Information and opinions on health from sue dyer at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/302849/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/302849/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/302849/index http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/136670/tough Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:01:20 -0400 sue dyer Well, school holidays are here and I actually find myself with some time to write about my most recent BC experience. I wanted to write in detail about this to pass on some information to other women who are trying to decide whether they will have a breast reconstruction.   When I was diagnosed with IBC in October 2008, I decided then and there to have a reconstruction when the time was right. I knew then that I wouldn't like seeing my... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/136670/tough http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/126449/question Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:34:58 -0500 sue dyer It's a very long time since I posted here. My life has been very normal, filled with work and family. So... nothing very interesting.   Life, however, has a habit of occasionally taking interesting twists and turns, like being diagnosed with IBC in October, 2008. My latest twist is my early Christmas present of a new right breast.   I decided the day I was diagnosed and told that I'd need a mastectomy that I would have a... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/126449/question http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/114719/hauntings Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:22:23 -0400 sue dyer Having returned to "normal" life some months ago after my last Herceptin treatment, it has been a while since I wrote a sharepost for this site. There hasn't been a lot to say, since it can become repetitive continually saying how much you're enjoying feeling well.   A couple of weeks ago, however, I went through an experience that may be of some help to those who are at the stage of working out how they are going to live as a BC survivor... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/114719/hauntings http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/108109/late Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:23:02 -0400 sue dyer I'm writing this about a month later than I'd planned. Going back to school full-time has been more time-consuming than I'd realised.   On Thursday, 25th February I finally reached my final milestone - my last Herceptin treatment, ending 16 months of treatment for IBC.   It was an odd sensation. I'd made an appointment at the clinic for the latest possible time so that the nurses and I could crack open the bottle of Pol Roger I'd... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/108109/late http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/79946/scarred Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:55:59 -0400 sue dyer I've now been back at school for two weeks and have had some time to gather my thoughts. The step back into "normal" life, while much anticipated, was a big one, nonetheless. Buoyed up by the use of the word "excellent" by my surgeon and my oncologist, I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and moved the first foot forward.   The most interesting thing is becoming aware of how the cancer experience has changed me. I find my priorities... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/79946/scarred http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/75931/counting Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:30:43 -0400 sue dyer Today, for some inexplicable reason, I got out the calendar and counted up the number of days since I was diagnosed with IBC. Since 10th October last year, 257 days have passed.   On day 256 I had the last of my 30 radiation treatments. Today I am looking at the purple flesh in the treatment area and feeling relieved that it's over. I have a few sore spots, but overall it's not too bad and it will get better.   At first I was quite... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/75931/counting http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/68317/milestone Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:05:47 -0400 sue dyer I can hardly believe it, but there are no more sleeps to go. Today, in the early afternoon, I had my last weekly Taxol treatment. To quote MLK Junior, I am "free at last"!....Well almost. There are still 13 more Herceptin treatments to go, providing the MUGA shows no dangerous decrease in my heart function, and there is the small matter of six weeks of radiation. Already, my heart has lifted as I move closer to my post-IBC life.   I'm not... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/68317/milestone http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/65666/laughamycin Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:13:23 -0400 sue dyer It's sleepless night tonight after Taxol infusion no.9 today. I've reached 3/4 of the way through this part of the treatment and there are only 3 to go. I'm getting excited already, so goodness knows what I'll be like the night before. Unbearable, probably.   This week marks the retirement of my wig. I took the plunge on Monday and went out without it. No-one stared at me and when I went to school on Tuesday to have lunch with a mate,... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/65666/laughamycin http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/62811/blancmange Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:11:56 -0400 sue dyer On Tuesday this week I received a visit from a very nice woman called Judy who runs a business here in Melbourne fitting women for bras and prostheses after mastectomy. It's a great idea as it protects your privacy and she can bring the products she knows will be suitable for you and you won't have to negotiate a confusing maze of bras and breasts. She also was able to give me helpful information on how to claim back the cost ($A365 and fully... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/62811/blancmange http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/62335/obsessed Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:57:37 -0400 sue dyer It may seem to those kind and interested enough to keep up with my shareposts that I'm obsessed with my hair. Well...maybe I am. I am most amused at the moment to find that it has changed from white-as-snow, through battleship-grey to BLONDE!!! My wonderful physio noticed this as she was working on my arm last week. And all this is happening with hair that is still barely half an inch long. Never a dull moment.   What really amuses me is... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/302849/62335/obsessed