Ho hum-How lazy I have become ! I had intended to keep this blog up to date on a regular basis , but sometimes life just takes over ! Since I have been asked by a few people what has happened , I had better try to update things . I am not going to list all my chemo days and treatments , because I am one of the lucky ones , in that I never had any horrendous side effects or problems along the way - I was prescribed twelve treatments and that is what I got . Towards the eighth treatment I was feeling the neuropathy really badly, so the doctor said he would reduce the dose slightly. I must admit that I felt if I was getting a reduced dose I would not be getting the full treatment , but the doc reassured me that I would still be getting a therapeutic dose . During my treatments , I managed to pop up to my work place to visit my buddies and colleagues - they were such a tremendous support when I was sick and it was lovely to see them all and get loads of hugs-very therapeutic!

My colleagues after the Race For Life in Glasgow 2012

Every year for the past five or six years , I have taken part in Race For Life in Glasgow , which is a wonderful and very moving experience . A whole lot of women , all shapes and sizes , and a sea of pink! I usually walk the course (I am built for comfort rather than speed ) anyway , it is not important how quickly you finish , it is the taking part that counts . This year I was fully intending to take part , but was dismayed when I couldn't manage it because of the chemo and neuropathy . I was annoyed because I had said I was not going to let this thing beat me . I was deeply moved when I heard that my colleagues were going to do the race , and was delighted when they raised in total well over two thousand pounds for Cancer Research UK . Thank you "Annie's' Stars!" I am so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends ! I fully intend to take part in it in 2013 - just try and stop me!

Carolyn on her graduation day - she is a clever girl!

I was also very touched by a get well card I received in May . The senders' address was Mark Trevorrow.... Now anyone who knows me will know that I am crazy fan of the Australian comedian Bob Downe , whose real name is Mark Trevorrow . I thought to myself  " What's going on here - am I imagining things?". My hero had sent me a get well card and written a lovely message inside , all the way from Melbourne , Australia ! I couldn't imagine who had arranged this lovely surprise , but I had my suspicions ! A few days later , my friend Carolyn sent me a message asking if Bob had been in touch - mystery solved ! Carolyn is a big Bob fan too and she had sent him a message on Facebook asking him if he could send me a message . Nobody will ever be able to imagine how happy that card made me - just the boost I needed ! I am eternally grateful to Carolyn for arranging it and eternally grateful to Mark for taking the time out of his schedule to send it.

Me and my hero Mark Trevorrow aka Bob Downe after his performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

I have been a fan of Liz Earle skin care products for over ten years now.While I was having chemo , my skin became very dry , especially on my hands and feet . I found her stuff was very useful in preventing any problems . Her shampoo was so gentle , which was a bonus for my thinning hair! She launched a new range of cosmetics and I was lucky enough to be invited along to the launch in Glasgow , shortly after I had chemo- I wasn't going to go because I didn't feel at my best , but was glad I did because I got the chance to meet her and chat about her range . She was so lovely to speak to and seemed genuinely interested .

Me and Liz Earle

Before

After

After my final chemo in mid-June 2012 , it was time to have my PICC line removed . It had been my companion for the past six months and had served me well - no blockages or infections , and hand't migrated too far from its' original place ! The plan was to go back to the hospital on the Friday that my last 5FU infusion was due to complete , and the nurse would remove the line as well as the pump . I was a bit nervous about how this would be done as I knew it was pretty long . I needn't have worried . I went to the hospital at the allotted time and was taken straight away.The nurse removed the infusion line and said she would now remove the PICC . I sat in the chair waiting for something spectacular to happen , but there were no fireworks or shocks ! I never felt it getting removed at all and was surprised when she told me that it was out ! Goodbye old friend.....

Sunday 15th January 2012 - I was feeling ok apart from my tongue being brown and feeling slimy- tasted disgusting as well, but was not painful. Apparently it is a known side effect of chemo , so I would just have to get on with it . Claire had bought me a tongue scraper to try and get some of the rubbish off my tongue and I had been advised to use Soda Bic in warm water as a mouth wash to help . Prevention is always better than cure , so I was willing to try anything to prevent a sore mouth . I was also taking Refreshers - they tasted ok and were fizzy on the tongue .
My PICC line was due to be dressed  as it had been about a week since it was last done. I had had a discussion with my district nurses on a previous occasion about the possibility of my sister doing my dressing , especially as this was an area of expertise for her ! The nurses were quite happy for this to happen as they said some family members are taught how to change dressings . They said they would continue to visit when my chemo pump needed disconnecting .
So Rosie came round in the afternoon and carried out the dressing and flushing of the line . The district nurses had supplied everything that was needed , so there were no problems .
That was me free for one week ! I did not do very much during that week , except watch TV and DVDs and got out in the evening for a gentle walk ( well - wrapped up , of course ) with Bill and Bobo  . I had started watching The Good Wife when I went off sick , and Claire's boyfriend Paul had bought me the boxed set for Christmas - great programme ! I would say the week was uneventful , so i won't bore you with all the details!
Monday 23rd January 2012 - Appointment at clinic to see oncologist . This would be my routine for the next six months - See doc , talk over any problems , get bloods checked and , if all was ok , get chemo on the Wednesday . The good thing about having the PICC line in was that my blood samples could be taken from it , so there was no pain involved. My dressing would also get changed on the Mondays that I attended the clinic . Claire had arranged her shifts so that she was always able to drive me to the clinic - I was a very lucky person !
The doc said he would phone me if my bloods were abnormal , but he didn't really expect that to be the case at this early stage . So , I was all geared up for Wednesday again for round two !
Wednesday 25th January 2012 - Claire gave me a lift in the the Beatson and we were nice and early . Claire just went home as I was going to be there for a good few hours and I don't like people having to wait about for me . I was taken round to the Macmillan day care unit and asked to sit in one of the recliner chairs . The nurse came and went through the usual checks and then hooked me up to a glucose drip until my chemo arrived. The tea lady came round , but I couldn't bring myself to drink it because it was rotten the last time I had it , and my yucky mouth meant everything tasted rotten anyway . One thing she did have , though , was a nice strawberry yogurt . For some reason this was the only thing that I could taste without being disgusted . I remembered a patient telling me that the only thing she could taste was banana flavoured things like yogurts , custard and sweets .

Bob Downe- my hero!

My chemo arrived and I was hooked up and good to go . I had more comedy DVDs to watch - Bob Downe is one of my all time favourites . I just need to look at him and I laugh . I have met him on several occasions and he is always so lovely .      I also had a DVD of Rock Profile , which is just so funny . I also watched more of Gary Tank Commander , and Summer Heights High . Maybe that was my way of rebelling against the big C- "I laugh in your face ! you will never bring me down" ! Anyway , chemo finished without incident and I was attached to the pump again for the next forty eight hours or so . I got all my protective clothes on and went to the car park to get Claire . As it was Burns' Night , it was haggis and neeps for tea - and I managed to eat it ok , although I was not really getting much of a taste .
Same old same old regarding taking the tablets to counteract any nausea , and same old same old regarding the sleepless nights due to the steroids. It didn't really bother me , because I knew that it would not last forever , so I just played my word games and kept up to date with Facebook and Twitter!
Thursday 26th January 2012 - same facial flushing as before - must be a side effect! No worries .

Friday 27th January 2012 - district nurses came in the afternoon to disconnect me again and that was me free for another wee while . I was not really experiencing any great side effects , apart from the horrible mouth - one of the nurses in the Beatson had suggested using a soft toothbrush and brushing my tongue with toothpaste a couple of times a day . This was safer than using a tongue scraper , in case my platelets were low after chemo , although this was not really a common occurrence .
I never had any neuropathy at this stage , but had been told that the effects were cumulative , so it might take a few more treatments for that to kick in . If I was still feeling ok at the start of next week , I was planning to go and visit my colleagues at work ................