Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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Just back from our 7 week cross Canada trip. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to get together with anyone, but there didn't seem to be any time. This trip was supposed to happen 4 years ago, but then breast cancer put a halt to that, so it was especially nice to finally be able to do it. I haven't gone back & caught up on the thread, but I hope everyone is doing well.
I came back to find that one of my best friends was just diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer ..... I hate cancer, really, really hate it. GG0 -
GG27. Glad that your dream came true with the trip. Also sorry for your friend and you to. Dang cancer anyway. PHOOEY.0 -
GG, I just got word of an old friend from high school who has stage IV pancreatic cancer. I was hoping to run into him at BCCA as he was having chemo this aft but probably missed him as I finished my memory and attention adaptation training session week 2.
I got your PM and would love you to come Oct. 26. Also you are most welcome to stay the night as I am just about on my own with 2 guest bedrooms. Let me know if you did not get my email. If there is anyone anywhere in BC who may be able to come to our potluck at noon on the 26th let us know!
I am off to Minnesota and Wisconsin tomorrow to see many good old friends for a week but I will check in. First major trip since BC other than Vegas for 3 days. Yikes! Many lists being made.0 -
Thanks Hugz4u, "phooey" wasn't really the word that came to mind, however that one can be used in public! She is such a wonderful woman, kind, generous, took care of herself, but then her husband left her for a "friend" three years ago & she had no symptoms til a lump on her neck a month ago. She is only 58, so much life still to live.
marianelizabeth, sorry about your friend, it's tragic that cancer has so touched so many of us. I got your PM. I'm not sure yet if the date will work out for me, but I may take you up on the offer of a bed if the party goes on too long. It's a 6 hour trip each way to Vancouver these days, unless I can come up with the $$ to fly!
I just heard about this memory & attention thingy, that was never offered when I was going through treatment. My memory isn't very good for names anymore. GG0 -
mariane, I am very anxious to hear about the memory course. Are there any tricks you can teach us. ls there a website or a book that is published on the training that you are doing that we can view?I am so curious.I am just so happy they are offering something like this. Finally the cancer docs are believing that our brains are shot and are trying to help us.0 -
I will be glad to pass on info as this course goes on. It is a pilot project here and funded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
GG27, you can have a bed the night before and the night after! Liefie is also contemplating flying.
Off to bed for an early start to the US Midwest, my first time in that area.0 -
Mariane, Have a great time in the midwest. The leaves should hopefully still be colourful.0 -
Marianne - have a wonderful trip! Wishing you safe travels.0 -
Flat bottom boat ride on the Mississippi yesterday with a bocce ball game on a sandy bank on a small iland, a 4 mile walk on a beautiful trail this AM and just back from a 12 mile bike ride this afternoon. Changing weather and I am totally enjoying Wisconsin and better yet, feeling good too!
Next weekend I will get to see many of you at our potluck.0 -
Glad you are enjoying your getaway, Marian! I will be coming to the potluck on Oct. 26, and will e-mail or pm you. Now I will have to think of what I can bring that will travel well on the floatplane . . .LOL. Looking forward to meeting all these amazing women!0 -
Marianelizabeth, Glad to see you're having a good time. I was able to change around 2 appt's that I had for next week & I will be coming over for the potluck. I am going to come over on Friday so I can get my hair done at my favourite hair dresser in Vancouver.
Looking forward to meeting all of you. GG0 -
I went for my rad set up today and was offered to be the first possible patient in BC to use the prone position. The Vancouver Island clinic just got a new bed/board and are partaking in a study on the prone position for large breasts. I was scanned in both positions and will wait to find out which part of the study I will be - face up or down. The first set up was pretty tame with just a few techs in the room but when the new equipment came out all kinds of new people came in the room and took pictures. It was kind of exciting to be a part of it.0 -
How exciting for you, Swellrider! I had my rads at that same facility - they are wonderful down there.0 -
Tomorrow is our Vancouver/Van Is./Lower mainland potluck at my place. Just in case you missed the discussion earlier or last minute can come, PM me for address etc. Looking forward to seeing many of you who I have not met before!0 -
Hi Marian,
Lurking on the BCO site..would have loved to have popped down to meet everyone at your potluck, but won't be able to this time....let me know if you guys have a get together in the spring. Take care and have a great time!0 -
Had a great get together at Marian's this afternoon, great company good food and conversation, Thank you Marian for hosting0 -
I am with Ossa on the great get together - it is so special that a group of women can feel at ease in each other's company at a first time gathering. Breast cancer is definitely a bonding factor in friendships - one plus from having this unwanted disease! Thanks again to Marian for offering her beautiful home!0 -
Yes it was a great afternoon! I am about to send out the group photo by email and will later attempt to post it here but one step at a time. I don't have akmom's email so please PM me with it.
Marian0 -
beautiful group of BC B.C ladies great get toghether, Thank you ladies0 -
Thank You Marian for hosting us in your lovely home! Great photo!
It was wonderful to meet all of you beautiful courageous ladies. Wish I could have stayed longer, but family obligations called.
Looking forward to keeping in touch with you all and meeting again at our next get together
xo
Rupi0 -
Ossa, you saved me tech grief though now of course I won't be able to claim credit for working through the problem! Thanks.0 -
Thanks to all of you for the lovely get together yesterday at Marian's place. It was so good to meet everybody, and share our stories along with a wonderful potluck meal. Looking forward to the next one!0 -
I'm new to the forum but I've found it so reassuring over the last few weeks. I wondered if any Vancouverites could recommend a local physiotherapist who's had success treating post-mastectomy issues. I had a bilateral mastectomy with axillary nodes removed on both sides in August and currently have axillary web syndrome and some truncal lymphedema. I've been seeing a massage therapist for manual lymphatic massage and have been doing MLD at home but I wonder if I should also find a physiotherapist for mobility issues. My massage therapist seems great but focuses just on my lymphedema. My surgeon's office wasn't able to recommend a particular physiotherapist.0 -
jsquipu, I have a great PT but sadly he is so good it takes 3 months to get in~~I book 3 months ahead! But I suspect that you will see some others weighing in here. I know a couple of women who love their massage therapist too. Luckily my PT has been able to manage all I need so far.0 -
jsquipu - I have heard that Susan de Slip (sp??) is very good - I have not needed her services, but have heard from other women that she is good. She is at 16 th and Dunbar - google her and see what you think!0 -
Thanks Adagio. Just checked and Susan Deslippe is at Go! Physiotherapy. I'll see how open her schedule is.0 -
Welcome jsquipu! Let us know how the physio goes. I have a great massage therapist who has been doing wonders at breaking down the scar tissue that formed during radiation, but my extended health only covers so much. I have some physio that I can tap into with my plan so I'm wondering if I can find someone who takes a more holistic approach who can also work on the scar tissue because it seems to be the main thing contributing to my pain. If anyone knows of someone who combines disciplines, please speak up.0 -
Welcome jsquipu!!! but sorry your here!! These gals have been live savers for me through 2012 and continuing!! sadly and beating myself up but not too hard..I'm so busy that I don't always get a chance to respond to all the postings. Truncal Lymphodema ? is this where (I think i have this too) the trunk of the body swells? my belly (upper) gets so large it's amazing! but only at evening time! I get exhausted doing the massage trying to get it to go down to the lower lymphatic system. the pecks are a mess & by night the pain is so great.. still having to take pain meds.. heat really really helps! my physio in South Surrey (totally unrelated to BC but due to auto accident) but he has to deal with ALL of me especially the way I healed after 4mths of open chest there's such an extensive scarring.. will take forever to get anywhere with it. Was going to a wonderful PT for this in N.West.. Janet @ the Keary Clinic. too far for me to go so often. and yes expensive when you have to put $ out first then only get a wee bit back from insurance.
Sneaky I don't know yet of anyone that's more holistic..if it weren't for the accident, I prob would still just go along suffering. Actually the PT doesn't help that much, but momentary relief is well accepted too!
So little update on me....
so after 3 mths of complaining about the mysterious 3 lumps in my mid/side ab... I took a photo & showed to Dr. finally got booked for a U/S but not until Dec 16th!! it all started in June/13 with 3 reddish marks, no lumps felt, now they're quite long & large, not sticking out too far but is noticable... seems to be more so after I've eaten. so very very odd.. not likely Lipoma's as they grow very slowly. doubt it's anything of the C category.. but the kicker is they're getting bigger and I am SO NOT a candidate for any type of surgery.. so guess I will wait & see what's what.. but I have to go back to tell ya.. this new Dr.. got me very upset a month ago, I had a large stent in my artery(hrt) in Sept & he'd said we'd deal wth these odd lumps after that, when time came he decided he wasn't going to do anything about them.. ummm HELLO jerk?? I AM a CSurvivor, not one check on my chest in a long time and then to poo-poo this.. really really ticked me off, especially since the previous Dr said, oh just wait, and don't worry about the lump in your breast.. what are these guys?? geesh lol..
I'm grateful I can advocate for myself, but what about the ppl that are too shy or just believe and go along with everything the Dr's say without question.. and just don't have a voice.. so sad.
I KNOW (well I'm pretty sure) these lumps have nothing to do with Cancer, but then why is it always nagging at my brain!!??? I don't know if I can upload a photo or not. and not sure if you'd be able to see em.
hope you all have a great weekend!!
I'm in everyones' pockets wherever you may go, I'm along side of your laughter and lending a shoulder when that is replaced by tears!
you can find me on FB all the time >https://www.facebook.com/CherSout
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OK for anyone here in the west needing post surgical/mastectomy etc. bras and bathing suits I just came from a successful shopping trip to "Compassionate Beauty" in Calgary. Great place with totally helpful employees and I bought two bras for post exchange/augment and two bathing suits.
My PS, Dr. Lennox told me to go to Diane's Lingerie for a bra for post surgery (Dec. 6) and expect to pay a small fortune. At this place I bought two, each a little different for $155+tax. One of our group paid $150 recently for one at Diane's.
For anyone in BC they just opened a store at 1st and Burrard in Vancouver. Marian0 -
Jsquipu - where abouts are you in Vancouver? I'm on the North Shore and I went to Park Royal Physiotherapy when I had a cording issue after mastectomy. Patricia Sanderson is wonderful there and very knowledgeable about post mastectomy trauma. I have extended health so it was covered by that. I also saw her after my reduction (natural side) because of "broken wing" syndrome I suffered after lipo on that side.
Marian - have you been to Sharon's on Broadway? I got my prosthetic there, a couple of bras and 2 really great bathing suits! Haven't had to go there in a while but she had a fabulous selection and very knowledgeable stuff.
Marie0
