Its a wonderful friendship you have @SJP88, & it sounds like you're already doing everything right. I hope you have lots of time together still to come. You are a wonderful person. Take care Budgie ... View more

Hi @kymmy_elizabeth, Welcome to this wonderful community. Sorry to hear about your cancer, tho there are good outcomes for breast cancer these days. How have you been coping with the chemo? I hope the surgery goes well for you. May I ask if you're having both breasts removed? Both of my older sisters have had breast cancer & both had a double mastectomy. I always thought I'd end up with breast cancer too, but instead I got kidney cancer. I'm glad your hair is growing back already. I suppose it seems like ages that you've been without it tho. I hope you didn't find it too cold thru the winter. (Are you in Australia?) Anyway, I just wanted to welcome you to the Community. Take care Budgie ... View more

Hi @SJP88, I don't have much to add on what @sch has said, except that there have been times when I've been horribly affected by treatment & I've often wondered just how awful it must be for someone going thru treatment alone, with no-one to support them. I'm very lucky to have the husband I do, as he's just fabulous. Just let your friend know you are there. Let them know the things you are able to offer your services for. Not everyone is able to do everything, or there might be certain things you're just not willing to do. That's fine. Your friend might just want company, pure & simple. Be honest, be straightforward - there's nothing worse, I find, than people who want to know something, but pussyfoot around because they don't want to offend you. If you have questions about the treatment etc, ask, unless your friend has said they don't want to talk about it. You do get some people with cancer that won't even say the word because they don't want to admit they have it, or are scared of it. Its their prerogative, just know your & their boundaries & enjoy the time you have left together. Budgie ... View more

Hi @Katekat, It's a beautifully sunny day at the moment, but the wind is howling & chilly. Typical Melbourne weather, will probably bring clouds soon. I've recently managed to have my second eye op done. No more cataracts- yeah. I can see again & its wonderful. 😊 ... View more

Hi @JC56, What age group do you teach, & is there a particular subject? Where abouts is your farm, & what crops do you grow? Is it a very big farm? I wish you safe travels on Friday, hopefully with no roos to bother you. I haven't had a biopsy so I'm not sure how long the results will take to get back to you. People say that's the worst time, waiting for the results. Try to keep your mind occupied on other things. Though, by the sounds of it, you're always busy on the farm, so hopefully that won't be too hard. At the moment, I am living in Point Cook, west of Melbourne city, & lucky enough to not get too much rain. I was born in Newcastle, joined the Navy at 18, met my husband, also in the Navy, in Darwin. We have travelled Australia, being posted every 2 years, & done alot of camping. I also like the high country, but I spent my youth at the beach, & so the coastal areas will always hold a special place in my heart . Australia has so many beautiful places. Cheers 🙂 ... View more

Hi @Daina, I'm sorry to hear of your mother's diagnosis. Try not to dwell on the fact that she has cancer. Breast cancer has come along way in terms of success stories, & the chances for your mother are good. Spend as much time with your mum as you can & make some good memories, but try not to worry so much. Chemo isn't nice, & the side effects can be dreadful, but if you're there for your mum, she'll be forever grateful. I wish you the best. Budgie ... View more

Definitely, the safest place for anyone is at home. But, if you want peace of mind, if you want to know for sure, one way or another, then there is no harm in going to a testing site that is the safest one possible. Especially, if you practice good hygiene habits straight away. Carry a bottle of sanitiser, a can of Glen-20, whatever you need to. Then when you get home, wash with soap & water. And I, for one, am glad of the police locking up people who have no consideration for the safety of others. Budgie ... View more

The kidney might definitely be the cause of your tiredness. After I had the kidney removed, I was pretty well straight onto the chemo, which causes fatigue and tiredness, so, no it hasn't stopped. If the results of the biopsy come back as negative, they will still do periodic scans to make sure there's been no more growth. Just because its benign at one time, doesn't necessarily mean it will stay that way. Tell other people only if you want to. Sometimes though, others may be able to offer support in ways your hubby can't help. And sometimes its good to talk to someone who isn't so close to you because you can talk to them more easily without breaking down & crying. The texture of chocolate remains the same, it's just the taste that was altered. Even though it doesn't taste as good, I still indulge sometimes because it's still nice enough. 😉 I'm the same as you with coffee, it's never kept me awake. I used to love drinking plain water, but because I have so much of it, I now add a small amount of diet cordial, or sometimes I add slices of lemon, orange or cucumber, just for a fresh taste. Warm water is a must for me, besides it's more easily digested. That's a hell of a round trip for a medical appt, so yeah, thank heaven for telehealth. (I love the Victorian countryside, before covid, we used to do alot of trips to Adelaide & Canberra to visit family.) Please let me know the results of your biopsy. My fingers are crossed for you. Cheers ... View more

Well, there's nothing wrong with being worried for the health of your child! You can always talk to your daughter's oncologist team, they should be able to put your mind at ease. Cheers ... View more

You do not need to leave your home to be tested for covid. You can call 1800 675 398 if you live in VIC & someone will come to your home to test you. I'm sure there would be a number for other states as well. ... View more