Keep Your Hair On!

Sunday 28^th April 2013

The last time I wrote a blog post, I was about to go into hospital for my seventh chemo session. I’m pleased to say the session went ok, with best friend Libby there to support me while Flo went back to Builth for a night. During the time in I also started my radiotherapy. I’m taken down to the department in a wheelchair by a porter, with Mum having to scuttle alongside to keep up with his fast pace of around 90mph! On the second day of treatment one of the Radiographers said “Oh I see you’ve bought a friend with you today?” (Meaning my drip) To which I replied “Oh no that’s just my Mum!”

I have now completed fifteen sessions out of twenty eight. The process of having the radiotherapy is fairly simple, with me wearing the mask (which I explained about in my last blog post) while the radiotherapy is given and it only lasts a couple of minutes. I have had to use aqueous cream on my head a few times a day to prevent it from becoming sore, which is a common side effect of radiotherapy. Another possible side effect can be short –term memory loss....now then what was I saying?!

Whilst recovering after the chemotherapy, both Flo and I nearly ended up back in hospital at A&E! One morning whilst taking a shower (which is positioned over the bath) and lathering up, I slipped and fell hitting my head in the process! Upon hearing the commotion Flo called upstairs to check I was ok, but there was no answer as I couldn’t hear her because of the sound of the shower. She dashed upstairs in a panic, thinking I must have fainted, nearly having a cardiac arrest on the way! Luckily I was ok apart from a sore head and perhaps now a red face from admitting I’m a bit of a clumsy fool!

Last week I had my wig cut and styled and I know a lot of you have seen it via Facebook. I was overwhelmed by the amount of ‘likes’ my picture got and it gives me confidence to know it looks good! I was advised by Nicky (the hairdresser) to keep the length long and he suggested I looked more of a ‘structured’ type of person, so to go with a Jessie J style blunt fringe. I told him she’d already copied my style by having it all shaved off! I was happy to go with his advice as he said it’s quite different cutting a wig to normal hair. I’m really pleased with the outcome and it makes it so much nicer and easier to go out, especially in the evening time. With this in mind I decided a celebratory night out was in order and my Uni friends Lisa and Dani came down to Birmingham for the night. We headed to Brindley Place for a meal at Piccolino’s and to Pitcher and Piano and Walkabout for a few drinks and a boogie! The night was really good; especially as it was the first proper night out I’d had since September!

Lisa and I also went pottery painting last week, as we fancied trying something a bit different. It was actually really good fun and very therapeutic! You could choose from an array of items to paint including plates, bowls, trinket boxes and cups and saucers. We decided to both select plates and used floral stencils to create Cath Kidson style designs. I’m picking them up next week when they’ve been glazed and fired and would love to try this again in the future! Flo took this opportunity to escape once again and headed into town on the 99 bus! I’m always laughing at her fascination with buses here in Birmingham; I guess she’s never seen so many as it’s quite different to Builth where you only have one every two hours!
 

In the last couple of weeks my sister Becca and her boyfriend Luke have visited, along with my Dad which has been lovely. Mum’s friend Sandra also came up for the weekend and we all enjoyed a canal boat trip over Brindley Place on a lovely sunny day. My former boss Matt (from George) and his wife Josie also called to see me last Sunday and we spent a lovely few hours catching up.

 

The London Marathon has also taken place since I last posted, so I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rachel Williams on her fantastic achievement, completing the race in five hours (with an injured hip) and raising over a £1250 (+ gift aid) for Teenage Cancer Trust and the same for her Mum’s chosen charity Pulmonary Hypertension Association. Thank you to all those who provided sponsorship, I know the money will be greatly appreciated.

 

I can’t believe it’s nearly May and I’ll have been living in Birmingham for around six months! Although we’ve made friends with a few of the locals, our neighbours clearly don’t think too much of us. The occupants of the two houses opposite have up sticks and left and the neighbours next door are moving to Australia as soon as they sell! Think it must be something to do with Flo’s singing or perhaps it’s her neighbourhood watch tendencies?!

Flo and I are glad the winter is over and the nights are getting lighter, which makes going through all of this so much easier. Tomorrow I’ll be going back into hospital for my eighth chemo session. That’ll be eight down, six more to go.