Planning session

I had my planning session on Monday and that was fairly straightforward. Except that I didn't get to see my oncologist as she was stuck on the tube. So I actually don't know what the result of my echocardiogram was, but I suspect that had anything abnormal shown up, I would've been told.

I now have my tattoos - three dots: two on my sides and one in the middle of my chest - and I got my appointment list for the radiotherapy sessions themselves. I'll be starting on Monday 4 June and finishing on Friday 6 July. Unfortunately, all my appointments, bar one, are in the afternoon, which wouldn't have been my first choice. It's not a huge problem though - it just means that I won't be able to settle for hours of uninterrupted tennis. I think I'll survive somehow.

There has been a lot of interesting cancer-related news recently. Among them, a drug for breast cancer which is supposed to be particularly effective in young women with oestrogen-positive receptor types of cancer. That drug hasn't been offered to me so I'll have to have a word when I do get to see an oncologist. Mind you, it's another intra-veinous drug which is administered monthly for two years - it would mean putting my move to Cornwall even further back. Or I could come up to London every month for the treatment. Since the drug's not on the cards anyway, I'll just wait and see.

I've more or less completed Laura and Bradley's website if anyone fancies having a look. I built it from scratch so there's always the possibility that something isn't quite right - please let me know if you encounter a problem. The content's still light so keep an eye for updates (if you're interested that is).

As for the Champions League final, the team which scored the most goals won - I think there isn't much to add to this.

Be good.

Echocardiogram and little details

It's a long time since my last update so I thought I'd better quickly add something. The echocardiogram was a piece of cake, though I had a hot flush during the scan and I wonder if that has affected the result. I'll know one way or the other on Monday, when I'm at my planning session. I just hope I'm not weighed at this silly session - I feel I'm ballooning out of control, though my scale says no.

I managed to attend one football game - I saw Liverpool take on the mighty Fulham and lose 1-0. It was a poor game and an embarrassing result, but at least I made it and enjoyed myself. And you can't ask for much more.

I've been quite tired of late and I'm still not quite sure what to do with myself. I can't really get involved in anything until I've had radiotherapy, so my list of potential plans keeps on growing - at the same rate as my frustration at not being able to do much. But I've been designing a website and that has kept me busy. For those who don't know my ickle sister Laura is getting married to Bradley in September, and my wedding present to them is a website. It's not up and running yet as it needs tweaking and some content but here's a screen shot of what it's all about.


Nothing too extraordinary but it's fun - when it's going according to plan.

Be good.

Echocardiogram and planning session

I now have both appointments. I'll be getting my echocardiogram - an ultrasound heart scan - on 9 May. I've not idea what that entails but it doesn't sound painful or unpleasant, which is fine by me. Then I'll be seeing an oncologist to get the radiotherapy ball rolling on 21 May at 8.45 am - no comment on the time but they will regret getting me up so early. I'll be spending one hour on a 'simulator' and have some X-rays taken, and then the tattoos will be placed accordingly. Nothing very exciting, it has to be said.

I'm still struggling a bit but things are better. Of course Liverpool going through last night has helped.

I've been keeping an eye on the No More Breast Cancer campaign. I've never quite understood why I got cancer - 'lifestyle' factors are often quoted as the main contributors but not many apply to me. For me it's important to understand what caused it if I'm to minimise the chances of a return. There's a free event on 18 May, with a screening of Invisible, a documentary on the spread of pollutants to remote areas, followed by a panel discussion. I'm considering attending it as it seems like the perfect opportunity to be brought up to date on all the issues surrounding breast cancer. If you check the website out you'll see some fairly shocking figures.

Back to writing some of that gardening course - that's going quite well and keeping me busy.