Juggling Act
Hey everyone,
Mum finishes her WBRT today. She is still totally unaware of her prognosis, which is very hard on the rest of us, but we're applying the platinum rule until after her 8 week scans. She's so excited to be done treatment, but my family looks at each other with concerned eyes - all we can think is, what now? No more treatment. Last July, the idea of treatment was absolutely frightening. Now, the idea of NO treatment is even worse.
What about work?
Hi all
I know that the general consensus is that due to lowered white cell counts working is not always advisable. My Dr wants my chemo to impact as little as it can and advises that many people on my protocol work during treatment (Abraxane/Herceptin). He is quite happy for me to work in my usual environment if I am happy.
I love my work. I work in a prep room which are notorious for little people's lack of hygeine. Fortunately though even with the sick kids and the snotty noses etc. I only felt mildly sick on a couple of occasions all last year.
day 13: decisions
A few weeks ago in meditation, prior to all this, I sent out a demand to the universe to be healed and put on my path. I had no idea that prayers could be answered so fast, or that my path would be so slippery when wet with the urgency of breast cancer.
The surgery date is moved to 28 February and I have two weeks to decide whether to have most , or all, of my left breast removed. The only certainty is that if I don’t have the whole thing off, I will need six weeks of daily radiation treatment on top of a surgical scar.
merry christnas
Hope you all had a great day. Happy all day, too much champagne melt down in the shower at the end of the day. Its exhausting keeping it all together.
I have to let my boss know about leave. How did you all manage chemo and work? Does it really knock you around or is it just an inconvenience?
XXXX
Second round around the corner
Good afternoon ladies
I am wondering about second round of chemo which is coming up in 11 days for me. I have heard many stories about the first round being the hardest and that it's easier second time. Is this correct? The reason i want to know is that i am thinking of going back to work maybe 2 days a week but am too scared to plan anything as i am not sure that this is how i will feel after round 2.
Thanks for your help and stay strong
Olga
1st Chemo down
Had my first chemo a week ago today... it was and wasn't what I expected. Very icky tummy (no vomits tho) and a kind of reflux, and a few other effects, but on the whole, I survived!! The weird one was loss of taste (which is slowly coming good).
My chest is still fairly sore from the portacath (which actually feels like its stabbing me sometimes!!) but, fingers crossed, that will all settle down in the next few weeks.
Went back to work yesterday, thank goodness, it was great being back with my 'work family' and feeling a bit normal!!
Almost there...
Hi All
I can't believe its been two weeks since I last posted! Goes to show you how busy life can get....
Countdown has begun....
The countdown has begun....two weeks from now I go in to have the left breast removed (right breast was removed in Dec 2010). Each time I see a doctor the news gets more dire. One specialist said that in women under 50 who get breast cancer, usually the cancer is aggressive. This was his way of explaining why when I had my check up in Nov 2010 there was no evidence of cysts or otherwise and yet less than 2 months later, 13 cysts have shown up with 3 looking suspicious. No small comfort....
Went back to work Thurs 27th Jan
Hi everyone of you lovely people,
Thought I would let you all know I went back to work thursday 27th Jan. I have a letter from my Oncologist to say I can go back to work while I was feeling well enough. So the week before the next chemo I will be back at work a few hours a day, mainly so I keep using my brain and keep intouch with the real world out there.
I have my 3rd chemo FEC onFriday 4th Jan. So I can work up until Wed, Doctors Appt and blood tests and port acces on Thursday and Chemo most of Friday the sickagain for about 10 days.
Officially "retired" - sort of
I wanted to let those who have sent a response to my partial invalidity retirement posts know that Comsuper finally came through with the approval for partial retirement ( I can still work 8 hours a week - four hours across 2 days) for me.
Fight for yourself -if you don't, no one else will
So the breast cancer battle rages on....and I'm gearing up for round two.
The "Down" Side of Cancer
I had a bad weekend last week. I've been undergoing the process of partial invalidity retirement through work because of the fall out of my breast cancer diagnosis last year. I ended up with a thyroid that doesn't work, high blood pressure that is hard to control, underwent sudden menopause, osteoporosis due the hormone treatment, and on top of all that - depression.
Reminders
I found out this week that a dear friend (I've known since my high school days) has been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and needs to have a bilateral mastectomy with chemo starting straight away (it's gone into her blood stream). My heart hurt for her so much - she's 10,000 miles away and the only way I can show support is to telephone her and email her. She's had lots of question - things she's either too afraid to ask the doctors about or can't ask anyone else because they haven't gone through this process.
Work Wise...
I started the process of applying for partial invalidity through my superannuation fund today. Before breast cancer, I worked full time in a high profile government agency as a senior HR manager. It took a lot of energy and time to complete my university degree so that I could make the leap into higher level management.
Rose Coloured Glasses
Someone told me today that one of the things they love about me is my positive attitude towards life. Not that there's been a whole lot lately to be positive about. Still, I try to find something to smile about each day. I asked this friend if that was a bad thing as I am aware that I think some things are better than they actually are. She said to me "your rose coloured glasses are beautiful." A true friend:)
