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Breast Cancer Support - empowering New Zealand women
emotionally on their journey with breast cancer
The women of BCS offer support & encouragement from a positive personal experience
to others who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer.
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North Shore Breast FriendsThe North Shore Breast Friends meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7.00pm at a Takapuna (Auckland) venue which is confirmed each month. Please contact either Geraldine ((09) 480 9406) or Cathie ((09) 419 9342) for details - or call us on 0800BreaCanSupport (0800 273 222). New members are always welcome. Latest news: Sweet treats in August Some wise words from women who know ... North Shore Breast Friends News 2010 - from Jenny Short Sweet treats in AugustOur August meeting was graciously hosted by one of our coordinators, Geraldine, in her home. Fifteen members attended a dessert evening and we all enjoyed “naughty” treats with our coffees and teas. Our social meetings take place every second month and are a chance for members to mix, mingle, network – just generally getting to know one another. Members enjoy this opportunity to find someone who has had the same treatment so they can “compare notes.” We also just enjoy the social occasion. Thank you, Geraldine, for opening your home to us all.
... but eight hardy members ventured out for our July meeting at the Senior Citizens’ Clubrooms in Takapuna. The room was warm and cosy and so was the feeling of the meeting. The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation Conference had taken place the weekend before. Two of our members attended so gave the group a great report on the conference. A highlight seemed to be American surgeon, David Heinz, talking about the targeted therapies that are coming on stream. It seems there is an ever increasing variation in the medications which are becoming available to suit each individual’s needs. No more ‘one therapy fits all’ as in the old days. Another highlight was the talk on complementary medications explaining in some detail those that were useful and others not. We had no speaker this month so related our own anecdotes about the most embarrassing moment each of us had had whilst going through breast cancer treatment. One member reported she gave her cleaning lady nightmares for three weeks because (despite being a very private person) she decided she wanted to show off her post-mastectomy wounds. Another member related the embarrassing appearance of a young doctor to assist with her operation and who turned out to be an ex-student. A third member who had a breast removed was told by her friend that she “thought you were going to have just one breast removed.” We also related what advice we would give to a friend who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Here are some of the pearls of wisdom: - Only have cheerful friends. - Be proactive in your own treatment. - Talk to someone in a support group straight away so you can see there is light at the end of the tunnel. - Don’t rush into any decisions. It is wise to take your time and make your own well-considered decisions. - Seek a second opinion. - Accept that for a short while you can’t do what you have always done and let others who offer to help you do just that. - Read books on positive affirmation. - Join the Cancer Society. When asked how cancer has changed our lives, these were some of the answers: - I have learned to say “No’ much more. - I make time for things that are for my benefit a high priority. (e.g. regular exercise) - I no longer allow myself to be stressed. - I forget yesterday, don’t worry about tomorrow and just live for today. - I avoid plastics in food and cooking and am more aware of toxic things in my environment. Lunch by the sea!
It is so hard to imagine that we are already half way through 2010. Time passes so quickly as we get older, so we must enjoy everything there is to enjoy in life (and there is a lot in New Zealand). After all, it can be largely our own attitude to life that determines whether we are miserable or happy. Of course, we all have our own huge burdens to bear and battles to fight at times, but let’s snatch the good times when we can. Whoo hoo! Where did that all come from? Sorry about that. I don’t usually philosophise so. Do excuse me … I promise to never again ….
The weather was spectacularly good. The location is beautiful. (How many restaurants are right on a beach looking out on Rangitoto Island?) Of course, the food was top class. But, best of all was the company of the other BCS members. As on all of these social occasions, we had a chance to get to know each other and share stories and experiences, about BC and not about BC. You might have thought we were the local book club or film society had you been listening in. Laughter abounded. (Wow – I really am waxing lyrical today!) Let me encourage anyone who has not been to our mid-winter luncheon yet to join us next year. Of course, we don’t want you to wait until then. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 14 July at the Senior Citizens’ Clubrooms in Takapuna. Our speaker will show us how gentle hand massage can help relaxation. Everyone enjoyed her session so much last time she spoke to the group that she is back by popular demand. Of course, there will be time to informally mix and mingle as well.
Dates for the remainder of the year: We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the next meeting at the Senior Citizen’s Clubrooms on 14th July. As always, we extend a warm welcome to new members. Specialist nurses visit in May
Some emailed to say that the weather had just been too bad for them to even consider venturing out, but the 12 members who did brave the elements were not disappointed. Our speakers provided us with a night of premium education and so the night was very worthwhile and enjoyable.
We all learned such a lot. I now understand so much more about HER2 and how Herceptin works; about different research that is being carried on in the hospitals to help to understand which women will be at greater risk of reoccurrence than others; about statistics relating to Maori and Pacific Island women’s occurrence of Breast cancer; about possible issues associated with having ovaries removed . . and about many other important issues. Janice can be contacted on janice.wood@waitematadhb.govt.nz and Jan can be contacted on janmcm@adhb.govt.nz . Janice will be attending an International Breast Cancer conference in Milan very soon and has offered to come to a meeting when she returns to tell us about all the new developments in the field, so watch this space. Thanks, Janice. There is a very interesting article which you may want to read in the latest NZ Woman’s Weekly about one of our BSC members, Violet, looking stunning as usual.
In other news ... Jenny (pictured at left) and Mary Anne took a trip 'south' to ride the Otago Rail Trail. Geraldine and Mieko (pictured at right)read draft versions of the Waitemata District Hospital Board pamphlets about cancer for their ‘readability’ – over a cup of coffee or two, of course!
Music and good times at April meeting At North Shore Breast Cancer Support, we alternate each month with a formal meeting at the Senior Citizens’ Clubrooms in Takapuna when we have a speaker, followed the next month with a social gathering, either at a restaurant or at someone’s home. The formal meetings with a speaker give us a chance to keep up to date with issues and information; the social meetings offer an opportunity for a mix and mingle on a social level so we can get to know one another better.
Many friendships can be formed from these meetings. Members can share their experiences on a more personal level with someone else who has experienced the same.
Pink Pilates demonstration with Megan - March 2010 The rooms where we meet have a small but roomy hall and stage, with a smaller cosier room opening off that for our “chats”. Of course we used the hall for our exercises. Megan had brought all the floor mats we needed and we were all dressed in exercise clothes. It was great to experience this form of exercise first hand as it is hard to imagine what happens in a session when it is simply described. The stretches and breathing are gentle and one only does as much as one can. However, I found a few tight muscles that hadn’t been used before. This is a great form of exercise for “rebuilding” after breast cancer. Everyone felt stimulated but relaxed after the session. Thank you so much, Megan.
The only unfortunate part of the night was that I forgot to use the camera which I had taken. With photos, I would have been able to give you all a much better idea of how it works.
February 2010 (The report this month was written by Cathie).
December 2009
It's amazing how successful these dinners are, considering there is no planning as to who will bring what! Once again the table was laden with delicious morsels from many countries and in exactly the right balance of mains and desserts. Best of all was the sharing of stories that reflected the range of cultures present - Korean, Japanese, Tongan, Singaporean, Serbian, Dutch, Irish, Swiss and, of course, Kiwi. November 2009 We had a very productive meeting at the Senior Citizens’ Clubrooms in Takapuna on 11th November with 13 members present and two support people attending, in this case a daughter and a daughter-in-law.
We welcomed two new members and their contributions to discussion made for a very lively and informative night. We all enjoyed the evening.
October 2009
Upcoming Activities Remember: When in doubt, just take the next small step. Back to top>>
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But I am feeling good after enjoying a wonderful “mid-winter luncheon” with many of the other ladies from BCS North Shore. Twelve of us went to McHughs of Devonport for lunch on 9 June. The group had enjoyed a mid-winter spoiling at this time last year, so we repeated the exercise this year and were not let down.
Janice Wood (pictured), as the Breast Care Specialist Nurse at North Shore Hospital, and Jan McMullen as an Oncology Specialist Nurse at Auckland Hospital, described for us their roles within the continuum of our treatment and then, best of all, were happy to answer the variety of questions that members had. Brilliant!
Our next meeting will be on the 9 June ] our mid]winter Christmas function when we spoil ourselves by going to ‘McHughs of Cheltenham’ for lunch. It does not have a lot to do with Christmas except it gives us something of a festive feel in the middle of the bleak weather (although it is certainly not bleak yet!!).
Jocelyn even entertained us with some Eastern music and danced with exotic veils she had bought on her travels. One or two tried to dance with her but we all loved the variety of veils and scarves.
th everyone feeling very positive about the year ahead. 15 people attended including two new ladies.
our own culture, or some other form of celebratory food.
eryone was asked to bring a dish that reflected their home country or background. Of course, we had a wide range of exotic delights as among those who attended that night were members from Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and Switzerland.