Monday 23 September 2013

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly




The Good
We have had Tim visit us from Toronto for 9 days. It has been great to spend time with him and catch up with his world. While he was with us we visited Canterbury where we met up with Berni & Norma, Reculver Towers where the cold wind did blow and our local hostelry and curry house! He also spent time down in Somerset for the stag ‘do’ and in London. The main reason for his whistlestop visit was to attend the wedding of his best friend last Saturday. Congratulations Cheynne and Donna may all your dreams come true. I was well enough to travel and join in the celebrations and I even had a boogie on the dance floor. (Somehow that sounds rude)! Target Met.
Here is a picture of me and Tim & Jon – I think I am shrinking! 
Tess and the Gully Boys!
Tim should be boarding his plane home as I write. Only a matter of weeks now till he returns for Christmas together with Anna and Lilah. Target Set.

The Bad
Oh my there is always something! One of my back teeth literally disintegrated 2 weeks ago. Straight off to the dentist and it turns out I have 2 more back teeth that have shattered under the gum so I need 3 extractions! The dentist said it was very common to see this in patients who have had multiple rounds of chemotherapy, it is called ‘accelerated decay’. I have ‘googled’ this and there is a lot written about it. I have booked to have the extractions done at the end of October – dentist would not do anything before then as I am not yet 3 months out of chemo. I also need to get the OK from my oncologist.  B****r!

Having had a CT scan last week to check up on Mr Nasty scanxiety is now setting in. We always prepare for the worst but hope for the best. A worrying few weeks now until we meet with the oncologist.

The Ugly
It amused me to read this. The grumpy-looking, gelatinous blobfish has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. This gives the fish the unofficial title of world's ugliest animal. 
Hi Gorgeous!

The society began as a science-themed comedy night and devised its mascot campaign to draw attention to "aesthetically challenged" threatened species.
The winner was announced at the British Science Festival in Newcastle.
The blobfish tops a list that includes the huge-nosed proboscis monkey, the similarly afflicted pig-nosed turtle, an amphibian affectionately known as a "scrotum frog" and pubic lice. Biologist and TV presenter Simon Watt, president of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, said he hoped the campaign would draw attention to the threats facing these weird and wonderful creatures.

And the Beautiful  
Yes I am referring to my fellow Meso warriors. Lots of heartbreaking stories from those in pain and seeking treatment – why do terminally ill patients have to search for their own treatment? Why haven’t the medical bodies in the UK caught up with us yet? Why isn’t there more money to fund trials?  I think that ‘they’ hope this ugly disease will peak and then disappear as asbestos is now a banned substance here but - and it’s a big but the disease can be present for up to 40 years before it shows itself. My thoughts are with you all my friends, Jan, Lou, Mavis, Steve and many many more. Tess x

3 comments:

  1. Tess, what a lovely picture (of you, not the blobfish lol). I am so glad that the wedding went well and the fact that you were able to have a boogie is a bonus.
    Scanxiety is a very descriptive word and I am hoping with all my heart that you get a good result from yours.
    I agree about the research and the fact that the powers that be hare burying their heads in the sand and the time lapse between contracting the disease and the diagnosis. My friends husband has just been diagnosed and he is nearly 80, the disease has been traced back to a job he did many many years ago.
    Keep fighting Tess, you know that we are taking every step with you
    Trish xxx

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  2. Great photo of you and your boys Tess. Glad you managed to have a dance over the weekend. That always lifts the spirits I think. Poor old blob fish getting credit for being the worlds ugliest. The face looks weirdly human to me - they say that's how we all started.
    Battle on with your fellow warriors - you know we are all rooting for you.
    Love and hugs
    Beryl xx

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  3. Wonderful photo of you and your boys, Tess. Thinking of you always and wishing for the best for you all.

    Janet xx

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