Cancer and Cakes

Chestnuts, Radiotherapy, Tattoos and Linear Accelerators

2021-10-08T17:54:00Z

I felt chestnuts (marron) couldn't be left out of blogs about food and breast cancer, no guesses for why. I don’t sleep that well at the moment; I’m waking up in the middle of the night and feeling wide awake. On one occasion I snuck down...(read more)

Keeping abreast - the weeks after my lumpectomy (10 August 2021)

2021-08-14T15:51:00Z

I have a lot to be grateful for. The breast lump has been removed and hadn't spread to my lymph nodes and family colleagues and friends have all been a tremendous support. Sleeping Lying on your stomach is a very good sleeping position if you have Co...(read more)

The day of the operation (21 July 2021)

2021-08-14T15:50:00Z

I came across a lovely quote which struck a chord with me, and I remind myself about this whenever anxious thoughts about the future start to run away with me and am attaching it to this blog. I was anxious but having tussled with the truculent...(read more)

Recovery (26 July 2021)

2021-08-14T15:27:00Z

The day after my operation I felt pretty tired. Surprisingly I hadn't slept for more than 2½ hours - I'd expected a far longer sleep as I still have the anaesthetic inside me, but perhaps the adrenaline was pumping through me? The pain wasn't ...(read more)

Sci-Fi - decontamination and nuclear medicine (19 July 2021)

2021-08-14T15:19:00Z

I was inspired to bake a Raspberry Blue marble sci-fi cake by the incredible science behind my upcoming operation. Creating this cake took me out of myself to invent a cake that represented where I am at the moment. I'm no good at 'mindfulness' ...(read more)

Reflections on NCT pizza nights and cup sizes (1 July 2021)

2021-08-14T15:12:00Z

Okay, Pizza isn't really a cake, but it's is connected with my breast lump and the NCT. The NCT connection When I was pregnant with my first child I joined a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) group for anti-natal classes. The woman who led it...(read more)

Distraction techniques - perfect 'healthy' meringues! (27 June 2021)

2021-08-14T15:05:00Z

As a distraction until I see the Consultant at the Marsden to hear about my treatment pathway for a breast lump that's going to come out, we invited a few friends over, along with those of our son (who's just come out of isolation having recently ret...(read more)

One lump or two? (24 June 2021)

2021-08-14T15:01:00Z

It's been a busy week. Some normality and some surrealism. I've done a bit of work and had some lovely social times with family and friends and felt buoyed up by the love, warmth and kindness of all those I've told about my breast lump. As expected, ...(read more)

The waiting game and avoiding osteoporosis - a lemon cheesecake with rhubarb compote (20 June 2021)

2021-08-14T14:49:00Z

I'm playing the waiting game at the moment and what better activity to take my mind off things before I go to The Marsden to get the results of a biopsy on my breast lump than do some baking? I thought I would make a start by sharing my thoughts abou...(read more)

The waiting days - a cherry tart and the recall (11 June 2021)

2021-08-14T14:41:00Z

Having had some wonderful highs at the end of May and beginning of June (a sky-dive from 15,000ft with my youngest child, a lovely trip to Kew Gardens with a friend) I landed with a bump when an envelope came through our letterbox inviting me back fo...(read more)