It's Official! I've Been Classed as 'Unique'

'Our inner strengths, experiences and truths cannot be lost, destroyed or taken-away. Every person has an inborn worth and can contribute to the human community. We all can treat one another with dignity and respect, provide opportunities to grow toward our fullest lives and help one another discover and develop our unique gifts. We each deserve this and we all can extend it to others'

- Author Unknown

In spite of my best intentions, I still seem to be conspicuous by my absence from these pages. Some of you are aware that I agreed to a huge challenge by staying at the farm alone for 4 days while Haydn went to town to 'babysit'  his grandchildren allowing his Daughter and Son-in-Law to travel to Fiji. In his absence it rained, and it rained and it rained. I did not even attempt to drive to the mail box after the first day. Four inches of rain in 48 hours left the ground sodden and water logged.

On the Friday morning I received a phone call from the hospital giving me the news that I was scheduled to begin chemo on Friday 24th at 2.30pm. It came as a complete shock!  I had an appointment with my 'amazing' oncologist yesterday. It was Wednesday 22nd and there were questions to be asked. Concerns and fears causing me angst. On Monday I phoned the Physical Therapies Department of the hospital and was excited to be given a one hour appointment with Judith for Lymphatic Drainage on Thursday morning at 8am. I was thinking it could be the swelling that was preventing me from raising my arm. If only!

During the consultation with Dr Andre, I mentioned the sudden onset of the loss of the use of my right arm. Dr Andre looked up, put his pen down, and began to carry out tests on the arm.  His apprehension was immediately obvious. I waited patiently for him to complete his assessment before  commenting. He then said that we would possibly have to change our plans. Having ticked several of the boxes that were a concern to me on the Liposomal Doxorubicin Chemotherapy Patient Information Sheet, he noted that they were all skin related. He listened as I told him about my severe allergic reactions to minor things like ant bites. When he learned that I had not had any chemo education, he suggested that I was unprepared. The chemo would need to be postponed for the present.

It was then he 'hit' me with the 'biggie,' which was simply the possibility that the cancer may already have spread to the brachial plexus again. That would be the most likely explanation for the loss of the use of my right arm. Maybe it has nothing whatsoever to do with lymphoedema?

Knowing that he had just travelled to the United States and Canada for an Oncology Conference, I asked him if he had any experience to call on with cancer taking this form. He smiled his beautiful smile and replied 'You're Unique.' It's Official!

'As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others.'

- Robert H Schuller

He asked me to have the physiotherapist call him after she had completed her assessment and therapy. He also said that as I had not had any chemotherapy previously, there were several other drugs that could be used. He would leave the Patient Information Sheets at the desk for me to pick up after my appointment with the Physiotherapist. It was then he said that, depending on the findings of the physical therapy session, he may need to do a PET Scan to determine exactly what is happening with this 'monster.' I will begin working on the next post, with some results, first thing in the morning. Thanks for reading♥

A Little Bit of This & A Little Bit of That

A big 'Thank You' for your response to my previous post. Definitely a case of 'a problem shared is a problem halved.' I remember being told as a Social Science student that my talking was my thinking. I suppose that I have simply replaced the 'talking' with 'blogging.' What a difference a week makes!

Last week I had an appointment at the John Hunter Hospital Physical Therapies department. I was under the impression that it was for assessment by the Occupational Therapist. I was not quite right! In actual fact I saw Jeanette, and whether she was a physio or OT is irrelevant. Together, we went through some testing to see exactly where I stood with my right hand. On a scale of 0 - 5 [5 being the best] I was 5 in some areas. Unfortunately, when I was bad I was very, very bad. There is absolutely NO strength in the grip of my right hand. My index finger is almost straight, with absolutely no bend. My little finger bends spontaneously and is almost impossible to straighten. The idea is to use exercise in the hope that I may eventually regain some use as the nerves regenerate. Apparently this happens at approximately 1millimetre per day [I think that is the figure] What I do know is that there are lots of millimetres in the length of my arm.

Jeanette shared with me that her first thoughts, on reading the referral from the doctor were that, 'this is not good.' When I walked in that changed to, 'this is not to bad.'  Saying goodbye, she was convinced that there was 'HOPE.' I will hold onto that! How I would love to 'once again' be able to touch type and even to write again, using my right hand. I do not make a good left hander.

Had an enjoyable lunch on Saturday with Group 33, which is the Breast Cancer Support Group that I have the honour and privilege to share my journey with. Not sure when I bought my digital camera but I have faithfully taken photos at each of our monthly luncheons. Unfortunately, the girls had never been given copies of the prints. On Saturday the situation was rectified when I handed out dozens of prints to the 12 in attendance. Problem was that I left in a hurry as Haydn was waiting and I did not get to take photographs on the day. I believe it will be the first luncheon that no pics were taken. Such a shame as we had lots of laughs as we noted the changes with individuals always at a different stage with hairstyles. No doubt, chemo and radiotherapy show up in the hair.

I had also purchased cute, pink, knitted bears with the breast cancer ribbon attached. These I handed out, and it was decided we would use them as Christmas tree decorations. There was only one problem! I did not have one for myself, so cannot even show you how cute they are. Hoping to be able to order another one for me.

The other thing that is of interest to me at the moment is the possible use of using hyperbaric chamber therapy. The problem being that I have absolutely no idea where this thought came from. Or indeed, how I go about getting my doctor to warm to the idea. As with all things cancer, I like to have the blessing of the doctors on my 'team.' I suspect I have heard somewhere of the benefits of using it in some way as a cancer therapy and also for radiation burns along with lymphoedema. Now, doesn't that sound interesting?

Have just put the last log on the fire for the night, and finished a ginger tea. Guess it is time to say 'goodnight' one and all.

Love and gratitude