tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83518786691923185432024-02-07T03:17:16.335-08:00Kickin' it with cancer (Herceptin Fundraiser)Living and dealing to cancer for Sarvs is now a reality...please support the fundraising efforts of Sarvs family and friends for Herceptin.Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-47341561313843992722009-02-16T22:01:00.000-08:002009-02-16T22:36:14.399-08:002009 so far...I've been back at work full time for months now and apart from the days where I am unwell, so far so good! Herceptin I was told would not be as evasive as either chemo or radio which would be accurate. I do however after each treatment get car sick and want to throw up.One or two days after treatment, my scalp and face will grow red raised pimple like spots which are very tender to touch.I have Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-20743547718948136072008-12-15T02:02:00.000-08:002008-12-15T02:57:38.298-08:00A PRESENT FROM JOHN KEYFirstly thank you ever so much for your continued support and extended love during the most memorable (for want of a better word) time of our lives - even after all the blogging and interviews etc still there are never ever words that describe the gratitude!!! Secondly, fantastic news regarding Herceptin. Herceptin and service will be fully funded for the full 12 months in the public Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-12861995562092196052008-12-01T22:23:00.001-08:002008-12-02T22:28:21.056-08:00Herceptin, my goldMorning of Herceptin....A relaxing and pampered start to my day, breakfast in bed, cards of good wishes signed off with lots of love and heartfelt hugs from my loved ones before they head off to school and work on the morning of my first Herceptin treatment....huh...not even.More like up at sparrows fart to squeeze 8 hours of work into 4 from home after a couple of hours of sleep, in between Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-23615256805563740792008-11-04T19:57:00.000-08:002008-11-04T20:51:52.252-08:00My Breast Cancer Experience (North Shore Hospital)Now the majority of my hospital experiences have been great compared to what I have heard and what I saw my sister put up with during her hospital stay so if there's one thing that I have learned from it all, it is to stand up and have a voice because it is your health and well being that health professionals are responsible for so expect to be treated with respect, tell them exactly what you Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-567131461742396692008-10-30T03:50:00.000-07:002008-10-30T04:11:37.205-07:00Friday 31st October, My SocialHAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 2009....My apologies to the folks that had pre-purchased tickets ahead of the event and to those that were purchasing at the door on the night. Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-37490127861799917612008-10-30T03:45:00.001-07:002008-10-30T04:12:29.992-07:00M-Brace, Pacfic Dance CompanyI had the privilege of being invited to an exciting launch of the newest Pacific Dance Troupe called M-Brace, Friday 24 October.As it was Breast Cancer Awareness month M-Brace's PR/ Media Director, Jae'D Victor kindly invited my family and I as honoured guests which was very humbling because I had never met him before.You know I really am not a prude but I didn't take my teens along simply Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-6520936529475479972008-10-30T02:40:00.000-07:002008-10-30T03:40:33.158-07:00Performing Arts FundraiserSeptember 26 I had my thank you speech typed up, my wardrobe set and dancing shoes on ready for a fantastic concert with amazing talents who were going to razzle, dazzle and knock our socks right off!!With general admission set at a very decent $21 and the family pass set reasonably low I was to secure a further 2 treatments taking my treatment totals to 9.We were going to be spoilt for Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-20722633380806787752008-10-29T22:13:00.001-07:002008-10-30T02:26:37.468-07:00A timely reminder to "Just Stand Up"It's been 36 days since my last entry and it's not because I managed to raise the full amount for my Herceptin treatment and then lost interest keeping the blog updated. Far from it.It's because since September 26 I became absolutely fed up, frustrated, very disheartened and totally pissed off so expressing all that on my blog during the month of October would have made me look like a right twatSarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-38619220120479290442008-09-24T04:06:00.000-07:002008-09-24T15:31:05.409-07:00What's the next hardest thing...?What's the next hardest thing after a cancer diagnosis, a full mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and raising teenagers?Fundraising. If it weren't for that then it could have been raising teenagers but 8 months on since we started most definitely it has to be fundraising. The support I've had with each event has always been overwhelming and always you lose yourself in the atmosphere. An Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-86187353585081568792008-09-13T20:17:00.000-07:002008-09-13T21:51:55.844-07:00Helpful hints to all the sisters out thereJust the other week while waiting in the oncology reception area I saw, if you like, a new graduate class of cancer victims waiting with bandanas, beanies or scarves for their chemo treatments. I flashed anyone who caught my eye a reassuring 'I know I have been there' smile and then pondered the last 11 months.Next month I will have completed and won the first year's battle against breast cancer Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-67415425680985194652008-08-28T16:56:00.000-07:002008-08-28T17:41:15.762-07:00***PERFORMING ARTS FUNDRAISER***No I.O.U's or excuses peeps just put your money where your mouth is and come and support my Herceptin fundraising event. The last concert we held was fantastic so this one promises to be another fantastic night of fabuloso (as Mariah Carey would say) entertainment.Once again Kelston Boys High School have come to the party and allowed us the use of their premises. The Kelston community have gottenSarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-90611651111375839972008-08-24T04:01:00.001-07:002008-08-24T04:32:57.876-07:00I've aged 20 years since Oct 07...I've been preoccupied with other areas of life to be blogging lately however this is no means the end of my trials and tribulations or joys and truimphs - pull out the violin's. But it would be quite timely to mention that cancer does not exclude the trauma stages of teens nor does it make them take the easy road to adolescence out of love for a mother with breast cancer. I had hoped that my Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-15858044706586431642008-08-19T03:15:00.000-07:002008-08-18T05:52:30.202-07:00DON'T FORGET TO PURCHASE YOUR $5 TICKETS FOR THIS HAMPER (Alcohol, choclates & meat vouchers)This hamper will give some lucky person several last minute birthday or xmas pressies or you can crack open a bottle with friends over a few winter dinners!! ALCOHOL HAMPER (valued at over $250.00)Includes1 x Bombay Sapphire (Gin)1 x 42 Below Feijoa (Vodka)1 x Jim Beam1 x Alize (blue)2 x Lindauer2 x Cabernet Sauvignon1 x Sauvignon Blanc1 x Chardonnay1 x Deutz MarlboroughPlus a delectable variety Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-37144481296029694712008-08-18T04:35:00.000-07:002008-08-18T05:07:55.187-07:00Demons, Sunday roast and piddle patchOMG we have been slogging it for nearly 8 months now and when updating the 'What's on the board Miss Ford' section, the number of treatments secured doesn't seem to have increased for months which is probably because it hasn't and the total amount is still daunting not to mention an absolute pisser...LOL (well hey what else can you do aye?). It hasn't been without effort because the effort has Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-37202542269843639572008-08-07T20:40:00.000-07:002008-08-07T21:16:02.066-07:00I AM SO PEED OFF...!!To watch a fairly young caucasian male and an Asian women with Dr as her title, sit in front of the nation including women with families and friends who are struggling to fundraise for Herceptin and lie to our faces that their idiotic and pathetic excuse to yet again decline women with HER2+ breast cancer the full 12 months of Herceptin and then have the audacity to lie and pretend that it has Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-56528664677236493872008-07-20T03:00:00.001-07:002008-07-20T03:35:54.069-07:00So where to from here...More freaking fundraising...sigh...for more treatment...sigh...but on the plus side I could even try to get my fat thighs and ass to the gym eventually to start shredding some of the chemo kilos. Okay who am I kidding, teensy weensy baby steps first. I will continue to take our puppy out for walks in the afternoons firstly to oil the almost ceased up bode and then progress s-l-o-w-l-y back to Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-42364382092893883822008-07-19T01:01:00.000-07:002008-07-20T02:57:29.697-07:00Nuked no more...I was nuked for the last time yesturday. There was a feeling of excitement, relief and sadness.Excitement and relief that another phase of my treatment plan had been completed - another chapter closed.And sadness. Every day for 5 1/2 weeks you allow yourself to become involved to some degree with a team of specialists formed not by choice but for my convenience and my welfare.My MV4 Radio team Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-22020890960074378942008-07-11T03:50:00.000-07:002008-07-11T17:16:31.670-07:00Happy memories banked for lifeToilet bag packed.Travel bags packed.Gummies cleaned and packed.Checklist checked again and again, just in case.Thunder and heavy rains would not get in the way of this trip. And this time it was not to Acute Oncology at Auckland Hospital!After a very turbulant 45 minute trip from Auckland to New Plymouth I had finally escaped the daily reminder of cancer. Away from the hospital appointments, Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-10331107507801468802008-07-02T04:11:00.001-07:002008-07-02T04:35:51.400-07:00Week 3, radiotherapyRegularly I feel nauseated, there is tingling and numbness in my right arm (which is not from radiotherapy and more than likely from surgery and chemotherapy), tenderness around my right breast and for crying out loud I have an almost rock hard cement pocket for a breast but it is normal while going through radio and normally subsides and goes back to normal sometime after radio is finished - Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-42204600296265393632008-07-02T02:45:00.001-07:002008-07-11T04:35:10.343-07:00JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDERSarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-35185779497798634412008-06-29T03:09:00.000-07:002008-07-11T04:37:55.628-07:00Just to recap....I've had my whole right breast removed. I've had a breast reconstruction done. We started fundraising for 12 months of Herceptin. My reconstruction has been fully completed.I have finished 6 courses of chemotherapy. I have received 9 weeks of free Government funded Hercetpin. I have completed 14 radiotherapy treatments. I am back at work.I have another 11 radiotherapy treatments to complete. Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-5438290746507607052008-06-27T02:26:00.000-07:002008-07-11T04:36:19.005-07:00Sisters are doing it for themselves...!!!In a society where just anything we need for schools, sports or clubs has to be fundraised it is very unfortunate people are having to fundraise for their own cancer treatment as well.When I get tired it infuriates me to think about fundraising for a chance of a longer life when one really should be concentrating on treatment and recovery.So we now have another wonderful cancer support network Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-134295621541354652008-06-27T01:31:00.000-07:002008-07-11T04:35:39.751-07:00...ho hum ho hum...Blow me down, I'm so freaking exhausted after 14 radiotherapy treatments already that I feel I have aged another 20 years!!Yesturday my son and I spent the entire day in Acute Oncology for sharp shooting pains up my right arm, where I had surgery and lymph nodes removed, into the right side of my chest, where I have a history of blood clots in my lung.From acute oncology (Level 4) I was wheeled Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-70330721291556375922008-06-26T23:36:00.000-07:002008-06-27T21:23:55.276-07:00Our Variety Fundraiser ConcertLeading up to our Variety Fundraiser Concert I was a frantic nutcase - and I was not even performing! My speech OMG sucked...LOL...but that was because I was still being a nutcase but at least I was being a bit quieter...!!! In hindsight this is was going to be my Oscar award winning screech, oops I mean speech - Thank you to all who gave up the Saturday night footy, the comforts of their homes Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8351878669192318543.post-84133466028677653942008-06-26T01:08:00.000-07:002008-06-27T01:21:34.250-07:00And behind the scenes on the concert night... Committee setting up for intermission. Tulili (left) and Kendra (did you pay for the cupcake in your mouth?) Tulili and sister Las Tulili (again...lol) with sister Mary Hubby and I taking time out for the camera's...watever...!! Ex-Kelstonian Kroydon stretching before mopping the floors...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA... Another Kelstonian, Grayson with our stage manager Saylene...KELSTON WAT!! Margs (Sarvs Falefituhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11176788981412046286noreply@blogger.com0