Australian Sisters
Comments
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Wow Jenn, where do these people come from? I have to say that out of all the people I have dealt with, the radio people were just the best. When I had my last session I gave them a gift basket because they were always so nice to me. They had my measure from the start and always popped me into 'my' position. I too noticed towards the end of my sessions that I had a big square area right in my arm pit which had been radiated. No hairs growing there yet. I only have to shave one arm at the moment - bonus
I don't think I told you of my terrible start to BC and the affects some staff can have on you. On the very day I was diagnosed with BC, I went to the imaging place to make the bookings for the required CAT scans, ultrasounds, MRI etc. I got a lady receptionist who was around my age and when I told her I needed them done urgently due to BC dx, she then starting berating me for leaving it for so long to have a mammogram and basically told me I only had myself to blame. She referred to Kylie Minogue and said "(and I quote) Haven't you heard of Kylie Minogue - it's not a young persons disease" I was flabbergasted. Not only just in shock from the dx but this smart arse woman, giving me a friggin lecture! She said a lot more to me than I am writing here, heck she even asked me when I had my last pap smear!!!. I am not usually one to complain, but I was beyond myself by the time a very lovely lady came to take me to oneside to actually schedule the tests. I made a complaint to her (well I couldn't actually speak because I was just in tears - so she knew that something was pretty wrong). She then asked if I would make a written complaint. Oh boy did I ever. I came straight home and onto the computer and worded a complaint and emailed it. The next day I had to front up for the first of my tests and I was a bit apprehensive about haveing to see this woman again. I needn't have worried. She was sacked. Apparently she was on probabtion for inappropriate behaviour previously, but not as badly as the way she spoke to me. The Centre couldn't have done more for me. And I mean it. They sent me a letter of apology and flowers and bulk billed me for everything from that point forward. I knew it wasn't their fault and they'd dealt with the problem quickly, but for the life of me I just don't know how some people get to work in the health industry. Fine perhaps for behind the deli counter at Coles, but not when it comes to someones health or mental well being.
Susie - Gorgeous Bubba!!!!
Hi to everyone else. xxxxx
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Oh and a bit of big news. DH is going fly-in fly-out with his job. He will be away for three weeks straight and then home for a week. Up near Marble Bar (middle of nowhere and hottest place in Australia). Not sure how he will manage, but lots of people do it. I guess I will be OK. Money is fantastic and will get us back on our feet. Then we can re-assess things a bit further down the track. We might even move from here and up to Perth as that is where his work base is. Bunbury is a lovely place, but terrible for finding well paying jobs (for either of us). I am seriously considering using this alone time constructively by undertaking an EN nursing course.
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Thanks for putting up with my sagas ladies :-)
Sheila - I sure hope the surgery goes very smoothly for you!
Kate - the money sounds good :-)
Just back from a Thai dinner out with friends. So nice to feel vaguely normal again. Ate far too much :-)
Oh, and I think my hair is actually growing!!!!!
Jenn0 -
i am still waiting for them to send the report to me, i bet they have forgotten. mind you the mail is now slow, they cutting back alot over here as i guess the email has taken over alot and you can get sent electronic bills too and pay on line. so till i get the report, i can't go any further, trying to ring them, its impossible, either not there, busy with somebody or don't call back. I am sure B/Cancer nurse is making herself harder to get hold of too. she said, anytime i need to ask any questions to ring. i wish i knew her email and i would email her. i rang oncology other day and and they said, they would get her to ring back, that was wed, still nothing. hopeless. one of the girls on the other thread that she found the same thing as she is from where i am. i will let you know and get back soon as i get or hear anything. thanks for all your help you lovely girls.
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Midnight - hope you get the report soon. I know women have had a huge fight to get herceptin over there but I thought it was fixed now. Hope you aren't HER2 though.
Chrissy - all the washing and food shopping is done. I bunged a sickie on Friday cos Steve kept me awake by not coming to bed until late. He took some melatonin last night and slept ok - just have to make him persist with it. Keeps saying his back is sore and I keep saying "Richard" - LOL.
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Hi all
Have come back from Nelson and have the 'flu' - bother it. So haven't done much today.
Susie we have had a lot to say on the Kiwi thread about herceptin as it has been available since 2008 so not sure what is happening there. Sometimes things fall through big cracks.
Jenn, I know how exciting it is to have hair. I had a second lot of hair loss when I was put on a drug for RA and was so upset when my hair started to fall out once again. It was such a relief that a few months after I stopped that drug it started to thicken up again.
Must get some dinner in this house soon.
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Phew! What a day! Up early got organized, put tea in the slow cooker grabbed my scissors and headed for the city. Called in on my mum and cut her hair for her before doing some shopping for fresh fruit and veg. After packing that in the car I headed to DD's house to pick up the boys and all their gear ready to head back home again for the week. Finally just sat my butt for five minutes before its time to set the table.
I'm bushed......lol.
Sue sure hope Steve keeps on with the Melatonin as its not good for him or you not to be getting your sleep.
Aly I can't believe you are sick again! You need to slow down a bit and give yourself a chance to fully recover as your immune system is sure taking a beating.
Tea time! Boys are getting that gnawing feeling and we all know what happens when teenagers are hungry....... Catch you all later.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Morning all
Chrissy, you will be pleased to know I am sitting in the front room, wrapped in a blanket, the fire is going, I have a cup of coffee and have been knitting and watching tennis on TV. I know my immune system is shot. I go out and do something and end up very unwell. I got very cold the day of my friend's funeral and haven't really been warm since, though I feel much warmer this morning.
I am having to convince DH that we need to warm the whole house not just the room we are in. I don't think he had a heater on while I was away. My sister was away as well and the house was so cold when I got back its taken days to warm up and this is over the coldest days we have hadso far this winter. Our house is 120 years old so wasn't built for warmth. We have insulated it all but with 11ft (think thats over 3.5m) ceilings its still difficult to heat.
Have just had to run around and find another power pack for my computer - still not working properly so will be back later.
Big hugs
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Alyson, I hope your house is brick, not timber. Please send a weather report.
Here in Brisbane it's fine and I guess about 20 degrees. One of the best things about Brisbane is the climate. I don't like cold. Even in summer when we have hot days, everyone has aircon these days so we have nothing to complain about in terms of weather.
Chrissy, I wish your energy was contagious. I should be more active, have energy but don't use it, which is terrible I know.
Ladies, tell me again about melatonin. I don't have insomnia but have read that melatonin is good against BC. If I went to bed earlier I would probably generate enough myself!
Are any of you taking it to ward off BC specifically?0 -
Alyson, for when you get back on computer, hope your flu goes quickly. the house that we were in before was a cold place and not insulated. this is a concrete house and has heaters installed and we have a gas heater with bottle as the temps have been really down in manawatu. i am a Whangarei girl, so compared to up there, its quite a difference, on saying that its the first winter and autumn in five and half years, its been this cold really. i think the whole country had a cool summer even, apart from two weeks. that was around christmas and actually hunbby and i as it just him and me, BILaw went away, so we went to the beach and had a picnic, was very nice too, made a change from slaving over the hot stove and we had just shifted, so alot of stuff still packed. the beach was the next one along from foxton. nice change. but you get well Alyson fast, they temps are not too hot either up yr way.
hello girls, hope you all ok, chrissy you had a busy day yesterday, you would of been very tired at the end of it. enjoy your day everybody.
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Midnight, what big city are you near?
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Jenn, while I think of it, here's my quick précis on ovary removal, according to what I have read on this site and elsewhere:
Pros - if not already menopausal, you become so and can use an AI which may be more effective than Tamox;
- no more periods!
- less estrogen
(above can also be achieved with Lupron)
- almost nil chance of cancer in ovaries.
Cons - major one is possible cardio vascular disease
- it's another surgery
- ageing effects such as wrinkles, osteoporosis
- may not benefit much if already menopausal after chemo.
If you decide to proceed, check out the Da Vinci method.0 -
Racey our house is wooden like most older homes here and has double hung windows which are very hard to draught proof. As we have done renovation we have insulated the walls - only one room to go now but that won't get done for a while as my children redecorated it for me when I was dx with BC so it will have to wait awhile.
My computer says its 11c here.
I suppose I should get dressed but can't be bothered. If I do DH will suggest that we do something or go somewhere. I really shouldn't complain about him because he has been wonderful but seems to think that I will feel better if I go out.
Once the computer is charges I will go back to my knitting and TV.
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i am in Palmerston North, NZ Racy, two hours north from wellington . bu tPalmy as they call it covers the area called manawatu and the suburbs are quite scattered. we have a place called Bulls and nearly every building has a bull on the end, eg, the public loo is called releivabull. a cafe is called eatabull. lol it is quite funny reading it all as you go thru. i can't remember them all. but some are quite clever.
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I love the Manawatu Gorge!!! I have a far removed rellie in Palmerston North - our great great grandparents were brother and sister - I still hope to meet her one day - missed out last time I was there.
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The Manawatu gorge has just recently re-opened, been shut for months due to slips. yes hubby and i used to go over it every day to go to masterton in the big trucks, i used to get abit nervy when i first started going in it and looking over the side, so i used to keep my eyes peeled to the front window, but hubby knew the gorge and knew every corner and i used to put the breaks on with my feet in the passenger side, but got used to it and now just look around at the scenery, not the rigid straight ahead look. oh gosh here comes another sharp corner and my feet would be putting the breaks on and then when we got around it i would relax again. oh man the things we do. lol
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Brrrr, it is one degree here and we actually had a smattering of snow this morning. DS thought it was great, I cant wait for spring. Alyson our house is the same it takes days to feel warm if the fire has not been on.
Sue the baby is gorgeous, l bet you are proud.
Kate, I am glad about DH's job, hopefully that will make things easier for you. This BC is such a financial strain.
Thanks Racy for info on ovary removal. I am trying to make a decision about it also. I seem to have gone into chemopause and Onc has ordered blood tests later this month to test hormone levels before deciding on tamox; so I will chat to him when results are in.
Both boys are sick with the flu, I am sending 12yo to work with his Dad tomorrow. I am trying to keep my distance, but what happens if I get sick during radiotherapy? Kylie x
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Hello all
It's been a busy few days, lots of photography though which has been fun.
There was a ceremony this morning at the Australian War Memorial that the Governor General was at (and got some nice shots of her) but it was freezing! Kylie it felt like it was snowing here lol.
I'm not sure about your immune system on rads but someone will jump in I'm sure.
Trish
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I'm not aware of specific issues relating to the immune system during rads. But remember, Kylie, you are still getting over chemo. I am more than a year post chemo and my white cells are still a bit low.
What year were you born, Kylie? I ask because that seems to have been a popular name in the early 70s. I wonder why lol?0 -
Kylie, just checked on the net and apparently one origin of the name Kylie is an Aboriginal word for boomerang. The other Kylies I know are 40 ish. One is from NZ.
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Thanks Trish and Racy, I am more wondering if I will be allowed to get rads if I am sick?
I am 44, so born late 60's. My Mum named me after the author Kylie Tennant who was very popular at the time. xxx
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I think you can still get rads with flu, Kylie, but hope you don't get sick.
Interesting, haven't heard of Kylie Tennant but will now look her up.
Stay warm ladies :-).0 -
Wow, Kylie Tennant was prolific. I am embarrassed that I don't know her work. I thought I was well educated. I have learnt something!
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Our forum is about to drop off the active topics list.
I had a good day at work. How is everyone else?0 -
Hey there Racy, the forum is quiet today i think, ours is too. school holidays here, so everybody must be busy with kids. oh well, our one is not that active on weekends. glad you had a good day/ i am off to bed. have a good day tomorrow and a good sleep/ take care hugs. xxx
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Yup school holidays here as well. I have got two GS's staying with me as well as our friend so it is a full house. Love having both...... Lol..... GS's are great to have around and Murray does all sorts of odd jobs for me as he knows it ticks me off not being able to do them my self.
Sitting quietly at the moment knitting and watching Lord of the Rings. GS's request..... Lol
Have a good day tomorrow!
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
I'm here too. It's school holidays in NSW and the ACT starts next week, not that they affect me lol
Work is busy, busy, busy - but that's good makes the day go really fast.
Trish
xoxo
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Yesterday was very quiet here as well. Wet stormy day today and about to get invaded by DD and littlies. Staring to get over the flu which I am sure what I have had as I am feeling warm for the first time in a week.
Have a great day.
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Sitting waiting for my weekly lung function test. The men in this lab are soooo dry and hardly crack a smile. It's my challenge to get them loosened up over the next 5 weeks...
Jenn0 -
Working or pretending to
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