October 2009
Hiya Carmel
I cant help you with your question. I have had breastcancer twice, but apparently unrelated and contained.
I just wanted to wish you strength and love in your quest to beat the beast. :-)
Luv, Barbe xox
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October 2009
Great news! Bet that put a spring in your step today! Enjoy your weekend!
Luv Barbe xo
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October 2009
Hi Everyone
I also attended a Look Good Feel Better Workshop about one and a half years ago.
I guess i was lucky, the ladies at the workshop had us giggling and chatting. I was impressed with the quality of the skincare and make up package that was given to us, and the lady that came later, Ann from Wig Affair in Sydney was wonderful and showed us many different ways of using scarves and wigs.
I am sorry you had a bad experience, Gabrielle, because i can certainly see the value in having a fun morning. I was a beauty therapist/make up artist in a previous life (before kids!) and thorougly enjoyed the workshop. In fact, i am now a volunteer and am up to doing my third workshop soon.
To be fair on the foundation, the kits that are given to each female, are made up of products that are donated by cosmetic companies in australia. There are volunteers that go in to a huge warehouse each month, and pack kits according to the forms that are send in by the hospitals. You are either lucky and get some nice colours that are suited to you, or get some totally inappropriate colours (i got electric blue and purple eyeshadow!).
The point of the morning is, to show how you can create eyebrows, if you wish, have the illusion of eyelashes, if you wish, being taught how to look after your skin, while it is going through changes and basically have a fun time with your peers who might be going through the same problems as you.
The workshop usually starts quiet and ends up with people exchanging phonenumbers and having coffees after.
Like you said, it should be individual, but i think it would be hard finding a woman who doesnt like to be pampered and have fun, whether she is going through chemo or not!
Oh, and there are workshops for men and kids as well.
Luv, Barbe xo
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October 2009
It is over a year ago since i posted the previous comment. I loved the workshop so much that i am now a volunteer!
So nice to see women leave with huge grins on their faces!
By the way, LGFB Foundation does workshop for men as well and kids workshops. Ask your nurses, they know all about the foundation.or see www.lgfb.org.au for a timetable for your nearest workshop.
Luv, Barbe xox
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March 2009
Thanks for your reply Stephanie. Had a long chat with my oncologist and seeing a genetic councillor this month. B xo
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March 2009
Thank you for your replies. Took all your advise, had a really long, positive chat to my oncologist, and have an appointment to see a genetic councillor this month. B xox
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March 2009
Hi Krys thanks for those updates, was starting to think i was the only triple neg around! I have now finished treatment and had my last round of chemo last August. My energy levels are getting back to normal - joined the gym again to just do some light exercise, i'm not pushing myself too hard. Had some good news this week, I had some genetic testing done for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, and I just got the results back. There are no mutations in those genes, so that was a very positive outcome. It worries me, there are no "after treatments" for our type of cancer, and I am considering a prophylactic mastectomy. I feel like I need to take some control, you know? Anyway, stay strong throughout your chemo, it will be over before you know it. The only advise I can give you, take one step at the time. Live from one stage to the next, it seems easier to cope that way. Other tips: Lemon barley cordial, Lipton Lemon Ice tea, minties to chew on. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream for dry skin. My full "C" history is in my profile. Good luck, take care Barbe x
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March 2009
Hi Everyone, this is a post for the ladies, (no offense fellas!) Just wanted to share with you, that I have just done a Look Good Feel Better Workshop in my local hospital. This is a workshop run by volunteers, sponsored by the Cosmetic Industry in Australia for women affected by cancer treatment and it was sooo much fun! Lots of laughs and giggles, playing around with hats, wigs and headwear, and trying out make up and skincare, and we got to take home a nice package of skincare/make up! After the initial shyness, everyone was giggling and relaxing by the end of the workshop. Let's face it, we do have a lot in common and lots to talk about! If you have a chance, participate in these workshops, we all deserve a bit of fun. http://www.lgfb.org.au/ luv Barbe xox
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March 2009
Hi everyone, my first post here and if it seems like I am not making any sense, it is because I have had chemo a couple of days ago, and most of you know what that does to the brain! I have also copied this post to the "breast cancer" section, because I wasn't sure where the best place was. First of all, this site is great, so many inspirational stories, so much love and support, and an Australian site to boot! I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty details about my C-History, it is all in my profile, but in short, for the relevance of this query/comment/wondering out loud, this is it: was diagnosed with breastcancer in 2002, lumpectomy, Her2+, joined clinical trial with AC/Taxotere/Herceptin and radiotherapy. March this year, I found another lump, same breast, different side. Biopsy was done under ultrasound, result came back as Her2+ again. This time I had a mastectomy with an immediate free flap (from the tummy) reconstruction. Had a port put in (ugly little bugger it is!), awaiting chemo, this time carboplatin/taxotere/herceptin. Low and behold, biopsy report from mastectomy came in, and the tumour is not Her2+! Herceptin cancelled, and I am now faced with the idea, I have had 2 completely different cancers in my breast. This tumour is classed a triple negative breastcancer, which means it doesnt have estrogen, progesterone or her2 receptors! This also means, that after chemo there is no "blocking" after-treatment, and that's scary. From what I read, this is a far more aggressive tumour and has a very fast recurrence rate, and more likely to be a genetic tumour. I am considering prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast after my chemo is done. The one thing that keeps going through my mind - and it may be that only a professional can answer this one, none of the people I spoke to in the hospital had an answer to this - is this; if I wouldn't have had Herceptin in the first round, would this tumour have been a HER2+ tumour? Has Herceptin blocked that particular receptor, making the tumour an even more agressive one? Second question, has anyone here have had 2 different type of tumours in the one breast? Third question, I know I am being greedy for my first post, but these things are bugging me.. Is there a genetic testing available in Australia? I have read about it in Overseas sites, but haven't seen any local ones. Thanks for reading my rambling, hope it makes sense. take care everyone, Barbe xoxo
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