Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
Comments
-
Well done Jo
Thank goodness you have a proactive GP too. Great to have someone on your side like that. It sounds like a good plan.
After yesterday's lovely sunshine today is grey and cold which is a bit disappointing - but at least it's the weekend
kt
0 -
Good news KT, you can breathe a bit easier. Jo, it's amazing how they can must magic up appointment times when their cages get rattled!
My last radiotherapy was 9 days ago, and they are so right when they say it will peak in 10-14 days. I am visiting the District Health Nurse everyday to get my bandages changed and so they can monitor the burns, which have now spit my skin. I am even having trouble driving which is annoying. It's painful, but on the upside I am told that once I start healing it will be quick.
Have a lovely weekend everyone
0 -
Nikki are you on antibiotics? I had to as the whole site became infected. Did you know that the nurses will visit you?
Hope everyone is having a restful weekend.
Hugs
0 -
They haven't given me any antibiotics, they say that it's pretty clean. The District Health Nurses hub is on Botany Road, about 2 minutes drive from here, so I go to see them as it's easier than fitting around their schedule. They often can't tell me what time they can come. It should start getting better soon - I was completely unaware that I could burn like this.
0 -
Nik - I do feel for you. I was lucky. I have really pale skin and when I had my rads for Stage 1, I burned. Lucky for me, I got some cream prescribed (in the US) that kept me from blistering. However, the burn did peel. And peel. And peel. And itch. Like a peeling sunburn itches. I only missed one day of work throughout radiation, so I'd be sitting in client meetings just dying to scratch my boob! I thought this was bad until a friend had rectal cancer and had the same problem, but in another area.
We had several conversations about which was worse, but I think she wins the "worst place to peel and itch" contest. Sending hugs and good thoughts,
Terre
0 -
I agree Kiwicat. My friends father had rectal cancer and the radiotherapy was torture for him, infact he didn't complete the course.
0 -
Hi all. Hope you had a good weekend
Nikki, hope your rads burns are starting to heal now.
I've just got back from Ak, had a nice lunch with my mum & sister ( nice to see her safe after the quake) and my onc appt. Tumour markers still going up so I'm in for another CT scan in 4-5 weeks...oh joy. Don't really want to have to change treatments as going down every 3 weeks is often enough really. Will just have to wait & see.
Yesterday I got an early Mother's Day present- nice snuggly Ugg type boots- lovely
especially since it's starting to get colder already. Take care
kt
0 -
Sorry about the tumour markers KT. This stuff never lets up, as I am quickly learning. Seems that most of the people I know think that now the chemo and radiation is over that it's job done. Not so for any of us.
The burns are healing now. I had a murderous day on Friday but after that it's been better everyday, and don't need to see the District Nurse anymore. I am so so tired though. I had my second Zoladex injection yesterday and don't know if that's caused it all of a sudden or it's a hang over from radiation. I wish I could curl up in bed, but I have to work
On the upside, I managed to get some mascara to stick to my stubby lashes today ........ progress! I just want to look a bit more normal. My hair is growing, but not enough to go out of the house without my beanie on. I've done away with my wig completely (I only wore it to the supermarket), I wonder if I could donate it to someone else?
0 -
Yay for healing Nikki.
I reckon it takes just as long as you have been in treatment to get over it. So you've had around a year of treatment- it'll take you at least a year to get back to normal (or a new normal anyway)
Take it easy on yourself!
I'm off for lunch with the girls in a minute (just finished work, am a bit tired) but it should be nice.
Take care
kt
0 -
Hi guys, sounds like everyone is doing okay. Good that you are feeling better Nikki and I'm sorry your tumour markers are going up KT. I have been on Tamoxifen for a couple of weeks now, definitely not as many aches and pains but I keep nearly fainting which is a new experience for me. My heart races and then it continues up my head and my head pulses then I nearly black out. Honestly I've just about had enough of this bloody breast cancer stuff. Seriously considering throwing all medicines away but don't know if I could live with myself if it came back. At least these colder nights makes for better sleeping. Take care everyone. Shazza how are you doing? Like to make sure everyone is okay
0 -
KT what a bummer about the rising tumour markers. Hopefully the scan shows nothing to worry about.
Glad the burns are finally healing Nikki.
I doing ok . Just really really tired all the time. Guess if that's all I've got to worry about then I can't complai
0 -
Hi all,
Sorry to hear about TMs going up KT. Hopefully it's nothing to worry about. Sending good thoughts your way.
Nik - glad you're doing better. Maybe ask the Cancer Society or Sweet Louise or similar if they'd like the wig? I'm sure someone would love to have it. And congrats on mascara!
Fizz - that sounds like it would be scary to experience. Hope it's a very fleeting side effect.
I have tonsillitis and strep throat of all things. And now it's worked itself into an ear and sinus infection as well. Got a different antibiotic today and it seems to be helping. Bought a vapouriser too; the doc said steam is the key to success. Woke up this morning with no voice. I make Darth Vadar sound normal. Not fun. Not cancer, which is good. But not fun. I think I do cancer better than I do flu.
I have to give a big plug to Ruth Pretty catering. Our cat has been missing for almost three weeks. They saw one that looks similar and they let us come up and tromp around the place, leave a cage and food, lurk in the parking lot, etc. And offered us coffee and tea while we waited. And have the entire staff watching for this kitty. We did see the cat in question; not sure if it's ours or not. Right colour, but we couldn't get close enough (very skittish) to really tell and it was dusk. So we'll try again tomorrow. They also offered to let us set up a cat trap. Really really really nice people. And good food too - love their crab apple jelly.
Hugs to all,
Terre
0 -
Happy Mother's Day all the mums out there. It's a real non event at my place.
I've been thinking of doing Junk free June the cancer society's fund raiser. Wondered if anyone wanted to join me. I really need to take myself in hand and thought it might be a good way of doing it
0 -
Count me in Shazza. I need to get some control back, and hold myself accountable for the amount of crap I am eating.
Happy Mothers Day - I am off to Spandau Ballet tonight with a friend tonight, I can't wait. I saw them in the UK in the late 80's.
0 -
Have fun at the concert Nik! How fun! We want a full report.
0 -
Never heard of junk free June. Good idea. ( I had macca's today as we went down to Ak to buy my dd a bed for her flat)
Also visited my mum to say happy Mother's Day. My son managed to carry my brekky thru, dh actually made it
amazing he was up in time (ds that is). Enjoy the concert Nikki- sounds like a good night out.
0 -
My daughter and I. Progress ...... those are my own eyebrows!
0 -
Beautiful photo Nikki. How was the concert? I loved Sapndau Ballet when I was young.
I've got clinic this morning so better rattle my dags. Have a great day everyone
0 -
The concert was exhausting but really good. Lots of oldies like me there! It will take me a few days to recover lol.
0 -
Hi everyone. Lovely photo Nikki, nice eyebrows, do they fall out with chemo too? excuse my ignorance. I'd be keen to hear about Junk Free June. You guys are to lucky to go to Spandau Ballet. I love them
Take care everyone, I'm going to enjoy the sunshine as it looks like some crappy weather is heading our way. Donna xxx0 -
Me too, Donna - the sun is gorgeous
Great photo Nikki. Nice to have eyebrows again.
I hope clinic went well Shazza.
I'm resting up after work, sometimes I wonder how long I can keep doing it.... If I have to change treatment I might give it up- or at least one of my days.
kt
0 -
Great picture Nik!
0 -
Hi everyone I would love to join this group...I start my chemo on Wed.. I am feeling scared...but I know this is part of the journey we are all going on...the weather is crap in Nelson...windy and wet. Maree x
0 -
Hi Maree
Welcome to the kiwi thread. Always nice to meet a fellow kiwi going thru this crap (nice to meet you but not nice you have to go thru this too!)
I hope chemo is ok for you. Be kind to yourself & accept all the help you can get. What chemo will you be doing?
Drink heaps & eat whatever appeals
And remember to take any anti-nausea stuff regularly, before you feel sickLet us know how you go.
I think we're getting the crap weather tomorrow.
All the best for Wednesday ((Hugs))
kt
0 -
welcome maree, this is a great place to find support! We've all been there and got through it somehow.
Chemo isn't fun, but it's doable. If you keep up with the anti nausea meds they give you, you'll find that it's ok.
great picture nikki! Your eyebrows look great too!
mammogram time again next week, so far so good... finding losing weight difficult, must be a combination of menopause, meds, etc. Finding yoga lovely at rhe moment.
0 -
Hi Woody!
We posted at the same time. Yoga sounds good, I do Pilates- not too strenuous - and a bit of walking.
Good luck re the mammo. I'm glad I don't have mammos to gram any more!
kt
0 -
Welcome, Maree. Good luck with the chemo. I haven't done chemo, but friends who have say to remember that it's a temporary condition. And you'll get great advice and support here from people who have done chemo, etc.
Weather is supposed to be crap here tomorrow too. I'm still not back at work; this flu/strep throat/tonsillitis thing has truly kicked my behind. Today it moved to my inner ears so I'm walking around like a drunk. And still not feeling great. Slept most of the day and will do so again tomorrow with the goal of being back at work Wed. Haven't taken a week off work due to illness in like over 20 years! Compared to cancer, it's not a huge deal, but it's sure not been fun either.
Hugs to all,
Terre
0 -
thanks KT, sure it will all be fine, they do an ultrasound of the reconstructed one which is sort of funny...at least that one doesn't get the big sandwich treatment. I remember my very first mammogram when I was 45 going to the breast screen bus, and then being recalled cause they found "calcifications", and then being diagnosed with LCIS, never had a clear screening until after dealing to breast cancer!
We've had really beautiful autumn days here, been finally clearing my vege garden, planning to get a good one going this spring. Hope everybody had a lovely mothers day!
0 -
Hi Maree. Welcome, it's good that you found us - these ladies have been a godsend to me.
I finished FEC-T chemo in mid February this year. It was doable and definitely wasn't as hard as I had thought (not that it was a walk in the park either). I took each round at a time, I spent a lot of time worrying about the entire 16 weeks at the beginning, then I discovered that each round affected me differently. I worked all the way through, sometime not very well but I did it. I got myself out of the house each day as well and I think that helped as well. On chemo days I would do something nice afterwards, meeting friends for lunch etc. Just remember to take your medication strictly as they say and you'll be good. Remember your mouth washes - I did it but not enough and the first round gave me a sore mouth (having said that I have braces so I think that contributed). You will be great ........ one day at a time x
0 -
Morning all.
Terre, that sure is a nasty bug you've had. I hope you beat it really soon- it sounds miserable
I'm glad you've taken time off work. Look after yourself!
I saw the pics of your foster kitties on another thread- gorgeous
Well, I better get my butt out of bed, I've got to catch up with friends in an hour!
kt
0
