Tuesday, 21 February 2012
living with...: Busy busy busy!
living with...: Busy busy busy!: Just stopped for a breather in my busy schedule! I've now recovered from the flu (which I must have caught on the plane!) and feel like ...
Busy busy busy!
Just stopped for a breather in my busy schedule!
I've now recovered from the flu (which I must have caught on the plane!) and feel like myself again! In the last week I've organised a sponsored 10 mile walk, organised a charity fancy dress Town and pub crawl and a charity luncheon with the help of some good friends and the Roy Castle lung cancer foundation which is where all the proceeds will go. We also have collections in the local supermarkets, a pub quize and a music festival in the pipeline! I'm hoping to make it all fun for everyone taking part, and make some of the events an annual thing whether I'm here or not.
So far I've raised £146 on my just giving page in just a few days! (thank you to all the people who have sponsored me, I won't let you down). I'm hoping that following all this years events will raise a few thousand and also raise awareness!
I'm still surprised that people don't know that lung cancer kills more people than the other cancers combined and alarmingly more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer combined! Yet still women think it's breast cancer that needs our support. The 5 year survival rate for breast cancer is now 95%, when I started my nurse training in 1983 it was 50%! Its come this far because of the campaigners, awareness and the early detection programme (mamography). Its about time Lung Cancer got the same support. At present Lung cancer receives less that 5% of research funding which is unbelievable in light of the facts
I am only one person but together we can try and turn this around and in another 20 years we may get the same results!
I've now recovered from the flu (which I must have caught on the plane!) and feel like myself again! In the last week I've organised a sponsored 10 mile walk, organised a charity fancy dress Town and pub crawl and a charity luncheon with the help of some good friends and the Roy Castle lung cancer foundation which is where all the proceeds will go. We also have collections in the local supermarkets, a pub quize and a music festival in the pipeline! I'm hoping to make it all fun for everyone taking part, and make some of the events an annual thing whether I'm here or not.
So far I've raised £146 on my just giving page in just a few days! (thank you to all the people who have sponsored me, I won't let you down). I'm hoping that following all this years events will raise a few thousand and also raise awareness!
I'm still surprised that people don't know that lung cancer kills more people than the other cancers combined and alarmingly more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer combined! Yet still women think it's breast cancer that needs our support. The 5 year survival rate for breast cancer is now 95%, when I started my nurse training in 1983 it was 50%! Its come this far because of the campaigners, awareness and the early detection programme (mamography). Its about time Lung Cancer got the same support. At present Lung cancer receives less that 5% of research funding which is unbelievable in light of the facts
I am only one person but together we can try and turn this around and in another 20 years we may get the same results!
Sunday, 5 February 2012
living with...: Back from Jamaica!
living with...: Back from Jamaica!: Just got back from a fab 2 weeks in Jamaica! We didn't think we would be able to go again but as time go's on I feel that more is possibl...
Back from Jamaica!
Just got back from a fab 2 weeks in Jamaica!
We didn't think we would be able to go again but as time go's on I feel that more is possible! We were worried that maybe this time it wouldn't be the same - we have been 4 times before, always to the same place and always had so much fun and always a great holiday. But guess what....it exeeded our expectations. Once again we had such a fab time, we met so many new friends who I know we will keep in touch with and hopefully see again :)).
I also bought back with me the usual 'gift' of an extra 5lbs in weight! Slight improvement on the usual 7 from previous years lol (I blame it on the fact there were no pancakes for breakfast!).
We were viewing this trip as the last one to Jamaica as there is a whole world to visit but I can guarentee it won't be lol, the only thing that will hold us back will be finances.
It has taken me a couple of days to get over the jet lag and the fact I have come down with a 'cold' from the plane hasn't helped, I have no energy :(. I have such alot to do........I have the charity sky dive to organise, a charity luncheon to plan (got some good raffle prizes already!) and not forgetting the famous Barrington garden parties!
On that note I'm signing off, It's time for Sunday Lunch X
We didn't think we would be able to go again but as time go's on I feel that more is possible! We were worried that maybe this time it wouldn't be the same - we have been 4 times before, always to the same place and always had so much fun and always a great holiday. But guess what....it exeeded our expectations. Once again we had such a fab time, we met so many new friends who I know we will keep in touch with and hopefully see again :)).
I also bought back with me the usual 'gift' of an extra 5lbs in weight! Slight improvement on the usual 7 from previous years lol (I blame it on the fact there were no pancakes for breakfast!).
We were viewing this trip as the last one to Jamaica as there is a whole world to visit but I can guarentee it won't be lol, the only thing that will hold us back will be finances.
It has taken me a couple of days to get over the jet lag and the fact I have come down with a 'cold' from the plane hasn't helped, I have no energy :(. I have such alot to do........I have the charity sky dive to organise, a charity luncheon to plan (got some good raffle prizes already!) and not forgetting the famous Barrington garden parties!
On that note I'm signing off, It's time for Sunday Lunch X
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
New Year...here's to you
Happy New Year everyone!
I feel this is going to be a good year! In 2 weeks time, were off to Jamaica, I didn't think we would ever be able to go again but we are and can't wait!
Went to the gym today - first time this year, (I haven't been for about 6 weeks either as no time before christmas) need to get my fitness up to scratch again, plus could do with losing a few pounds before we go as I always put a few on when were there lol.
There was a photographer there from a regional newspaper, they were doing a story on 'the gym' being a new years resolution. They picked me and my sister to be photographed. When asked if we were there due to a new years resolution I told him my story. He asked for my mobile number and asked if the paper could ring me.
When I got home I had a phone call from one of the reporters, they now want to follow my Lung cancer awareness campaign and feature any fund raising events I organise! He wants me to ring up whenever I have anything planned! How great is that!
So here's to the New Year and all that it may bring!
I feel this is going to be a good year! In 2 weeks time, were off to Jamaica, I didn't think we would ever be able to go again but we are and can't wait!
Went to the gym today - first time this year, (I haven't been for about 6 weeks either as no time before christmas) need to get my fitness up to scratch again, plus could do with losing a few pounds before we go as I always put a few on when were there lol.
There was a photographer there from a regional newspaper, they were doing a story on 'the gym' being a new years resolution. They picked me and my sister to be photographed. When asked if we were there due to a new years resolution I told him my story. He asked for my mobile number and asked if the paper could ring me.
When I got home I had a phone call from one of the reporters, they now want to follow my Lung cancer awareness campaign and feature any fund raising events I organise! He wants me to ring up whenever I have anything planned! How great is that!
So here's to the New Year and all that it may bring!
Friday, 23 December 2011
Happy Christmas!
2011 has been the worst year of my life. In March, I didn't know whether I would be around to see christmas. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I no longer could work, we didn't know how we would survive financially and I really didn't think I would ever see my house finnished! It's now been 9 months since my diagnosis (14 months if you count the time from misdiagnosis) and how things have changed!
The RAF benevolent fund made sure we had our mortgage paid until we sorted out our life insurance. The life insurance paid up and subsequently we could get our house finnished. Nursing charities also helped us out financially. Best of all I am responding well to the chemo and by the looks of things I could be around for a while yet!
Earlier on in the year I couldn't see or plan any further ahead than a couple of weeks, now, I'm planning things well into next year. 2012 is going to be a very busy year for me, just aswell I no longer go out to work! Believe it or not I am really looking forward to 2012 and can't wait to really get stuck into my hobbies, going to the gym and the charity work.
I would like to thank my wonderful family, friends and the charities who have helped and supported us throughout this year, I love you all and wish you all a 'very merry christmas and a prosperous new year' xxxxx
The RAF benevolent fund made sure we had our mortgage paid until we sorted out our life insurance. The life insurance paid up and subsequently we could get our house finnished. Nursing charities also helped us out financially. Best of all I am responding well to the chemo and by the looks of things I could be around for a while yet!
Earlier on in the year I couldn't see or plan any further ahead than a couple of weeks, now, I'm planning things well into next year. 2012 is going to be a very busy year for me, just aswell I no longer go out to work! Believe it or not I am really looking forward to 2012 and can't wait to really get stuck into my hobbies, going to the gym and the charity work.
I would like to thank my wonderful family, friends and the charities who have helped and supported us throughout this year, I love you all and wish you all a 'very merry christmas and a prosperous new year' xxxxx
Friday, 2 December 2011
Scan results time again!!!
It's scan results time again!
Well for me, the second one since starting Iressa. The first one after 6 weeks showed a 20% shrinkage from 11cms to 8.5cms. From the reading I've done on tartgeted therapies this seems to be the norm. This time I was expecting (and would have been more than happy with) 'stable'.
I thought the minute I walked into the room I would be able to tell if it was good news or not by their faces, this time no, I couldn't tell a thing.
The oncologist was busy looking at the scan on the screen then glancing at me. "Please tell me, I said" Well I couldn't belive it.....he said the tumour has 'collapsed' and is unmeasurable! he showed me the screen, where the tumour was was a black irregular shaped area. He showed me the pre treatment scan which showed the tumour to be white and cloudy looking, that scan showed white bits all over the lung too. On the new scan the lungs look clear! I asked him what it means, I think he was rather puzzled and said "stable is good, this is better that stable!" He did say there is a lymph node that has enlarged slightly but they would just keep an eye on it and there were no mets anywhere! I only need to see him every 2 months now and get another scan in 6 months! In that alone I have outdone the stats!
It seems to me that Iressa is a miracle drug, I thought it was just supposed to stop the tumour from growing and hence spreading, for me it seems to be much much more. I feel so lucky! Were now off to the Carribean in January with oncology blessing
This shows why it is so important for the research to come up with more innovative treatments like this, us 'patients' with an advanced form of the disease should not be written off!
Well for me, the second one since starting Iressa. The first one after 6 weeks showed a 20% shrinkage from 11cms to 8.5cms. From the reading I've done on tartgeted therapies this seems to be the norm. This time I was expecting (and would have been more than happy with) 'stable'.
I thought the minute I walked into the room I would be able to tell if it was good news or not by their faces, this time no, I couldn't tell a thing.
The oncologist was busy looking at the scan on the screen then glancing at me. "Please tell me, I said" Well I couldn't belive it.....he said the tumour has 'collapsed' and is unmeasurable! he showed me the screen, where the tumour was was a black irregular shaped area. He showed me the pre treatment scan which showed the tumour to be white and cloudy looking, that scan showed white bits all over the lung too. On the new scan the lungs look clear! I asked him what it means, I think he was rather puzzled and said "stable is good, this is better that stable!" He did say there is a lymph node that has enlarged slightly but they would just keep an eye on it and there were no mets anywhere! I only need to see him every 2 months now and get another scan in 6 months! In that alone I have outdone the stats!
It seems to me that Iressa is a miracle drug, I thought it was just supposed to stop the tumour from growing and hence spreading, for me it seems to be much much more. I feel so lucky! Were now off to the Carribean in January with oncology blessing
This shows why it is so important for the research to come up with more innovative treatments like this, us 'patients' with an advanced form of the disease should not be written off!
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