Breast Cancer and Horses

HUGE HUGS !!

I'm sure that a positive mental attitude and things to aim for - go for that Working Cob title !! - help.

Also agree with some that putting neds onto full livery so you get less stress but can just enjoy them as/when able sounds like a plan even if you just spend any extra time just "hanging with the neds" will be better than worrying / stressing about who's going to do them if you don't feel up to it.
 
You have all my thoughts and prayers but you're not going to need them.
My best friends mum has had, and successfully fought off, breast cancer twice. Both times her treatment went well and she was able to do most of the things she enjoyed - just at a much slower speed.
I would say maybe see how it goes? I think the strength you get from seeing your boy and girl may out weight the issues of looking after them at least in the short term. If you and A are finding you're struggling then pop them into full livery for a while until you're up to it again.
You have a fantastic attitude and i have no doubt you'll come out of this fighting fit and ready to kick some ass in the showing world but....... Hovis and i send you a massive hug (even if you don't want it). Anytime you want a virtual moan / chat / cry then just pm me.
 
My Mum is going through chemo at the moment hers is Pancreatic cancer, the chemo makes her nausias, diarohea and very tired but she is 65, she has lost a lot of weight, thats possibley the site of her cancer she gets pain eating. Plus I know you want to carry on as normal but Chemo lowers your immune system so you have to avoid at all costs people with colds and catching neumonia, you have to take your temperature every day if it goes up you have to be ommited to hospital. Also lots of hospital visits my Mum has chemo on Wednesdays but has to go Tuesdays for blood tests to check its ok for the chemo the next day, thats every week for 3 weeks and 1 week off, so alot of time is consumed in the process.
Hope you are coping ok, Ive found it hard to come to terms with it about my Mum.
 
Hi - a friend at my yard has just been through 2 years of breast cancer and although on the mend she did have to have someone else doing her horse most of the time. She couldnt possibly have lifted a water bucket haynet or done any of the other strenuous stuff that goes with horses. She is now back riding and recovered (though being checked constantly) she is only riding in walk and trot very gently.
I would take it one step at a time and try to stay positive.
BIG BIG ((HUGS)) FROM ME
 
Hi Thersea, I can reassure you from my own recent experience of breast cancer, lumpectomies,bi-lateral mastectomies , lymph node removal and reconstructive surgery that continuing working with horses is possible, with help. I was lucky enough not to need chemo so cannot advise on this. I was desperate to find out how weak I would be after ops, for work (I run a small livery yard) and riding. I scoured the breast cancer forums for horsey gals , with little result and interrogated my surgeon and nurses, but if you're not horsey you don't realize how strong you need to be! Mastectomies are honestly not bad, the greatest problem is limiting yourself after and not doing too much. With my first one I was out poo picking the next day (all be it gingerly) but I learned that to improve quickly you must not lead naughty yearlings! He knocked me to the ground a week after op and burst my inflatable implant! It's important not to be pulled around much so I waited 6 weeks before riding and felt quite confident when I did so.My treatment has been over the last 2 years and my horse has had 6 weeks off many times over the period.Now, last op July, I feel as strong as I ever did and hardly ever think to be careful. My husband did all the mucking out for the first 10 days each time and I gradually took over and was right back within a month. I was religious about the exercises and found grooming one of the most challenging jobs, but all good physio! It has really given me impetus with my riding, whereas before diagnosis I felt I had all the time in the world for us to get on, now I am driven not to miss a single chance to ride.
I am 43,on Tamoxifen and have been told I'm very likely not to suffer a recurrence.
Please contact me if I can help at all,don't worry too much and very good luck
 
So sorry to hear your news - what a blow. My sister had breast cancer 18 months ago and had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. She did find the radiotherapy had an accumulative effect of tiring her and making her feel quite weak but it was only very temporary and she bounced back and is absolutely fine now. Like many have suggested I would put them on livery if you can ride and see them when you like as they will be a comfort for you when you feel a bit down but you don't want the extra worry of who is going to deal with the heavy work when you feel a little weak. Best of luck with your treatment and positive vibes. x
 
Well you are being very brave about this and I wish you every bit of luck every step of the way with your treatment.
I do not have experience personally of this but from what I have heard Chemo and other treatments can really knock you.
If you do have the money to do so I would put them on full livery, because you could still visit when ever and do things with them, but at least you would be free to just not go if you felt too weak for a day or two.

All the best of luck with the treatment and please keep us posted on how your doing x
 
Am raising a glass to *Project Theresa* - good on you gal, fabby attitude as always
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xxx
 
Hi Theresa,
Sorry to hear about your news. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago when I was 45. I had an operation to remove the cancer and quite a lot of surrounding tissue. At the time my daughter and I had a 13.2 pony we both used to ride. After my op in october I had about 5 weeks off of work. 3 of that was Christnas Hols as I worked in a school office. I started my chemo and radiotherapy in January and I must have been extremely lucky as I was never unwell. When I had my treatment in the morning I used to ride in the afternoon and smirk to myself that I was skivving off work. I never had time off sick. I had great support from my circle of friends and still went out everyweek to dance and have a few drinks. I also found it helpful to talk to other women in the same position as myself. Two I had never met but shared the same doctor with one. I trusted my medical team implicitly and this you must do. I went to them(St Margarets in Epping) after going elsewhere first. Also, everyone has different experiences, my chemo nurse said to me'you must paddle your own canoe'.It proved a positive experience for me. I moved house bought another horse and have had no reoccurences. If you would like to chat pm for my phone number.Good luck Keep us updated as to how you got on.
 
Talk to your surgeon about the operation. I know a lady who has a big strong hunter and she was worried about muscle damage, so she asked thesurgeon and he said he would be extra careful to keep the muscles intact.

She had one season off completely but I think she is back riding again.

Best wishes, best thing to catch it early, I have friends who had cancer ops over 20 years ago and they are still going strong.
 
Hi Theresa,

Can't really add to what's been said, but if you want any extra info about the treatments, feel free to PM me, as I've worked in Cancer Research for 11yrs, now, 5 of those in Drug Discovery.

I think having the horses on full livery is an excellent option. On days where you feel fine, you can have a gentle ride. On days when chemo has hit you for six, you can cuddle a horse or just rest.

Very best wishes and long may your fabulous atttitude continue.
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Sorry to hear your news.
My friend was diagnosed in May last year. She had a breast removed followed by 4 lymph glands removed. Then there were 6 chemo sessions all 3 weeks apart and she has just started radiotherapy for the next 3 weeks.
Throughout all this treatment she has ridden and worked nearly every day on the yard. The only really bad time was when she caught a cold and that brought her to a standstill for a few days.
I would suggest you keep going as much as you can. I think your horses will be much needed therapy when you are feeling like c**p.
A positive attitude is beneficial to your overall well being. Plus having some very good friends as a support system.
I wish you all the best and I'm sure everyone else here does too.
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Just want to give you a big hug.
I think I would try to keep the horses as they are wonderful therapy. Theres many a time Ive poured my heart out to my boy.
You can always send them to your friend later on if the treatment takes it out of you too much.
Try to stay positive x x x
 
Hi Theresa,
My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 10yrs old (28 now!) and she somehow managed to drop myself and my sister off at school, go into London for treatment which was over an hours drive, get home, pick us up plus look after her horse who was on DIY livery at the time. She didn't even tell us she was ill! We only found out years later. Despite her treatment she didn't loose her hair because she wore an ice cap. She said she was so tired some days and so I would have thought she would have relied on her friends to help out at the yard on those days. She strongly believes that having things to focus on and be positive about makes a huge difference. Even if you can't manage to do everything yourself all the time or at all for a while, just being able to go and see you horse and have a cuddle will be good for you.
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Not personal experience, but I think every one is different. I had a friend recently who had a mastectomy with reconstruction. There were some complications, turning it into a more major surgery than it otherwise would have been, and it has taken a long time for her to return to a full level of physical activity.
On top of that, there is the Chemo or Radio variable, which different people react to differently.
My friend was very brave about it, and upbeat about the outcome. However, I think afterwards once the big risk was over and it was just the thought of the radio and the slow-ish recovery, that was when she felt the emotional impact of it. This is also something which you should bear in mind when making your decision, as it is perfectly ok to want some personal recovery time after such a major thing, without feeling like you *need* to get up to do this that and the other because you told yourself you would carry on as usual and so havent made other arangements.

With the potential variables, I would be tempted to err on the side of caution and make plans to put the horses on full livery. It is easier to un-make this decision and get them back early after the op if you are feel you have the energy to do it, than it is to persuade yourself to "give up" if you don't feel like dealing with them for a bit after the op. It also means that you don't need to have the stress of decision making or making the arrangements afterwards.
Could you put them on full livery near your home so you can visit when you feel like it and ride if you want, but don't have any obligation to do them on days when you dont feel up to it?

Best of luck with Project Theresa, whatever you decide.
 
I know that you are a very strong and positive lady, and that you and Andy are two of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet (I had a very soft spot for Cairo too, never been that high off the ground before or since )

I have no experience of any of the cancer treatments but I'm pretty certain that having your horses around will be a great help. I think for Project Theresa you'll have to wait and see exactly what treatments you are going te be undertaking before making any hard and fast decisions re the horses and then plan your project from there.

Somebody once said to me "How do you eat an Elephant" the answer being "one bite at a time"

I fully expect you to be at the Championships, in fact I'll make a point of coming down to cheer you on.
 
Theresa you've got a great positive attitude which will stand you in great stead. I don't have experience of managing horses directly whilst undergoing treatment for cancer but I would say have back up for the horses so that you don't have to worry about them or give yourself any stress. I'm sure they'll be great therapy for you though as and when you need them, just lie in the clover with them whilst they munch the grass around you this summer!

My closest friend from home had treatment for breast cancer last year (2 lots of chemo, single mastectomy followed by radiotherapy) and had a great 'up it and at 'em' attitude the whole year through. She was divorced with 2 teenage kids. She surrounded herself with an amazing group of very supportive friends and went out to lunch nearly every day! Her mantra through it all was every cloud has a silver lining, being off work meant she had more time for her children and friends and the things that truly mattered. One of her illness insurance policies paid out and she got the new kitchen she'd always wanted!

She would make me hoot after the op as would whip out her prosthesis (is that right word?) at the most inopportune moment and lob it across the room at us...usually a pub or cafe! She's all clear at the moment and if it's possible living life to the fullest of full. So much so that when I saw her in a strappy top last year I totally forgot she'd had the op she looked so great.

Project Theresa is the way to go
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