This is the hardest post I have ever had to write. This has become more than just a mere car club to me and I wanted to pass on some news to friends I have made through the club. I was going to send out individual PMs but then I was worried I would forget someone so now I have decided to do a general post. I needed to tell you why I am keeping my head down for a while, I am not even driving right now.
I realise that many of you do not know me and we have not met, so forgive this post if it does not mean anything to you. But to the very good friends I have here sit down before you read the following!
This is not easy to say but the time has come to tell you some news. I am afraid there is bad news but also there is good news.
I finally got my diagnosis in July as having cancer, but the one I have is non Hodgkin’s lymphoma which has a very good track record of being treatable with chemotherapy. I have had two chemotherapy sessions so far and these have gone well. I have been fortunate enough not to have any bad side effects and already I feel so much better.
The worse thing had been waiting for a diagnosis of what was wrong. In February I had an MRI scan, following by 2 CT scans and then 3 biopsies. All these were unsuccessful in making a diagnosis and as I had to go through the National Health Service everything took ages between the appointments. I then had an operation to remove one of the nodes from the abdomen so they could make a proper examination of it. In the meantime I was feeling worse and worse, more fatigued and the weight was falling off me. (What a way to lose weight)! Since the end of last year I have lost virtually 3 stone (40 lbs) in weight so there was no question that something was very wrong. When I finally was told in July I felt huge relief that we could finally get treatment underway.
Unfortunately I had got to such a low stage that I could not even keep water down, everything came back up again and I was very skinny to say the least! I could even feel the backs of chairs with every bone in my spine – not very pleasant, just goes to show we all need some padding! I was admitted to hospital urgently, they immediately started the rehydration and the next day the chemotherapy. I have to say the staff at Royal United Hospital in Bath have been fantastic, very professional and caring.
Since coming out of hospital I have put on 11 lbs in weight, my appetite has returned and I am feeling more myself again. I now feel very positive about the future once more. I will need 6 or 8 sessions of chemotherapy depending on how I go. I can already tell that some of the lymph nodes are starting to decrease in size as the chemo starts to do its stuff. The sessions are usually 3-4 weeks apart, depending on how you are going and they are satisfied with your blood tests that they take before each session.
There are times between sessions when you do not feel very well but this is small price to pay for good health returning. With any luck I should be clear of cancer by the latter part of this year – wouldn’t that be a wonderful Christmas present?
I realise this will come as a shock to many of you but there is no easy way of telling you. I have been very fortunate in having great support from various friends, I only have to lift the phone and give them a list and back they come with my groceries!
My very best wishes to you all,
Sincerely
Viv xxx
I realise that many of you do not know me and we have not met, so forgive this post if it does not mean anything to you. But to the very good friends I have here sit down before you read the following!
This is not easy to say but the time has come to tell you some news. I am afraid there is bad news but also there is good news.
I finally got my diagnosis in July as having cancer, but the one I have is non Hodgkin’s lymphoma which has a very good track record of being treatable with chemotherapy. I have had two chemotherapy sessions so far and these have gone well. I have been fortunate enough not to have any bad side effects and already I feel so much better.
The worse thing had been waiting for a diagnosis of what was wrong. In February I had an MRI scan, following by 2 CT scans and then 3 biopsies. All these were unsuccessful in making a diagnosis and as I had to go through the National Health Service everything took ages between the appointments. I then had an operation to remove one of the nodes from the abdomen so they could make a proper examination of it. In the meantime I was feeling worse and worse, more fatigued and the weight was falling off me. (What a way to lose weight)! Since the end of last year I have lost virtually 3 stone (40 lbs) in weight so there was no question that something was very wrong. When I finally was told in July I felt huge relief that we could finally get treatment underway.
Unfortunately I had got to such a low stage that I could not even keep water down, everything came back up again and I was very skinny to say the least! I could even feel the backs of chairs with every bone in my spine – not very pleasant, just goes to show we all need some padding! I was admitted to hospital urgently, they immediately started the rehydration and the next day the chemotherapy. I have to say the staff at Royal United Hospital in Bath have been fantastic, very professional and caring.
Since coming out of hospital I have put on 11 lbs in weight, my appetite has returned and I am feeling more myself again. I now feel very positive about the future once more. I will need 6 or 8 sessions of chemotherapy depending on how I go. I can already tell that some of the lymph nodes are starting to decrease in size as the chemo starts to do its stuff. The sessions are usually 3-4 weeks apart, depending on how you are going and they are satisfied with your blood tests that they take before each session.
There are times between sessions when you do not feel very well but this is small price to pay for good health returning. With any luck I should be clear of cancer by the latter part of this year – wouldn’t that be a wonderful Christmas present?
I realise this will come as a shock to many of you but there is no easy way of telling you. I have been very fortunate in having great support from various friends, I only have to lift the phone and give them a list and back they come with my groceries!
My very best wishes to you all,
Sincerely
Viv xxx