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Australian Sisters

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Kate you may find your breast aea ia super sensitive because of the nerve regeneration going on.  When the operate they cut the nerves so they need to mend.  Sure hope the sensitivity passes soon.  My mastectomy area was super sensative and numb all at the same time........now that is a really weird feeling!

    Oooo what a picture you painted!.....lol

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited December 2011

    AussieKate: I didn't have the full mastectomy but you and I had the same surgery date and my right breast (what's left) feels exactly the same way this past couple of days. Very sensitive and the way you described it (sunburn) is an exact description!



    I had my oncology appt this morning. Really liked the oncologist who when she learned I am a clinical trial coordinator started talking to me in numbers and research terms which was great! I was expecting her to recommend AC-TH but she side-swiped me with suggesting 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxol with the expected 12 months of herceptin. I really hadn't researched FEC so will go looking for some posts about it.



    I'm scheduled for the heart scan tomorrow morning, the port placement on 11th January and my first chemo on the 12th of January.



    While there I signed up to two clinical trials. One where they just take extra bloods for research into biomarkers to help identify patients more likely/not likely to get heart effects from herceptin. The other one is a blinded trial of a bone drug similar to Zometa which may assist in maintaining bone density but also may be beneficial in avoiding recurrances of disease for Her2+ women.



    Being involved and running clinical trials myself made that an easy decision... I felt really bad though because the study coordinator /nurse at the hospital is the same one running my own trials and the poor thing was very shocked to have me turn up as her patient - I guess I should have thought ahead and pre-warned her...



    regards Jenn

  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 523
    edited December 2011

    Thanks Chrissy, I thought it might have something to do with the nerves.... guess this patient just has to be patient.

    Jenn, thats so good for you that you work in the field and have a good understanding of all this scary stuff. Just think what a well rounded clinician you will be after all this is behind you, seeing things from both sides of the fence, so to speak.

    I'm really wishing you well in January with the chemo treatments.

    Cheers

    Kate

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited December 2011

    Hello everyone

    Sorry - have been super busy at work to get everything done in time to finish for the Christmas break.

    Kate - I had a full mastectomy, and like Chrissy said - it's a weird feeling, numb and sensitive at the same time.  The worst thing for me now is that it gets itchy where it's numb and I can't satisfy that damn itch! lol  That feeling will get better though Kate.

    Jenn - I've pm'd you - sorry should have looked earlier - I was fine with FEC, and hopefully you will be too.  It's great news about your scan yay!!  I see you will have your port inserted soon too - let me know if you want info on how mine went, happy to talk to you xoxo

    I have more good news.  I went to see the onc yesterday, and I don't have to go see him again until May yay!!  He asked when my last heart scan was and it was September, I asked did I really have to do another one (2 more H to go) and he said no - thank goodness.  My heart has done really well over the past year, only dropping by 2 points from 66.  I was just so pleased I didn't have to go back again soon.  He's a very nice man, but ....  well you guys understand.

    I've cleaned my bathroom out today, got rid of all the crap that we girls seem to keep, perfume that we know we'll never use, lotions and creams that only have a little bit that's dried up in the bottom - you know the stuff.  So I have a lovely clean and uncluttered bathroom for Christmas.  Pantry's next on the list after tomorrow - I'm on a cleaning spree lol

    Summer has finally hit here, it's been stinking hot and now there are thunderstorms on the horizon - we'll have cowering dogs to cuddle soon I think.

    Hope you all have a happy and safe Christmas, and I'm hoping for a very healthy and happy 2012 for all of us.


    Love and hugs to you all

    Trish

    xoxo

  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 523
    edited December 2011

    Trisha-Anne  ah, Canberra summers. How I remember them well.... It gets hot over here too. Not to bad so far this year, but last year was their hottest on record. At least with Canberra you have nice cool evenings so it takes longer to warm up the next day. Here, as soon as the sun hits you it can be 30+. Makes for a very long hot day indeed.

    I do miss the cool mornings Cry

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 1,422
    edited December 2011

    Merry Christmas girls - I'm all organised - bring on the day. Can't wait to get it over with, my mother is very trying most of the time. My son in law is driving me crazy - don't know how our daughter picked him. Still, it's good to have her home for Christmas - it's been a long time.

    Sue

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Merry Christmas girls!!!!   I've just finished all the food prep for tomorrow and now DH is taking me and DD2 and partner out for tea..........what a man!

    Sure hope everyone had a great day tomorrow and if you are travelling, a safe one.  Trish, summer hit here yesterday....yuk!....I've been in the kitchen all day and thank goodness for air conditioning as it was 38 outside! and probably 40 in my kitchen!  Tomorrow is supposed to be a pleaseant 29.

    Love n hugs to all.  Chrissy

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited December 2011

    Chrissy, I can imagine you cooking up a huge feast in your new kitchen.



    Best wishes to all and amen to a healthy year in 2012!

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited December 2011

    Well Kate - you wouldn't have recognised Canberra this summer - it's been the coolest for 51 years!  Yesterday was the hottest day we'd had since Feb and it got to 29! lol

    It's been a bit like being in the tropics yesterday and today though - very muggy with all the thunderstorms around.  We've had enough rain, and we don't usually say that here as you would know, but everything is very green and the grass is growing while you watch lol

    Sue - hang in there - your mum and son in law will go home eventually - you could go on a short holiday and leave them there? lol just take your daughter with you.

    Trish

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 1,422
    edited December 2011

    We are all (not Mum) going up to Sunshine Beach which means we'll be more cramped than here - no where to escape to - help!!

  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 523
    edited December 2011

    Merry Christmas Everyone - and may next year bring good health to us all.

    First time in ages we are having a cold Christmas lunch. No slaving over a hot oven this year and the weather over here in the west is going to be fine and about 30. .

    Now I'm off to make a layered salad so that it can cool in the fridge overnight and wrap presents. Grrrr. that's what I get when I put things off until the last minute.

    Bye for now and again

                                    * * * * * *     M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S   * * * * *

  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 295
    edited December 2011

    Hi all..wheew...Boxing Day. Usually I go to the sales but this year just couldn't be bothered. Its been such a hectic build up to Christmas this year. We have lunch with neighbours...none of us have close relos here in Melb...we are from Tassie, WA and England so we all band together with some NZ friends as well.Everyone brings something and there are none of the usual tensions that can sometimes arise when you have relos who you don't see often staying with you for the festive season (speaking from personal experience here!...lol)

    We had a text message from our insurance company warning of heavy hail expected in our area so we raced home to get the cars under cover. Luckily for us it missed us but other parts of Melb. suffered. Our insurance paid out big time last heavy hail storm so I guess they didn't want to again.

    Sending hugs especially to those who have had recent surgery and are getting the rest of their treatment plan organised.

    jezza xx

  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 523
    edited December 2011

    I had the best Christmas day I can ever remember having yesterday. I was with the side of family that I really love (hubby's) and our daughter led us in charades in the afternoon, sitting on the banks of the estuary. Couldn't have been better.... except... my breast just hurt so much. Well not really hurt, but they are swollen, bright pink, and anything touching the skin just hurts. I ended up taking my surgical bra off. There was some relief but apparently (according to Sarah my daughter) I had headlights showing. This is new to me. My old breasts used to point south to such an extent that you could never tell. Not now though! Oh boy, they are there for all to see. I put my bra back on. Too much to view after Christmas Lunch I think!!!! Hope everyone had a lovely day also.

  • Angelice
    Angelice Member Posts: 1,116
    edited December 2011

    Merry Xmas ladies I had a great Xmas , part from the hail storms destroy trees and holes in the pergola and car had hail dints !! But nothing can't be fixed !! Also in Melbourne

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Well that's Christmas for another year!  All that shopping and cleaning and cooking and stress that we put ourselves through while organising 'the day' can now just be a memory until next year when we drag the actions out of the closet and repeat them all over again!  One would think that somehow there should be a way to enjoy the day without all the fuss and bother that we do.

    Hope yours turned out as nice as mine....lol.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 295
    edited December 2011

    Angelice Sorry to hear about your damage. Make sure you have a good look around before you put in an insurance claim. We were hit in the last huge hailstorm....windows smashed...carport roof etc but after a couple of days we found...solar pool heating damage, TV antenna, slates off the roof, fly screens...the list went on. Luckily the cars were ok and our insurance co. were great.

    Aussiekate Hope you are healing a bit more today. Just keep an eye on things.Swollen and pink is understandable I guess but if you have a temp. and the area is very hot and isn't getting better it could be the start of an infection. Hopefully not.....and sounds like they look GOOD! Charades are fun but I'm hopeless at them...lol

    Susie Thinking of you at Sunshine Beach....fingers crossed that the weather is good and you can get out and about and spread out a bit!!

    jezza

  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 295
    edited December 2011

    jenn

    Just reading back on the previous page about that awful scan and further investigation. I had the same thing many years ago when I was told to wait and then have further xrays ( and then more!) on my chest area after a full body scan.

    Turned out it was a cracked rib that had healed but they would tell me nothing.I was almost in tears and they said we aren't allowed to tell you anything.Ring your Dr for the results tomorrow! Of course I don't have to tell any of you what my thoughts were.

    So glad to hear all was well with you Jenn and I KNOW how relieved you must have felt. xx

    jezza

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Hi Jezza and Angelice, haven't seen you around for awhile so it's nice to see you back!

    Yup, definitely another day of rest needed for this litte duck....lol.......talk about lack of energy!.........mmmmmmmm............maybe I need more food.....not...lol.

    Enjoy you days all!

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited December 2011

    Thanks Jezza,



    It's been so nice to have this break over Christmas after the hectic December rush of diagnosis, surgery and testing. However I will admit to obsessing over BC information online.



    I was originally not due back to work until the 9th Jan, but because of everything that's happened I'm now going back on the 3rd so I can get a weeks worth of work out of the way before my port on the 11th and chemo on the 12th.



    Reading here has been good because I have been able to see you all just getting on with real life :-)



    regards Jenn

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Jenn, we all have been there and done that with the obsessing so don't feel bad about that.  Life does go on and the world still turns, we just have to learn how to stand on our feet again after being dx'd and you will as well.  Give yourself a little time......................

    good luck with going back to work and for your port placement.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 295
    edited December 2011

    Hi back Chrissy! Yes I usually just hang out on the Aussie Breast Cancer Site ( a regular there) but I have been a member here for some time now.

    Although I don't post much I keep in touch with quite a few I have met on here over the years ...some more by email. I started off in the chatroom a lot and still go in now and then. Sometimes if I haven't been in chat for ages I'm asked if I have just been diagnosed and I say "no almost 20 years ago"..lol

    You can see by my frequent posts just lately that I am on holidays! I am doing a bit of entertaining later in the week and I really should be doing other things.....but I am a bit addicted to computers.

    OK....will check out facebook, the Aussie Forum and emails and THEN start planning menus and doing some housework!

    Nice thread..thanks for starting it Trish.

    jezza

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited December 2011

    Hello everyone!

    Jezza, Angelice nice to see you again :-)

    Gald everyone's Christmas was nice.  I had a lovely relaxing day with at my DH cousin's place.  It was lovely - and I didn't have to do a thing - even nicer!  Well I did help with carving the ham and turkey, but not much else.  So much better than last year, after a 2nd chemo treatment, and rushing up to Bathurst to see my brother who'd been diagnosed with bowel cancer and was in hospital after his op.  He's doing really well now btw.

    Kate - maybe you need to ask your doc tomorrow when everyone's back if the swelling and pinkness and soreness are normal?  I would imagine it might be - but how long ago did you have your op?

    Jenn - thinking of you, and have pm'd you with some details.

    I'm sorry to hear about the damage in Melbourne - we've been pretty lucky, thunderstorms every afternoon, but no hail.  Just shivering quivering dogs to cuddle.

    Best news at the moment?? I just had my 2nd last Herceptin treatment!!!!! YAY!!! Just one small dose to go!!  Can you tell I'm happy??? lol

    Trish

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited December 2011

    Happy New Year everyone!

    I hope we have a healthy and happy 2012.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited December 2011

    Happy New Year to all my Aussie BC sisters!! 🎉🎈🎆. Here's hoping 2012 brings good health, prosperity and peace for all.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 523
    edited January 2012

    Hi Ladies. Sorry I have been quiet. I have been in hospital since Friday morning. Yep, it was an infection in both breasts, so it wasn't just the normal tenderness and inflammation of the surgery. Took me a while though to realise the 'girls' were in trouble, because I never felt sick or had a temperature or any signs that my body was battling an infection, but in the end I conceded defeat, that something was seriously wrong, and so straight into hospital and on IV antibiotics. 

    It still hasn't cleared up but it is better now than it has been, so I am on the road to recovery.

    One big set back though. I went to the RO today for my initial consult for commencing radiation. He had my hormone status results at long last. Turns out I am triple positive, so they are now talking about chemo with Herceptin for me. This has been a big kicker for me, because it was never bought up before as a possibility. Always just surgery and radiation.

    I am in a dilemma as the cancer they removed was under a centimetre so really tiny, and my margins and sentinal lymph node were clear, so basically it's gone... or has it really? could there be some little micro ones laying there dormant for the moment, ready to awaken and reek havoc down the track. Do I take the 'preventative' measures (chemo etc) for something that may not be there any more and invite unwanted side effects and possible illness into my life... or do I forgo the treatment and just hope that it really is all gone??

    I really don't want chemo or Herceptin so I am very torn at the moment. I am a bit stunned by this of course, so I could just be reacting to this news, but at the moment I just want to bury my head in the sand and pretend that this will all go away.

    Bye for now.

    Kate

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited January 2012

    Oh Kate, sorry you have had the infection and the news indicating possible chemo. I really feel for you. This is part of the rollercoaster ride that is BC.



    You might want to get advice on the HER2 forum. And definitely get a second and even third onc opinion. I think you have a few weeks at least to make a decision about chemo.



    Wishing you well.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2012

    Damn Kate that's a real bummer!  Sorry you have had such rotten news on top of spending time in hospital fighting off infection in the girls.  No one can tell you what to do when it comes to your treatment that ultimately is your decision but I think if it's possible to take the precautions it's best to do so.  Speaking from my own experience, if I had been able to have my full chemo treatments and Tamoxifen when originally dx'd, I'm sure I would not be stage IV right now but it is what it is for me.

    As Racy says, check out the HER2 thread and if you are unsure, get at least another opinion from another onc.  I should think you still have time to do that as you need to fully get rid of that infection before anything else can be done anyway.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2012

    Hi all



    Kate: I'm sorry they marched you up the scale of seriousness so quickly today...The whole triple positive thing sucks, and the reality is that when you start looking at the stats there's not a lot of choice but to take the "treatments".



    I'm struggling today because I went to "chemo school" this morning with my husband and daughter and was the youngest person about to start treatment in the room by about 20years :-( How sucky is that??????



    I'm struggling ladies. I am so sad that this week I am "me" and next week I have no choice but to start these treatments that will destroy "me" forever...



    Today I started back at work after the break. I love my job and have just (on the same day as my surgery) been given a seniority raise and change of position description. But during a team meeting today it became obvious that my boss (young, female) is assuming that I'm "toast" in terms of being able to continue my job successfully. So now I'm worried about losing my job due to the time I'm going to have off for these treatments on top of everything else... If I can't keep my job we will lose our house as we had just remortgaged last year to do a big renovation and we knew it would take a couple of years hard work to get the finance back under control. This is all so overwhelming!



    My cancer centre has a psych onc service and I have booked an appt next Monday to try and talk this through. I know I'm depressed but no-one seems to be listening to me :-(

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2012

    Hey Jenn, we all know how you feel, really we do.  You are absolutely right when you say this whole thing just sucks and to be young and have to deal with this is a double suck!  Please don't worry about age differences in your chemo class as BC is a big equaliser and you will probably find that you will make some good friends there.  Comparing notes as you go through treatment is always a good thing and quite helpful as well.

     If you are worried about your position with your work, would it be worthwhile seeing your boss and having an honest and open discussion on what your Dx actually means?  Sometimes, the uneducated will automatically jump to the conclusion that cancer = death but after a little education in that area things can be a lot better.  Besides, you don't need the added stress and worry for that on top of what you already have.

    I'm glad you are seeing the psych on Monday and I'm sure you will find the visit very helpful.  Please don't be afraid to ask for a little medication help if you think you need it for the depression as it will help immensley.

    Good luck with everything!!!!

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited March 2012

    Hi Jenn, I know what you mean about everyone else in treatment appearing to be older. When I went to my radiation appointments, I was always the youngest by far in the waiting room. Everyone else seemed to be in their 70s or 80s. It is hard being 'young' with cancer, though some of my doctors assured me they had younger patients as well.



    I hope your boss will be ok about your diagnosis. I can't really see that you would lose your job as I imagine your employer is a reputable organisation.



    I'm glad you are getting psychological treatment; I considered it essential. And I take anti-anxiety meds. Did you get a mental health plan from your GP so that you can claim for the visits through Medicare? (I am assuming that by psych you mean psychologist, not psychiatrist).



    This is a hard road and it is understandable that you would be depressed. I have found that the emotional impacts are in some ways worse and longer lasting than the physical scars, and are far reaching, so you should do what you can to look after your psychological as well as physical health through this. Unfortunately, chemo can be quite depressing also, even if the physical side effects are mild.



    Keep in touch and let us know how you are going. We understand as we have been through the same experiences.



    Take it easy and be kind to yourself.



    Sorry if this post is depressing but it is true, as I have experienced it!

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