Results tagged “HOWARDS ARMS” from Birmingham Mail - I Will Survive

Friday 9th is my first day at the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwick to see my old oncolgist who left to go to Coventry and now I have followed him because I have great trust in him and that is so important to a cancer patient.

My friend Sandra had an appointment half an hour before mine and rang to say there was a serious 3 car/lorry pile up on the M6 and traffic was at a standstill. Not a good start, but we were able to find a route through Coventry and as we arrived at this splendid "state of the art" new hospital, the air ambulance was landing on the helicopter pad with injured victims from the crash. What a difference sitting in the light airy glass domed waiting area with gaily coloured chairs and Costa Coffee to the old City Hospital in Birmingham. Nevertheless it makes no difference to the nervousness I feel waiting to be called, but Professor Poole seemed relaxed about me and said that he would scan me in a further 3 months - yes, another reprieve!! provided the bone scan was fine and my CA125, which is a blood test for ovarian cancer, was ok. He said ovarian cancer rarely goes into the bones and he had only seen it once - " but you could always be the 2nd one!" he said - great!! I had my blood taken and drove home thrilled that we could make plans and I could ring anxious family and friends with good news, especially my sons Justin and Jonathan, who support me 100% with their care and love.

Then, when we walked through the door, the phone was ringing and my Doctor said my bone scan showed hot spots on the spine which could be tumours, arthritis or degeneration and an urgent x ray was required. Here we go again I thought, so what's my answer to this worry and uncertainty? .... I went to the Birmingham Rep to see "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" where all my worries were forgotten for a few magical hours.

On the weekend, we had an 18th party to go to, which makes a change from all the 60th and 65th parties we seem to attend! Although of course it's my age group, I guess I still feel like that young girl inside. Sadly while on the dance floor, my bones did not obviously feel the same, so on Monday, I joined a Tai Chi class which I really enjoyed. I then went to the gym followed with swimming in the afternoon. I might just have overdone it with my enthusiasm because I seemed to ache even more the next day, but help was at hand in the shape of my aromatherapist Ann who comes to our house once a month. How welcome she was as she worked wonders with her oils.

I met my friend and old co- tutor Maureen in Birmingham the next day. She lives near Northampton and we worked together on the first "Living with Cancer" courses which we gave in Birmingham in 2007 for Macmillan. She has Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and like me, uses laughter, positive thinking and a joy of life to help her through. We are both working with different tutors this year, but both agree we would love to work together again one day. After much laughter we said our goodbyes and off I went yet again to hospital that evening to have my back X ray in Solihull. They work till 8pm now and I guess it is to help with the backlog, but I was so impressed to be seen within 3 days. When I was first diagnosed I would wait a minimum of 4 weeks for x-rays and scans and the stress was dreadful, so I have definitely seen a change for the better for cancer patients in these last 7 years. Long may it continue.

The next day I had bad news, my blood test revealed that my cancer level had jumped up considerably. Perhaps I am the 2nd person to have ovarian cancer in my bones as Professor Poole joked. It is like living on the edge all the time, so once again I must start chasing for the results of my X ray so that I know what I am dealing with.

In the meantime life goes on. John and I had an appointment at Bonhams Auctioneers in Knowle with some pieces from my Father's flat. As I laid everything out I thought perhaps we should really be at a car boot sale, but no, the valuer/auctioneer was genuinely interested. Some of the items were from the 18th and 19thC. The awful orange vase which I had always hated since childhood was a collector's item and the tired looking teddy bear with its humped back and button eyes could be a Steiff and they would send him down to London for valuation. I was fascinated and I shall look at the the old memorabilia stored in our loft with different eyes!

My week ended on a high note - Sunday lunch at the Howards Arms at Ilmington with my oldest friends who I grew up with and their partners. We have shared life's' "Ups and Downs" for 60 years and always will.

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