Hello everyone I havn't posted a proper blog for ages so I though it was time to do another one. As many of you know I had breast cancer in 2003 and it returned last year just before my five year 'sign off' - PAH! Well, what you maybe don't know is that I was finally told I was terminal the day before my birthday last year. Bad timing or what!! So last year I spent my birthday in stunned despair having told my daughters I wasnt going to make it. Since then I have done so much - met some wonderful people and done a whole load of stuff that I probably would never have done, were it not that I have cancer.
I have had quite a deal of treatment over the past year including chemo (for 8 months) and radiotherapy (4 different places) and at the moment am managing to get by one way or another. I decided I was going to try to live in the present rather than looking too far forward at what might become of me - this is not positive thinking - more denial than anything else - but I figure when things go pear shaped (which they undoubtedly will) I will at least be able to look back and remember some daft times and good times. I was never given a definative prognosis of how long I had - but the A team who look after me explained that as my cancer was in my organs as well as my bones it wasnt going to be easy to control. Nevertheless I have survived a year which I am concious is a lot longer than some people get and believe me I am grateful. I am therefore celebrating my birthday and survivng a whole year with a wee party this weekend. Well not so wee - I have over 140 people comming for a pink party with a mix of friends, family and colleagues - and most of my A team from the chemo unit too! Even a few reprobates from whatnow are comming! We are going to wear PINK to represent breast cancer and dance the night away to some 1980s disco numbers (my era) ! I know how lucky I am to have this time and all these people to celebrate with! So raise a glass on Friday night to celebrate 'Defying the odds' with me if you will. Lots of love Jools xxxxx
FormerMember
Dear Jools,
I'm so sad that I will miss your pink party, but I will certainly be raising a glass to you continuing to defy the odds, if the nurses will let me, and I'll even upload some dodgy 80s numbers to my ipod to boogie on down to!
It was wonderful to meet you in Leicester, and I do hope that we will get to meet again so that we can share a bottle or two of pink fizz, purely for medicinal purposes of course.
Being diagnosed with cancer, again, last year was not on my list of things to do, but I'm so grateful for this site, and for all the truly amazing and inspirational people I have met, both virtually and really, and of which you are one of the top babes!!
My glass will be raised as well with wonderful wishes to you! Cheers. Oh, and yes, the 80's music , pretty sure I've still got some right here at home, I'll be singing them out to you,
You were the frist person to send me warm welcomes on this site - Thank you.
I can't remember but I think I tried to contact you before. I am humbled by your blogs as you are one good fighter! I keep trying to be part of this site but get frustrated because I have minute braincells that don't allow me to navigate that well! Anyway, I have found your blogs and, don't know how to say this, enjoying them? You are giving me strength and, suffice to say, inspite of your predicament, are contributing so much to me and, I am sure, everyone else on this site. I am also from the 80's and enjoyed your pink birthday party blog. God bless, keep well.
