Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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I volunteered to help with Run for the Cure. I'll be there for 4am (yep you read it right) until 9:30am. Will anyone be volunteering or running?
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I will be running (walking) but in Abbotsford Our team is Four abreast (there is four of us and only four real breast among us so a little play on words)
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Lol That's clever Ossa. Great that you're running. My feet won't let me run - nor will my radiated breast - but I figured they'd have something for me to do.
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shipsgirl, any chance you can come to the get-together potluck lunch on 26th?
Also MarieK I think earlier you thought you could but I am looking for emails to send out a group one for rides and what people might be bringing.
Could not get it up for CIBC this year. I did it last year but the 15% only that CIBC gives after admin is probably the biggest reason. I get it totally that it increases awareness but I want me dollars to go farther than 15% actually to breast cancer research. In saying that I don't mean it as a downer for those who are participating, it just does not work for me this year.
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Marianelizabeth, thank you. I don't know my work schedule yet. And you raise a good point about the admin fees.
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Dang, they won't take me on the memory chemo brain course. I am too many years out for the pilot study, they may do another one at a later date if it goes over well. Now if I can remember, I think they want you if you are under two years and it has to be doctor prescribed, it's on Tuesdays.
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I AM DONE! I had my last radiation this morning and I'm done treatment. I keep crying. It's just so hard to believe that it's finished. I realize now that they call us "survivors" because of the treatment, not the cancer!! It's only now that I can look back at it and see what I've really come through.
Ladies who are still in treatment, you will make it too. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and suddenly, you'll find yourself at the end.
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Congrats shipsgirl!!!
I finished rads yesterday, it felt awesome. Just have 6 more Herceptin treatments to go!!!0 -
Congrats to you both!0 -
Shipsgirl and mirmipanda, big congratulations on finishing rads!
hugz4u, sorry about the course~~how long out are you?
Just another post on our get-together potluck on October 26 in case you missed it. I am compiling the list of emails and will send out something next week to everyone who has sent me a PM so far.0 -
Marianelizabeth, can you pm me the info on this get-together too, please? Can't make any promises yet, but would love to meet all you girls. Thanks!0 -
I am looking for anyone that has done radiation in Victoria at the Island Cancer Centre. I need some information on the exact layout of the bed and specifically where your arm has to go. I have a frozen shoulder that I need to get in the right place with in the next two weeks and would love to know what I should be aiming for. Please pass on to anyone you know that was treated in Victoria.0 -
ships and panda. Yeah, congrats, go out and buy chocolate Any kind to celebrate, even try green and blacks organic chocolate...de...vine!
Marianeliz. Finished 6 months chemo/ 35 rad treatments , then surgery, dble mast, 2005 and then 5 stinking years on tamoxifen and AI. Happy to say that the stage3, hockey puck size lump is out of me and I am still here to tell the story. Still kicking, I am not going down easy. ;p "Put up your dukes, you dang cancer beast" phooey!
Swellrider, ooh man, I had a torn rotator cuff that bothered me for years before rads. I told the rad nurses to set me upon table and right just before they would rad me then they would position the arm. Hurt but not as much as having them set my arm up and leave me there to go for their coffee run.
Ask if they can have you face down with arm hanging, you never know.
Also last few years ago I had a frozen shoulder and tried everything to get better. Went to the IMS pain clinic across from oakridge mall and within one session I could move my arm 5 inches. Went for a couple months once a week. Was the best for frozen shoulder. Expense but worth every penny. It is a special different kind of accupuncture created by a Chinese doc that intergrated western med together with Chinese. Please consider weather it is worth doing if you have lymphedema. Lymphedema and needles are a no, no. Although my frozen shoulder was not on my LE side I was so desperate I did it due to no choice, arm gave me bad QOL. PHYSIO is a waste of money with frozen shoulder, I forked over so many physio dollars to no avail0 -
swellrider- I didn't do rads in Victoria, but I think my experience in Vancouver is common when you're laying on your back... I needed to hold a handle that was positioned just above my head. I have shoulder problems too (not frozen, but previously dislocated) and am unable to hold this position on my own. They made a custom form/mould for me that cradled my shoulder and arm which provided an immense amount of relief. Not sure if this will help you, but I hope so.
hugz4u - sorry to hear you didn't get in the course, but happy to hear your fighting spirit. Good on ya.0 -
wow they have come a long way since my rad days. A personal mold. Now that is service!0 -
Shipsgirl and Mirmirpanda ... congrats on finishing up rads!!
Hugz4u ... sorry about not being able to participate on the course.
Ossa ... good luck on the run/walk tomorrow.0 -
Hugz4u - I didn't get in to the course either - too long since I finished chemo - they only want those that have finished chemo in the last 2 years for the pilot. I was in Army and Navy when Maureen called and I couldn't remember what the name of the course was - so embarassing but she was kind and understanding. Not sure if it was chemo brain or all the shoes that were distracting me.
I tried to get IMS for my shoulder but the therapist would not do it on me because of risk of lymphedema. My bad shoulder was on the same side as nodes removed. I went to a PT instead who worked it out for me. Also I stopped carrying my heavy purse on that side too - made a huge difference!
Marian - I will be coming to the lunch. Sorry I have a Craft Market on Sunday and I've been working like a fiend trying to get ready for it. I will PM you.
Good luck to everyone participating in the run!0 -
Hope everyone is having a great weekend...haven't been on for a while and will read more to catch up on things. I have now officially been back to work for 1 month ( 1 1/2 paychecks worth...lol...)..seems to get easier every week but boy were the night leg cramps bad the first week and a half ...but because I have some mild nerve damage in my feet I couldn't feel most of them...that was the weirdest...knowing but not feeling...
The good part is that in the last week feeling is coming back to my feet...doc had said it could be up to 2 years before they get better...he'll be happy when I let him know on the 29th of this month...
Work has been great but after being away for a year...so much to remember and new things to learn...(all in time) The funniest part is when I see a customer that I should know I have to tell them I forget...lol...and I can't believe how many think I've been away on a holiday and say that they like my new haircut...I just say...thanks...but it isn't new only the color and not by my choice.... or I say thanks...it's new since June when I didn't have any... Good thing my old customers think I have a good sense of humor...
Yeah...I have 6 more herceptin treatments to go...but I think the most fun will be the one on Halloween...I asked the clinic girls if I have to get dressed up and they ALL chimed in ...MOST CERTAINLY....now just to think of a good costume...maybe a cow with multi boobs...lol.....0 -
OK, I just sent an email to everyone who sent me PM's re the potluck lunch at noon on Oct. 26th.
liefie, MarieK, Cdnchick, Koshka, Ossa, Adagio, Sneaky, AKmom, Kathy044.
Please let me know if you don't get the email as I may have got it wrong or if I missed you or if you still want to come but have not let me know.
If you are from out of town but still would like to come, I am sure we can do pick ups at the airport, bus, ferry etc. MarieK lives quite near Horseshoe Bay for instance and I am not far from the airport or Bridgeport if someone was coming from Victoria/Tsawassen. We have two guest rooms.
This will be posted on both BC and get-together threads.
Marian0 -
Hello everyone
I have been following this forum for some time and have been sending good wishes. You ladies have all been a huge source of support for me even though I have not posted much. I have met Marian in the mindfulness course and Hugz has helped me with mild lymphedema issues. I am now hitting a wall and want to introduce myself as I need to be around others who can understand and have been through the same things. I just had my last surgery (tissue expander exchange to implants) eight weeks ago. I should be done and happy right? So why is it that I am so emotional and on the verge of tears easily now? I felt I was strong through treatment and did do a bit of couselling through the cancer agency earlier this year. Now I am feeling a bit lost. Everyone looks at me and thinks that I should be back to 'normal'. I don't feel normal. I am grateful to be alive but I don't feel like my body can do many of the things that I used to be able to do. A friend told me last week that there is nothing wrong with my body....it's all in my head! I wish that were the case. sigh. Thanks for understanding ladies. Thanks for being here. I feel better just sharing. It's a tough thing for me to express that I am feeling lost and not so strong right now.
I am also taking the memory course tomorrow ( saw the notice when I was in my onc's office a few weeks ago) I am so happy to read that others will be there.
Big hugs to all0 -
grateful - my MO suggested that the post treatment stage is the hardest time and recommended I look into counselling right away. before I "need" it. I think what you're experiencing is normal. I'll be at the course tomorrow too.0 -
grateful.... Hi... It is quite common to feel emotional after all the treatment is done. I felt abandoned. During treatment and surgeries there were so many doctors and nurses, appointments, etc. then all of a sudden nothing....... now what... I still get emotional at times. Finished chemo two years ago this month. Can't believe it has been two years already. Time has gone so fast. So many ups and downs.. mostly ups. Had my last surgery a year ago nipple recon and fat grafting (both failed).. Guess I have to decide if I am going to go back to PS and try fatgrafting again. PS wanted me to take a year off from surgeries then decide what to do if anything next.
Grateful.. how about joining us on Oct 26 for our potluck. I have met Marian but not the other ladies, looking forward to meeting them as they have all in their own way been a great support to me during my journey
Marian.. I PM'd you my email address again as I did not get your email0 -
grateful, shipsgirl, sneaky, looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Yes, come to the potluck! Ossa I emailed you again and also Adagio as hers bounced and I had yours wrong.
Marian0 -
Thank you ladies. I feel better knowing that your support is here for me.
Shipsgirl- Did you decide to go for the counseling? Looking forward to meeting you at the course
Ossa- congrats on being two years out from the chemo. I had fatgrafting with my exchange. Still considering the nipple surgery - she says it will be done under local. Getting tired of surgeries! Do you think you will try fatgrafting again? It would be great to meet you. I have family in town on the 26th but will try to ditch them with DH for a few hours so I can come!
Marian and Sneaky- Looking forward to seeing you again Sneaky- I think we met at mindfulness, but I can't quite tell from the avatar- lol.
hugs to all0 -
Ladies, it was great to put faces and real names to some of you.
Grateful - I have a call this afternoon with the counseling people and then we'll see. It is something I'm interested in doing. I think I am so strong and have it under control ha ha ha, but then I have to ask myself what feelings I'm eating because my eating is out of control. There has to be something going on there. So I'll talk to them and see what they say.0 -
grateful33, l know just how you feel. Everything is winding down as I'm coming to the end of treatment. It does feel abandoning and frightening. A lot of ladies feel like this I'm told.
I too have mild lymphedema issues, how did you handle yours? Nothing I'm doing seems to be working.0 -
Marian, Sneaky, Shipsgirl, Cdnchick it was great to see you all today. I'm looking forward to meeting others at the potluck on the 26th!
I realized today that support from amazing women like you was exactly what I needed. I feel better that so many of you understand and can share my feelings. Thank you for being so supportive.
Shipsgirl- hope you got that counseling appt today. I had a wonderful woman named Paula who I saw til my last surgery. Maybe it's time to go back for a few sessions.
Mirmirpanda - the lymphedema is very frustrating. It has improved with my reconstruction. I have a wonderful therapist that does mld and I also do it daily. Have you tried compression? PM me if you want and we can compare notes.0 -
Counselling~~I went to 3 sessions at BCCA and we just were not a good match. Ah, just realized Grateful Paula was her name but e are all so different. I felt as though I was trying to come up with the strategies. In the end, my MO referred to a psychiatrist and that was good from the start. I saw her a few times then not for a few months then again recently and will see her in November. Thought I was doing so well when summer started and rads ended. Ha!
Grateful, the support is a good thing and meeting for lunch and as much time as people have I think will be supportive for all.
Mirmipanda, it sounds as though Grateful has some ideas for your L/E. I have been going to physio since surgery and think I will be going for life!
Shipsgirl, I want to know how you chose this Avatar? And I hope your schedule allows you to come.
BTW, for those in the course, I did the relaxation homework but was unsure as to whether I was supposed to be lying down or sitting in a chair~~did not make sense but I guess that is not so important? Am about to sit down and start reading the package and the email too from Joanne.0 -
Grateful - I have an appointment. We'll see where it leads. I'm open for any help I can get.
Marian - The name shipsgirl comes from working nearly 11 years on ships. Nothing very subtle. lol0 -
It was so nice seeing a few of you in person yesterday. Definitely makes me feel better being around those who get it.
Marian - you're such a keener... I haven't started on any homework yet ;-) Actually I did make note mentally of when I had some memory lapses but when I went to write them down when I had pen and paper at hand for the life of me I couldn't remember the events. Hahaha. I'm choosing to forget yesterday and start from scratch today.
I should know within a day or two if I can commit to the potluck on the 26th. Really hope it can happen.0
