Australian Sisters
Comments
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Kylie, i wish we had yr nurses, i have rung up my BC nurse 4 times and she has never got back even asking her to. i think its a bit slack. i just wanted to ask about my tamoxifen. but no, have not heard, this from november. i have a appointment with radioation, doctor Clare, so i will just ask her in Jan. how do you get on when they wont call you back. they will be away now, with the christmas break
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Midnight I have been really lucky. My McGrath nurse sat with me before my first op, was there when I woke up and has been a great support. I know she has a huge number of women and works very hard, she comes to all our BC support dinners also. I have her mobile number and I often SMS her questions. This doesn't take up as much of her time and she always answers.
Regarding the 'sugar thing' Midnight I am afraid my tolerance for peoples 'cures' is very limited. I try to eat properly and am reasonably fit. But I have always done that and still got BC. I personally think it makes others feel like they won't get BC if they can put it down to a specific cause. x
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When i was growing up "they" said vegemite caused cancer. During my lifetime, pretty much everything has been quoted as causing cancer, much of it gets debunked, some sticks. Sugar has been bounced around for a long time, specially in the alternative threads here. Certainly obesity has been cited as being a risk factor for cancer, and an over abundance of sugar can contribute to that, but Ive never been overweight in my life and I still got cancer lol. Im not sure how much credence i give to all the stuff that hasnt got clinical stats to back it up midnight. I think eating a bit of all food groups and nothing in excess and therefore having a well balanced diet would do more for keeping our immune systems up and cancer at bay, if in fact diet has anything to do with why some get BC and some don't.
Im not a dr, but i would think our bodies need all the food groups for nutrition, energy and growth. I will stick to eating what I like, when i like and continue to try and eat a healthier diet in the fits and spurts that i have lived with all my life
Sides I never wanted to live another 50 years miserable due to no sugar in my diet 
Id miss my chocolate, occasional cream bun, cake, bread, tea, biscuits, cereal and everything else sugar contributes to making yummy.0 -
Well i am in agreement and not brave enough to try it. but she keeps on about it, so i just listen. but i like bread and carbys and i do eat alot of things like alfalfa and mung beans, cucmber, i love veges. just thought i would tell ya. lol she will be over that and it will be somethings else. i told her i would have muslie for brecky, but apparently that makes you fat, so cant win. lol alot of what i eat is fish. salmon, sardines, all the omega 3. i think i still eat well and fast food, i will get subway which is healthy.
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lol my favs is iced coffee, lol she would have a fit if she saw me drinking that, but you know what, her colestreol was 8 and mine was 6. amd she eats more healthier than me too. so yea. I am abit of reprobate really( undisclipined one) lol, i think the stress that we had this year is enough for me to concentrate and we have had terrble time with our bussiness, i hope they can re evaluate and cut something down to help things, even a truck run would be good, something has to give.
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I've also read about sugar "feeding the cancer" but when I researched it, there was nothing to back it up. It's a myth. I also have had lots of people tell me what I should and shouldn't eat. If I listened to them all I'd just be drinking water! lol. I just nod and say thank you and do what I've been doing.
Mind you for those of us who are ER+ it's not good to be overweight, as our fat produces estrogen, so staying a healthy weight is certainly something to strive for.
Jan - you have a lot to think about, and I know how your mind will be going at a million miles an hour at the moment. Remember - just take it one day at a time.
Vanstrada - good to hear from you too, but I'm confused, with the size of your tumour and the number of nodes involved, I don't understand why the "no chemo" If I were you, I'd be getting a second opinion.
Very hot here today, so hibernating inside :-)
Trish
xoxo
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Vanstrada - good to hear from you. I agree with Trish, get a second opinion - your tumour was very large.
Well, I gave in and swept downstairs - looks much better now. I am definiteley not getting out the vacuum - too hot!! I did clean our handbasin and loo, but I'm not inclined to do anything else.
Went to the markets early and bought more of that pain cream - it is SO fantastic. I did make that first jar last 3 weeks, so it is well worth the expense. I also bought some magnesium drops - reasearched it when I got home and it looks like it will help with those night cramps I've been getting. Steve always complains I'm jumpy when I'm asleep.
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Jenn - I didn't realise till I re-read your post that you'd had surgery so recently. I was going by your sig which lists your surgery as September. I guess you had the reconstruction last Thursday - I hope you're not too sore. The lady I met yesterday said her reconstruction was much worse, both for pain and recovery time, than the original BMX.
Kylie - thanks for the welcome and the insight into somebody else who wasn't at home when it all started - it really adds to the stress doesn't it? I'd be keen to talk to somebody from Port Mac. I'm starting to lean towards having the op itself here and then going back for chemo etc. I've not heard of McGrath nurses, but looking at their website, they don't have one at the Mount Hospital in Perth, nor do they have one in Port Mac, so I guess I won't be seeing them. In fact I haven't see any breast nurses yet. It seems like forever since this started, but I've got to remember it's only 6 days since my biopsy and 4 days since my dx and Christmas is going to be in the middle of it all.
Secretly - I really want them all to drop everything else they are doing, other patients, holidays etc and attend to ME right now - It sounds terribly selfish but I guess we all feel like that at times.
Racy - thanks for the welcome, and your confirmation of the lymph node issue. I'm definitely going to check out the surgeon's attitude on this before he gets me under the knife.
Vanstrada54 - thanks for the welcome. That's fantastic news for you, and I hope you get your peace and quiet. Have a really happy Christmas -you've certainly got something to celebrate.
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Trish - " I just nod and say thank you and do what I've been doing." - this is exactly what I try to do. There's no point starting arguments or pouring scorn on people, but seriously the number of "cures" floating around is absurd. In just 5 days I've been told what to do and what not to do by about 12 people, mainly regarding nutrition, and they're all sure they're right. I'll just keep doing what I usually do, just make sure I get all my fruit and veggies.
The only thing I have done is splash out on a new juicer which is good for leafy greens. I can see my appetite, both for food and cooking, is going to be pretty low for a while - so the ability to get a days worth of green nutrients in a couple of glasses with virtually no work is very appealing.
The other thing I've done is start having cream in my coffee instead of low-fat milk. I thought - what the hell - I might as well enjoy life while I can still taste it
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Lol good for you jebdra - cream in the coffee!
Sue - you reminded me I have forgotten what that cream is called - see told you I would - please remind me!
Trish0 -
Hi Jan, I did have my mastectomy and recon at the end of September. This past Thursday I "just" had an ovarian cyst removed...
We are off to Kiama tomorrow am to spend Xmas day with my cousin and her family. I think that means that Kylie and I will be close by each other :-) We are heading back home Boxing Day evening though. They have a full house and I'm pretty sure that 2 nights on their sofa bed will be painful enough for hubby and I...
Jenn0 -
Jenn - by golly you're a brave lady - "just" had an ovarian cyst removed and heading off to spend 2 nights on a sofa bed - you're a braver lady than I
You have a good Christmas and get plenty of rest.Sue - I'm interested in that pain cream if it's so good. I suspect I'm going to need some soon. Especially if I end up driving back across Australia in late January 3 weeks after BMX. I wonder if I can get a medical exception to wearing a seat-belt? I suspect that could be quite painful.
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Jebdra you should be able to get a little "kit" from the breast care nurse that contains a bag for drains as well as a little pillow - the pillow is good for putting under a seatbelt. I never really used it for that though, didn't find the seatbelt bothered me much, but you may be different. I used the pillow under my arm mainly, although now for the life of me I can't remember why lol I must have been uncomfortable there for some reason.
Sue I seem to remember it ended in "ya" is that right? lol Jebdra the pain cream was more for arthritic pain I think, not for surgical scars. You should get some vitamin e for your scar though - it really helps it heal well.
We have a huge thunderstorm approaching, hoping we'll get some rain out of it as it's so hot and dry here at the moment.
Trishxoxo
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Jenn, sorry to hear about your Mother's non reaction to your surgery last week. Denial maybe? or just self centred?
Glad, though to hear about your other relliies interest. That must have made you feel so much better!
I have been amazed at the interest from my new friends. We moved here in late June, knew no one, but have made wonderful friends with people we have met since then. I have had visitors dropping by since I got home on Thursday, all saying they don't know what to offer, but if there is anything they can do, just ask! I am so humbled by their generosity.
A couple of the ladies have been so interested in the process that I asked if they wanted to see it. They weren't at all freaked out by it.
I have heard from all my friends from Melbourne now, I think some were hanging back to find out the surgical outcome. So there are several coming for a visit in the New Year which will be great.
My Daughter arrived yesterday, first time I have seen her since the diagnosis. It is so wonderful to have her here. She has handled it all so well, I am really lucky. She lived through my Mother's dreadful Mastectomy experience in '94 as a teenager, so I wasn't sure she'd be so relaxed about it. My Mother had all her nodes removed and came down with an infection that almost killed her. It was a gruelling time for all of us. My Mother was a fighter, and incredibly brave.
The District Nurses have been coming to do the drain for me because with my arthritic hands I can't squeeze the big concertina bulb. They are saying that I am doing so well that this may be able to come out in the next day or so. Can't wait for that to happen, I am tired of dragging this thing around with me.
Been reading the "no sugar" comments. It has been blamed for everything hasn't it? The only thing I'd like to add to the "What to eat" comments is that "balanced is best". I am a devotee of probiotics, and take fermented spirulina and Carla Oates Glow every day, and wouldn't miss taking my Olive Leaf, in fact that was the only extra vitamin supplement the anaesthetist allowed me to continue till the surgery. I have an Oscar juicer which cold presses the foods and can juice herbs and wheatgrass. When I was diagnosed with RA and had to take Methotrexate, which is a chemo drug for almost 8 years ,plus cortisone daily I researched the benefits of probiotics and raw juices, I couldn't come up with any reason not to do this, it could only help. I am not saying any of this will "cure cancer" but in my humble opinion it gives you the reserves to take the stress, and the anaesthetic etc. I am almost 60 with a compromised immune system from the drugs, but I have done really well after this surgery.
The other thing will never be without is Balanced Essentials "Be Relieved" this is a blend of Aromatherapy oils, made here in Australia and used as a massage blend in Wheatgerm, Sweet Almond and Macadamia Oils. They are anti bacterial, and anti viral. I have been massaging around the bandages and I have virtually no bruising and the swelling I had from the node removal has almost gone. I have used this for every surgery I have had in the past 8 years since discovering it. My scars are barely noticable.
I'd really like to hear about anything else in supplements etc that anyone has found to be helpful after surgery, or indeed before, for those that are waiting to have their surgery.
Sorry for the massive post ladies, I am still a bit "anaesthetic affected", but feel very comfortable with you all.
I hope you've all had a good weekend, and that you have a wonderful Christmas.
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Here's the guy who sells it.
http://www.magpainrelief.com/welcome/
He is really nice - we had a good chat this morning.
Jan - it's for muscular/joint aches and pains. Not something I'd used after a BMX. I got it for my knee which needs replacing and now I can walk without limping.
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Hi Trish!
You beat me to it. I was going to mention the "Kit" I was given too. The only thing I have used is the drain bag. The seatbelt didn't bother me the day after surgery. I was prepared for pain though, and brought a small microfiber pillow to put between me and the seatbelt, but only used it for the first few minutes then threw it in the back of the car. I wasn't driving across Australia, but I live an hour and a half from the Hospital and it wasn't an issue.
I mentioned in my "novel of a post" the Aromatherapy massage oils that I use for scars and pain. It has high levels of Vitamin E in it too.
The other thing I meant to mention was a silicone strip that I used for my last big hand surgery. I still used the oils, but my surgeon supplied me with this long strip of silicone which you had to keep on for up to 10 hours a day. I had all my tendons split and redirected around the knuckles, so the scar is right across my hand on the knuckles. I was restricted in a big pulley system for five months. It worked a treat and the scar is barely visible now.
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Trish and Ariom - thanks for the info about the "kit".
I'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself in worrying about all this. I've only seen my GP and BS so far. The breast nurse was too busy to see me last week, and the anaesthesiologist doesn't want to see me before I get into hospital. I'm probably feeling a bit neglected,so I'm looking for things to worry about. As if there isn't enough to think about
This site is just chock full of info. Ariom, I've looked up your "be relieved" oil and it looks great. Do you know if they sell it through pharmacies or anywhere else or is it only online? I'm also with you on raw juice. I have a vitamix at home used to make green smoothies and blended salads, and I really miss it but it was too heavy to bring with us. However, with this little bombshell developing, I've just bought an Oscar 1000 from Appliances Online, should be delivered on 28th Dec. I couldn't find anywhere in Perth that sold them (except for WAHS which was out of stock), so have to wait for delivery.
Like you, I don't believe in any "cures" for cancer, but you can certainly give your body the resources to fight it and deal with the toxic chemicals it's going to have to put up with. Green and bright colored veggie juice here I come.
Another silver lining - I always wanted one of these juicers, but couldn't justify the $500 odd when I already had a vitamax - now I've got the perfect reason
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Another positive that my DH just came up with (only applicable for those who fly aerobatics). My boobies will no longer hit me in the chin when doing an outside loop
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Lol at Jebdra! Your DH is a keeper.
I can come up with lots of postives for a bald head if you end up going down that path, but nothing as hilarious as that!
Trish
xoxo
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Hi again Jebra!
I know exactly how you feel. I felt neglected too. I was caught up in Melbourne Cup Day for my diagnosis, so I had another week to wait till the next clinic was scheduled. My surgery was booked a month in advance for me to get the Surgeon I wanted.
All good now! It was brutal having to wait for everything, but I had these girls showing me the way. The last week flew in, and here I am on the other side of it and doing really well.
The Balanced Essentials is available from their own website. You can call and have it express posted. Cheryl the owner had mine to me in a day or two when I told her I was going in to Hospital. They have great sets, or you can buy just the single bottles. TVSN the TV shopping network is the other place to buy them. They too have packs available. but it takes a bit longer to receive them. There isn't anywhere else that I know of that sells these oils. TVSN also have the Oscar Juicer, that is where I bought mine for a great price. A great book to get is Norman Walker's book on Vegetable Juicing. He's the patriach of raw food juicing, can be bought from TVSN, and I have bought them as gifts from Amazon.
I have been watching the Vitamax too, haven't been able to justify the cost though. I also make nut butters and the most wonderful desserts with frozen fruit in my Oscar. It also came with attachments for making pasta, but I haven't tried that yet.
Just saw your post about the aerobatics. Love that! I've never done aerobatics, but I was 11 years with an international airline. I loved to fly.
My Husband had a laugh at that post too. He is a C5/6 quad from a Hang-Gliding accident 35 years ago.
He also had a laugh when the day before my surgery I looked down and said to my right boob, "You've let me down, you have to go!"
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Hi Trish - glad you liked it - if I can just give a couple of people a laugh on this site, I feel I'm paying back a bit of support and info I'm getting. I'll come back to you for the baldy jokes if I have to go that route.
Ariom - I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. It's a risk we all take when we leave the ground, but that's a really rotten result. I guessed that oil was only on-line. I found the TVSN supplier when I saw the BE website is closed down till 7th Jan. Bother Christmas!
About the juicer, I've been tossing up whether to get one for ages. I actually cried on 16 Dec when Amazon had a one day sale on the 110v american version for $159 (about $140 australian). It would have needed a transformer, but still came in at under $220 including postage! I missed out by 15mins (didn't read my email soon enough). Anyway, I felt that my immune system deserved one given what I'm about to put it through, so I just bought it - damn the price. They're a great juicer. I've done lots of reading and I'm really looking forward to the fresh fruit frozen sorbets as well as the veggie juices.
Loved talking to you all, but I've got to go and do some work now. Have a good Sunday. I'm sure I'll be back before Christmas, but in case not - have a good and safe one everybody. And thanks again for all the help and support. I guess you all know just how much it means as you've all been there
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My mum also used to have low fat milk, and she would freeze it and one day she took some out and was shocked just how much water is in it, so she used milkpowder and so good milk, soya bean milk, though i love my mum to bits, she gets on her hobbie horse about the foods and then suddenly, what she been telling me to do, is not good anymore, its bad for you, i just cant keep up with her, but she has my best interests at heart, but she can also wear me out, i spoke to her on phone the other day and i started yawning and almost fell asleep, i felt bad, i had to excuse myself, mind you, that was after an hour and thats when the sugar subject came up. talking on the phone wears me out very fast. if i lay on bed in day time, i am out cold in about 5 mins. snoring my head off. i dont know if anybody else has the same probs. any way hope you all have a good sleep tonight, that dam hot, dont know how you can,
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Wow, we've just had the most amazing thunderstorm. It's almost over now, and I have two quivering dogs trying to sit on me (one weighs 37kg & the other one 27kgs) and we've lost our power. Back verandah has flooded as the gutters couldn't keep up.
Amazing light show, just wish the dogs would go to DH though, apparently I'm the safe haven, but they are heavy!!0 -
Lol Trish, I can just see those two lumps trying to get on your lap together..........I get the same reaction from my dog except Tink in only about 5 kgs but in a thunderstorm, even though she may be in bed with my DH she comes trembling to me.
Wish we could have a nice thunder or with loads of rain here to cool things off a bit.....it got to 42 here today and its stil, at eight o'clock , 39..........aargh! I hate summer!0 -
Ahh...no Chrissy...38 here in Melbourne. I often watch SA weather as it heads our way. I was hoping you were having a cool change with some nice rain. Have a FB friend in Perth. Looks like its going to be stinking hot for them over the Christmas period.
jezza
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Well we had 37mm in just 20 minutes, it's still raining, but only lightly now and it's cooled down a lot. I'll lose my Internet connection soon, I don't expect the power will come back till tomorrow sometime - ahh the joys of living in the country lol. Candles are nice, but without power we don't have water - the pump needs power to run. I was smart, had a feeling the power would go out and finished my shower only 5 mins before the power went out. At least we have a gas cooktop, so can still make a cuppa lol.
I think I'll go into the spare bedroom tonight so that both dogs can get into bed with me, there's not enough room in one queen sized bed for two adults and two spooky dogs.
At least I can still read on my iPad :-)
Night all
Trish
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I find the humidity here unbearable - it might only be 30 or so but it's awful. I quite liked the dry heat in SA - remember swimming in the Murray on a 43 degree day - bliss.
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Jezza it's supposed to cool down for tomorrow and Christmas Day about 27 or so we are told.........sure hope they are right!
Hope you manage to get some sleep Trish!
Sue I too prefer the dry heat to humidity that's why we moved from Cairns 25years ago! Well that is to say if I can't take summer out of the calendar then dry heat is preferred although on days like today, I tend to stay indoors with the air on going......hang the expense!
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
I haven't read all the posts since my last check in (will get to them all a bit later) but just wanted to comment on the sugar feeding cancer idea.
After my primary diagnosis I followed a sugar free diet as I had heard & read this theory, I lost 15 kilos but got secondary cancer!! Just wanted to say.....
Jan....I had my port inserted at Bethespa, it's a lovely hospital.
Jenn......so sorry your mum isn't at all supportive & motherly but I do hope the cousins liked the boobs......:)
Take care lovely ladies....
Karen x0 -
well there you go Kazzie, sugar free???. i started off with a mcdonalds brecky today, hubby brought me home, it was nice too for a change. weather is cooler, thank goodness, we are supposed to be wiltering tomorrow, hope its like this though, tolerable. I think we have employed a bunch of kindergarden kids. I have been saying about this guy who went AWOL. nothing from him, til last night, DH gets a text from his partners phone, that we could not get through, kept saying, it was unavailable. his partner texted and said, that Nathan wanted to know when we want him back to work. lol. we could not believe it, fails to turn up, no contact, and wants to start work like nothing is wrong. what the hell is wrong with people? we had to abandon 3 truck runs that will cost us heaps of money, all that freight we had to forfeit to somebody else that we dont get, and he wants to know when we want him back at work. hello. what do you do with them? we have to by law offer him a diclipinery hearing where he can bring a support person and unless he has a good reason, its see you later. i am flabaghasted to the fact i could bloody cry. but never mind, i aint go to let him get to me, i cant. i worried all this time he was injured somewhere. hubby has not responded to him. so dont want to burden you guys, just keeping you up to date. catch you later, have a good day.
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