Australian Sisters
Comments
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Karen if it's just the bone loss that is the problem a strengthener can be added to combat that.
I've been on an AI for over seven years now and have had a DEXA every second year. I'm due for my next one in January . The first showed osteopenia borderline osteoporosis. My second showed normal bone density for age. I didn't take bone strengthers but I did up my Vitamin D and eat more of the foods that are rich in calcium and magnesium. These three work together to build healthy bone.
It will be interesting to hear what your doc recommends.
Trish's idea of halving you dose could be a good idea and one I would definitely chat to your doc about.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hello Gals,
I'm not an Aussie sister, in fact, I'm a life-long Texan, but I just had a few comments about your beautiful country, so forgive me for butting in and rambling. My dad was stationed in Australia during WWII with the Army Air Corps and he had such fond memories of it, along with some great photos of giant, rock-hard termite mounds!
He, of course, was a young soldier of 19, and wanted to come back after the war to sell popcorn from a stand on the beach. For some reason, he was really charmed by that idea! Dad's gone now, but several years ago, he met two men from Australia and the first question he asked them was, "Do you still call girls *Sheilas* ?" And, I recently found a nice cache of 12 Arthur Upfield Inspector Bony mysteries at a resale shop and have been working my way through them. Incredible books, especially the detailed depictions of the outback; it's almost the star of the series. My Dad would really have enjoyed these! I am going through them at a rate of about one per week, and as a language nut, I am loving the old slang terms. As all schoolchildren once did, I learned the song, "Waltzing Matilda", when I was a child in the 50ies-60ies, but until Inspector Bonaparte illuminated me, I didn't know that *Matilda* wasn't a person or what a *billy* was and why it was boiling.
Thanks for listening! And, boy, am I sorry now that I didn't take my Dad up on his half-serious offer to send me on a trip to Australia when I was in my 20ies...
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Hi Kattysmith! No problem about gate crashing the thread, we don't mind at all. It's never too late for a trip and to save you some dollars you could stay with my DH and I in our little cottage in the mid north of South Australia. You'd certainly see some if the real country from here.
Love n hugs . Chrissy
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Super sweet offer, Chrissy, many thanks!
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Lovely for you to share Kattysmith. So glad your Dad enjoyed his time here and that he shared those memories with you. C'mon over.
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Hi Kattysmith - how lovely of you to share your memories of your Dad. You'll find that in the outback things haven't changed too much, I'm talking the real outback, but in the cities - and especially on the coast, we are getting to be a global community lol. Not sure that is all good, but we still retain our Aussie-ness. Not - we don't call girls sheilas anymore (except maybe in the outback) it's almost considered a derogatory term these days. We do still have a lot of slang though, sometimes overseas visitors almost need a translator.
If you come to Australia, make sure you come to visit Canberra, our capitol and where I live - it's a beautiful city.
Trish
xoxo
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welcome Kathysmith
I love Bendigo it a beautiful ex gold town with amazing cafes old gold rush era Victorian buildings and a florishing art community to visit.
Girls I have had the privilege of speaking to Chrissy by phone re my stage 1V bone diagnosis everywhere else came back clear. Problem is they can't seem to get on to my pain relief and I am stiff and can't move my spine I
Can't walk or sit in a chair. I qualify for a trial drug at Peter Mac in Melbourne which is some sort of experimental hormone blocker that delays the spread for a lot longer. In younger women with hormone cancer in the bones
I am
Seeing oncologist today and would like him to do something to get rid of pain so I can drive again exercise and not make me so sleepy
All the time. Any suggestions ??
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Delvzy ask about rads to the bone where the mets are........it's really good at helping kill off the cancer cells and easing your pain.
In all probability your onc will suggest this as part of your treatment . Good luck lovely!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Thank you Delvzy and Trisha-Anne, I looked at photos of both of your lovely cities. Gorgeous places- I am jealous! - but SO glad I have the internet to take me places that I can never visit in real life. Houston - my hometown - is a huge, sprawling, hotter-than-hell mess with zero charm, but...it's home... and also a very vibrant, open-minded and multicultural place to live with prolific ethnic food spots!
Delvzy, I send my sincerest wishes for relief from your pain. Rads sound like a good idea and maybe some acupuncture in the meantime?
Best, Katty
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Delvzy, I hope you got some answers from your Onc and are able to get on top of your pain. Hugs xx
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they couldn't do my bone biopsy yesterday too many involuntary muscle spasms I have been put on a 2 week course of steroids sure what they are for . For now it's a waiting game my oncologist is very busy and very hard to get to see maybe because he is a public one so maybe I should switch to private. Very confusing I had a CT scan and all organs are clear of cancer but is is fairly widespread in my spine ribs and pelvis. Today I have a new pain in my ris high at the back which is causing me some degree of anxiety
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Delvzy the steroids would be to calm down the muscle spasms so they can do the biopsy. Try not to stress too much, I know it's hard but do try. If your pain is really getting to you go and see your GP for some temporary relief until you get to see your onc.
It's your choice if you see a private onc but if they do rads for you which they probably will, you may want to check with your health fund if they cover them........when I had mine privately they were not. If they aren't you may want to be referred back to public so you won't be out of pocket .
Love n hugs . Chrissy
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thanks Chrissy good point
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Delvzy, I've been thinking of you - hope you are travelling the best you can at the moment (((hugs))))
All's good with me, started my new job which I'm absolutely loving. I feel like I've become part of a family, and it was like that from day 1. I've made a huge decision! I'm selling my pet photography business. It's getting busy, but not busy enough to live on. Because I love this job so much, I want to focus on it, and a friend of mine who became a professional photographer last year is keen to buy it (Chrissy - remember Ian who came to visit me and talked to you about photography? It's him!). Don't know what it's worth yet, and still have to get through all the Santa photos this year, but Ian will be at the sessions with me, and we'll work out a mutually agreeable price.
I know I'm feeling so much healthier at the moment, but I'm also not as strong as I used to be, and it worries me that I may make bookings and not be able to do them, my DH is getting older too, and not too keen on continuing on as Santa, so it all seemed to fit.
That's all from me at the moment, hope you are all as well as can be.
Trishxoxo
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Bluddy cure has just about got me.
Just spent3 days in hospital thanks to getting a drug to fix my osteoporosis that I have due to the Hormone inhibitor. It would be nice if they ironed out these side effects.
KarenAus
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hi girls struggling a bit this week. Had my first of 2 radiation to my spine and finding it a bit hard to get around very tired and gave quite a bit of heart burn. The family are finding it all s bit hard to have this fit full time working g mother limping around the house like a 80 year old. The problem is I font know how bone tumours work when you start feeling better and what us normal.
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radiation day (postponed yesterday due to machine breaking down) they are radiating my lower spine which might affect my bowel. I hope everyone is going well I am in good spirits after a couple of chats with Chrissy B. I think Chrissy you are world famous on Breast Cancer . Or
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Delvzy, how are you travelling? We're so lucky to have Chrissy's advice
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Thinking of you Delvzy.
Trish I hope you are still enjoying the new job?
Karen how are you going?
I've been a bit up and down. Have a new GP (4th in 7 years) and she seems very thorough. She wants to stay on top of things. I had been having some back pain so she ordered a CT of the spine. No sign of cancer. Had a Pap Smear which was also clear. She also ordered bloods. Think she tested for everything known to man. My cholesterol was up and my liver enzymes were elevated. Possibly from the Anastrozole??? I have had an abdominal ultra sound and see her tomorrow for the results of that. My bloods also showed an "abnormal Myeloma profile". My gamma globulin zone was elevated. She said it's nothing to worry about YET but could indicate a chance (approx 10%) that I may develop Myeloma at some later stage. She will retest in 3 months. I have my routine check up with my Oncologist next Wednesday so will discuss these issues with him but feeling a little anxious.
Has anyone else had a rise in cholesterol or liver enzymes and if so what was the cause?
Just a bit flat today. Have been thinking of this young lady and her family who are from my small town.
http://www.9news.com.au/good-news/2016/12/06/23/50...
Love to all. Donna.
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Donna, the dreaded test results...sorry you are feeling anxious. I hope the oncologist can put your mind at rest (((hugs)))
My cholesterol and liver enzymes have also risen and I'm thinking perhaps it could be Femara.
Very sad story about the young lady from your town
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Sorry girls, I haven't been on here too much lately, my new job is all consuming and on top of that the Santa photos with pets is almost a full time job in itself, just one more full weekend (with processing and printing every night after) then just one more Friday and it's done and I can hand it over to the new owner!
Delvzy I've been thinking of you a lot, how are you going now?
Donna, I've been thinking of you too. I hope your onc can help you relax about your issues and put your mind at rest. I'm loving my new job, it's fabulous!
I'm on Femara, but don't have regular blood tests done now that chemo is finished. I don't take a full tablet daily though. I have a half tablet. This is because I was getting thunderclap headaches and hallucinations on it. So we tried a half dose and I'm tolerating it very well. We know it must be working because the last cancer was hormone negative, so that's a plus. There was a paper done fairly recently on half dose of Femara that indicated that it was just as effective, my onc was happy to put me on a half dose. My first cancer was almost 100% ER+ so I don't want to not take something, and Arimidex and Aromasin had too many ses for me.
My love to you all
Trish
xoxo
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- hi girls been very up and down. In quite a bit of pain trying to hobble around the shops for xmas but can't quite get my head around it. I have been accepted into a now closed trial at Peter Mac in Melbourne under and amazing oncologist that is right up there Australia /world wide with breast cancer I am told I will be taken off letrozole and put on this new drug Firgotton the name) which they have had great success in U.K. and USA etc with hormonal bone mets not progressing for nearly double the time of the drugs we are currently using. I haven't updated my profile yet because I still haven't had my bone biopsy as I need to be put under anesthetic as my spine (where most of the mets are) keeps going into spasms. I still can't believe I have bone mets it's like a bad dream but I am determined to have a good life and try and get back to anew normal, thanks everyone for asking after me it's nice to have people care xx ps just curious as a newbie stage 4 why do we say congratulations and well done to each other if we go another year without progression from stage1 2 or 3? I did everything I could to not progress does that mean I have failed??
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Delvzy, sorry to hear that your pain is still so bad, but I'm delighted that you are in the new trial and hope that you have spectacular results! I have special affection for my Aussie sisters since my father was so fond of your country while he was stationed there in WWII. (I posted about that here a month ago).
And, good grief, NO, you have not failed in any way, shape or form. I think the congratulations and woo hoos are offered just as stand-alone supports with no reflection on those who are having progression. I will never, ever blame myself for the fact that my cancer came back after 12 years and woe be unto him or her that suggests that I did something to cause it.
I hope that you can find some joy in the holidays and that you are surrounded by loving, supportive family and friends. Best wishes on your trial!
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Sorry about the whinge girls just had a tough week working through side effects of radiation and trying to get pain meds right. This forum had been a bit quiet is everyone busy with Xmas planning? It's a stunning Sunday here in Bendigo it's going to be 27c with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Can someone remind me how to put photos on again I have done gorgeous ones of my trip a few weeks ago of the Caribbean
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This photo is one of me on a ship that sailed from NYC down to the Caribbean. It was a fantasy restaurant that served the most amazing combinations of food I have ever tasted it was in Sep 2016 t when I flew to Paris UAE NYC and sailed down to the Carribbean . I had a lot of pain in my back and ribs and was stage 1V just didn't know it atthe time
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Some of the many doors of porta Rica my favourite place on my recent Carribbean trip. I just love old doors 💜💙
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Hi girls! Finally a week to myself....well sort of....lol. I checked my diary for this week and surprise, surprise, I don't have anything written up. All I have to do this week is make the fruit mince pies and plum pudding ice cream and than I will be almost done for Christmas.....yay!
Donna the rise in your Cholesterol is definitely due to the Anastrozole........it is a known side effect of all the AI's unfortunately. Mine went up enough that my doc prescribed another tablet to help control it......low dose but enough that it bought the numbers back down to normal. Not good news about the Myeloma but great that your doc is right onto it.
Delvzy, sending big ((((hugs)))))) girl.........I know it's hard but you will feel better than you do now but you need to give yourself some time. I sure hope your docs get the pain meds right as they will help a lot. Give me a call if you need to, I'm always here for you.
Trish, I'm so glad you are enjoying the new job......it seems obvious that it was just waiting for you. It's a shame that you had to sell the Pawtography but you do what you need to do.
We are going to Mareike's place for Christmas so there is not much for me to do other than what I mentioned earlier as well as the Ham and Roast Lamb.........the girls will be handling the rest.....woohoo!!!
Hope you all have a good Christmas with family and friends, stay safe all!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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thanks Chrissy for that advice I will ring you in day or so
PS sorry my holiday pics are not all together I couldn't work out how to do it lo
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Oh Delvzy.........I meant to comment on your holiday pics.....they are wonderful! You look fabulous in that huge chair and I love all those different doors! I did the same thing when we went to France last year, I have so many photos of doors but they are all so very different. Even through the raindrops NYC looks amazing!
To put more than one pic in a post just make sure the curser in under the one above and repeat the steps of the first.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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