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  • Kazzie61
    Kazzie61 Member Posts: 418
    edited October 2013

    Chrissy....another gorgeous picture! You have a beautiful family.....they must come from good stock...:)



    Ariom....congrats on your clear mammogram, I can only imagine the relief for you & long may it last!



    Annette....so sorry to hear of the surgery cancellation.....damn hospital, now you have to phsych yourself up for it again....(((hugs))) & good luck.



    Mandy....lovely to hear from you, how are you doing?



    Trish....I hope you get your meds sorted & you start feeling better soon xx



    Kylie....you poor thing! I hope you're feeling ok & the poor little kiddies, getting such a fright, scared you'd really hurt yourself....they are so precious.



    I hope I haven't missed anyone & if I have big hugs!!



    My furniture arrived yesterday & looks beautiful! The new lounge is coming next week just to complete the look. I have rather spoilt myself & bought a rather luxurious new car.....picking it up tomorrow. Hubby & I talked about a new car & he pointed out that everything I do in life is for the rest of the family (as all mothers do!!) & given that I'm going to miss out on so much of the future I should spoil myself.......so I did! Will post pics once I have it....:)



    Having my daughters birthday dinner tonight with the extended family & we're going to reveal the sex of the baby with a 'baby reveal cake'! Should be a lot of fun.



    Have a great day all.



    (((Hugs)))



    Karen xxx

  • stressmagnet
    stressmagnet Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2013

    Hi, Lu here. Still upright despite being Stage IV Triple Neg. I'm consumed by work and I'm volunteering for Sam Johnson's charioty (www.loveyoursister.org). I'm organising a fundraiser at the Kincumber Hotel on 1st Dec if anyone is interested. Bring your kids, your other -- it's a family friendly event and every cent goes to the Garvan for cancer research. (he's living on Instant Noodles right now LOL).

    My Xeloda dosage has been upped, but my CA 15.3 and CEA counts remain stable though not normal. I'm hoping that Xeloda keeps me in check for as long as possible as I couldn't do Abraxane anymore at ALL and besides, my hair is growing. It's nice to have eyebrows and eyelashes again - I'm proof that you don't become less superficial just cos you have an incurable cancer.

    Anyway - I'll be at the fundraiser, message me if you'd like to come - I'd love to meet you. this place is a lifeline for me on the dark days.

  • wahine
    wahine Member Posts: 7,590
    edited October 2013

    I am so proud of all of you, you are amazing women here...Aussie's are STRONG!!!!

    Karen, SO glad your DH convinced you to get the super duper new car. And all the new furniture! Very glad you are doing that, and will get to be around nice things. I know your loved ones are the most important things in the world to you, but I am glad you are getting some pampering now! AND I hope you live long enough to see all of the new stuff get old, and need to be replaced many, many times!!!!

    Hugs to all of you,

    Kathy

  • mandymoo
    mandymoo Member Posts: 632
    edited October 2013

    Hi Lu, nice to hear from you and good luck with your fundraising. I follow Sam Johnson's Charity (love your sister) on facebook and I think that is awesome!!!

    My question is this. I was not aware that you can increase the dosage of Xeloda and that you can only decrease it or have a "rest" from it. I am quite interested in this, as I am putting on weight (due to not being able to stand or walk for too long due to the SE's to my feet) and the dosage also goes by weight of the person etc. 

    Cheers

    Mandy

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited October 2013

    Thanks so much Kylie and Chrissy! I can't believe the speed of this year, and boy, how much I have learned.

    Thanks Karen, I appreciate your kind words too!

    Looking forward to seeing your pics.

    Congratulations on the new car, and the furniture. I wish you many, many years of enjoyment.

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited October 2013

    Oh Karen, I missed the part about the dinner and the baby reveal. How exciting! All the very best, and have a fabulous night.

  • kyliet
    kyliet Member Posts: 587
    edited October 2013

    Onc visit today. He has changed me to Femara so hopefully it will help. Thanks Chrissy and Trish for your input because I wouldn't have been brave enough to ask otherwise.



  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited October 2013

    Oh that's good news Kylie......hopefully now your SE's will lessen and you will once again feel human.  If you are as I was, a couple of weeks and you won't know yourself.......I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited October 2013

    Kylie, good luck with Femara, it is working OK for me so I hope you do well on it too...

  • Australia
    Australia Member Posts: 128
    edited October 2013

    Beautiful couple Chrissy, and you did a fabulous job of the venue. I would be stressed o the max! Racy, thank you xxxxx. Kathy I have never heard of that saying, how funny was that lol. Kazzie, how wonderful to be indulged, love it! Stressmagnet, I was lucky and found abraxane easy , good luck with the xelodea. I am on affinitor which can cause diabetes and after only 2 weeks on it my gp rang tonight to say my blood sugar has risen to pre diabetes level. What the hell! Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Love to all I have forgotten. Gail

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited October 2013

    Hi stressmagnet, would you like to come to our get-together in Sydney on the weekend of 29 November -1 December? You would be most welcome. And you, Australia. I'll bump the thread where the details are.



    Kazzie, what brand of car are you getting?

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited October 2013

    Karen - I love that you are spoiling yourself :-) You deserve it - and yes - what sort of car are you getting?

    Ariom - Yay!!! on 12 months, you have come a long way.  We do learn so much about this don't we, pity we have to learn it the hard way though.

    Stressmagnet - great to see you are still upright lol - keep it that way as long as you can.  And I second Racy - if you are up to it, we'd love you to join us in Sydney for our get together at the end of November.  Let us know if you are able to make it.

    Kylie - so glad you are able to change.  It certainly made a huge difference for me, and I'm keeping everything crossed that it will for you too xoxo

    Australia - if you can make if from the Gold Coast to Sydney in November, we'd love to see you too.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited October 2013

    hi ladies got an update. got the results from my mri and the right side is all clear!!! Talked to my surgeon about reconstruction and he said it will be a three stage process with the first stage being the left side reconstruction with lat flap and expander.

    he put me on the waiting list which means the first stage will be done in a year but maybe sooner but no more than a year then the other stages after that so seems like it may be nearly a year after the first stage is done before i will be fully put back together with nipples and everything. I knew it wouldnt be a quick process but at least there may be a bit of hope to get a call for the op before october 2014 but im not holding my breath..at least i have a timeframe to plan now.

    only bad thing was when he examined me he said I have a bit of lymphoedema in my left arm and he doesnt want it to get worse so hes recommended i get treatment at a lymphoedema clinic with some massage. will this be a long term thing if he says its a minor case? from what ive heard some ladies need months and even years of therapy to keep it under control.

  • Australia
    Australia Member Posts: 128
    edited October 2013


    thanks girls fir the invite, very kind, I will have to see as I am planning a holiday in November or December and organizing that first. There is a dinner in Sydney for bcaus forum this weekend and one of the girls attending from Melbourne will be staying with me this week. It's great the friendships we make through forums, love it. Great news Melp! Love Gail

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited October 2013


    Sorry for my silence...


    Finished up at work on Friday and flew over to NZ today. Great flight over. My first flight on Emirates and an A380 - very impressive!


    Not so great news about my Mum though. Ct brain scan is showing a previous stroke and they have diagnosed her with dementia. There is a family conference (just her, me and her best friend with the doctors and social worker) tomorrow where some big decisions will need to be made :-/


    I signed the contract for our new apartment yesterday evening and our house was photographed this week and will be on the market next week.


    I start my new job next week too...


    Jenn

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited October 2013


    Jenn, lots happening for you. Try to keep calm and get help from others (family?) to reduce stress with all the changes ocurring in your life.

  • Kazzie61
    Kazzie61 Member Posts: 418
    edited October 2013


    Wow Jenn, lots happening for you. I hope the meeting with your mum goes as well as it can! I saw your new apartment on Facebook.....it looks fabulous.......I hope your house sells quickly.


    Well, as announced on Facebook, we're getting a grandson!! I have a cupboard full of little blue baby outfits & have done lots of blue baby knitting! So very exciting.


    Racy, my new car is a brand new luxurious Jaguar!! Your perspective on life changes when your dealt this deal....some people jump out of planes, some climb mountains & bridges....not me, I buy an expensive car!! It's absolutely beautiful & a dream to drive, it's a deep red colour.


    I feel I have so much joy in my life, i love my family to pieces, I love my house, i love my grandson already & i love my new car! i just love life......I want to fight this beastly disease forever......


    Luv to all.


    ((Hugs)))


    Karen xxx

  • Australia
    Australia Member Posts: 128
    edited October 2013


    that's amazing Karen, a new jag! Enjoy every minute. I brought myself a new Toyota corolla just before Christmas and love having a new car. Everything works and no worry of breaking down lol! Enjoy your new furniture and car, you can't take it with you! I told my son not to expect any money left, he can have the house, mind you I may sell that if I have to fund myself!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited October 2013


    Hi Girls!


    Yay Karen!!! A little boy, how wonderful.........I tell you truly that boys are fabulous as I have four grandsons and they have bought me nothing but joy! Wowza! Your car sounds fab! now that's what I call luxury! Have fun and enjoy driving it........now we really need pics of all the new things........lol.......just so we can drool.


    Jenn, good luck with sorting things for your mum, I read on FB whats going on and it must make things very difficult for you. Your apartment sounds incredible so here's hoping your house sell quickly for you. Congrats on your new job by the way........it all seems to be happening for you at once.


    There are so many new girls joining the thread that I just want to say hi to you all and extend the invitation to join us at the get together in Sydney the last weekend in November and for those who can't join for the weekend perhaps you could join us for a meal. We did this last year in Brisbane and we had a ball.


    I've just been taking it easy since the wedding as I think I was fighting a chest infection/lurgy/cold for the couple of weeks prior but once I relaxed after I now have a full blown chest infection and have been on anti B's for the last few days. My doc commented that it's five years since he px an anti B for me, but this infection needs the big guns. They must be working as my nose has begun to need a lot of blowing and I am coughing up a lot of crap (sorry TMI).


    DD is having a wonderful time with new hubby in Borneo. They went to the Orang sanctuary the other day and she has fallen in love all over again with the babies......can't say I blame her as they are just gorgeous!


    Trish, have you heard anything yet? This is really becoming long winded and you need to start pushing a bit.........you need to be seen!


    Well DH will be home shortly and will want food so I'd best go and check what's in the fridge that I can throw together to create something that is a little bit edible........lol.


    Have a good night all!


    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited October 2013


    Hi Karen a little boy wonderful news. Jenn hope things go smoothly with your mum Chrissy we must have the same chest infection I am worn out from coughing I am going to melb next Monday to have a massive IV of vitamin c I had it 4 years ago before and after chemo and it rebooted my immune system let's hope it does it again. Hugs to everyone hope you get to doc soon Trish Judy

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited October 2013


    Karen, what lovely news a little grandson! And a jag! Wow - you have lots of lovely news :-) I love how you are feeling at the moment, and I'm hoping you keep that feeling for a very, very long time xoxo


    Wow Jenn - you have lots going on at the moment, take care and try not to let too much stress you out xoxo


    Great news Mel - although not so great about the LE - go to the LE threads on here, there is lots of great information that will help you.


    Chrissy - hope you are feeling better soon xoxo No - no news yet, my GP has been on leave, so maybe I'll hear something today ... sigh ... yes, it's taking far too long, and I'm getting frustrated.


    I did something interesting yesterday though - we got asked to photograph some models who were being body painted to look like cheetahs. They were then going to walk around Floriade interacting with people, then going to Canberra's Zoo. I didn't do the whole day thing (my business partner Richard did that - he has more energy than me lol) but I went to the zoo and did the "patting the cheetah" bit. If you want to see, follow the link here.


    Have a great day everyone!



    Trish


    xoxo

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited October 2013


    Wow Trish, a live cheetah! Great photos :-)


    Did you get to pat it too or did you just worry about the safety of the models.....

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited October 2013


    Wow Trish! Great shots! I would have loved to be one of those models just so I could pat a cheetah.........don't think I'd pass as a model anymore unless they are looking for a whale!.........lol..........definitely not sleek like a cheetah.


    Trish I do hope you hear something today, if not I think it's time to start pushing hard for some action........this has been going on waaaay too long and now needs sorting.


    I think the anti B's are working as my nose has now started to run away with me.........maybe that's a good thing as my head doesn't feel quite so floaty now but still not normal......sigh!......I think I ignored this far too long and it's got a good grip so may take some time to clear completely. My Doc has given me a repeat on the anti B so I'm thinking that he's thinking it's going to take two lots to get gone as well. Never mind, one day at a time.


    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • AussieSheila
    AussieSheila Member Posts: 439
    edited October 2013


    Sheesh Chrissy, sounds like you should be in bed being waited on hand and foot with a 'wog' like that. I hope it clears off soonest rather than latest.


    Does anyone here remember the name of those scarves...starts with a 'B' I think....for chemo-afflicted heads? It looks like I will be needing some


    in the next couple of weeks.


    I have been dxed w/ liver mets and my Onc wants me to start Abraxane as soon as possible, could be this week or next. I will be getting a power port


    inserted in the next three weeks but will have to endure 1 - 3 txs without, which makes me extremely nervous. Had a scan last Fri and it took them


    40 mins to insert a canula before the five minute scan. I now have a magnificent bruise on the under side of my left upper arm that I am thinking of


    photographing and framing as a work of art.


    Sheila.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited October 2013


    Oh dang Sheila! I'm really sorry to hear that news......not good. I hear you on trying to get a canula in I hate having scans that need contrast for that very reason. I'm surprised that you are not scheduled for a port much sooner than that.......what's the hold up, do you know? What a pain having to have Abraxane without the port or any treatment with out the port.


    Hang in there and you know we are all here for you.


    Don't worry about me, I will survive, it's just a 'wog' after all and I shouldn't be complaining......lol.


    Take care.


    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 1,422
    edited October 2013


    Sheila - so sorry to hear this news.


    I think what you are looking for is Buffs :


    http://www.planetbuff.com/?gclid=CPyijKCCh7oCFcRXpQod_jIAuQ


    http://www.mybuff.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=5&vmcchk=1&Itemid=5


    I got some from Australia and some from the US (a bit cheaper)


    What is so good about them is that they breathe when it's hot.


    ((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

  • AussieSheila
    AussieSheila Member Posts: 439
    edited October 2013


    Thanks Chrissy and Suzie, I am being treated at Hervey Bay Hospital and getting these things co-ordinated can be trying at times.


    Trying to find a good needle sticker in a hospital is worse than trying to find the proverbial needle etc,.


    I will go to these sites and try to get something delivered before the hair goes, hopefully.


    Sheila.

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,625
    edited October 2013


    Excuse me breaking in here, but we are looking to show your faces, names and quotes at our fundraising event in October (www.rockforbreastcancer.org), and would love your help. This event is one of our largest fundraisers of the year and we'll be joined by hundreds of generous donors.


    Specifically, we will have two projector screens up during the event, and want to show the people attending the event YOUR faces--- the women of our community, the women who use and rely on BCO ! Having the opportunity to share your photos and quotes that night will reinforce to our donors, in a meaningful and personal way, just how vitally important their contributions are to our community.


    For this, we are looking for people willing to share a photo of themselves (either alone or with family, friends, pets, other BCO members, etc.), allow us to use your first name, say where you are from (it can be from anywhere in the world!), and give us a quote on how important BCO is to you. We are looking to have at least 40 people and have (only) a few weeks to work on this.


    If you are interested, could you please email Melissa at mjenkins@breastcancer.org, with your photo, first name, where you live, and your quote? Also, PM us if you have any questions!


    Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping us!!


    Melissa

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited October 2013


    Sheila hopefully it wont happen with the first or even the second round and you will have time to take delivery of them. I sure do hope you can get your port sooner rather than later........it will make your treatments so much easier for you.


    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 1,422
    edited October 2013


    Sheila - the Australian site delivered really quickly. Maybe get 1 or 2 from there and then check out the US Site. The US site had a bigger variety and were half the price at the time. BCF also stock them, but they were suited for males. They are not strictly cancer head wear, but that is why I liked them. My onc had even heard of them.

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