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.

Saturday, 4 January 2014

Six months on...

I know - six months is an awfully long time to leave a post - but hey! I've been too busy living it up..well - ok - living.
For those who didn't get a Christmas newsletter - it will come as no surprise, that just after my last post (no pun intended) - Gary - My Mr Dependable, Mr Solid, Mr Calm-in-a-crisis, Mr Witty Funny Man....had a breakdown. A mental, physical and verbal breakdown. He just stopped one day. It had come after months of trying to do the 'right' thing. He was working extremely hard. Had taken promotion, involving working away - wanting to be the provider of the family so I didn't have to work. He was surviving with me & my cancer, survived but hadn't dealt with his father's death, accepting the inevitability of becoming a single parent to lovely Lily. And just when things were technically calming down...Gary's world went into turmoil. It's how the brain copes. 2 years of S.H.I.T. dropped and floored him. 
And it was scary.
Real scary.
And messy too....
I pick him off the floor and hugged him.
We went together to see GP's & pharmacists & therapists.
I went alone to see his employers.
One months bed rest.
Three months intense therapy - involving car restoration (don't ask)/exercise & talking therapy.
A nine week rehabilitation phased return to work.
Regular exercise
Cutting out sugar (He's still the same Slim-Jim I married but borderline diabetes)
Swimming
Joining the gym.
And he's back...well in a fashion...the rise from the ashes is not a smooth journey - it has bumps along the way - two steps forward/one back and all that - but we are winning the battle.

 So - what do I do while all this is going on? Go and get myself a job of course! (When the going gets tough - the tough get going!). So while I won the court battle - a year had actually passed - and I did feel fit enough to work again (that's irony for you!). I knew it would be tough going. I have of course been a lazy bum for two years....not quite making the grade as a fully fledged housewife. I knew there would be a pain barrier to cross - and a confidence dam to be breached. And I was picky. Part time. Within 15 mins commute. No pressure. Do some good. Use my skills. Earn some money. Find ME again.
So - I'm now the Finance/Office Manager of a homeless/poverty charity called Encompass Southwest. 
And I love it. 
Yes, I'm knackered. 
Yes, the house is a mess. 
Yes, I forget to turn up at last-day-of-school playground carol singing (Ho Ho Ho).
But I'm me.
Working.
Living.
With cancer - for sure.
But living.
For now.
And I'm so grateful to get a second chance.

 Happy New Year!
Wheeeeeeeee!

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