NHS Staff 6, cumulative 357
Eeek! I’ve had to use a comb for the first time in 8 months – what a chew on. The chemo curls are starting to come, not obvious from these photos.
The blog has been viewed from Iraq, so another country for my blog map.
I’ve been able to try and get on with my life since the end of February, its quite tricky trying to get used to a ‘new normal’ or even trying to work out what is my new normal. I am not the same person anymore and my life will never be the same again. What seemed to matter Before Cancer (BC) no longer does and my tolerance of c**p is now extremely low. To help me with this and to find a way forward, I’ve started having counselling sessions at St. Teresa’s Hospice as well as joining the 6 week Macmillan HOPE course at James Cook Hospital, both of which I’m hoping will be helpful.
I’ve ended all my Complimentary Therapy sessions now as I associate those with the life saving phase of my treatment and I’m now concentrating on the preventative phase. It was fun while it lasted and as the name suggests, very therapeutic. My final session was a lovely Indian Head Massage from Caroline at the hospital.
Dr Kagzi , my Radiotherapy Consultant, signed me back over to Dr. M at the beginning of April. He was very happy with my treatment and so far I’ve had no nasty side effects. I told him I was feeling a 100% until I lay on the bed and he prodded around my abdomen (I don’t do this to myself so wasn’t aware). It was extremely sore and tender, don’t forget, he said, its been hit with beams of radiation and so will be very inflamed inside and will take a while, probably months to subside. I’ve also had a flying visit to the hospital to see Anna for another bout of shingles.
There is the potential for one of the chemo chemicals I received to cause heart issues in later life so its essential I keep my cardio vascular system in tip top shape. To that end, I joined a running group – Sisters R Doing It – mid way through Radiotherapy with the aim of being able to run 5k regularly. Of course I used to run, but with my 2 bionic knees and 8 months of inactivity I really am starting from scratch again.
I’ve signed up for this year’s Race for Life in Darlington to raise some funds for Cancer Research to help give people like me a chance to live. I’d be very grateful for any donations large or small to my giving page – link below – and thank you to those who have already donated:
Click Tina’s Giving Page for Cancer Research
And of course my wig – what a waste of time and money, I’ve never worn it. A few ladies have tried it on for a laugh while drinking prosecco, but that’s about it. Anyone want to buy a wig?
Bertie the Bombshell 