Radiotherapy step one

Friday, 25th June 2010
Had an appointment today to be measured up for the Radiotherapy. This was a laugh. The nurses were very nice and we had a good chat. As she was going through my charts I was telling her what was to happen and she was surprised at how much I knew about the treatment. Well I did have prior knowledge with my mom.
They lay me on the bed and then got me do some poses with my arm set in a cradle and knees over a cushion, then they strapped my neck up. They left me there for at least 10 minutes.
When they got back I became a marked woman, they have put two tattoos on me, one on my chest and the other just under my arm. These to help them guide in when I come for the treatments later on.
The worst past of the whole thing is that I will have to back and forth to Clatterbridge in the Wirral, which is over 40 minutes away. At least there are things that we can do while we are flitting hither and thither.

Treatment No. 5

I know it has been a long time since my last posting and I should have kept you up to date with my fifth treatment, but I have been so busy and the treatment went reasonably well that it just escaped me. My best mate came round for the England game (not that it was worth it, but at least I am getting some football in).
I was gutted that I could not attend a regular conference this year in of all places Newcastle. I could have done so much like catch up with rellies and all that entails. But treatment comes first.
This time round I had a strategy and stuck to it. Guess what it worked. I had little issue other than just feeling generally run down.
For the first time I am able to watch Wimbledon and finding it difficult to concentrate, but this something I am getting used to. I have the powers of a gold fish ... sorry what was I talking about ... yes I remember I have this wonderful add on to everything else Chemo head, I can not remember things. I can remember the important things, but other stuff like words and things that happened only a few moments ago escape me.

My busy social calander

What have I been doing in the past couple of weeks.

A big first was going to my beautician, I am working my way through her treatment list, and had my first ever pedicure. When my husband got home I found out why I have never had a pedicure, he does not like painted toe nails. Well tough I am off this summer and wearing some lovely sandals that need a little more decoration.

I have been fitted with my prosthetic, which is an eye opener to my cup size. I don't think it is reflective though as the operation was to the chest wall and I have to be built up to fit the bra. So not a chicken fillet!!

Popped into the office and had lunch with what of the team there was. Some were off on their jollies, others were working at other sites. Those that were there it was great to see and catch up on their adventures on the Race for Life walk. (See previous blog).

I caught up with another friend at Toastmasters and was the Grammarian for the evening with a well used word as words of the day go. In case you want to use it the word was Edify - be an uplifting moral or intellectual influence on. We were also treated to what I hope to be an International winning speech.

Went down to Brum to see friends and family. We timed it well as a cousin was celebrating a biggish birthday and we could spend some time with them at their open house B-B-Q. We got to catch up with other family members and not at a funeral which has been the case over recent years. We then watched England's opening match at friends with friends. Pizza delivery was well timed and those not into football or who would disrupt the match were sent out to get the curries and chip shop take aways. We finished the weekend with a lovely lunch with our kind hostess, as unfortunately the host was at work.

I have also caught up with some very old friends, that is friends of long standing. It was a PowerTalk Topics Contest at Cheshire Communicators. I didn't do a bad show even if the topic was sooooooooo not me. In the end there was a worthy winner.


I had a fabulous and quite unexpected lunch with a friend and caught up on all the gossip, not that I am one to gossip. I even went to the Trafford Centre without buying anything (wonders will never cease).

Most importantly of all I now have something to watch in the daytime. The start of the World Cup heralded my summer. We will not talk of England, but I do think it will end in tears, whose and how I won't say, it just won't be pretty. Still to come is Wimbledon my days and weeks are planned.

Race for Life

Last weekend the girls from work walked the Race for Life in Chester. We even managed to get all of them to wear pink, including the dog.
I have checked the Race for Life sponsorship site and found that they have currently raised nearly £100 from a projected £50.
Don't be shy there is still time to sponsor them the link is at the top of the blog page.
Still with Race for Life and fund raising I am running a Body Shop party as a thank you. There will be a raffle of Body Shop products, with other funds going to the overall total.
There have other walker, joggers and runners doing their bit for Race for Life Team Laura and I want to thank them. Unfortunately I do not have their pictures but they know who they are.

Life's not fair

I have not uttered these words till today. Not for me but for the fact a friend of mine wrote to me and told me about her daughter. I may moan about how ill I am, but I know I am a bad patient and I hate being ill but today I was stopped in my tracks and feel guilty for even thinking I had problems.
My friends' daughter is waiting to hear if she has ovarian cancer. A girl who is still into my little pony (sorry if she isn't) and all things fluffy and pink.
Life is just not fair!
My thoughts are with them all at this time and I wish only for good news in the coming days. Hold on in there.

Surreal TV

Last night had the most surreal things on TV.
Firstly watching the likes of Zinedine Zidane being tackled by Ben Shephard, who more used to asking questions of stars on the red carpet or the morning sofa and Jamie Theakston, who more at home behind the microphone, saving shots from Henrik Larsson. There again it was for a good cause for Soccer Aid and UNICEF. Only wish I could have been at Old Trafford to see it. Well done to all who took part and to Rupert Penry-Jones (get well soon).
Secondly watching the opening of the BAFTA Television awards and seeing Hollywood Director Tim Burton coming out of the TARDIS on the red carpet. I know he was there to support his wife Helena Bonham Carter, but it just looked odd. The ray of sunshine was when Richard Armitage was on stage to present an award. A shame that Spooks did not win in their category.
FOOTNOTE:
24 is over, thank you Jack Bauer for your long service.

Desert Island Discs Revisited

I made a mistake with my reading material. On reflection I would like to take the full works of Elizabeth Gaskell instead of the full works of Jane Austen.
The reasoning behind the change is based on a conversation with a friend I had a few days ago discussing the 200th anniversary of Elizabeth Gaskell this year.

For those in the UK there events around the Northwest and an exhibition at John Rylands Library in Manchester from July.

 Elizabeth Gaskell is a much forgotten Victorian novelist and biographer. Even though she was born in Chelsea, after the death of her mother she was sent to an uncle in Knutsford, Cheshire. This is where Cranford is based and the people who lived in around Knutsford feature heavily in her tales. This is the lightest of her writings and do not reflect the best of her work.
When she married and moved to Manchester she was more involved with the social aspects of the Industrial Revolution and this is reflected in her best works. Mary Barton and North & South. During these years she entertained the Brontes, Dickens and other high profile Victorians. Later she would write a biography of Charlotte Bronte.

My favourite novel is North & South. It is a mix of industrial, society and relations. We see both sides of industrial disputes. We see the contrast between the industrial north and the agricultural south. We also see the difference between trade and genteel society. The relations are depicted by thought and limited to the social conventions of the time. We see how the nouvelle riche are more worried about social mores than the lower classes and the established families. Over all John Thornton, mill owner, and Margaret Hale, vicars daughter, find common ground eventually. It does take time, but we see into a world that is long gone. It is a more diluted vision of industrial England but does have a lot to thank Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx and their writings about Manchester.

The BBC did a wonderful adaptation of the book in 2004. Richard Armitage was John Thornton and shows the understated and thoughtful side of the character well. Plus he looks devastating in a cravat and Victorian suit. Margaret Hale is played by Daniela Denby-Ashe who is understated and shows the confusion of supporting the workers as she did in the south and understanding the mill owners. The cinematography is also outstanding by Peter Greenhalgh (who in a previous life worked with my pops). If you have not seen it please search out a copy of the DVD and find 4 hours to sit back and enjoy. If you would prefer the book then I also recommend a few days of cups of tea and sitting in a quiet place and travel back in time.