Hi everyone.
It is a year to the day since I heard those fateful words "there's a large lump there," and was sent straight to A&E. It has without doubt been the very worst year of my life. Hospital stays, biopsies, scans, drainages, chemo, operations, more chemo, a few weeks of false hope thinking it had gone away, and now back on the chemo again.
But I've got through the first year and plan to get through another few yet! Aside from the worsening shakes (I spilled water all over the chemo waiting room floor yesterday), brain fog and general weakness and fatigue, I feel pretty good at the moment.
Friends and family have been great - my DDs have been wonderful, not fussing but just being there and helpful and carrying on as normal, which is exactly what I want for them.
Some family members have tended to fuss, which isn't as helpful - saying they're going to drive me to places for example, when I don't need driving at all... And asking me the same questions over and over again - "So how long will you have chemo for?", "xx thinks you're hiding something". I understand they're at a loss to know what to do though.
Some friends have fallen off the radar - after initial helpfulness they don't contact me now. Others have been - and continue to be -
marvellous. Not fussing, but meeting up for coffee and texting me every week or so.
And everyone posting on here and on my first thread has been fantastic. The support you have given me has probably been the most valuable of all. Knowing I'm not alone and that so many of you have been in similar situations is very reassuring (though not good for you obviously!).
So thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here for me.
The future is uncertain but I'm taking things one day at a time.