I closed my last big block thread a while back.

A lot has changed since then and now I am in the final stages of cleaning up my yard after my failed plans of 'self sufficiency'.

My health and the weather being the main reasons.

I don't have the energy to maintain and look after gardens of any kind. I have over time removed fruit trees and gardens to make it easier.

I only 3 gardens now and mostly they are succulents. Survival of the fittest is my garden mantra.

The weather here can be brutally hot 40°s or freezing and frosts. If they survive that is good.

I have slowly moved on all my bathtubs and no longer needed gardening stuff. I only have 2 pot plants left which are my jade plants - to bring in prosperity. They are positioned close to my front doors.

I am currently cleaning up the rest of the yard and under my pergola after my shed was finally emptied out.

Most went to new homes and some to the rubbish. I have a list I am currently working through.

My list

1 Paint steps.

2 Paint skirting boards.

3 Paint front of container - it's faded and I don't like it.

4 Have hard rubbish removed and take to the tip.

5 Remove metal sheet around gardens ✔️

6 Find free bricks - garden edges.

7 Extend the pipe out into back garden.

8 Repot Xmas 🌵🌵. They went out into the garden. ✔️

9 Spread last of mulch.

10 Find single bed.✔️

11 Sell/Give away Double Bed.

12 Clean out shed.✔️

13 Tidy shed. ✅️

14 Do bathroom window shade .✔️

15 Repot 2 new pots ✔️

16 Empty large garden pot remove trellis to go to new homes ✅️

17 List and rehome the last lot of things from shed and pergola.✅️

18 Lace curtain for bathroom.

19 Clean out tool box. ✅️

20 Fix toilet seat.

21 Pull apart old chair. ✅️

22 Send chair bits to rubbish.

Progress not Perfection

I have attached my other threads to keep everything in the one place.

https://www.simplesavings.com.au/fora/4301373/?p=2#4322169

https://www.simplesavings.com.au/fora/4538437/#

https://www.simplesavings.com.au/fora/4152912/?p=2#

https://www.simplesavings.com.au/fora/4658503/#4659393

The first thread, Tomorrow ...., is becoming long, so here's a new one documenting my experience with breast cancer treatment.

I do this as I see value in other women having a familiarity with what could be involved in addressing cancer for their own or a loved one's treatment one day. Everyone's cancer and treatment is unique to the individual.

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A great benefit to me has been the kind and genuine support, interest, and encouragement from forum members. I am humbled by your kindness and earnestly thank you for it.

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The cancers:

1) breast cancer. HER2 positive, meaning that it's aggressive.

2) Paget's disease of the breast - a rare form of breast cancer of the nipple and areola.

Treatment so far:

Doxorubicin. The world's strongest chemotherapy, also known as Red Devil Chemo - named after satan because it's red and because of its side effects.

Paclitaxel. Another chemo often known as Taxol.

Perjeta, a targeted immunotherapy treatment.

Herceptin, a targeted immunotherapy treatment.

Surgery - mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes with implant reconstruction.

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This morning, the PICO dressing (with its pump) was removed, and a simple dressing applied. I didn't actually see the scar tissue, but apparently it's (still) almost healed with the deterioration looking only superficial.

I then met the Oncology Radiologist who had a look at the scar tissue and cleared me to start radiation this morning.

I was set up on the table for radiation treatment to begin, but the technician found that there were changes in the breast/chest wall, and radiation treatment could not begin. Thankfully, someone had the foresight to predict this change, and had scheduled an appointment for another planning session. I had to wait around for another 90 minutes, but the session was completed.

Radiation treatment will now commence next Monday 24/2 for 15 sessions Monday-Friday. The Oncology Radiologist now, therefore, does not want the new chemo to commence until after radiation is completed - Monday 17/3 which allows for the Canberra Day public holiday in March (the chemo clinic runs every day of the year, but radiation treatment does not occur on public holidays). This means that drug treatment won't finish until December now, but that's OK.

This is what a PICO pump looks like. It stays in the bag, and is worn around the neck. The OK button should periodically flash green to show that it is working. If the next icon is lit up, it means that the seal around the dressing has lifted and air is escaping. If the third icon is lit, it means that the dressing is soaked in blood/fluid and needs to be replaced. The fourth icon will illuminate if the battery has drained. They cost several hundred dollars and have a 14 day shelf life.

You can see the thin tubing; the other end is embedded in the dressing somehow - not actually visible to me.

As many of you are aware I'm now living at my little house in North West Victoria. Today marks the end of the first week here and it's gone incredibly quickly. I'll be honest and say apart from unpacking I've mostly just allowed myself to rest. I was really exhausted by the lead up to the move as well as the move itself. It's also been really hot here.

Now that most rooms are unpacked I want to start working on the outside of the house, clearing away any long grass and tumble weeds. A lot of them have blown away but I need to clear more each day I suspect if I want to keep them from piling up. I'll need to mow in stages, the front part of the house is fine - I mowed that last visit but the rest will be done in order of priority.

My first inside job is to attach panelling to the laundry room wall to block the cat from escaping. It's only a temporary fix but it will mean I don't have to worry about her until I'm ready to fix that part properly.

I also want to cover a couple of floor holes in the back part of the house. Fixing the subfloor is the next job my son-in-law will be helping me with but he's busy replacing his own kitchen at the moment so it will probably be a while before he's available.