Morning Peeps

Off to the dentist in a mo for a filling. Joy of joys. Then off to London to see the fabulous Imelda Staunton and the less than fabulous (imho) Michael Ball - although reports say he's very good in this - in Sweeney Todd. V v excited indeed. Not coming back till Monday (hate trains on a Sunday) and so will avail myself of various opportunities on Sunday in our capital city - galleries, museums, retail, more retail, martinis etc. Will let you all know how it goes. May even blog from the hotel (The Hoxton in the East End - never stayed there before so quite excited about that too). That's all, J x

Homeward Bound

Back to Manchester today, helpline tonight. Leaving Swansea in a happier frame of mind than when I arrived. Mum and Dad much calmer too. I think we all feel like we've had good news even though the news is. essentially, Mum still has cancer. Fingers crossed now that the treatment will be as successful as the last two times... See you soon Manchester. That's all. J x

Good News (Ish)

So saw the consultant this morning (she was very nice). Its the same ovarian cancer as before. The fact that it has been in remission so long is good news as it means that it should respond well to gently chemotherapy. Mum will only have one type this time round so she shouldn't lose her hair like she did on the second course of treatment and the anti-sickness stuff they give her has improved and so she shouldn't feel as sick as she did the first time. She will have one session every 3 weeks for 18 weeks i.e. six cycles. She has her initial assessment on Thursday (finally they're quick about something) and so the course should start soon. And that's what we know today.

National Botanic Gardens tomorrow. Hooray. Back to Manchester Thursday. That's all. J x

Swansea, Dear Swansea

Arrived home. Journey not too bad - little traffic but plenty of roadworks. Both Aged Ps looking hale and hearty and both Aged Ps within 10 minutes of my arrival have retired to separate rooms to watch tennis (Mum) and football (Dad). At least I'm now clear where I come in the pecking order...

Have consultant's appointment on Monday (not sure what time) so I'll update you on the position after that. Bizarrely the sun is shining here! That's all. J x

I am eternally grateful...

... to Ms Jane Murray. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYdpte1W0vk&feature=related

That's all. J x

The Latest

Not much to report really. Work carries on apace. It was the closing date for various job applications on Friday (no, I haven't applied for anything) but I could soon have some new colleagues to work with which should be interesting. On the work front still, Gill has got (finally) a much deserved promotion which will see her working full time in Manchester which will be good for her (and good for me as it gives us more nights available to go to the cinema - yay). With that in mind we're off to see the new Muppet film this week. I love the Muppets.

No news from Mum. I've sorted out my leave to go home for the consultation and will try to fit in a trip to the National Botanic Gardens at the same time. Talking of gardens I really need to start thinking about what I want to do with the terrace this year. Its about time I made a serious effort... But we've all heard that before.

Jim came round for drinks and to watch a film last night which was fun. How he has time I've no idea because he's just involved in so much stuff. He's almost as busy as DD (who is in Guildford this weekend). How come all my friends are so busy and I just sit around? Opposites attract maybe?

Had two Valentines, thanks guys - you know who you are (and so do I!). :-) That's all. J x

Update

Mum has had a letter which calls her in for a consultation on 05/03. Given that this is a little way off we're assuming this must mean that there isn't too much to worry about. But knowing the NHS as I do, I'm not convinced. But she will go and see her GP this week (who is very good) to find out what she should be reading into this and what she should be doing. I'l let you know.

In the meantime the Aged's have 2 funerals to go to on Monday - next door but one: Barbara, a lovely woman who died of a brain tumour quite suddenly. She was only in her 50s too. The other funeral is for the man who did the eulogy at Sally's funeral. He was wonderful at that but a bit of an odd character otherwise and has been ill for some time. Obviously they can do without a lot of funerals just now.

I'm fine. Work is work. DD and Lesley are coming around tomorrow evening to watch the BAFTAs which means, of course, cleaning. Hey ho. I'm sure it will be a fun night anyway. That's all. J x

Some News At Last

Mum has had a letter stating that the biopsy found some atypical adrenal cells. The doctors are going to discuss treatment options at their regular get together next week and then will call her in to let her know the outcome. But we don't know when this will be yet but I'm guessing week after next. I'll go home for that meeting/discussion. So we'll know more then. I'll let you know. Fingers crossed. The Internet suggests most primary adrenal cancers are benign. And "atypical adrenal cells" suggests to me that it's a primary but I'm not really sure. Have to wait and see.

In other news, my shoulder feels a bit better, Coventry was good and it's snowing in Manchester. That's all. J x

Countdown to T

The T lands at 1200 today. Beside myself.

No news on Mum though unfortunately. They told us we'd hear this week and now no-one - can get hold of the oncologist's secretary to get the results of the scan. Its hugely frustrating. Don't they have someone to cover if the secretary is on holiday? Really annoyed and of course its really upsetting for Mum. Fingers crossed we hear something next week.

Now on with the cleaning... That's all. J x

Aaaaarrrrrgh

Will this cleaning madness never end?

I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made her leave her key, if I'd have known for just one second T'd be back to visit me....

Looking forward to it immensely of course. That's all. J x

P.S. DD was assigned the task of finding me a cleaner but I have heard zip. Zilch. Nada (and other hip current phrases of the young).

Nuts & Fig & T

First the nuts. Saw a greenfinch on my nuts today. Yay. They're not all dead. Hope he or she manages to find a mate and we get lots of new greenfinches. Also, the thrushes are back. I think they're after the berries on the mountain ash trees over the road. But they also pull up all the moss from between the paving on the terrace which makes it look really untidy. But I like them so don't mind too much.

And message for Fig - CHECK YOUR DIARY. Are you free to come up at Easter?

Mrs T arrives on Saturday. I couldn't be more excited. That's all. J x

Morning All

Not much news to report I'm afraid. Mum hasn't heard any more yet but we're expecting the results of the biopsy some time next week. I'll let you know as soon as we do.

Work has been the usual treadmill - 2 days in Wrexham and 2 in Manchester with just one in Warrington. But actually feeling a bit more positive about work at the moment. I'm dealing with the issues (people) I have and having given up the "Lead BLM" duties I now have more time to spend on my Team which is good. It also allows me to take 2 days a month off (Time Off In Lieu of hours worked or TOIL) in order to spend it with the Aged Ps. We're planning a trip to London for February. Yay.

Two nights out this week: Restaurant Bar & Grill with DD on Thursday and Grill on the Alley with Lesley & Gill last night. V good. Nice quiet weekend catching up on The Story of the Musical will be great ahead of the fabulous Mrs T arriving next weekend, That's all. J x

Mother Update VI

Mum had a good night - even slept through me setting of the house alarm system! She looks and sounds good this morning although it is still painful for her to laugh and cough (but I remember what that is like). She ate a (quite large) meal last night and doesn't appear to have suffered any ill effects from that either which is good too. So now its just a question of waiting for the results of the biopsy to see what further treatment is required and how effective that is likely to be. Fingers crossed.

All things being equal I will head back to Manchester tomorrow and be back in work on Monday (albeit in Wrexham rather than Warrington). Joy. That's all. J x

Mother Update V

She's Out!. Yes, Mrs L has made the long trek from Morriston to Sketty and is currently ensconced on the sofa at Chez Lewis catching up on recorded episodes of Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Pointless. I, have therefore escaped to the bedroom to update the blog for you. Typically they informed Mum that she could leave 15 minutes after visiting tine had ended so me and my Dad were half way home when the call came through.

She is still in some pain and no doubt will be for 5 or 6 days to come (if my experience is anything to go by). But hopefully she won't fully experience what I did as we hope her wound won't become infected.

We don't know yet what the future holds in terms of treatment or prognosis but for the moment we're just focussing on the fact that she is home. Thank you everyone for your good wishes and cards. I'll let you know how things are going in due course. As for me, back to Manchester on Sunday... That's all. J x

Mother Update IV

Egg sandwich stayed down which is a great result. As did the pasta in a tomato sauce and ice cream she had this evening. Mum was also sat up in a chair when we visited this afternoon but back in bed this evening. She seemed really bright this afternoon but clearly more tired later. Hopefully, in the absence of sickness, she will be able to get some sleep tonight. But her wound is starting to hurt. The pain from a cut muscle can be excruciating - I know - so I've told her to get some morphine when they do the drugs round tonight. Hopefully she will have listened to me. Other than this, not much to report. So goodnight Blog-World. See you tomorrow. That's all. J x

Mother Update III

Mother has requested a small egg sandwich for lunch. This is good news. Hurrah. That's all. Eggs to boil and all that... J x

Mother Update II

Just been to t'hospital again. Mum didn't have a good night (too noisy) and when the nurses sat her out in a chair this morning she was promptly sick so they put her back to bed. This isn't too alarming as nausea is a common side effect of anaesthetic. So she was tired when we saw her but she was drinking cranberry juice although hadn't had much to eat. We'll take her some ice cream when we visit tonight and see how she gets on with that. She still looked quite well and a few of her drips have been removed. Hopefully she can still come out on Friday but we'll just have to see how things go. I'll keep you informed. Dad and I are a fine so thanks for your good wishes everyone. That's all for now. J x

Mother Update

Arrived back in Swansea today. Mum had her operation at 1130 this morning. It didn't go as planned as they were unable to remove the lump as it is attached to her aorta making it too dangerous to attempt. She has seen the surgeon following this and he has explained that they did biopsy the lump but they won't get the results for 2 weeks or so. There then needs to be a series of case conferences with the various specialists involved to decide on the best course of action. This won't all have taken place until about 6 weeks time.

The possible treatment options are either radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy if the lump is malignant or steroids if it is benign. We have no idea what the prognosis from any of these options would be although I imagine that "benign" will be the best outcome. And clearly they would all have been better if the lump had been removed first. I'll let you know as soon as we know more.

Visited Mum this evening in hospital and she looks very well considering. She has a nice room all to herself with her own toilet (although not a shower) and she seemed in quite good spirits. She wasn't in too much pain although I suspect this will change as the anaesthetic wears off. She does have a morphine pump though (which I always found a great comfort). She is expecting to be discharged on Friday all being well.

And that's all we know. Thank you to Kathryn for the card and to DD as well (and to the 2 other people whose cards I haven't looked at yet!) and to everyone for their good wishes. And that's all for tonight. Keep your fingers crossed everyone. Ta. J x

Mother News

So Mum will be going into hospital on Monday for an op on Tuesday to remove her lump. The latest MRI scans show that the lump is still growing so it has to be done. They can't biopsy the lump without going in and so they will do both at the same time. And of course until the biopsy we won't know if its a primary or secondary cancer. I'm guessing the latter as this will be the third time Mum has had cancer. Luckily she seems to get a nice big break between each occurrence (8 years and 10 years).

Tests seem to indicate that although the lump is next to the adrenal gland it hasn't penetrated it. But again we probably won't know the true state of things until the operation actually takes place which makes it all a bit unknown and scary.

The op is also not straightforward as they have to go through her side rather than through her tummy due to the location of the lump. But a guy in work knows someone who had this type of op and said that person was out of hospital within a week and didn't have any complications. So fingers crossed.

I won't actually go home until Monday because we have to phone up on Monday morning to make sure a bed is still available (I know).

So that's all I know. Will keep you informed. Otherwise, everything OK. That's all. J x

Happy New Year Blog Mates

Can't believe its 0400 and I'm only now going to bed. Haven't been up this late since those good old bad old days when Figgy used to sleep on my sofa. And really, you don't want to hear about those days (oh no they don't Fig. Just remember what I have on you !). So anyway, had a lovely evening with my mates DD and Lesley and Jools Holland (loving Ruby Turner and Imelda thingy) and copious amounts of food and drink. Much nicer than going out, getting pissed, snogging loads of anonymous people and waking up God knows where... No really, it was. So anyway, resolutions for 2012 are -

* Go to gym. Finally. Really. Lose the belly. How difficult can it be? Its not like I need to join anywhere...

* Have the hard conversations I need to at work.

* Spend less. No pay rise, increases in pension contributions (don't get me started) plus my 3 year travelling expenses stop... so I'll need to do something.

Let me know what yours are. That's all. J x

P.S. Happy New Year everyone.