Wed 20/06/18 – Bookends and the Devil – 11 mths 3 days

NHS staff 3, cumulative 368

I keep thinking I have nothing left to tell you, but it keeps coming…..

In the last few weeks, there have been a few ‘Firsts’ for me and I will bookend those with a couple of endings.

Ending number 1 is completing the Rivaroxaban for the pulmonary embolus I had, let’s hope I don’t have to go there again.

Now for the Firsts:

For the first time since 21 July 2017, I am drug free, although I’m thinking I need something to make me run a bit faster.

This week has seen the first people in Jordan & Montenegro viewing my blog – another couple for the blog map.

I’ve had my first haircut in a year, not that you’d notice the difference. It was less curly for about 2 days, then reverted to brillo pad. For those wanting an up to date hair photo:

My eyebrows have grown back rather sparsely and after seeing a picture of Helen Mirren looking fantastic with hers, decided for the first time in my life to have them tinted.  Not too bad a result, at least they don’t look like 2 slugs.

I’ve had my first swim since last July – a complete joy to be able to do that again.

I’ve had my first holiday since last June. We went in the camper for a week to the Cowal Pennisula overlooking the Kyles of Bute with a bunch of friends – very lovely area and spent the time walking, cycling, kayaking, eating and drinking.

Unfortunately while there, I managed to pick up a tick in my side (I know Mike, Sick Note strikes again!).  After being successfully removed by Dr Evans, it seems I’ve escaped developing  Lyme Disease.

Undergoing Chemotherapy apparently changes your skin and it loses its ability for life to filter out UV sunrays.  I am therefore very susceptible to developing skin cancer. I now have to either cover up or wear factor 50 and wear a hat in strong sun.  Despairing of my lily white legs, I decided for the first time in my life to apply some fake tan.  Now, the stuff I bought is colourless when you apply it, so you can’t really tell where you’ve applied it and where you haven’t.  The result for me was an Epic Tan Fail.  I ended up looking like someone had chucked a tin of paint over me.  That’s the first and last time I’ll do that and resign myself to being a pale flower for the rest of my life.  Its better than the alternative of developing a brother Gerald for Bertie.

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I completed the Race for Life a couple of weeks ago with my Neasham Team.  It was a great day out, very emotional.  To date, including gift aid, we have raised a magnificent £4,376 which is fantastic.  Thank you to everyone who donated, it is very much appreciated.

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Dr Mounter has given me a Fit to Fly letter.  Great, I thought, I can start planning holidays now the first immunotherapy treatment is out of the way.  Wrong! – Travel insurance companies are the devil.  I am too risky apparently with my medical score being sky high.  White Cell Count of 3 doesn’t meet the minimum insurance requirement of 4 or above – therefore I am at risk of infection.  8 weeks has not yet lapsed after the end of blood clot meds.  I am not 2 years or more into remission and my immunotherapy counts as ongoing cancer treatment.  6 companies declined to give me a quote, 5 companies gave a quote of between £215 and £400 for a single European trip.  They won’t even think about giving me a quote for an annual policy.  Now listen up….. Eurotunnel quoted me £80 for an annual multi trip policy for a couple.  After declaring my medical history, I was told as long as my prognosis was not terminal and my consultant agreed to my travel, that quote stands – yippee!

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I had an End of Life Saving Treatment review meeting this week with my 2 lovely Clinical Nurse Specialists Anna and Nicky.  It was all very uplifting and positive.  I feel 100% well (I’ve done the Park Run this morning of writing) and so far the only lasting effects are tenderness inside my abdomen from Radiotherapy, mild neuropathy in my left big toe and a couple of fibrotic veins, which may or may not take years to heal.  I can live with that.

The nurses also gave me a book – Self Management of a Long Term Health Condition and asked me to review it for them. I am the first patient to do so.  If positive, they will order more copies for other patients.  This is my holiday reading for next week – 5 days in the camper over Lancaster way.  They are also setting up some groups in Darlington for specific cancers, Myleoma first followed by Lymphoma and asked if I would like to be involved – of course I would be delighted to as I feel I could contribute a lot of cancer wisdom from my experience.  I really hope that pans out.

Thats all this time folks – have great weekend.