I was going to call this one Alright my liver.. but that might not have been very funny for the non-Bristolians amongst you...
Dr Braybrooke, the oncologist, rang to discuss my PET scan results and said that the scan hadn't confirmed, as he was expecting, that the cancer was in my liver. He, therefore, now suspects that it isn't..but as he said there's no 100% guarantee. The scan did confirm that the cancer is definitely in my bones in various places but he's confident that that can be controlled....I'm not ready yet to ask for how long. Oh well, for the moment, two out of three isn't so bad..! All day I've been wanting to ring him back and go through the conversation again but right now we're happy some good news at last.
It's a funny kind of situation - I feel quite well after the chemotherapy, well enough to go out and about for a bit each day and catch up with friends but I still feel a bit naughty and keep having these thoughts of, 'What if my boss sees me?' It's like being on maternity leave but without having a child to look after! I cannot get my head round the fact that I have got this serious disease - I feel a bit of a fraud. I think the next big thing will be if my hair falls out.
My head is spinning with thoughts about vitamins, supplements, wheatgrass, cranberry juice and all these other weird and wonderful health food shop delights. I even bought a crystal rock deoderant today (Hannah - I know you'll laugh at me!). That's my next job - to sort out what is going to work for me on the diet/nutrition front. Martin has come home with a stinking cold today (sympathy for him please!) and it's quite scary to think that my immune system is so susceptible to bugs and germs, particularly 10 - 14 days after treatment.
Martin and I are overwhelmed with everyone's response to the blog - writing it and reading it is the best therapy we could have...although thrashing the Aussies in the cricket might help too (sorry Scott & Skip!)!!
Just a thought - if you want to leave a comment on the blog at any time, it's best if you attach it to the most recent post...otherwise we might miss it.
Thanks to you all.
Vicky xx
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25 comments:
Hello again,
That's a relief. Good to hear some positive news.
We're all surrounding you with a circle of love and support and it looks like its fending off some of the foes already.
Don't worry about the prospect of losing your hair...you'll still look goregous.
Love Sarah xx
P.S. I'm dreading the Ashes... Being a pome in Oz either way I'm in for trouble! Happy watching, you can wind up Skip as much as you want!
Wey Hey!
Great news - about time you heard something good! I can get you a good commission rate on Brizzle Dictionaries - we could even link this to a micro site (!!)
Take care and hope there's more good news on the way!
Love Mick XX
Hi Vicky
At last you've had some good news! Let's hope it continues. Look forward to hopefully seeing you next week. Love your blog especially the picture of you wearing your new fashion accessory.
Take care
Love Jo xx
Dear Vicky,
We are pleased to here is some sunlight coming through the bus window. Another joke for you.
"English rugby replacing red rose on shirts with red tampon as this is the worst period they've ever known!"
Not sure if you've already heard this one from Martin.
lots of love
Jo, Mark, Alice and William xxxx
Hey Vicky,
Great to hear some positive news! Certainly better than the first day of the test, I don't envy Sarah being in Oz...well I do a little bit obviously, if only for the weather!
Cheers!
Simon
Hoo bloody rah - at long last some good news.
Will call you before I leave for 'down under'.
Much love
Liz xx
Great to hear the good news Vicky and great to read the whole story in your superb blog.
I was going to offer to be the nutter on the bus but I'm sure Martin has got that job.
I'll stick to researching how visiting late night drinking dens can aid a macrobiotic diet.
See you at the school gates soon!
Annabelle.
Hi Vicky!
Finally some good news for you! I just wanted to let you know that I am definitely on your bus!
Even though I have only known you for 3 months now, I know you are amazing and I hope I will see you soon!
Love Sanne x
Hi Vicky
Nice to hear from you. We're all thinking of you and asking after you. Hope you're enjoying spending a bit more time with Iona while you're at home.
Take care and we hope to be seeing you again soon
from all at the TIC
I was so pleased to hear your good news I had to tell everyone - even people who don't know you. All my colleagues send their best wishes!
Love the hat by the way. Nothing more sexy than a bit of neoprene.
Lots of love from Sarah (sitting next to Phil and Freya on the VW bus with Alfie pinned onto my lap to stop him running up and down while the bus is moving)
Hi Vicky
Two thoughts I forgot to share on my original post
1) whats wrong with crystal rock deodorant? My sister uses it and swears by it. Mind you she also swears by living in a tent in Spain down a very steep track accessible only by mule........
2) If you've run out of shelf space for cards and flowers you only have yourself to blame. If you werent so lovely, funny, loyal, caring, dynamic, interesting, interested in other people and fantastic at making and keeping friends then you wouldnt have so many friends and the card/flower situation would be minimised
Thinking of you loads
Lots of love
Abigail, Angus, Becca and Archie
PS you did say I was allowed to continue trying to make you laugh.
PPS let me know if I'm failing and I'll try my hand at something else!
I used to quite fancy that bald woman off Star Trek so I don't think a full Barnet is everything
The England cricket team are clearly using up all of thier energy sending postive vibes to the Bristol Contingent of the Barmy Army, and it seems to be paying off yipppeeeeeeeeeee.
So pleased there is finally some good new, here's to a few more lost wickets ;0)
Loads of love Zo, Mat and Smurfy xx
This Dr Braybooke is playing havoc with my nerves. I'll come over and bash him with a stale baguette if he messes around again.
But reading your news has brightened up today, keep posting!
Big hugs, Claire, Vlad, Paul, Julien & Innes
Great news Vicky. See - all that positivity is already working!! We are working on sending you oodles more too...
Lots of love,
Ian x
PS Hair? What's that....
Hi Vicky,
I just wanted to say that it's great news about your liver m' lover! Like you say - at last some good news. I am going away today until next weekend and hope there is more news of this kind when I get back!
If you are feeling up to it perhaps we could get together for a cuppa when I get back - not sure whether you are inundated with things to do and people to see at the moment, or kicking your heels on your own at home, but it would be good to see you.
Take care and look after yourself.
Love,
Karen xx
Hi Vicky,
Just got given this address by Ian, so rather shocking for me as its the first I've heard about everything. You sound wonderfully positive though...we have just come back from Harare.. three days rushing around getting supplies and having meetings. Now have 5 friends descending for weekend of fishing and eating my food..like you I have got the reputation of supplying food that is too yummy!
Please send me your email address, the one I have does not work, so I can send all our news.
Thinking of you loads.
Love,
Sarah (the Zim one!)
xxx
Dear Vicky, I was just going to call Destination B. to see how you were doing and Lizzie sent me an email with your blog. A bit lost for the right words, quite a catalogue of events even since I saw you 10 days ago. Good to hear the liver is safe. I have heard from various friends similar stories and exactly what you are doing, with an incredibly health diet supporting the bodies system in as many ways as possible, things work out. Don't watch too much day time TV and don't over shop or I'll tell John H! Look after yourself. Lots of thoughts and big hugs to all three of you. Love Jane and Rob
Having a bad day? - try Smacking the Penguin. Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. We've managed over 300 but the best in my sister's office is 323.
Helen
SMACK THE PENGUIN
1. Click on the link below.
2. Click once on the snowman and the penguin will leap from the
cliff
3. Click on the snowman again to hit the penguin as he descends
from the cliff.
4. What's your distance? Good Luck!
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf
Dear Vicky, Martin & Iona,
Wow, what a blog! As blog virgins, we are going to expect them all to be this gutsy, positive and inspirational but then you only have to look at the author to know that what you see is what you get.
Given the rabble who, with a little help, managed to get 8 rather ageing boats around the world in one piece (more or less!), getting your wonderful bus from A to B must be within the powers of the friends and family you've invited along. We count ourselves very priviledged to be among them and as I type we are enrolling for diesel engine courses and sorting out the victualling. Count us in for whatever it takes.
Hurrah for good news, may there be plenty more of it on the journey.
lots and lots of love and positive thoughts.
Cath, James, Ellen & Alexander xxx
Good to hear something positive! Just keep that bus on the road and avoid all the potholes that are in the way! Ding Ding!
Rod,Muir and Murphy xxx
We don`t have your e.mail???
Hi Vicky, Would definitely love to get on the bus, but I hope it has good heating and comfy seats! Without wanting to sound too familiar I almost feel as if I know you, as my Line Manager/Work colleague tells us all about you and how you are doing,almost on a daily basis, as we wish you all good things and then some. Anyway got to finish reading your blog before going to bed love Sue x
Vicky, Just got Lizzie Hacketts email to Bristol Clipper lot and wanted to wish you all the best. Glad to hear your liver is sticking up for itself and start necking the wheatgrass - no doubt delicious. You've clearly got an awful lot of support and love and thats got to make a difference. Will be following your blog closely for updates.
Best wishes
Caroline
Hi,
Am in Sydney for work at the mo but keeping tabs on the bus's progress. Fingers crossed for more positive news.
Lots of love,
Terry x
Hiya Vicky
Had been chin wagging with Mic; was having a right old winge about how hard I was working and how tired I was etc and she pushed me right off my soapbox with your blog details and smack bang into the bus stop to get on the bus along with everyone else and I am flipping glad she did.
You are such an inspiration and it's great that you have had some positive news - keep it coming!
Hoping to see you Monday - when on Mince Pie run to your meeting am hoping you can make it
Take care til then and keep blogging!
Jane (Jurys) x
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