The story so far...

The totally uncontrolled adverts that appear with my blog have often been most unwelcome but the present one takes the biscuit! Thankyou dear 'observant of Norwich' for pointing out the Fertility Cycle Ad which has nothing whatsoever to do with my little old trike!

I was just about to write my blog when some gorgeous flowers were delivered, curtesy of Pete's work....they have been so thoughtful. This is the 3rd bouquet that we've had from them plus M and S vouchers and donations to Cancer Research. 'Other employers' could learn a thing or two here! This week has been very much R and R most of the time.[Radio 4 and Reading] After a busy w/e I was very tired earlier in the week although I'm not too bad now and hope to go to a lecture at Daresbury Labs this evening. It'll probably go right over my head but I'll try to look intelligent and test out my 'chemo brain'.[This condition actually exists and so it looks like I may now have an excuse for forgetting things!]All for now, love Pam X

Just got back from my 2nd chemo injection of this my 7th cycle, so another week of tablets and then just one more complete cycle.[2 injections and 14 days tablets...keep up, I know its complicated!]If all goes according to plan I'll take my last tablet on 14th April. [Good Friday!] Then its the convalescence back to 'a pre chemo hammered state', although it looks like I'll be on 5 years of Tamoxifen to block those naughty oestrogens. So full on menopausal symptoms here I come. Last week I felt fine although the taste thing has returned....maybe its slightly better with the zinc tablets!? I've found that eating soft licorice, given to me by a friend to try, helps to clear the horrible chemical taste that I get in my mouth. Doesn't do a lot for the colour of my teeth but hey maybe they detract from the red blotches I seem to have developed on my face....like with the spotty legs, no one seems to know what they are but I'm hopeful that they'll recede at the end of my chemo. On the hair front you'll be pleased to know that for the first time this morning I shampooed my quater inch mane and whilst in 'certain circles' I could now go bare headed, I don't think that Booths at Knutsford is quite ready for me yet. I've got a busy few days ahead with a couple of theatre trips, [Richard Alston and Blazing Fiddles plus a curry night]and so I'll have to work hard at pacing myself, but as always the distractions are welcome. Although I'll have to extricate myself from the Ian Rankin books that I have been kindly lent and to which I appear to have become addicted! By the way, Beccy and Pete really enjoyed their 1st PADI course last night and so I'm not the only one who's tired today! All for now, Love Pam X

Yes! I've started my 7th chemo cycle. Blood test results all fine and no trouble finding a vein to give me my injection. Irony of ironies, Dr. C. said that he would have given me my chemo last week as I felt OK but his standin was being cautious.So was this supposed to make me feel better?!?

Just got back from a lovely walk with Chas down The Bongs [Wooded, stream walk. Feeds into the Dam] The ground is really hard and there's an icey covering everywhere, very pretty. Hopefully I'll be starting cycle 7 of my chemo this afternoon if my neutrophils are behaving. If I don't start I'll do a little angry supplement to this entry! I'm feeling very well today, not even particularly tired and I have had a great week. On monday I went to the Linda McCartney centre at Liverpool hospital for a 'Look Good, Feel Better' afternoon arranged by the cosmetics industry for women going through chemo. I've never really considered how to do my makeup since I read Jackie magazine and over the years I've just got by with a minimalist approach based on what sufficed back in the 70's! For 2 hours,'glamorous women from various posh cosmetics houses instructed me and about 10 others on how to slap on the products. Very insightful! I'm sure that I won't start spending 15mins.every morning putting on a 'face' but the bag of goodies we got was brilliant and would be worth well over £100! Tuesday I had lunch with a couple of friends from work, who are a little ahead of me on 'the journey'we're travelling and so most welcome company, followed by a rummage through the new Per Una range at M and S. Wednesday was Tai Chi, which I'm enjoying, although I look forward to returning to Yoga as a preference. In the evening was the book group that I attend, which is always good fun. Then thursday I had my acupuncture session followed by a lovely evening out at a local restaurant and the Fairport concert. So all in all the casual observer may be lead to believe that I'm really enjoying myself, off work and on permanent jollies! In truth I'm making the best of my situation when I can, which should be everyone's recipe for life as none of us know how long or short its going to be. Another development this week has been that Beccy and Pete have signed up for a 5 week PADI course [Open Water Diving]at our local leisure centre. They've both been keen to do it for ages and I'm so pleased that it will provide a welcome distraction for them from my situation. Right,time for some lunch before my taste buds get hammered again....all for now, love Pam X