It is offical as of yesterday
I am cancer free.
It's been a busy week. I met witht he oncologist on Monday who wasn't as helpful or professional as we might have hoped. She seemed very flakey and didn't instil us with confidence. We asked lots of questions and the answers were not very clear. One question was what the advantages of Anastrazole were in terms of prevention of reoccurence. She said that I was at about a 10% increase in risk of reoccurrence but that Radiotherapy halved that - so 5% and anastrozole halved that again so 2.5%. To be honest for a drop of only 2.5% we are not convinced the anastrozole is worth the many many side effects.
We will wait and see. I plan to try 3 months and then re-evaluate. we asked what happened when you came off it after 5 years. Did your body suddenly produce lots of oestrogens again and your risk went up a lot. She didn't really know as she didn't see patients at the end of the journey but she felt they felt it was OK! That wasn't very knowledgeable. It seemed we found out more from Dr Google. However, the main purpose of the visit was to start the radiotherapy process which we did. The side effects of that sound grim but it is necessary and I am now waiting for the appointment for the CT scan to set up the target areas and then about 10 days after that I will start radiotherapy. I am pleased that it is only a course of 5 treatments given daily over a week. They used to do three weeks but they found the difference in results from 1 week to 3 weeks was negligible so since 2019 it is just a week which we are pleased about. Again it's not nice to do that to yoru body but needs must.
I was not able to celebrate being cancer free on 8th February when I had my breast results because I was still undergoing lots of tests because they believed I was at risk of uterine cancer due to several bleeds. Yesterday I went in as a day patient to have a hysteroscopy and possible polypectomy and the results of all of that were no sign of cancer. They were so sure they didn't do biopsies. They don't know why it is happening to me but at the moment I am clear. If I have any further bleeds, especially after 6 months since yesterday I have to go back because they will look again.
It has been a real roller coaster of a rise since 22nd October last year and I don't think either of us has quite processed it yet. There are several things of importance though. Our national health service, despite what the press say, is alive and well and when it needs to pull out all the stops it does. The staff are wonderful. I was looked after so well yesterday by everyone from the reception staff to the nurses, doctors and anaesthetists - they were all wonderful. It did highlight again, though, the difference between Bournemouth and Poole. Bournemouth is an altogether nicer experience.
I hve received so many messages of support throughout the last 5 months from so many people - friends on facebook, texts, phonecalls, and messages from readers here. And it has meant so much. I wanted to be open and honest about it all and promote the need to get yourself checked but I have been so supported by everyone.
The other important thing is that I couldn't have gotten through it without Jakki and Nigel. Jakki is always there with wise words, comfort and support. She will cry with me, laugh with me and encourage me. Nigel is just an utter saint. He has been to every appointment, researched everything, and supported me physically, mentally and practically and he really has lived those words - in sickness and in health. I am truly blessed.
So on to other news.
New releases at Pickleberrypop today and I worked with this gorgeous new collection from Tiramisu
Credits
Art Box number 1 by TirAmisu Designs
and also this from Chunlin
March 2023 Artsy Layered template #3 by Chunlin Designs
Our adventure bundle by Chunlin Designs
Today I am thankful for
being cancer free and grateful to everyone who contributed to my physical and mental wellbeing throughout this whole process
Good news take each day as it comes remember to rest and nap when you feel it is needed make sure you eat good nourishing meals little and often. Nearly at the end of the cancer journey and they are just making sure you are free of it
Jackey
Posted by: Jackey | March 08, 2023 at 08:13 PM
Good news take each day as it comes remember to rest and nap when you feel it is needed make sure you eat good nourishing meals little and often. Nearly at the end of the cancer journey and they are just making sure you are free of it
Jackey
Posted by: Jackey | March 08, 2023 at 08:13 PM
That’s great news,just have to take things easy,as you go through the next stage with the scan and then the radiotherapy. And don’t overdo things
Mary x
Posted by: Mary | March 09, 2023 at 03:28 PM