Australian Sisters
Comments
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Gentle Hugs Trish.
Make that appointment asap so you can stop worrying and get on with enjoying the coming weeks leading into xmas hun.
Figure between chemo and all the health checks, blood tests, xrays and very other blasted thing youve been thru these last few years, if it was something onimous it would have shown in some way before now. Hope youve had that valium by now and gets a good nights sleep. Wish I and the others could be with you to hug you in person.
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Thanks Chrissy !
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Agree with Linda . Hugs .
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Oh trish honey - just as its alwalys darkest just before dawn, so it is having only half the picture. Of course you immediately think the worst - we all do it. Chrissy is right and it probably is anything other than cancer. Paul has chrohns and has blood often, or polyps are a common cause. Thinking of you and sending huggs. xxx
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Trish, try not to stress, very early test for a good reason, most probably a polyp. I've had a few colonoscopies (dad had bowel cancer, 15 years clear) and they are very easy. Thinking of you, no amount of reassurance will totally take away that worry until you get the all clear.
As for my eyebrows, I love them. She put in strokes that look like hairs, and I can shade them in as much or as little as I want. We had 40 degrees here today, so I went out and about bald for the first time ever (only amongst strangers so far). The eyebrows make such a difference. I don't look sick, just bald. It hurt, and they may fade after a year, but so far so good.
Cheers
Angela0 -
I love my eyebrows too Angela although I haven't lost mine yet.
I got the block tattooing & going back for the brush strokes on December 18.
Good on you for going out bald & proud.....even if it was among strangers!
I've never have but have always wished I had the courage.....you go girl
Karen x0 -
Trish, I have had a colonoscopy and it's not fun but my result was benign. The doc removed a polyp and also said I had internal haemorrhoids.
I hope all is fine for you. You will need two days off for the test. Hopefully you can defer till after Brisbane?
Seeing your GP asap may ease your mind.0 -
Trish, don't panic until you know that you need to panic! Most likely not "the other shoe dropping" but more likely to be polyps or internal fissure or haemhorroids...
Jenn0 -
Well ive had a funny turn of events regarding my port. My breast surgeon wanted to try it for himself in his office when i went for my checkup and voila it worked:-). So under his instructions i then went to oncology where they pricked me again (i think that made about 12 needles in the same spot today) and they flushed it with heprin. So its as good as gold! and so am i apparently. Nothing of any concern so ill see him in a years time. He did of course notice my swollen L Breast and its thickened skin and its definitely from the radiation. He said it will take upp to two years for it to become normal.
The weather is still pretty foul over here but not neraly as bad as it has been. Its very chilly too but heating up next week in the mid 30's. Night all. xx0 -
Woohoo Kate!!! That is way good news!!!! On both levels....lol.....so glad that you got the port clear and even happier that you are all good for the next year........look out Brizzy... There's gonna be some celebrating happening!!
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Thats great Kate, so glad for you. Id take a BS's dexterity with sharp implements over a nurse's every day of the week.
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happy dance for Kate ! Love good news days !
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I'm feeling calmer this morning, thank you everyone for the hugs. I had the big D really bad during chemo and towards the end of Herceptin and got a hemeroid so it could be that. I see the dr on Monday afternoon, and hopefully can make an appointment for the colonoscopy for after Brisbane.
It's DH's 70th birthday today, so don't want to put a dampner on his day. We are having a big family barbie tomorrow and want him to have a happy couple of days.
So I have today off to get the house clean and do the food shopping for tomorrow. I got him a hot air balloon ride for his present.
I know not to panic till I have to, but finally my life is back to normal, I feel healthy again, the new job is coming up and the photography business is starting to take off. I've been so happy and contented for the past few weeks that I wondered if it was almost too good to be true.
Ok, have to get moving and start a few things before the heat hits, we are expecting 36 degrees today :-(
Trish
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Hi trish. Are you going up in the balloon too? And for brekky at the hyatt afterwards? Ive never been up in one but always loved seeing them driving on my way to work or over our house if the wind was blowing our way (dogs hated them though). Well this time next week i will be up in the air myself on my way to meet with some very dear friends. So excited:-) :-) xxxx
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Wow you ladies do fill up the pages here! Walk away for a couple days and what happens?
Marie - Yes, Denver is a long way from Australia, but we used to live in Perth, that's why I'm here. Missing it intensely, especially since my DH is there right now without me! I too hope that you like my newsletters, feel free to ask me anything you need to.
Sheila - Your story about the guy in your support group made me feel ill. What a jerk. He's probably why she has cancer (ooh, did I say that? Oops)
Aussie12 - My DH doesn't work for the mines (surprisingly enough) - he's a Harley Davidson mechanic. There are more Harleys per capita in Western Australia than anywhere else in the world. Bit of useless trivia for you.
Trish - thanks for your concern, so sweet. Yes I'm missing him intensely, but I'm also enjoying some time to get on with my projects. I'm sorry about your new scare, you didn't need that. Hope you get an answer soon!
Kate - my DH told me about your wild storm, wow! He's staying with friends in Wanneroo but they had a little damage there too. Sorry about the port problems, glad it came good for you. Don't need that extra problem, do you? I noticed you wanted to move to the Perth hills - that's where we used to live! In Parkerville. Lovely quiet little spot, we had 3/4 acre and an organic veggie garden which I sorely miss. BTW, I loved the Daniel Craig quote. Hee hee!
Kazzie - You're in Iluka! Beautiful suburb of Perth. Used to walk our doggie along the coast path up to that nice little restaurant in Burns Beach - Casa del Sol, I think it was named.
Ah, ladies. Nice to connect with you, made me think about all the things I miss in Australia. Might just have to move back there, esp since my DH seems to love it there better than here. Just here to provide support for his mum... you know how that goes.
Sending hugs to all of you and hope you have a wonderful weekend. xoxox
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Have enjoyed my time here and am hoping and praying for a happier and less painful future for us all and especially a brighter future for our daughters and granddaughters. I have learnt a lot from all of you . How do I leave this group in fact this whole site ?
There doesn't seem to be a exit button !
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Marie - why do you want to leave? Some of us have been here for years, please stay.
Sue
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I have really enjoyed meeting you all in this group . I already think of you as my aussie sisters . In my individual search for how to deal with this enemy within I am looking for knowledge and good advice ,humour and mateship that will support me in journey . That is all here but I like the spontaniety and "instantness" of the personal touch . It frustrates me that by its very nature of a "forum " we are restricted . I am grateful that I found you all and have already learnt alot .But from surviving Grantham which is so similiar to surviving this I learnt the true value of connecting one with another . I know you all will understand what I mean when you apply it to the anticipation of meeting up next month with each other ! You are all so awesome and I stand in awe of you . I hope I can say here if you want to private message me at any time I would love that . The search continues .
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Marie - the meet up is next weekend - I was hoping you could come and meet us.
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Suzie . In my wildest dreams I would have loved to do that ! You all seem to be the most amazing ladies and i am excited I have met you . Peter and I are pensioners. Losing everything in Grantham most of our life is now donated goods ,not that I am ungrateful but that is reality . We are renters so money is extremely tight and even the strain of dealing with the hospital visits etc draining our meagre finances is a nightmare ! I will be with you all in spirit ! And have a pint for me ! Although being a latter day saint I don't drink anymore come to think of it ! Darn ! lol But anyway have a good time . You all deserve the break . Maybe one day you could explore the mighty Lockyer Valley and you would be welcome here ! Bye for now .
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Hey everyone, today is 1 year to the date since I got my diagnosis after a day at the breast care centre filled with mammogram, ultrasound, fine needle biopsy and core biopsy. Yes, all in one day!
The clinic, where I had never been before, works on a "last man standing" system. Everyone is given morning appointments for mammos and then those that are clear get to leave and the others stay through each of the next steps. I was there at 9.30am for my mammo and was the LAST ONE TO LEAVE at nearly 5pm :-/.
Looking back now, I can remember starting that day thinking it would be a quick appointment to confirm what my doctor had said was probably a cyst. I thought it was going to be interesting to see if mammos are as uncomfortable as everyone always said they were (I didn't think that it was). Little did I know how much more pain was to come that day and through this entire past year, and that one mammogram was the only one I will ever have in my life.
It was close to Christmas and a new fancy mall had opened recently in the heart of Sydney. My hubby works in the city so I was supposed to meet him after he finished work and we were going to go Christmas shopping and for a nice dinner (date night!!!). Instead, he got a call from me at 3.30pm to leave work and come to the centre. He arrived to be whisked with me into the doctor's office - and the words BREAST CANCER.
It wasn't the date night we planned... After we paid over the first of what would be, over this past year, many thousands of dollars in medical expenses, we walked over to the shiny new mall. First thing we did was find a shiny new trendy bar and order a drink each. Then we just sat in shock for a while before wandering aimlessly through the multiple levels of shops. We didn't buy anything at all for Christmas - we had no heart for it.
We had dinner at a shiny new burger place. I remember the burger tasting good. Have suggested to hubby a few times over the past year that we go back there, but he hasn't been keen. Maybe it's psychological?
So much has happened since that day, I could fill a book. Oh, hang on, maybe you could just read back over the past 100 or so pages of our conversations in here!
There is only one thing I have loved that has been new this year - the meeting of all of you. Thanks for being here - and sorry that you had to be here...
Love ya, Jenn0 -
Oh Jenn,the first year anniversary is hard, looking back on the year from hell. The next anniversary won't be so bad though.
Marie I can understand not having the money to come see us next week, but I think that if you stay on this forum you'll get so much of the support you'll need over the coming months. Handling bc without the love and support of those who've been there will be much tougher for you. xoxo
Kate I didn't get a balloon ride for me too, just couldn't afford two lol but that's ok he'll have a great time and I'll watch from the ground.
House is all clean, all the shopping is done and we are waiting for 11 adults and 3 children to descend on us to celebrate DH's 70th. Lol
I'm staying calm and putting colonoscopies out of my head for now and enjoying the moment.
Trish
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Marie, don't leave. Why leave?
Jenn0 -
Jenn, I second your last paragraph. If there is a silver lining to having BC, it was finding this forum and going through everything with others who had, or were walking in my shoes. All the BC info and advice aside, its been, for me at least, wonderful to sit here on my computer and know that there are a dozen or so REAL women (you are real to me, not just words on a screen) who are all different, with different stories, experiences and opinions but all sharing a common trait, and no, not just our BC, but a huge heart and likemindeness to care and connect with other people.
BC may have been the reason I found you, but friendship is the reason I stay.0 -
Like everything else is in my life ,leaving this wonderful group is yet another option ! To be quite honest I would love it as a facebook page. Does anybody use Facebook ? It is so much easier to stay connected and I love to chat as a conversation .! We could have our own page !I still haven't found how to get out of this site anyway so you might even be stuck with me anyway ! lol Once it has you it doesn't want to let go !
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Love your words Kate ! Very true .Having cancer can be a very isolating business can't it ?
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Marie we do have a Facebook page, just pm Chrissy and she'll add you.
I find I use this forum more often though, I don't get onto fb so much. To me this forum has so much info and posting on this page is just like using fb, but with much more info
As to getting out of this site, well I guess you just don't log in
Trish
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Trish....I had bleeding and my GP ordered a colonoscopy. The procedure was a breeze although the prep not much fun...lol..reserve a toilet for the night!! Anyway..all well. My report said congested haemorroids but I got a gold star for "excellent bowel preparation"!! makes you wonder about those that didn't pass the bowel prep test...
I agree the anticipation is scary...as it is before all tests.
Jenn...the first year after diagnosis is a nightmare xxx
Been following your catch up plans for Brisbane....it will be very special. I have had many meetups with bc girls I've met on forums and they have been fantastic. It makes further online conversations even better.
Exciting!
jezza
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Hi Jezza - great to see you visiting us
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Like Jenn, I too was the "last man standing" on that fateful day in February, people came and went and I was the last and that was when the dreadful feeling of doom came over me. I knew it was not good. I had many scans and FNA over the years but this time it was different. Hearing the words "you have BC" shocked me to the core.
I was told it was DCIS and very treatable. Yes the treatment was brutal, burn or mutilate but spared the poison, well at this stage anyway.
My heart goes out to everyone dealing with this freaking disease which will be with me always.
Trish I am sorry you are having to deal with the colonoscopy next week but I am confident the dx will be haemorrhoid's. I have this test every few years because of chronic constipation and reading about your D with the chemo feel this is another side effect of the Tx.
Hope you have a great party and wish your hubby "Happy 70th birthday" from me. All the best.
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