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This blog is my (hopefully therapeutic) attempt to explore the sometimes overwhelming emotional challenges of navigating the choppy and often tumultuous waters of the cancer diagnosis of a loved one.
When my husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer I was devastated. My eldest brother told me that I needed to ‘steer the ship’ for the family while my husband sought treatment. I thought this was an apt metaphor coming from an ex- navy man. Steering the ship seemed like a manageable task, but I was soon...
Having postponed my DEXA scan (assesses or measures bone density) in September as I was due to start chemo, I finally had this a couple of weeks ago. I now have osteoporosis due to the dramatic weight loss. I have to say I wasn’t surprised having been diagnosed with osteopenia some years ago. My GP called me to let me know and will be prescribing calcium and vitamin D tablets. However, the usual medication for osteoporosis is not suitable for me given my sub total gastrectomy. He is referring me...
It’s time for another Dining with an Ostomate post. This week Debbie shares with us a TASTY AND SUPER SIMPLE ‘Carrot and ginger soup’ recipe. Here’s Debbie to tell us more about the benefits of carrots and ginger…
The benefits of carrot and ginger…
As an Ostomate, I am always looking for tasty recipes to add variety to my diet. With summer around the corner, although we’ll soon be thinking about salads rather than warming soup, my next recipe is a soup. It...
Its been a while since I have posted on here so I thought I would take the opportunity today.
My wife (Shirley) has had a bit of a journey in the past 7 years with BC. She finished chemo (Carboplatin) on the 8th March this year after having 8 treatments from September, during this time she had to have 2 blood transfusions.
Approximately 6 weeks ago she noticed a change in her breast area and contacted her Consultant and saw her in clinic she sent Shirley or a bone scan and CT scan. The bone scan was...
Last week I had my 6 month check and it was not without some trepidation! On Wednesday I attended the breast clinic, everything has healed well and no lumps or bumps. In December when I have my next check I'll have a mammogram too. My CLL check also went well and all my blood counts are normal. During the past 3 months we've had a fantastic holiday in Portugal, a family weekend in the Lake District and our social life is back on track. I must add that my priorities have changed and I know those who...
Time moves along and I thought I would just check in with my GP who I hadn’t seen since pre surgery partly because I was handed over to another hospital and partly because I know our surgery was down a doctor and I really had no need to see anyone. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable as I felt like I might be taking up valuable time, I had the most wonderful welcome from her! She gave me a big hug ( don’t even know her that well!) saying she was so pleased to see me! How nice was that!
GP...
After suffering with tummy problems and weight loss over and above my usual acid reflux nausea, I saw my GP Dr O’Connor who ordered blood tests. He also thought it was possible I had gall stones and a blockage in my bile duct and certainly some of my symptoms were fairly classic for that. Switching to a fat free diet can ease symptoms. I was already losing weight as I felt unwell particularly after eating and removing fat from my diet ensured I lost even more weight. When your “starting weight...
So the oncologist decided to put me on an accelerated protocol of 4 doses of EC over 8 weeks followed by 12 doses of paxataxil (I know this is the wrong spelling) over 12 weeks.
The first dose was on 18th June which went well - just the side effects to look forward to!
I feel I got off lightly with the nausea, presumably thanks to the meds I was sent home with. Got awful acid indigestion though :-(
Day 5 and 6 were pretty awful with quite a bit of pain which set me back a bit mentally but everything...
It’s time for another Dining with an Ostomate post – this week Debbie shares with us a DELICIOUS AND SIMPLE ‘Chicken and squash gratin’ recipe. It features the immune boosting, vitamin and fibre-packed butternut squash; and chicken breasts for an added protein punch.
Enjoy…
Chicken and squash gratin
Serves 4, easily halved, and freezes well.
Ingredients
1 tbsp vegetable oil.
1 onion, finely sliced.
1 leek, roughly sliced.
450g butternut squash, peeled and cut into 2.5...
T2NoMo SCC Right mandibular alveolus. Surgery April 2018 No PORT
18th January 2018, I see GP to discuss what to do about a hernia, and agree that surgery was needed. Then I said “by the way, I’ve got a sore patch in my mouth that doesn’t seem to heal up”. My GP referred me to the Max-Fac unit at Westmorland General Hospital, a biopsy was taken, and on 1st February I was told that I had a squamous cell cancer. That came as a great shock as the word cancer had never passed my...
