resort in Port Macquarie, where I was on holiday last week with my daughter and partner. It was for 7 nights, provided by the Otis Foundation. It was absolutely fantastic and exactly what we needed. Prob the best holiday I’ve had in 11 (sadly) years. Very relaxing, beautiful, with lots of activities to do when we wanted to. I found out about the Otis Foundation through this site, so I’m hoping others will also follow suit and sign themselves up for this well-deserved free treat 😊. I signed myself up in early May, and was told I’d have to wait a while due to Covid, but got dates in early November, which was perfect timing after a couple months post radio. So check it out ladies, and hope to see your own holiday pics soon 😁👌🏻♥️ Otis Foundation
TV Show (WARNING - may be upsetting)
I have been bingeing a new Australian TV show on Foxtel called "The End". I put the warning on the title because it is about death, suicide, end-of-life care, assisted dying and so may be too confronting for some. There is no "stand" taken on any issue, just portrayal. The reason I'm posting is that there is a beautiful shot at the end of the first episode of one of the main characters sitting in a bath. She has had a double mastectomy. No weirdness or over-hype about it - it's just her. Harriet Walter is the actor and the mastectomy is real. I would thoroughly recommend the show but with the proviso that you are prepared for what might be uncomfortable scenes.
