One Chemo Too Far

Chemo cycle 3 went ahead as planned. Normally I am ‘0ut of action’ for about a week. This time however, now 4 weeks later I am still suffering from the side effects. My oncologist agreed with me – no more chemo as my body has now become too toxic. So I have come to the end of the treatment she can offer me. I had a scan on Thursday and will see the oncologist in 2 weeks time. 

Meanwhile I had an appointment with the palliative care consultant at the hospice. He took lots of blood samples which showed I was anaemic so on Monday I was in at the crack of dawn for a blood transfusion. It certainly made me look a better colour (no longer a ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ and more ‘Lily the Pink’ says Alan), and much less breathless but it did nothing to raise my mood – I thought I would be running around like a spring chicken! 

I have been told that I need to lower my expectations as to what I hope to achieve now – this is so hard to do and makes me so sad. I am so pleased that I have such a wonderful carer in Alan. I have another appointment at the hospice on Monday – I am hoping for some nutritional advice/help as I am eating so little.

I hope this brief summary will explain why the blog has not been updated for a while and why emails have largely gone unanswered. Will try and do better!

I receive daily photos of the Grandies. Our lovely Lilah is 3 tomorrow – we will Skype and pop in to her party. They all had a great time together in Florida and I have many, many photos to sort through.

Kissing Cousins!

Please continue with your support. Good wishes, prayers and positive thoughts are what we need right now.

Tess x

Quiet week

We have had a fairly quiet week. I had a difficult time with withdrawal symptoms coming off the steroids. We cancelled our 4 day trip to France which was disappointing but fortunately we were able to re-schedule both hotels and the Shuttle without extra cost.

A visit to my oncologist on Monday was upsetting – Mr Nasty is on the move again. I am having 2 more chemo sessions starting tomorrow. So the fight is on once more. Where are my battle fatigues????

Alan has been busy in the garden. This week he has planted runner beans, peppers, yet more potatoes (bargain from garden centre), tomatoes including a yellow variety (Sun Baby) and the hanging baskets are a work in progress.

Today we went out for lunch at the Ambrette – yummy, scrummy – good local produce and Gadds beer.

The Grandies are fine and will be meeting up tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale Florida – I hope to receive lots of photos of them together.

As always my thoughts and prayers are with my fellow warriors, each following their own pathway, each  at different stages of this awful disease. Together we are strong.

Ray's revamped logo.

I end this blog with a wish that Arsenal do what they are paid heaps to do and win the FA Cup on Saturday – that would make so many happy amongst my family and friends.

Tess x

Petition

Hi!

I just signed the petition "FAO Steve Auty: Retract plans to close The Pilgrims Hospice, Canterbury in 2016 and allow it to remain in its current working state." on Change.org.

It's important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link:

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/fao-steve-auty-retract-plans-to-close-the-pilgrims-hospice-canterbury-in-2016-and-allow-it-to-remain-in-its-current-working-state?recruiter=89458196&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Thanks!

Pilgrims Hospices have 3 centers in E. Kent. Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet (where I attend). The proposed closure of the in-patient unit at Canterbury will deprive terminally ill patients of hospice care when they and their families need it most and will inevitably impact on the other two sites.
If you feel able please sign the petition now.
Tess x

A few days away

We took the opportunity between treatments and medical appointments to escape to the New Forest for 5 days. Just what we needed to restore body and soul. We stayed in the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, highly recommended! A few more targets met and memories made. I walked more in one day than I have in the last month and my legs are rebelling! Here are just a few photos to give you the flavour of our trip.

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway

Camellia

Azaleas

Azaleas and Acers

Rhododendrons

Steam engine being turned by a lady with a bad back!

 

 

 

 

River Beaulieu

 River Cruise from Buckler's Hard

Buckler's Hard from our boat

 

 

 

A cormorant sunning itself

Yeah! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

Motor Museum

Ringwood Brewery van

Vintage bus - a real old bone shaker!

Ruins of Beaulieu Abbey

Beaulieu Abbey













Tess x

Easter

I went for a scan on Good Friday. Good to know the scanners are working for outpatients every day except Christmas Day. They just need to get the staffing levels up to the same standard and a few more radiologists to read the scans. So we await the results to see whether treatment stops or continues. The good thing was the hospital car park was virtually empty – if you are a regular hospital visitor you will appreciate what a bonus this was, and only one other couple in the waiting room so another bonus.

Easter weekend was spent in Tunbridge Wells. The weather on Easter Sunday was a bit of a washout so eating, drinking and playing with Ethan were on the agenda. Another lovely lunch cooked by Gaby & Jon – local farm rib of beef – yum! Easter Monday turned out to be a glorious day so Jon and Alan set to and erected the new garden shed. You can tell Jon is fast approaching 40 getting excited about a shed! I asked what was going to be stored in it and was told a chesterfield sofa, a telescope and a beer fridge! This would be funny if I didn’t think it might be the truth! Well the job took them all day but was a job well done. I think they both enjoyed being out in the sunshine and enjoying each other’s company.

Yesterday we met up with old friends Janice & Tony in Canterbury. They were on a short trip south from their home in North Yorkshire. We started in the City Arms where we caught up on news and their recent trip to Cuba and put the world to rights. We then went for lunch in Deesons, one of our favourite restaurants which never disappoints.

The continuing good weather this week has done wonders for the garden. The veggies are all doing well and the roses are just gorgeous.

 

 I received some smashing photos of the Grandies this week – how quickly they are growing. 

Ethan - Superhero

Lilah in her daddy's shoes

 My thoughts as always to my fellow mesowarriors, all at various stages on this journey and all searching for a cure.

Tess x

Update

Just a quick blog update today as I have had a few messages asking how I am. Well after a day’s delay receiving chemo this time all went ahead last Friday. Two nurses, Alan and myself checked and double checked the dosage reduction was correct! I expected that with the reduced dosage the side-effects might be less severe but in fact they were the same but lasted a shorter time – not sure how the extra steroids have affected this. New problems have also emerged, mainly an incredibly sore mouth, inside lips, tongue, gums and soft palette all hurt and I nearly hit the roof yesterday with Sensodyne toothpaste –ouch!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this will all calm down soon.

I have a scan on Good Friday! We did check the appointment and yes the scanner is working all over the holiday. We will wait for the results before deciding whether to go ahead with anymore treatment. So this does mean we will be free from treatments/appointments over Easter. Alan’s services are required in TW where a garden shed needs assembling!

We have enjoyed fine weather this week, Thankfully the Sahara dust has gone and oh my how that did affect me! Alan has been pressure washing and staining the decking. It looks great and final coat going on this weekend. 

Man at work!

Carrots, beetroots, parsnips and potatoes are being planted and the flowers are blooming.

Tree Peony

Plenty of blossom on pear tree this year

Lots of Irises

 Tess x