by Mecki Testroet | 10 Mar, 2016 | If Only
Almost every member of our cancer support group has a story to tell about their diagnosis and treatment. Health care professionals do not always manage to tell us everything we would like to know about Life with Cancer. We may not know ourselves at the outset which...
by Mecki Testroet | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
Nearly 12 months ago I had a Hickman line fitted for salvage chemo aimed at stem cell transplant. I discovered afterwards that I shouldn’t swim or even splash around in a swimming pool with my grandchildren nor do exercise which involved lifting my right arm above...
by Mecki Testroet | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
Painting nails during chemotherapy When I went to my first chemotherapy session, the nurse looked at my nails and said: “You know, if you paint your finger and toe nails the darkest colour you can bear, your nails may not fall out.” Until that moment I hadn’t even...
by Mecki Testroet | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
I happened to visit my dentist shortly before starting chemotherapy, so I mentioned this fact to her. She gave me a lot of good advice re mouth care and some special toothpaste to use all the time I was on chemo. As a result I had no problems with my mouth, and I...
by Mecki Testroet | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
Many people lose some or all of their hair during chemotherapy treatment. Hats, scarves, turbans, wigs – there’s a lot of choice, both to keep warm and avoid being stared at. Living Tree members coped as follows: Scarves and turbans/soft hats I didn’t want a wig as I...
by Mecki Testroet | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
I had breast cancer 2 years ago. Six months later I had a new pain at the front… I was seen at the hospital by one of the breast team who recognised it straight away as Tietze’s syndrome – inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs and the sternum. Apparently it’s...
