Where have I been?

Sorry for the lack of blog activity in the last 2 weeks and for not being in contact but to be totally honest I have not felt like putting pen to paper..or should that be  single fingers to keyboard??

 I went back to see the  Surgeon a week ago to discuss scan results. The good news is that  the tumour has not got any bigger and there has been some shrinkage but it has not responded in the way we had hoped.This means that it will make the operation more complicated and this is not what we had hoped for.

So  since I saw the Doctor I have been up and down. At times  I have felt like the last 12 weeks have been a waste of effort. The Consultant and Nurse explained this was not the case as the treatment would  also have had an impact on the roots system of the tumour which is equally important. I have spoken subsequently to McMillan Nurses and they advised that these sorts of feelings are very common where the patient almost feels worse than when first diagnosed.  We felt like we were winning the battle by coming through the Chemo and Radiology almost unscathed only to be brought back down to earth with a big bump with the details of how complicated the operation will be.  Of course I am only part of the way through the journey of getting rid of this cancer and as I have been feeling so well I had lulled myself into a false sense of security so facing reality again had been very difficult mentally and emotionally.

We have a tentative date set for early in November for the operation and in the interim I am having further discussions with doctors and nurses so  I can approach that date with confidence and optimism.

Meanwhile I have cried my way through the rescue of the Chilean miners and Single Father on BBC1 Sunday evening. My friend Alison tried to warn me off the Chilean miners rescue as not suitable for the "emotionally unstable" but received the warning too late as I was viewing at 8.00 a.m.

I am still keeping well and doing all the things I was doing as I now have to be strong for the operation and hopefully a speedy recovery. The good news is that I am emerging from the planet of despair - which is not in my top 10 places to visit!

Bowel Cancer Screening Boost

Good news in times when all we hear about is government cuts. David Cameron, has announced that £60 million will be invested over the next four years in introducing the latest bowel cancer screening technology. This is known as flexible sigmoidoscopy or Flexi-Scope or Flexisig and it will be used alongside existing techniques.

It involves a thin, bendy tube with a camera attached being placed a short way into the rectum and lower bowel. The inside wall of the bowel can then be viewed and polyps removed before they develop into bowel cancer.

Trials will begin in England next spring and the roll out will take place over four years. It won't happen quickly, because practice nurses - who are likely to administer the test - will need to be trained.  The UK lags behind the rest if Europe in cancer survival rates so this is a move in the right direction but it looks like it will only be available for patients over 55.

While this is excellent news - I would like the screening be made available to 50 year olds and above. That way mine would have been caught 3 years ago and the costs of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a big operation might have been avoided - as well as the physical and emotional roller coaster you experience when it is diagnosed at a later stage.

On a lighter note  - I have actually been watching and enjoying the Ryder Cup. A first for me - this  patience I seem to have found also means that I have acquired the ability to watch golf on the TV and at one point I even listened to it on the radio!

I'm back

It seems like a long time since I have tapping out a few lines on here!

I had a very restful and relaxing holiday in France and it was nice to get some sunshine and warmth - it seems to have rained very day since I got back. The best result of the holiday( probably combined with the chemo/ radio strength winding down) has been that I am not so tired all the time. I now manage to stay up past 8.30pm which was becoming my normal bed-time. I am sleeping very well still and the sleeps in France were so deep and refreshing - must have been all that fresh air and healthy vegetarian food and only the occasional glass of French red wine!

On Thursday I went to Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot for my CT scan & MRI scan. So no trip to Reading - just a 10 minute car ride away. Which was just as well as the CT scan was at 9.00am and the MRI scan was at 3.30pm - so I was able to come home in between appointments. The CT scan involves drinking a litre of aniseed flavoured water before the scan. While I was sat there pushing the liquids 2 other patients managed to tell me why they were there for a scan - I think I have one of those faces that say 'talk to me' on my forehead! Then it was in for the scan where they inject a yellow dye into your arm for the scan. Nothing to be worried about and apart from a bruise where they struggled to find a suitable vein in my arm. The MRI scan is a noisy affair - they gave me headphones playing music to help drown the noise out. You can choose your music - I had the 70s - which was fab & had to stop myself singing along and having a boogie!

I did not get the results of the scans to see how much the lump had shrunk - that happens next Wed afternoon when I meet with the consultant. 

Half Marathons in Chippenham

Now don't panic I have not lost my marbles and decided to run a half marathon! I was scheduled to run the Chippenham Half Marathon last weekend but I decided it was a step too far so pulled out for this year. I went to support Neil & Rosemary who were still running.

We drove down to Winsley on Saturday to stay overnight with our friends Peter & Alan. When we arranged earlier in the year they were running a B&B called Leigh House but 10 days ago they moved! Their new property is about 5 mins away from where they used to live  - this will be a new B&B after renovations and redecoration and if it is anything like Leigh House then it will be a 5* country house B&B.You know what it is like when you have just moved  - organised chaos. How they managed to accommodate us 3 as well as the two Steves I do not know and fed us a beautiful dinner while remaining composed and in control. I could certainly learn something from this experience!

The Manor House

How beautiful is that area around Bradford on Avon & Chippenham? - could see myself retiring there in a pretty cottage with some chickens, a dog, a cat and a large vegetable patch.

Oh yes now back to reality ......... supporting the half marathon. Early start as the run commenced at 9.30 am  - saw thenm off and then had to while away 2 hours until they came back. Wandered into Chippenham and had a green tea in Starbucks - so much cheaper than one of their milky coffees. Got distracted with the shops and had to leg it back to the sports ground where it finished. Neil beat the 2 hour time he set himself - finish time of 1 hour 58.51 seconds and Rosemary knocked off 7 mins off her time. Well done to you both. Think that's the end of the running support for a while, and I'll be back next year to run

That was tough but still smiling.

Trying to not look too exhausted

Support Crew & Bag Boy

 A celebratory lunch afterwards at the local pub - delicious veggie Aubergine dish for me while they all enjoyed their Roast Beef & Yorkshire pud.

Rosemary & The Boys

Not a lot of time over the weekend for too much resting so exhausted by the time I got home - was in bed asleep on Sunday evening by 9.15 pm! Monday was a big rest day.

And now off to France for some R&R

The Anti Cancer Diet.

I have been meaning to mention how invaluable I have found this  book "Anti Cancer Diet  - a new way of life" by Dr David Servan- Shreiber. I went to Waterstones not long after I was diagnosed looking for  books about super foods and this book leapt out at me. The first lines "Cancer lies dormant in all of us. Like all living organisms, our bodies are making defective cells all the time. That's how tumours are made. But our bodies are also equipped with a number of mechanisms that detect and keep such cells in check." - had me interested as I am ashamed to admit that I had no real understanding about cancer and wanted to knowmore about  what was happening to me. The book turned out to be much more than that. Written by a  doctor who is a twice over cancer survivor it is based on lots of medical research but is easy to understand.

He provides advice on adopting an organic balanced diet consisting of vegetables based on a Mediterranean, Indian & Asian diet. But he advises on how changes to our lifestyles can help.

I am not suggesting that you all rush out and buy this book - but take a look at the Penguin Bookswebsite - where there is a great e-leaflet which summarises the main points of the book and in particularly what foods we should eat and exercise we should take to prevent cancer.


I thought that I had a healthy diet until I read this book - and although I have not prevented cancer, once I get shot of it I do not want it coming back so I have started as I mean to go on by following the advice in the book. It does take a little getting used to  - I have not missed meat and realised how interesting veggie food can be!

At last a real update!

Since I finished my visits to Reading I have been a bit undisciplined and disorganised in updating my blog. Health wise there has not been a lot happening.

Last week and this week  I  have been at the  peak of intensity  in terms of the treatment doing its work to the tumour (we hope) and the only side effects have been the tiredness and some red blotches of dry skin. The tiredness is often my own fault in overdoing things - I  don't pace myself when doing things and wonder why I am suddenly running low on energy and feeling like I have jet lag. A rest perks me up and sometimes a little nap is in order ,  if I can't do it now when is it allowable?.

The dry skin is remedied by aqueous cream as recommended by the hospital.  It's a  cream that can be used as a soap substitute or a moisturiser and the good thing it is that is cheap and perfume free. I didn't know until I was told by a radiographer that a lot of  shower gels contain metal so it is not advisable to use these when you are undergoing radiotherapy.

The last  week has been fun as well..........

A trip to Chawton in Hampshire with Rosemary to visit Jane Austen's house - such a pretty village and house. I have never read one of her books so I have started Sense and Sensibility which is the first of her novels to be published - still struggling with it  - but have to say that it is beautifully wordsmithed if a bit twee!

At Jane's house - no idea where she was!?

Rosemary - do you think this will fit?

Daughter came to visit last Wednesday and  she claims that she can't cook so we had cookery lessons!  With a lot of patience from the newly chilled me she managed to bake a lemon drizzle cake, a Thai prawn and mango green curry ( recipe c/o Claire) and yes even though Daughter cooked it, it was delicious. Well done Daughter!!! And my kitchen is still intact and I can recommend her as an excellent washer upper! Neil said she could come back anytime :-)

Cooking Pappa's lunch

All my own work  - I can bake!!

Looking very pleased with myself!

Is this really Daughter's cooking I am about to eat?

Trip to see the Symington Family to play the game that we all enjoy - how many of us can you get on a 3 seater sofa - we even managed the toy monkey Joey!

Cosy!

Thursday brought the BA Fun Run to raise cash for Cancer Research. It was like a village fete all very low key but very well organised. Neil and Samuel ran the 5k in less that 27 minutes which was very good,

Samuel & Neil -  yes this was after the race - well done!

The Team - French & Saunters ( there was one french lady)

While they were doing that Rosemary and I managed to squeeze in a treatment on the Elemis Spa Bus and the proceeds were going to Cancer Research ( see the link in the  section to the right of this entry ) . So after me having a relaxing neck, scalp & shoulder 15min massage and Rosemary a quick foot massage to try and mend her damaged Achilles - we made it back to see them cross the finish line.

Bliss!

Medal Ceremony !

I got to meet Willie Walsh the CEO of British Airways and after telling him about my treatment and asking him for a picture for the blog he gave me a medal as I deserved one for the race I was running by beating this cancer :-)  What a nice man.




Friday was meant to be spent quietly after the hectic few days but woke with loads of energy so after a pile of ironing and a trip to the supermarket that was me done - so back to resting with Sense & Sensibility - yes you guessed a sleep quickly appeared!

Weekend saw Sharan dropping by for a coffee and a chat AND to get her photo on the  Blog as she's a Fan   but not a follower :-)   she brought me a lovely gardenia plant. Thank you Sharan, hope you enjoyed  the take away Muffins

Quick Hello

Just a quick update for the start of the week,  not found the time over the weekend to compose an entry for the Blog so just to let you know all is still going well,  not felt great at times but that might be because I've not exactly been taking it easy,  but most of the time  I have been fine. Have been visiting the estate of an esteemed British  writer,  chatting with  CEO's of  Bluechip companies,  cooking and eating good food ..of course !  catching up with friends and all the other things one can do when convalescing.