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!
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
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!
Sunday, 13 November 2011
6 month scan tomorrow!
Well the day is finally here....the long awaited scan, 6 months since the last one. Not too worried about having the scan the 'scanxiety' will come when I get the results in 2 weeks time (30th Nov).
I am hoping and parying for good news so please please pray with me. Everyday now I can see more future and I don't want that to end. Its been hard not to be thinking of and planning things more than a month ahead and I so want to think about things the way I used to.
I haven't been to work now for over 8 months! I don't know where the time has gone! Still haven't got round to any sewing lol but plenty of knitting and crochet has been done, well it will soon be christmas!
The extension is about 80% complete and should be mostly done by christmas, there will maybe be just a couple of things we can't get done by then like renering outside and the 'feature' wall inside but I will be able to get the house straight!
Well see you again on the 30th!
I am hoping and parying for good news so please please pray with me. Everyday now I can see more future and I don't want that to end. Its been hard not to be thinking of and planning things more than a month ahead and I so want to think about things the way I used to.
I haven't been to work now for over 8 months! I don't know where the time has gone! Still haven't got round to any sewing lol but plenty of knitting and crochet has been done, well it will soon be christmas!
The extension is about 80% complete and should be mostly done by christmas, there will maybe be just a couple of things we can't get done by then like renering outside and the 'feature' wall inside but I will be able to get the house straight!
Well see you again on the 30th!
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
long time no see....
It feels like its been ages since i've posted suppose its because I've been busy and getting on with my life.
Its now been 7 months since official diagnosis and 11 months since the tumour was discovered albeit diagnosed as pneumonia! So far I am doing very well, I don't really feel ill and there isn't much I cannot do. I have joined the gym but think I did a bit too much in the first week! I have to remember I am not the same as before.
I have done all of my christmas shopping (including wrapping paper and cards!) some of you will think I am mad, there are reasons for this. The first one being, if the scan is good in November, Paul and I want to go away for the first few weeks in December for our 10th wedding anniversary, which won't give me anytime for 'last minute' shopping. The second one: I don't want the stress of rushing around crowded shops not knowing what to buy and thirdly: if the scan is not good, I won't feel like doing it, plus the treatment will change and I may be a bit worse for wear. Obviously, I am going with reason 1!
The extension is coming on a treat even though we seem to be going 3 steps forward 2 steps back! On removing the old bathroom tiles floor we found the joists were rotten (the bathroom is above the kitchen) so now the kitchen ceiling had had to come down so you can imagine the mess which seems to have migrated through the whole house!!!
I have also just been on a trip to Cannes with an old friend for a long weekend. Cannes was fab we even went to Monaco/Monte Carlo which was beautiful, the train followed the coast and the scenery was breathtaking. The french are lovely, we stayed in the 'prestidgious' Hotel Martinez (which I managed to get for a bargain price!) if was fabulous! And of course I did manage some shopping!
Its now been 7 months since official diagnosis and 11 months since the tumour was discovered albeit diagnosed as pneumonia! So far I am doing very well, I don't really feel ill and there isn't much I cannot do. I have joined the gym but think I did a bit too much in the first week! I have to remember I am not the same as before.
I have done all of my christmas shopping (including wrapping paper and cards!) some of you will think I am mad, there are reasons for this. The first one being, if the scan is good in November, Paul and I want to go away for the first few weeks in December for our 10th wedding anniversary, which won't give me anytime for 'last minute' shopping. The second one: I don't want the stress of rushing around crowded shops not knowing what to buy and thirdly: if the scan is not good, I won't feel like doing it, plus the treatment will change and I may be a bit worse for wear. Obviously, I am going with reason 1!
The extension is coming on a treat even though we seem to be going 3 steps forward 2 steps back! On removing the old bathroom tiles floor we found the joists were rotten (the bathroom is above the kitchen) so now the kitchen ceiling had had to come down so you can imagine the mess which seems to have migrated through the whole house!!!
I have also just been on a trip to Cannes with an old friend for a long weekend. Cannes was fab we even went to Monaco/Monte Carlo which was beautiful, the train followed the coast and the scenery was breathtaking. The french are lovely, we stayed in the 'prestidgious' Hotel Martinez (which I managed to get for a bargain price!) if was fabulous! And of course I did manage some shopping!
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Olympic Torch
I had notification today that I have been nominated to carry the Olympic torch!
The nomination comes from one of the theatre sisters at the John Radcliffe Hospital where I had been working when I found out that I had lung cancer. I didn't realise I had made such an impression on them as I had only been there 5 months.
I am really touched and very excited, I don't for one minute think I'll be picked but anyone who knows me knows how much I love the athletics on TV - I never miss any meeting and have been watching the olympics since Olga Korbut won all those medals in the Munich Olympics of 1972! I always cry with emotion when anyone wins a medal (I just think of how proud they are and their country). I have never been any good myself, only ever winning the 'thread the needle' race at junior shcool purely because I was good at sewing lol.
Keep your fingers crossed folks, perhaps this can be a way of raising awareness that may help others X
The nomination comes from one of the theatre sisters at the John Radcliffe Hospital where I had been working when I found out that I had lung cancer. I didn't realise I had made such an impression on them as I had only been there 5 months.
I am really touched and very excited, I don't for one minute think I'll be picked but anyone who knows me knows how much I love the athletics on TV - I never miss any meeting and have been watching the olympics since Olga Korbut won all those medals in the Munich Olympics of 1972! I always cry with emotion when anyone wins a medal (I just think of how proud they are and their country). I have never been any good myself, only ever winning the 'thread the needle' race at junior shcool purely because I was good at sewing lol.
Keep your fingers crossed folks, perhaps this can be a way of raising awareness that may help others X
Monday, 29 August 2011
Long time no see....
Seems so long since my last post!
Been very busy jet setting lol.....been back from Spain one week now and in that week have also been to London for a couple of days to see 'South Pacific' which incidentally was fab!And of course a bit of shopping!
Whilst I was away, I realsied I kept forgetting to take pain killers! I was only on paracetamol, diclofenac and MST 10mg at night, but as I kept forgetting I decided to see how I got on completely without and guess what, I DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE! Well I do have the odd couple of paracetamol for the odd ache I get after I have done things sometimes, but on the whole It's pretty good.
Had a couple of days of not doing anything, its been nice to just relax at home. Off to London again on Wednesday, just for the day though, as I bought a coat from Burberry in Puerto Banus and I need to take it to a Burberry store to get them sleeves turned up (as usual they are too long). I forgot the receipt last week when we went. Paul wants to come again, which quite surprises me as he hates shopping, I think it's to stop me spending more money lol, however we have got 7 hours there and Ive never been down Sloan Street before, It just has to be done!
We are pretty much sorted now financially and even have enough to finish the extension, hopefully work will commence this week so I should get my new kitchen, en suite and walk in wardrobe in the next couple of months. Would give it all back in exchange for my health though. As for now though I feel great and intend to live a bit!
Been very busy jet setting lol.....been back from Spain one week now and in that week have also been to London for a couple of days to see 'South Pacific' which incidentally was fab!And of course a bit of shopping!
Whilst I was away, I realsied I kept forgetting to take pain killers! I was only on paracetamol, diclofenac and MST 10mg at night, but as I kept forgetting I decided to see how I got on completely without and guess what, I DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE! Well I do have the odd couple of paracetamol for the odd ache I get after I have done things sometimes, but on the whole It's pretty good.
Had a couple of days of not doing anything, its been nice to just relax at home. Off to London again on Wednesday, just for the day though, as I bought a coat from Burberry in Puerto Banus and I need to take it to a Burberry store to get them sleeves turned up (as usual they are too long). I forgot the receipt last week when we went. Paul wants to come again, which quite surprises me as he hates shopping, I think it's to stop me spending more money lol, however we have got 7 hours there and Ive never been down Sloan Street before, It just has to be done!
We are pretty much sorted now financially and even have enough to finish the extension, hopefully work will commence this week so I should get my new kitchen, en suite and walk in wardrobe in the next couple of months. Would give it all back in exchange for my health though. As for now though I feel great and intend to live a bit!
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