Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
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Great, Kiwi, so nice not to have to wait too long. I hope your appt tomorrow goes well. Good to know that Rosalie is a good onc
How many taxol done now, Shazza? I guess its still going well
Well, did more painting & cleaning today & went out for lunch with friends, so now I'm knackered. A quiet afternoon is in store now. (got to recover for work tomorrow
)kt
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54 Taxols for me. Tired and grumpy but that's just par for the course with me. The chemo nurse was telling me about one of their patients who just had their 100th treatment!!! Not Taxol but a variety of different chemos he's been on over time. The nurses made him a card with their photos on. Now I have something to aim for. It will take another year of weekly Taxol to get there but I'm up for it.
I had a day off today and had my hair (what there is of it) and nails done. I'm off to a fancy pants wedding on Saturday so have to look sharp.
Hope everyone else is going well.
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Hi All. Arrived home from world trip on Tuesday and catching up on all your posts. We are all exhausted and so happy to be home in own beds, with our dog and cats and back to a normal
Day off sounds nice Shazza. I hope your hair and nails look pretty! We can follow your Taxol countdown and see what you get when you reach 100. You are entitled to be tired and grumpy. Work + treatment + 3 teenagers sounds tiring to me!
KT - Rest and recover. I hope you had a nice lunch.
Kiwi - sorry to see another Kiwi lady wind up here. It sounds like you are slowly getting a plan of appointments and scans etc. For me the unknown was the most scary. Once I got my diagnosis and a plan I felt like I could focus on that and get through it all.
Reuben has switched my ongoing meds and I start the new regime tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what side effects that brings/changes. I am switching from Tamoxifen + 3 monthly Lucerin injections to Exemestane + 4 weekly Zoladex.
I can't remember if I told you about the meds changing? It's because of the Text & Soft trials which were released in June. Reuben considers the recurrence % reduction significant for me.
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Welcome home Kiwimum! How long were you away for all up? Wonderful trip! But its always nice to get home again
You'll have to post some photos...
Did you use emla cream for your 3 monthly injections? I recommend it for the zoladex, I quickly got over the jab, emla makes it painless.
Yay, Shazza, 100 sounds like a good number to aim for.
Just fed the animals, now I have to think about feeding the humans. Only 3 of us tonight as DD is staying in Auckland for her clinical placement at Unitecs Veterinary hosp...
Have a good night all
kt
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KT - our holiday was nearly six weeks. It was lovely and long. I was looking at the memory card on the camera and discovered we took nearly 2000 photos. It will take some sorting!
I hadn't considered using Emla for Zoladex. I did use Emla cream on my port site when I was having chemo. Before I was on Lucerin I was on Zoladex. I do recall the big freaken needle jab in my stomach!
I will take your advice I think. Longer term I'm leaning towards just getting my ovaries removed as long term jabs 4 weekly doesn't thrill me! I thought I'd see how I go for the next few months and then discuss with Reuben at my next appt in Feb 2015.
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Ta Shazza I will go down and get the magazine. I googled her and found that she was under 35. But a friend said that was a good thing as she would be up with the latest treatments. Glad that she's nice, I need someone nice. Just hope she's not too clinical like the radiotherapy consultant was. My surgeon, Sarah Ulmer was young and gorgeous as well and did a great job (she runs a woman's clinic in Remuera doing breast and butt lifts).
Donna, my hubby is going with me. We're going to record our conversation to short notice to get anyone else I trust. Although I guess they won't know much until the scan results are in mid next week.
Wish me luck x
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KT - I had forgotten how big that freakin needle really was! Ow that hurt. I didn't actually realise it was inserting a slow release capsule inside of me.
Anyone had their ovaries removed? Was it major or easy?
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They wouldn't let me get my ovaries removed because I'm so old (53) it can't be long until I'm in menopause - that's their words. So I'm now giving myself monthly Zoladex injections into my lower tummy. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, the weather is just about to pack in up here in Auckland and I'm just about to tackle to Friday Southern motorway traffic.
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Yep, KiwiMum, get yourself some Emla!
Fizzdon, I don't know how you do it! I used to be a nurse many years ago & I couldn't inject myself with that needle! (A fine one would be another story
)So it looks like we're in for a wet weekend...ok by me as I need an excuse to take it easy. I have a headache & my feet are red and burning, not nice to walk on.
TGIF!
Have a good weekend
kt
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Happy Friday everyone.
Had a really good appointment today with Rosale Fisher. She was just lovely and just talked positives with me. I'll tackle the negatives later .... We did a deal. I told her that I knew I needed chemo and that I wanted it however right now I needed to focus on the treatment.
All things being equal on the scans I will start in two weeks or so. She advised me to get a wig sorted if I wanted one. Does anyone know the cost of one? I know there's a government subsidy to take into account, but I don't want to spend 1000's on something that I might decide not to wear
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Hi Kiwi1966,
I'm glad you had a good meeting with Rosalie.
As far as wigs go it was a while ago so I don't remember how much it cost- I think the subsidy pretty much covered it (human hair is more expensive tho). I only wore mine twice- I found it too hot & scratchy & wished I'd spent my allowance on scarves & hats!
There is a website I'll try & put a link for you. The subsidy looks to be $400.
http://nzbcf.org.nz/BREASTCANCER/HelpSupport/Wigsa...
Hope that helps. It a really personal choice, so good to go and see what's available.
Have a good night
kt
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I think the subsidy for the wig was some random figure like $428.28 lol when I got my wigs last year. It was enough to cover a short-haired synthetic wig but I had long hair at the time I was diagnosed so I wanted to get a long haired wig. You can use the subsidy to buy hats and scarves too - it just depends what you want Nikki and it's so hard to know when you don't know
I was quite lucky in that my chemo started March so it was winter time - easy to wear beanies etc and just look normal.
I did buy a couple sun hats and scarves from that American website - Headcovers - or whatever it's called. They were reliable and quick with the goods and some neat scarves. I tried to look at it as a form of trying out different looks. You can probably buy some cheap dress up wigs for a bit of fun too.
Welcome home Kiwimum. I just finished an online photo album of our trip from June to Europe tonight. Took me ages to sort out all the photos etc and put them into some order. Done now though!!
Hope the weather is better than they forecast for weekend. Not that nice here in Welly tonight.
We'll be watching the All Blacks game tomorrow night but not much else planned this weekend.
Take care xx
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Hi Kiwi1966 - I bought a wig (short synthetic one) the subsidy just about covered the cost. I bought it just before I started chemo and had my hair clipped off before it really started falling out, because it gets really messy. Also hurts a bit when your hair goes, sort of pins and needles, something to do with the hair follicle. I wore my wig everyday during the week at work and found that I got used to it pretty quick. It does have some advantages: never a bad hairday, colour doesn't fade, never have to get a hair cut, saves on shampoo...but I was very glad when my hair started to grow back again. It's a bit curlier than before.
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Thanks Woody. I have ordered some hats and a couple of beanies. Cotton ones because it's getting warmer. Thanks Karen for telling me about the website I spent ages in there this afternoon. I have a wig consultation in a couple of weeks. Woody, How long did your head hurt for? How did you find working while having treatment - I am hoping to be able to just reduce my hours.
Scans Monday and Tuesday and then hopefully I can get started
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Well I had my big fancy pants wedding yesterday afternoon. I'd bought a lovely new dress and had my make up done professionally so I could have sensible looking eyebrows. The venue was spectacular , the bride gorgeous, the groom had scrubbed up well. Unfortunately I passed out during the vows and ended up going by ambulance to A&E where I spent the evening. They never did work out why it happened but I missed the wedding. So disappointed
Hope everyone else is having a better weekend than me.
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Oh b*##*r, Shazza!
I'm glad you're ok now - what a disappointment tho...
I hope today is better for you.
My weekend has been pretty quiet, went to a farewell party for a bit last night- too tired to stay long + my feet burn & hurt if I stand too long.
kt
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Gee Shazza what a bummer:( Better next time aye..
Kiwi1966 - head didn't hurt for too long, maybe a week or so and it wasn't a terrible pain, just on top of everything else it was annoying. Working during treatment was ok for me, used to have chemo on a wednesday and take one or two days off to get over feeling crap, but it is different for everyone and also different per chemo, I found that taxol took a couple of days before i had a day of feeling like a zombie and the FEC was the same and following day. Anti nausea medication helps and I found in general that hypnotherapy helped a lot to feel less anxious about the whole thing and also helped my body cope a lot better.
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These little girls are my two grand neices, Harriet and Aleka, harriet is 7 nevt month and Aleka 4
Shaza, what a shame. that would of been lovely for you to be at wedding. am sorry to read that. hugs hope you much better today.
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Sorry that you couldn't enjoy the wedding Shazza. I hope you're feeling better now.
Thanks for the info Woody. I am having Fec - T. Three cycles of Fec then 3 of taxol. Hopefully starting in a few weeks after the scans tomorrow and Tuesday. Just want to get on with it. I think I am feeling a bit better about things after Friday's meeting.
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oh no Shazza! That sucks! How are you now? I hope you are home and feeling better. Such a disappointment for you after putting in all that effort.
Kiwi, I continued to work throughout my chemo. When I had AC it was on a Wednesday and I took Thurs and Fri off. AC hit me quite hard. Mostly tiredness and a bit of nausea. When I had Taxol I just took the afternoon of my infusion off and then was fine the next day. I had Taxol weekly for 12 weeks and coped well. The sooner you commence treatment the sooner you finish!
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oh no Shazza - that is just gutting for you!! I hope you got a nice photo of yourself all done up before you went to the wedding?
There can be a lot of causes for syncopies - (fainting) such as heat, dehydration and exhaustion, low BP, etc so that could be why they haven't found out a cause. I guess you are feeling a bit worried about it too in a way not knowing why it happened.
Sounds like you need to rest up and take some time out to get your strength back. Maybe having that cough etc has taken it out of you.
I have the dentist to look forward to today - repairing a broken filling..yay...lol. Then a friend's 50th birthday lunch - probably won't be able to eat properly with a numb mouth lol
Have a good day everyone x
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Good morning lovelies
Shazza I so hope you are feeling a bit better. What a thing to happen and you were so looking forward to the wedding.
Had a quiet weekend which was great and some lovely rain to water my garden. Spent time talking to ChtissyB in Aus sorting out our get together over the last weekend of November.
Please think about joining us either for the whole weekend or for lunch on Saturday 29th November down at Wynyard Quarter. Actual place not yet decided on. It is great fun meeting up. I have done lunch with BCO folk twice in Canada and as a result found wonderful new friends. Just PM me if you would like to join us.
Have a happy day.
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Hi Alyson, nice to see you. The get together weekend sounds fun- but I'll be in the South Island! Can't wait, we go on the 28th & get back on the 8th Dec.
Its been a while since we've been anywhere
Cute grand nieces Midnight
Woodyhollow & Shazza, your new avatars with more hair look great!
Well, I worked today- now I have a whole week off as I have my pamidronate infusion on Wednesday so my boss has been kind & given me time off in case I have se's
Just as well, cos I'm so tired, my brain is not really working as well as I'd like it to!
Hope you're all enjoying the nice day
kt
Ps Hope the dental appt goes well Kruise, with no pain.
(I'm going on Friday for a checkup- don't really enjoy going to the dentist...)
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Kiwi what part of NZ are you from hun?
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Kiwi1966, I hope your scans today & tomorrow go ok.
Fingers crossed here for good results
Be sure & let us know how you got on
Hugs
kt
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The scan wasn't as nerve racking as I thought. Over and done with pretty quickly. The contrast didn't affect me too badly either which was great. I was scared about that hot feeling someone had told me about but it was ok. Got the blood test done and have the bone scan tomorrow. So hopefully I will get a start date soon.
Angstapp I am from Botany in East Auckland
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I'm glad the scan went well Kiwi. It will be good when you finally have a plan and can move forward.
I had clinic today and saw the lovely Naera. They don't really have any idea why I fainted on the weekend or why I'm still a bit dizzy and nauseous. It's probably just viral but they will order a head CT just in case. My blood work is fine so I'm off to chemo no 55 tomorrow.
Alyson I'm working till 1 pm on the 29th but would love to meet you and the Auzzie girls so let me know the plans and I will try and sort something out.
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Shazza. Thanks I am pleased things are moving along. Rosalie Fisher works with a Mike McCrystal. Is he nice?
Hope your CT goes well and that it is viral
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Shazza, I had to have a head CT after my faint/fall too! It turned out fine. Hope yours does too, they like to be sure don't they?!
Kiwi1966, I've seen Mike McCrystal a couple of times & he's really nice too.
Glad your scan went well- I hate that warm feeling cos you almost feel like your peeing yourself! Apart from that it's fine.
The thing I find hardest about bonescans is having to hold your arms over your head for so long- apart from that it's easy
All the best for tomorrow
Night all
kt
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Kiwi, I'm in Pukekohe - coming up to auckland next Thursday for a bone scan and have 3 hours to kill in between injection and scan, let me know if you want to meet up for a coffee, just text me if you like 027 2380083
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