Australian Sisters
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Just back from the doctors to get my results of blood tests . All good so now I can breathe again . Every now and then I feel that I am moving forward back to being healthy again .
Also have got referral to go to dietician and exercise program for people with chronic disease .
Hopefully that will help.
Kate - glad you are okay
Susie - take care and look after yourself . Back pain is a pain all of it's own
Everyone else - relax , slow down and really enjoy today
edited as stupid iPhone has a mind if it's own
Hugs
VivA warrior must only take care that her spirit is not broken
Diagnosis: 2/2009, IDC, ER+/PR+, HER2-0 -
Hey Viv. Good news! so pleased to hear it.
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Vivvygirl, I am also doing a women's wellness program to counter chronic disease. (I'm in Brisbane.) It's really helpful and I predict yours will be too.
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Hi all, glad to hear everyone is going ok and good test results or appointments organised :-)
Finally feel like I'm coming out of the nausea - but we'll see tomorrow.
Worked in at the office this morning doing my printing and filing and then came home and worked from home for the afternoon. It worked well that way for me.
Finally got a phone call from the breast care nurse this afternoon (after emailing her on Monday!). She wasn't overly concerned about my breast pain (which has subsided somewhat) but said to let her know if it gets worse again or swollen or hot. My appt is in 2 weeks I guess so I can talk to the onc about it then. I'm paranoid that this, what they've told me is aggressive cancer is growing in that breast again but a couple of weeks won't make any difference even if it is I guess. The sooner the herceptin starts the better!
regards Jenn0 -
Jenn, I'm glad you were able to speak with the nurse.
The pain is unlikely to be caused by cancer growing. Try to hold onto that thought until you see the onc. Remember they say that BC growing in the breast is not usually painful.
Maybe Trish or Sue can reassure you more since they also had HER2+ tumours.
I'm sure your onc will be able to reassure you also.
Swelling or heat would indicate infection and you should get prompt attention if you develop those symptoms..
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Jenn - I'm sure your boob is just suffering after the surgery. Mine hurt for ages - they're not gentle when they do the surgery I'm sure. It will definitely not be cancer growing. How long is it since the surgery?
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So glad your feeling better Jenn. Hope the boob stops hurting soon.
Im so angry that your breastcare nurse is doing such a pathetic job. Do me a favour and lodge a complaint about her to your Onc on your next visit. Incompetence/laziness always annoys me, but incompetence/lack of interest/being a lazy cow in her field of supporting BC patients undergoing treatment is unforgiveable.
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I, also have Michael at the RBWH, and he always answers my email, txt or phone call immediately. Unless it's a Friday! I found that out a few weeks ago after 3 years of his being my Cancer Care Co-ordinator. Thankfully, I have not needed instantaneous treatment for anything, but he is very quick to find out answers or get things moving.
The funny thing is, as far as I know, I haven't seen him personally since Nov '08, and can't quite remember what he looks like. Quite often when I'm at the RBWH, doing the long walk along the corridors to the Onc dep't, I see a fellow whom I think might be he, so I nod to him as I go past hoping he doesn't think I'm a weird old lady.
Sheila.
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lol Sheila, he's wonderful isnt he. Dawn gave me her card too but Ive only ever called her once when Michael was unavailable years ago. Wonder if we've passed each other in that looooong hallway enroute to oncology.
I swear Sister Michael saved my life, I rang when my arm was in agony 2 days after one of the treatments. When I told him how bad it was, he told me to get to an er asap as it sounded like a blood clot, and sure enough he was right. Then the next morning when i woke up after having the blood thinners I rang him in a panic as under my arm had turned the darkest red/purple Ive ever seen (looked like lividity that you see on crime shows lol ) and he reasured me that that was normal and that the blood clot had dissolved and was being absorbed by my body whew.
Thats the sort of medical support Jenn and everyone doing chemo needs to have on tap.
I have seen him here and there in teh waiting area, always sitting down next to someone either seriously ill or next to a patient who's in for their first treatment.
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Just had a thought Sheila, I wonder if we have the same oncologist? My main one is Nicole McCarthy but she's been out so much with having babies I seem to see Dr Hadley more often than not. Both have been very good to me, though Hadley made me have that horrible zonedronic acid drip when I saw her in October. She's in for a shock if she thinks Im having another course of it in April let me tell you. That stuff is a nightmare. Anyway as usual Im rambling on, but I would be fascinated to see if we share oncologists as well as hospitals.
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Dr McCarthy is also part of the HOCA group at Wesley. I haven't met her as she was going on mat leave when I had my treatment, but I hear she is very good.
Sounds like a good system they have at RBWH.0 -
Yeah i think RBH is very good. I did have my masectomy and then the axiallary clearance at Wesley and have a very high opinion of its services too. But my surgeon Dr Ian Bennett works out of Wesley and when he knew I didnt have any insurance, he put a good word in for me with his friend Nicole McCarthy who he knew also did oncology at RBH as well as Wesley. She even came and visited me while I was still at the Wesley recovering from the operation so Ive been very fortunate to have the very best of care in all aspects.
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That's good Lyndall. There was a poster on this site a while ago who was being treated at PA and gave the impression that patients there just got to see whichever specialist was on duty, and didn't have the same doc each time. Obviously not as ideal has having your 'own' doc.
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Lyndal - only the first zoledronic acid (Zometa) infusion is horrible - I'm due for my 4th one next month. Make them deliver it slowly and you will have less SE's. I had really bad chest pain the first time - that really scared me.
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Great to hear you are feeling a little bit better Jenn. About your sore breast though - should you not ask your breast sugeon about this? I'm with Sue - it's probably not bc growing again. I can't comment as I had a full mx, and although I get weird feelings there I know it isn't the breast. It's a phantom pain, a lot of the time it feels as though the breast is still there - and sometimes the nipple hurts lol. Hope you get a better day today.
Sue and Lyndal - what's Zometa for?
Trish
xox
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Trish - Zometa helps prevent bone loss from the aromatose inhibitors - my onc lied to get it for me. You usually have had to already had a fracture from osteoporosis to get it on PBS. It is also thought to help prevent bc recurrence in post menopausal women.
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Thanks Sue - that explains why I don't know about it. Had a bone density scan about 5 or 6 or even 8 years ago - can't remember which now, and I had the bones of a 17 year old.
Had another one late last year and still have the bones of a 17 year old - apparently I have very heavy dense bones lol No wonder I weigh a lot - I have the proof!
Trish0 -
Zometa is one of the bisphospihinates. There are others that are not infusion but tablets and do the same thing. I was put on Bonefos when I was first dx'd stage IV but it caused me so many problems that I decided it wasn't worth it. I take Vit D and Magnesium which helps keep my bones strong as it makes the body deposit the calcium into the bones rather than excreeting it through the urine. My dexa scans have not changed in the last four years so I'm guessing it works for me.
Jenn it's good to hear that you are getting through this treatment better than the first.......here's hoping you keep gtting better and better, quicker and quicker. Just make sure you mention the sore boob to the doc when you see him/her but I think you will find that its just from the op.
Kate goodluck tomorrow when you turn up for your second infusion and don't forget to ask for all the meds you may need after.
Yay Vivvy!!! Breathe.....in, now out, relax................easier now you have those good results! Can't wait to catch up next time I'm in the city!
Where are we with organising this get together?.......anyone?........Sue any idea when you are coming over yet? I'm so looking forward to getting to meet up with as many of you girls as possible and by end June (tentative date) I will be well and truly back on my feet after the knee replacement................man that is getting close now, just seven weeks from tomorrow....yipeeeeee skippeeeeee!
Oh, by the by, I am now eating my tomatoes. So far the vines have given me at least one or two toms each day and they are sooooooo sweet and full of flesh that they are so good to eat just like an apple.......no added salt or pepper necessary.........mmmmmmmm!
Love n hugs all. Chrissy
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Chrissy, do you ever make sun dried tomatoes? Maybe you don't like them but I do.
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I love sundried tomatoes but I eat all the tomatoes before I get enough to dry......lol
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Viv - forgot to say YAY!! We need to celebrate eachother's wins every time :-)
Trishxoxo
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Grrrr. Set back. WBC count to low for me to have chemo tomorrow. You think I would be happy about that, but I'm not. I asked the onc nurse if there was anything I could do to raise it, and she said there was nothing.
I've just spoken with my BS receptionist and she has put me into see him tomorrow as my breasts are still inflammed. My gut hunch is that I must have some underlying infection issue that hasn't been resolved, despite all the anti-biotics I have taken and all the extra strong ones they gave me when I was in hospital for 4 days at the beginning of the year. I just have to say I am over, over, over this!
And yesterday I was feeling on top of the world, in terms of mental and physical well-being. I just can't believe they are too low to proceed.
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Kate did they suggest a neulasta shot? I'm pretty sure that's what they use to bring the WBC back up. Sorry about all this aa I know how it messes with your head. Deep breath and one foot infront of the other, you will get through.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Kate ,
It is always hard at the start but it will get better . Promise !
Just look after yourself and as Chrissy says one foot on front of the other .
One of my favorite sayings is 'just breathe ' it something I have learnt since march 2009
Sending love and hope your guardian angel wraps their wings around you so you feel protected .
Viv0 -
Oh Kate, very sorry to hear of your setback. I had the Neulasta the day after each chemo. It takes several days for the white cell count to recover. It may not be able to help with your immediate issue but definitely ask about getting it after each chemo.
If you get it in future you have to take it home in an esky and keep it in the fridge until 24 hours after chemo. Then take it out of the fridge and after 30 minutes it gets injected into your abdomen. Either you can inject it or have someone else do it for you. I got my GP to do it. Some people experience bone pain as a side effect of the shot but I never did.
I hope you also get relief for your breast issues. I understand the frustration of everything you are going through. All you can do is keep in contact with your doctors and follow their instructions.
Vivvygirl, just breathing is a new skill that I have learned too. It does help.0 -
Sorry to hear about the low WBC Kate :-( At least you have been feeling well :-)
I'm back at work and started feeling vaguely like a human today. Can't believe how pathetic I am health wise though.
Did some filing yesterday and got a minor paper cut on the side of my little finger. Darn thing is still stinging so can definitely tell my WBC is down right now. No fever though so hoping a tiny paper cut doesn't end up sending me to the hospital. Imagine walking into emergency and saying "I've got this paper cut..." PATHETIC!
Jenn0 -
Jenn have you thought of using finger protectors for when you are filing so you are protected against the paper cuts? Those little beggers can be so painful and while you are going through chemo, quite dangerous! And don't laugh about turning up to the ER because of one........it has happened!!! Glad you are feeling more human.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I do use one of those Chrissy :-)
I just happened to catch a piece of paper with the side of my finger...
Today I got our receptionist to do some filing for me!
Jenn0 -
I'm not sure which I dislike more: filing or paper cuts...
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Kate - I'm feeling for you. I know you want this to be over. At least you can get your breasts checked, and that will help a lot I think.
Jenn - chemo makes us all pathetic. And as a first aider I can tell you that a paper cut is one of the common things that get treated at work. When I was doing my refresher course last year, the trainers were telling us that paper cuts can actually be quite serious.
Lots and lots of love and hugs to you both
Trish
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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