16th January 2013

3 minute read time.
Where has the last few weeks gone!! Well I'm glad to report that Cinders did go to the New Years Eve ball in the end! I managed to get a last minute place on the day, so hurriedly packed my posh frock and sparkly bandana and checked in at the hotel with my six friends! I had a couple of glasses of champers and I danced the night away until 1am. I have been doing my Pilates classes and gym workouts regularly, followed up by some pool side lounging with my kindle. All was going well and I've been feeling pretty good, until I had my pre chemo blood test last Tuesday and found that my white blood cell count was very low at 0.6. I had re-test on Friday and it was only up to 0.7, so chemo number 3 didn't happen! It was a big set back and I was surprised at how badly I took it. Chemo 3 was a psychological landmark for me and so It hit me hard when it didn't happen. Suddenly Mrs Strong became Mrs Weak again! I had a good cry and really wanted to hide away for a few days, but a close friend told me to pack a bag and come and stay with her. I did as I was told, for a change, and I'm so glad I did. As always, I dusted myself off and picked myself up and got over the bump in the road. I had another blood test on Tuesday and my count was up to 2.7, so chemo can go ahead this Friday, hoo flipping rah!! It has knocked all my chemo cycles on a week, which has caused repercussions to plans I have in my diary, but I will just have to adapt to that. I will have an injection to stimulate my bone marrow from now on the day after each chemo, so the white cell issue shouldn't happen again. The adverse weather warnings for Friday is a bit of a worry and I just hope I can get to the hospital on Friday and Saturday. I had a complimentary back massage and reflexology on Monday at a local cancer care charity, called Rowan Tree, which was wonderful. I am booked in every Monday for six weeks and can continue after that. My boss had raised money at work on my behalf for the Rowan Tree charity and so I was very pleased to be able to present the chief executive of the charity with a cheque. There are pics of me presenting the cheque on their Facebook page. My niece is running the London Marathon on my behalf for Cancer Research Wales and my friends daughter is running a half marathon on my behalf for the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre. I am continuously humbled at the amount of support and love I have received from so many people and it is so heartwarming that cancer charities are benefitting from it. My bandana collection is growing every week! My head bristles are growing in patches and can get itchy at times - my dear friend said she would get me a Brillo pad to scratch it with when I was relieving the itchiness by rubbing my head on her sofa cushion! My eyebrows have thinned, but my eyelashes are so far intact. I guess time will tell as to whether I lose everything. Signing off for now and I hope to report back that the after effects of Fridays chemo will be as good as last time. I will take my lower dose steroids again for the three days, but will leave out the rest of the anti sickness meds again. Bye for now :-D xx
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