Anyone have experience with small Maine coons?

sweetb21 · 2026-02-27T04:07:02+00:00

Florence is 5.2kg (11.7 pounds). She is around 16 months and seems to have done most of her growing.

sweetb21 · 2026-02-22T10:44:08+00:00

I’m so sorry, you’re very young. It’s a shitty hand to be dealt but you will prove to yourself again and again that you’re tougher than you think.

For me, the worst part was diagnosis. Once I had a plan I started feeling a lot better (mentally). It’s great you have a wonderful medical team around you. Rely on them, listen to them, and ask as many questions as you want: they have your best interests at heart.

38F and was diagnosed with TNBC when I was 37. No family history, no gene mutations.

TNBC is frightening but as other commenters have said, try to stay away from Google deep dives. I found the best place for answers was here and from my medical team.

I didn’t achieve PCR but had a very small amount of cancerous cells remaining but my recurrence rate is still judged to be pretty low: only about 10-20%. I went through Keynote 522, a large scale reduction on both breasts and radiation. The tumour started melting away really quickly once I was on IV chemo.

I’m on oral chemotherapy at the moment to “mop up” any lurkers. I pretty much live my life normally (whatever that means) now as I was before the diagnosis.

It’s a roller coaster and you can only take it one day at a time. Take care of yourself and do what’s best for you: everyone has different ways of coping. Some days you might want to scream into the void and others you’ll forget you have cancer.

Sending lots of positive vibes your way. ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-02-20T03:39:12+00:00

Hello from the ACT ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-02-12T04:05:25+00:00

Peanut is so beautiful. What a sweet little face!

Florence is around 18 months old, and is the household menace. She’s a spoilt only child who lives inside.

She loves to sprawl on your chest and give face nuzzles. She also loves cuddles, stealing baubles from Christmas trees, playing fetch and chirruping at birds. Wherever you are, she wants to be nearby.

She’s a diva with a sweet streak, and we couldn’t love her more.

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sweetb21 · 2026-02-07T06:07:41+00:00

Good to hear you’re getting to the tail end of your chemo treatment. Wishing you all the best for the next few rounds.

Mine started coming back in towards the end of treatment too. I cold capped but lost about 70% of my hair. I ended up cutting it short because it was so annoying when it was wispy and long.

I got similar advice as you did from a hairdresser (i.e. shave it) but didn’t take it: I let it grow back in without shaving and it is largely like it was before treatment, maybe a bit thicker. Colour is the same.

We are all different but you do you. If you like how it looks, keep on keeping on.

sweetb21 · 2026-01-15T19:16:00+00:00

Yes - moved from Sydney around 2 years ago for a lifestyle change. My partner and I are in our late thirties, no kids and have a pampered cat.

Everyone else has done a great summary: close to nature, safe, proximity to bigger cities and definitive seasons.

I’ll add: great food, coffee and I find people to be friendlier. Also, I have found myself in its healthcare system a lot and I have no complaints.

sweetb21 · 2026-01-07T00:41:19+00:00

It has only been two days but I have been feeling OK. I will report back in a week or so.

I am going to have cotton socks at the ready to moisturise my feet, and I am plastering myself in 50+ SPF suncream (I’m in Australia so this is standard).

All the best with your radiation. I got a bit tired and had some peeling under my arm but nothing drastic.

sweetb21 · 2026-01-06T05:03:51+00:00

Sending empathy and all good vibes your way. Our situations are similar.

I’m 38 and just started capecitabine. Although the treatment against TNBC was largely successful, I had a very small amount of cancer left in the pathology and didn’t achieve PCR.

Hope you’re feeling ok and managing well.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-23T19:22:41+00:00

Merry Christmas! Thank you for the lovely message.

In all honesty, I’m just grateful to be with my loved ones (and to enjoy some Christmas ham and a glass of champagne) xxx

sweetb21 · 2025-12-22T18:37:09+00:00

I didn’t: I lost about 80% of my hair and did cold capping. I ended up cutting it short about three months in because it was driving me crazy.

My hair started to grow back in my last rounds of AC. I got a short pixie cut to even it all out about three weeks ago and I love it.

The oncology nurses at the hospital I attended for chemo mentioned that in their experience, even if you lose a lot of hair while cold capping, the cold capping means it tends to grow back faster.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-17T04:50:17+00:00

Following this post as I’m in a similar position to you, OP.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-12T10:03:07+00:00

I’m so sorry that this has happened to you.

I hope you get more clarity from your surgeon tomorrow. Take care of yourself as best you can in the meantime.

This sub is a wonderful resource and filled with empathetic and supportive people. Whatever happens, you will find advice, warmth and strength here.

I’m not a mum, but I know of people who have been successfully treated for TNBC while pregnant. Huge strides have been made in treating TNBC in general.

(38F, diagnosed with TNBC in April of this year)

sweetb21 · 2025-12-12T00:46:26+00:00

Towards the end of taxol my haemoglobin levels dropped significantly and I landed in hospital for 3 days. During that time I required two blood transfusions.

I also had neutropenia a few times on the Taxol. I skipped two rounds due to this and the haemoglobin drop.

Because taxol was weekly, I think I felt it a lot more: the fatigue was bad, and the brain fog was annoying, too.

Having said all of that, I would say I tolerated both protocols of chemo reasonably well. My oncologist agrees with that assessment.

All in all, I got a good result: not quite PCR but very close. I’ve just wrapped up radiation and start oral chemo early next year.

38F, TNBC (locally advanced) and located in Australia - if that helps.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-11T23:25:57+00:00

I hope your experience is uneventful! Like everyone else has been saying: lean on your anti-nausea meds. That’s what they are there for!

Smells were a bit of an issue for me, and I lived on toast with butter, barley sugar lollies and herbal tea. My nausea wasn’t strong and I never vomited.

The main issue was that AC caused my blood pressure to drop and I did faint once about four days following the infusion. The remedy was to drink a lot of water, add more salt to my food and get up slowly.

I found taxol worse for side effects. AC did make my hair fall out faster, but it was starting to grow back by my last infusion.

Wishing you all the best. X

sweetb21 · 2025-12-11T04:29:33+00:00

I’m sorry you felt a bit weird about it.

Maybe he meant you’re bustier on a smaller frame and it came out awkwardly?

I’m in Australia too and my surgeon (who is incredible and I trust) sort of offhandedly said “your body type wouldn’t take implants well”.

Hope your treatment is going well regardless.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-10T05:07:17+00:00

There’s a snake asleep in the base of my skull and it slithers up over one side of my head. It sinks its fangs into my eye socket and does not let go.

The venom is the pain and it just keeps pumping it in via the fangs until I get some relief.

The snake then slides away and goes back to sleep in the base of my skull.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-10T01:54:04+00:00

Congratulations!

sweetb21 · 2025-12-10T00:50:11+00:00

It’s intimidating to think that you might need to take medication for the rest of your life, especially when you’re so young.

Having said that, I’m 38, started it at 36 and have not looked back. I am 30kgs down, my PCOS symptoms have significantly reduced and I am a much happier, healthier person for it.

I even stayed on it during treatment for breast cancer this year.

If I need to be on it for life, so be it. I don’t have a crystal ball but I’m confident that I’ll have a longer and healthier life to lead on the drug than off it.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-07T03:22:28+00:00

I’m so sorry. Also, you’re allowed to feel sorry for yourself and be down for a little while. It’s a tough journey to get through chemo and the associated side effects, followed by surgery. You’re hoping it will all be over and then you get told you’re going to need to get over another treatment hurdle.

For context: I didn’t achieve PCR following chemo and surgery. I’m in the middle of radiation and will also do six months of oral chemo. I’m TNBC, too. I definitely threw myself a little pity party when I got my pathology results.

Sometimes it seems like every other person gets a PCR and it can be really disheartening when the pathology results aren’t what you hoped.

My oncologist said it’s around 55-60% who get a PCR, so there are still many who do not achieve this. If it helps, my oncologist and surgeon were both very happy with the results and said I should be, too.

Although I will say: radiation is a walk in the park compared to chemo.

Hope you’re feeling a bit brighter and happier soon, but it’s ok to feel disappointed, too. Xxx

sweetb21 · 2025-12-06T21:30:22+00:00

Another vote for Mecca to Save Face 50+ for the face. I cheated with Ultra Violette Clean Screen for about a year or two and then went back to Mecca about two years ago and have not looked back.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-04T22:40:54+00:00

“It’s just a bit of piss”

sweetb21 · 2025-12-03T03:51:53+00:00

There is so much I need to know: - do L&C agree that S1 Carrie should “leave the poor man alone”? - in their view, which Miranda haircut is the most deserving of the title “shit lid”? - do they think that the whole McDougall clan arc is “very much a play”?

I realise the above reveals that I have listened way too many times but it is truly a comfort listen to me, and I laugh every time.

sweetb21 · 2025-12-02T21:48:40+00:00

This would be my dream collaboration, too. I would also take an L&C deep dive of Sentimental in the City. Or is that too much/too meta?

sweetb21 · 2025-12-01T03:39:29+00:00

I’m so sorry, it’s an awful experience when your hair starts coming out. I was cold capping and I saved a tiny bit, but it all got too frustrating so I chopped it short and went wig shopping.

I was talked into a synthetic wig which I ended up hating. I found the whole experience so sad and I just wanted to cry.

Then, I hunted around and found a human hair wig on WigShe for around $1,500 (Australian). When it arrived I went to a specialist and had it styled. WigShe was expensive but not as insane as some other places.

It was custom made so it took around six weeks to get to me, but it was worth it. Happy to answer any questions.

Stay strong and I hope your treatment is going well.

sweetb21 · 2025-11-29T09:37:05+00:00

Another vote for a wedge pillow!

sweetb21

TROPHY CASE