Our 'New Normal' - a thought provoking article
A friend of mine shared this recently .... Author unknown— I had no idea how much cancer sucks. The worst part of cancer is that so many people confuse it with so many illnesses like pneumonia or maybe even the sudden trauma of a broken hip. Although these diseases are acute, painful and sometimes dangerous, they are brief insults to the body and soul. Once the immediate danger is gone from the body, they usually do not recur or spread. You survive! You heal! They do not become a permanent burden in our minds or lives. You go back to your normal way of life, with no real misgivings. Cancer is not like that. Yes, it can be sudden, painful and debilitating. Yes, most of us survive and it is most unlikely that our cancer will return. BUT the difference is that our minds and our lives will never heal. Cancer in remission does not leave. The person we were before cancer ... will never be the person we are after cancer. Family and friends do not expect to see this change in us and are baffled as to why our lives will never get back to "normal". It is hard for all of us to accept that a cancer survivor is, and will somehow, always be a cancer patient. First, there are the obvious and common physical effects on our body and soul. Aches and pains may persist for years. Scars and permanent surgical changes will always be there. Chemotherapy injuries such as loss of hearing, heart damage, vision or nerve damage may follow us. We may have slight shortness of breath or decreased endurance. Our skin, nails and hair may change. We may taste or smell things differently. Or altogether lose our appetite and enjoyment of food. Or worst - lose our sexual drive or satisfaction. Our memories may never be as sharp. And sleep may become erratic. Our innocence is taken away - we lose our 'soul'. We may always be tired, even after a good night's sleep. We may become weak or our mental awareness may be lost. Loss of concentration may make it hard to work or enjoy something simple like a reading book, watching a movie or visiting with friends or maintain a job. We may not have the energy, the excitement. Life may be drained of fun, satisfaction or purpose. Perhaps the inescapable change is that you may have the "never leaving, always just around the corner", deep mental pain, that reminds us that today or tomorrow, the cancer may return. Every discomfort we get will seem to be some kind of sign that cancer has come back. Something as simple as a winter's cold, a toothache, or heartburn after a spicy meal, can scream at us! It is very difficult to "put cancer behind you" when it is always in the back of your mind. The clincher? None of this will be obvious to anyone else. No matter how much our family or medical caregivers try to empathise, to comfort, connect to understand - surviving cancer is a deeply changing and highly personal experience. With that being said, the cancer transformation is different for each person and each patient. None of us were the same before the disease, and none of us experience this disease the same way. There is no "NORMAL", it all becomes the "NEW NORMAL" Cancer sucks, and keeps on sucking. Deep healing requires the understanding that things are not the same. It requires communication and space, counseling, support and patience. It requires time to find the person you have become. Author Unknown
Need a get away?
I've been reading the posts from ladies who are getting toward the end of their treatment and thought this might be a good time to remind you of the fantastic opportunity the Otis Foundation offers to anyone who has been thrown into the Breast Cancer mincer. Otis has a number of properties across the country (predominately Victoria ) that are available at no cost to you. The majority are available for 4 days mid-week though there are a couple, like the fabulous Kez's Hideaway in Victoria, which are available over the weekend. All you need to cover is your food and travel. Most of the properties are self catering, so it is possible to have a four day holiday without breaking the bank. Most things that sound too good to be true are a scam, but this offer doesn't come with any strings attached. Seriously. The only thing Otis asks is that you treat the properties with respect and promote the foundation if you get the chance. Which I am delighted to do. So, if your string is getting a bit short and you are feeling that some time away may help, get onto their website and see what is on offer. They are really user friendly--either chose a property and then find out when it is available or ring them and tell them when you can get away and they will tell you what your options are at that time. Marg XXX http://otisfoundation.org.au/
6 Years Since My Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Hi everyone, Sorry to say it has been ages since I last spoke on my blog. Slack I know! Lol! This year will be 6 years in August since my Breast Cancer diagnosis and Lumpectomy followed by Chemo and Radiotherapy. Well I had a few scares and more biopsies early last year in 2016 which really threw me substantially. I am happy to say I am still cancer free to this day. Of course I sometimes look over my shoulder for the dreaded 'C' word, but not a chance for now luckily. Hopefully never! I still fear for my children but since having Genetic Testing about the origin of the cancer, it has been discovered it isn't genetic which is such a relief. I originally had a 3 cm IDC Triple Negative and not hormonal BC. I was at Stage 2 with a Grade 3 tumor when I discovered my lump by chance in 2011. I have to admit I didn't do regular checks with my breast and luckily the lump was protruding through my breast under the skin at the time of its discovery. These days I am a little more vigilant with it. I decided to study in 2015 and 2016 earning myself a Diploma of HR and a Diploma of Business respectively. Unfortunately I have not been able to get a job in HR or Business but I feel like I have achieved so much just by completing them. I studied so hard and felt such a sense of achievement and my family and myself are so proud of it too. I got 6 Distinctions and a Credit in HR and a pass in Business being the highest you can achieve in business. I just wanted to prove my brain was still functioning well and that the chemo had not scrambled it too much! Lol! I work now as a Merchandiser where I talk to a lot of people in retail organising stock and arranging it according to client preference to boost sales. I love doing it too! :) The doctors and hospital appointments are farther apart these days, which helps to allow for the memories to fade a little. About that time when my world came crashing down around me two days after my 46th birthday. I drive past the hospital sometimes and still get that feeling of fear and uncertainty I felt 6 years ago this year. I now try to get on with it and keep those feelings mostly at bay unless I get a reminder. Like I find my Breast Cancer Journal I kept at that time and read through the pages with interest knowing how significant the information I wrote would be one day when it was a long ago memory. Or the scarf I use to wear on my head to hide my bald head through shame of my predicament. Its hard to admit but I did feel that way. Losing your hair and dignity is very hard at the time . Its only now I realise that it was all apart of the journey of BC and my feelings were very much substantiated for what I was going through. These days I know I am a survivor and a stronger person for going through BC and hope my blog can help someone on a similar journey. Just know that there is an after life with BC and eventually most will get through it some how. But for those who don't I have so much respect for them and their families. I wish you all well and the best with your BC and beyond. XXX
Ran in the Bridge to Brisbane
just wanted to give all the newly diagnosed some hope. August 2015 I had a mastectomy and axillary clearance. Had 6 TAC chemo, then radiation then three weeks in hospital with an infected seroma. Finally off medication in May 2016 and started running. For me it was something to focus on. A couple of weeks ago I ran 5 k in the bridge to Brisbane. I'm feeling great and hoping to stay that way. Hang in there to all the newly diagnosed. It's all shit but we are lucky to live in a country with such good healthcare and I'm hoping to be one of those who have no recurrence.
Reishi Mushroom
Hi everyone :) Just thought I would pass on information about a mushroom that a Malaysian friend of mine told me about when he found out I was being treated for breast cancer. He told me it was very important I looked it up. So it is the Reishi Mushroom." It has been used to help enhance the immune system, reduce stress, improve sleep, and lessen fatigue. People also take reishi mushroom for health conditions such as: High blood pressure High cholesterol Cardiovascular disease Liver or kidney disease Respiratory diseases (such as asthma) Viral infections (such as the flu) HIV/AIDS Cancer and support during chemotherapy Pain during and after a shingles outbreak There is some scientific evidence of its effectiveness, including lab research and some small human studies. Researchers are beginning to look at the chemical makeup of this mushroom to better understand how and whether it really works for each of these conditions." If anyone wants to try it there is a Reishi mushroom powder available from www.herbalconnections.com.au approx $33Feeling good
hi everyone been a while since I've been on here, I'm feeling terrific, been doing a lowcarb healthy fat way of eating, working wonders, lost about 17 kilos feel terrific as I said would recommend it all. My question is I now have enough hair to work with again,what's everyone's thoughts on getting a few foils put in? Just asking because of all the Chemo and radiation last year. Thanks in advance. Enjoy your day ?? Glynnis ????
I'm good thanks
Hi All, I hope everyone is travelling well. Well. I've had an epiphany!!! I'm good thanks. For a long time when people asked me how I was I would always say good thanks regardless of how I was feeling. But today I actually mean it. I'm feeling the best I have in a very, very long time. I have been ill with auto immune pancreatitis for 9 years and have not been stable in this time. When they finally started to stabilise my condition, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and could no longer take the medications I was on. I completed my treatment for breast cancer in June last year and 12 months on, I can actually say that I'm good and mean it. Yes, I still get tired and yes, I still suffer the effects of chemo which will probably now be with me for the rest of my life but that's ok. I'm good thanks. For so long, I didn't think I would ever be out of the fog of treatments. Breast cancer treatment took it out of me. I didn't think I would ever be good again. It has been a hard slog but I'm good. It's a wonderful feeling. I will still have to have infusions on a roughly 6 monthly cycle to keep the AIP at bay but that's ok too because I'm good! In case you didn't get it, I feel like screaming from the mountain tops. I'm good!!!
Today and Tomorrow
Hi, I am a 9 year survivor of breast cancer and I am writing this blog to tell you that there IS a happy Tomorrow. I remember the absolute horror of being told that I had cancer, I thought my days were numbered and the end was in sight. No longer that lovely future that seemed to go on forever. However this is a time when you either accept and fight, or give in and spend the time feeling miserable and despondent. I chose to fight and along with the surgery and treatment and a positive outlook, I am here today, looking forward to a happy future. Today we are very fortunate as new treatments are found nearly every year, for all sorts of cancer. The survival rate is increasing and hope in the future looks brighter than ever.
