jollylolly1's blog

Virgin haircut and other bits and pieces

2010-04-28T10:23:40Z

An update since we got back from the states nearly 2 months ago. We've settled down again and believe it or not, apart from my very close friends I don't miss it at all. In fact I would go as far to say I am loving life right now. Today at 2pm I am having my first haircut since losing it last July. I'm going to have it pixie, bleached blonde, and then tomorrow I have my first real check up since finishing all the treatment. I am quite realistic and realise that whatever will be will. I feel healthy and my energy levels are coming back. I'm loving restoring the garden to its former glory and finishing the day looking mucky but happy.

John is going back to America next week with his job and I was going to travel with him but guess what? I can't get insurance - damn. They won't even look at me. We're going to Italy at the end of May and got a quote for 1009GBP (don't have a pound sign on my keyboard) for one week - absolutely crazy.

Mia, our American cat has settled down and she is happy as can be. Unfortunately, Pepper - my English cat is not so happy. I'm sure they will get along eventually but I'm ok as long as they tolerate each other

I think I left my brain in America because 2 weeks ago I put the wrong fuel in the car - I put unleaded petrol in a diesel engine and we have just received the bill. It could have been much worse as I had already driven 80 miles before I realised. I pulled over into a layby in the middle of nowhere and then the car wouldn't start again. It serves me right because I reckon if there was a god he was paying me back because we had my daughter's friend from Australia in the car and she talked non stop, so much so that I wanted to tell her to shut up so I could hear the GPS, and I was relieved that we were on our way home - unfortunately I had to then spend another 4 hours listening to her until the breakdown truck came to pick us up. What an idiot I am. Last week I didn't put the handbrake on the car and it rolled off the drive into the road, can you believe it. My new neighbour from across the road knocked on the door and asked me if it was my car blocking the road! Durrr! I had a line of traffic stopped because my car had completely blocked the road. I think I need to put my brain in gear before I do anything in future.

Ok, that's all the news and gossip for now so take care of yourselves and stay strong.

Love and hugs

X Factor

2009-12-05T21:36:50Z

Ok you lot on the other side of the pond. I'm already having withdrawal symptoms from X Factor. I watched every single show until I flew back here last Monday. Sad I know.

Did I miss much and who is going tomorrow. I need to know.

Love

Lorraine

Noone knows what's around the corner

2009-11-16T18:39:26Z

A very good evening to everyone.

16 down - 4 to go and radiotherapy is over. I have an appointment for brachytherapy next Tuesday and really not looking forward to that but then the treatment is complete - absolutely brilliant. So far I think I've got off very lightly so long may it continue.

Today my husband has been given 6 months notice from his job in America so we are coming back for good. I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Although we have American health insurance it's a minefield with very expensive co-pays. The company have been amazing with John and have flown him back for every chemotherapy session and he goes with me for every radiotherapy session. Our visas expire in March 2010 and his boss doesn't want us to renew them (to be perfectly honest I feel that my cancer has had a lot to do with their decision - but may be wrong). Maybe his work has suffered with the continual travelling back and forth - who knows. He has also been trying to work American hours here which is pretty difficult. They must think very highly of him as they have found him another position within the company which will still involve liaising with the US but will be UK based.

So the next step will be to fly back to Philadelphia around end of November to start making preparations for bringing our adopted cat (Mia) back - I just hope she gets on with our English cat (Pepper) - at least they talk the same language, haha. The only problem is Mia is an inside cat and has been declawed (they do it as a matter of course out there), personally I think it's cruel but she was already declawed when we adopted her. Pepper is an outdoor cat with all her claws and I hope they don't fight because I know who'll win - any suggestions for a peaceful transition from you cat lovers out there would be appreciated. We will be back for 2 weeks over Christmas and for my 6 week check and then will fly out for the last time untl early March.

It's been an adventure living in America for 5 years and have visited so many different cities but I really love England and am so happy to be coming home permanently. It's not true what they say "The grass isn't always greener".

This is one happy lady signing off for the evening.

Lots of love and hugs

Lorraine

Radiotherapy

2009-10-25T18:48:17Z

Hi guys

Radiotherapy starts tomorrow - 20 sessions over the next 4 weeks and then one session of brachytherapy on November 24th. Hopefully the next week I will be on a plane back to New Jersey.

I am not too sure if I should change my diet immediately to the refined food list as recommended by the hospital or continue with my healthy eating and adopt a watch and wait attitude. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also I feel a little concerned about the permanent side effects of radiotherapy. Has anyone had ongoing problems after radiotherapy? Strange really - chemo didn't bother me as much as the radiotherapy.

Thanks for listening.

Lorraine

I can see light at the end of the tunnel

2009-09-30T12:43:03Z

Hi everyone

I had my last chemo yesterday and I really can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I can honestly say that the journey so far has not been too bad. I had to spend one night in Christies last week because of neutropenia and a water infection but was allowed out the following day with a course of antibiotics. No sickness, mouth problems or neuropathy just a few joint pains on days 4 & 5. My weight has remained pretty stable, although appetite has been a little up and down. I even still have a few eyelashes but as we say up north "nowt else".

So I now embark on the next stage of my journey and have an appointment with a radiologist on Thursay afternoon at Christies. We were hoping to be back in America before Christmas but my oncologist told that I would need a rest between chemo and radiotherapy. This seems a bit strange to me as I have noticed a few blogs saying that they were having combined radio/chemo!!! I guess we are in their hands and have to follow their advice. I have already told him that we intend renew our visas for another 2 years but come back every 3 months for checkups. If I get symptoms inbetween I can always see someone over there and he can have all my notes faxed over. He reckons that would work ok. Although the chances of it recurring are 60% as it's an aggressive cancer and stage 3, I am determined not to sit around and wait for it to come back.

My husband was reading about the side effects of radiotherapy and when given in the pelvic area it can cause problems with the bladder and bowel. Can anyone throw a bit of light on this for me? I am not sure which area they will zap as everything cancerous was removed when I had surgery in May. The radiologist will probably explain all this tomorrow.

Oki doki guys, wish you all a very happy Wednesday.

Love and hugs

Lorraine

Upbeat message

2009-08-18T06:15:17Z

Hi everyone I love reading the blogs on this site and I thought I would send an upbeat message about my chemotherapy treatment. After being diagnosed with this damn disease on May 1st we flew back to England for treatment (even though we have American medical insurance). Time will tell if we made the right decision. I had my 4th cycle of 6 yesterday with 2 more to go. This will be then followed by 20 sessions of external and 2 sessions of internal radiation - yuck. After reading about some of the gruelling side effects of this particularly chemotherapy I was obviously a little concerned how I would cope. To cut a long story short I feel amazing. I have had no nausea or neuropathy and am currently walking 5 -6 miles every other day. I even spoke to my oncologist and asked him if I was on the correct dose, haha. I have lost my hair completely, which was very traumatic at the time but now I don't mind wearing a wig or scarfs. All my friends and family told me that I look like Sinead O'Connor but to be perfectly honest I think I look like Uncle Fester from the Adams Family, haha. In fact when I was having my chemo yesterday one of the ladies from "Head Start" called in and asked me if I was interested in any headscarves or a wig. When I said no thanks she asked me if I was going to lose my hair - I laughed my socks off and told her I was wearing a wig - boy did that make me feel good. My neighbour also asked me if I had just had my hair cut and coloured and she couldn't believe it when I told her it was a wig. She was very embarrassed but I gave her a hug and told her that she had actually paid me a compliment. I have even started playing golf again and my only concern was that my wig would fly off whilst user my driver off the tee - luckily it stayed in place. I realise that there are numerous chemo treatments and these effect everyone differently but I just wanted to let you know that some of us are lucky and sail through (I hope I'm still saying that after cycles 5 & 6). Take care and keep smiling Lorraine x