"Cancer is just a chapter in my life, not the whole story. So, if ever there was a time to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, now is certainly that time!"
This part of my blog comes with a warning that there are some sensitive/shocking images of the destruction cancer can and has caused. This is not being shown to offend or to shock, but to highlight the importance of checking for lumps and bumps in your bodies for both men and women, young and old alike. For this, I do not apologise as this is now me. Before you view this, consider if it is something you wish to see. If not, go no further - I will not be offended.
April 2017
It has been some time since I posted a new post onto my blog. Since my last post, that being last August when we celebrated my son Joe's 18th birthday in Alton Towers, I have attended three, three monthly appointments. They were in September 2016, December 2016 and March 2017. I have been so happy to note that the tumour markers are within the 'normal' range with the recent count being at 25 (normal is 0 - 40). I was hoping at my last appointment to be moved onto six monthly appointments, but this was not to be. I will therefore be attending the Oncology Dept again in June. All being well, I will then go onto 6 monthly appointments for the next couple of years.
Due to the chemotherapy and the meds, I still suffer fatigue, severe joint pain in my wrist, thumb and fingers of my right hand, lymphodema in my left arm and hand, and less severe but still painful aches in my neck, spine, hips, knees and feet. However these are something that I can and will learn to live with. I have to attend the hospital for a liver scan as my liver function tests are fairly high. I am awaiting a dexascan to hopefully rule out the onset of osteoarthritis (thanks to the meds). There are still days that I can get a little bit low and feel angry that my life has changed so dramatically in such a short time. Thankfully these times are getting less and less.
I am still filling my days with painting, reading, writing, fundraising, visiting my family in Wales on a much more regular basis, popping into work from time to time for a visit, meeting friends for lunch, coffee and shopping trips. I am still struggling slightly to get into a daily routine and to accept that I have to retire. Yes, that's right RETIRE... Me.... The most fidgety, active, orgainised (workwise) individual who still feels that there are years left in me. However, following a discussion with the oncologist who has concerns re stress levels and the stress feeding the cancer cells causing a return of this blight, early retirement has been applied for. Now it is a waiting game - like everything else in this world.
I have a few plans and projects in mind and will be calling on folk for help over the next few months. Naturally, as with my whole journey through this cancer, I will be blogging about all projects that I take on, I do envisage quite a lot of fun ahead.
After getting to the stage that I am at now, I have decided to share the most intimate part of what cancer has done to me. My steps in claiming me back from cancer! This may cause a bit of consternation for some! For this I do not apologise. I am sharing what my life is like, how cancer has taken my body and how I am making my body mine once again - on my terms! I have decided to demonstrate this is a short film clip. If my blog has encouraged just one person to check themselves for lumps and irregularities of any sort and has resulted in an early diagnosis and treatment of just one person, then this blog will have served its purpose.
Although this past year and a half has flown by so quickly, on another level it has been a very long and arduous journey that has taken a lot out of me. It has changed me as a person. As I have stated, I suffer fatigue, I have a lot of pains in my joints, I suffer more headaches and darting pains, I have been made so aware of the high percentage of this cancer returning that I tend to be a bit paranoid with every new ache, swollen gland or breathing difficulty. Unfortunately getting rid of Triple Negative Breast Cancer is solely reliant on Chemo and Radiotherapy, as at this moment in time, there is no known cure for it. So once the chemo and radio stops, it is a case of keeping a very close eye on bloods, tumor markers etc etc etc. A close eye is kept on liver, brain and bones as these are the common places for this type of cancer to return to.
On a more positive note, I appreciate being alive far more than I ever did. I have deepend my love for the arts, nature and history. I have become less tolerant of foolish people, I have become a tad more outspoken - Who the heck would have thought that possible? Actually, Is it possible? 😂😂😂 ... Apparently it is! ... I have become more aware of a healthier lifestyle, changed my diet, reduced my alcohol intake (although Paddies day might appear at odds to that last statement), I take regular spa breaks with Gerry, more girly weekends away with my friends, I am actually appreciating life more and enjoying life. I have decluttered my life. I live with more positivity and look forward to every new day. I ignore gossip, I don't get involved in other people's dramas, I have had far too many of my own. My family and I, along with all my friends have been through so much this last 18 months. That now, the only thing to do is enjoy life, to do what I can when I can, to rest when my body tells me to and to accept that I will have a reduced energy level, but this will get better in due course. To live every day as though it were my last, to do as much good as I can for others but not be used as a doormat. I utterly appreciate everything everyone does for me and I love my family deeper than I ever thought possible. Life really is good, despite the hurdles!
Enjoy the clip folks. It has taken a lot of thought, discussion and courage, not only on my part but on that of my families to create this and share it with the world.
Claiming ME back from Cancer!
Although this past year and a half has flown by so quickly, on another level it has been a very long and arduous journey that has taken a lot out of me. It has changed me as a person. As I have stated, I suffer fatigue, I have a lot of pains in my joints, I suffer more headaches and darting pains, I have been made so aware of the high percentage of this cancer returning that I tend to be a bit paranoid with every new ache, swollen gland or breathing difficulty. Unfortunately getting rid of Triple Negative Breast Cancer is solely reliant on Chemo and Radiotherapy, as at this moment in time, there is no known cure for it. So once the chemo and radio stops, it is a case of keeping a very close eye on bloods, tumor markers etc etc etc. A close eye is kept on liver, brain and bones as these are the common places for this type of cancer to return to.
On a more positive note, I appreciate being alive far more than I ever did. I have deepend my love for the arts, nature and history. I have become less tolerant of foolish people, I have become a tad more outspoken - Who the heck would have thought that possible? Actually, Is it possible? 😂😂😂 ... Apparently it is! ... I have become more aware of a healthier lifestyle, changed my diet, reduced my alcohol intake (although Paddies day might appear at odds to that last statement), I take regular spa breaks with Gerry, more girly weekends away with my friends, I am actually appreciating life more and enjoying life. I have decluttered my life. I live with more positivity and look forward to every new day. I ignore gossip, I don't get involved in other people's dramas, I have had far too many of my own. My family and I, along with all my friends have been through so much this last 18 months. That now, the only thing to do is enjoy life, to do what I can when I can, to rest when my body tells me to and to accept that I will have a reduced energy level, but this will get better in due course. To live every day as though it were my last, to do as much good as I can for others but not be used as a doormat. I utterly appreciate everything everyone does for me and I love my family deeper than I ever thought possible. Life really is good, despite the hurdles!
Enjoy the clip folks. It has taken a lot of thought, discussion and courage, not only on my part but on that of my families to create this and share it with the world.
Claiming ME back from Cancer!
