Needle in, blood out. Quick chat with Sally, the practice nurse. Go home. Forget about it. That’s been the normal 3 monthly routine for the past year or so, and far more frequently before that.
But there’s been a change at our local surgery. One practice has split into two and our surgery has an almost entirely [...]
Archive for the 'ovarian cancer' Category
On friends
Published April 20th, 2009 in Diving, Friends, Marine biology, cancer and ovarian cancer. 8 CommentsI’m sure we all have friends hovering on the periphery of our consciousness. Friends who have been important in a particular stage of our life but with whom we may have lost touch. Even so, we think about them often and know that if we were to meet up, we would pick up just where we left off [...]
I went to a public seminar last night at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute given by Dr Scott Fegan, one of the surgeons who took me apart just over a year ago, and Prof. Steve Hillier, an eminent research scientist. They were presenting some of their current knowledge and research into aspects of ovarian cancer. Very interesting, [...]
I’ve only ever watched snippets of Big Brother, and those more or less by accident. But I had heard of Jade Goody - who hadn’t! - although I hadn’t heard about her cancer until last week. The first I knew of it was the photo of her bald head on the front page of all [...]
That’s not my age, despite all evidence to the contrary. This is my 200th post and, in recognition, I thought it should be a momentous one.
I am going to get my hair cut tomorrow.
Regular readers will understand that this is truly momentous, enough to keep all those slow posts-in-waiting smouldering a little longer behind the [...]
This time last year the house was full of flowers and cards. In the preceding four weeks a large chunk of my abdominal contents had made a great escape, courtesy of the surgeons at the ERI, I had been hit with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, I had cut my hair, chosen a wig and had my first chemotherapy session. It [...]
It is almost a year since a friend of mine, a fellow member of the local triathlon club, died from a brain tumour which she had battled for several years with remarkable good spirit. I found I couldn’t write about this at the time as it was not long since I had started chemotherapy myself [...]
Extreme reading No 2
Published September 24th, 2008 in Books, Miscellaneous stuff and ovarian cancer. 0 CommentsI’ve just spotted this on The Fidra Blog, who in turn borrowed it from Steve Augarde’s blog. Enjoy!
Steve Augarde, by the way, is author of the Various trilogy and, when I looked at his website, I realised he also wrote The Tractor Factory, Lifeboat to the Rescue and a number [...]
“Have you noticed” said a notoriously tactless and insensitive male of my acquaintance, “Have you noticed that your hair’s rather curly?” I sighed. I tried to summon a suitably withering are-you-an-alien-from-another-galaxy glare. Deep breath. “Well, there are mirrors in our house and, oddly enough, I do tend to take a glance while I’m brushing my [...]
4916 chocolate brownies
Published May 27th, 2008 in Chocolate, Edinburgh, Running and ovarian cancer. 7 CommentsPhoto credit: Pille Nami-Nami
This post is an unashamed copy of Pig in the Kitchen. Hope you don’t mind, Pig; sincere form of flattery, as they say. But you might be able to adapt the recipe to your own needs.
And no, I haven’t eaten that many chocolate brownies this week. 4916 was my finishing position in the Great [...]
Hair. Or lack of it. I’ve started dreaming about hair recently. I’ve dreamt about washing it, brushing it, tying it back. I’ve been wondering where my hairbrush is and contemplating the shampoo supplies once more. This is all prompted by the No. 1 fuzz, colour indeterminate, that is currently adorning the top of my head. And eyebrows to [...]
All emotional
Published May 2nd, 2008 in Diving, Running, broken ankle and ovarian cancer. 0 CommentsI went for my diving medical on Tuesday. I passed, despite having to step up and down off a chair for five minutes, which may be fine if you’re a 6ft North Sea commercial type but not if you’re little me. I left clutching my certificate and on the verge of tears. I’d put it down to [...]
Sounds offstage left:- Crash!
“Mu-um! That’s another glass you’ve broken!”
“Well, at least it wasn’t a good one.” Spoken whilst rootling in the cupboard for the dustpan and brush. Again.
In fact, when I stop and think about it (although as a rule it’s probably better not thinking too much), I’ve broken more plates and glasses in the last six [...]
A half way witter
Published January 30th, 2008 in Blogging, Holidays, Swimming club, broken ankle and ovarian cancer. 9 CommentsIt’s been very quiet in this corner for some time now. I have no real excuse, just a jumble of reasons. It’s partly been a form of writer’s block - how pretentious! But I’ve had several posts in draft for some time and don’t seem to have been able to find the words to finish, [...]
High days and Holy days
Published January 9th, 2008 in Blogging, Celebrations, Family, Holidays, Out & about, School, Standard Grades and ovarian cancer. 13 CommentsThis is going to be a very selfish, mean-spirited, churlish, curmudgeonly, whingeing and Grumpy Old Woman sort of post. There. You’ve been warned. For more enlightened, friendly, positive, cheerful reading you could try some of the links on my blogroll instead. Iota’s started posting again about life in the States and she’s always entertaining and currently much more [...]
It’s official! My CA125 level - the blood marker for ovarian tumours - is already back to normal and there was absolutely nothing of interest on the CT scan. So I really am in remission - what a great Christmas present! I feel like I’m starting to see daylight again. Round 3 of the chemo [...]
I’m getting good at this. Wearing my wig, that is. I had a meeting to go to today so wore my wig instead of my much more comfortable buff. I detoured on the way home to buy Christmas cards and have a coffee, and bumped into a couple I knew in the queue.
“Oh you’ve changed your hair [...]
Life goes on
Published December 12th, 2007 in Blogging, Boys, Miscellaneous stuff, Out & about, School, Working at home, ovarian cancer and sport. 9 CommentsIn fact, it goes on at such a pace there doesn’t seem to be time to write blog posts. And that’s with no significant work to do for a week or so. Bliss! Christmas shopping and meeting fellow bloggers without feeling that there’s something else I should be doing. Make the most of it. It won’t [...]
“Mum! What’s that you’re wearing?” I can’t quite replicate the tone of total repulsion.
“A scarf, my dearest, darling, younger son. It’s catching the bits of hair that are falling out.”
“Well could you please not wear it when you drop me at football tonight. In fact, you could just stay in the car.”
I bought [...]
I’m celebrating
Published November 27th, 2007 in Microscope, Working at home, broken ankle and ovarian cancer. 2 CommentsI’m not celebrating the fact that my hair is now coming out in handfuls and my debris is competing with the cat’s fluff for the attentions of the vacuum cleaner. Mind you, the cat’s fur isn’t likely to block up the bath plug so I win on that score.
I am celebrating the completion of my Irish Sea contract. I [...]
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