Grateful for 10 weeks exploring NZ

[Bettybuckets]

Hi ladies- I’m so grateful to be on 3rd line treatment (xeloda) and still br out traveling. I’m much better than Last year when I came and I had just started xeloda and with new HFS had to be in a wheelchair to get through all the airports. Ok I did use a wheel chair some this time… but it is really far to walk with HFS…

First- i wasn’t sure with my health if I would be able to go so far away with various health scares-right up to the last min…. First headaches with kaleidoscoping vision led to brain scan… but I was fine. Then I helped my daughter move house and hip pain came on so bad! So I had to be scanned… but in the end all was OK’d to go after all scans showed just the usual amount of increasing cancer that 3 years in no one (especially me) gets too excited about.

My wonderful oncologist gets me and gets me tuned up to keep going when I can. He knows how much I love all my friends in Nz after living there for 1/3 of our married lives. Plus my daughter Molly joined us with her partner so I would need to be very sick not to get on that plane. Having Molly with us was so precious and she loved showing her partner around the country she loves so much. She took him bungy jumping and all the fun young people stuff. She was a biology teacher here in Nz for 5 years just after college.

How does it all work:

I have set up a valentine ‘s. Day appts with my fav Oncologist and she communicates with my Boston oncologist. I also have a GP practice that I have been connected to since 1993….. and saw them for ear ache and such and refills of some drugs….so I am luckier than most for sure. And so grateful to my hubby and BFFs who came with me! And to my 3 HS BFFs who will make a trip of a lifetime to come let me show them around in March!

My double session ocean swims seem to make my HFS to settle down. Bones are a bit achey- prob from doing to much… and some GI issues are worrying with Lobular slowing down my bowels. So it is not all roses… but it is damn close.

Today was particularly spectacular day with white sand beach at our doorstep the sky so blue and the sparkling ocean A pretty shade of turquoise. And lucky me a dear friend sailed over to our island to visit with me! I just had to swim out and back 300 meters to get there. It was delightful! I will post some pics below.

I am sorry I haven’t been posting because I know that some people are doing it tough but then I think some ladies will see this and it will remind them of when they had some magical times that they treasure. Love to you all at what ever point you are at. I get so much encouragement from you all. And this is the way that I hope to give back to those who might like to hear stories of MBC thriving. We all know it won’t last but why not celebrate while we can. Many thanks for reading. I will post some pics after each comment to thank you.

[LibraryGeek]

Glad you are having such a wonderful time! x

[Bettybuckets in reply to LibraryGeek]

hmm my reply disappeared… will try thanks for writing back.

Me in my yellow hat

[Totheriver]

I hope you have the most amazing time💕

[Bettybuckets in reply to Totheriver]

Already better than last summer when it was called the bummer summer with so much rain. Weather can make or break a trip but then I love a good day home reading when it does rain.

Me Cindy and 76,year old boat owner.

[Figletf]

So happy to hear about your opportunity to have a delightful experience 👍

[Bettybuckets in reply to Figletf]

Today looks to be a carbon copy of yesterday beautiful day… hoping for 3 swims!

Me and my BFF

[Bettybuckets in reply to Figletf]

I hope this reminds you of your own happy times!

Our merry band of travelers

[SMPG]

Your optimism and zest for life are intoxicating. May you live a looooooooong life to enjoy everything

[Bettybuckets in reply to SMPG]

That is very kind of you to say. I have tried to have an optimistic outlook while completely aware of outcomes. Trying to live in the moment without too much oerry about what is coming because I think that really wrecks the now. Does that Sounds silly? But that is my philosophy. Because Worrying won’t make the future any better.

This from the cottage we rented

[HelenWi in reply to Bettybuckets]

I’m reading a book that says two of the key factors for thriving are overcoming fear and also to find happiness in the present. So what you’re saying is not at all silly! ❤️

[Seaside_smiles in reply to HelenWi]

That book sounds great. If you have a minute can you share the title?

[Bettybuckets in reply to HelenWi]

Helen- the lovely gal below posted to me asking about the title of the book you mentioned. I’m sure she meant for it to go to you. Her name is Ffffff

[HelenWi in reply to Bettybuckets]

Thanks for reminding me, Beth! I posted below. (It’s called Radical Remission)

[Figletf in reply to Bettybuckets]

AMEN

[Georgelila]

Wonderful post and wonderful photo. Mindset is everything . I am so happy for you to be enjoying your vacation and loving your LIFE - thats all I know how to manage this scary hand we’ve been dealt. Maybe I’m in denial but I reject that worse days are ahead. My sister who is a 6 year survivor (stage2) put it well- she said it’s important to know YOU are hunting cancer it’s on the run from US. Thanks for that gorgeous photo of sun and water- needed that from cold east coast USA!

Big hugs

Elizabeth

[Bettybuckets in reply to Georgelila]

hi Elizabeth, I am from cold Plymouth mass also east coast…it is a long way to come to get to summer but this is my happy place and all my peeps are here… so we consider the trip 24 hrs or hell in cattle class but then we get to stay for 10 whole weeks so it’s worth it.

A lovely evening down by the ferry

[Suite1000]

Thank you for your encouragement. I too am traveling and working, albeit at a slower pace.

We need to see all facets of how people are doing.

[Bettybuckets in reply to Suite1000]

Well that would be harder to work and travel in treatment so I really admire that. Would love to hear more of how you manage it…Are you doing a medical travel gig? Do you do air b and B… so many opportunities these days for work/travel. I wish I was a young person with a do over.

Flowers at our beach cottage

[jltorcz in reply to Bettybuckets]

I am very interested in all the travel you all are talking about. I am still trying to get my treatment on Kisqali regulated, as my neutrophils plummeted on Ibrance. My first Petscan after taking some of these meds. Will be in March. With airplane traveling, are you concerned about getting viruses, etc.? What precautions do you take if you get a fever, etc. which they tell you to watch out for.

And travel insurance for a cruise or expensive plane tickets? My husband and I are real travelers, had to cancel a Japan trip that would have been in April. But hope that our traveling days re not over.

[Bettybuckets in reply to jltorcz]

hi Jltorcz- we are so lucky to be kiwi’s so we come back knowing that the health care will be free for us. I do schedule and have seen my oncologist while here but pay out of pocket for that. She is worth every penny. To answer your specific question- I don’t worry on planes because during Covid they did studies that showed the ventilation system works well to avoid spread. But I mask when in lines in airports. Good luck getting back out to travel. Two kiwi friends are separately in Japan now… one to ski and the other to do the Tokyo marathon. My son has been because his wife is Chinese- Japanese.. I am waiting for Beautiful Eurasian babies!

[Suite1000 in reply to Suite1000]

I'm self employed and my travel has been numerous two week trips. Doing what I can while I can.

[Photo-Bug]

So happy to see you made it back to NZ and the weather is much better than last year.I am hoping my sweetie and I will make it over sometime soon in the "summer time" with some planning.

I really enjoy your pictures with your smile. May Xeloda be kind to you. The hfs sucks. That is why the doc stopped my treatment.

Many blessings and and have a great vacation.

Sharon

[Bettybuckets in reply to Photo-Bug]

Hi Sharon I hope you get a chance to come to Nz and I am happy to help with planning and ideas. We can talk off line if you like.

[Photo-Bug in reply to Bettybuckets]

Thanks for the offer to help!

[HelenWi]

So glad you’re happy and having a wonderful time, Beth!!

Hugs,

Helen

[Bettybuckets in reply to HelenWi]

Hi Helen thanks for your support.

My daughter took this one!

[Katie9898]

NZ is one of my favorite countries. Such diverse terrain and wonderful people! I’m so glad that you got to go and are having a wonderful time!

Donna

[Bettybuckets in reply to Katie9898]

Sure is! We are in a small beach community staying at a friends peaceful bach( summer home) terrain is very varied but the one constant if gorgeous beaches!

Last night a Waihi beach… played in the waves

[mariootsi]

Happy to see you enjoying yourself!

[Bettybuckets in reply to mariootsi]

Always good to see you here! Now in capital city of Wellington at national museum with a moving Peter Jackson exhibit of Galipoli…

[Nocillo]

Travel is wonderful. I’m not going long haul anymore, but as many other trips as we want! Enjoy!

[Kateds]

what a wonderful trip and such amazing, happy pictures. Thank you so much for posting your joy. It helps all of our community to think back to happy times, to seize the present, and be encouraged for the future! You’ve made my day.

Kate from Alabama

[Bettybuckets in reply to Kateds]

Kate thank you for encouraging me. I always worry I am over sharing when others might be suffering.

Today playing in the waves.

[SwedishSissi]

Great to hear you are having a great time in NZ.

I am trying 10 weeks in Australia and it is so frustrating. The bureaucracy to get a blood test here is immense. I was reading about NZ and it seems I could just hop over there to get it done.

Enjoy your holiday and the beach and the sunshine!

Sissi

[Bettybuckets in reply to SwedishSissi]

Hi Sissi- that would be so frustrating! Blood work in Nz is easy in fact I am flying to visit Welllington for a few days and my oncologist wrote an order and now I can pop into any Lab Quest to get the draw and it will be reported in rh country wide system back to my dr in Auckland. But they don’t do a Ca 27-29… only the Ca 15-3… if you come reach out to me here and will try to help in any way I can.

The 4 osprey bags… us and Dan and Cindy

[RLN-overcomer]

Happy Valentines Day to you, and all of our loved ones😇. Thank you for always sharing your wonderful vacation photo's with us🙂. Those of us who don't want to travel or who can't travel , we live vicariously through your vacation experiences😊. Gracias, thank you and not least, but last merci beaucoup.

[Bettybuckets in reply to RLN-overcomer]

So sweet I will post again soon!

My e-bikes lets me feel normal by keeping up with the big kids

[Seaside_smiles]

Love hearing about your trip. Fun times x

[Bettybuckets in reply to Seaside_smiles]

Hi Friend- I think you asked me what book? But I don’t know what you mean… if you can provide some context I prob will remember.

Me walking not far with HFS

[Bettybuckets in reply to Seaside_smiles]

I figured it out! You replied to me but it was Helen who mentioned a good book. I wrote to her and asked her to respond to you!

[Seaside_smiles in reply to Bettybuckets]

Ah great as you can tell by my username new here! Must change it now i know what great resource it is

[Bettybuckets in reply to Seaside_smiles]

Haha! But you are right it is.

[HelenWi in reply to Seaside_smiles]

Hi there! The book is called Radical Remission by Kelly Turner. Someone here recommended it. (I think that Radical Remission is probably quite rare *but* reading about the common factors among people who healed is still very helpful and empowering)

[Seaside_smiles in reply to HelenWi]

Thank you so much x. Just checked and they have a later version as ebook in my library called radical hope. Have reserved it!

[HelenWi in reply to Seaside_smiles]

Great! I looked and seems she now has 10 factors instead of 9! Hope you enjoy it. I was reading the chapter about absence of fear just when I got blood test back that showed markers have increased and it really helped me not worry.

[Seaside_smiles in reply to HelenWi]

What you said earlier about over coming fear really resonated. People say its important to be positive but thats actually not that helpful unless you have addressed the fear! For me being connected with how i feel and knowing when to distract, when to analyse, when to sit with it has been an important lesson :-). Im fine now but know its a bumpy road we're are on and great to hear how people have coped with changing treatments etc. Lots of good stuff!