hi Al and Alli 

what a lovely start to the day seeing messages from both of you. 

the sun is out again and after i have spoken to the mortage man i can sit back and enjoy the day. 

yep the fat pigeon came up again. - my bird table is actually right up against the window and has not deterred the pigeon, a jackdaw was a little more dubious last night but came close. they are nesting in my reduncdant chimney pot. 

Alli - dont stop GAry getting you all those lovely things what a star you will want those brilliant things to keep that weight on and keep you smiling. 

seem like tonsils have a lot to answer for lol my condition spread from the tonisl into surrounding areas too. that is why i still have three areas in neck left. glad outlook is positive. 

so thrilled Al you are obviously feeling brighter and better sound nice and positive and am thrilled you have finished this treatment. take time to recover and re energise before you get stuck into too much. we want you better ! 

hubby caught ggrandad mini mafia running into next door yesterday he said he was quite busy and looked like he had enjoyed the party but disappointed nothing is left over. we have to clear the carport soon and make sure it is mini mafia prrof but i look at it and do not have the energy yet - one of those jobs you put of !!! 

the cd shelf was a nightmare then hubby said he would like another one !!!! what ! my brain has screamed aaaahhhhhh. another job to put of for the time being. 

think today we need to soak up some rays and enjoy the sun get thos endorphins and smile a great healing process.

keep smiling and stay strong x

Hi Al

Thank you for messaging me hope you are feeling ok today I see that you have an underlying condition that has made this journey even more difficult  for you, I hadnt realised there was such a long wait before they check the cancer has gone I'm being treated in liverpool I was originally being treated in chester which isn't far from me but they have changed as they say the hospital I'm at now is the best for this treatment, like you I have cancer in tonsil that has spread to lymph node and is attached to my jaw so after having camera down last week they have said it can't be surgically removed so chemoradiotherapy route I think my case is in front of mdt tomorrow so will know then so bit nervous, I have really enjoyed reading Elonas messages she is lovely and her words have cheered me up on days when I've been quite down, I have tried not to worry to much about the treatment and am being positive about the outcome from what I can see this cancers cure rate is pretty good

Hope you have a good day and would be fab to hear from you again when your up to it

Alli x

Morning

Hope you had .a better night sounds like you need to conserve your energy for the next diy task lol you obviously made a very good job of CD unit for your hubby to want another one, all good here have moved bird table further down garden and sprinkled seed on floor around it and have had a blackbird eat seed off floor but completely ignored bird table at least the bird foods ok was starting to wonder, the sun is lovely so thought I would go for walk later I'm trying to be as healthy as I can apart from the goodies off Gary it would be a shame to waste them lol, how is the hedgehog book going my neighbour was telling me she made the top of an old birdhouse into a hedgehog house and had a mum and 2 baby hedgehogs in it I think that is my next project a hedgehog hotel

Have a lovely day

Alli x

Good Morning Alli

It is a nervous time for you, the waiting is always the worst.  I can't tell you how relieved I was when I turned up for my first day of treatment, it was like 'Let the battle begin!'.  You will feel that you lose some battles along the way, my first feeling of loss was when I had to have the NG tube fitted (ended up being a good thing).  But you have to lose some battles to win the war.  I will be thinking of you today.  Wednesdays are when my MDT meets too.

The reason it takes four months after treatment for a PET Scan (to see how the treatment has worked) is two fold.  Firstly the chemoradio carries on working after the actual treatment finishes, how long for I am not sure.  Then your own body takes over.  Secondly they used to check much earlier, but found that they were often detecting lumps and sending patients for biopsys.  More often than not the biopsys were coming back clear.  They found that if they left the scans for four months after treatment there were less people with lumps, which meant less unnecessary stress on patients going for unneeded biopsys.  This may or may not be the same in Liverpool.  I did ask when I first met my oncologist what will happen if the treatment doesn't work, he answered with 'Lets take each day at a time'.  You hear that a lot, and it's good advice.

Although it is a four month wait, and my radiochemo treatment has finished, I still have weekly review meetings with my MDT, I have one today.  And the cancer hospital is always on the other end of the phone, they can't do enough for you.

Again, thinking of you today...  Let us know how you get on.

Stay strong and hold on to every bit of positivity.

Al' x

Good Morning Elona :)

Hope all is well with you this morning.  I am feeling better each day, my blood counts must be on the up yay!

With two cats we dare not have a bird table, which is sad as I grew up watching a myriad of our feathered friends from Pigeons to Woodpeckers...  Plus the odd cheeky squirrel.

Elona have you ever grown sprouts?  I planted some seeds in flat seed trays just a couple of days ago and placed them on a south facing window sill.  Starting them indoors.  They have gone absolutely crazy!  They have pushed all the soil up like a muffin in the oven, loads of shoots have come up already.  Should I transplant them to pots?  Bare in mind they were only planted a few days ago.  We do not have any type of greenhouse and the weather is too up and down to transplant outside.  Even my herbs are still indoors.

We have some friends coming from England to visit on Sunday, so yesterday we were busyspring clearing the garden, new solar lights up...  so many lights.  My amazing wife has a big delivery of plants coming this week.  She bought me a very colourful metal solar Peacock yesterday.  It shines feather patterns on the walls at night.  We needed a new bench for the front garden, but could not afford one.  Wife has a light bulb moment, you know how we like to repurpose.  We had an old day bed in the shed so a lick of paint and a waterproof matress cover Boom a new bench!  looks so nice I will have to chain it to the house.  We got lucky on FB Market Place too, we found a matching metal and glass table for a tenner.  Just getting outside and doing things is making me feel so much better and I am sure is speeding up my recovery.  Just have to be careful not to burn out.

Who are mini mafia?  I have missed something whilst I was away lol.

Sun is shinning here today in the valleys both outside and in my heart.  Can't wait to get out into the garden.  Hope that the sun is shinning with you too :)

I hope that today is better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow.

Al x

Hi Sam

I've been away from the thread for a while, 4/5 weeks I think.  Fell down a rabbit hole.

How are you getting on?  How far are you with regards to treatment?  Loving the name of your mask, I found the mask fitting and strangly the radiotherapy quite relaxing.  I dozed off on a couple of my radios :laugh:

I and others would love to hear from you if you feel up to it.  I for one totally understand if you do not feel like posting to the thread right now.  I've been there.

Stay strong, stay positive

Al,

Hi Al 

Yesterday I got the results for the lump on my epiglottis it was a mucous retention cyst and not cancerous now I need further tests and biopsy for lumps that have appeared on my tonsils so bitter sweet news.

The tread has kept me going through the last 6 weeks which has been a lonely place.

Regards 

Christine 

Morning Al

Glad you are feeling good today that's got to be a good sign  but don't overdo it, I know what you mean it seems like its dragging on but I'm using the time to be constructive in preparation for treatment ahead like showing my son how to use washing machine he is 23 so it's about time lol,  I had very restless sleep in anticipation of outcome of mdt meeting but worrying won't help as long as they say I can have treatment like you said let battle commence, I'm being inspired to do some vegetable growing by you and Elona not very good at gardening but thought might grow some tomatoes on windowledge so hopefully can get some good tips from you both

Have a happy day

Alli x

Hi Christine, 

please never feel lonely we are here to talk to all the time through thick and thin as they say! I am glad though the thread has kept you going that is the main aim of mine. i believe distractions are a good thing and smiling even better it helps raise the emotions from that dark place to the light. 

iam so pleased that you do not havve cancer but a cyst and fingers crossed the other biopsies will be the same. keep positive this is a good sign. they tend to do biopsies of other lumps just to double check themselves even if they think they know the diagnosis, they did that with me. 

the sun is out so try and enjoy your day with out thinking of anything too much .

stay strong keep smiling x