Well its been a while since my last post, probably as i'm too busy living life to the full!
Since my last post we have had 3 charity events raising around £2000 so far for Roy Castle lcf. I've been inundated with requests to make my 'owl' the cosy's and my clothing sales have led me to dedicating a bedroom to a 'studio' for clothes. Were off to America to visit friends in various desinations and weve had the first party of the year! Phew! i don't seem to stop and time is flying by.
I've just had the results of my latest CT scan which shows no change from the previous one. That my friends means I'm stable, the tumour is still collasped, there are no visible mets and I have another 6 months of carefree living to do.
Since this happened to me I have learned so much, initially the shock of the diagnosis is terrible. Not just hearing the 'C' word but being told that it was stage 4 and couldn't be surgically removed and that my only hope was chemo. Being a nurse I knew exactly what that meant....but....what I didn't know was there are new treatments that I'd never really heard of that were now available. These treatments are based on gene mutations. Luckily for me I am one of only 10% of people to have one. Hence for the last 15 months I have been taking a drug called 'Iressa'. Anyone who has seen me will know that I don't look, act or feel ill. I do feel different, that could be from the surgery as I do now have nerve damage but on the whole I a pretty much as normal as I can be. There are some side effects from the drug, most dissapreared after 6 months or so the few I still have and now become normal to me so I no longer notice them. For me this drug is a wonder drug and incidentaly its the only drug I take!
I have also learned that being positive and keeping active is one of the most important things that anyone in my position can be. Everyone that does so seems to live longer, some years and years and years. I have also learned that I just need to survive long enough for the next new treatment to become available. At some point my current treatment may stop working as my body will become resistant to it. Even as we speak scientists are developing other drugs that work with it to continue its potency, these drugs are being trialled now with great results. I am rapidly becoming a sort of 'expert' in the field of lung cancer and seem to be answering blog enquiries on lung cancers forums everyday.
This whole experience has been life changing for me and not in a bad way. I'm getting to do all the things I always wanted to do and more! Without trying it fir it all in around work! That's my hobbies, lunching with friends, shopping, fashion (I love clothes) and I am doing some good with all the charity work and support to other lung cancer victims.
Life is too short people, don't leave things you want to do for 'one day' for some that day never comes. For me, I'll have no regrets! xxx
