CANCER- The hidden cost

 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

About 10months ago I posted a comment about my wife being diagnosed with breast cancer. That occurred back in February, since that date she under went a double mastectomy, 3 months of chemo (you don’t wish this treatment on your worse enemy), 5 weeks of radiation and then she had to her ovaries and tubes removed (a real scorched earth policy). I’m happy to announce that she recently had her post chemo 6 month scans and it returned a nil cancer report (thank f..k). 

The reason I’m writing this blog is to firstly thank all those on 1eyed ell who offered me their support and well wishes, and secondly to encourage, nah beg you guys to get your wife’s, girlfriends, sisters etc to go get a check up and keep getting a check up. My wife found her lump over 24 months ago, she went for scans and the results came back negative, she kept going back because she knew something wasn’t right, but again was told there is nothing there to worry about. At the start of this year we moved to the Illawarra region (for my work) and we just purchased a house on the lake. About 8 weeks after we moved here, she got real concerned about these lumps again so I told her to go and see a new DR…..long story short, in the space of 2 weeks she was in the Hospital having a double mastectomy as her new scan found not one, not two but 4 cancers lumps in her breast and she was rated as a high grade 3 cancer (the Dr said it was a 9/10…10/10 meaning its all over). Dr also said that the cancer had been there for at least 18months!!!!!! 

Cancer effects you in many ways, firstly there’s the physically affect on the individual (the removal of her breast, the hair loss, the sickness, the ovaries removed and now waiting to have her reconstruction surgery to feel half normal again), then you have the effect it has on the family (kids seeing their mother in a hospital bed, kids not being able to touch, hug their mother during periods of chemo) a hidden effect that caught us out was the financial effect, as I stated early we had just brought a house then the C struck. So we were down to one wage, paying off a mortgage, 2 cars, school fees, food etc plus hidden hospital cost not covered by health funds (we are roughly $50,000 worse off in the space of one year). I had to take on a second job (cash in hand) just to pay off bills and borrow $$$ from family to help. 

So as you can see cancer is a horrible, evil, soul crashing threat that can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, race etc (my wife was 38 when this happened). I beg you all again please make your loved ones get a check up (my wife’s best friend went and got a check up after my wife was diagnosed, and she too was diagnosed with breast cancer; she said she would never of gotten a check up if my wife was never diagnosed)

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  • Firstly, my best wishes for the continuation of better news for your wife. My father has battled prostate cancer for a number of years now, with the removal of his prostate having its own consequences in limiting his quality of life. Cancer touches everyone in some way and your blog is a reminder of this.
    • Cheers mate, best wishes for you and your dad

  • Very glad to hear that your missus is through the worse, Brax. It is one of those horrible things that will probably impact all of us at some point. I just came back from holidays having spent some time with my mum who is also post-chemo, and she is really struggling with the after-effects of the treatment. We can all just pray that one of the research projects, such as that from our own Dr Jeremy Henson, makes a significant break-through because it is probably human kind's great unsolved problem.

    • Phil, thats the guy I was thinking of.

      The hardest part for us was with our 4 yr daughter (she was diagnosed with autism just after my wifes cancer surgery) and she couldn't understand why mum was in hospital and couldn't come home and then not being able to touch her during those few days between each chemo session.

      Phil I hope that your mum gets the all clear on her first post chemo scans as well

       

      Brax

  • Great news about your wife Brax. My old man is in RNS now getting chemo for stage 4 throat cancer. So if there is anyone on here still smoking, I'd beg you to give it up. I've done it, and it's hard as shit, but I can guarantee it's easier than having to tell your loved ones you have cancer, and easier that trying smashed by chemo doses.
    • GEESUS Pete, best of luck. My thoughts are with you and your dad

  • All the best to your missus, Brax.

    I've been through cancer myself and treatment and everything horrible that goes with it. I'm sure she's a tough woman. All the best to tou
    • I hope that you remain cancer free Bean o

  • What an uplifting story to read on a wet dreary day such as this!

    Brax, congratulations and all power to you, Mrs Brax, the kids and your loved ones - what a wonderful Christmas present this latest news must have been mate. You all obviously battled, and continue to battle, very hard and i'm wrapped to hear that you got the result :)

    Great message too - Cancer is an insidious disease and we all need to take every precaution possible to try and catch it early.

    Congrats again mate - well played, good stuff  :)))

    • Thanks mate, all I need now is for our Eels to put in a good season and I'll be even more stoked then I am now lol

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