BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

jules47 · The Happy Helper

RE: BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

Beth54 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Beth - hope it all goes well, and they get it all this time - have met people who have had the same sort of thing - one has a complete new nose - looks better than the old one!
Take care - and keep positive.

This graft has been done very well and is looking really good. Can't tell about the colour yet, but it's come from my neck which is not quite as freckly as my face. My nose is fairly small with not a lot of flesh, so I've had to pay special attention to it for years. I guess it was sunburnt many times when I was a kid.

Thanks Jules.

-- Edited by Beth54 on Sunday 13th of April 2014 08:32:07 AM

Beth54 · Guru

Well it's official, I'm to have radium treatment on my cancerous nose.

I'm going back on Tuesday after Easter for info and a schedule, then the treatment should start about 2 - 3 weeks from then. It'll be 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and the treatment takes about half an hour. There's free parking for the Oncology Department, so I won't have to bother with buses. My dear friend came with me today and she'll come with me as often as she can throughout the treatment. She is a cancer survivor herself, although hers was Thyroid Cancer which was a lot more drastic than mine.

I was/am okay. I'd rather this than losing my whole nose, that's for sure. smile

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Sending you warm fuzzies Beth.

As a retired nurse I can tell you that although each cancer type is different.

Early in my career I nursed a couple of old men who had lost noses to skin cancers, (although I had a long career and lots of things are different now).

I was fortunate enough to see huge changes in cancer care and they have way more options these days.

Stay strong.

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks For the encouragement Rosie. smile

Gerty Dancer · Guru

How's it going Beth? Are you on the radium treatment now? Sending more warm fuzzies and healing wishes.

Beth54 · Guru

The first treatment was today Rosy...29 more to go.

It all went well, although the mask was a bit more uncomfortable today than at the planning. Seemed to be tighter, squashing my nose slightly. And they plugged my nose with Vaseline soaked gauze, so breathing through my mouth was a little uncomfortable. But it's all over pretty quickly. The actual radiation is only a couple of minutes.

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For those who don't know about the mask, this was moulded to my face shape at the planning appt a couple of weeks ago. Mine is a little more covered than this..ie: the holes aren't so big. Lucky I'm not claustrophobic.

I am still feeling positive and confident. I have a lot of people sending me 'warm fuzzies'. I'm blessed.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Life's a journey Beth, this is just a few steps in it.

Won't be long and you'll have the caravan out and about again, full of hats and sun screen.

Peterpan · Guru

Warm fuzzies from us. smile smile smile

peterblack · Senior Member

hi. All the best with your treatment.feeling positive must be a good thing.

neilnruth · Guru

All the best again for your treatment Beth. Have been 'off air' for a while.

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks Ruth. I've actually been laying low a bit, in regards to the forum in general.

I've had 12 of my 30 'fries'. Inside my nostrils is getting pretty sore and bleeding. I'm also tired, but that could also be because I am currently weaning off Prednisone. In regards to that, I saw my Gastro Specialist the other day and he wants me to stick to the 10mg that I'm currently on, until the Radiotherapy is finished.

It's a bit so so going in every day. The hospital is about 27 kms from here, and I've been driving in mostly. It can run up the fuel cost a bit, particularly when in heavy traffic, but at least I can park outside the Oncology Department for free. I could get the LANDS transport, but after talking to them and finding out that I could be waiting for my return trip for hours, sitting in the transit lounge, I decided against it. I've caught the bus a couple of times, but of course, it has it's disadvantages too. I can also call on a couple of good friends if needs be.

But on a positive note, the staff are wonderful and the actual 'frying' only takes a minute or so. Roll on 25th June, my last session, and as it happens, my 60th birthday.

Thanks for all the support. Hopefully it won't be long before I can get out there again.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Keep good spirits Beth - think only good thoughts!

chaslib · Senior Member

Hey Beth .... How are you going .... have not had much internet in the past month so now we have it for a while we wanted to say Hi and let you know we are thinking of you during these last couple of weeks as your treatment progresses. Amazing to meet as we travel the huge number of people who have gone down this road that many of us on this forum have gone down and the fantastic results from the various procedures. Keep positive ....

Travel Bug · Guru

Hi chaslib,
I had lunch with Beth today and she is doing well. Her nose (where she had the graft) looks great. The surgeon did a really good job.
Cheers :)

Beth54 · Guru

Yes, Pam and I had a lovely natter today. She has been a true friend to me through this. Ringing me regularly for a natter and a progress report.

21 down, 9 to go. It's actually gone fairly quickly. My nose is very very sore inside now, and I look a bit like WC Fields with his red nose, but the end is near, so to speak.

And would you believe, my last 'fry' is on my 60th birthday! Double celebration!

Happywanderer · The Master

Thinking of you Beth. You will be looking forward to the end and of course your birthday as well.
Can only imagine how sore your nose must be inside. Mines sore too and that's only from the sniffles from these cold nights we are having out here.
Take care friend.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Glad to hear you so positive Beth - good luck for the last few treatments - and hope you have a great birthday!!!

Beth54 · Guru

It's a significant birthday.. my 60th, but I won't be kicking up my heels. I'm having lunch with a bunch of girlfriends on the day, then a family get together on the following weekend.

It doesn't seem long since my last birthday and we had a discussion on here somewhere about how I should celebrate. I mentioned a hot air balloon, but I chickened out. Instead I'm having a week at Caloundra in an apartment, which is a real treat for me. A couple of girlfriends are spending some of that time with me, so I'm really looking forward to that. I had booked it for next week but had to postpone it until after the school holidays. The highlight of this week will be going to Velvet Waters on the Saturday night. This is a Rock & Roll theatre restaurant. I went there many years ago, and it was great.

I also have my friend from FNQ arriving here on Tuesday for a week. She's just been through Radiotherapy for breast cancer, so we'll both be celebrating life and the future.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Jonathan · Senior Member

Good on yer Beth .. great to hear it's all happening better for you now ..

Hi also to Pam and Les ..

Jon