INSPIRATION UNDER THE MRI SCANNER

After a busy morning in Coventry sorting out the Cancer Course, what better way to end the day than with a session of reflexology which has always been one of my tools in my fight with cancer.I met Lynn over 8 years ago when I first went to her for a reflexology session knowing absolutely nothing about it, I felt so ill and the medical profession didn't seem to know what was wrong with me so I was prepared to try anything. I mentioned in a previous blog that Lynn asked me if I had trouble with my ovaries and lungs and I replied no. Each time I went she asked the same question. Six months later I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that had spread to the lung. I was amazed that this was picked up by a reflexologist but not a doctor and my faith in certain complimentary therapies started from that day.

While I was in hospital having major surgery 8 years ago, Lynn used to come and precariously perch on the end of my pressure relief mattress as it moved up and down to relieve my bed sores. She worked on my feet to help calm me and ease the pain. I was terrified of the operation as the outlook was so grim, but she came the night before and gave me reflexologyy and I went down for my operation the next morning feeling that a great calm had replaced the terror of the night before

We are still great friends, we laugh through our reflexology sessions and enjoy fun evenings together with our partners, but I will never forget the care and kindness she showed me in those early dark days of cancer. For my birthday she treated me to a day's photographic course at Westonbirt Arboretum. I love being given experiences and I also love giving them to other people for their birthdays. Best part is that you can share it with them and this photo is my attempt to catch a spontaneous action shot of Lynn.

Toothache obviously doesn't respond to reflexology because I have had it for 2 weeks and it was still there when I went to my dentist the next day. I have been to Nigel since my twenties and never once has he inflicted any pain despite major dentistry. He says I have pulpitis - never heard of it, but trust me to get it! One kind is reversible and one irriversible and he thinks I have the latter. Only time and antibiotics will tell, but mind over matter - I'm going to will it away!"

On Sunday, John and I drove to Cheshire to have lunch with 2 very dear friends.It seemed a long way for Sunday lunch but well worth it. On the way home travelling down the M6, swirls of snow enveloped the car and England was about to be covered by a blanket of snow that looked beautiful but caused havoc for many days to come.

The next day I seemed to be the only person on the road as I set out in the virgin snow to find my new osteopath who would hopefully help to get my back pain sorted.

Not only was he very professional, he was also very attractive with a good sense of humour which always helps when he is contorting and pulling your body every which way hoping for a crunch or a pop! When I staggered to reception to pay for this torture he kissed an attractive blonde lady."What do you have to do for that? I asked her. "Be his wife" was the swift reply. That told me!

Amazingly after a couple of treatments the pain in my back has definitely improved and I look forward to going back for more.

The next day I was due to go to the Penny Bron Cancer Care Centre in Bristol, as I had been asked if I would like to become a Trustee. I was deeply honoured, it is such a wonderful place to be and the first time I went to stay 7 years ago, it's home was a beautiful old convent in Clifton, Now it is housed in an old hospital which has been sympathetically and luxuriously renovated. I came home feeling hope for the first time because no one had given me any hope. I also came back with new methods and ideas to beat this cancer.It certainly changed my life.

Unfortunately that day the snow was falling heavier, motorists were stranded and the warning was "Don't go out unless really necessary". I hate letting people down or giving up, but I had already had one nightmare journey of a different sort that week, so perhaps it was sensible to listen to my husband and stay at home and feed the birds who are so desperate for our help in this extreme weather, but a little bit of me felt "a wimp!"

Amazingly, being at home that day meant that I took a phone call from a lady called Niku of the Solihull Community Housing for Disability.She asked if I would I come to do a talk next Monday on my journey with cancer and the disabilities it causes. Yes my diary was free, I would be delighted.

Problem was my week was so busy, there was no time to think of what to say. When I give a speech on cancer although the core is the same, I do always write a new one to suit the people who are there and to update it. John always thinks that I go to far too much trouble as I am beavering away in his study, but I really care that I make it interesting and hopefully inspirational for the people who have bothered to come.

Sunday afternoon arrived and I was about to go under the MRI Scanner at Heartlands Hospital. The staff were so kind, but I am claustrophobic so how was I going to stay under there for an hour without panicking. Easy, I decided I was going to write my speech in my head whilst in the Scanner. So with eyes tightly closed all the thoughts just kept flowing into my mind and my speech was completed by the time they wheeled me out and I'd never noticed a thing. Apparently I was so still they completed the scan in half the time and I couldn't wait to get home to put all my thoughts down on paper.The next day my talk went so well that it is obvious that I need to pop under an MRI scanner each time I need the inspiration for a new speech!