Tag: cancer

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Family

Preventative Strikes are Best

What do you do on your birthday? I suppose the natural thing to do is to celebrate with lunch, dinner or a few drinks.

My birthday was last Monday and I did none of the above. Why do you ask? Well, I organised to get a health check that required me to starve myself and take a horrible concoction to clean my bowel out. Rather yucky to say the least.

I could have moved my appointment to a different day but then I would be waiting longer and worrying about getting it done. I just wanted it all done and over. To not think about it. To have an answer to my concerns.

So what test did I have done?  Well, it was a colonoscopy. This is when they put a scope up your bum to look at your bowel to ensure that you don’t have cancer.

When I went to book in at the hospital the lady suddenly went to the month of May. I instantly thought, of course, it has to be around my birthday. I foolishly got the paperwork earlier and was umming and erring if I should do it. Once I decided to get it done I couldn’t find the paperwork, so of course had to get it re-sent. This meant that it ended up being in May and coinciding with my birthday. Not good at all!


Why did I get this horrible thing done to me? Firstly two of my best friends died due to cancer and it started with bowel cancer. For the last three years and while pregnant I noticed some odd things, however, they couldn’t do some tests due to being pregnant.

For example, having 3 months of constant diarrhoea when pregnant was not good. After having my third child I’ve had some odd things occur, not going to the toilet easily, having issues going or still having diarrhoea. I went through a lot of things that it could possibly be.

Am I sick? Am I stressed? (possibly), Is it something I’m eating? Is it IBS? Or something else? Could it be a blockage? Would this be the beginning signs of cancer or something else? Is it polyps? I had no idea!  It was driving me crazy.

I did the blood tests, and the poo tests and all came back fine and not abnormal. However, I still had some odd symptoms that were worrying.

I’m a mum to three young children and if god forbid I did have something wrong I hope it was found early. Early detection means that you can get it zapped, cut out and you have the best chance of beating it.

So my birthday as I said was not fun it was rather horrible not eating. Then when the clock hit 5pm I had to take a disgusting and horrible solution called, Glycoprep. Just in case you have no idea what this tastes like, it is super salty and you have to drink 3 litres of this liquid! YEP 3 litres and it made me feel SICK!!!!!!

I was supposed to be finished this fluid by 7pm, but I ended up finishing up at 9.30pm, yep not great but I did drink the whole 3 litres.

If you ever have to drink this horrible salty solution you will find that it is so hard to drink it quickly. Well, it was for me. The more I drank the harder it got.

Fast forward 2-3 hours and I had to urgently go to the bathroom. The idea of the solution is to clean you out, and when I say to clean you out, everything is exiting your body extremely quickly!!!!  Not fun and pleasant at all.

Basically, I should have just taken up residence in the bathroom.

With the frequent visits to the bathroom (the bathroom is not heated), not eating, drinking all the fluid I still had to get through I was super cold. In fact, freezing! I ended up with a beanie, scarf, jumper and blanket over me when not in the bathroom.

I ended up finally going to bed around 11pm and had to put on about 100 blankets and the heater on to keep warm. It took me ages to get warm.

Finally, it was the next morning and I could only have water until 8am after 8 I was not allowed anything… yes nothing. I was so tired, hungry and over it all.

Waiting at the hospital
Waiting at the hospital

My appointment at the hospital was at 10am, this was not when I went in for the procedure.  I went in and got a checkup (blood pressure, questions and answered some questions. Finally got into a stylish gown and paper shoes.

I was then told to wait in a waiting room (there was no clock in this room but it felt like I was there for hours) with a warm blanket and a tv. I was then joined by 3 other ladies. I was the youngest person in the waiting room. One lady asked me why I was getting it done, I told her due to some strange symptoms and my close mates dying, it was my preventive strike to ensure I was okay.

Maybe I didn’t need to do it. I know I didn’t get a test to say that it was needed but after other weird things that I experienced the doctor thought it might be a good idea too.

I also had no idea if my dear friends had any symptoms that they thought were odd.  If they did have something did they think it was due to something else? If they did have symptoms if they got them checked out, would they still be here?  This is a question I cannot answer or ever know the answer to. They are not here anymore.

I miss my wonderful friends so much. I wish they had done a preventive strike and found it before it was too late.

Finally, it was my turn to go and meet the doctor, all the nurses and of course the anaesthetist. I was worried and nervous. I did have to make sure they knew who I was due to the doctor thinking I was another patient. (Scary) Apparently, the surgery list was mixed up. So glad that I was vocal and told them who I was.

The cannula was super painful and has left a HUGE bruise, I was awake one minute and then waking up in recovery next. The doctor came to see me after I was given sandwiches and 2 cups of orange juice. You have no idea how good it was to eat and drink again.

My huge bruise on my hand from the cannula
My huge bruise on my hand from the cannula

The news from the doctor was that there are no signs of cancer and all looked good and normal. Great news. Maybe my issues could be IBS or that I need to have less milk or a food allergy?  I have no idea… I am just very happy to know that it is not cancer.

I’m writing this post to urge you to be aware of any changes in your body, any changes to your health. Get checked, stay on top of your yearly checkups, skin checks, blood tests and more.

I know my 46th birthday was not ideal, but I look at it this way. This test is helping me have more birthdays.

Due to the fact that I couldn’t eat or drink on my official birthday, we are having a do-over on the weekend. I’m really looking forward to going out with the family to celebrate. Plus eating some yummy food is a bonus after not eating on my special day.

Image from Bowel Cancer Australia
Image from Bowel Cancer Australia

“15,604 Australians are told they have bowel cancer each year, including 1,413 people under the age of 50.”

Get tested. Be proactive. Be Healthy for you and the family.

Image from Bowel Cancer Australia
Image from Bowel Cancer Australia

I hope sharing this experience helps you get tested and see that it is not something that just affects older people, many people that get diagnosed with bowel cancer are young.

Image from Bowel Cancer Australia
Image from Bowel Cancer Australia

You can find out more about tests on the Bowel Cancer Australia Website and you if you wish you can order a screening test online or by calling 1800 555 494.

DID YOU KNOW?

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

“A highlight of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is Red Apple Day (Wednesday, 19 June 2019), when Australians are encouraged to support the vital work of Bowel Cancer Australia through the purchase of a Bowel Cancer Awareness Ribbon and apple themed fundraising activities.” (Bowel Cancer Australia Website)

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Categories
Family

Embrace Your Wrinkles

This last week I have been down in the dumps. I should have been really happy and really there is not a lot wrong in my world, well winning the lotto would help, but aside from that all is well really.

I think I was a little out of sorts due to my impending birthday, this birthday was yesterday if you did not see my updates on Instagram and Facebook.

The twins did not want me to leave the house without these badges on.... Yes I walked around for the whole day wearing them. What a good mummy I am!
The twins did not want me to leave the house without these badges on…. Yes I walked around for the whole day wearing them. What a good mummy I am!

I have had moments that I have looked in the mirror and thought I was seeing more wrinkles and this of course made me upset. However I was thinking about my good friend that I lost last year, he lost his battle with cancer. He was the same age I was before yesterday when he passed.

My good mate did not get the chance to have more wrinkles or to turn another year older. I spent this week in the lead up to my birthday missing him and getting reminders of him that made me laugh and of course smile. However there were times when I was just in tears due to the fact that he was gone all too soon.

He would not want me to be crying or unhappy. I tried to be happier and to focus on what was great and good about life at the moment. My new baby, my lovely girls, my husband and of course that we are happy and healthy.

While I was trying to solider on and to sort out my feelings about the fact that my good mate was my age when he passed. I felt guilty turning a year older and having a good time about it. I logged into my personal Facebook account to then have an old memory pop up in my news feed. It was of my good friend and me outside our house in the Mountains when we first purchased it.

I know it sounds odd but I think it was the universe telling me he was wishing me Happy Birthday. It could be, you never know…. Well it made me feel better thinking this.

I have decided that although I don’t like getting older I should embrace my wrinkles and the years ahead. I am lucky that I can get wrinkles as my mate would have enjoyed every new one that he was allowed to have if he was still here. He would have enjoyed getting older and loved the fact that he was able to share his life with his mates and family.

So what did I do on my birthday? Well it was a little sad that I had to wait to open presents until the evening but I did keep myself busy. I read with one kid in her classroom, then I went off to a Mother’s Group with the baby, after the Mother’s Group I took myself off to lunch with Alexander and then I got a nice treat – a free cup of coffee. After my coffee I picked up the twins from school and then off home to have them change and pick up a snack and then I dropped them off at art class. While they were at art class I picked up a nice bottle of red wine for dinner plus a birthday cake for me. Hubby picked up Chinese takeaway and all was good aside from being super tired after a big day out.

Do you sometimes feel a little down when you should be happy? Did you have a moment when you remembered something a friend did that made you smile or laugh? Was it a friend or a family member that you have lost or that has moved away that has made you sad?

 

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News

Make A Pinky Promise Today

Did you know that many cancers and disease can be prevented. Keeping yourself healthy, well and in a good weight range can help minimise your chance of some types of cancers. Yes wouldn’t this be wonderful.

Pink Hope is a charity that is urging you to Make Your Own Pinky Promise with your BFF (Best Friend Forever or just good mate) to help improve your health and your mates health as well.

What is Pink Hope about?

Pink Hope is about taking control of your health and empowering you to learn about the facts, and the myths of prevention and detection of cancer. Explore the Pink Hope website and read about the myths. It is an interesting read. I learnt that Ovarian Cancer does give you symptoms and it is not silent as first thought. Many believed it was a silent killer and only presented at the late stage of the disease.

Did you know?

“Doing at least 1.25 hours of exercise per week has a benefit; every little bit counts. The more you exercise the more benefit you get.”

What do you do to keep yourself healthy and well?

  • I am including more movement into my day. Most days I do close to 10,000 steps or way over.
  • I make sure that I add a lot of bright coloured vegetables to meals. I have heard it is good to eat a rainbow so we do in this house, well I do try!
  • I have cut back on alcohol. I have limited wine to weekends and have a glass with dinner.
  • I make sure to have a yearly check up at the doctors to make sure that all is well with me. I get bloods done, breasts checked, skin looked and of course a pap smear. I try and do it around my birthday so that I remember. So I am due one now as my birthday was yesterday.
Bright coloured vegetables in our pasta sauce
Bright coloured vegetables in our pasta sauce

What would your Pinky Promise be?

You have the chance to win a trip to New York City for 2. Yep that is right. You can take your bestie with you. Now that would be a fab way to relax and recharge. I would say that this is a good way to be happy and healthy!

This is what you can win!

  • Return flights for 2 to New York City
  • 5 nights and a fine dining experience at the luxurious Soho Grand hotel
  • $5,000 shopping spree at the new Emma & Roe by Michael Hill NYC store!

Don’t fret if you are not the grand prize winner. There are 5 runner up prizes to be won. These are prize packs from KoraOrganics by Miranda Kerr worth $500 each!

kora-beautify@2x

So the action plan now is!

Find your bestie and make a Pinky Promise Now. Not only will you be healthier for doing so, you could also win a trip to New York City.

I have made a Pinky Promise and will maintain my healthy eating and making sure I do more exercise. I’m now accountable to my bestie for my promise. My bestie is my hubby. So hope that inspires him as well as it does me.

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#BFFPINKPINKYPROMISE

Pink Hope would like more than 10,000 people to register their pledge before the end of May. I hope that we can help to get them to that number.

Disclaimer: I was approached to post about this campaign. I believe in being healthy for you and the family. I have young children and my main aim is to be around a long time so that I can be with them and see them grow up. I love anything that helps others and therefore have shared this wonderful campaign. I hope it inspires you and of course there is a chance to win a fab trip overseas as well.