Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 16:07:53 +1000 (EST)
From: livvyland@yahoo.com.au
Subject: Re: Nik
To: "XXXXX"
Dear XXXXX
It sounds like you have a good plan in place to deal with Nikki. As for why she needs more chemo it's because a test result was misread at some lab somewhere, and her doctor had the good sense to question her fatigue and order more testing. She really should have been having chemo since she left for France.
As for your hypothetical about what if the chemo fails? Well, she would be given care to reduce the symptoms to have a decent quality of life. If need be she would be put in a hospice.Basically, there aren't any other options. But, let's not think about any of that. Believe me, she knows the score.
Yes, feel free to ask any questions as they come up. I might not have an answer straight away, but I know who to ask.
More than nauseous, she will feel really tired. She'll feel green around the gills, and not look so well right after treatment, but the anti-nausea medication works rather well.
Her type of dose of chemo is on the mild side (same kind that I had) and so I can say she probably won't lose her hair. Then again, everyone is different.
Hope that helped even a little bit.
I heard her last chemo session is slated for December 7, so she has her target in her mind. Time for her now to start running that race.
Love and Light
Liv
livvyland@yahoo.com.au wrote:
Dear XXXXX
Nik told me that she told you about her battle and I just wanted to say thanks for sticking by her. She has a great fear that she will be abandoned so by simply telling us about it, she has taken a great leap of faith.
This battle will by no means be easy, but I have instructed her to choose the pace and the rest of us will follow. We can step back if getting too close or step closer if she needs that instead.
She has a great oncologist--one of Australia's finest, so she is in really good hands. If he is telling her that the prognosis is good, then it will be. She also has a great regular physician who will deal with the day to day. She has been a wonderful doctor to Nik and understands her very well. The two of them will be a great team for Nik.
Four months of chemo is hard, but it could have been worse--believe me--I know all about that. I myself went through 8 months or so.
You will easily pick up on her clues as to whether she wants to discuss anything or not. Ask her how she is doing--that is really important because it opens the door to more discussion or a polite "I'm fine". It gives her the choice of what to talk about.
There are a lot of good sources of information on the internet about breast cancer, but I'd like to tell you that sometimes you can read too much and it can cause a lot of stress and worry. It might be a good place to find information about what the patient should expect during treatment, so you can see where she is at.She is stage 1 breast cancer, which is fortunate.
If you want to ask anything, feel free. I am by no means an encyclopedia of information, but I can at least speak from experience.
Try not to worry...she is one strong girl with an iron will.
It might sound silly, but honestly, this is not a bad thing to happen to her. It is going to open her eyes and change her way of thinking. She will learn to love life again. It's up to her. She can make it a good thing or a bad one. I chose good and came sailing through.
Love and Light
Liv
