Australian Sisters
Comments
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Welcome Vanstrada. I can tell you this site is a sanity saver. The information here is very authoritative and the ladies and men are very smart, caring and friendly.
It must have been traumatic for you going through the Grantham flood, and now bc on top of that. I started chemo on the Tuesday when the floods hit Brisbane. What your area experienced on the Monday was unbelievable.
Where are you having your cancer treatment?0 -
Surely the cancer industry is big enough to influence the government to change its mind on reducing the funding for Taxotere? I too had that chemo and I understand it is very strong.
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sorry Karen. its a bugger that this has happened to you and looking unfavourable. i really pray for many blessings to come yr way and the chemo will knock it for a sixer. hope you other ladies have a good day.
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Karen and Kazzie this is foe you and for Van who is just starting out
Hope this one worksAbout the chemo drugs, taxol is funded here not taxotere.
Must fly, have DGS today so they will be here soon.
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Hope the hug is showing, its not for me but I will go out and check. This happened the other day as well.
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Hi Trish, Jenn and everyone. Discharged on Wednesday, Mx went well further DCIS was found so looks like my choice to have Mx was the right decision. Drama with one drain that came apart late at night so the locum attended and ended up removing the drain....will see if there are any side effects from that.
Karen I am so sorry to hear of your latest set back hopefully the chemo will take care of it.
Heard the Cancer Research Centre in Melbourne has been extended and upgraded, how I hope they find better treatment for this crappy disease.
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Hi Kazzie
Bugger, bugged, bugger. Can I say that on here?
There is a bone mets thread on the stage 4 section of these boards, but I expect you have already been reading them all. I recall them mentioning Zometa as the treatment for bone mets, but didn't read too much. I often read what other girls are getting for similar problems to mine, then read up on the web about them, then usually find that my onc has put me on the very latest, very best combinations. I have never felt the need to get a second opinion, but if I was at all unsure I would do so in a heartbeat. This is our lives!
My port is fantastic, so pleased i got it. when i had it put in i told them that last time i'd had a bad experience, so they gave me extra sedation...don't remember much.
My head is cold again. I look like an egg...with eyebrows yay!
I might try to PM you. I think we might be going through this section of the "journey" at the same time.
Hi to everyone else, sorry i'm not very socially inclusive today. I'm better at parties.
Cheers,
Angela0 -
Welcome Vanstrada......:)
Alyson.....yes, I can see the cute pic & it did make me smile, thankyou x
Yes, tax others is a very strong drug....I too had it & the onc told me I won't get side effects as strong as from that one, so if if I coped with that one (just, but I worked through it too) well this next lot should be a piece of cake.....:)
I did get a second opinion when I was first diagnosed & based on that as well as my onc's reputation I have total faith in him. He said given that my triple neg is very aggressive he wants to go in with aggressive treatment.....which makes sense to me.
He also has a trial in mind & if I take certain drugs now I won't qualify.
All in all, I'm feeling a bit better today after a good nights sleep & just hoping that the treatment works......I hate how it makes my family feel....wanna wrap them all in cotton wool & protect them
Angela....thanks for your words of advice! I'm glad to hear good experiences with the port coz I must admit I'm a bit nervous about it! And, yes, we should PM & become cyber friends.....LOL
Racey......I might just just a thread like you suggested, I don't seem to get much response when i post, except of course from the lovely Aussie ladies....:) I might get on the triple negatve thread also!
I'm having lunch & going shopping (more retail therapy) with my sister &'daughters today so that should help take my mind off cancer for a bit!!
Thanks for all your support wonderful ladies & I hope everyone has a good weekend
Karen x0 -
Hi Karen. I'm coming up to Perth to fly out at the ungodly hour of 7.15am so with being there an hour before the flight, pre flight coffee wouldn't be the go, but I am going to drive up on Thursday sometime (that's the 6th Dec) and stay with Sarah for the night, and she can drop me at the airport. I can be flexible with what time on Thursday I leave here, so that is if you would be available to meet somewhere for a coffee? if you would like to that is
. Doh, I have a feeling that is your first chemo day (could be wrong with that), but anyway, IF you are available, as I said I can come up anytime that day. I would love to meet you.Welcome Vanstrada too. Is the Locklear Valley near Brisbane? would you like to come into the city to meet the rest of us?? You'd be more than welcome. Sorry that you were in the awful floods. They were unbelievable to watch on tv, can only imagine how devastating and terrifying they were to be there first hand.
Thanks for telling me about your port clearance Jenn. Yep, that's what I'm going to have done. Bloody inconvenience of it all.... oh well in the scheme of things, it is just that, so can't complain.
Have a good day everyone. xxxx
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Karen, bugger, crap. I'm feeling for you and sending you ((((hugs)))) what a crappy disease this is. We are here for you whenever you need us. xoxox
Kate, hope your port can get sorted, I was lucky and never had a problem with mine.
Angela - your comment about an egg with eyebrows made me laugh. Sending you ((((hugs)))) too.
Lolalee great to hear from you. Sorry you had a problem with the drain though. You will probably have to have excess fluid drained, it won't hurt though, as you'll be numb there. Keep an eye on fluid build up.
I think what's going on with Taxotere is not as bad as it sounds. My chemist explained to me when I was on Arimidex that when the generic comes on the market, the chemists charge more for it and the patient still pays the same (PBS) price. The generic drug gets the price jacked up too and the government (via PBS) pays the extra and the patient pays whatever the PBS price is. So the short of it is, the chemist makes more money. In the USA generic Arimidex is only around $6.00 while I was paying around $35.00!
Now the gov is saying that with Taxotere the price the chemists are paying for it will be drastically reduced, so the gov will also pay less, which I think is fair. There are too many life saving drugs that aren't covered because as a country we can't afford them all.
Hope that made sense?? lol
Trish
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Hi all!!! Exciting news today....lol.....as of 7.20pm last night I am again a great aunt to a beautiful 9lb12oz baby boy!!! Yes indeed, he certainly is a bruiser!! Mum and bub are doing well and the smile cannot be wiped from dad's face.........(nor mine if truth is told!)
Just thought I'd share and lift all spirits to say life, in its way, continues.
Love n hugs! Chrissy0 -
WOW chissy. thats kool as. has he a name as yet?. The driver we tried to help last week, i dont know whether any of you read that post, oh man, we can't proove it, but we have a good idea it is him, Hubby had his wallet in truck this morning and he went to the loo and when he got back his wallet was in a different spot where he left it and the 400.00 in cash was all gone, the cards were there. the money he was going to be using for road user for the truck. this guy has been apparently forging signatures of people who dont exist, and the freight has been not delivered to the customers, we have tracked that down. when we interviewed him for the job, we asked if he had any convictions, NOOO, only a couple of speeding tickets. til his parole officer paid us a visit after he was employed, he has been with us since june and we thought, if we sack him because he gave us false info, he would get into crime again. well????? we put him him up at a motel for a week when he was in hardship and no where to go. even supplied him brecky. i feel so sick and down heartened over this. the people you try to help kick you in the guts. his parole officer, said watch our money and cards, we wanted to give him a chance. i dont know what the boys have decided to do, to me its a no brainer, but not my decision. i know you cant do anything, its just somebody to tell. we cant proove it, but we know he did it as he was only other one in the truck besides hubby and that was to grab the manifest of his own deliveries. you live and you normally learn. they were leaving the same time to go to their different runs and hubby needed to go loo first, never thought about it. 
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Oh shit Midnight! That's the sort of thing that makes us distrust everyone! Sure hope the guys come to the right decision.
Bub has been named after both his great grandfathers. So his name is Andy Evert.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Hi all
I have the weekend off !!! Great I can sleep in for 2 days.
Today at work a customer brought heaps and heaps of ingredients for cake making, she spent nearly $400 !!! She said that her and a friend spend 2 days making Christmas cakes to give to family and friends. I think she is crazy but she seemed happy so good luck to her.
Hope that everyone has a great weekend.
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Thanks for the warm welcome . I find that everybody says they are here for you but when you have questions about cancer they just don't know what to do with that ! But it was the same after Grantham so I should be used to it ! My question is I am 15 days post op . I had a major drama with the drain and it was removed last Wednesday So much more comfortable and keeping up with the antibiotics .I realise that we are all different and recovery is all different for everybody too . So I will carry on and hopefully we can help each other . With the drain out I have been warned of fluid on the wound site etc . Will massage help to prevent that ? I am surprised at the rock hard places near my underarm . It is not like that under my mastectomy site it is actually healing really well and clean .Are these normal recovery or a problem ? I have my lovely bra from Berlei but am reluctant to wear it yet with the pain and seepage from my drain site . Should I wear it anyway ? I had a bone scan yesterday and will be having a cat Scan on Tuesday .waiting and seeing what the reults are then I presume figuring out what is next ! Am very grateful for this site where I can come and visit . Have a awesome day . Marie .
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Thanks for the warm welcome . Am I replying to a individual or to the group ? haven't been on one of these before ! Being used to facebook where I can "like " or share ! lol As I live in Gatton I am being treated at Toowoomba Hospital where I had my surgery . It is all a bit confusing at the moment as I had my first post op visit to the Specialist last wednesday . Didn't see the specialist straight away . His registrar told me the results . rattled off Cancer spreading out in the breast ( knew that already ,thats why the mastectomy )! 2 lymph nodes removed they were cancerous too . He talks on about next surgery to remove lymph glands as the next treatment . Okayyyyy What do you do with that ? If you have to go ahead ! Specialist comes in Not mine but works with mine . Says no surgery ,alternatives hormone therapy ,radiation etc etc . The funny thing is they tell you to write down any questions or concerns so you can ask the Dr !'They come in so fast rattle off the information then poof they are gone !Although to be honest I am not sure what Questions I have anyway . I am very much taking each day as it comes at the moment !Thank goodness I have found here !as nobody wants to talk about Grantham either .Amazing to me how both events are so similiar ! My husband and I were in our house in all that muck floating away and thankfully 2 cars had wedged onto the bore water pump almost a km into the farmers paddock ! They stopped us from moving any further ! We could not get up on the roof so were wedged in a corner holding onto a floating fridge andI was on my husband's knees because I can't swim . I had broken my wrist claeaning up after Flood 1 and on Jan 10 rebroke the same wrist when I had to pull my husband out of the water . I hope you understand I am not being flippant when I tell you having breast cancer is a piece of cake after Grantham . There is apicture of our house in the paddock with the water gone that you see all the time there is anything about Grantham . I would be a millionaire if I could have copyright it ! lol
Bye for now .0 -
Vanstrada, when do you see your surgeon again? If you are on antibiotics I imagine you will get further follow up.
I can't answer your question but if I was worried about something like that I would call the surgeon or at least go to see the GP.
Is it your surgeon who arranged your scans? If so, I imagine he/she will be talking to you next week and you can ask questions then.
If you need to know now, call your surgeon's after hours number.
I know when you are new to cancer you don't always know what to do in a situation but I have worked it out as I have gone along. Bottom line is if in doubt call your specialist or visit your GP.
Hope this helps.0 -
Morning Vanstrada, when you post here everyone can see your post whoever you address it too. You will figure it out quickly.
Your experience at Grantham sounds terrifying. I hope you have been offered counselling for that. Last year I went by train to Toowoomba for the carnival of flowers and we passed through Grantham. It was a surreal experience. While the floods were big in Brisbane and there was a lot of devastation, there wasn't the same loss of life. Plus we did have 24 hours to prepare, unlike the communities to the west.
Back to cancer, keep talking to us as you make your decisions and we will help you. If we don't know on this Aussie thread, someone somewhere else in the world on this site will know and will answer you.
About the lymph node removal, I believe the second doctor is right and you should not need another op.
Did you say here what your pathology is? Get copies of your biopsy and post surgical pathology report and if you let us know size of tumour, ER, PR and HER2 status and number of lymph nodes removed and number with cancer, we will have a better idea of your situation.0 -
Vanstrada, let us know when your next appointment is and with whom and we can help you prepare questions. After your scans, you will likely be referred to an oncologist to discuss chemo and hormone treatment.
Make sure you get copies of your scan reports too.
Sometimes we have to make a deliberate effort to be assertive when talking with the specialists and remember we are employing them and they need to give us the time we need to have our questions answered. The doctors are busy so I would check when making the appointments how much time I have and this helps me to ensure I allow time in that window to get my questions answered.0 -
Midnight, sorry to hear about your troubles with your employee. Your hubby could report the thefts to police and let them do the investigation.
Did you get your scan results yet?0 -
No Racy, i rang up yesterday, but they still were not in, apparently the hospital rushed off their feet, so will just have to keep waiting. Yes Racy to me the no brainer would use the cops, but as we are contracted to a bigger firm, we are going to set him up or who ever, with the same sort of scnerio, using a different wallet with a little bit of cash and make sure he sees it go in and he will be on camera and then we have the proof, its him or who ever did it. it would be horrible to accuse him and be somebody else, but we pretty sure deep down. never mind. that 375 dollars was big loss to us as we are only paid monthly. the eftpos cards can be tracked, cash not so easy. its a big let down for us. he was doing so well and we were even thinking of increasing his hours. he has screwed that up with all the crap he has been up to, cant even trust him to do atl athoirity to leave while customer not there esp private addresses as we cant trust that they will get them, some gates have gone awol. still trying to track them down. alot of stress this is. i dont need it and neither does hubby or BIL. oh well never mind. catch yas later
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Kate, yes that is my first chemo day but depending on where you are staying we catch up for a coffee after chemo....
At this point I don't know what time I'm going in (will know on the 4th) but whatever time it is I will be done sometime after 12.00 I would imagine.
I have my treatment at The Mount.....where does your daughter live?
Vanstrada....I too am unable to answer your questions - as you say we are all different - but Racey has given you excellent advice!!
I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend
Karen x0 -
Marie, with the removal of your drain early the doc is right there is every possibility that you will get a build up of fluid. Massage at this stage is not advisable as the tissue underneath is way too raw. The fluid is the body's response to keeping itself clean after injury and is quite normal but should it build up to the point you are very uncomfortable or in pain it can be removed easily by your GP using a needle and syringe. The process is not at all painful so don't be afraid to ask to have it done should you need.
By what the doc said re your following treatment it seems you are at least ER+ or he would not have mentioned hormonal treatment. Depending on your menopausal status it will be either tamoxifen or on of the Aromatase Inhibitors as in Arimadex, Femara or Aromasin.
Hopefully your scans will be clear and you can move on with your treatment. They are being done due to the fact you had 2 positive nodes and your docs want to make sure there are no other places affected by the BC.
With the painful area where they removed the nodes, yes it's quite normal for it to be hard and painful in that area for some time. A lot of nerves run through there and these have been damaged due to the surgery. You will, over time, see improvement with this but it will take a while so try to be patient.
If you are not too uncomfortable by all means wear your bra but its better to be comfortable at this point. If where the drains came out is weeping, use a melotin dressing which has a moisture proof backing over the area to prevent staining.
I hope this has answered some of your questions for you. Please feel free to ask anything you think of and we'll see if we can't help.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Karen, Sarah lives in Dianella, so I have to go through the city. You would be entitled to a 'leave pass' if you don't feel up to it afterwards... I will pm my mobile phone number to you and honestly, even if I am there and you call to cancel, I will totally understand. I know where the Mount is, I could even come there. I'm sure they have a cafe there, or we could go up to Kings Park and look at the view.. whatever you feel like at the time.
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Hi Vanstrada
Chrissy and Racy have given you good advice. I wouldn't wear a bra yet - it's too soon. I found a Bonds singlet was pretty comfortable though, and protected my chest area especially in bed. If you want you can put one of those light fluffy things they give you and you don't look so flat.
I'd also be asking the specialist what will be done if both of the lymph nodes removed were cancerous. I'm assuming that the first advice you were given was that you'd need more out because 2 were positive, but perhaps the second dr had more information that you weren't given. I'd want to know what my options were if they definitely were both positive before anything else was done. About 10 days or so after your surgery you should be given further path results that will tell you if you are HER2 + or not. If you are then you'll have to have chemo. If you aren't you still may have to have it, depending on how big the tumour was and how many lymph nodes were postive. It takes a while for the HER2 tests to be done.
As Chrissy says - keep an eye on any swelling around the surgery site. A build up of fluid without drains is quite common and is easily removed, and I'll add my bit here too - it really doesn't hurt as all the nerves have been cut there and you can't feel it.
Keep us posted on how you go.
I've had a lovely couple of days. My friend from Melbourne came up on Thursday and we had a morning at the spa yesterday. So nice to be spoilt like that, I was so relaxed at the end of it. We had a great catch up and she flew home today - then DH and I went to a friend's sister's wedding down in Cooma so DH could practice taking his videos of weddings. I took my camera too - can't go to a wedding and not take shots lol. It was strange though - they had a professional photographer and I kept thinking - oh I have to get this shot - but had to restrain myself as I wasn't the "official" photographer. Still got some nice shots though.
Our Living Social deal goes live on Monday morning, so am hoping we'll be run off our feet over the next couple of months - keep your fingers crossed for us everyone!
Trish
xoxoxo
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Kate.....I replied to your PM before I read your post!! So you've already answered a couple of the questions!!
Trisha.....happy you had a lovely day
I had a nice day too.....lots of shopping with my daughter & a lovely lunch.....a bit knackered now though
Chrissy....you are always so full of wonderful advice....what would we all do without you??
Karen0 -
Thank you ! Thank you for all your lovely advice and replies . Yes Peter and I had received good counselling regarding Grantham and in one way it is spooky how the conditions are very similiar . Although thinking about it shouldn't be surprised as both circumstances require dealing with a disaster ! I have decided that half my challenge is dealing with the post op . Having been a nurse for over 35 years I fully expected to be able to deal with everything ! The Specialist had said Having a mastectomy would get it all over and done with and that is all I heard ! Nothing was said to prepare us for the all the other bits ! And because I am a bouncer back and good at it ,this recovery process is throwing me for a loop ! learning patience at 58 is interesting . Thank goodness for pain killers ! Have a awesome day ladies and know in this little acre of heaven called Gatton you are very much appreciated . I don't have any results yet but as soon as I do I will tell you . Hugs . Marie
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Good Sunday morning everyone
. Well I'm off shortly to photograph 75 little kids smiling (or not) with Santa. Should be interesting. I've been told by Santa himself that it's very hot in his suit, so he'd really appreciate it if I didn't fuddle about trying to get 'best' shots. Happy snaps only, just point and click and then onto the next one.Speaking of Santa, I haven't done one bit of christmas shopping yet. Usually leave it to the last minute, then do it all on adrenalin. I've always performed best under pressure.
Have a great day everyone. xxxx
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Morning all!! Lol Kate on your Christmas shopping. I get out if it easy now as a few years ago my children and I agreed that it was becoming so commercialised and expensive that we only by for the young ones. And they are soo easy as they all bar one want money in a card. The rule to go along with this is that we all spend Christmas at my house. Needless to say I have heaps of food shopping and prep to do as they all crowd into my little cottage and usually stay for a minimum three or four days.
Good luck with all the happy (or not) snaps with Santa!......lol.
Marie, don't be too hard on yourself about bouncing back quickly.........this dx is far more devastating and far reaching than anything else you may ever have faced. It is going to take you a while and then some to hear, process, go through, deal with and accept so please just be gentle with your self.
Hope you all are having a relaxing Sunday!!
Love n hugs all! Chrissy0 -
Welcome Vanstrada - it's nice to meet you.
Chrissy - relaxing day it hasn't been - I cleaned downstairs this morning, now I can relax. Steve's going "what was wrong with it?" - silly bugger - I don't think I've washed the tiles downstairs for a year - that's what was wrong with it!!!! In a way it is a liitle in preparation for your visit, BUT it really needed doing.
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