Sue1957

An extra 2 good weeks!

2010-10-15T18:44:46Z

I went up to the oncologist yesterday and heard that as I have a slight cold and am waiting for a dental appointment I have another 2 weeks before starting my next chemo session and having the pamidronate. I tend to sleep a lot in the week after pamidronate and feel a bit nauseus while on the chemo tabs so I get one sleepy week, one more week on chemo and then one really good week when I don't have to worry about eating meals at the right time and remembering to take tablets within 30 mins etc. We are going to London for a few days after next weekend so I should be feeling really well, hopefully.

I also found out that the results I had from my CT scan were not typing errors as the doctor had thought. She felt that it was not likely that my liver tumour could have been 15cms long in the May CT shrinking to 7cms now, She thought it should have been millimetres. The oncologist looked up the scans and said that it had been 15cms or 6inches long in May! I asked how many mets there were in the liver but she said it was too many to count, just multiple! But hey if they have shrunk by half, I am as my teenagers would say "well happy". I am still wandering around amazed at how much better I feel. Just to be able to take a deep breath and walk at a normal pace seems great to me.

Good news

2010-10-08T11:58:46Z

I went up to the hospital on Wednesday to be checked over as I'd had a scare with my glands up in my throat and a tightness in my breathing, this was diagnosed as probably being an infection which I was fighting off. While I was there the doctor had my CT scan results from Monday, I was fairly confident that they would be good but was thrilled to hear that my lungs now appear clear apart from some scarring, (the last scan showed spots of secondary cancer). My secondary cancer in my bones is improving and the largest of the tumours in my liver has halved in size!! The doctor actually thought that there must be a typing error as they said the tumour has shrunk from 15cms to 7cms, she thinks they probably mean mm but I would not be surprise to hear that it was 6inches long as I was really short of breath from the liver being so enlarged. I am seeing the oncologist again for treatment next Thursday so will find out then. But whatever the size it is fantastically good news.

When I was diagnosed I was just hoping that the treatment would be able to keep me going for a while at the same level. I had never dreamed that I would improve as much as I have. I still find that I get very tired and can't do much but I can potter about all day as long as I rest fairly regularly. I find that I enjoy things much more now. I wander around smiling just because I can walk more easily now, I jumped out of the car the other day, I tend to struggle out most of the time and haven't jumped out for months so even once was impressive. I look at things more closely, I spent ages just looking at my lovely orchid flowers in the kitchen the other day, I enjoy the beauty of everything much more.

Living with secondary breast cancer

2010-10-01T16:56:00Z

It is strange to think that I have secondary breast cancer when I haven't had breast cancer for 18 years! It was such a shock when a painful shoulder, which I thought was caused by a trapped nerve in my neck, was diagnosed as liver mets! Then after other tests they found multiple bone mets and some spots in my lung! I had been fitter in the last 5 years than I had been for ages. I cycled 60 miles and crossed Dartmoor in one day, to stay with my brother in Newton Abbot in April last year!

I really enjoyed my job working on the district as a community staff nurse, but had to go off sick when I was struggling to get into and out of the car. After being told that without treatment my prognosis was 6 months, I was also told by the surgeon who has been seeing me yearly for check ups that I may decide to refuse treatment and just enjoy what time I have left. Well, it will be 6 months since diagnosis in a couple of weeks and I am feeling so much better. The chemo and pamidronate I have had regularly since June have really worked at improving my quality of life. Unfortunately I have had to decide to go for ill health retirement as even with all the improvements in my health I would not be able to go back to work. I could maybe do the odd hour now and then but would then have to have a rest, not really possible in the nursing environment!

I have managed to keep really upbeat for most of the time, although I do have some low times, especially if I think about not being there for my 2 lovely daughters, who are 15 and 19. I also find that I appreciate things far more, the beautiful area where I live with views of the sea and Torrs. The lovely colours of the leaves on the trees as they change and fall, the beauty of a smile, and the joy of family and friends. This is the first time I have every blogged although I do keep a diary. I find it helps to write things down.