Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

Australian Sisters

1…335336338340341…410

Comments

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2015

    Hi girls, I'm here!!! I have been flat out with grandsons staying and ferrying them back and forth to Adelaide as I dropped one off and picked up the next......lol. The second one came with a mate and wanted to get some driving hours up so grandma was the driving instructor and now I have finally delivered them all to their respective parents I am pooped!!! Thank goodness the tennis is on so I guess I will be doing a lot of sitting and watching........but that is a good thing.

    I have a little news for you all, after eleven years of being a one hung low I have decided to have a visit with a PS to discuss the possibility of a recon job. Of late I find that I really am over the whole foob deal as it is just so uncomfortable. Should a recon not be possible or practical, I think I will be asking to get rid of the other boob......at least then I will be even. My appointment is set for the 31st March (her first available) so that will be interesting and I will keep you all informed as to the out come.

    Gosh you girls have been busy! It's good to hear that all scans etc have been good (the best kind to have) so you can breathe easier for the next few months. I know that when it comes time for followup scans etc we can all get a little anxious about the results and sometimes we even work ourselves into a bit of a state, but when we get right down to it, most scans are clear so the odds are in your favor so try to relax and son't worry until or if you really need to.

    Love n hugs to all! Chrissy

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited January 2015

    thats interesting chrissie. which hospital are you going to?? Im nearly finished with my fills got the third one tommorow morning!!

    Feeling really good at the moment!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2015

    Mel I'm assuming St Andrews if it happens as Melissa Bochner operates there. I do have private cover so that's not a problem. I have heard some really good reports on her results so looking forward to chatting to her.

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited January 2015

    Chrissy good to hear from you - I thought you might be busy with grandsons lol.

    It's interesting to hear you are considering recon after so long. It just goes to show that we all change as time goes on in one way or another. It will be interesting to hear what your surgeon has to say.

    I'm finding that I'm getting more and more feeling back into my skin. It seems to have speeded up a lot over the past 12 months or so. The foob is starting to annoy me, when it never really bothered me before. I can't imagine having recon done though, I just don't want to go through another surgery lol.  Who knows how I'll feel in a few years time though.

    Have a great day girls.
    Trish

    xoxo

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2015

    Trish it wasn't that I never wanted recon before, I did and I did pursue it in the first twelve months after dx. The reason it never happened was that the particular PS I went to told me to lose 30kg and then he might consider doing it. I have been trying to lose those 30kg ever since to no avail........I always just seem to get to the 10kg mark and then the seesaw starts so I gave up and thought I could live without it but it is becoming so very uncomfortable with the foob.

    Over the years I have seen much larger women than I having recons but I was I guess a little afraid to hope, and also of getting the same comment again, so never pursued until now. Now I know a lot more, I am no longer the scared of dying person I was way back then, I've had eleven years to get really feisty and it's now time and the foob is ticking me off!

  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 2,703
    edited January 2015

    Chrissy.. Good for you....You need to do what is right for you !! Funny.. Since I read your post last night I've been wondering if I've done the right thing having no reconstruction..?? It'd be nice not having to "put your boob on " every morning !! I do envy people with 2 boobs..

    Trisha.. Hmm.. Your comments are interesting.. I don't really notice I'm wearing my foob during the day.. But I hadn't realised that I may become more sensitive to it as time goes by..

    .




  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited January 2015

    Trish, I am interested to hear your comments about getting more feeling back too, mine really hasn't improved much at all, in the past 2 years. I have only noticed recently, that the phantom itching, has all but disappeared. I don't really notice I am wearing a foob any more, so I will be interested to see if there is any improvement in feeling in the future.

    Good for you Chrissy! My surgeon told me the door was not closed, if I ever changed my mind. I'd be interested to know how many women do decide to have reconstruction down the track. I know there is only one woman, in the BC support group of 23 that I belong to, who has reconstructed, from memory, she waited 8 years, before taking that step and she is very happy with her results.

    All the very best with it!

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited January 2015

    Well good for you Chrissy - I didn't realise you'd wanted recon from the start. :-)

    I've only really noticed the feeling coming back in the last 12 months - probably really only in the last 6 months properly.  I still get really itchy when I go to bed at night - every single night, I lay down ready to go to sleep and my breast (that's not there) itches. In particular the nipple lol. That hasn't stopped.

    I was wondering a few months ago why my bra was annoying me so much, it took a while to realise it was only annoying me on my mx side, and it the area that was getting irritated was fairly close to my scar. If it's cold (not lately lol) when I put the foob in I can feel it's cold - didn't have that to start with.

    Maybe some of us get feeling back quicker than others. I just thought I'd never get feeling back so close to the scar. Oh - and I'm also getting some feeling back under my arm.  I stopped shaving under my arms, as I had no feeling and didn't want to inadvertently cut myself. Mind you there's very little hair under that arm anyway lol.

    Ariom, you are only two years out , and Lucy you are much closer to sx - so maybe you will have some feeling come back as time goes on. I've never really thought about it much before.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited January 2015

    I had my third fill this morning!! Its definetly looking bigger on the sides and higher up the top. There will be only one more fill before exchange!!

    image

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited January 2015

    Trish. I had a lot of Phantom itch, same as you, where the nipple would have been and over the non existent breast. I discovered that using a rough towel, see-sawed across my back helped a lot with the front. I spoke to my surgeon about it and he said most of the itching sensation would go in the first year, really,? Well, that didn't happen, it took almost another year. I saw him just a couple of weeks ago for my 2 year check up and he explained how the nerves which start in the back, grow by a certain amount every month trying to reattach across where the breast was removed. Once they have regenerated as far as they can go, it should settle down.That's the theory anyway! LOL

    I can understand your feeling about not wanting another surgery, I was very much the same, but decided I couldn't put up with my "Dog Ear" any longer. Apart from the nasty appearance of it, I had what felt like a bundle of live nerves inside it which zapped and zinged all the time. I decided to have it removed and it was actually the best thing I ever did. It added another 7cm to my Mx scar and it took a few weeks to really recover and get my ROM back completely, because the rules were the same for the Mx, no lifting or stretching etc. So it really is a case, of never say never!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2015

    I have full sensation where my mx scar is and I think that is why the foob is really annoying and uncomfortable........really hot and sweaty under it which causes itching in the summer and like an ice block on my chest in the winter. I've had full sensation for a number of years so the nerves have certainly grown.

    I just checked with my fund to see how the coverage was for recon and providing the docs charge the standard fee, it will no out of pocket so that is a really good thing. Now it's just a wait until the end of March.........at least I have my trip to Cairns to distract me.......lol.

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited January 2015

    I waited 18 months then had a consultation. Then thought about it for another year. My reconstruction took 2 years because I had 1 done at a time because I had problems with the side the lymphs were removed. I am glad I had it done but it did take 8 different operations because of drainage infections on my left side. I am now 2/12 years out and very pleased I had it done

  • aussie12
    aussie12 Member Posts: 421
    edited January 2015


    Hi all

    Where is everyone ???

    If your like me your life is boring and haven't got much to say or your so busy you haven't got time to post !!!

    I have my mammogram on March 11th, it's been 3 years since my diagnosis.

    Hope that everyone has a great weekend.

    Carol

  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 2,703
    edited January 2015

    Hi Carol,

    Yes.. It's so quiet here.. I think it happened just after I joined.. Must be my fault 😃

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited January 2015

    Hi girls! I don;t know where everyone is but I usually call in each day even if I don't post.

    Carol, I'll be thinking of you on March 11th and hoping that your mammo comes back really clear. Wow! Have three years passed already? I know it may have felt like it was going pretty slow at time but from looking in from the outside, the time has certainly flown!

    Lol Lucy, I'm sure you are not the cause of things being a little quite........it's fairly typical for December and January as everyone gets busy with getting organized for Christmas and then there are the kids on holiday. All that has returned to normal. I think you will find that most of the girls will find there way back in here.

    Do either of you use Face Book? If you do check out this page, Adelaide Breast Cancer Friendship Group Chat Room. It is a closed group and it's not just for the Adelaide girls but girls from all over. It started just over twelve months ago and now has over two hundred members. It's easy to join should you want to and all you need to do is click on the 'join' tag and follow the prompts. Just another group and it's filled with great Aussie women with a few from over seas as well.

    The last two weeks for me have been spent being a slug and watching the tennis and as of tomorrow, I will be all tennised out and my life will return to normal (I hope ).....lol. I guess I will be starting to get things cut and sewn and packed for my trip to Cairns which begins on the 8th March.......sooooo looking forward to that and catching up with family and friends.

    Well that's me for today, I promise I'll be back at some point tomorrow....lol.

    Love n hugs all! Chrissy

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited January 2015

    Great to see some posts....I thought there was a problem with the site Happy

    Carol, fingers crossed for the mammogram, we'll be thinking of you

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited February 2015

    yes same here since my post was the last one for a couple of days!!

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2015

    im still here! awaiting my final fill on the right expander. excited about exchange but i know its going to be harder than expander surgery as im having the left lat dorsi at the same time. Will be happy to have two boobs again after so long!!

    yeah im a member of that adelaide group! its an awesome group of ladies :)

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited February 2015

    I'm here too. Have been a bit like Chrissy - watching the tennis lol. When I'm not doing that I'm either working (which has been really busy) or doing photoshoots.

    Not much news here, all's well.

    Carol - three years does go fast doesn't it! I have my yearly visit with my onc in March - usually have a mammo for it, but this year will be having an MRI. Because of the lobular we agreed that I'd have an MRI one year and a mammo the other. I guess I should get round to getting it booked.

    Mel - you won't know yourself soon Smile

    Chrissy - enjoy your trip to Cairns - don't forget though - you need to make a time to come to Canberra!!

    I don't think I knew about the facebook page - or if I did I forgot about it lol. Will have to have a look.


    Take care lovely ladies!

    Trish

    xoxo

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited February 2015

    It's definitely gotten a little quiet around here - but as everyone else said, I think it is quite common in Dec/Jan of each year.

    I must admit that I've not been around daily as I used to be - maybe because it's now been 3yrs since my diagnosis and I'm now moving further away from it and not actively reliving the experience on a minute by minute or daily basis as I used to. But, my life has also gotten to be quite a lot more hectic over the past year and I'm struggling to just get through everything in my days. "Everything" now includes a job with increased responsibilities (I have 9 direct reports as of 1 January); a child with special needs who has been throwing out more health and behaviour challenges; a mother in New Zealand (I'm an only child, living in Sydney) diagnosed with dementia etc etc etc.

    Anyway, the good news is:

    - had my annual ultrasound, CT scan and bone scan in the second week of January and it all came back with no sign of cancer (but increased arthritic degeneration in my shoulder...).

    - our daughter had an ear-drum reconstruction surgery a couple of weeks ago and it's starting to look like it might have been reasonably successful

    - after 3 trips to Auckland in January I have now put my mother's unit on the market and it goes to auction on 17th February. Need lots of crossed fingers that it sells well as the money from the sale is needed to pay for her care in the dementia unit which runs at $4,200.00 per month!!!!!

    - I have enrolled in the one last final subject needed to complete my science degree. After 8 years I should finally finish this thing by the end of June.

    The bad news:

    - my shoulder hurts like H.... pretty much all day everyday.

    - I continue to struggle with fatigue on a daily basis and keep putting more weight on and I'm blaming it on the Femara and the Crestor that I now have to take because the Femara has raised my cholesterol levels.

    I apologise that I can't be around here as often.

    regards Jenn


     

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited February 2015

    Jenn, (((hugs))). You have a lot of challenges and seem to be coping remarkably well! I hope your QOL improves....

  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 2,703
    edited February 2015

    Just wondering which blood tests your specialists orders at your 12 month check ups? Do they do the pacific cancer markers? I so hate tests and waiting for results.


  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited February 2015

    Hi Lucy

    I was (and still am) only getting Full Blood Counts, pretty much the same as the blood tests done before each chemo treatment. Most oncs don't use markers as they are pretty unreliable. They may be of use if you are Stage IV, but can show up as having elevated tumour markers when you may just have an infection, and can be low when there are tumours present. So most don't use them.

    I'm with you - hate the tests and the waiting. I go for my yearly check up with my onc next month, so better get myself into gear and start organising the tests lol.
    Trish

    xoxo


     

  • taniae
    taniae Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2015
    Hello ladies, I'm new to this thread. I come from Sydney and just thought I'd pop by and say hello. It's great to read all your stories and see so many of you doing so well. Cheers Tania
  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 2,703
    edited February 2015

    Hi Tania..Nice to meet another Aussie . I'm from Brisbane..!!

  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 2,703
    edited February 2015

    Hi Tania..Nice to meet another Aussie . I'm from Brisbane..!!

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited February 2015

    Hi Tania, I am from Victoria, look forward to seeing you on the boards!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited February 2015

    Hi Tania! Welcome to the thread! I'm from the Mid North of SA. Glad you found this forum and this thread. How are you going right now? I sure hope the Tamoxifen is treating you well with few SE.

    It's a hottie here today, as it was yesterday and is supposed to be tomorrow. Guess I shouldn't whinge as so far it has been a very mild summer for which I am eternally grateful!.....lol. Oh, on the good news front, DH finally got his passport and it arrived in the mail last Thursday so the organisation for the trip to France begin in earnest.....Woohoo!!!!!

    Take care my lovelies and if it's hot where you are then try to stay cool!

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • taniae
    taniae Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2015

    Thank you Lucy, Ariom and Chrissyb for your warm welcome. It feels so good to know that you are not alone dealing with this hideous disease. As much as our US counterparts are so helpful, supportive and a wealth of information it's so nice to find a thread with some Aussie ladies on it. I am a bit over a year out from diagnosis so everything still feels new to me. Still trying to deal with my "new" normal. Have my occasional "down" day but they are getting few and far between now. My hair has come back with an abundance of curls, I hate it but at least it's hair . I'm going really well with Tamoxifen just some pretty intense hot flushes but that was to be expected. Going for my first mammogram since my surgery in April and as nervous as ever. I suppose we never really get over that feeling after bc.

    Very hot here in Sydney at the moment. I'm so thankful I have a pool. Looking forward to the Autumn weather.

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited February 2015

    Hi all

    This Kiwi is still lurking around as well. Have been reading but not posting much mainly because the RA has been rotten, well that's what I say it is. I have had such severe pain in lower back. Had xray and there is something pressing on the spinal cord. I need an MRI so they can have a real good look at it.Could be a herniated disc, a bone spur or something else. Problem is I can't get an appointment with a specialist for ages and this is privately as well. I just haven't had the energy to do much on the computer and probably have been avoiding it as I just want to think its the old back problems getting worse and not anything else.

    On the positive side is I have had a good reason to watch all the tennis and cricket and more starts very soon. Also I have been knitting for a couple of young friends who are having babies soon and have started to knit a shawl for our new grandchild which is due at the beginning of August.

    Today I was bad and nearly killed myself doing some gardening but at least I know why I am so sore tonight and can hardly move. .

    Big hugs

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.