Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
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Thanks, Nikki. Enjoy your debrief- sounds like a great idea
My DD is back to uni next week, so will be moving down to her flat at the weekend. I'll miss her, but at the same time it'll be nice to have less mess & 'stress' :P
It was lovely to see you briefly, Amber! I hope the rest of chemo went well. Is it just herceptin at the mo or something else as well?
Sorry I didn't stop long, DD was waiting- she wanted to stop in at the shops on the way home- & to be honest, I usually can't wait to get out of there after a couple of hours. After 34 weekly infusions it all gets a bit old! I do remember, tho, how scary it all felt that first time. You will get used to it and it won't be so hard next time. Great you have a port
I'm glad your partner was there with you.. That really helps
Take it easy over the next few days, I hope your se's are minimal.
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Hi everyone
I am finally surfacing again after Engagement parties, Moving Day etc! The party went well, beautiful weather, great food and surprised quite a few people with our news! The moving was such a mission. It was tiring, stressful and I am still exhausted! Lol. However we now at least have a 'home' again to live in with having unpacked a fair few boxes. Still a lot to go though! I'm loving the simplicity of the new house, the beautiful view we have out over Kapiti island and towards the South Island, and the 'change' of area - it's a fresh start
I'll see if I can attach a pic from my phone below.I worked at the Wellington Round the Bay's for St John but it was pretty quiet this year. No big injuries or problems so that was good. I haven't done a front-line shift for a while as been too busy. Yesterday I had to go have my 'uterus' biopsy - not exactly the nicest thing ever lol. I should have results in a week or so. Not going to think about it - pretty sure surgery in one form or other is on the cards!
Amber I hope you are doing ok after your first chemo. Just take one day at a time. Your bbq sounded fab and you look fabulous. I look back on my bald pictures now and can't believe that was me and that I went through that. That will be you one day soon too. Kia Kaha!
Shazza how is your oral taxol going? Hopefully not having too many negative effects.
Nikki - yay for no braces! Glad you still been enjoying your pool. We had a big proper pool at our old house which I was making the most of until moving day. Luckily the weather has cooled down here a bit now.
Kt - well done on your big walk down at Nelson. I so need to start getting fit too!
And Donna - I'm keen for some Mediterranean receipts and ideas. My weight is starting to creep back up again! Probably just stress from moving etc and tending to eat quick type meals instead of healthier options.
Hi Supportive. Any news on your results yet? Who are you seeing privately? Chris Moet, Burton King or David Gaskill?
Well now that I have shifted I should be able to keep up better again with the news on here. It's always weird not logging on for a few weeks and reading all the posts. Anything can happen in that time!
Thinking of all of you.
K x
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Enjoying my floating on a hot Friday afternoon
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Ooo, I'm jealous. I'm melting up here.....
Looks absolutely lovely Nikki
Kruise, what a fantastic view! It must be soo good to have all that hard work behind you & just enjoy your new start
I hope the results from the biopsy are ok. Waiting is hard, but a least you've got somewhere new & exciting & with great views to wait 
Have a good weekend everyone!
x
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hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted for a while. Sounds like everyone has been pretty busy. I finish the trial I was on tomorrow. That arm just compared a week of IV taxol with a week of oral taxol. I didn't enjoy it much as it involved several nights at the clinical studies centre and over 75 blood tests. While we were able to use my port for a lot of these my arm came into play during the IV part of the trial when my port was used for chemo. But overall I'm glad I did it as next week I will start on the next stage of the trial which is taking the oral taxol full time. There is a lot less drama around this one. Just weekly blood tests at the lab and 3 weekly clinics. I believe there are less side effects with the oral form and not having to go to chemo every week will be a dream.
Gosh it's hot and sticky here. I'm so jealous of your pool Nikki
Have a great week everyone
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Hi guys, nice to hear from you Shazza. I bet the new regime will be much better for you
Kruise that view is amazing, but maybe not today as it is raining up here in Auckland anyway and pretty blerk!!! Nicki I want to jump into your pool, OMG it has been so hot it reminds me of the tropics. I see on Facebook that Amber was admitted to Hospital because of a high temperature. I haven't heard how she is doing. I never had chemo so not sure if this happens but I think it probably does? Take care everyone, hopefully this rain may break some of this horrible humidity, either that or make it worse!0 -
Hi Shazza! Well done on getting the hard part of the trial. It might be too soon to tell, but do you think you felt less fatigued after the oral melds- & did you have to take premeds like Dex or antihistamines?
I'm finding taxol is kicking my butt more & more as far as fatigue goes & wonder if it's the premeds as much as the taxol (& carrier solution). Maybe oral would be easier.... Just told my boss I can't work Thursday's any more cos it's too hard after chemo...
Hiya Donna, yep it's been hot. & I got drenched doing the mail run today, fun! Sorry to hear Amber's had to go to hospital!
Hope you're ok now, Amber. I'm not on Facebook...
kt
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Hi All. Nice to hear from you Shazza. Hoping the next part of the trial is less invasive and that you can get on getting on. KT sorry about the fatigue, it must be crap :-(.
I went to Simply Red on Saturday night, I took one of my thick and thin friends for her 50th birthday present. It was a fabulous night. We got absolutely drenched going from dinner at Elliot Stables to Vector (and with the humidity it took a while to dry out), but it was worth it.
I hope you managed to get home from hospital Amber - that happened to me with my first FEC (I did taxotere last), but it didn't happen again after that.
Kruise, your view is amazing. I am from Titahi Bay and Mum's house over looks Mana Island (They are at the top of the hill in the Bay). There is something about those two islands that makes me feel l am home.
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KT I think it's too early for me to judge whether the SEs are going to be easier but the people running the trial say that overseas results seem to suggest that the oral is easier to tolerate. You don't get any premeds as there is no chance of an allergic reaction with the oral. For me that is great as I think the Dex etc caused me more issues than the taxol itself. I am a bit concerned that I will be starting on a much higher dose than I'm used to as I had the IV dose reduced a couple of times and the trial dose of oral is the maximum dose calculated on my weight which is quite a bit more than when I first started 2 years ago. Guess we will see how it goes. There is a reasonable chance my hair may come out again.
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Thanks, Shazza.
Bummer about the hair! But good if it's easier to tolerate.
I seem to remember you talked Reuben in to lowering your dex dose. I'm on 10mg & wondered what you got it down to. I hope I do manage to see him soon to discuss as the registrars seem reluctant to do it...
Have a good day everyone!
I'm off to catch up with friends soon, then I have a CT at NSH.
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KT good luck with your scan. Rueben was fine about dropping my Dex dose. The first reduction was too 6mg then 4 and finally 2. I also had all my premeds orally so I could take them before I got there. Without all the flushes to put them through the drip it cut the time I needed to be there by quite a bit as there was just the hour taxol to go through and a couple of flushes
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Thanks for that Shazza. Who knows when I'll get to see Reuben tho
I was hoping I would after my scan (went same as ever- not sure if they did a heparin lock after tho) but my next assessment is when he has conference leave...So frustrating sometimes dealing with the public health system. I wonder about making a private appointment for assessments occasionally as they are always so busy at Auckland hospital and you're rushed thru & don't get to see the same person all the time.
Sorry, feeling down about it all at the mo. Must be tired. Chemo at 8:30am tomorrow too, so very early start to get thru rush hour traffic. Grrr
Hope everyone else's day has been good. Night.
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KT1996 you are allowed to feel like that. That's what we are all here for. Please feel free to vent. I don't know what you are going through treatment wise but I can sure imagine. I do know what you will be going through with regards to the traffic though. It sucks and I'm over it. I went for an interview in Drury on Friday which is just down the road from where I live because I'm well and truly over the traffic. It can take me 1 1/2 hours to get to and from work and I live in Ararimu by Ramarama and I work in East Tamaki. I didn't get the job but I am still looking for something closer to home. Take care of yourself KT xxx
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hi there
With burton king and he is very kind
They said papilloma on fnab so off to excision i have been and another 2 week wait. After excision dr king came in and said it looked clean to him and he was happy but off to get tested it goes ugh... i posted about docs looking at excised tissue and obviously not knowing for sure as it can be small carcinoma but if anything stuck out to him hopefully he would not of pulled punches and stated his feelings about what he saw. Time now as results 11 march
I still am confused 10 years ago cnb said fibroadenoma. Seemed like the doctor was happy after surgery and his words were small comforts that he didnt see anything untoward. Said it was a large pea sized lump removed.
Praying to be part of the 80% of papillomas that are clear and the irony is i am no better off currently percentage wise then when i had a lump and no diagnosis 10 years ago before the first and recent biopsies.
Hope everyone are out there living and not in a dark place
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Hi survivor. Well that is good news
I know until the results come back in you will be a little concerned- but it's looking good. Hoping the time passes quickly for you. Thanks Donna. I'm at chemo & it was a slow trip in- but at least I got one of the free parks, always a bonus! I have got the nurses to email Reuben about my dex, so hopefully in the next few weeks I'll get a reduction....I've just got to pick myself up & get on with it
I hope you manage to get a good job closer to home soon! I don't know how you deal with that traffic everyday!
Catch you all later x
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Morning lovelies
Hope you are all doing ok. Kt how are you feeling today? Just resting at home I hope as you said you were going to take Thursday's off now following chemo. I really feel for you ladies having to face it each week when you feel tired already!
I still haven't had results back yet from my uterus biopsy. Dr said about a week - and it's a week today so any day now.
Another gorgeous day here on the Kapiti Coast. After two weeks we have now got things a bit more sorted, and it's starting to feel like home. Certainly takes a while!
Hey I've been meaning to say this for ages but if any of you ever feel like a week or weekend away at Mt Maunganui with your family or friends (or alone even lol) - just private message me as you are more than welcome to use our bach there. It's a change of scene and very therapeutic being near the beach. As long as the dates are free - I would love to help you out by letting any of you use it for a few days for absolutely free! You'd just need to get yourself there - not too hard for you Auckland girls as the drive is doable. I know things are tough for some of you and we have all certainly been through a lot of stuff so it's my way of giving something back when I can to you all.
Anyway - have a lovely day all of you.
K x
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That is a really generous offer, thank you Kruise! I hope that you've heard about your biopsy - especially now the weekend is upon us.
Hoping for good CT results KT. Shazza hoping that the trial is ok. it's all crap, just degrees of crap I have decided.
I hate all this stuff that I am putting into my body. I have a Rosalie appt in a couple of weeks and I get the feeling that it will be getting worse (she wants me to start on fosamax, which i don't want to have to have because of the ONJ stuff). I have had relentless pain in my left hip for a few months and the SOB still (since June last year), so I want her to investigate that further. Seems like I have to push and push and push to get a scan done. I haven't had so much as a blood test since I finished chemo in March, so I am feeling a little bit "unloved" at the moment. My friend who is with Vernon Harvey privately gets her bloods done every 3 months, just shows you the difference. Maybe I am going bonkers?
I have also decided to pursue getting my dog ear fixed on my left side and the seroma fixed on my right side, so that I can be truly flat (still have a B cup seroma since August, they said that if I stopped getting it aspirated it would absorb but it hasn't). Sorry I am moaning - I must be hormonal (lol).
I hope everyone is having a happy Friday - maybe I need a holiday.
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Hi Kruise. I hope you get your results back soon! So hard waiting.... I'm glad the new house is starting to feel like home.
Thank you for the very kind offer of your bach to use, might have to take you up on it one day!
I've had a very quiet couple of days, just pottering & Pilates today. Feeling much less tired than this time last week
Still hot & nice & sunny, but much less humid, phew. We're trying to sort out what kind of floor plan we want for our house (layout & size) it will be good to move forward with it soon! I prob won't find out my full CT results till my assessment on the 14th- but someone (maybe charge nurse or nurse advocate or something) may give me the abbreviated version at next chemo? I had that happen once. I hope you have a good appt with Rosalie, Nikki & get some of the answers you want. (What stage is your friend? - that may make a difference) I've been on bisphosphonates for a while now & no probs with ONJ, I think it's reasonably rare, but I can understand your concern. You will feel better too, without the seroma & dog ear.
I hope everyone has a good weekend with lots of fun
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My results came back....no sign of anything abnormal or cancerous so yay for that!! I may have a polyp though so going to gynae on 21st March for follow up. So another check up on the Vajayjay lol!! As if getting ya boobs out to all and sundry was enough now it's 'all about the bass'
I'm glad you've had a good couple of days KT and good on you Nikki wanting to get everything sorted. Doesn't sound like your hormonal - just fed up!! All been there.
Amber are you still around? I've signed up to your fb page too so can keep updated. It's all (the whole business) probably running you ragged. Keep going!
I haven't received our voting papers for the flag yet..and I think it started yesterday. Probably cause we moved. Shall I put a fox in the chicken house and dare ask what everyone's thoughts are?? Haha. I'm a bit on the fence.
Sad to hear about Martin Crowe too. I wonder how Lorraine is doing. Years ago, a few years after she won Miss Universe, I did a modeling/beauty type course with her that she ran (my parents organised it). I was about 18 and she was 23/24.
Enjoy your weekends. More unpacking here (and maybe some shopping).
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Can i please ask the ladies here who had an excisional biopsy in wellington, since it appears there is one pathology department servicing the area only? How long do you think it takes for results to actually get to the doctors versus the delivery of resultsto you
Fna was 7 to 10 working days but i assume with the lump excision removal it will be different testingas it is not a smear or cytology as such? Thoughts?how long did your lumpectomy pathology report take. Do not worry i understand the wait
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I went privately and my results were very quick - less than a week, as once they were back I was sentin for a petscan and another op the following week.
Unsure about the public system for results but I'm guessing within 2 weeks. Go with No news is good news - as they'd be getting onto it quick if there were issues.
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private here also. Bowen hospital. They scheduled me in before op for 2 weeks and said they would have results but if not they would call and bump me to the following week
Your pool looks awesome
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hi everyone,
Great idea to start this thread! I am currently on the wait list to get a radial scar removed. I've had a bit of a bad experience with the gp who I was seeing who wouldn't refer me on public health. She (mistakenly) thought a radial scar was just a result of some injury and told me there was no need for follow up and no cause for concern.
I did my own research and saw that it was correct practice to get them removed. She still refused so I paid $$$ to see a specialist who couldn't believe that I hadn't been referred on as they are always taken out. She is writing a letter to the gp but also to the pathologist who she says should have followed it up with the gp seeing as it said B3 on the report.
So, I am glad that I am on the wait list and that this is getting taken out so that we can see if it has any cancer in it, tired from having to push and for sleepless nights and really cross at the gp! I know some people would just accept the gps diagnosis and not do any further research. I was told by the specialist that the removal should happen in around2 months. That feels like a long wait and right about now I wish I had health insurance!
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oh, and i live in Auckland NZ. Nice to 'meet' you all :
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hi tizzi
Did you have a biopsy on your lesion?
That is why as a patient we must keep asking and finding a bs we are comfortable with and trust. Personally i need one that does not sugar coat things. If there is a problem as soon as they know we should know
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hi supportive,
Yes. After finding the lump I decided to pay to get a mammogram and ultrasound straight away. The radiologist then suggested a core biopsy which I had done the week after. Just feels like such a letdown that the gp didn't listen to my concerns and follow through with the results like she was supposed too. The bs I paid to go and see was amazing but after spending so much money on the testing we can't really foot the bill for private surgery. I felt so relieved after seeing her and getting referred to the hospital.
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Public hopefully will not take too long if the lesion is high risk. Might have to wait as others will have priority with higher grades and so on
At least you are on your way
The only confort is that you and me both... if its not good then better know now then head in the sand as scary as it may be
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I'm glad the results were ok, Kruise! Bummer about the polyp & further appts tho, I guess you may end up having a D & C? I hear you on being over the vajayjay stuff
(naughty, but I've decided no more smear tests, if anything gets me it'll be BC...)Hi Tizzy, welcome to the kiwi thread. Good on you for being proactive. It's hard waiting for tests or procedures- I hope you can distract yourself to make time pass more easily.
I hope that you & supportive both get good news with your results.
Take care all
kt
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Hi guys, welcome tizzi. Kruise you made me lol with that "all about the bass" comment haha. That was very nice of you to offer us your batch too. Niki don't worry about having a moan to us, that's what we are all here for. I don't blame you for being a bit fed up, I would be too, everything about cancer sucks - big time!!! I go into to Auckland University Medical facility on Thursday after work to start that Mediterranean Diet study, and I am so excited. I have been drinking red wine, which is bloody revolting but I am persisting and even had 2 glasses on Saturday night. I can actually sip it now without shuddering and pulling a funny face. I even brought some egg plants but they have been sitting very prettily on my windowsill, with me wondering what to do with them? So I will keep you all posted on how I get on. Take care everyone, Donna xxx
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Hi ladies
So sorry I have been off the radar. Just checking in, I have a lot to catch up on and will when my first week back at work is over as it's all go and in catch up mode.
So you know I'm not ignoring you
Ended up in hospital with 38.3 temp they wanted to be super careful so kept me in for 2 nearly 3 nights but luckily the doctor that saw me on the Monday said I was sensible enough to go home as long as I took antibiotics
so I did. Neutrophil count got to 1.0 so they instructed me to be off work all last week. May I ask, how did your work respond to you being off work for treatment?
Hope you are all doing well
Look forward to reading all the convo I have missed xx
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