Christmas Day!!

We've had the most lovely Christmas Day. Lunch was wonderful - home-made leek & potato soup to start, then honey roast gammon, REAL baked potatoes (oven, not microwave), sprouts, parsnips & carrots. My sister did the cooking; mum & I fought over the washing-up. I won.

Then ... Doctor Who.

I haven't updated this blog for a while - but I'm pleased to say that's a sign that all's progressing well. The whole of the 3rd chemo cycle passed smoothly. Her energy levels fluctuate, but in general they're pretty-damn good. It was great to hear that the chemo hasn't affected her taste this time round. The prospect of that wonderful lunch tasting of metal just doesn't bear thinking about!!

We had very sad news earlier in the week when we heard 2 of her friends from hospital hadn't made it to Christmas. They were both so very ill & neither was a candidate for chemo. Dear Rosa; Dear Janet - you are very much in our thoughts. Our love to you & your families.

We saw the Oncologist on Wednesday. She was very pleased with how well my sister is tolerating the treatment & has given her the go-ahead for Cycle 4 to start next week. There had been talk of it being put back a week, as the Onc didn't think they'd be able to slot in her follow-on appointment before the new year & the next cycle can't start until after the Onc has seen her. I'm very glad there won't be a break in the cycle after all.

I've been very busy with teaching cover over the past few weeks & was very pleased with my pay-cheque this month. Work should drop off dramatically in the new year, so it's good to have that extra cushion in the Bank. Mind you, I wasn't expecting any work at all this academic year, so maybe I shouldn't make any assumptions for the new year; I'll just sit back & see what work the colds & 'flu seasons throw my way.

Happy Christmas to everyone. I hope your Day was as lovely as mine. xxx

Day 1 of Cycle 3

Today's chemo seems to have gone well. She's awful tired but doing really well.

Thursday Evening - Start of Party-Season!!

This has been a MUCH better week.

The taste changes my sister has been experiencing came through quite strongly during the early part of this week, though - nothing tasted nice at all. She kept asking if my food was completely tasteless, too - but nope, mine wasn't.

I did solve part of the "anything mint-flavoured burns my mouth" problem, though - I bought her "Punch & Judy" children's toothpaste (both the Strawberry & the Tutti-Frutti flavours) & it works!!! (Sadly, Sensodyne also has mint-flavouring, Jean. I couldn't believe it when I saw that ... even their children's version does.)

We both had Swine 'Flu jabs on Monday - sis has to have TWO, because of her weakened immune system & I had to have one, as a Carer. My whole body turned to lead & I felt absolutely lousy for 24 hours. I'm much better now, though & we're off to a neighbour's birthday party in our pre-Christmas glad-rags.

I had a great afternoon, bra shopping. There was a lovely fitter in the M&S changing room who - very diplomatically - pointed out that I was wearing the wrong bra-size. After being properly fitted, I feel very svelte & chic. Gok would be proud of me!!! :o)

Yesterday, when I was suffering post-'flu-jab lethargy, sis made a wonderful meal - with Mash & Red Cabbage - & was over the moon when she found she could actually TASTE it. Brilliant news!! Maybe the numb tastebuds are an immediate post-chemo side-effect, rather than a long-term problem.

Another brilliant highlight of this past week was talking to Pauline from the CC Foundation. It was fantastic to talk to her & hopefully, we'll meet after Christmas & try & do something together to sort out the lack of communication about CC at the specialist hospitals. There are such wonderfully supportive people on that marvelous CCF website, all spiraling along the same sod-awful emotional roller-coaster, & it makes me feel much less alone knowing they're out there.

Bless us all ... xx