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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2016

    Oh damn Trish!! I'm sure we could change the date of the get together without too much problem and I'm sure we could all agree readily on that point. We would miss you way too much not to have you there at all. We also understand that things are really tight for you and it's so disappointing that the other job fell through. You are probably right when you say that things will look brighter once your hair gets thicker and longer.........anyway, I hope so. So glad you are feeling a lot better and are up to actively chasing those jobs.

    Mel the shop is in Burra, literally across the road from where I live so not very far to go......lol......easily walked. :)

    I have organized for the printing of some blank cards with my photos on the front and hopefully they will sell well. The photos I have chosen are ones of the area around Burra so hopefully they will be appealing. The final bits and pieces are being done while I'm with my sister so all with be ready to go when I get home.

    Stay well all!

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 269
    edited June 2016

    Hi everyone,

    I haven't posted in a while but I'm "travelling" ok. Had problems with generic brand Anastrozole but so much better since changing to name brand Arimidex. I saw the Oncologist last month. It was uneventful. My blood work all looked good and physical exam didn't expose anything sinister. He wants to see me again in December. Appointment with the surgeon in early September.

    Trish glad to hear that you are feeling well. Good luck with the job hunting.


    Chrissy your shop venture sounds very exciting. I hope it's a huge success.

    Gorgeous pic Tammy. ThumbsUp


    Kylie what area of the coast do you live in? We lived there for over 20 years. Beautiful spot. Shame it's so busy these days.


    Had a few days at my daughters earlier in the month. Was my grandsons 6th Birthday. Had an amazing time.

    We are off to our sons this weekend. It's his B'Day on Friday. So looking forward to spending some time with his family. He has 2 children. I will get lots of cuddles.


    Thinking of you all.

    Hugs Donna.




  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2016

    Yay Donna! Spending time with the grands is super special so I know you will enjoy it immensely. Glad you are travelling well and feel so much better on the name brand Arimadex.......I know the feeling as I get the name brand on all my meds as the generic ones give me no end of trouble.

    Pop in whenever the mood takes you, coz you know we all love to hear from you.

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 269
    edited June 2016

    Thought I would share this cute pic of my grandson Eli. He is 11 months.

    He enjoyed his spaghetti for brekkie yesterday and looks very pleased with himself.


    image

  • gerrib
    gerrib Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2016

    I haven't posted for a while.Glad to hear everyone is doing well. Don't know if you remember but I had UMX for pleomorphic ILC in March. Am doing well on Arimidex. This was a second primary in other breast. I had IDC in 2011-12.

    I think I have been reading too much on BCO about my rare type of cancer this time. Er 30%+ Pr neg Ki67 20%

    I'm thinking of getting a second opinion from MO in Melbourne (preferably). I live near Albury. Wondering if anyone can suggest a MO who is willing to discuss specifics and appreciates that some of us go online and to get info.I am sensible enough to know what is reputable research. I was previously a nurse and midwife. I feel as though we are a bit behind the 8 ball here in Oz.. I wonder why we don't do oncotype testing.

    Don't feel as though doctors here have properly addressed my concerns about specifics of this recent diagnosis. According to anecdotal info on BCO I should have had chemo. My MO has lovely bedside manner but when I mention that I get info from this site she is fairly dismissive. I'm thinking of getting a referral to Assoc Prof Prue Francis at Peter Mac. She does research and has presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference.

    Any thoughts or other recommendations

    Thanks for listening and keep warm

    Gerri

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited June 2016

    Donna, way too cute😉

    Gerri, I hear you on the oncotype testing. I paid $4,000 for mine and it gave me some comfort in making decisions.



  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited June 2016

    Donna, love that grin! Very pleased with himself indeed........sooooo cute!

    Gerri, goodluck with finding an onc in Melbourne! Hope you find the answers youcare looking for.

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited June 2016

    Hello all

    Chrissy - I'm sure your cards will be a success! Good luck with it all.

    Donna - good to hear from you, your GS is gorgeous!

    Gerri, I don't know anyone in Melbourne, and I can't remember who on here is from Melbourne, hopefully if there is they'll chime in. As to having chemo or not, all I know is that with my first bc in 2010, there was some doubt as to whether I'd have chemo or not. One tumour was IDC 2cm, grade 3 and no obvious node involvement. The tumour board in Canberra met and were uncommitted until pathology came through. The fact that it was HER2+ was the reason I got chemo, and then a node was found to have cancer. But it was the HER2+ status that determined the chemo. The other tumour was ILC and not as big and low grade, it wasn't even considered. I know that ILC is slow growing, and there's some debate as to whether it benefits from chemo. But I don't know all the ins and outs of it all, I never had to research that part of it.

    This time around, being TN there wasn't any doubt. It was grade 3 and my kI67 was over 90%, so no question, it was going to be chemo. I didn't have testing, even though this was a second primary. I don't have children, had a hysterectomy when I was 28 and don't have any nieces. I did tell my brother to check his breasts, much to his amusement! Good luck with finding an onc, and I'd be interested in what the answers are.

    Love to you all

    Trish

    xoxo

  • Ausbear
    Ausbear Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2016

    Hi ladies,

    Sounds like some goals are being kicked here! Go chrissyb with your new shop and yay to Trisha_Anne for being so busy with your business :)

    Hope everybody else is going super well.

    I had my first chemo yesterday. I had a massive melt down the day before, I was teary all day and really angry about having had cancer and needing treatment. I cried like I did right at the start of all this and was a mess. Before I went to sleep I promised myself to put on my game face. Chemo morning, I got dressed, put on makeup, including non waterproof mascara so I could not cheat and got on with it.

    The centre I go to is great and I met a fantastic nurse who took care of everything. They managed to use the port that was inserted on Monday which hurt like crazy but was heaps better than trying to go in my arm. I had heaps of pre meds (steroids, antihistamines etc) and then the Palcitaxol started. They did a slow infusion (i.e. 1.5 hours) to make sure it went ok. A flush, then the Herceptin (another 1.5 hour infusion). In all I was there 5 hours. I left feeling a bit weird, sort of like a hangover and head cold all together - without any of the fun!

    Today I feel a bit bleh, not too bad though. My mouth is super dry and I am driving lots of cold water to combat that. I did some extra exercises this morning to offset some of the steroids which the nurse warned me could make me hungry, fat and angry. Lovely combination of side effects there hey?

    I kinda feel like a cop on patrol, monitoring every little change in how I feel, wondering if it is a genuine side effect or me just being bonkers! Im sure that is a pretty normal thing to do after the first one :)

    Hugs to you all,


    C

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Hi Ausbear...........fronting up for that very first chemo is a massive step and it's quite a normal reaction to have a huge melt down at the thought of it so don't worry about how you felt. Sorry that it was so painful for your port to be accessed but if you ask your doc for a script for Emla cream and you put it on an hour or so before you are due for your chemo it will help immensely as it is a local anaesthetic cream and is often used on children when they need a blood test.

    You are doing the exact right thing by drinking a load of water so keep it up and do just take it easy.........rest is the perfect antidote. Listening to your body will help you be able to report your side effects to the nurses and your doc so they can adjust your meds. I'm so glad they are doing a slow infusion as it really does help with the severity of side effects.

    Hang in there lovely, it is now one less than you need to have.

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Ausbear
    Ausbear Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2016

    Oh CrissyB it was an epic meltdown! I think I scared my husband :)

    The only reason they did not offer any pain relief for the port was because they did not know it was in! Next time, i will have a suite of things to chose from :)

    Water water water. Feel like I am floating in my own body! It is keeping some mild nausea at bay and MUST be flushing out my system, I have been going to the loo all day!

    Hugs C

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2016

    Well done Ausbear! First one done Smile Get yourself some Emla cream as Chrissy suggested. I used it - you just buy it from the chemist, it's expensive (around $60 for a tube) but it will do you for all your infusions, including the Herceptin. I found it was best to put it on around 3 or 4 hours before chemo - and I never felt my port being accessed at all. It's great stuff.

    Taxol will make you pretty tired, and if you suck on ice or iceblocks during the Taxol infusion (not the premeds) then it will help with the taste changes. If you didn't get a reaction to either the Taxol or Herceptin your next infusions will be able to be speeded up.

    Take care

    Trish

    xoxo

  • gerrib
    gerrib Member Posts: 60
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for your replies Trish, Chrissy and Tammy. Not sure whether to get a second opinion or not. Trish it's just that my ILC is Pr neg and has some other strange features that I am concerned about.

    Ausbear, Good luck with your chemo. From what I have read on BCO most people manage it fairly well, so I hope that is the case for you.

    Tammy In the end did you think it was worth having the oncotype testing?

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2016

    Gerri, sorry for the late reply. I'd organised the oncotype testing through my surgeon before I had an oncologist appointment. He thought it was a good idea, although I did have to suggest having it.

    When I did see the onc, I think she thought it was a waste. She told me the other oncs have a "game" of guessing the result and she implied they usually get it right.

    I'd already spent the money but I trained as a biochemist so, for me, it was worth it!

    Ausbear, I hope everything is going well for you

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2016

    Gerri, I've just read about EndoPredict which is said to be more accurate than the Oncotype test. It is available in Australia through Healthscope. It may be worth investigating

    http://www.healthscopepathology.com.au/index.php/advanced-pathology/molecular-oncology/endopredict/

    Healthscope Pathology :: EndoPredict

    www.healthscopepathology.com.au

    EndoPredict® is a multi-gene test for breast cancer patients. Using a specially developed procedure, EndoPredict provides physicians with information to devise ...


  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for that info Tammy! Good to know that there is something available here.

    I'm getting organised this week trying to catch up on stuff that has been neglected while I've been with my sister as next week, I will be in hospital and then out of commission for the next month as I get over the Hysterectomy.

    The weather here today is just crazy, thunder, rain storms, wind and sunshine........makes me feel like I'm living in Melbourne again!........lol. Thank goodness for little combustion fires that keep my house toasty warm!

    Hope everyone is doing okay with what ever life is throwing at them!

    Love n hugs all! Chrissy

  • gerrib
    gerrib Member Posts: 60
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for that Tammy. I'll have a look.

    have made an appointment with Dr Serena Foo in Melbourne for 2nd opinion. I can't believe it that a doctor took the time to answer an e-mail. I was asking her if she was willing to seem me. I didn't expect her to comment on my histopathology which she didn't. She acknowledged all the research I have done and said she would gladly see me and she let her receptionist know. I rang an appointment had been made.

    I suppose it is too late to have chemo now. I basically want a doctor who won't be threatened by my on-line research. She is also involved in research which is good.

    Hope everyone is doing well


    Gerri

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2016

    Gerri, that sounds promising. Keep us up to date with how things progress.

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited July 2016

    Good results at the hospital. My scan and bloods were good!! Tumors arent growing!!

    Dont have to see oncologist until September

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Yay Mel!! Fabulous news! Here's hoping those results continue for a very long time.

    Love n hugs. Chrissy

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2016

    Woohoo Mel! That's great news!

    Chrissy - how are you going? All ready for your hyster?

    Everything's going along nicely here. We've had some really cold weather here - it actually snowed on Tuesday morning.

    I'm feeling better and better each day.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Yay Trish! So glad you are feeling better and better.........how's the job hunting going? Anythingbon the horizon? Sure hope one comes your way soon.

    Yes, just about irganized for the hyter although there was a possibility of it being cancelled due to a gut bug but that seems to have settled somewhat so I shall turn up at 6.30am Monday morning with full expectation of being in surgery soon after.

    It's been really cold here as well, Burra even got a few snow flurries between the sleet. Didn't last long but sure was pretty watching it come down. My little fire has been burning 24/7 so at least the house is toasty warm.

    The kids are coming up on Sunday for lunch to celebrate Arie's birthday and our 47th wedding anniversary and then I will be returning to the city with them ready for the early morning on Monday.

    Hope all you girls doing treatment are hanging in there and taking it easy.

    Lovebn hugs all. Chrissy

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2016

    I'll be thinking of you tomorrow Chrissy (((hugs)))

    Job hunting is going good :-) I got a phone call from Dept of Education on Tuesday, and I've made it to the second round, so going for a formal interview and written test on Tuesday morning. Maybe I'll be working there after all :-)

    Trish

    xoxo

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Wow! Keeping everything crossed for you Trish! When would you know if you get it?

    Have just arrived at Mareike's place so am now sitting relaxing. Don't have to think about food as I'm still full from lunch. I will be hitting the hay early as I have a 5.30 start in the morning.......shower, get organized and then get dropped off a little earlier than required due to the fact that DD has her first client at 6.30am and needs time to get back before she arrives. No problem though as I will have a book to read while waiting.

    Love n hugs all! Chrissy

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2016

    Melp, great news!

    Chrissy, thinking of you, I hope all goes well!

    Trish, sounds promising, fingers and toes crossed

  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 269
    edited July 2016

    Wishing you well Chrissy. Hugs.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2016

    Well no op for me today........bugger!! Was admitted, saw the anaethetist, had the ECG and the blood cross match, was ready and waiting when the surgeon came in and said no go. He got a copy of the poo test results and it turned out I had a food poisoning bug that is highly contagious and I need to be clear before surgery. So, another poo test was requested and if the results are neg, and we should get them Wednesday, then it will be back to hospital on Thursday but if I'm not then it has to be postponed until mid August when he gets back from annual leave.

    Did I say bugger??!!!!! Oh shit yeah!!! Just a little peeved right now.

    Love n hugs all. Chrissy

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2016

    Oh no!! Chrissy, I hope you get the all clear for Thursday. What a let down😒


  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2016

    Bugger! Keeping everything crossed for you that it's a go on Thursday (((hugs))))

    Trish

    xoxo

  • aussie12
    aussie12 Member Posts: 421
    edited July 2016

    Hi all

    Chrissy that's bad luck, hopefully you will get the surgery on Thursday.

    Carol

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