Just Ask “Go & be healthy and enjoy your retirement”, my surgeon said. February 2024 Blog Freedom “I thought you had a couple of ablations to sort your crazy heart rhythms out”, my surgeon said as his fingers gently probed around my recently implanted defibrillator. “They didn’t think about putting it on the other side?”  Mr Daynes had asked me to consider having an equalizing mammoplasty at my last surgical appointment & I had decided that yes, I would. But a lot had changed since that appointment. In September 2023 my “crazy arrhythmias” necessitated the implanting of a ..read more

Just Ask Newly-weds on the farm at Whangaehu 1988 Retirees in Palmerston North 2023 Blog Just Ask. “That’s a very big breast. Would you like me to make it smaller?”, my surgeon asked during my recent surgical follow-up appointment. His inquiring eyes looked straight into mine. “It’s been 2 years since your mastectomy. It’s up to you …. is that something you’d like me to do for you?” “This one’s too big. I think you would be much more comfortable if we did an equalizing mammoplasty”, he added. I was caught by surprise by his very frank statement and offer. “Well …. yes I guess …. but a ..read more

1st Anniversary. Blog 1st Anniversary. “November the 18th”, I casually commented as I stepped into the shower. “It’s a year since my mastectomy and clearance of lymph nodes” “Oh is it?”, husband Jim responded, not quite awake. “How do you feel about only having one? Do you notice?” I stepped into the shower and focused on the joy of being enveloped by the strong flow of liquid warmth. After the last couple of months of water-saving frugal washes in the motorhome, this felt like sheer luxuriant bliss. But that comment; “how does it feel only having one … do you notice?”. What should I say ..read more

Tell us about the gifts. Where are the gifts? My most popular painted rocks. Blog Tell us about the gifts. “I don’t think that cancer is a gift. I don’t think God gives gifts like cancer”. My friend looked both quizzical and concerned after I had spoken about aspects of my journey during a Breast Cancer Foundation fund-raising event recently in Palmerston North. I told him that my next blog would explain that The Gift isn’t my aggressive triple negative breast cancer; it is all the life-changing things that are happening as a consequence of this diagnosis. Exactly 1 year ago, on t ..read more

What now? Loving exploring on my eBike. May 2022. Speaking at Breast Cancer Foundation high tea in Palmerston North. May 2022 Learning new skills. May 2022 Blog What now? Not a question I can answer. “This might not be a fair question … will the fact that I only had one of the six chemotherapy sessions affect my prognosis … shorten my life? “ I was sitting in my Medical Oncologist’s office for a routine follow-up; 5 months after my one & only chemotherapy session in January. I was feeling vulnerable, not sure about recurrence of the cancer(s) and venturing out from under th ..read more

Gidday mate & gender uncertainty. Hard to tell … male or female? Post-chemotherapy March 2022 Blog Gidday mate & gender uncertainty. “Gidday mate. You OK?”. The dust-covered ATV (all-terrain vehicle) had been following our motorhome through several tight bends on the narrow, rutted east coast road. There were no safe opportunities to let the vehicle pass. Road signs said “Uneven surface”. That would be an under-statement. Huge heavy logging trucks had significantly cut up the narrow sealed road, creating very challenging driving conditions. I decided to pull over and stop to ..read more

Keep your hair on! Shopping in our local supermarket January 2022 Blog “Hey lady”. Mr 5-year-old sped toward me from across the culdesac on his tiny scooter, red and yellow flames on the footboard no doubt making him feel very sporty and brave; “You want to see how high I can jump?” He was totally immersed in his own prowess. “Yes of course … show me how high you can jump”. I whooped and clapped as he barely left the ground but with the hugest smile of accomplishment, repeating the feat each time I affirmed him. I was expecting him to notice that I didn’t have any hair on. Perhaps he ..read more

Chemo cycle 1 - 2nd layer 1st cycle of chemo 4th January 2022 Blog I had imagined the nurse hanging up my chemo bags and letting them infuse over a 2-3 hour period, occasionally popping in to make sure all was going well. I would have time to relax back, close my eyes and visualize these killer drugs advancing to every tiny nook & cranny in my body … up my arm and through my armpits to the heart … up the neck and through the brain, chest and mastectomy site … aorta, kidneys, liver, pancreas … down my legs to my toes and back again. Around and around they would go, smashing and de ..read more

Retirement and radical mastectomy Last days as UCOL lecturer November 2021 Blog I was so fortunate to be able to return to work for 8 days prior to my next surgery. It was really important to me to finish in a professional manner. Clearing out my work space was a mission after being a “might come in handy” hoarder of books and resources for the previous 14 years. Importantly, I was able to hand my much-love course over to another lecturer and spend a few last precious days with my colleagues. I had a sense of satisfaction of a job well done as I left my almost-48 year nursing career ..read more

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Game changer! All ready and looking forward to our open-ended retirement journey around the South Island. Blog My friend and I were really looking forward to hearing the results of my surgery at post-operative outpatients appointment. I had a fabulous clinical nurse specialist and wonderful breast surgeon who each communicated with clarity and empathy. “Well Marie” …. my clinical nurse specialist looked concerned as she moved in a little closer to the foot of the examination couch … “You know how nurses can be complicated when they are patients? You … ar ..read more