My wife's breast cancer ordeal.

JohnnieK · 11-02-2012 11:09pm

This was the first bad day. She was extremely tired and it's not helping that our little man has a chest and ear infection.

She was in bed for a lot of it (just couldn't get out of it). I tried to take the rains with every thing but I too am knackered because I only got about 5 hours sleep every night this week since Sunday because of the little fella. My brother offered to come over but I told him everything was fine, looking back I should have accepted the offer.

She is going to survive this, Isn't she???

Dizzyblonde · 11-02-2012 11:21pm

Johnnie, you're going to get through this together. It's a tough road and there will be many times like this, but you'll cope.
A word of advice though - don't turn down offers of help with housework, babysitting etc. This is no time for false pride or martyrdom because it's important to look after yourself too, so you can be there for your wife and son. Nobody can do it all and you will need breaks to catch up on sleep or just have a little time to relax.

Carpenter · 12-02-2012 7:23pm

Dizzyblonde wrote: »

Johnnie, you're going to get through this together. It's a tough road and there will be many times like this, but you'll cope.
A word of advice though - don't turn down offers of help with housework, babysitting etc. This is no time for false pride or martyrdom because it's important to look after yourself too, so you can be there for your wife and son. Nobody can do it all and you will need breaks to catch up on sleep or just have a little time to relax.

+1 Take all the help you can get even ask for it .
The more help you get =more rest for everyone this sounds like a low time you are going through it will get better.

JohnnieK · 14-02-2012 11:19pm

Having a horrible time at the moment. Little fella was sick since Thursday last, fine by Monday. The wife got it and we have been in and out of Beaumont since Sunday, Sis-in law took the kids yesterday to give us a break and now our little one has a hight temp now so the wife has to ship out for a couple of day's to try and let every one get healthy. I've had to cancel a good bit of work to so I can be hear with the kids.

I'm going to get a big mug of tea and watch a movie.

CathyMoran · 15-02-2012 9:38am

You will get times like this - remember that this will pass. As I have said before I did not remember most of the chemo. Do plan something for her good days.

JohnnieK · 18-02-2012 9:07pm

After a bad week with high temps, in and out of the hospital and all that things seem to be settling down again.

The next hurdle is the MRI on Tuesday. If you can remember the CAT scan before Christmas came back largely clear apart from a shadow on the liver which they seem confident that it's a cyst or fatty tissue. The MRI is just a follow up.

The fear has once again set in with me regarding this MRI all the what if's are springing into mind.

I was so busy all week trying to keep everyone healthy that I never had time to think about it, but now things have relaxed a bit the thoughts are creeping in.

Worst case if it has got there does that mean the end of the road for her

CathyMoran · 18-02-2012 9:48pm

In my case when I had a shaddow on my liver 18 months post surgery it was sarcoidosis - I know that it is a worry but there is nothing that you can do about it until you know.

JohnnieK · 20-02-2012 11:15pm

Fingers crossed for the MRI tomorrow!! And the results of course.

racso1975 · 20-02-2012 11:20pm

Fingers and legs crossed johnny! Best of luck

Dizzyblonde · 21-02-2012 12:03pm

Best of luck Johnnie, hope it goes well.

purrrfect1 · 21-02-2012 12:23pm

Fingers, toes and more crossed for tomorrow!!

Carpenter · 21-02-2012 5:22pm

All the best

21-02-2012 7:48pm

Like all the above say, wishing the very best for you both .

JohnnieK · 21-02-2012 8:12pm

Scan went well, might have results on Friday.
She is just out of the shower and her hair came out in anger while she was in there, very upset.

Another page turned now. She just told me to shave it off.

Carpenter · 21-02-2012 8:16pm

When she gets good news on Friday she will be in better form.

CathyMoran · 21-02-2012 8:46pm

I used to say that the hair loss was a sign that the chemo was working and that if it was making me feel bad it was going to make it feel a lot worse. I know that the wait for the results is hard. Best wishes.

JohnnieK · 22-02-2012 12:05am

Just when I thought I was strong, She broke down when I was about to do it and then I did too and I just couldn't do it.

She is going to try a hairdressers tomorrow instead.

I'm such a wuss

CathyMoran · 22-02-2012 9:06am

I got it done in a hairdressers too - you think that you will not get upset about it but when it happens it is very traumatic. A wig can help as prop more than anything so that you know that you ca look normal for the day if you want to. I was lucky that I could wear hats as it was the winter for me.

Carpenter · 23-02-2012 8:56pm

Best of luck tomorrow .

23-02-2012 9:13pm

Im praying that you get good news tomorrow. I really am. My heart goes out to both of you during this battle.

readmylips · 23-02-2012 9:26pm

a world of good luck for tomorrow, and you're FAR from a wuss ! All the best to you both...

JohnnieK · 23-02-2012 11:40pm

Thanks everyone but I dont think we will find out tomorrow, no word from the hospital and it wasn't a given that we would.
The Hermitage said Beaumont would have the results in 2 to 3 days and tomorrow is day 3 so I dont think we will find out tomorrow.

JohnnieK · 23-02-2012 11:43pm

Just for the record. Her sister shaved her head today and the kids were running around with her bandanas on, unbelievably funny, we were in stitches.
The kids keep you going:)

Dizzyblonde · 24-02-2012 10:27am

Johnnie, it's great to have a laugh along the way. A sense of humour will help you get through a lot in life. Have my fingers crossed for a good result today.

Carpenter · 27-02-2012 7:28pm

Any news

JohnnieK · 28-02-2012 12:00am

Second cycle of Chemo today and it went well. The best part of the day was when we were called in to be told the MRI was all clear and it's just a bit of fatty tissue. The dont know how to put the relief I felt down in words so we will leave it at that.

Dizzyblonde · 28-02-2012 10:10am

That's fantastic news Johnnie, I'm delighted for you both.

CathyMoran · 28-02-2012 10:30am

That is brilliant news - I am thrilled for you.

Carpenter · 28-02-2012 7:33pm

Man is this good news or what

as we said there are good days and bad days today is a good 1 .

The Princess Bride · 28-02-2012 8:04pm

Fantastic to hear such great news johnnie- continued best wishes to the 2 of you and the children.
Well done on your good spirits and ability to keep the sunny side up!!!

_AVALANCHE_ · 29-02-2012 2:51am

Monday 21.30

Breast Cancer: No Laughing Matter

Comedienne and writer Anne Gildea discusses her battle with the illness, revealing how she manages to balance treatment with a busy schedule of gigs and rehearsals. Using a combination of documentary footage and video diaries, the programme follows Anne for six months as she tries to maintain her sense of humour - but she soon realises some things in life are simply not funny at all.

JohnnieK · 03-03-2012 9:55am

All seems to be going well so far after the second cycle on Monday last. I'm feeling it's like the calm before the storm seen as what happened the last time :rolleyes:.

CathyMoran · 03-03-2012 10:00am

Do something nice before the start of each batch of chemo - I do not remember the chemo but I do remember the things that we did on the good days in between.

JohnnieK · 03-03-2012 10:03am

CathyMoran wrote: »

Do something nice before the start of each batch of chemo - I do not remember the chemo but I do remember the things that we did on the good days in between.

We did that all right. Had a great Saturday last week all four of us and then Sunday over in the Mammy's for dinner.

She has an annoying cough that she cant seem to get rid off so that's not helping.

CathyMoran · 04-03-2012 10:21am

I remember being scared of colds too - I was told to avoid children but of course I did not - my cousin's young children were the way I got through it as I got away from it for a while.

JohnnieK · 08-03-2012 12:46am

This whole thing is doing my head in.
She has had a cough for about 6 days and she rang the hospital today and back in she went. A bloody sore throat now and back on another antibiotic if her temp goes over 38oC they'll keep her in this time.

It was at 37.5 when she was going to bed so I'm gearing my self up for it to be over 38 in the morning.

Havin a bad folks.

CMpunked · 08-03-2012 2:19am

JohnnieK wrote: »

It was at 37.5 when she was going to bed so I'm gearing my self up for it to be over 38 in the morning.

My girlfriends on treatment at the moment and is starting her final cycle tomorrow, thank god!
But as for temperature issues, one thing i noticed is that her body temp will nearly always go up in the late evening.(i dont know if this is the same for everyone) A few weeks ago it practically stayed at 37.7 for 3 hours. She decided it would be more worthwhile getting some sleep and seeing how it was in the morning and the going into the a&e if needs be.
She got up and it was 36.3. She was brewing a bit of a cold in those days, but the docs said that the antibiotics do their job and will fight the infection.

CathyMoran · 08-03-2012 9:17am

JohnnieK wrote: »

This whole thing is doing my head in.
She has had a cough for about 6 days and she rang the hospital today and back in she went. A bloody sore throat now and back on another antibiotic if her temp goes over 38oC they'll keep her in this time.

It was at 37.5 when she was going to bed so I'm gearing my self up for it to be over 38 in the morning.

Havin a bad folks.

Sorry to hear that, it does get better.

JohnnieK · 08-03-2012 8:09pm

Everything much better today. Kids as good as gold the temp is not going up much still in the 37's but she is feeling fine.

CathyMoran · 08-03-2012 8:25pm

Glad that she is feeling better today - it is a rollercoaster journey.

Carpenter · 15-03-2012 6:13pm

Nice 1

JohnnieK · 18-03-2012 12:15am

All going well. Next session is Tuesday. She cant seem to shake that dickey throat though, And little fella has an ear infection now, trying to get the antibiotic into him is like trying to get blood out of a stone

. You would swear it was poison we were trying to give him:D

CathyMoran · 18-03-2012 9:30am

JohnnieK wrote: »

All going well. Next session is Tuesday. She cant seem to shake that dickey throat though, And little fella has an ear infection now, trying to get the antibiotic into him is like trying to get blood out of a stone . You would swear it was poison we were trying to give him:D

It is going around - all of us have had it recently - my daughter has a similar reaction to the antibiotic!

Good luck on Tuesday.

purrrfect1 · 18-03-2012 8:19pm

Thats great news.....

Hope the rest of the treatment goes well

Chin up!!

20-03-2012 8:22pm

Just wanted to say hi, hope you and the family are doing ok Johnnie

Thinking of yiz

JohnnieK · 22-03-2012 12:35am

All I can say is thank God we got the medical card. She is getting some injection tomorrow to boost her immune system and it costs €1000. Jesus, Mary and Joeseph, my jaw dropped when I heard the price.

lonestargirl · 22-03-2012 8:02am

JohnnieK wrote: »

All I can say is thank God we got the medical card. She is getting some injection tomorrow to boost her immune system and it costs €1000. Jesus, Mary and Joeseph, my jaw dropped when I heard the price.

She wouldn't have had to pay even if she didn't have a medical card. I'm glad everything is going well and keep up the positivity for the future.

Carpenter · 30-03-2012 7:08pm

Any news ?

JohnnieK · 30-03-2012 8:00pm

A bit of a bad week this week. She had a third cycle last Tuesday week an she was in bits after it. She was Neutropenic after the previous cycle so they gave her some injection for this to help her white blood count.

What's more our little man has an ear infection at the moment and he is really annoyed he had a sleep over in my brothers last Sunday/Monday. I think he knows something is up with his mammy because he is very clingy this week and wakening up during the night.

Other than that all ok. She is doing well

Carpenter · 04-04-2012 7:42pm

JohnnieK wrote: »

A bit of a bad week this week. She had a third cycle last Tuesday week an she was in bits after it. She was Neutropenic after the previous cycle so they gave her some injection for this to help her white blood count.

What's more our little man has an ear infection at the moment and he is really annoyed he had a sleep over in my brothers last Sunday/Monday. I think he knows something is up with his mammy because he is very clingy this week and wakening up during the night.

Other than that all ok. She is doing well

John keep in there all will be fine.

My wife's breast cancer ordeal.

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