Cancer Support Thread 97: support for those diagnosed and going through treatment

[LiliJilliBobs]

Cancer support thread 97: support for those newly diagnosed and /or undergoing treatment…..
Thread 96 is pretty full - here’s a new one

Thanks for those recommendations@littlebilliie I do like some of those on that website link and defo plan to mix things up a bit. It will be fun to try out some different styles and colours that I normally wouldn’t dare.

I’m in Stockport but being treated at the Christie. I do have a wig voucher so it’s time to use it I think. I’ve always been quite boring with my hair, same style, same colour etc so I’m determined to use this as an opportunity to break the mould a bit. Certainly need one before hair falls out, I asked my 8yo how she would feel if I picked her up from school
without any hair and she told me I wasn’t allowed!! 😂.

I am treated at Christie and MRI

@FcukBreastCancer sorry to hear that you have to have more surgery that is really annoying when you have started to heal and think its done with.

@ForestFlowerFairy sons can be difficult, I have two and both are at home so I dont have advice but you do have to think of yourself first - hard because of course mums always put everyone else before themselves. Plenty of time for him to change his mind.

@cannaecookrisotto bound to get ill when the rest of household does, just make sure it doesnt turn into chest infection - says me who knows.

I am just finishing my antibiotics and they give you the trots so thats lovely. 3 more to go and I am finished with them.
Have been back to hospital (twice) last week and second time the nurses have agreed that I have reacted badly to it all, and for me especially the white blood cell injections caused havoc and worse effects with every one. They are getting me an earlier appt with oncologist as I have said I am not going ahead with next chemo unless its adjusted.
I am also quite tired of the 'take this to mitigate that drug' when half the time they dont actually work, have now tried two anti sickness drugs and neither work on me. Its now day f.....ing.11 in my record of how its going and of 11 days I have been up and about maybe 2 or 3 of them so that tells you how good its been for me.

@Ventress how are you doing?

@Lovewine1975 how are you getting on after your first treatment? Hope you are doing better than I did?

@Poptart thank you for thinking of me as I do you as you are just ahead of me, hope you keep progressing well, I am in a bad headspace because of how ill I have been and cant contemplate another treatment without some serious changes for next time. I am quite angry about it all especially as its now day 11 and I havent even recovered yet.

Yes, I’m bowel cancer too.

Went in as an emergency in August after about 3 weeks of not being able to keep food down - no other symptoms. They found the cancer in a&e and operated the next day.

I’ve been really lucky (if you can say that cancer is lucky??!!) in that they managed to get it all out with clear margins and only spread to one lymph node. So the chemo is just to mop up any stray cells to reduce the chances of it coming back.

I had surgery in August, no symptoms at all just found in FIT test.

clear margins and 5 lymph nodes out of 35 🙄 on chemo clear out

Right - time for me to bow out of this thread – my course of Chemo has finished and was a ‘belt and braces’ approach to remove any satellite cancer cells after a successful operation in June that removed a spot of cancer on my liver.

I had awful side effects last week but I’m Ok now. I have an MRI and a CT scan booked at the end of November and hopefully those results will be clear.

I’ve enjoyed the chats – I’ve been humbled by what you lot have to put up with and how you have dealt with cancer and its dreadful side effects – I hope I’ve contributed and helped somehow.

I find I’m experiencing a new emotion – survivor guilt.

I wish you all well – I’ve been working on this year’s Christmas Puzzle – look out for it at Christmas🙂

Best Wishes - Dan

Dan,
I hope the survivors guilt passes, because this is a horrible illness and to know someone is on the other side gives hope - I hope everyone who beats cancer in any form does so and holds their head high, many people aren't as fortunate, but your survival is in part because of all those before where people have sacrificed, fundraised and worked their butts off to find a cure.
Your survival is proof that all of that is worth it.
I am delighted for you that you are in a position to leave this thread.

All the best @DanFmDorking
Wishing you a happy football season and years of good health (guilt free)

Just a quick post @DanFmDorking to wish you well too. I'm not stalking you here, honest 😂

I've been really struggling to come to terms with my recent shock cancer diagnosis & even more shocked to come here for support & find you here 😮

It's good to see you're through the other side of this year's challenges 💪🏻 Best of luck for the puzzle!

Thanks to everyone else who has contributed their experiences here. I have a number of disabling chronic conditions & dealing with cancer on top has been too overwhelming to chat about. Maybe, with time.

Onwards we go......

First of all @DanFmDorking
It’s been an absolute pleasure, thank you for being here with us and your support. It’s been lovely but I couldn’t be happier to see the back of you and that you are now skipping into the happily ever after. Best of luck for the upcoming scans and please do pop in from time to time if you can to say hello and update us of your tales from the cancer free side of things :)

What is this puzzle? I absolutely love puzzles, do you have other puzzles I can do? Would love to get my hands on them if you can link? They distract me, keep me sane and I like to think they’re keeping the chemo fog under control. Exercise the brain and all that!

Now onto @DanFmDorkingChristmasFanClub
Sorry you’ve had a shock cancer diagnosis but glad you’ve de-lurked!! You’re always welcome here if the time is right you’d like to chat, it’s friendly here.

I do have one question - What’s it like in Dans fan club? I’m intrigued!!

Waving to all! How is everyone?

I had Chemu number 10 today. Another 2 weeks and then onto the Billy big bollocks of EC.

I was really poorly yesterday, I thought I was going to have to delay chemu for a week. Woke up with the worst cold, throat burning, eyes streaming. My weekly Nurse turned up to do bloods, I opened the door and her first words were “oh my god what’s happened”. I phoned hotline and they checked with consultant who said as long as I don’t get worse and temp is under control then if I feel able to I could go ahead. They added extra infection tests to the bloods which I assume come back ok.

On the other hand, the kids are much better. They’ve just given me their germs instead the little assassins. My mum had to come round first thing yesterday because I physically couldn’t pick up the little fatfat. I felt completely useless with eyes like pissholes in the snow. I did manage to get in some sleep which was amazing, but was just a bit of a reminder that I am actually quite poorly. It’s the first time I’ve had to ask for real help as I couldn’t do my mum job.

I can feel a big improvement tonight and getting back on form. Hopefully will wake up tomorrow feeling more or less normal, and sure the post-chemo steroids will help too!

Weird one, has anybody suffered dry eyes whilst on chemo?

@DanFmDorking
I’ve found them!!! Woohoo!!

I’m going to have a bash and be good (aka not cheat and look at any answers if there is any on the threads).

you clever Dan you!!

Dry eyes are an extra gift. I have hycosan extra (red bottle). Pop it in my eyes through the day, then before bed. It’s on my bedside table so I can top up in the night. My eyes are still dry now due to ongoing treatment 🙄

Thanks @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic I thought I was going round the bend and imagining it. Will pop to the pharmacy tomorrow and stock up!

I was given some eye stuff by the chemo team, but it didn’t do the job as well as this hycosan does for me.

@cannaecookrisotto sorry you feel so poorly. I had a routine eye test Tuesday and my optition said the eye drops will be useful for my radiotherapy. Same ones in red and white bottle

Me also wondering about the danfm fan club. ...

So I had surgery yesterday. Home same day. No drain..precautionary antibiotics and thrush treatment. Ward was chaos on arrival, but thankfully no cancellations. Apparently all went well, but results again in 4 weeks
No clear margin would mean going back in again!

Delighted that you are leaving @DanFmDorking (in the nicest possible way of course ) I echo everything @ForestFlowerFairy said so much more eloquently than I ever could. I hope the MRI and CT scans go well. All the very best to you.

I would love to do the Christmas puzzle - can the link be put on here when available please? Or PM me please? I got three correct on University Challenge the other night so I'm feeling my inner genius at the moment 😂

My sister had the "Red Devil" after taxel, continued to cold cap and didn't lose much hair @cannaecookrisotto , although those wigs look very cool!
She was warned about the Red Devil but actually found it better than taxel. She was doing 3 weekly chemo and not paclitaxel so not sure if that made a difference. Will your weekly schedule change to three weekly when you change to the new chemu mix?

I'm sorry you have been feeling so poorly @cannaecookrisotto but I'm glad you could have your chemu yesterday. Big shout out to your mum - what a star! It's so good that she is supporting you and able to help with the children. How are you feeling today?

Welcome @DanFmDorkingChristmasFanClub I'm sorry about your diagnosis on top of the chronic illness you have. What a total bastard cancer is. Feel free to vent here if you would like.

Pleased your surgery went ahead yesterday @FcukBreastCancer - home same day and without drains is a good start. Let's hope they got those margins this time. Fingers crossed.

Have you worked things out with your son now @ForestFlowerFairy I remember you said that he is ND. For what it's worth I think you are correct to say that he is welcome at Christmas and leave it with him. He probably needs to process everything that is happening and is doing it badly and lashing out at you. My DS isn't ND but is still quite selfish and self absorbed at times. It's very much part of being "that age". How are your side effects now? Have they started to abate?

Well my parents have moved. Thank goodness. Just the unpacking, not knowing how to work anything, and general settling in to do. Wow it was stressful. Moving is bad enough without moving two elderly, disabled and rather baffled people who ask the same question every two minutes and refuse to listen to the answer (dad) and burst into tears at least hourly (mum) because it's "all too stressful". My sister (the saint) has dealt with most of that though while I have been at the house organising the packing, clearance and removal. I feel like I could do with the much touted MN "spa day"!

Chemo 11 for me tomorrow.

Best wishes to all.

@ForestFlowerFairy – How very kind of you – I don’t deserve it

@FcukBreastCancer - Thank you! (come on Arsenal!)

@DanFmDorkingChristmasFanClub – Hellooooooo there – lovely to hear from you again – I look forward to being stalked! – Oh double heck, I’m truly sorry about your cancer diagnosis – the people (I don’t want to say posters – they are people) are particularly pleasant and helpful on this thread – please chat away – I find it rather therapeutic – to quote @cannaecookrisotto - see above - …Bloody cathartic writing it all down…

@cannaecookrisotto – thank you - I’m glad you’ve found the 2024 Christmas Puzzle – let me know how you get on and which is your favourite

@Ventress – Thank you indeed - The 2024 Christmas Puzzle

@FcukBreastCancer
I’m feeling back to my chipper self today thankfully (as chipper as one can be whilst undergoing chemu anyway). I didn’t sleep last night though, I saw the sun creep through the curtains. Started to nod off about 7am but then of course the tiny fatfat wanted up and out. I’ve not slept today as had to do some work but I don’t feel tired so I’m literally running on a steroid wave of wiredness. It’s going to hit me in about an hour I think once I’ve consumed this enormous piece of cake.

I got Hyosan eyedrops today and have been popping them in, can feel improvement already. Hopefully it well help reduce the red rims around my eyeballs too.

Glad you’re home from surgery and massive plus you have no pesky drains to batter in the night this time ❤️. It’s a fucker you have to wait another 4 weeks for results, waiting for results is just the worst part of this shit show. I’m sending all my wishes and hugs for clear margins this time, I’m sure they’ll have got it all 💪🏻.

@Ventress
What you’ve said about your sister having the Red Devil after Taxol and keeping her hair has given me some hope. I’m on week 11 next week and haven’t shed any hair whatsoever but everyone is telling me the EC is going to see it off completely. So it’s lovely to hear that your sister kept hers, she must have been so pleased. I hope I get the same result but if I don’t then it’s not the end of the world. I’ve got my eyebrows microbladed so as long as I have eyebrows I can cope mentally with rocking the bald look proudly. I’m not sure I will tolerate wigs very well because I’m sensitive to itchy scratchy things. I’ve ordered some nice fluffy hats to keep my head warm just in case.
Yep, I will be having the EC on 21 day cycles so every 3 weeks. It will be nice to have a longer break in between treatments, so even if it does knock me on my ass for week 1 then at least I’ll have another couple of weeks of maybe feeing ok before the next. I’ve tolerated the PC really well and been incredibly lucky. Mum has booked the first week off work after the first 3 ECs just in case it does kick my arse so she can help with the baby. Then if we find I’m ok she will go to work as normal. Her boss and workplace have been so supportive of us. I used to work for the same company and they were all my colleagues and friends over 10 years ago but I’ve maintained relationships with them since. So all her colleagues and her boss have really rallied together to make sure mum can leave work at the drop of a hat, come to every chemo and appointment and be there for me. Mums definitely been amazing, I’m so lucky and I don’t think I’d have got through these weeks and diagnosis without her.
So pleased for you that the move is done and you and your sister got through it with your sanity just about intact 👏🏼. I don’t know how you’ve done it, moving house is more stressful than having a newborn baby and you’re like bloody superwoman!! I can’t cope with moving house when in my prime of health! I definitely think you should treat yourself to a Spa day. If you’re anywhere near Chester, I can highly recommend Carden Park Hotel and Spa. It’s stunning and so relaxing. You more than deserve it.

Sending hugs and good vibes for Chemu 11 tomorrow, may the side effects be gentle and the time go quickly so you can get back home to relaxation.

In my news, I had the first appt with the psychologist today. It was a fact finding session more than anything, he asked me what I wanted to get out of therapy (to be able to regain some control of the scary intrusive thoughts, be able to talk about my fears in a safe space, try and regain some confidence in my body). He asked me about my worst fears, my family, my work, my relationships with my family etc.

We established that I’m feeling a lot of guilt for not picking up the fact I had cancer earlier and not pushing the GP for a referral when they kept telling me it was blocked milk and that I was too young for it to be sinister. I feel like I’ve let my children down and that I should have insisted on further investigation. I let a 9cm tumour grow in my breast for 4 months and it’s only when I pushed to see a different GP that I got the referral. So we will work on that. So will be weekly appointments. He asked if I’ve ever had therapy before and I said no, I’m not usually one to go down this road but I acknowledge this beast is too big for me to manage. He’s nice and I’m interested to see how it goes.

Just being able to say what scares me to somebody impartial and him not get upset, or pat me on the head telling me to stay positive, be strong, and that everything is going to be alright was really cathartic!

@cannaecookrisotto good to hear you are feeling better.
An independent person to talk to sounds useful, I hope it helps - we all have to find something, someway of coping with it all.
We all have guilt about our cancer I was too scared to go and get my lump checked out, so I can only blame me for that.

Its day 15 today and the first day since my chemo that I havent felt incredibly ill so I am delighted. However next week I am seeing the oncology team to see if the docetaxal can be reduced as I have had such a bad time with that and also with those wretched white cell injections. Am due next chemo 28th and this time I am even more terrified, I know the phesgo will be reduced as its standard for the second time but now I know what happened to me I cant face that again being ill for two out of every three weeks isnt on.

Thank you @DanFmDorking I look forward to having a go at both of the quizzes.

My sister's experience isn't going to be the same for everyone of course @cannaecookrisotto but I'm glad it has given you hope. She actually said the EC was less bad than the Taxol. She had been told how awful it would be too. It took her about a week to feel better after the EC, so having your mum for that first week will be very helpful I think. Sis lost her eyebrows but not much of her head hair. I have, so far at least, kept my eyebrows but I do have the number for a tattooist a friend recommended just in case.

I hope the psychologist is helpful. It is good to talk this through with someone neutral and trained. I hope you can work through your feelings of guilt. I am the same, it's my biggest issue with this whole shit show. You cannot blame yourself for how long it took you to get treatment. I know that you do but you did nothing wrong. None of what is happening to you is your fault

Same goes for you @cantbelieveIamhere, and me, and everyone else reading this. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

I'm glad you are starting to feel a bit better @cantbelieveIamhere certainly they can tweak the meds for you. You shouldn't have to feel atrocious for 2 weeks of each 3 week cycle. I hope the oncology appointment goes well next week.

I had chemo 11 yesterday (thank you for the good wishes @cannaecookrisotto ) all okay although they are definitely finding cannula placement more difficult each week. I suspect I will end up with a PICC which I don't really want as sis had one and ended up in A&E with a DVT from hers which was very scary.

I have an oncology appointment on Monday to sign off the Zoledronic acid treatment and, hopefully, find out more about the cancer they say the bone density scan showed. DH is getting rather impatient with the seeming lack of action being shown and is encouraging me to contact my private healthcare provider and get a second opinion on treatment and whether there are additionally tests, scans or therapies I could have. Now that the stress of the parent's house move is substantially over I think I will do this. Can't hurt anyway.

I see we have managed to spectacularly lose the first Ashes test. I hope that doesn't bode badly for the rest of the weekend! Take care everyone. As Mr Spock would say - Live Long and Prosper.

Just catching up with the thread and it seems like a really busy time for everyone
@cannaecookrisotto great you're seeing someone, I don't think I'll m ready to talk to anyone...I usually ignore what's happening and have my melt down afterwards.

I met my oncologist yesterday, first time since starting treatment back in September. She has said the pain I'm describing sounds more like nerve damage than standard pain so she's given me a new drug, which should help me cut back on the Oxy. OMG it's amazing, for the first time my tongue and gums aren't burning. My teeth are still a bit sore, but you only take it twice a day and the teeth are only hurting now so that's a good chunk of the day without it hurting.
Slight downside, I'm as high as a kite, the first have of the day I was a very smiley happy spaceman - walked into a shop and blew £400 on 2 jumpers and a bobble hat. What the actual? That is not me...but they were very pretty and I was very smiley....I shall refrain from going in any shops when using these drugs to avoid bankruptcy

I do hope you are all having a lovely weekend and ideally hiding from this horrible rain and resting with a cheesy film and a giant fluffy blanket

@ForestFlowerFairy it sounds like you have treated yourself to some beautiful things. You can surround yourself with warmth and love and fluffiness.

I got myself some plants, but managed to kill one off already 😅

I'm recovering well from surgery 2. Keeping dressing so hair is a disaster but need to try and wash it now.

Good Morning all :)
How is everyone? New week. Pissing down here. Lovely.

@Ventressthank you 🌺. It’s not your fault either. We know this, our brains can be absolute traitors sometimes. Tosser brain!

Ventress, if you’re struggling with cannula and i‘m reading you have private healthcare - would you consider a port? The port is under the skin, less risk of infection, doesn’t need weekly flushing and just makes life a lot easier. You can bathe/shower as normally with a port too, no covering it up. I forget mine is there now.

Also, please do use your private healthcare. I transferred all of mine privately and things do move a lot quicker. You also get access to regular F2F appts with your oncologist. I felt a bit weird going private initially but I’m glad I did now (I’d had 3 weeks of chemo privately before the NHS hospital
called me to make an appt to get the chemo ball rolling...). Mine is with AXA and I can’t fault them at all. A nurse from AXA calls me occasionally as well just to ask how I’m doing and if there’s anything that she needs to be doing for me. There could well be additional treatments available that can be funded by your healthcare but not the NHS. It doesn’t have to go through panels for approval etc, as long as it’s licenced in the UK, the healthcare provider should pay. I also get all my pre-chemo bloods done at home through the Lloyds clinical service, so on a Tuesday a nurse pops round and I can do it all from the comfort of my couch! This service is national too so you could do this.

Just hearing about your sister (even if it’s not the case for me) brings me joy, because there’s hope I won’t feel as terrible on the EC as I’m expecting.

Eyebrows - it might be worth you getting these done before they might start to fall out, because the tattooist can use the positioning of your natural eyebrows rather than guess, then once your brows start growing back you won’t have two sets of eyebrows :). I had mine done right at the start and I love them. I had them topped up two weeks ago and they do look fabulous!

@ForestFlowerFairy
I’m similar to you in that I’d rather not speak about it, I even told the psychologist this too and said I’d never had therapy before so forgive me if I’m not doing it right 😂. The jury is still out for me but I’ll keep you all posted.

I’m so pleased that your Onc gave you a drug that is working wonders!! I’d also take being high as a kite as a plus side 😂. Gosh I’m going to need weaning off all these drugs at some point aren’t I. I’m also chuffed you blew £400 on treats for yourself!! Good for you Forest and being very smiley is not a bad thing at the moment. I nearly bought a couch at 3am on steroids last week. Fortunately I remembered I don’t need a new fucking couch and put my phone down before I did any further damage.

You sound a lot brighter too! What’s next for you in terms of getting back on the food?

@cantbelieveIamhere
Sorry to hear you have lump related guilt too. As Ventress says, it’s not your fault! I’m glad you’re feeling better, I know you’ve had a rough time of it. My nurse told me that the first round would be like a freight train and subsequent weeks not as bad (and this was the case for me), so hoping this is the case for you too. If you are suffering with side effects, make a lot of noise to your team so they can adjust things for you.

@FcukBreastCancer
Great to hear you’re recovering from surgery 🥳. I struggle with plants as well, they hate my house. I love the idea of having a forest like @ForestFlowerFairy but I can’t subject the poor plants to that, they’d all be terrified living here wondering whose next…

Sending gentle hugs to all, and if there’s any lurkers undergoing tests then you’re welcome to pop in to say hello, 👋, this thread is for anybody having tests, waiting for results, have a diagnosis etc.

And that's another long message written and deleted!
@FcukBreastCancer house plants I'm not great with I have to be given strict instructions on placement and watering schedule.
Although this weekend I bought some poinsettias and was told not too dry or wet, not too hot or cold, no changes in temperature, breeze and plenty of light. So, they'll be dead in a week!!!!

Outside plants I adore, so I make sure we have the biggest windows wherever possible and lots of green outside. Talking of which, had a quote to do the last 5 windows which includes making 3 into window seats by lowering and adding a wider sill so I am super excited by that, my poor husband however doesn't realise that now means I'm taking some of the driveway and adding another flower bed! We have a line of nasty concrete around the house and some slabs before the gravel starts so I'll be reclaiming that, who needs a path?! And planting so it looks pretty from inside. With it being winter I've decided it should look it's best in winter and just nice and green in summer as it's the only one that can be seen by the road.

And yes @cannaecookrisotto I am feeling so much better and brighter. I know logically the nerve damage is bad and will take a long time to recover, it'll also stop me drinking over the Christmas period BUT the medication works, the pain is reducing and as I reduce my Oxy use my brain is also so much more functional - it feels like a win.

So in terms of eating, officially I'm only signed off for liquids but I've been experimenting, especially as I've realised my throat doesn't hurt it's just the right side of my mouth with the nerve damage.
Most things taste of salt and disgusting so I entered what we usually eat into chatGPT and it gave lots of suggestions on how to adapt the food so it doesn't taste of salt. Most involved adding cream cheese! I did this for a Bolognase yesterday and it was edible! I did struggle with the beef, I think chewing it was a bit much but the pasta with sauce went down well.
It also suggested melon and tinned peaches, neither taste of salt and satisfying for a sweet treat
I've also managed peeled cucumbers in a baby leaf salad with cottage cheese :)
All of which I'd recommend if struggling with the salt taste - apparently whilst my taste buds are zapped and recovering the salt issue should begin to fade over 4-6 weeks

I'm really pleased to hear your updates @ForestFlowerFairy. The consultation with your oncologist sounds incredibly helpful and the new drug sounds very positive (if a little expensive on the wallet!) But then again, who doesn't want a couple of beautiful, expensive, jumpers at this time of year.

Eating again - amazing Adding cream cheese to negate the salt taste is inspired - well done Chat GPT. Tinned fruit was a staple desert when I was in hospital and was actually really nice and something I hadn't had since the days of primary school meals. I am partial to the "fruit cocktail" although too much pineapple can make it a bit acidic.

We have two orchids on the kitchen window sill. Both were gifts and I leave them to DH to tend as I am okay in the garden but the kiss of death to pot pants.

Good luck with washing your hair @FcukBreastCancer. Great that you are recovering well from Surgery 2. Fingers still crossed that margins are clear this time.

Tosser brains indeed @cannaecookrisotto I'm with AXA too and your experience sounds really good. DH opened a claim for me with them when I first went into hospital back in September. They've given me a claim number and allocated me a personal adviser and confirmed that they will cover everything. I haven't used it yet as everything was going well with the NHS and I didn't want to upset anything. I will give them a ring and see what they can offer...

Despite my epic posts on here I'm not much of a talker either. I think the cathartic venting on here really helps. Do you still have your bedside notebook? If I'm awake and having dark thoughts in the night I read my book until I can sleep again. I've done this since I was a child and had nightmares so I'm sticking with it

Thanks also for the eyebrow advice. I hadn't thought of having it done before they go, but your reasoning is really sound! Now that the "big move" is over I feel as though I have some time to do some of the things on my To Do list.

For my update, I had, as you all know, been rather down since my last oncology appointment and finding out that the cancer had spread to my bones. I wasn't looking forward to the appointment as I just feel that every time I saw the consultant I got more bad news. But, it went well, I finally had some positive news and feel that there is a plan to move forward. I was told that my cancer markers have almost halved since my chemo began and that I can move off chemo and onto the anti-hormone treatment.

I have now started to take the Letrozole tablets. I have to be taking these for two weeks before I can also start on the Ribociclib treatment. The Zoledronic acid treatment is now signed off and I will start to have this by infusion every four weeks. The plan now is to have another four weeks of chemo to see me past the next CT scans and oncology appointment. But, I will hopefully have stopped the chemo by Christmas.

I have been physically and emotionally shattered these last few weeks so to get some positive news is so encouraging. I'm considering taking next week as sick leave and staying in bed for as long as possible.

It's DH's birthday this week so I have booked a table for an early dinner at the village pub. They do lovely food (including epic Sunday lunches if Dan is still reading!) DH and DS went to see Radiohead last night. I am gutted to have missed it but unless someone invented teleportation so that I could just materialise in my seat and then back home afterwards there was no way I was going to be strong enough to make it.

Best wishes to all

(typo edit)