Blogging can be a great way to journal your experiences and share with others. Why not create your own cancer journey blog, or have a read of other blogs created by our members?
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So my mum Bev has a bit of a habit of putting things off until the last minute, if procrastination was a sport she'd probably be the World Champion.
So when she actually acts on something the first time around, you know it's pretty important. About 2 or so years ago she mentioned that she was having a dull chest pain that came and went, "Have you booked in to see the GP?" "Yes, actually!".
And she had, and she went.
"So, what did she say?".
That time around...
A little bit of background first. My melanoma started on my upper leg just above my knee, on pretty much the line where my shorts would end. I was diagnosed on 1st November 2017, some months after earlier wrong diagnoses, but that’s another story for another blog post. The tumour was removed in the same month and I was told a wide area excision would be needed after some time.
I was asked to consider a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB), that would be conducted at the same time as the wide area...
This is a question I asked myself throughout my journey with melanoma, but particularly at the start of 2019 as I was half way through my immunotherapy course of ipilimumab and nivolumab combination infusions.
I recently finished that series of four combination infusions and I've come through it pretty unscathed. I have some very good results and I have now commenced on a single drug infusion programme with Nivolumab administered every 28 days for up to to two years. So far so good.
My journey with...
It is now nearly a year since I had the "All clear". How do I feel ...... a little lost and unsure. I know that I am in remission, which is great, as I have been told however, with a low immunity I am exposed, more than most to the slightest germ, infection and ailment. I want to feel well and as I used to but it is not to be. Take good care of yourself is the message I have taken away.
Post Chemo I contracted Bowens disease (pre cancerous cells on my back). Creams taken over several weeks...
It’s been almost 2 months since I last blogged.
It might seem like I have had a dreary time with nothing even remotely amusing to write about.
The truth is that following the end of radiotherapy I was so exhausted I couldn’t be bothered! The 2 weeks after treatment ended were tough. And then there was Christmas and the kids were home which was lovely. And then I just got out of the habit!
So life after treatment has been a slow but steady climb back to the world. From one day to the next...
Last week I had a 12 month(ish) follow-up with the Radiotherapy Oncologist. I last saw her in Jan 2018, 2 months after my last radiotherapy session (chemo had finished a couple of days earlier). In the interim of course I had an MRI and an ultrasound.
The appointment confirmed that all is well; the mouth has healed very well (both from surgery and the radiation); saliva production may improve further over next 12 months, but she also said it is not unheard of for there to be improvements even after...
Well I am now through the surgery! What a relief the cancer has gone! Emotionally the lead up to the day was very stressful, I felt so scared but was reassured by the surgeon and the anaesthetist that I would be well looked after.
I followed the Enhanced Recovery Programme and took the four Carbohydrate drinks on the evening and the final two on the morning at 6 a.m. I went in to hospital early in the morning and the operation lasted four hours. It went well and 80% of my stomach was removed. The...
Lindsay, known to much of our Community as Leolady56, has been an avid member and Community Champion for a couple of years now. Just a couple of months ago I discovered that outside of the Community Lindsay’s involved in a fair few rather interesting hobbies – something you’ll shortly read about further. In addition, she’s also the founder of the ever popular Walking back to Happiness thread, where members share their walks, or any outside excursions they might’ve recently...
Last month Gina, one of our Online Community Champions, shared with the Community part of her cancer journey, specifically interactions with family, friends and colleagues. The blog was called “Most of us just want normality!”, and if you haven’t already read it, it makes for a really thought provoking read.
Gina’s back this week to tell us how she discovered the Online Community when she most needed it, and how it’s helped her to date. Enjoy!
I got my diagnosis on...
"…it gave me better pain relief than any drug could ever do.”
Facing cancer arguably takes a lot of energy, and naturally it becomes a central focus of someone’s life. But this doesn’t mean hobbies or pastimes, including arts and crafts, need to fall to the wayside. Such hobbies often provide a vital escape to where cancer is no longer the central focus, but rather your enjoyment and perhaps solace in whatever hobby or pastime works for you.
You might already be aware...
