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Cancer stole my identity
It is now over three months since my diagnosis of an aggressive form of breast cancer, and I had no idea how short a time it would take for this horrible disease to change my life and rob me of my identity. For over twenty years I have been Finance Director and part owner of…
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Another bump in the road
Just when I thought I was beginning to understand the rhythm of chemotherapy, the weekend had other ideas. Having sailed through round two of my targetted treatments without any major dramas, I rather optimistically assumed I was on the home straight for a “good” and “positive” cycle. Instead, Saturday was spent clocking up six hours…
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Little wins and #LittleLifts
When people talk about “little wins”, they often mean the obvious things: getting through a difficult appointment, reaching a treatment milestone, or ticking something off the list that once seemed impossible. But sometimes a little win is much smaller than that. Sometimes it’s simply getting home. After my unexpected hospital stay, I was allowed home…
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Positivity vest
My positivity vest has worked!! 🎉 I can go home around 5pm… Honestly, I am so very grateful to be allowed home at last, and I got all teary when the oncologist said I could 🥹 She is reasonably positive that this was a one-off, and that things should be much better next time. To…
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Food for thought
British hospital food has long been the butt of jokes. I haven’t exactly helped, having rated the breakfasts here in earlier posts. On Saturday, based on the previous couple of days, I reduced my expectations slightly for the breakfast by omitting the Bucks Fizz. That was a good move on my part, because today’s breakfast…
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Settling in
Once again, I could not sleep. So, around dawn, tentatively stepped outside the confines of my room for the first time since I arrived and peeped into the little garden across the corridor – there was a tiny finch in the tree singing its little heart out 💛 Breakfast review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆A definite improvement on yesterday:…
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Well, here we are…
I survived another night, so things are looking up IMHO😀 The upset stomach continues, so I’m back on a drip for fluids. I’ve also developed a skin rash, and my chest has now been “Sharpied” with what looks like a pirate treasure map. 🫣 The doctor will be round later to review everything, but all…
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First chemo + 2: It’s starting to catch up
NB: These posts are written from notes I made at the time. Some days they are reflections; some days they are simply a record of getting through the next hour. I think I managed to pace myself reasonably well today. I did a little work, had a nap when I needed one, did some ironing,…
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First chemo + 1: The fear was worse than the needle
The day after my first chemo session was, surprisingly, not too bad. I felt OK throughout the day and was able to do most things as normal, which felt like a small victory. I knew the treatment effects might not appear immediately, so I was cautiously optimistic – but also aware that I was still…
