AWAKE.........

Oncos!

If I have a second cancer, I would be so much better informed. Perhaps there should be an information leaflet that explains types of bc, types of treatment, side effects that might occur and the long term consequences.? But not given out after you get bc but to women in their twenties. This would allow people to understand what might happen if they ever develop it at a time when they are not panicked and shocked. Everything happens so fast after diagnosis and fear makes us accept everything. However, we probably never ask the right questions' Is this necessary? How can I avoid this side effect? because we don't know what to ask........

People often ask well informed questions about other diseases because the information is available . BC shouldn't be any different. I'm just hoping that the new treatments....80% doses and weekly......allow a reduction in reactions to taxotere. Even mild peripheral neuropathy is debilatating until it corrects itself, severe reactions are permanent and poor Anjac( some will remember her) had the worse reaction of all that led to developing MND and losing her life. 

I finished my knitting for the fete. Three little boleros for girls aged 4 to 6.

They are so cute, Lacomtekp !

I am not too sure about your idea of having info leaflets, in my experience of a young woman diagnosed with cancer (daughter) in her 20s, yes we were handed leaflets but she really didn’t want to know, I got handed everything, to read and be able to ask questions at her appointments. She was just in a flat spin! 

Hugs xxx

That's so sad. I haven't heard of Taxotere. I know what you mean. Oncologists are a bit gung ho, mine told me I didn't have Osteoporisis and could take Letrozole. He didn't believe the Dexa Scans, mine is in my wrists not spine. I saw someone else at the follow up who believed me and switched me to Tamoxifen. All they care about us keeping us alive. 

Lovely boleros. 

Night night Fruit Loops, sleep well and stay safe, plenty of sleepy fairy dust for all who wish

hugs xxx

Hi seaspirit44 we have this at work, items which used to be on repeat px are now sourced from somewhere else. Catheter items and also dietary supplements. We have to ring this company and ask, to be fair they soon get up the person's name and requirements and actually sometimes ask if another patient has enough night bags etc. So try not to worry, tell them you need extra because all this waiting has made you run out.

 Violetsniff you are absolutely right. Do it yourself health care because one department doesn't know what another department has said. They will blame the computer system.

I'm quite cross because the boyfriend had a complicated operation which failed. When the more simple bog standard would have been much easier for him. Nobody asked, him or us what was more important to our life. He ended up having the more simple solution in the end.

Sorry if I'm warbling on. Nite nite all xxx

I wasn't really thinking about leaflets for people who have a diagnosis but just generally available information that covers everything including the importance of regular checking and mammograms when the age is right for people to read and understand a bit perhaps many years before they get bc ( or maybe they never will.) Your daughter's  stunned reaction is exactly what I meant.....after diagnosis, it's often too late to understand that there can be variables with treatment and not everything is necessary. I shall always wonder what might have happened if I had known enough to question having chemo......I have had so many problems because of it but then is it because of the chemo I don't have cancer anymore? We'll never know but I would have liked to have thought about bc and various options before I was diagnosed but one doesn't because it isn't something one anticipates. ......I'm suggesting that perhaps we should be more prepared. We all know how to recognise a stroke or treat flu. Not the same ofcourse but perhaps it should be talked about more. The fear might disappear with earlier knowledge before we need it.

It's  just my thoughts.......

Gosh where do I start? 

Firstly, seaspirit44 I am so pleased your breast exam went well and I shall be thinking of you on Tuesday with your bowel appointment.Violetsniff your worries, illnesses etc are just as valid as everyone else's as they affect you and your life.

 Northerner thankyou for the suggestion. I shall take a look for those liners. At the moment I am struggling to visualise what they are.

Now we come to my problemNortherner and your suggestion regarding infection. Be warned as I am about yo moan. I got an appointment  at the GP about the doneness under my boots. The radiographer, in lifting my boots onto the plate, split the skin under both boots and my scar is right under the left one. I saw a lady I have never seen or heard of before and I still don't know if she is a nurse or a doctor or a nurse practitioner. She said she was prescribing a steroid cream. All OK so far but then she said she would take a swab to check there was no infection. I  agreed but as she leant over to take the swab she dropped the swab stick on the floor. I presumed she would bin it and get a fresh one from a new packet. But no, before I had blinked she had picked it up and swiped it on my wound! I said it had been on the floor and she told me not to worry as they hoover the carpet every day! My concern was  numerous other patients that day had walked on the carpet with shoes that had been on dirty pavements which could have included dog mess. 

I was in shock and when I got home one of those messages pinged through to ask me about my experience at tge GP that day. So I responded. I said my reasons for my concerns and that if I got an infection in the scar I would sue them! I didn't think anyone ever really read these but I walked to my daughter's and on the way I missed 7 calls from the surgery. When I realised I rang back and they got this woman to call me as apparently she had made me another appointment  but no reasons given on my notes for it. They got this doctor/nurse to call me back and she was aggressive. Someone had read my response and she was angry and said she wanted me back in to discuss it and re swab. So yesterday I took my husband in with me. We had expected an apology but she was rude and tried to suggest I hadn't said anything at the time but she went quiet when I quoted back what she had said about the carpet. I thought maybe I was over reacting but when we came out my husband said how rude and unapologetic she had been.

Then, when I went to fetch my cream someone at the next counter had asked for antibiotic cream for wounds. Tgey told him the pharmacy couldn't prescribe that only a gp could. All they had was steroid cream but they didn't recommend that for an open sore. So I questioned why I was being given steroid cream for an open sore and they shrugged and said because the zgP had prescribed it. But I don't trust that GP!!!

Am I over reacting or was her behaviour unprofessional? Using a swab stick which came out of a sterile packet but then got dropped on the floor!

Dreadful....

Nothing else to say.....

Except hope the split heals. Surely you need antiseptic on open wounds? I think I would be inclined to skip steroid and buy an sntiseptic spray which will at least numb and sooth.

1. Take care. Off out with mum to fête but will look in later to see how you're getting on.