Canadians in British Columbia
Comments
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Phoebe58 and Marianelizabeth - I don't have either one of your BS. I have heard great things about Dr. Kuusk. I'm sure my BS is technically excellent - but definitely not of the warm and fuzzy bedside manner. I think this is a case where perhaps the nurse navigator could have done more navigating lol. Have either of you met the RO, Dr. Martens? She was just brilliant to talk to.
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stellamaris, my BS was not at all warm and fuzzy but not important~~good hands is! Nurse navigator has never been one of my faves but it is because more than anything that she calls me honey, dear etc. way too often. In MSJH OR when a nurse called me dear, I said "no dears please." The anaesthetist then told a funny story after some silence. As an old nurse I find it condescending.
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hi marianelizabeth - I was at my lake house for the long weekend, so just catching up. I will be in Van Mon-Wed next week -- Sun and Thu are travel days. My PS appt is Tues afternoon. I'm staying at a friend's in the West End. Love to meet up:) if it works. Maybe Granville Island, or ....? Once I figure out how to personal message, I will send you something! Stellamaris maybe you could join up too if feeling up to it post surgery?! My radiation is not in Vancouver, so don't know any ROs there. I have only 3 rads left - getting pinker and tanner and a bit itchy, but nothing open or icky [how's that for a nursing term?] so far.
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Phoebe and Marianelizabeth, I'd love to join you if at all possible. I will keep an eye on the posts
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stellamaris, we have PM's going and will let you know if we can come up with a time/place. It will be great if we can all meet.
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Hi, I just sent PM to both of you marianelizabeth and stellamaris. How exciting!
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Phoebe58, stellamaris and I are meeting for lunch next week~~I look forward to meeting them! Thanks to BCO for all the things that they give us, including the opportunity to make new friends with many things in common.
Marian
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That is great, Have a fun lunch. Take some pictures so the rest of us can "meet" them too
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Hi Ladies,
It's been a while since I posted. I finished treatment on Oct.6 and have the dreaded first mammogram on Feb. 29. Seems a bit early to me, but if I postpone it there will just be more weeks or months of anxiety. Any suggestions from those who have been there?
I was written off by BCCA in Oct. because I'm OK, and on Thursday my husband was written off because his pancreatic cancer is growing and there's a new tumour in his liver, so obviously he is no longer responding to the chemotherapy and it's been discontinued. We knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but it's still thrown us for a loop.
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DeltaLady, seems odd you were "written off" by BCCA since you are still on Tamoxifen? Usually when we are still on treatments we still see MO twice a year though maybe that is incorrect. For your husband has BCCA said no other chemo to try?
Sad for both of you as this has to be so tough. Hope there is some happiness for you both in ways not cancer. As for mammogram, maybe it is because a year since dx and they want to keep on top of it? I think mine was about a year after treatment ended.
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Thanks Marianeliza & Wrenn,
I was just feeling kind of whiny last night. As for myself, I have finally reached the acceptance stage of my own "journey." Hubby has not even reached acceptance that he is really sick.
Maybe it's because it's Interior Health and not the lower mainland, but we've both been transferred back to our GP, whom I affectionately call Dr. Quack. (Still get Tamoxifen from the hospital pharmacy). Since his official diagnosis by biopsy in July 2014, hubby has seen his Oncologist for the initial visit and had a teleconference 16 months ago. Admittedly the prognosis has always been bad for him and he has exceeded all expectations, but it is a bit like being dropped off a cliff when they just say, "Well, that's it." (Maybe there is no other way to do it). The chemo clinic GP said she couldn't find any clinical trials, but it's possible we'll hear from the Oncologist sometime this week. Anyway, this is a BC forum, so my good wishes and respect go our to all of you wonderful women, and thank you for your support.
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Phoebe 58, Stellamaris and Marianelizabeth at Earl's today. It was lovely meeting up with "strangers" on my birthday! Not sure how is on the big screens behind us and I am not up to figuring out how to edit.
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Marianelizabeth and Phoebe58 - was awesome meeting you! Phoebe - hope you have an easy trip home 0
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Beautiful ladies
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Thanks for a wonderful lunch and great conversation. I hope your birthday dinner was suitably delicious Marian, and look forward to hear about your outcomes with fingers crossed Stellamaris. My trip home was long but fine, though armpit sideboob area became chaffed raw on Thursday, likely from arm swinging as I had a few lovely long walks earlier in the week. Because of the open skin area I didn't do the final #28, which had been delayed anyways due to Vanc trip..... so rads are done!
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Phoebe: Congrats on finishing the Rads! Yaay! Sorry you were left with the painful, uncomfortable rash though. Sending healing thoughts and hoping it clears up quickly.
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For those of you not on facebook with Barb Downey from the Canadians, she has sadly announced her cancer came back and she is now stage 4. She has started treatment
I hate cancer
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Ossa I saw that too. Is she on a BCO site? I did ask but have not heard back.
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Hi Phoebe: My appointment with the BS is not until Friday the 26th. I couldn't wait so went to my family doctor yesterday for a copy of the pathology report. My gamble did not pay off. Margins are still positive, and there are small 'islands of disease' distinct from the primary tumour. This should confirm the March 24 MX date, but after all this waiting I'm terrified I will get thrown another curve ball. I sincerely hope you are continuing to heal well. Take good care
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hi Stellamaris - it sucks about those margins and islands, but you gave it your best shot - I think lobular can be harder to see and grows like a sneaky fern frond
. Take a deep breath and keep putting one foot in front of the other. When my thoughts occasionally wanted to race like a squirrel I would remind myself of my wonderful Nana's wise saying 'don't borrow trouble'. I went to the lake house this weekend and did very little except relax by the fire, read, walk the dog and enjoy the late wintery sun, -- being out in nature is very therapeutic I find .....oh and some wine disappeared! My underarm rash seems a bit less tender today so I think healing is starting.Ossa and Marianelizabeth - so sorry about your friend
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So after some pretty bad results back from my pet scan I'm off today to have another bone scan at the university hospital. Feeling blind sided and sad...I hate cancer too.
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Wendy3: Sending you warm hugs and healing prayers. Wish one of us could be there to hold your hand.
Phoebe: Funny how that wine goes MIA
so happy to hear you're continuing to heal. 0 -
Phoebe: Funny how that wine goes MIA
so happy to hear you're continuing to heal. 0 -
I just went to see my family doctor re a small lump (between the biopsy incision and the tumor where the needle passed) and tenderness of the rib below it. I am asked if I want to do a biopsy for this small lump, but at this point I only agreed to do ultrasound and mammo (not sure about it though as it would be my 3rd mammo in 16 months and it failed to pick up my tumor in the first place) and a rib X-ray. The small lump was first felt after the biopsy, but I always thought it was some kind of a scar due to the procedure, the rib pain has been there too after surgeries but I also rationalize it as part of the healing. But now the area is so tender that I am avoiding to touch it. I would pay for an MRI if it works better but my family doctor does not think it would be clinically significant (conclusive). Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Hi Wendy, hope your scan results are faster and better than last one.
Stellamaris, sorry to hear about your experience at MSJ Breast Clinic, mine was similar and it added a lot of extra stress. Hope your next surgery is smoother.
DeltaLady, Sorry about what happened to you and your husband. I sense you are more accepting now. How was the rad?
May spring bring us all new hope!
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I went to a Knights Cabin retreat in Alberta... It was amazing, you can bring a friend or spouse AND IT'S FREE!!!! it really helped my husband and I with the now what? questions you have after treatment is over. Applications for BC retreat (Prince George) still open! Know a cancer survivor in British Columbia? Tell them about our NO COST retreats! Apply at Knightscabin.com
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wrenn, here is a link to the main page...
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Beachlife, I would call BCCA and ask for an appt. with your MO or call your breast surgeon for an appt. as in my opinion your family doctor may not think an MRI would be significant but a breast surgeon or MO may think differently. I had a small lump post op but it was fat I think and the rib pain and tenderness could as you say, still post op. Have the appts. been booked? Hope you are enjoying this great weather in your beach walks!
Phoebe58, did you see the post by Clarrn re the retreat in PG? Might be really worth looking into. BTW, I really enjoyed meeting you and Stellamaris. Glad too that the rads are over.
Phoebe58 hang in there. If ever you want to go for a walk in Angus Lands on the river, let me know.
Wendy, cancer does suck and sad to hear about the PET results. When is the bone scan?
On to the day~~repairman coming to to repair my gas oven then an appt. to see a surgeon at St Paul's for an incisional hernia. Something not cancer though yesterday I had a scary thought that maybe it is really a big tumour. Not possible but you all know how these thoughts filter in. I see Dr. Lennox March 2 for the cording though the biggest new one is still "gone" with the amazing RMT that Sneakychiquita referred me to. I still have two significant cords that she is working on plus I want to know what he plans for an implant exchange and am also going to ask if with his busy schedule he might see if Dr. McAdam can see me~~diplomatic ask of course but he is so busy being head of plastics these days.
Gotta say, overall that I feel the best I have since diagnosis.
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Oops sorry Wrenn and others! I just copied and pasted her link from my facebook and it obviously didn't work. Thanks GG27 for the main page link!
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Marian，thank you so much, I will call MO, or BS (not that easy to communicate). Have a nice day
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Yes I do have a hernia, incisional and above previous scars from laparotomies from bowel obstructions in 98 and 2000. Surgery in April or May at St/ Paul's and no exercise or yoga for a month which will be the worst for me. But knowing it could rupture means it needs doing.
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