My first treatment of Chemotherapy was injected intravenously a week ago, on Thursday 18Th June. I sat in a very comfortable business class seat (wish it had been on a Qantas flight!!) for 2 hours and chatted light heartedly to a couple of women going down a similar path to mine. Stella was in her 70's, while Sue was only 42. The ambiance in the oncology ward was amazingly happy and bright. The nurses chat and banter and help create a good atmosphere. It was pre-arranged that all three of us stay in hospital overnight. This way the nurses can continue monitoring any effects the treatment is having on us. A second advantage of staying overnight, is the wonderful concoction of anti nausea drugs and fluids which is given through the drip. I will accept anything to help! Friday morning at 10.00am, Colin was there to pick me up and take me home. Certainly my fears of feeling unwell for the duration of the treatment were unfounded. I think I'm one of the lucky ones. For many, it is a nightmare. In fact, the first weekend I felt really good.
No doubt this was helped by the fact that Andrew and Joelle came and stayed with us. We had a lovely quiet weekend together. The sales lured us all out to the shops on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Joelle bought a suitcase, and I bought a new anorak, which I now wear constantly when I venture out, -----and that's very regularly!!! I have tablets to take- not too many-and they seem to keep my body as normal as it can possibly be. There is no doubt that treatment is taking effect. I am weary more quickly, and bedtime comes much earlier than I'm normally used to. I have occasionally felt a little off colour, but if I do, I go out for a short walk and take in some fresh air. It does wonders. I see the Oncologist later today. I assume he wants to know how the process has affected me. I am hoping the next fortnight will be recovery time, to prepare me for treatment Number 2 on July 9Th.
Today I would have been in London, seeing my friend Joan, for the first time in 49 years, and tomorrow I had tickets to centre court at Wimbledon and I was going to take her. With Nadal out of the tournament, I would have been able to see Federer. It's a cruel world sometimes!!!
As a postscript for today, I saw my oncologist this afternoon, and he was extremely pleased that all had gone well for me. He tells me that the worst treatment is over, although I think the next two will follow a similar pattern to the first. I am not unhappy--it could have been much worse!
Next on the agenda-----loss of hair. I am going to see my hairdresser on Monday, and have my scalp shaved. It will be upsetting, but I can't bear the thought of watching my hair fall out in chunks. The wig is ready!
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE
Today I had my final medical examination at Cabrini Hospital, Malvern. I was injected with nuclear medicine to check that my heart is strong enough to pump the chemical poisons they will start putting into me next week. So now, after mammograms, ultra sounds, core biopsies, a bone scan, a CT scan, two lots of surgery and today’s Nuclear heart test, all is in readiness.
Tonight, Colin and I are going to the cinema to see 'Sampson and Delilah'. On Friday, some of my friends are taking me out for a birthday lunch, and on Saturday, (my 64th birthday) we are going out for dinner with friends. I will eat and drink all things bad! And enjoy them!!!
Since finding out about my cancer I have had a few sad days, and I know there will be many more along the way, but I have never once thought-'why me'. I have always known there was a strong chance this could happen. My sad days are the result of thoughts of the months ahead; of feeling ill and having no control over it. I fear that I will be poor at coping. I suppose I have had passing thoughts of the vulnerability of my life, but not much. My surgeon has told me that I will recover. I don't doubt him.
Colin will help carry me through this ordeal. My friends are my biggest asset. I know they are giving me huge support and I am confident that I can lean on them if I need to. I could not survive without them. My family, not only our children, but my family overseas, are the ones whose thoughts are with me. Life will go on, and I am hoping that I can carry on with my regular routine as much as possible, and that by Christmas, there will be light at the end of the tunnel and normality will return into my life.
Tonight, Colin and I are going to the cinema to see 'Sampson and Delilah'. On Friday, some of my friends are taking me out for a birthday lunch, and on Saturday, (my 64th birthday) we are going out for dinner with friends. I will eat and drink all things bad! And enjoy them!!!
Since finding out about my cancer I have had a few sad days, and I know there will be many more along the way, but I have never once thought-'why me'. I have always known there was a strong chance this could happen. My sad days are the result of thoughts of the months ahead; of feeling ill and having no control over it. I fear that I will be poor at coping. I suppose I have had passing thoughts of the vulnerability of my life, but not much. My surgeon has told me that I will recover. I don't doubt him.
Colin will help carry me through this ordeal. My friends are my biggest asset. I know they are giving me huge support and I am confident that I can lean on them if I need to. I could not survive without them. My family, not only our children, but my family overseas, are the ones whose thoughts are with me. Life will go on, and I am hoping that I can carry on with my regular routine as much as possible, and that by Christmas, there will be light at the end of the tunnel and normality will return into my life.
Monday, 8 June 2009
Sixty Fourth Summer ----NOT
Monday 8th June 2009
This is not the blog I wanted to write. It will be my diary of events over the coming months.
Sadly, there is no trip to England. On the 20th May, the day before my departure to England, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a shock, although, one that I have waited for many years to appear. My mother had a mastectomy when she was 80 years old though I am happy to report that she died of old age when she was 93 years old! Not so fortunate was her mother and Auntie. They both died of breast cancer when they were in their 40's. I am a Stage 2+ /Grade 3. That means the cancer has moved from my breast into my lymph nodes. Not good. I am told that Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy are automatic at that stage.
I have always taken good care of myself. I am fit and healthy. I have never smoked, apart from experimenting as a teenager, and I drink very little. The food I eat is always fresh-- lots of fruit and vegetables. I have been having mammograms every year since I was about 45 years old because of my risk factor. I had a Pap Smear in March this year, and all was OK. How could this possibly happen?
On the 14th May, I reached up for something, and felt a tightness under my arm. I discovered a lump about the size of a cherry. I was recovering from a virus and decided it must be a swollen gland. Colin and I were going away for the weekend on our annual jaunt with the Mentone Veterans Cricket Club. We returned on the Monday and the lump was still there. I made an appointment with my Doctor. She, in turn, rang my breast specialist, who I had been seeing every year since I was 45 years old. He called me in immediately. Pete sent me over to the Hospital to have a mammogram, an ultra sound and Core Biopsy. It was only when the ultra sound showed up a lump in the breast that I decided things may not be quite right. From seeing Marnie at 2pm, Pete at 2.45pm, to getting home after my trip to the hospital, took 3 hours. I am grateful they were so very efficient.
Pete called me to his office on Wednesday 20th to give me the result and tell me what was going to happen. He booked me in for surgery the following Wednesday, 27th May. He would do a lumpectomy on my breast, and remove the lymph nodes under my arm. What an amazing man he is. Not only is he a great surgeon, he is so gentle and he makes you feel as if you are the only person he is dealing with. Yet he had informed 3 other women that week that they had breast cancer.
The surgery was easy. The anesthetist gave me a wonderful cocktail so I wouldn't feel nauseous after the operation, and I was eating dinner two hours after recovery. I came home on the Saturday, only to be told that I had to go in again for a re-excision on the following Tuesday. Pete needed to take a little more of my breast tissue. The Cancer is now gone. Unfortunately, a grade 3 means there may be a cell lurking. So...the next step---the one I am NOT looking forward to, is the Chemotherapy. My first dose of six treatments, is on 18th June.
This is not the blog I wanted to write. It will be my diary of events over the coming months.
Sadly, there is no trip to England. On the 20th May, the day before my departure to England, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a shock, although, one that I have waited for many years to appear. My mother had a mastectomy when she was 80 years old though I am happy to report that she died of old age when she was 93 years old! Not so fortunate was her mother and Auntie. They both died of breast cancer when they were in their 40's. I am a Stage 2+ /Grade 3. That means the cancer has moved from my breast into my lymph nodes. Not good. I am told that Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy are automatic at that stage.
I have always taken good care of myself. I am fit and healthy. I have never smoked, apart from experimenting as a teenager, and I drink very little. The food I eat is always fresh-- lots of fruit and vegetables. I have been having mammograms every year since I was about 45 years old because of my risk factor. I had a Pap Smear in March this year, and all was OK. How could this possibly happen?
On the 14th May, I reached up for something, and felt a tightness under my arm. I discovered a lump about the size of a cherry. I was recovering from a virus and decided it must be a swollen gland. Colin and I were going away for the weekend on our annual jaunt with the Mentone Veterans Cricket Club. We returned on the Monday and the lump was still there. I made an appointment with my Doctor. She, in turn, rang my breast specialist, who I had been seeing every year since I was 45 years old. He called me in immediately. Pete sent me over to the Hospital to have a mammogram, an ultra sound and Core Biopsy. It was only when the ultra sound showed up a lump in the breast that I decided things may not be quite right. From seeing Marnie at 2pm, Pete at 2.45pm, to getting home after my trip to the hospital, took 3 hours. I am grateful they were so very efficient.
Pete called me to his office on Wednesday 20th to give me the result and tell me what was going to happen. He booked me in for surgery the following Wednesday, 27th May. He would do a lumpectomy on my breast, and remove the lymph nodes under my arm. What an amazing man he is. Not only is he a great surgeon, he is so gentle and he makes you feel as if you are the only person he is dealing with. Yet he had informed 3 other women that week that they had breast cancer.
The surgery was easy. The anesthetist gave me a wonderful cocktail so I wouldn't feel nauseous after the operation, and I was eating dinner two hours after recovery. I came home on the Saturday, only to be told that I had to go in again for a re-excision on the following Tuesday. Pete needed to take a little more of my breast tissue. The Cancer is now gone. Unfortunately, a grade 3 means there may be a cell lurking. So...the next step---the one I am NOT looking forward to, is the Chemotherapy. My first dose of six treatments, is on 18th June.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)