137 replies to this topic

[run2work]

Hi,

Just an update on Robimum.

She is going well, residing temporarily in Newcastle, attending The Mater Hospital daily week days for radiotherapy to the breast.

She has had two 'zaps' and only has 18 to go!

Also she is enjoying running again and is up to 3km every second day.

Once the skin being radiated starts getting affected ,she is not sure how that will affect swinging her arms. It could make running sore.

We have both ordered coolrunning gear including caps which we intend to get monogrammed with our 'names'.

Regards
Run2Work

[SouthAustralian]

run2work, on Aug 19 2008, 04:28 PM, said:

Hi,

Just an update on Robimum.

She is going well, residing temporarily in Newcastle, attending The Mater Hospital daily week days for radiotherapy to the breast.

She has had two 'zaps' and only has 18 to go!

Also she is enjoying running again and is up to 3km every second day.

Once the skin being radiated starts getting affected ,she is not sure how that will affect swinging her arms. It could make running sore.

We have both ordered coolrunning gear including caps which we intend to get monogrammed with our 'names'.

Regards
Run2Work

You've beaten me to it! the other day when i was under the shower i realised that we hadn't had an update and planned to ask for one...so good timing.
We continue to give thanks for all the good things that are coming your way. I believe that an important word for you and your precious family is 'journey'.
This journey hasn't ended...and in many ways its only just begun.
Robimum is safe. She's in good hands and she is safe.
make sure that you allow time for the healing to take place, the inside healing and the physical healing.
You have many friends on this site, and you have abundant life!
With my, and many others, love and best wishes.
Stay strong bro, stay laughing
Frank in SA

[Didge]

run2work, on Aug 19 2008, 04:58 PM, said:

Hi,

Just an update on Robimum.

She is going well, residing temporarily in Newcastle, attending The Mater Hospital daily week days for radiotherapy to the breast.

She has had two 'zaps' and only has 18 to go!

Also she is enjoying running again and is up to 3km every second day.

Once the skin being radiated starts getting affected ,she is not sure how that will affect swinging her arms. It could make running sore.

We have both ordered coolrunning gear including caps which we intend to get monogrammed with our 'names'.

Regards
Run2Work

Great news R2W. It's great to hear that things are going in the right direction for you all.

[PantherPurple67]

Great to hear all is well,stay strong.Robimum you a in my thoughts.

[brizza]

hi guys,i dropped by to hear any news and keep the thread near the top,beat wishes,brizza

[Nath]

Thanks Brizza,

You know it was going well but it has got a little less good.

Robimum has managed to get to all the ray treatments so far which is good and there is only 12 to go.

The problem has been that she has developed vertigo which the oncologist says is not related to the treatment.

The room is spinning when she rolls over when lying down, and staggers to the left when walking, but not all the time.

But it has meant she cannot run which is somewhat frustrating to her, as she had built up to 3km.


I am trying to believe that the vertigo is not something wrong with her brain (like a tumour). Anyway the doctors don't seem worried, so I should stop worrying.


Robimum is not concerned in that department, just her worrywort husband!!!

All going well she is coming back home in Dubbo for the weekend, and will come out to the zoo for the annual fun run to watch me 'stagger' around with some of our kids.  Looking forward to the weekend!

Regards
Run2Work

[serena]

brizza, on Aug 27 2008, 02:45 PM, said:

hi guys,i dropped by to hear any news and keep the thread near the top,beat wishes,brizza

Thinking of you Run2Work and Robimum,
hang in there, and enjoy the weekend off.
sending hugs,
SJ

[Rudolf]

http://www.naturalnews.com/022115.html

[run2work]

Thanks Rudolf for the information about vit d and cancer fund raising organizations.

Robimum certainly gets lots of sunlight and always has, actually too much I think. She has always been one for 'tanning' at the beach which I have discouraged much to her annoyance.

As far as the charity organizations and indeed conventional medicine go, I must admit we do tend to trust these groups. This is because we are probably at the limit of our emotional and intellectual resourses, and to start questioning these groups would a bit too much for us at this stage. I hope we are doing the right thing.

At the moment Robimum is getting ready to go back to Newcastle for another 2 weeks of 'ray' treatment. I will also let her know about vit d and perhaps she might go looking for some sun rays as well, at the beach.

In the mean time we battle on with her there and us Run2Workers back to Dubbo.

Regards
Run2Work

[run2work]

Rudolf, the thought has just occured to me that you must have seen that article and thought of us.

That is jolly nice of you. Thank you again!!!! for your thoughtfulness.

Regards
Run2Work

[slowmo]

G'day run2work,

Just popped in to the thread to see how things were going for you two.

Great to hear that there are not too many radiation sessions to go, but sorry to hear about the vertigo. The mother of a work colleague of mine has suffered from a type of middle-ear vertigo and I know it can be quite distressing, but from what I've heard it's not that uncommon, especially in women for some reason, and responds well to various treatments, some as simple as exercises designed to use gravity to clear particles from the middle ear.

It's a bummer that it's stopping robimum from running at the moment.  Hope it gets better soon.

All the best
slowmo

[run2work]

Thanks Slowmo,

Looking into the vestibular dysfunction thing. You might be on to something there.

Regards
Run2Work

[Tilly]

Glad to read that everything is on track with Robimum's treatment (except for the vertigo).

You are still both in my thoughts & prayers.

[run2work]

run2work, on Jun 13 2008, 12:56 PM, said:

My wife (robimum) has just been diagnosed with breast cancer, after a mammogram, ultrasound and needle biopsy last week. Results came yesterday.

We are devastated.

Will see surgeon today to organize lumpectomy or mastectomy and testing of lymph nodes.

That will happen next week. Then, radiotherapy, chemo, etc.

Robimum and I have been married 20 years and have 4 children. She restarted running again late last year after heel pain resolved, and she ran the SMH Half Marathon a month or 2 ago. I am so proud of her. She was aiming for her first marathon in September. In fact she was due to run 25km tomorrow morning. That will not happen of course, and she wont be able to run the marathon.

But should she run a little? Running goals are on the back burner of course. After surgery would she benefit from a little running, or conserve energy for the bigger battle.

Regards
Run2Work

Update.

Surgery, radiotherapy done. Tamoxaphen tablets daily with some minor side effects.

Today Robimum had a mammogram and ultrasound,  and she got good news. No sign of tumours in either breast.

The mammogram on the operated one was very painful for Robimum, but worth the pain she said.

We are now off on holidays to the Sunshine coast for a week then down to Hawks Nest for two weeks.

As far as running is concerned she is up to 4km run 4 times a week with an hour walk on the weekend that will have an increasing amount of running thrown in gradually.

Her goal is a marathon 2009, that was going to be 2008 until way laid.

r2w

[PantherPurple67]

run2work, on Dec 17 2008, 09:08 PM, said:

Update.

Surgery, radiotherapy done. Tamoxaphen tablets daily with some minor side effects.

Today Robimum had a mammogram and ultrasound,  and she got good news. No sign of tumours in either breast.

The mammogram on the operated one was very painful for Robimum, but worth the pain she said.

We are now off on holidays to the Sunshine coast for a week then down to Hawks Nest for two weeks.

As far as running is concerned she is up to 4km run 4 times a week with an hour walk on the weekend that will have an increasing amount of running thrown in gradually.

Her goal is a marathon 2009, that was going to be 2008 until way laid.

r2w

Thanks for the update,Great all is going well with robimum.and that she is gradually getting back into running I may of mentioned this before,but every person is different.I was on Tamoxifen for a while,was unfortunate that the very tablets spose to help me,caused my Breast Cancer to return,as i cannot have any oestrogen in my system.After consultation with a medical professor,i am on new tablets alot stronger than Tamoxifen,they a called Femara(Letrozole).I have worked my way though the unpleasant sideeffects,about a page.The negative of these tablets is they leech the calcium from the bones,wheres Tamoxifen does not.Its a positive i am a runner and love my dairy products.Wish you and Robimum,a very Merry Christmas,also to your family,best wishes.

[Didge]

run2work, on Dec 17 2008, 09:08 PM, said:

Update.

Surgery, radiotherapy done. Tamoxaphen tablets daily with some minor side effects.

Today Robimum had a mammogram and ultrasound,  and she got good news. No sign of tumours in either breast.

The mammogram on the operated one was very painful for Robimum, but worth the pain she said.

We are now off on holidays to the Sunshine coast for a week then down to Hawks Nest for two weeks.

As far as running is concerned she is up to 4km run 4 times a week with an hour walk on the weekend that will have an increasing amount of running thrown in gradually.

Her goal is a marathon 2009, that was going to be 2008 until way laid.

r2w

That sounds really positive r2w. Thank you so much for letting us know. I often wonder how robimum is doing. Sounds like you guys have a well deserved holiday coming up. Hope it's relaxing for you and allows you to chill out for a while.

All the best.

Maria

[run2work]

Hi all who were concerned about Robimum last year.

Just an update about how she is going. She is well. We would like to think that it is gone and will never come back, but as you know, cancer is not like that. You still live in a certain amount of fear that it will come back. Having said that, Robimum is not anxious about that as much as I possibly am, and probably why I am posting this, as an update but also as a reassurance to my (not her) state of mind.

Robimum is running three times a week, 4km twice and 5 going up to 6km once a week. She is also going to Curves three times a week. While gym 'purists' do not like that style of gym, it appears to be working for her and she enjoys the company not provided by her running. On the whole she does not like running with me as she thinks she is too slow and I dont enjoy running slowly, even though I tell her that I do. I have different speeds for different running partners!

The medication she is on (Tamoxefen) gives her constant hot flushes well we think that is it, and the oncologist says that antidepressants would fix that, but would have its own side effects. She also has forgetfulness from the medication which is not very handy when she is teaching maths or asked by me where I can find something that I have forgotten about    The oncologist said that there is a memory course that she could do of an evening to assist the memory. Robimum said to him "Won't solving 3 unit maths problems work my brain !" Her brain still works better than mine by the way, even clouded by medication.

Anyway, Robimum is aiming to do a run at the Mudgee ''runfest", not sure yet what, possibly the Half as she has done 4 Halfs (or should that be halves) before, but that could be a little far so soon, late August. So if anybody is going to Mudgee , see you there. I am doing the marathon, and Nath is doing the Half.

r2w

[maryclaire]

good news on all fronts.  How long will the medication continue?  Is the memory simply a side-effect while on the medication and hopefully return to normal afterwards?  Hopefully this is only a temporary and minor inconvenience.

[run2work]

maryclaire, on May 21 2009, 03:10 PM, said:

good news on all fronts.  How long will the medication continue?  Is the memory simply a side-effect while on the medication and hopefully return to normal afterwards?  Hopefully this is only a temporary and minor inconvenience.

Maryclaire,

The medication is supposed to go for 5 years, but sometimes the patient chooses to take themselves off or the doctor thinks the side effects outweigh the benefits. The memory goes back to normal after one stops, so it is said.

Robimums memory is not bad, however it is a worry when she turns to me and asks me who I am.  

Thanks for your concern

r2w

[sunny1]

Yaayyy! That is great news Run2work and Robbimum!

Curves is a great gym system for women (might even work for men too!). There are so many things that Curves does that is different to a normal gym which makes so much sense to me, even though I am not a gym goer.

Hope the memory thing gets better, and is not just a factor of age   ! For example last weekend my daughter baked a cake to take out with us for a mother's day lunch - I told her to bring the 'hat' she had cooked - she   . Also struggled when asking the librarian at work for a piece of equipment - I asked him for the 'doozy-flacket for watch-e-macallit room'. He produced the right piece of equipment (data-projector remote control for CS Library)!!

I haven't had to ask my husband who I am yet!

Take care both of you.

[rivercat]

That is such great news! I know from my husband's family that tamoxifen can be difficult to tolerate. There may be an alternate drug that can be used, it depends on the type of cancer. But if it is causing difficulties keep asking, and don't rule out the antidepressants, it can take a while to get the balance right but they do help.

I run out of nouns at the end of each day myself. I blame it on writing technical material all day - I use up my quota of nouns but have a surplus of adjectives left over . I get home and I can't remember the name of anything, but I can describe it in several sentences.

[Chelbub]

HI run2work,

I am so glad to hear this positive post and that things are going well at the moment, mostly.  Your wife is a champion and so are you...she is unlucky to have had to go through what she has however she is very lucky to have a husband who has such love and support for her.  One of my running partners has been on tamoxifen for 15mths now and things have settled for her.  I know that the side effects were up and down but they seem to be level at the moment.  I admire her and your wife for their strength and courage...she and I hope to do a half marathon in september, so I am sure your wife will get there again, it just takes time.  

Vertigo is unpleasant and cripling - I find stematil (sp?) good and when it is severe I take valium - only as a last resort, but it is amazing how it works.  No doubt your wife is limited as to what medications she can take but I find these helpful.

Good luck and wonderful to hear things are going well at the moment.

[PantherPurple67]

Great to see all is going well,robimum.But i am concerned Tamoxifen is still being prescribed by doctors,im on Femara(letrozole) which is a lot stronger ,i have worked my way through the worst of the sideeffects and look at the positive,which is for the life of me i cannot gain weight,since i have zero oestrogen in my system.Gotten over the menopause thing,shock for me.Since not having Tamoxifen,i have not had a recurrance of breastcancer.All the best in your running endeavours,i will be doing my 2nd GCM this year.

[run2work]

Thanks for posts chelbub and PP67,

PP67 I note your concern about Tamoxifen, in fact I have often thought about it since you mentioned it in a previous post.

To make  the concern even more, is that Robimum found another lump last week for which the GP has referred her to have another mamogram, and the rest of the tests if necessary.

To say we are nervous again is an understatement. You would understand.

It is ironic that I restarted this thread recently after things were going so well. There was something making me agitated. I have been running heaps as a result, over 100km a week. It is a wonder I am not injured!



I am praying against fear, and for protection for our family. Robimum is much braver than I am.

Anywhere, hoping the lump is a cyst.         Will find out this week.



This afternoon, Robimum said she is going for a 6km run. Still aiming for a marathon like you one day PP67, with the immediate goal of the 10km at Mudgee late August.

r2w

[Gadfly]

run2work, on May 31 2009, 03:00 PM, said:

To make  the concern even more, is that Robimum found another lump last week for which the GP has referred her to have another mamogram, and the rest of the tests if necessary.

To say we are nervous again is an understatement. You would understand.

r2w

r2w, I don't know what made me open this thread again, and I haven't done more that read this last post of yours (I will go back and read the posts in between where I last read and now).  I do hope that the results are OK and robimum doesn't have more than a cyst.  
Will be thinking of you and the family.   I can only imagine the stress and thoughts that must be running through your minds.
Take Care  
Gadfly

[serena]

R2W thinking of you and robimum as you await further test/mammogram results. It's really great that you're running robimum. I m keeping you in my thoughts for long lasting wellness going forward.
R2W its a funny thing how we know things before we know them.
You sound like a really good husband.
x serena

[rivercat]

Fingers crossed it is harmless. We had a similar scare in my family, after all the treatment there was a shadow on the liver and we thought it was all over. But it was nothing. Hope the same holds true for you.

[Sturgis]

R2W and robimum, hope everything turns out well for you, thinking of you and keep us posted.

Sturgis

[run2work]

Mammogram and ultrasound this arvo. All clear.

Only a fibroadenoma, sometimes known as breast mice!!

Big sigh of relief from Robimum and me.

Back to 'normal' life again for the time being at least.

Thanks to all for thoughts and prayers.

r2w

[Gadfly]

So relieved to hear about the 'breast mice'..... Enjoy your relief and hope stress can take a back seat for a while.  

[Chelbub]

run2work, on Jun 1 2009, 07:44 PM, said:

Mammogram and ultrasound this arvo. All clear.

Only a fibroadenoma, sometimes known as breast mice!!

Big sigh of relief from Robimum and me.

Back to 'normal' life again for the time being at least.

Thanks to all for thoughts and prayers.

r2w

I missed this post and was getting worried and thought, I might just bump this thread up and see there was any news but no need!   Fantastic news, I am so thrilled for you all --- I bet you felt like shouting to the whole world...  what a relief!
    

[PantherPurple67]

Fantastic news for Robimum,what a releif.Just caught up with your post.Hugs and cheers.

[sunny1]

Very glad to hear that things are going well, after that hiccup. Must have been a worry!

Take care.  

[run2work]

Just to let everyone know, that Robimum (my dear wife) is alive and well, and is now over two years post diagnosis and treatment.

She runs for fun, weight management and to keep her husband company on occasion. She is a champion person.

r2w

[runron]

run2work, on Jul 9 2010, 01:03 PM, said:

Just to let everyone know, that Robimum (my dear wife) is alive and well, and is now over two years post diagnosis and treatment.

She runs for fun, weight management and to keep her husband company on occasion. She is a champion person.

r2w

r2w and Robimum - marvellous to have read your postings recently and the latest update.  More power to you Robimum; congrats on getting thru it all.


I am adding words of encouragement here if you don't mind because runners searching as I did will finds lots of advise in one spot.  I began searching for encouragement from other runners when
earlier this year I was diagosed with Early Breast Cancer and I found your thread.  I have since had surgery and am now into my 3rd session of 4 chemos (over 12 weeks) after which will follow 6 weeks of radiotherapy.  Of course when something like this is diaganosed we give thanks to the medical teams for finding it early and taking care of us in a speedy manner......and then we think 'But I won't be able to run!"  Sometimes I'm embarassed to have had those thoughts so immediately but now am so grateful to have embarked on this chemo journey as a runner albiet one of modest distance.  I like to run about 35km per week and then some extra with big events.

Treatment is different for everyone but one thing I know for sure is that we all look forward to the day we can begin running again.  I have been able to run slowly , and unusually - but it gives me happiness - in the company of my daughter, from about 6 days after treatment, slowly building the distance up to around 5 to 7 km the day before I go back into the next session.  Running and breast cancer can only be the best of friends - if you're able to do it and no matter how short or slowly you do it, do it - it feels great.   I know my cardio fitness is suffering but it will come back when all this treament is over.

Radiotherapy for me is just 5 km away from home so I HOPE I will be able to run to, and if not run then walk to, each session...and maybe get a lift sometimes if I need it (I'm no martyr).

On days when running is not possible then a walk is definintely good for you too.  And if neither of those is OK then it is also fine to take care of yourself in doors; listen to your body and take it easy for a while.  And not being tied to work or school runs etc can also be liberating because it is not necessary to do what running you can do at ungodly hours of the morning.  A leisurely run at 8:30 is so much more pleasant on these cold winters days.

If any other runners (or non-runners for that matter) are looking for advise of what's possible to do during treatment and can they still run or walk, then I say certainly embark on your journey anticipating that you will be able to walk after a short period of adjustment (chemo doesn't make you feel great that's for sure!!!) and then run even if the distances and pace are reduced.  Those things don't matter,  it's just being about getting out there.  And there is some fun to be had too - especially when your hat becomes too hot and you rip it off and run bald!  That gets a few looks!
I love those moments now that my daughter has convinced me to stop apologizing for it.

I have signed up for a 5km run (The Devil has made me sign up for this Bender!) for 6 days after my last chemo treatment - hope I'll be able to run the whole way! but no matter what I achieve on that particular run I know I will always be grateful for having been a runner and having been able to keep running in my life during these past months of interesting medical times!   To all else who read this thread looking for words of encouragement  I say do not dispare, you will (and must do  as long as you are able to) begin running again and it will help you mind, body and soul.

Keep up the good fight, stay postive and good luck. Oh, and if you don't feel like doing anything some days because you feel blahhhh then just take it easy and 'enjoy' the down time.

Runron


edit  - I mean I normally like to run 35km /week not achieveable under present circumstances!

Edited by runron, 15 July 2010 - 01:14 PM.

[robimum]

Hello, all. Robimum here! It's been ages since I've posted anything. Thank you so much for your support during my journey with BC. As r2w has said, I am fighting fit and getting on with life.
I'm running 5k regularly. Somedays I wonder why I do it, I mean, how many other 40+ women live life quite happily without the effort of running? But then I hear the words of many people in my life...
like r2w: "I'm so proud of you"
and my surgeon: "Because you're fit, you'll come through treatment well" He kept saying I was young too - I love that man!
and my sister: "She's a supermum"
and the voice in my head: "I'm not prepared to give it up!!"
So I keep running, slowly, not far at the moment but it will increase.

To all those other runners who are on a similar journey, run on. Even if your running is a shadow of what it used to be for a while, it's ok. Also, pray lots, read lots, watch lots of your favourite movies! (My Jane Austen novels and TV/film adaptations got quite a work out). Because you've still got lots to live!

Robimum. x

[sunny1]

robimum, on Jul 15 2010, 10:15 PM, said:

Hello, all. Robimum here! It's been ages since I've posted anything. Thank you so much for your support during my journey with BC. As r2w has said, I am fighting fit and getting on with life.
I'm running 5k regularly. Somedays I wonder why I do it, I mean, how many other 40+ women live life quite happily without the effort of running? But then I hear the words of many people in my life...
like r2w: "I'm so proud of you"
and my surgeon: "Because you're fit, you'll come through treatment well" He kept saying I was young too - I love that man!
and my sister: "She's a supermum"
and the voice in my head: "I'm not prepared to give it up!!"
So I keep running, slowly, not far at the moment but it will increase.

To all those other runners who are on a similar journey, run on. Even if your running is a shadow of what it used to be for a while, it's ok. Also, pray lots, read lots, watch lots of your favourite movies! (My Jane Austen novels and TV/film adaptations got quite a work out). Because you've still got lots to live!

Robimum. x

Welcome back!!    

I highlighted the section you wrote above because every day I see people who are quite capable of exercising (have no physical barriers to moving) yet choose not to ... hopefully the voice in your head will remind you, now and then, that you choose to do this running thing for yourself - because it feels so flipping good!!

Best wishes runron.

Edited by sunny1, 15 July 2010 - 10:58 PM.

[PantherPurple67]

Hi Robimum,great to see all is well .Its an incredible journey,but yes running is thine saviour.I ve done 3 marathons,im still plodding along.Loved your post.........