Hi Barb, Yes the weekend was good thanks. The Soiree is for women who have had breast cancer, I go occasionally and they have some interesting topics. It's not too far to get to and nice to have a night out. That's a good idea to make cards for Christmas, its nice to get something personalised and hand made. I'm still trying to have a clean out, or spring clean type of thing. Slowly chipping away at things. I'm going well in myself but life gets so busy I would like to have a holiday and do nothing for a change! I've been doing some experimental cooking lately which I enjoy. Making some home made vegetarian and vegan meals for fun. I find that enjoyable and relaxing too. Jenna xx ... View more

Hi Paul, glad things have been working out well for you. Yes chemo brain was quite a fog wasn't it. Your work were really supportive - there are some great people out there. I think the tiredness got to me in the end, but that was when the radiotherapy started after the chemo. A long rest between each would have helped, but I think they have to run back to back for maximum effect. Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say! ... View more

hi Barb, I just posted re your retreat post as well. Sounds lovely! Yes the weather is a bit up and down here and knocks me around a bit sometimes. I've got a check up in about 4 weeks so am mentally preparing for that. I've also been trying to do some spring cleaning and throw some stuff out that's been cluttering up the place forever. I got invited to a writers group by a new friend I made and it was quite good. I was writing a sort of journal just for myself really. But I had also started to write a fiction fantasy novel a long time ago and have been thinking about that just for fun. I like to spice things up a bit when things start to get a bit mundane, so the writing could be the go. Finding the time is the tricky part, hope you're having a good weekend, Jenna ... View more

that sounds really good, what a great idea to go to something like that. It's good to meet others who have gone through or are going through some similar experiences. I went to Soiree a few weeks ago, which is the cancer council support group for women who have had or are going through breast cancer. They meet once a month in different areas and groups and they email what's on the agenda so I can see if it's something that would interest me. Jenna ... View more

Hi Barb, good to hear from you. I am here if you want to talk, there isn't heaps of people on the forum from what I can see, but sometimes just a few contacts is enough to help you with what you need at times. I found it quite difficult when treatment finished as I still felt exhausted and had no clue as to where to go from there. But one day at a time hey. I found that people thought I should be feeling happy that it was all over and thought I'd be excited to get back to "normal", but there's no such thing as normal with the old cancer experiences are there! Hope the rest of your treatment goes well and that you are starting to feel a bit better in every way possible, Jenna ... View more

Hi Chatterdog, best wishes with your PhD I really hope you finish it, that's a great thing you are doing. Am glad you have a supportive boss now, but casual is tough with no sick pay or holiday leave accumulating, you are doing well, it sounds like you are just putting one foot infront of the other each day. I find it tough to make plans for the future. one minute Ive got some money and now Ive just quit my job as wasnt handling it too well, so back to square one again. Ive applied for an evening job part time, I think mornings are the hardest so thought maybe evenings would be better. Let us know how you're getting on, one day at a time hey. ... View more

Hi Sarah thank you for your message and your honesty, you have good perceptions and thoughts about everything, I agree. Its refreshing to hear from people who can let you just sit with it all sometimes, and not try to find positives in everything for the sake of trying to move on. Financially it has rather devastated us and its only now that I can see that. Mentally I think Im definitely more fragile. I would be interested in the chemo brain threads actually. I will try to find them but if you get a minute perhaps you can point me in the right direction. I dont get long on the computer so its all a bit rushed some days. Im seeing my oncologist next week and I'd like to have a chat with him about my brain! He never really acknowledged that the chemo caused any side effects at the time, such as numbness in the hands and feet and in the end we agreed to disagree ( they mustve just decided to go numb for months all of their own accord, not!). But hopefully as time has passed he has come across many patients' feedback and can openly discuss some things. I think grieving has definitely played a part sometimes, even if I haven't properly been aware myself. But lately I havent wanted to go there, although now would be a good time to perhaps explore that some more. There was a support group that had a topic on fear of recurrence and anxiety which wouldve been perfect for me to go to just for once, not far from home. But it made me feel anxious (kinda the point of going) and I was having such a great day I just didnt want to ruin it. Maybe next time, although I like the online groups better I think. I like the fact that i can take my time and read and have a think at my own pace. Thanks again and have a good weekend, Jenna ... View more

thanks for your honesty Frangipani, its been a tough ride for you. Post treatment and the ongoing effects arent so well known and I find it hard to get people to understand further down the track what we still might be facing. I had this neuropathy happening and numbness in the feet which felt like the start of frost bite, it continued on for about 16-18 months and was quite depressing. I totally identify with the whole putting on a front thing, and im quite fed up with it at the moment. I'd love to just tumble into bed and not get up again until I really feel like it! I think half the frustration and exhaustion of it all is feeling we have to be a certain way for others and be someone that we're not. It changes you a lot and we can never go back to exactly who we were before it all started. I find it has made me a bit jaded with life and I dont tolerate some people or situations anymore. But like you I think I have my sense of humour intact and probably developed my humour along the way 🙂 which I have enjoyed. Best wishes with your day to day journey and I hope to hear from you again to see how you're going! ... View more