Hi Flora, hope you are still feeling well and enjoying your time back in your own home. I have had an interesting few days. Had the scarf-tying session yesterday, very useful and fun although there were only two of us there but we got on well and had a few laughs. This lady was suffering with a sore head and hair coming out in clumps, and I (who had already given mine a few tugs before I left home) said mine was showing no signs of falling out, gave it a tug to prove it and to my horror had a large handful! By the time I got home the top of my head was bald and so sore! So last night hubby got to work and now I am 'Velcro head'.  I have taken it better than I thought I would, upsetting but not too much.  Had to see the oncologist today but had no wig so had to have a very quick fiddle with one of my freebies , left the house and walked straight into the neighbours I am trying to avoid. I shouted a cheery "good morning", leapt in the car and drove off at speed leaving them doing a double take. I collect my wig tomorrow sogoing out with a scarf and back with hair will hopefully confuse even more!

sometimes you just have to see the funny side.......

anyway, hoping you are well.  Best wishes and hugs, Margaret xx

Hi Margaret, hope the oncologist visit went well today and that tomorrow's wig collecting does too. Glad to hear the scarf tying gave you a few laughs and I love the idea of your discombobulated neighbours. As you say, you have too try and see the funny side wherever you can find it. Take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue, yes thanks, oncologist visit fine, just to ask if I had any side effects from the first round of chemo and on the whole I was better than I expected to be. They didn't have the results of the cardiogram (which is what I thought I was going for) so we left it that if there was anything I need to know, they will phone me. All in all, a bit if a pointless appointment.

hope you are doing ok and shoulder not giving you too much trouble.

love margaret xx

Hi Margaret,

I would love to have seen your neighbours' faces, bet they had a good gossip! I ventured into town yesterday only to come face to face with a number of people who all politely asked how I was. I didn't tell them the truth, just said , fine thank you. Mistake maybe, but it's not something you can just blurt out to virtual strangers! It is tempting though!! Evil thoughts here!! 

I don't get my wig until next Wednesday, so I am frantically clinging on to my hair. The scalp is sore though and little clumps have started coming out. I wish i'd gone to the hairdresser and had it cut shorter but it's too late now and at least I have some very pretty scarves to wear. Still tempted by a hijab , but they are not easy to wear properly and I can just throw on the scarf without caring what it looks like. Just looking forward to wearing my Joan Collins wig  - Even though i'm blonde and my hair is short!!! Come to think of it, Joan Collins isn't 5 foot 2 and plump either!! Oh well, I can dream!! 

Finish my course of atibiotics tomorrow. Must say I've felt very well since being on them. My tumour actually feels smaller so I don't know if that is a good sign thatbthe chemo is working or indicative of nothing. I don't want to be too optimistic incase it means nothing but it does make me feel better. 

Hope you get a good result from the cardiogram.

take care,

Flora x

Hi Margaret & Flora,

So good to see you have both kept your wicked sense of humour despite, or perhaps because of, everything you are going through. You do make me smile!

I now feel a bit of a fraud being on here since starting to recover, knowing all the horrible stuff you both, and others, are enduring but it is still lovely to chat. The boob swelling and pain are gradually easing and I can now keep my eyes open til at least 8.00pm, so there's progress! I should get my shoulder op date through soon and will carry on regardless in the meantime.

Nothing wrong with being 5' 2" at all Flora. I am the same height and I don't think Joan Collins is particulalry tall either. Beautiful things come in small packages, as the saying goes! Good luck with your wigs and neighbours and Margaret, fingers crossed you don't hear anything re the cardigram.

Take care   Sue xx

Hi Ladies
Just thought I'd have quick look to see what everyone's up to! Hope you're all okay and looking forward to the weekend.

I didn't realise that my head would be sore, I think it feels like "hairache". At the moment I've just got a bald stripe at the top so a scarf like a headband is fine for now.  I did get my hair cut short a few weeks ago from a bob to a short crop as I thought this was right for me to do.

I popped into town today and I suppose one positive thing came out of my chemo lady look - no one stopped to ask if I wanted Sky or Virgin or anything else! Result lol!!

As for being small and plump, well I worked part time for a leading weight loss company for 10 years having lost 3 stone to get to my target.  I left last summer so that I could devote more time to my new granddaughter and I have put half a stone on since my diagnosis. Am I bothered?? Not a bit.  My work colleague who went through this last year tells me "food is medicine" so I'm enjoying the chocolate while I can.  Well there's always free membership on these weight loss classes in January when, hopefully I will have finished my treatment.

My wig is still in her box, although my lovely hairdresser has trimmed it so it suits me.  It is rather nice and I suppose I will wear it when the rest of my hair decides to fall out in the shower.  I've had a short one to match my recent short cut and it's sort of blond with auburn highlights.  I am usually a redhead and have blond foils (to hide the grey!!) so it is quite a good match although I must admit I didn't realise how grey I actually am since I've been unable to keep my colour topped up. Oh well I suppose I can look forward to going back to the hairdressers next year :)

Have a great weekend everyone

Tracey xx

Thank you Margaret for your kind words, that's sweet of you and, as you said, really looking forward to you all joining me on the good side.

So pleased you are happy with your wig and I hope yours, Flora, is as good next week (I would love to see your neighbours confused faces!) Good luck Tracey when you start wearing yours too.

Isn't it funny that we are all 5' 2". Small but perfectly formed. My weight has yo-yo'd tremendously. I lost half a stone over Christmas with the shoulder thing and another stone and a bit during all this "fun" but have now gained back almost a stone since June. I'd like to blame the hormone tablets for the gain but suspect it's more to do with comfort eating lots of naughty (but oh so nice) stuff. But, as Tracey's colleague said, "food is medicine"!

Enjoy your weekends and hope to catch up again soon  Take care  Sue xx

Hi Flora firstly so sorry to hear you have cancer, but thank goodness it hasnt spread. I am writing from the pooint of view that my brother has recently told us he has leukaemia. I am also a health professional (occupational therapist + I am nearing completion of training for end of life counselling) who works with people with cancer too - and the news from my brother hit me like a ton of bricks - but at the same time I felt honoured that he came all the way from NZ to tell me to my face. I ththink people need to know what is happening with you - ! for their sakes and also for yours. You will receive many different reactions (depending on how people themselves have come to grips with facing their own death. Loss is a part of life. At the same time living your life to the full is so important too. My own life reality has changed and I see the world so differently now because of hearing my brothers news. Everything seems more vibrant and alive! and I think life is precious and is there to be enjoyed - and not taken for granted. 

Hearing something like this is important (I believe) to share - you need the support - and I dont believe you are burdening anyone. It takes time to process news such as this - so having a support network is part of this process. Sending big hugs xxxx

Hi Goldwoman,

So sorry to hear about your brother. It is a terrible shock when cancer hits someone close to you I know. I fully agree with you that people need to know what is going on. Those who are close to me, family and friends all know and are being incredibly supportive. Those who don't know, don't need to know as it is none of their business and they are only aquaintances.

Hope all goes well for your brother. He is lucky to have someone as caring and supportive as you to turn to.

love, 

Flora xx