Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
Comments
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Hi Alyson! Haven't seen you for ages. Nice to be busy with grandkids
Not so nice re health issues. I hope you can sort them out soon...Well Shazza, I think you got the best day for your 21 km walk! Today the weather is definitely on the turn again. I hope it went well & you had fun
How're the feet? I hope your house is sorted out by now!Good luck with your appts Nikki & Kruise.
I'm going out for lunch today to celebrate my nieces 21st with family- it'll be fun
And my appetite has improved slightly. I can't wait to get back to relatively normal, but rads does take a while to bounce back from. I'm super tired...Enjoy the rest of your weekend
kt
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Hi everyone. Yes we certainly got a good day for the walk which went well. I'm not too sore today. Went to yoga this morning which I think helped. Going to have a lazy rest of the day though. A couple of us enjoyed the walk so much that we have signed up for the walking stars half marathon in November.
I'm glad you are starting to feel a little better KT enjoy your lunch out today.
Good luck Kruise and Nikki with your appointments. Keep us posted.
Welcome back Alyson. Hope your medical issues are sorted soon.
Have a great week everyone.
Shazz
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Shazza - your beautiful face popped up on my facebook for the BCAC page for the petition to access more medicines to be available for NZ patients. Here's the link, for anyone who is interested in signing, and who doesn't have facebook.
https://www.breastcancer.org.nz/meds
I hope everyone is ok. KT, I hope you're recovering from your latest radiation and that there's lots of progress on your house now the weather seems to be a bit more settled. Hi Michelle, Kruise & Alyson
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Hi everyone, sorry I've been absent for so long. My lovely step brother passed away unexpectedly on Monday morning at Auckland Hospital from a heart attack, he was only 55. So we are all feeling a bit shocked and heartbroken. He became my stepbrother when we were 14 so I loved him like a brother. My Mum and Stepdad are devastated and it's just been a horrible week. We had his funeral yesterday in Hunua which was pretty amazing as he was an avid classic car collector and there were 50 classic cars there. My Aunty passed away on Thursday also, my Stepdads sister, so been the absolute crappiest week. Tonight is my neices 21st birthday, and I can't stop crying but have to try and pull myself together for everyone elses sale. Sorry about the depressing post. You guys all seem to be doing okay. So good that your radiation treatments are over KT, I reckon travelling to and from Auckland Hospital is tiring in itself, not to mention trying to find parking. Shazza sorry about the sewage leak, not nice. Nikki your dog is so cute. Alyson, nice to hear from you. Kruise I think the thought of having a D&C is worse than the actual procedure, you will bound back really quick and hopefully the results will all be good as mine were, big relief. Hi optimist, hope you are doing well. If I've forgotten to say hi to someone, sorry. Well I guess I better go and get prepared for the 21st tonight. Take care all of you, I think of you often and will try and post when I'm in a happier frame of mind, Donna xxx
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Hi everyone
Major condolences to you Fizzdon52 - it will have been a very hard few weeks for you and your family.
Ive not been very active either. Just getting on with treatment and then before you know it the time has flown by. I have my final FEC dose next Friday 21st and just can't wait to have this phase of the treatment over. The D side of things were bad enough with pain and diarreha but I do believe that the FEC side of things messed with my brain a lot more or perhaps its the long term effects of the treatment catching up with me. The nausea was handled pretty well with the medication so I really can't complain much there.
I have been having a bit of bother with a niggly pain in my back and asked if I qualified for a bone scan and would you believe I got in within 4 days. Having said that I will have to wait over 2 weeks to get the results. I am also having problems with my arm. The latest measurements from the physio shows one part of my arm has grown 4 cm. So I asked for a referrel for that as well. Typical southland health system though - the person who handles that has just gone on maternity leave so you will have to go through to Dunedin. So luckily I have managed to tie a visit in with my first radiotherapy consulation on the 1st Nov.
This are just moving quite quickly as is the year. The sun is shining and I have no escuses not to be getting out and walking.
Take care everyone
Helen
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Hi everyone, so sorry Donna to hear about your stepbrother, must have been such a shock. Nice to see you back Helen, glad the chemo is nearly over. Nikki, I will sign the petition. kt, hoping you're starting to feel better now. Alyson, nice to meet you, hope your health is improving.
I've been ok, however my hands are hurting more than they used to, thanks to letrozole I'm sure. Also getting back ache on and off, I think this is another SE. A friend has invited me to a weekend in Mt Maunganui in two weeks, so looking forward to that. I haven't been out of Auckland for far too long.
Hi to everyone else.
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Hi everyone
Well done with the walk Shazza- & now another one! May as well make the most of that fitness.
Donna, I'm so sorry about your stepbrother & stepdads sister- what a week. Thinking of you & your family.
Yay for last chemo Helen! I'm glad they've scanned you so quickly, fingers crossed here for good results. I hope radiation goes well too. Make sure & rest during it.
Hi Nikki, thanks for the link, I will look.
Mt Maunganui sounds wonderful, Optimist.Hopefully the weather will have improved by then!
I'm gradually improving, good days & bad. Sometimes a bit shaky still, really have to pace myself. Finally weaning off steroids, hopefully will actually finish this time!
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hi everyone
Oh my goodness Donna what a horrible week for you all! Condolences from me too - that is all so sad. My heart goes out to your stepdad especially. He will be finding it all extra tough right now. Losing two loved ones in a couple days is very hard. Hugs to you too, sounds like you need it.
Hoping for good results from your scan Helen and yay best wishes for last chemo Friday!
Glad you are starting to feel a bit better KT.
I have fb Nikki but will need to go find the page as don't remember seeing anything show up for me. I have liked quite a few bc etc pages so get lots but prob not all info. Will have to go look for your smiley face Shazza.
Michelle I am at Mt Maunganui now having a lovely long weekend. Had a nice walk this morning with my man and our two doggie pals
. Hopefully you get nice weather on your trip. Hi Alyson - nice to see you popping back. Hope your health is on the up and up.
I just realised I am probably the only one not known by my name, lol...it's Karen. Oh and KT is yours Kate, Katie?
I have my op this Thursday - trying not to think about it right now.
Hope everyone's weekend going good. Hi to anyone else I've missed Xx
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Donna. Condolences, what a dreadful week. Hugs coming your way x
Helen, nice to see you. I am glad that the chemo is nearly finished. My arm gave me trouble for about a year after my mastectomy. At one stage it was 17% larger than my right. It resolved itself in time and (apparently) with the use of a lymphedema sleeve. Although,I must admit that I wasn't very good at wearing it, so I think it finally sorted itself out. Can you get a sleeve from your DHB or do you have to pay for one? I have a spare if you need it. Good luck with the bone scan results.
Michelle, I have problems with my hands and feet - exemestane SE's. Those AL's sure do knock us around.
I am still waiting for my ovary removal date. Apparently now the hold up is because of the Junior Doctor's strike. My ovaries will have ceased to operate by the time they are removed ........ maybe that is their plan all along. I am still on track to have my lumpy chest fixed up sometime in November - which is apparently not affected by the strike (probably because my surgeon is a consultant). I wonder if she can lypo my butt and staple my stomach at the same time?
KT, I am glad that you are, at least, having some better days. I bet you can't wait to ditch the steroids. How is the house coming along?
Hi Kruise, I hope it all goes well on Thursday.
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Great photo Kruise
I hope Thursday goes well, good to get it over with. (Kate/Katie were my nick names that my dad called me when I was young, so kt is a nod to that)Bummer Nikki, so hard to have to keep waiting for your op! I hope they can schedule you back in soon. Good that the chest is still on track tho.
The house is coming along. I'll try & post a pic (taken last weekend on one of the few sunny days we've had!)
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Good progress on the house KT. Hopefully now that it's closed in the work isn't so weather dependent.
My real name is Nicola - I have always associated being called that as being in the dog house, even at nearly 50 years old.
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Hey Kruise, I hope your op goes well tomorrow. Have a nice wee doze
I had my onc appt on Monday, had about 45min with Reuben while he tried to find a trial I could go on, but they're all closed or not suitable
So today I've started taking cyclophosphamide & methotrexate orally. (At least I don't have to go to Auckland do often). But I hope my poor old brain can remember to take the right med at the right time! (1 at 9am every day, the other at 10am & 5pm on Wednesday & Thursday!) I guess I'll sort out a system & reminder alarms on my phone. I also had a CT scan today to see where the rest of my body is at....
I'm really enjoying this dry (& occasionally sunny) weather atm, the build should be going along. Will go look tomorrow
I hope you're all having a good week
kt
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Awww thanks Kt....I am looking forward to just getting it over and done with now. I don't have to be there until lunchtime so I'm picking it's around 2pm for surgery.
I hope those new pills do the trick for you. Yes phone alarms are good for that sort of thing. Best of luck with the results from the latest ct. Hoping for lots of improvement for you.
Your house will be coming along in leaps and bounds for sure. Very exciting - it looks lovely. Xx
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Good luck tomorrow Kruise, it will be good to have it over and done with.
Donna so sorry to hear your news.
KT I took those to drugs orally as part of CMF back in 1999. I think it was pretty doable. I know I was exhausted but I did have 3 kids under 5 and no family support so I was probably going to be tired anyway.
Same old same old here which I'm not complaining about. Looking forward to the long week and Monday off work.
Hope everyone is doing ok
Shazz
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Hope today goes well Kruise. I will be thinking of you.
KT. I hope that you feel ok on the pills. It's good that you don't have to head into Auckland quite so often.
Both my kids had job interviews yesterday. Lou at a small travel agency and Ben at an Electronics retailer. Ben finishes school next week (then just has his exams). He's wanting to travel next year before going into the Army - so needs lots of money. He's been doing shifts at Maccas for the last 3 months - but I think that doing 40 hours a week there would be too much. He literally smells like a nugget when he gets home. Lou's diploma course finishes this week, and is already working 30+ hours at the cake shop - and hasn't had a weekend off for years. She really wants to use her qualifications. I am hoping that she at least gets a second interview. The office is only a couple of K's from home and is 9 -5, which would suit her down to the ground. Lots of competition out there for our young ones though.
Have a happy day everyone x
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thanks Shazza and Nikki. Well I've had my last food and fluid intake now. I actually just had a cuppa tea and a cuppa coffee. I'm not really a breakfast person early in the morning, so figure I'll just not eat today! Lol. Besides if I eat early it would just make me hungry by 11am. I can have a couple sips of water up till 10.30am - so might make those sips hot ones and out of a cup
Just going to keep busy for a few hours this morning doing housework and then it'll be time to head off.
Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes xx
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Hope you're home now Kruise & that everything went well. I wouldn't last as long as you without food! Don't know how you do it!
Shazza, 3 kids under 5 while on chemo! Wow. Well done you. So far so good with chemo, just really tired. I'm trying not to eat all the time, I think I like the feeling of something there to settle it down.
Nikki, I hope your kids get those jobs. I wish my son would get something. Mind you, it has been great having him available to be my chauffeur now that I'm not allowed to drive.
Nearly the long weekend, hooray!
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I made it home last night, a bit tired but yay it's done. Surgeon removed a small polyp and lots of irregular looking tissue but he thinks it's all ok but will have results in a week. The relief that it's all done is sooo good and yes a long weekend to look forward too.
I hope your kids have success with their jobs too Nikki. Sometimes you just need that foot in the door and a start out there. Let us know.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend with your families. Shazza are you still keeping up the long walks?
Karen
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Hi everyone, I just recently found this site, and was happy to see a New Zealand discussion thread.
HelenWNZ I'm in Invercargill and starting rads tomorrow in Dunedin, so we may see each other there?
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Hi AmusingSaprano welcome - I was happy to find a place for kiwis too. Good luck for tomorrow.
I had my last chemo on Friday which was a bit touch and go as I had a cold but luckily all blood tests said I'd be good to go. Consequently I feel like crap right now so not very chatty.
My bone scan came back ok although they want me to have another one in 3 months as there was a grey area around my hip.
Take care everyone hope you all enjoyed your labour weekend
Helen
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Hi AmusingSoprano. Welcome to our little group. I hope your radiation goes well. It's pretty a quick process. what a shame you ladies have to travel all the way to Dunedin to have it.
Yay! Last chemo done Helen. Congratulations.
Kruise, I hope that you've taken it nice and easy this weekend.
KT, how are you feeling?
A beautiful weekend for walking Shazza.
I spent some of the long weekend in Middlemore dealing with Cellulitis on my lymphedema arm. I burnt it on a hotwater bottle (during a cold flush) but of course because there is no feeling there the burn was far worse than I had thought. After a couple of failed oral antibiotics I had IV for 24 hours before getting discharged yesterday. They wanted to keep me in until Wednesday but I couldn't do that, because Louise has her second interview for that job on that day. I don't want her to turn into a stress-head about me before that. Anyway I am fine, I will pop up to the Doctor on Friday when I have my zoladex for them to check it.
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Nikki so sorry to hear this. We've had hot water bottle burns in our family, I think the rubber perishes so they're a bit risky. A wheat bag is an alternative. Really hope your arm heals soon. KT hope you're finding the oral chemo is SE free.
Kruise, it sounds like you're recovering well, I've had similar ops and found them not too bad afterwards. Helen, great that you're finishing chemo. AmusingSoprano, good luck with the rads, aloe vera gel is great to apply afterwards.
Nikki my oldest son wants to travel soon too, though he's completely broke with a student loan, so I don't know how far he'll get! My youngest age 18 has a done a year of uni but not sure whether he wants to change his degree or take a gap year. I think he should carry on with uni before he loses the momentum.
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Hi all
Welcome AmusingSoprano. Get plenty of rest if you can, between travelling & radiation it's quite tiring!
Helen, well done finishing chemo. I hope you're feeling better by now. Good luck with the next scan.
Oh Nikki, what a way to spend the weekend! I hope you're mending ok now. Louise is lucky to have you
I hope her interview goes well. I hope everyone had a great long weekend. It must be the first one with decent weather in years!
I had a funny weekend with new symptoms & worsening of existing ones (new- r side of face pulling a funny face for a couple of minutes, old- increased double vision, unsteadiness & headache) but I was naughty & didn't ring oncology, well I did try, but it went straight to a general health line not the hospital (!) and I didn't want to talk to them.
So I texted the nurse specialist today & left a message to call me when she was free, then realised at 3 I still hadn't heard. Turns out both of the nurses are away. So I rang acute oncology & they want me to come in tomorrow, drat! I feel a bit silly about not calling earlier...but I hate the thought of a long day down there...
I hate cancer!
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Oh KT. This is all crap. I hope today isn't too long and that you can get some relief from these symptoms. I wouldn't have dealt with Healthline either. I remember when they did away with the out of hours acute oncology phone line (it was just when I was having chemo), and I wasn't very impressed. You'll be in my thoughts today x
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KT good luck today. Cancer is a bitch alright.
Niki what a bugger ending up in Middlemore, hope you are healing well now.
Welcome to the group AmusingSaprano.
Hope everyone had a good long weekend. I did get a fair bit of walking in as I'm training for the walking stars 21k in November.
Have a great day ever
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Hi, well today wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. They let me go at 12, so 2 hours must be a record. I had one med slightly changed schedule wise and got checked out neurologically (reflex/strength tests etc) I did get a ph call this afternoon from the onc dr that saw me, offering me antiseizure meds since it may have been a localised seizure with the face- but who wants more drugs- not me! Certainly not for a shortlived funny face :P
Hopefully no more silly symptoms will pop up for a long time & I can get on with stuff.
Well done with all your walking Shazza. I could use some of your energy & stamina
Hope everyone's had a good day
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Thanks for the update KT. I have been thinking of you today. I am thrilled that it wasn't as bad as it could've been. I agree, the less meds the better. Yes, two hours must be a blimming record for that place.
Louise had her interview which seemed to go well. Now the wait begins. She should know by Friday. I think getting to the final 3 on your first job interview is good, but I would love her to get this job, so fingers crossed.
I had a call from my GP to say that the swabs contained staph, which is why those antibiotics she gave me didn't work. Basically I have had a dirty kitchen sponge on my arm. Niiiice! Anyway feeling lots better, although the flucolox is doing a job on my stomach.
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Louise got the job!
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Awesome news
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That's awesome Nik1966!! Celebration time
Just home from Dunedin now after my first 4 zaps. The gladwrap is holding up well, just a little peeling at the edges but then RT snipped those off. Next week I move into Daffodil House (Cancer Society shared accommodation) so I'm looking forward to that.
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