confusion

Sorry,I have tried to enter posts on your blogs Tony Lisa and Carole but something not right somewhere so will try to sort it soon.So sorry things are not good tont ,have sent you a PM.Carole,dont overdo things,you have been through a tremendous ordeal,as if I need to remind you !!!.Little steps.
Lisa,I remember when Debbie was about 6 (23 years ago)she was invited to a party and after 10 mins of"I sit by her in singing" and "shes got long hair" and various other descriptions I was non the wiser .Then she said"shes got a brown face",the last thing she thought of !!!so it is lovely as you say that they dont make an issue of things.
Take care all
Rose xxx

Grandchildren

Fabulous week

Well we arrived at the cottage on Fridayafter blood transfusion  and a week off chemo which was a huge help.Beautiful building with beams and sloping roof and horses in the field and best of all a sheepdog which loved children and followed Harry everywhere.Lots of food and wonderful company,seeing the children together and in the pool was a joy.Loads of fun but they all had to go back Monday evening for work. So quiet afterwards but nice to relax.Ricky and I stayed until Friday and I had a massage,perfect
Batteries recharged,wonderful birthday present being as I did not think I would even be here,so thank you my wonderful children for your kindness and thoughtfulness,I knew I had them for a reason !!!!!

Hills and valleys

After another chest infection which has left me eating very little and having absolutely no energy (again)I asked to not have chemo this week as I just could not face it,even though it is quite a mild one.after taking my bloods they agreed that I should have a week off but needed a blood transfusion .So today i had 2 pints of the red stuff and what a difference!!I feel almost human again,which is just as well because the children(??  28 and 30) have booked a cottage for a weekfor Ricky and me and for the weekend with them and the grandchildren on a farm.While I was looking forward to it I was afraid of not being able to do anything but now I,m really excited.So  dont worry as I wont be on here for a week.
Hope you guys are enjoying the fabulous weather and managing to cope with all we have thrown at us.
I am going to have a bottle of Bishops Finger tomorrow in memory of David.
Take care lovely friends,will speak soon.
Rosexxx

Back again

Thought it was about time I rallied myself and updated my blog.The tiredness was so bad that I kept meaning to type but kept putting it off until after my next sleep but as we know sleep while on chemo doesnt really make you less tired.Visited my GP as my arm was huge and I couldnt close my fingers,never suffered from lymphoedema before,but he looked at it and said it is more than that it ia cellulitis and infected from top to bottom which was why I was so lethargic on top of everything else.So 2 weeks of antibiotocs which were foul and tasted as I would imagine Athletes foot would taste.Finished those but within 2 days the infection started again so more antibiotics and I am now under the Lymphoedema clinic so all going the right way.
Chemo seems to be doing its job and the tumours feel slightly smaller so scan in May unless anything changes.I have hormone tablets to try to increase weight as I am now under 9 stone whereas I was 11 before.Had a lovely lamb dinner yesterday.We have an arrangement that as I cant cook now we buy it,my daughter and SIL come down and cook it and son and DIL clear up!!!Brilliant.We see the children and grandchildren and have a lovely meal into the bargain.I have always loved Sunday lunch and always cooked for us all so it is nice to have that again.
Lovely to see the sunshine and gorgeous flowers everywhere,a real boost.
Hope everyone is coping well with all that is being thrown at us.
Rose xx

Scan results

Appt. with Prof today and the last chemo has stopped working,hence the breathing problems worsening.Starting on Gemcitabine next week,unfortunately not tablet form but does not cause hair to fall out and is good for breast and lung cancer so fingers crossed. 7th chemo now so cant say we are not trying.Would be amazing if I could breathe properly,but really good that there were no hidden tumours anywhere.Hope everyone is coping with their own trials.What a lot of people on the forum now,takes ages to work through the list.Far too many people going through this.
Lovely to see the snowdrops and crocuses peeping through,a sure sign that warmer weather is on its way.

CT Scan

I have yet again to sing the praises of the people looking after me.Went for my scan today and was all wired up and ready to go,lay down and 20 seconds later had to sit up as I cant breathe laying on my back.So we waited a bit and tried again but no go .I said that i could lay on my front so the lovely staff spent the next 5 mins phoning various people and eventually came back and said it was OK.So I had my scan and they even found out that the computer flips the images so that they are the right way round. Without their concern I would not have had the scan so thank you Singleton hospital yet again.
Now the wait for the results to see if this chemo is working.Sometimes I think yes but judging by my breathing I have my doubts so we shall see.Next week it will be 4 years since I was first diagnosed and my life changed and all my plans went with it.Upwards and onwards !!!

Good weekend

I saw the heart doctor on Thursday,talk about thorough !!!I was with him for 3/4 hour and had a heart trace and an echo.All good and no more fluid build up so now that i am off the Sutent hopefully it wont happen again.My pulse is fast though and because I am breathless the heart is beating fast but not poweful enough so I am going on a heart tablet to improve this.CT scan in 2 weeks so will have a full picture then.
Had a smashing time Saturday.It was my parents, 60th wedding anniversary and 30 family went for a meal.I love seeing the grandchildren together although Eleri was not happy that the 3 older girls on my brothers, side kept trying to carry her but no blood was shed and they all played happily.
Our 14 year old dog,Charlie has had a stroke,poor thing but this morning he got off his bed and is sitting in the sun.I told Harry that Gramps is taking him to the dog doctor and he looked at me and said "Do you mean the vet?".Put in my place by a 3 year old !!

Reasons to keep fighting

Eleri Harry and Annabell,my 3 reasons to keep on fighting. Harry was born 6 weeks after my first diagnosis and without the wonderful people who have worked hard to keep me here I would never have seen the other two !! So much joy from such little people !!
Hello and welcome Dot.Lovely to hear from you.How about you doing your blog now ?

New Year improvement

Well I drove for the first time in 3 months.Visit to the dentist who is on the upstairs floor so I started climbing the stairs wearing a long skirt which as I am 1 1/2 stone lighter was quite loose,trod on the hem and it slipped down over my bum !!Good job I had a coat on !So I had to hold onto the skirt while gatherring the bottom up and laughing which started me coughing !!Landed in the thankfully empty waiting room like a sack of spuds.Went to buy some new trousers that afternoon before Im arrested for flashing.Definitely getting energy back slowly.Can now bath dress and dry my hair without collapsing in a heap but still very weak and despite eating lots weight is still stable.57 years of dieting and Sods Law now I cant put weight on!!New chemo is not too bad so I hope the scan at the end of the month shows that it is doing some good.Still problems breathing and cough is annoying but cocodamol is a brilliant cough suppressant and at least I am breathing!!!!
All in all doing OK compared to a month ago.

Debbie Ollie Harry and eleri

Annabel as a Christmas pudding

Christmas 2010

Christmas past

Carole.s blog has reminded me of traditions that differ in each family.We were always allowed to open our Santa presents when we woke which would always include a colouring book and my favourite of all a paper doll with cut out dresses with tabs which you folded over the shoulders to create your own look !!We opened family presents after Christmas dinner but also AFTER THE DISHES WERE WASHED!!!!I hated this idea but I must admit I carried it on.You have never seen dishes washed,dried and put away so quickly and the parents dont have to argue with the children.Brilliant !
We would then have a second opening and more things to occupy us .We never had a lot but we knew that a lot of sacrifice went into our gifts
My daughter is 27 and she still has a colouring book and pencils and we sit and colour.
Once the sprouts are boiling it is all downhill from there .
Festive greetings to everyone and a breahthrough in 2011

Getting there !!

After the excitement of recent weeks,I am now able to spend more than a few minutes at a time away from the sofa !!I actually went to Tesco yesterday and with the aid of resting on the trolley and Rick doing the legwork have stocked up on all but the veg.Those that know me will understant what a huge thing it has been for the Queen of Christmas shopping to stay home while the shops are selling Christmas goodies !!!!My parents and our son and his wife and baby are here for Christmas but instead of me doing it all which I love,we are all pitching in.It is so good to get dressed most days and be able to do small jobs.
Had fabulous news today from Dot,the spots have gone from her lungs(fab news for me too as mine has spread )and she can enjoy her Christmas and Tony is sounding his old self and dear Carole is taking control of her bag.2011 has to be a good year for us all.
Getting ready for a cyber drink tomorrow on off topic with the lovely people here,just because we cant go out doesnt mean we cant get together over a drink or two and be together in spirit(or in spirits)
All that is left is to put the sprouts on to boil.About 7am Christmas morning should give them enough time to be cooked by 1.30pm!!!
Getting excited now.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I love the NHS !!!

As you know I have been having tight chest and breathing problems and am waiting to see the heart specialist next Monday.Last Thursday I was off my food and all night I vomited if I stood up  and had to sit upright all night being sick if I sipped water or anything.At 8.30 Ricky rang our surgery and requested a home visit and the GP came 1/2 hour later and took my BP which was 140 over 60.He said I need ed to be admitted and rang thehospital and ambulance.The hospital did all tests and the echo showed a lot more fluid in the pericardium of the heart than 4 weeks ago andneeded to be drained but the specialists teach on Friday so they rang Morriston hospital where they said 2 doctors would do it if I could get there immediately.Blue light ambulance ride later straight into treatment room where 2 doctors and 2 nurses were waiting .
One had the monitor showing my heart which should have been filling the pericardium sack but 2/3 of it was fluid with a heart desperately trying to pump and the other side the doctor  inserted the needle into the heart space to drain the fluid while i watched it on the screen with. full commentary .Rather painful on times but for a good reason as they drained off 600mlof fluid and a further 300 into the drain overnight.How on earth can almost 1 litre of fluid be where it shouldnt?So at 8.30 we rang a doctor and by 4pm it was all over!!!I can now walk upstairs without tightness and my heart fits the space it is meant for!It shouldlnt reoccur as I am no longer on Sutent but  the lovely doc said if it does to ring him straight to save silly waiting time !!!To think that years ago doctors didnt even talk to the patients.
So all in all an exciting time with a good result.
Hope all my cyber pals have equally good results.
Came home Monday

Farmer Harry out with Gramps and our dogs

New start

3 weeks ago i did not think i would see Christmas at a few points.I still have shortness of breath and have an appt to see the heart specialist next month and awful cough but feel better on this new chemo.Hopefully it will work !!I have 3 days of steroids which are great ,I can do small jobs then.Sutent did its job for 8 months and i am grateful but i am soooooooooooo glad to be off it.
Next round coming up.
Harry stayed with us last night and we put up the christmas decorations.He was so excited and really made things special.Love this time of year !!!

New start

Started my new chemo today,Vinorelbine which is for breast and lung cancer.1 tablet once a week plus anti sickness and steroid.Quite looking forward to the steroid giving me a boost.Also came home with 2 painkillers as the growing tumours are pressing on the windpipe and causing pain an my neck and shoulder and toothache in all my bottom teeth so well looked after again !It is 2 years this week that I was rediagnosed so good going so far.
Going to stay at our daughters house tonight,havent seen the 2 grandchildren for 2 weeks due to my infection and then they had a cold so lots of cuddles coming up !!I have not avoided people with infections until now but need to use my head a bit more.Really annoys me as Debbie needs help if they are ill and thats when I have to stay away.Ah well.She is such a good mum.
Fingers crossed that this one works as well as the last 4 chemos,I am working my way through them all slowly !!

Time out

I have been feeling absolutely rotten since last week.A chest infection on top of the fluid on the lung and heart not up to scratch has knocked me for six and I have sleptfor 3 days and lost 1/2 stone.Feel a bit better today and glad to get back to my cyber family.Thank you all for being concerned and sorry for worrying you.
Had a bath and got dressed today which felt as if i had done a weeks work.How strange we are,in no control of our own bodies.What really annoys me is not being out in this lovely weather and missing my grandchildren.I dont know what i would do without Ricky looking after me.The worse part is knowing how I am worrying everyone.
Roll on next week when things should get better.
Dear Carole has her op this week and it MUST be a success,she will be missed greatly and we will all be looking forward to her next post.So much love her and her family.