Yes! Roast dinner in July!!! For all my antipodean friends who are in the midst of 'winter' - so are we! It's wet, cold and grey!!! Not in my house though, we've (Clare and I) picked the blackberries (yesterday - whilst multi tasking during dog walk), peeled the apples (purchased from Wimborne market) and made crumble courtesy of Jamie Oliver.... and I've cooked a roast!!! It feels like October! A cosy night in is planned - along with a DVD marathon of Sex and the City - I'm on series 3 (how did I miss it the first time?)
Oh, and Bronte lost her first tooth - she'll be an adolescent before I know it!
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
Herceptin and the summer holidays...
A quick update re last week's Herceptin - hooray - no side effects. A huge relief. HUGE. A week on and I feel good, I'm quite red from the radiotherapy still, but it doesn't bother me, so can't complain! A little tired, but I can at least now function normally - I've learnt to rest when necessary! Finally, light at the end of the cancer tunnel.
A BIG thank you to you all for your continued support - as I've said previously life after BC is a little scarey, especially as a single woman! But, it's also exciting and- thanks to my friends - very enjoyable - and busy! Can't beat retail therapy! Too many meals out this week though - am starting my gym induction/ return to fitness next Monday! Hmmm. Oh, even better news - my hair is growing back, I've even booked a consultation with my hairdresser tomorrow in anticipation of my hair being long enough to restyle by the end of the 'summer'.
Can't believe it's nearly August - and under 6 weeks until I return to work full time. Have had a lovely start to the holidays with Clare (still here), and my family who were here this weekend. Lots going on over the coming weeks, heading to London with the girls to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert - should be fun! Back to yoga tomorrow night. Various friends visiting and 2 weddings to look forward to, so life's not dull. Also contemplating redecorating - just contemplating! (For now!)
Bronte is getting more lively by the day (and more gorgeous). Monday's puppy classes are great - can't believe we'll be half way through the course tonight. She's getting there, although I must admit the stair gate has gone up today - as my house is now finally 'spring cleaned' I have reclaimed the upstairs of my house for myself - it's a Bronte free zone! I wish i could say the same for my settee - I've just been jumped on! Time to go and do some more training I guess! Will post some more pictures soon xxx
A BIG thank you to you all for your continued support - as I've said previously life after BC is a little scarey, especially as a single woman! But, it's also exciting and- thanks to my friends - very enjoyable - and busy! Can't beat retail therapy! Too many meals out this week though - am starting my gym induction/ return to fitness next Monday! Hmmm. Oh, even better news - my hair is growing back, I've even booked a consultation with my hairdresser tomorrow in anticipation of my hair being long enough to restyle by the end of the 'summer'.
Can't believe it's nearly August - and under 6 weeks until I return to work full time. Have had a lovely start to the holidays with Clare (still here), and my family who were here this weekend. Lots going on over the coming weeks, heading to London with the girls to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert - should be fun! Back to yoga tomorrow night. Various friends visiting and 2 weddings to look forward to, so life's not dull. Also contemplating redecorating - just contemplating! (For now!)
Bronte is getting more lively by the day (and more gorgeous). Monday's puppy classes are great - can't believe we'll be half way through the course tonight. She's getting there, although I must admit the stair gate has gone up today - as my house is now finally 'spring cleaned' I have reclaimed the upstairs of my house for myself - it's a Bronte free zone! I wish i could say the same for my settee - I've just been jumped on! Time to go and do some more training I guess! Will post some more pictures soon xxx
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Radiotherapy and Herceptin
Had my last radiotherapy on Tuesday - and my first Herceptin. So far so good! Having a lovely week with my friend Clare, we've cleared the shelves at Primark today, nothing like a bit of retail therapy!!!
It's so lovely to have sunshine today, must go and mow the garden - Oh, with reference to a previous post.... I picked my very first home grown tomato today - it is now on display in the kitchen, I'm so proud I can't bring myself to eat it!
Been listening to some fab tunes today, with DJ Clare, all the way to Poole, how does it go? "... as long as i know how to love I know I will stay alive, I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give and I'll survive I will survive"......
It's so lovely to have sunshine today, must go and mow the garden - Oh, with reference to a previous post.... I picked my very first home grown tomato today - it is now on display in the kitchen, I'm so proud I can't bring myself to eat it!
Been listening to some fab tunes today, with DJ Clare, all the way to Poole, how does it go? "... as long as i know how to love I know I will stay alive, I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give and I'll survive I will survive"......
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy not too bad - 13 down, 2 to go ~ finish Tuesday. I have a couple of nice red patches now, and I suppose I am a little more tired than usual, but otherwise I'm feeling fine!
I've been doing my phased return to work the last couple of weeks, mornings only: Monday, Wednesday & Friday - which I've really enjoyed, normality at last - it doesn't take long to have a long list of things to do!
And of course the Relay for Life last weekend - despite the awful weather it was AMAZING - survivor lap photos will be posted here soon!
Saw my oncologist this week - she's retiring at the end of the month so will have a locum until the end of the year. It's so hard to get cancer related doctors - whoever they might be- to deal in facts and figures - I guess for 2 reasons - they are just that, facts and figures - no one knows which side of the statistic line you'll end up, and also I guess because there's a sense of the need to stay positive and as worry free as possible for as long as possible. I must admit I was a little surprised that for all the horrors of chemo it's only 25% effective in preventing a recurrence; ditto radiotherapy. As for Herceptin, she told me that it's the most important part of my treatment as I am HER2+ (and that means it is very aggressive - she admitted that too). HER2+ is not good news in terms of recurrence, and without Herceptin my prognosis would be very poor indeed, very! But at least I know now what I am dealing with, kind of! They want to wait for a couple of years for reconstruction so that they can see how things settle - so I need to get planning and goal setting in the meantime. I know I said about an unwillingness to plan, I'm not that comfortable with it - but I can cope with 2 years worth! And they need to be 2 good years - I want to create lots of happy memories and do lots of amazing things with all my friends and family - so come on guys, get thinking and let's get planning. You only live once!!! Love you x
I've been doing my phased return to work the last couple of weeks, mornings only: Monday, Wednesday & Friday - which I've really enjoyed, normality at last - it doesn't take long to have a long list of things to do!
And of course the Relay for Life last weekend - despite the awful weather it was AMAZING - survivor lap photos will be posted here soon!
Saw my oncologist this week - she's retiring at the end of the month so will have a locum until the end of the year. It's so hard to get cancer related doctors - whoever they might be- to deal in facts and figures - I guess for 2 reasons - they are just that, facts and figures - no one knows which side of the statistic line you'll end up, and also I guess because there's a sense of the need to stay positive and as worry free as possible for as long as possible. I must admit I was a little surprised that for all the horrors of chemo it's only 25% effective in preventing a recurrence; ditto radiotherapy. As for Herceptin, she told me that it's the most important part of my treatment as I am HER2+ (and that means it is very aggressive - she admitted that too). HER2+ is not good news in terms of recurrence, and without Herceptin my prognosis would be very poor indeed, very! But at least I know now what I am dealing with, kind of! They want to wait for a couple of years for reconstruction so that they can see how things settle - so I need to get planning and goal setting in the meantime. I know I said about an unwillingness to plan, I'm not that comfortable with it - but I can cope with 2 years worth! And they need to be 2 good years - I want to create lots of happy memories and do lots of amazing things with all my friends and family - so come on guys, get thinking and let's get planning. You only live once!!! Love you x
Monday, 6 July 2009
A more positive frame of mind...
Hmmm, I seem to have emerged from a few 'dark days' last week and now feel much more at peace with things. Don't know why really, still scared/sad etc but am no longer overwhelmed with issues, which I must admit is a huge relief. Depression AFTER cancer is quite common - I don't want to go there - I just want to be accepting of my lot, smile and get on with living, which is what I intend to do.
Almost forgot - I do know why... my turning point came in a surprising way last Friday in Radiotherapy outpatients. Now, I don't mean to be rude (and as I this person doesn't know me and therefore does not read my blog I feel relatively ok about saying this) but I met the most miserable, moany and self absorbed fellow cancer sufferer. The conversation started with her question - "So what cancer do you have?" - before I'd barely finished my sentence "I've had breast cancer (PAST TENSE) she proceeded to talk about her cancer, how after 2 years it's back and now terminal and (this was the worst bit) out of a ward of 6, 4 had lymph node involvement - 2 didn't, so far they are fine but of the 4 she's the last one to 'go' - NOT particularly uplifting, and for less 'experienced' people waiting quite worrying I'm sure, so I pointed out that actually there is no rhyme nor reason - my mum's lymph nodes were clear, but she didn't make it, and my friend had 7 nodes infected and is alive and kicking 10 years on! Then followed a moan just about anything and everything... doctors, nurses, taxis, transport, money.... I've never been so keen to jump onto the bed to get zapped!
Given the turmoil I'd been going through it could've been the final straw for me, but do you know what - it had quite the opposite effect. Bottom line - 'it' could come back, the reality is no one knows and that's a good thing. Let's say, just for the sake of argument she's right - in 2 years I'll be where she is now, well there's no way I'll be miserable and bitter - I am going to live each day of these next two years to the full - and more I hope! But if IF I too get terminal diagnosis I swear to God that on that day I will smile - because I will have had the MOST amazing memories of the past two years, of all the good times with my friends and all the taken opportunities. I will smile and be grateful for this time.
So, there you go - my turning point. Life will return to 'normal' - especially once I am back at work, but on a slightly different level - no longer will I simply be existing on a day to day basis - I'll be living - in the now.
Blessings! Blessings! Blessings!
Almost forgot - I do know why... my turning point came in a surprising way last Friday in Radiotherapy outpatients. Now, I don't mean to be rude (and as I this person doesn't know me and therefore does not read my blog I feel relatively ok about saying this) but I met the most miserable, moany and self absorbed fellow cancer sufferer. The conversation started with her question - "So what cancer do you have?" - before I'd barely finished my sentence "I've had breast cancer (PAST TENSE) she proceeded to talk about her cancer, how after 2 years it's back and now terminal and (this was the worst bit) out of a ward of 6, 4 had lymph node involvement - 2 didn't, so far they are fine but of the 4 she's the last one to 'go' - NOT particularly uplifting, and for less 'experienced' people waiting quite worrying I'm sure, so I pointed out that actually there is no rhyme nor reason - my mum's lymph nodes were clear, but she didn't make it, and my friend had 7 nodes infected and is alive and kicking 10 years on! Then followed a moan just about anything and everything... doctors, nurses, taxis, transport, money.... I've never been so keen to jump onto the bed to get zapped!
Given the turmoil I'd been going through it could've been the final straw for me, but do you know what - it had quite the opposite effect. Bottom line - 'it' could come back, the reality is no one knows and that's a good thing. Let's say, just for the sake of argument she's right - in 2 years I'll be where she is now, well there's no way I'll be miserable and bitter - I am going to live each day of these next two years to the full - and more I hope! But if IF I too get terminal diagnosis I swear to God that on that day I will smile - because I will have had the MOST amazing memories of the past two years, of all the good times with my friends and all the taken opportunities. I will smile and be grateful for this time.
So, there you go - my turning point. Life will return to 'normal' - especially once I am back at work, but on a slightly different level - no longer will I simply be existing on a day to day basis - I'll be living - in the now.
Blessings! Blessings! Blessings!
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