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Re: TEAL THURSDAYS - Sign in and CLICK HERE TO ENTER LIVE DAYTIME ONLINE CHAT (1pm EST)
@Strongwoman I am so sorry to read this. She had such a rough go of it over the past months. I’m thankful she had her family with her and I hope her passing was peaceful. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
Re: TEAL THURSDAYS - Sign in and CLICK HERE TO ENTER LIVE DAYTIME ONLINE CHAT (1pm EST)
Good Morning Ladies
It is with great sadness that I post this morning. Our beloved Eileen has left our world surrounded by family on April 17th. Her daughter has emailed me to let me know so that I would be able to tell you all. She definitely had quite the battle in the latter half of her journey and will be missed. I am very thankful that she had family around her, as did she, in the final part of her journey. She was a very courageous woman as you can see from her posts. Please feel free to comment on your interactions with her or posts of hers you have read in the days to come. As when we lose one to this disease, there is a part of ourselves that go with it and all it involves. I will be here for all as the grieving occurs. 😥
Re: TEAL THURSDAYS - Sign in and CLICK HERE TO ENTER LIVE DAYTIME ONLINE CHAT (1pm EST)
Good afternoon @Strongwoman and all. I have had a busy week! Last Friday I had three good friends come to visit. They brought lunch and we spent a lovely afternoon catching up. Saturday I had lunch with my siblings and again we spent hours just catching up on all the family goings on. Sunday I took it easy. Monday my GP came for a visit. It started out as just a social call but of course we wound up discussing my care as well. We even delved into the hard stuff such as palliative care and MAID. She is such a gem and I’m so grateful for the relationship we have built over the years. Tuesday I got my wings back! I was allowed to drive! Yay! I went back to work (I’m a Weight Watchers coach), got bloodwork, picked up prescriptions and got groceries. It was so nice to be able to do these things without depending on someone else. Yesterday I went in to my office (I do contract bookkeeping for a local business) and started getting caught up after being away for almost seven weeks. Today my granddaughter-in-law came to visit and brought my newest great grandson and my neighbours also came for coffee. I also cleaned my house, changed my bedding and did laundry. It is a rainy day here and it feels like a good afternoon for a nap!
Re: TEAL THURSDAYS - Sign in and CLICK HERE TO ENTER LIVE DAYTIME ONLINE CHAT (1pm EST)
I did want to ask some of our Teal Sisters in Ontario about the online healthcare app for accessing your records, appointments, bloodwork and such. I think I’ve heard some of you mention it, My daughter lives in Ajax and is actually facing some issues for her own. She had been experiencing severe cramping in her stomach, along with a lot of blood loss, then I got a call from her husband this weekend letting me know she was in the ER. 8 hours there then sent for an ultra sound. It happened again 2 days later. My first instinct was to catch a plane and go there to be with her. But, I know I’m too weak to travel on my own.. Anyway, the scans showed that she has a Subchorironic Hematonia - and possibly in very early stage of pregnancy. I am so worried. Given my history of ovarian cancer, I want to do everything to protect her going thru what I did, when it was too late. She has more tests to do and I thought the app would be helpful. She hadn’t heard about it. She will also need to find a good OBGYN. Where do we start? I’m so worried about her. I’ve always been there for her, but now that we’re apart, me in Nova Scotia, I can’t really advise her properly. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Good Afternoon Ladies on this last Thursday of April!
So, how many of you have been out and inspecting your gardens? What does everyone have coming up in them? My daffodils have emerged this week and my tulips have yet to come out. I have Solomon's Seal poking out of the ground and my Sedum is off to a good start. I noticed my Bleeding Hearts are showing growth as well. I have picked away at 3 of my 5 gardens this week. I am hoping to do more tomorrow as it will be warmer and before the rain comes here on Saturday. I have heard in the news that in Southern Ontario that we may hit a humidex of 30 on Sunday. It feels bizarre to have that already. Those of you in other provinces, what is the weather bringing to you? I see that there are some wildfires in BC and Alberta which seems early as well. Hope everyone is safe.
It looks like our site has been a little quieter this past week. For me, it was due to prior engagements etc. My parents came from Belleville last Friday and left on Sunday. They stayed at my Uncle's to sleep but were mainly here. On the Friday, my nephew and his 2 wonderful children (age 2 and 4) came at noon and left at 6pm. It was loud and fun and we all relished the quiet after they left. Good for me and my parents to see them all. On the Saturday, I went out with my Mom for a little bit and we hit the yarn store (of course ;)) and then home. My niece and her hubby came for a visit that afternoon and both my boys were home as well. A lot of chatting and reminiscing by all. We had dinner and then my parents left. I think I vegged most of Sunday.
I started what is called a Temperature Blanket for my oldest son. So you find out the weather for every day of the year you want (I chose the year he was born) and then make a chart for colours to correspond. I have 8 colours and it is interesting to see the pattern emerge. He loves green so I did my best to stay in that pallet but did have to choose some alternate colours to make it work. I am in the month of March now. Here is what it looks like so far:
Once I finish his, I hope to do my youngest son's as well and his will be in purples.
As for me, I must say that I am feeling good. I have continued to take my Letrozole and Turkey Tail Tea daily. I have an appetite and energy. So far, so good and as I stated above, I have been doing some work in my garden too. I am curious now (after having time to contemplate) if my rise in CA 125 level had anything to do with the change in medication last month. I stopped the Letrozole and went to Tamoxifen for a week, then nothing for 3-4 days and back on the Letrozole. Hmmm…….one does wonder. I can phone in and ask for bloodwork and may just do that in a few more weeks to see.
I have had no success with Traditional Chinese Medicine thus far. I have emailed 3 of them and not a one has returned my email. I should call and follow up and have not yet. It is frustrating though. I gave them a basic background and all I really wanted to know is yes, I can treat/help or no, I cannot.
Next week is what we are calling D-day. It is fast approaching the time we were told to be out of our home by the landlord. We will see what happens next. The paralegal is on standby for the following day (May 1st) in case someone shows up here and then she can speak with them. So soon, we hope this matter will be more transparent as to where it is headed.
Oh yeah! I wanted to share one other thing. I have a plant at the house and it is by my front door. The other day, I noticed some new growth but it looked a little different. I sent the pic to my Mom and Aunt and asked if they knew what was going on as it looks like it might be flowering. I then sent it to my nephew's fiancee who seems to have knowledge with plants. She told me I have a Dieffenbachia. She said that they don't flower often and that it is amazing that I have 2 flowers. I actually think I have 3 as I noticed a small one the other day. Here is what I am talking about:
How has everyone been this week? What is going on in your world's? Anything you want to share? It doesn't have to be journey related. Feel free to share what is on your mind this week.
I will now stop talking and wait to see who is on today and where the conversation will go. I am so thankful that I feel good and hope it lasts a long, long time! 😀
Re: Chemo Scalp Acne
I am so thankful for your response and most importantly to hear of your recovery and healing. We are going to use this information today when we discuss with the oncologist today and tomorrow with dermatologist. I have been searching the internet like crazy and this has been the only true comparison (especially the drugs being the same too).
My wife was on doxycycline orally 2 x a day and was using a topo cream clyndimycin 2 x a day. It’s been over three weeks and no change.
You have given hope to my wife. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Many thanks and well wishes to good health.
Re: Niraparib and Avastin trial
I am doing okay. I am more fatigued than normal and am slowly accepting it. I went with my son to a Specialist appt for himself on Thursday and there were stairs. They were hard! We have stairs going to the basement in the house and where laundry is, and I have been doing them but these seemed much more difficult. He is a good son and let me take his hand for descending the stairs. That outing was enough for me though. I think I came home, threw something on Netflix or something and started knitting. I don't eat the same food as they do anymore and find I am not all that interested either. So trying to find ways to get around that and create some things for them. I am slowly wrapping some of my legacy projects, with notes and cards. Yesterday I managed to do one. Still have quite a few to go but will get there. It's the notes that slow me down, depending on who it is for. They all look pretty when all wrapped though and that is good. Thanks for asking.
Keep us updated now and then. Take care
Re: @GloHo
@Lorraine5845 that does sound like keeping the pigtail has been the smarter move for you. Not eating for two months, explains the refeeding syndrome to me better as well. I am very thankful that things have turned around for you and it is definitely a good sign when one is looking forward to eating the hospital food. I am hopeful that things will keep trending that way and you will be able to come home sooner rather than later. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and if they release you soon.
Take care💖
Re: @GloHo
@HorseGirl i get the ascites drained regularly (twice a week). But on top of that my calcium was almost double what it should be and causes the same type of issues. The two are more in control and my appetite is definitely back with no acid reflux or vomiting. My ct scan of today did not show any worsening from the last ct scan so I took that piece of good news today.
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Yes, @Belladonna, there is some more research being done into THC/CBD use with cancer patients in general. I know I just filled in a questionnaire for that very thing from a link on our site/forum here. I have been using it off/on throughout my own journey. I have someone who has given me some specific for palliative patients. It seems to help with the generalities of it including nausea, soreness, pain etc. There was another they gave me which was another CBD only (both of these are) that more so helped with nausea very quickly. I have used some THC when the pain has gotten worse and so as to not increase my pain meds, cause constipation and go round and round in a circle. It has helped and does not cause me any GI issues. It is whatever people's comfort level and knowledge in it is. I know for me, I started with a bath bomb that was CBD only and then tried a THC one and they were both amazing. I don't care for the taste of it when I smoke it but…..considering what the benefits are from it and the relief of symptoms…it is worth it.
For those hesitant to try it, educate yourself or go to a licensed store. Talk with someone who has knowledge in it and experiment with your comfort level. I was open and honest with my team about using it and had no negative reactions from them. For some, it may not be something for you and that is okay too. The research will come with it and I hope to see better support or advice regarding use of it in the future with cancer treatments. In the meantime, do what is right for you!
Take care and thank you @Belladonna for bringing up this topic again. 😊