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.

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Two down...four to go...

I dress up for my 2nd round of chemo.
I want to look 'fabulous darhhling!'
Sporting a blonde wig, black knee length boots, a bright pink/red wool skirt & purple poncho combo - I'm ready. And I do receive lovely compliments!
We arrive at 10.30 - greeted by the Spanish lady oncologist Martini - who sees us straight away.
There's a little problem.
With the scan.
That was clear...
Except it's not..
Eh?
You may as well have slapped us with a big wet fish.
There's still a mass showing in the offending left boob.
You naughty, naughty triple neg cancer - just stop this misbehaving - now - if you don't mind.
A full examination later & Martini is fairly satisfied with an explanation of post surgery swelling/fluid where one of the tumours once resided - but it will still be referred to the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting on Thursday. We will wait.
Again.
I send Gary off to do some little jobs - I don't like him watching me being poisoned.
Blood are taken & results are back within 20 mins...amazing.
They are low but OK to go.
Mega anti-sickness administered.  Wait an hour to work. Hook up to a glucose drip.
Accept an NHS soup/ham sandwich/Angel Delight for lunch - we had no time for an M&S sushi this time.
Swap glucose to saline drip and the 8 huge vials (giant sausage roll sized) of my various chemo/steroids/anti-sickness drugs are pumped manually alongside the saline.
It's OK. It's do-able. An extra drug of Pegfilgrastim which I will self inject on Saturday should boost the old bone marrow - to give me my pick-up in week 3.
Less of the fear factor - I know what to expect.
I'm going on a drug-induced binge for several days - I may be gone some time! Wheeeeee!


All done by 3pm & call Gary to collect me.
We head straight back on the road - 3 hours to get back to Sennen in time for tea.
In hindsight...not a good idea.
Who was I kidding? I should have lain down in a darkened room; peace & quiet, no distractions, no kids, no family dynamics. High on steroids - you think you are unbeatable & have everything to prove you are 'normal' - I almost achieved this - but at too high a price.
We returned on Sunday - by 6.30pm I was in bed...and didn't emerge until 5pm Monday.
But the chemo's working.
I've gone from Sinead to Kojak....best of all...Lily has stopped bursting into tears at the sight of me and will actually gingerly touch my baldy head now.
My silk pillow, from a wonderful friend has come into it's own. It's simply divine, luxurious and caresses my beautiful hairless head all night long - thank you again.
So - for this week..
Ignore the holiday washing.
Ignore the clean dirt (!) lurking around the house.
Ignore the pile of ironing.
Ignore the toothpaste splattered sinks.
Ignore the kitchen floor.

Give in to the desires of Hot'n'Sour soup for breakfast or the urgent need of super-sours sweets for lunch.

Concentrate on Rest & Recuperation.
And find the inner strength to fight.
Because - you bugger - I ain't giving up yet...not by a long chalk.
You lose.
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