On the 28th July 2011, my life changed in one phone call with the simple words - 'yes - it's cancer'. I've created this blog, for the benefit of my wonderful close and extended family; and for my amazing friends around the globe, so I can keep you abreast (!) of my journey.

My diagnosis of 2 x grade 3 (fast growing) tumours - type - 'Triple-Negative' - so called
because it doesn’t
have receptors (proteins on the surface
of cells) for the hormones oestrogen and
progesterone, or a protein called HER2, was shocking. This rare aggressive sub-type of breast cancer, therefore, doesn't respond to common
hormonal treatments, such as tamoxifen or
anastrozole (Arimidex®
) or
trastuzumab (Herceptin®
). Survival rates are considerably lower, than for more common types of breast cancer, especially in years 0 - 5, but on a par 5+ years post treatment.

Fast forward to December 2020. Secondary cancer . Triple negative again but the tumour localised to the scar of the primary cancer. The prognosis is weaker. I am buying myself time - with chemo currency.

This will not be a sad tale - but I hope it will amuse you, inspire you, and most of all allow me to lean on you from afar, as you guide me through what looks like a rocky road ahead.

I can't guarantee a happy ending, but hope to make you laugh to the end.

Monday, 19 September 2011

Good news...!

Some good news...my full body scan last week is clear! That really is terrific...because we all know if they'd found any cancer elsewhere in this body of mine - it would be seriously pants.


I've been summoned to the chemo unit in Barnstaple for my induction(!) on Wednesday this week. I guess it's to have a look round, meet the staff, have a chat about what's to come etc. Bit like a new job really. I think then, that my first dose of the toxic nectar will be the following Thursday, 29th September.
Ooohhhh...just think..I'll be a baldy by mid October! I'm quite looking forward to wearing my new wigs - a blonde bob, and a longer blonde wavy flicked number. Plus some fab hats...a couple of them from the good old US of A...they do cancer fashion much better than us! We don't seem to have progressed much from knitted tea-cosies or triangle scarves in mystic meg style. I keep trying to find a business opportunity through this journey of mine - perhaps I could design some decent headgear.
And because I'm quite a girly girl, I'm booked in to have semi-permanent eyebrows and eyeliner tattooed on, on Friday. I'm more nervous about this than the chemo! I don't like eyebrows that are drawn on like Aunt Sally's in Worzel Gummidge - but when they've all fallen out - there isn't much option...except for something more permanent, with a natural look (apparently). I do hope I don't end up with two black eyes and a pair of caterpillars crawling up my face!
We bid farewell to Bill, my father-in-law on Friday. It went well.
We, and 200 other mourners gave him a jolly good send off.....Bill would have enjoyed it, if he had been there! All his family & friends gathered in one place, recalling good times and happy memories. I had written the eulogy, and my Dad delivered it. Yes, Dad delivered it but not in the correct order....he managed to read pages 1,2,4, the punchline, then page 3..there was no going back - still, it made it memorable! As memorable as when the Vicar committed our 'sister' Bill to heaven...sister?....news to us! For Gary and me - it was the sight of our really good friends that made it special. They had come to pay their respects to Bill - but really had come to support Gary - and that filled our hearts with gladness. Thanks guys.
Lily had a sleep-over at some lovely friends of ours....I say sleep-over..but I suspect more of a 'wake-over'! We didn't take her with us, as we didn't want her to witness any unnecessary sadness. She did ask me though, if we were going to burn Grandad Bill on Nana's fire in the lounge...talk your way out of that one! Would have been cheaper though...perhaps we should have suggested it!
Farewell Bill.
God Bless.
Sleep tight x
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