Mad-Jo's blog

Panic setting in - brain surgery

2009-03-08T11:14:52Z

Having waited 2 months to find out how they were going to treat this "beast" in my brain, surgery is my only real option of destroying it & maintaining my quality of life. Radiotherapy will not do it. I go in tomorrow & they operate on tuesday. The risks of dying during surgery have just hit me. I'm a survivor - I don't want to go - too much damage to do yet! I've coped well so far, but now I feel like going into hiding & not doing it. I will, of course, do it, otherwise I've no chance of living a relatively normal life. Tell me what an eejit I'm being & the benefits I'll get after I RECOVER from this, & all the great times I'll have. May

Blasted fish

2009-03-03T15:49:12Z

Come out, Jimbo, Well, do I feel a right fool! Told my German Shepherd, Roxy, about your fish friend & she rolled on her back on the floor, laughing her head off. She says you are thick, right enough! The fish is telling you its name is Bob Watt! Why didn't you think of that? And you have to keep it because you're its dad now & it would be cruel to send it away. Good news is you don't have to change your name, unless you want to, or need to for some reason, and that's a whole other subject. And you must just have a headache, cos your brain ain't hurting, for obvious reasons. Take care May

Night out with the Pals

2009-02-17T09:52:04Z

Told the pals I wasn't sitting around waiting for the "News", as at the rate they go I could be offski before it arrives! We're eating out on Friday, 5 of us. They like their booze, big time, but I'm tee-total due to the meds. Bless them, they've purchased some non-alcoholic wine, which they will decant into wee plastic bottles & smuggle in in their handbags so that I don't feel left out! I just love them women! Supportive or what? God bless & hugs to all of you. X

Brain tumour diagnosed. Any advice would be helpful at this point.

2009-02-12T10:27:24Z

I had a good prognosis originally, mastectomy, chemo & other breast removed as a precaution. Docs reconned it had gone. Not so. returned after 2 1/2 years in liver & armpit. I was devastated, not because it returned but because I had no reason to expect that to happen. Decided that I couldn't do anything except get on with things - once you have an illness you have to deal with it. No point in wishing it gone - doesn't work. Had more chemo & am still on Herceptin, which is working so far. I was feeling relatively optomistic, then I had violent muscle spasms on 30/12/2008 & was admitted to hospital. Shocked hardly begins to describe my feelings when they said brain tumour. Luckily, it's treatable. They're looking at radiotherapy or surgery/ radiotherapy. Oncologist & neurologist were meeting yesterday. Awaiting their conclusions is difficult. I try to be realistic & tell myself that while they can still offer treatment, even if it may not be a cure, I'll live to fight another day. I'm not putting my life on hold. Can't afford to in case the next mishap is final & I've sat about moping & fretting. I've just booked my flight to Dublin for a hen party in October, & my friends know that I'm available for any outing I can manage. Also established that all going well, I'll be okay to fly later, so a foreign holiday will be on the cards, too.