August 2009 Archives

I still have my lump despite 3 lots of antibiotics and have had a constant headache for 8 weeks. My doctor says" we can't be too sure with your history so we will arrange a brain scan." I know they are right but I do get so weary of hospitals, but I have to say that the waiting time for tests have improved dramatically since I was first diagnosed with cancer. I know people are very quick to complain about the NHS but I am getting superb treatment now.

Luckily I am too busy to worry about these things for too long and I was privileged to be invited to the Eve Appeal Meeting at The House of Lords. They raise funds for research into the early detection, prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer.
I remembered my visit to No. 10 Downing Street in 2004 when a little group of us presented a petition for mass screening for ovarian cancer and were told there was no money. Perhaps the Eve Appeal might make this a reality and how many lives that would save. We had a wonderful day at The House of Lords with lunch on the terrace overlooking The Thames and we met so many interesting and courageous people, Including my friend Monica Price, who is writing the play I mentioned sometime ago. It movingly tells the stories of 5 ladies with cancer. This is being performed at the Solihull Arts Theatre in September - another date for my diary. As John and I caught the train home we thought what a great experience!

Monica and I

The next day John's family came to stay from America, his son Mike, wife Louise and grandson Alexander were joined by John's other son Richard and family and we celebrated Mike's birthday with a picnic in Brueton Park, Solihull and a jolly evening with a Chinese takeaway on the night. We then went on to Llandudno with Richard, Antonia and their boys. It is a very Victorian town and after building a castle on the sands, the children rode donkeys on the beach, watched a Punch and Judy Show and went on a little train that went from the North Shore to the West Shore. We took the Victorian tram to the top of The Great Orme and ventured down the copper mine. Very similar to the childhood holidays we remembered. It is so good that some things in life never change.

We came home to go to the theatre at Malvern with our friends Margaret and David. It was her 65th birthday and we were spellbound by the brilliance of the performers of Le Grand Cirque. She rounded off her birthday week with a lunchtime party for friends at the Howards Arms, Ilmington.

65 sounds so old and yet none of our friends are the least bit old, they are still enjoying life to the full and having so many adventures. Maybe this is what keeps you young - a zest for life.

Yesterday was a busy one, Coventry Hospital for a brain scan at 9am back home for an eye appointment and back to Coventry Hospital to see my Professor Poole in the afternoon. In between I had to make a very quick visit to Melbick's Garden Centre where an assistant was feeding a parrot by the name of George. She was lovingly tickling his neck and he seemed in ecstasy. When she went I thought I would do the same. As I went to stroke him, he bit my finger and trapped it in a vicelike grip. Blood was dripping into his cage and onto the floor as I shouted for help. As I managed to prise my finger from George I noticed the sign above his cage "I BITE" bit late now I thought as I heard them urgently paging for first aid. Gemma arrived with alcoholic swabs and plasters to tend to my bleeding wounds and I had to fill in a form. So much for my quick 5 minute visit I thought as I left with my bruised finger and pride.

Back at Coventry Hospital, Professor Poole was in a very good mood. My brain scan was fine, so he said I had to think of something else that could be causing the headaches .Everything else seemed to be O.K. and he said he would get a breast surgeon to remove my lump so I wouldn't have a scar. I told you how wonderful the NHS can be. I had to go for a blood test and I left the hospital with a plaster on that arm. One on the other where they had put in the iodine for my scan and the third was where George had bit me - John said "what a lady!"

That night I went with friends to see "Walking with Dinosaurs." All the stresses of the day disappeared, as we were mesmerised by these magnificent beasts who were so lifelike and George was but a memory.

At the beginning of July, Marilyn Meade-Brown from Macmillan came to my house to discuss a conference speech I am doing for them in September where I am to talk about my journey with cancer, how my Macmillan nurse helped me and how the New Perspectives Courses I tutor are helping other cancer patients. There was a lot of material to cover here and it was very strange to go back to day 1 of my cancer journey and to relive it, remembering all the amazing things that have happened to me over these 8 years as well as the hard scary times. Sue Harris, my nurse always said she knew I wanted to get back to being normal again, but I don't know what "normal" is anymore.

Talking of amazing things, we always go the first week in July to The Lakes. We have a timeshare in Langdale near Lake Elterwater, which is such a beautiful area, but every year it rains. This year we had sunshine every day and what a difference it makes from trudging around in waterproofs and wet walking boots. John and I have had a very busy time over the last few months, so what a joy to just relax and take in the beautiful scenery at leisure. We had the added bonus of our friends Jean and Ray calling in to see us on their way to Scotland. When we returned home we both felt refreshed with our batteries recharged.

Two "grumpy old men" waiting for their wives to come back from retail therapy!!

They say it is always back to earth with a bump when you come home from your holidays. The next morning, I looked out of our front window and to my horror, I saw a man with a chainsaw up the oak tree outside our house. It was over 100ft high and was always a welcome sight when we returned home. The squirrels lived in it and it had been a source of joy to look out on since we moved into the house.

Perhaps they were just giving it a prune I thought hopefully, but when I went to investigate they said it was dying and could be a danger "health and safety and all that!" " But it is still has greenery sprouting out of its trunk, how can it be dying!" I protested. They must be used to people like me who are passionate about trees and the man said they have had people chain themselves to a tree to try to stop them chopping it down. He explained that when a tree is in it's death throes it gives out a last burst of growth, so sadly I had to watch a magnificent tree that had taken 150 years to grow, reduced to a mere stump in just 6 hours. We all felt sad, those who had enjoyed it's splendour. I rang the Council to ask if they would be replacing it and they said they would - in November. I still feel sad every time I pass where the oak tree once proudly stood, home to many birds, squirrels and insects.

Then, I had a phone call which cheered me up. I was asked if I would go that week to the ICC Birmingham to accept a cheque on behalf of Macmillan for £250.000. I had to sit through 4 hours of the Nationwide AGM. People kept apologising to me, but I found it fascinating and I wasn't going anywhere till I had that cheque in my hand. It was presented by the Chief Executive and how wonderful that despite a very gruelling meeting he took the time to do this.

The chief executive, Graham and I.

The week definitely improved, with a dinner party at our house for special friends and on the Saturday the Solihull Cancer Support Group held a barbecue in the lovely grounds of St. Swithin's Church, Barston. The Handmadeburger Co. in Solihull were kindly providing the chefs and the beefburgers free, all we had to do was to provide the salads, puddings and raffle prizes - and pray for good weather! It had rained everyday that week, but that evening our prayers were answered. It was a perfect balmy hot summer's eve. We had great music, much laughter and really excellent food. We even managed to raise some money for our group. As people left carrying balloons, waving goodbye, the committee were thrilled, that thanks to the Handmadeburger Co. and St. Swithin's Church the night had been such a success.