One Life Live It

Overcoming Grumpiness - a day out in Dorset

Irishgirl16

I've been a bit grumpy this weekend and I don't really know why. I've been managing my side effects ok, but the weird taste in my mouth is just annoying as food doesn't taste quite right and nothing is helped by the weather, as clearly it's decided t...
- 16 May 2021
Halfway to somewhere

Irishgirl16

I've completed the 3rd (of 6) chemo treatments so in my mind I am half way there. My oncologist kindly reminded me this is halfway through phase 1, but in my head the chemo is THE worst so I'm going with half way. Yes, yes, I know my maths, I&n...
- 13 May 2021
The dreaded day 4

Irishgirl16

It's a very strange feeling to wake up anticipating that you're going to be ill. I mean, ok, when you have a night out on the tiles you might think about the potential hangover, but this is quite different. In both my prior chemo cycles, Day 4 ...
- 9 May 2021
Self Injections - a “how not to” guide!

Irishgirl16

After each cycle I need to inject myself with Filgrastim, which boosts my blood count and helps my immune system fight the chemo. Despite an understandable nervousness from the most non medical person in the world, the first time, I manage...
- 8 May 2021
Life in 3 week cycles

Irishgirl16

Chemo No3 today and I feel like a pro. I had chemo at home today, and as it is a relatively boring 6 hours of sitting still, I logged onto a 4 hour zoom call at work to pass the time. I think the chemo nurse was a bit bemused! It's remarkably ...
- 6 May 2021
A sneaky weekend away

Irishgirl16

My pre lockdown life involved travelling for work pretty much on a weekly basis and a decent number of weekends away camping or visiting friends or simply exploring so it's fair to say that our first weekend away in four months was indeed a treat, ev...
- 3 May 2021
Early (cautious) Celebrations

Irishgirl16

Remember the 56mm lump that started all this? Well, after 2 cycles of chemo, my MRI shows that said lump is now reduced to 11mm! Yes....you read that right, a whopping great reduction of 45mm!!!! Apparently I have had a fantastic response to tr...
- 30 Apr 2021
Blondes have more fun

Irishgirl16

I had so much fun today, totally unexpected. I went in to my appointment with the wig lady with no real expectations, admittedly not very clear on what I wanted and certainly quite sceptical that I'd really use a wig that much, Jo and Dawn from Hair ...
- 28 Apr 2021
And now it's visible!

Irishgirl16

I thought I was prepared....from the lovely box of scalp cosmetics that my thoughtful team had sent, to the soft woollen hats my good friend knitted, I was ready. But.... I had under estimated something, the chemo hat, the bald head, now my cancer is...
- 26 Apr 2021
So that's what shape my skull is!

Irishgirl16

Well that was a bit of a let down to be honest. The ever-increasing bald patches were beginning to annoy me, I needed a hat to go out, and even in the garden the risk of sun burn was too much and the fact that we were hoovering every day d...
- 24 Apr 2021
Bloody Brexit

Irishgirl16

No, it's ok, you are in the right blog! So, someone told me that dark nail varnish was good for chemo patients as it gave better protection from UV light and would protect my nails. I'm not a nail varnish person, so I started to h...
- 24 Apr 2021
A Sense of Normality

Irishgirl16

I'm Day 7 of Cycle 2 and, I hesitate to write for fear of tempting fate, I feel “not so bad”. So Day 4 was horrible, but a friend of mine suggested I think of it as a “taking out the trash day” and I think I can rational...
- 21 Apr 2021
Cocktails

Irishgirl16

Sadly not the gin variety, but Chemo 2, a mix of hormone and chemo drugs! Day 3 of cycle 2 and so far so good (she says with fingers crossed). Taking the anti sickness meds whether I need them or not seems a good plan and the Omeprazole seems t...
- 17 Apr 2021
Steroids, Sleepless Nights and Cycle 2

Irishgirl16

Cycle 2 and the steroids the day before treatment are messing with my sleep. I am tired, my eyes are tired, my head is tired but my body is clearly disconnected and is buzzing! It was 3 am and I could feel every sensation in my bones...
- 15 Apr 2021
Lockdown Easing, I'm Shielding

Irishgirl16

It's official, the NHS have written and told me I am Clinically Extremely Vulnerable. Everyone else is celebrating the easing of lockdown, making plans to go to the pub and organising get togethers and here I am, immunosuppressed with 15 more weeks o...
- 9 Apr 2021
Work, Walk and Wine

Irishgirl16

They say that those who exercise before and through chemo manage much better. In the last 10 months, since last summer, I have managed to lose almost 20kg in weight and, thanks to my walking buddy (a colleague in work) I am walking about 10km a...
- 8 Apr 2021
Side Effects

Irishgirl16

Chemo Cycle 1: Day 4 Well that hit me with a vengeance this morning, nausea and heartburn, just out of nowhere as soon as I woke! The past 2 days I walked my normal 8-10km a day and was a bit tired and restless but generally ok, so this mornin...
- 8 Apr 2021
Chemo Cycle 1

Irishgirl16

Lump +39 (23 March) Not nervous or anxious at all, no butterflies in my stomach, feeling perfectly fine. Loads of kind messages from fabulous friends, family and colleagues, all of which gives me a lot of energy. There are 4 big comfortable seats in ...
- 8 Apr 2021
Planning For Chemo

Irishgirl16

Lump Day +27 (11 March) The oncologist is so confident the CT scan will be clear that we had a long phone call appointment to order to brief us for the treatment. After 90 mins on the phone my head was scrambled with a whole new language. Basic...
- 8 Apr 2021
I Found a Lump

Irishgirl16

Sorry to disappoint those who thought this was a Landrover blog, I really wish I was writing about a road trip but instead I find myself in the unexpected position of blogging about my journey having had a breast cancer diagnosis. Let's rewind to 12t...
- 8 Apr 2021

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