CHEMO CALENDAR
FIRST CYCLE OF SIX SESSIONS
(For those who want to know what it is like)
FRIDAY 10th November 1st CHEMO SESSION
7.30am Woken with a loving phone call from Stonehaven by ‘His Naughtiness’ to wish me courage and good luck! Felt very touched as I know he was on a late shift at the hospital last night and had made a special effort to call and I really appreciated it.
Spent the day at the Marsden with Aimi and Chris 9.30 – 4.30pm. The first Chemo session was not too bad – the worst thing was the canula which took four attempts to get into my vein. (See full report of day at hospital separately)
When it was all over, felt able to collect Mia from swimming and do a few things. Didn’t sleep much at night due to the dexymethasone for anti-nausea being a stimulant. Saw colours much brighter and was definitely speeding and had motor mouth. First legal drugs for 22 years!!! Hooray!!!
SATURDAY 11TH November – Day 1 after Chemo
No problem getting up and getting on with things – feel on a bit of a high and clear headed. The body, though, feels it should be very tired and resting, but the mind overrides it. Went to the movies and Zim Zam Thai restaurant with Sue and Christopher. Saw an excellent film – ‘Breaking and Entering’ with Jude Law which had been panned by Time Magazine, however, I loveD it. It was a story about survival and love in complicated circumstances and had a strong message of hope.
SUNDAY 12th November – Day 2
Spent day on Aimi’s sofa. Nothing else to report!!!
MONDAY 13th November – Day 3
Better today. Woke up feeling quite good. Mary collected me and took me to my 12 Step Meeting and I shared. Home and had a sleep and did a little shopping. Supper Aimi’s. Felt delicate but everyone else drinking wine so the patient had to drive Chris home!!! – Phone calls from Andi and Stephen Blomfield.
TUESDAY 14th November – Day 4
Frances Topp came to see me today. She brought Carrot and Corriander soup and I made a salad and I had some cheese. Francis shared her experience of this illness 9 years ago. She has had exactly the same ductile type of tumour as me (80% are ductile) except that hers was slightly more advanced having gone into the lymph nodes. She was also treated with FEC chemo chemicals and has made a great recovery and looks wonderful. She said that the worst moment for her was finding all her body hair floating on the surface of her bath after the second session. I have that to look forward to!!!! Much less energy today and sick feeling in stomach. Heartburn and indigestion. Extremely tired in evening but didn’t sleep will 1.30am because my mind was still active.
WEDNESDAY 15th November – Day 5
Slept till 3pm. Absolutely shattered.. Run over by a truck feeling. Inside collapsed – head pressure – nil energy and didn’t want to move a muscle but, thank God, stil lnot depressed.. Took phone calls from Carol Stockham; Irene; Bill; Willy; Sue; Aimi; Shirley and Karine. Lovely supportive loving calls. Couldn’t talk on phone for long but they understood. Took the calls for five minutes and, in between, went back to sleep. Got up at 3pm and ate healthily and well. Then feet up on sofa for the rest of the day and evening. Chris and Lisa did everything around me and for me. Had supper on a tray prepared by Lisa.
Christopher leaves to move furniture to his new house tomorrow and will be back on Sunday. Nervous about being alone but kind Americans in house, Aimi round the corner, and plenty of food in fridge so should be OK.
THURSDAY 16th November – Day 6
Very slightly better. Got up mid morning. Skin in mouth very dry; indigestion; heartburn; ropy tummy. Didn’t do much. Phone calls from Aimi; Henry; Rosalind; Deborah; and ‘His Naughtiness’ in Scotland which cheered me up no end.
FRIDAY 17th November – Day 7
Much better today. Out and about. Phone calls from Bill; Sue; Deborah; Mary; HN; Rober and Ann.
SATURDAY 18th November 2006 – Day 8
Better today but quite windy!! Got up at 9am. Pottered all day. Got a chemical low at 6pm and a crampy stomach and watery eyes and felt unsteady but managed to go to the Formosa Chinese Restaurant for meal with Sue and Maureen and Chris. Aimi & Mass joined us. They had been to the Erotica Exhibition at Olympia and had brought me a pink willy lollipop on a stick (just what you need on chemo!!!) and a boobies lollipop for Chris. And then we went to see the new Bond Movie, Casino Royale at the Fulham Vue where I pulled out the ‘Cancer Card’ as in “I’m awfully sorry but I can’t stand in that long line as I’m on week one of chemotherapy” which resulted in the four of us being ushered straight into the theatre ahead of the queue!!.
WEDNESDAY 15th November – Day 5
Slept till 3pm. Absolutely shattered.. Run over by a truck feeling. Inside collapsed – head pressure – nil energy and didn’t want to move a muscle but, thank God, stil lnot depressed.. Took phone calls from Carol Stockham; Irene; Bill; Willy; Sue; Aimi; Shirley and Karine. Lovely supportive loving calls. Couldn’t talk on phone for long but they understood. Took the calls for five minutes and, in between, went back to sleep. Got up at 3pm and ate healthily and well. Then feet up on sofa for the rest of the day and evening. Chris and Lisa did everything around me and for me. Had supper on a tray prepared by Lisa.
Christopher leaves to move furniture to his new house tomorrow and will be back on Sunday. Nervous about being alone but kind Americans in house, Aimi round the corner, and plenty of food in fridge so should be OK.
THURSDAY 16th November – Day 6
Very slightly better. Got up mid morning. Skin in mouth very dry; indigestion; heartburn; ropy tummy. Didn’t do much. Phone calls from Aimi; Henry; Rosalind; Deborah; and ‘His Naughtiness’ in Scotland which cheered me up no end.
FRIDAY 17th November – Day 7
Much better today. Out and about. Phone calls from Bill; Sue; Deborah; Mary; HN; Rober and Ann.
SATURDAY 18th November 2006 – Day 8
Better today but quite windy!! Got up at 9am. Pottered all day. Got a chemical low at 6pm and a crampy stomach and watery eyes and felt unsteady but managed to go to the Formosa Chinese Restaurant for meal with Sue and Maureen and Chris. Aimi & Mass joined us. They had been to the Erotica Exhibition at Olympia and had brought me a pink willy lollipop on a stick (just what you need on chemo!!!) and a boobies lollipop for Chris. And then we went to see the new Bond Movie, Casino Royale at the Fulham Vue where I pulled out the ‘Cancer Card’ as in “I’m awfully sorry but I can’t stand in that long line as I’m on week one of chemotherapy” which resulted in the four of us being ushered straight into the theatre ahead of the queue!!.
It was strange sitting there and being the only person in the cinema and one of only two in the world who was actually there at the very beginning of the whole movie series in 1959 when no one believed they would work. I was 15 and tiptoeing around my father who was working with Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory, the then "intended" Producer, to write the screenplay of Thunderball which was originally meant to be the first one but was held up by subsequent court cases.
See my website www.sylvanmason.com/thunderball/thunderball-years.htm
My father died a few years after Ian Fleming’s death. Peter Carter-Ruck the lawyer who I nursed through his last four months died two years ago. The news of Kevin McClory's death at 80 years old, reached me this week via Graham Rye/"007 Magazine" and Andrew Lycett - main Ian Fleming biographer. If I outlive my early stage breast cancer which I am undergoing treatment for, I will be the only person left who was at the scene of creation of this epic genre and the trial that followed.
Robert Sellers has written a new book all about it from my personal files and court case papers which I was able to retrieve from Peter Carter-Ruck and it will be out in the Spring to coincide with the DVD of "Casino Royale". It is called Battle for Bond and contains original material never seen before.
I loved the new film. Pure escapism. Breathtakingly wonderful stunts. A believable tough non middle-class secret agent Bond. This is how, I believe, he was intended to be. Congratulations to Barbara Broccoli and team.
My father died a few years after Ian Fleming’s death. Peter Carter-Ruck the lawyer who I nursed through his last four months died two years ago. The news of Kevin McClory's death at 80 years old, reached me this week via Graham Rye/"007 Magazine" and Andrew Lycett - main Ian Fleming biographer. If I outlive my early stage breast cancer which I am undergoing treatment for, I will be the only person left who was at the scene of creation of this epic genre and the trial that followed.
Robert Sellers has written a new book all about it from my personal files and court case papers which I was able to retrieve from Peter Carter-Ruck and it will be out in the Spring to coincide with the DVD of "Casino Royale". It is called Battle for Bond and contains original material never seen before.
I loved the new film. Pure escapism. Breathtakingly wonderful stunts. A believable tough non middle-class secret agent Bond. This is how, I believe, he was intended to be. Congratulations to Barbara Broccoli and team.
CBn Interviews Jack Whittingham's heirs.Sylvan Whittingham Mason and Jonathan Whittingham on Thunderball, the swinging '60s, and the unmade Ian Fleming biography film.
SUNDAY 19th November 2006 – Day 9
His Naughtiness has encouraged me to keep a diary of my experience during this episode in my life in case it would help others. I had heard about blogs from my friend Ruth Gledhill and I phoned her to see how I could get started. “What are you doing for lunch” she said “Come over and have some chicken with Alan and I, and I will get you started”.
The first page of The Cancer Card was up and running by the evening! Phone calls from Nick and Fiona Carter and Sarah Wooldridge.
MONDAY 20th November – Day 10
Feet freezing cold and tingly but drove myself to the meeting. Wore my pink fluffy bedsocks with the pink pig faces attached at each ankle. Another benefit – you can go out in your bedsocks and people think it’s cute! Felt quite a bit better and inspired by the new Blog. Collected Mia from school and walked there and back. Interviewed Flavien at 5pm – young 20 yr old French boy who is coming to rent a room from me for six months from 1st December. Told him about my condition and that there might be some weeks when I was not very well but that there would be others here who would stand in for me if I couldn’t cope, and he took it on the chin and it didn’t seem to phase him. Mia and her eight year old friend Isadora thought he was “cute” and got all silly. He seems quite shy and easy going. I am lucky to get such a long booking especially over Christmas.
TUESDAY 21st November – Day 11
Watery eyes and coldish feet but feeling steadily better with more energy and I walked to the Haven for my second free session with Alex who is an expert in Medicinal Herbs at 11.30am. She prescribed a herbal tea and two lots of tablets and capsules that I have to take 4 of twice a day before food. These herbs will help my body to heal from the chemicals. They are designed to detoxify me and build up my immune system. They are calming and will help with things like digestion and absorbtion etc. and will also help me sleep. The Slippery Elm tablets will coat my alimentary track which is targeted because of its fast growing cells. The Haven lives up to its name. It is the most beautiful calming and serene space in a converted church. The Charity was formed to help people like me with breast cancer to get through it. They give you 12 completely free private sessions with a professional specialising in Reflexology,; Massage; Yoga; Mind and Body Emotional Freedom Techniques; Counselling; Medicinal Herbs; Acupuncture; Alexander Technique; Healing; Reiki; Homeopathy; Shiatsu and more. You can also go to the weekly classes on Art therapy, bra fitting; hair and makeup workshops; meditation and support groups for a nominal payment of £4! There is an organic cafeteria where you can get very inexpensive good food if you’re not up to cooking for yourself and there is a peaceful library room with a pretty water fountain where you can read and help yourself to tea and coffee etc.
Then a girly lunch at Sue Coles house with Mary and Deborah who I had to sit away from as she had a slight cold which she warned me of in advance. Between day 10- 14 my blood count and immune system is at its lowest and it is dangerous for me to pick up an infection. Mary and Deborah spied the box of 6 fluorescent wigs that my old friend Bill Potts had sent from America and we had lots of giggles trying them on.
WEDNESDAY 22nd November – Day 12
Watery eyes but much better in general and no indigestion. Stomach fine; Mouth lining soft again. More energy. Walked to Amica’s for a cuppa and helped to bath Imogene.
His Naughtiness has encouraged me to keep a diary of my experience during this episode in my life in case it would help others. I had heard about blogs from my friend Ruth Gledhill and I phoned her to see how I could get started. “What are you doing for lunch” she said “Come over and have some chicken with Alan and I, and I will get you started”.
The first page of The Cancer Card was up and running by the evening! Phone calls from Nick and Fiona Carter and Sarah Wooldridge.
MONDAY 20th November – Day 10
Feet freezing cold and tingly but drove myself to the meeting. Wore my pink fluffy bedsocks with the pink pig faces attached at each ankle. Another benefit – you can go out in your bedsocks and people think it’s cute! Felt quite a bit better and inspired by the new Blog. Collected Mia from school and walked there and back. Interviewed Flavien at 5pm – young 20 yr old French boy who is coming to rent a room from me for six months from 1st December. Told him about my condition and that there might be some weeks when I was not very well but that there would be others here who would stand in for me if I couldn’t cope, and he took it on the chin and it didn’t seem to phase him. Mia and her eight year old friend Isadora thought he was “cute” and got all silly. He seems quite shy and easy going. I am lucky to get such a long booking especially over Christmas.
TUESDAY 21st November – Day 11
Watery eyes and coldish feet but feeling steadily better with more energy and I walked to the Haven for my second free session with Alex who is an expert in Medicinal Herbs at 11.30am. She prescribed a herbal tea and two lots of tablets and capsules that I have to take 4 of twice a day before food. These herbs will help my body to heal from the chemicals. They are designed to detoxify me and build up my immune system. They are calming and will help with things like digestion and absorbtion etc. and will also help me sleep. The Slippery Elm tablets will coat my alimentary track which is targeted because of its fast growing cells. The Haven lives up to its name. It is the most beautiful calming and serene space in a converted church. The Charity was formed to help people like me with breast cancer to get through it. They give you 12 completely free private sessions with a professional specialising in Reflexology,; Massage; Yoga; Mind and Body Emotional Freedom Techniques; Counselling; Medicinal Herbs; Acupuncture; Alexander Technique; Healing; Reiki; Homeopathy; Shiatsu and more. You can also go to the weekly classes on Art therapy, bra fitting; hair and makeup workshops; meditation and support groups for a nominal payment of £4! There is an organic cafeteria where you can get very inexpensive good food if you’re not up to cooking for yourself and there is a peaceful library room with a pretty water fountain where you can read and help yourself to tea and coffee etc.
Then a girly lunch at Sue Coles house with Mary and Deborah who I had to sit away from as she had a slight cold which she warned me of in advance. Between day 10- 14 my blood count and immune system is at its lowest and it is dangerous for me to pick up an infection. Mary and Deborah spied the box of 6 fluorescent wigs that my old friend Bill Potts had sent from America and we had lots of giggles trying them on.
WEDNESDAY 22nd November – Day 12
Watery eyes but much better in general and no indigestion. Stomach fine; Mouth lining soft again. More energy. Walked to Amica’s for a cuppa and helped to bath Imogene.
THURSDAY 23rd November – Day 13
Felt very down & tearful today. This is probably my lowest point bloodcount wise. Practised deep breathing and ‘welcoming’ the feelings of sadness. Went to the Haven for an ear acupuncture class and wept silent tears for an hour with my eyes closed and six needles sticking out of each ear. This is the first down day in the cycle. I’m bound to feel like this from time to time. Sue gave me a massage at 2.30 and cheered me up.
FRIDAY 24th November – Day 14
Better today – picking up – lots of energy – WARM FEET!!! – eyes still a bit watery, sore tongue and lip. Slept well.
SATURDAY 25th November – Day 15
FEEL NORMAL except for watery eyes. Claire came to give me refelexology in the morning. I’m sure this is helping tremendously and is my one big treat per week. She is also a healer and gives me healing and a meditation while she is working on my feet. I always feel calm and energised after the sessions. This week Claire had done my astrology chart and numerology numbers. To get your numerological number you add your date of birth together as a sum 1943 at the top, 12 under the 43 and 2 under the 3 like a sum, and then you add all the numbers together on the bottom line until It boils down to one digit. However the numbers 11 and 22 are not boiled down to 2 and 4 because they are special in some way. (more next week) (link to Numerology site) My Life Path number is a 22 which is a very rare number. (I love it!!) She says I have chosen this difficult life path for a reason and she says I have come here to teach. I was thrilled to discover that I share this very rare life path, not only with my very closest special friend, but none other than Elvis Presley, the King, himself. He chose a difficult life path and a spiritual search too which involved a route through addictions and drugs, however, very sadly for us all, he was not able to overcome them and we are deprived of the teacher he might have one day become. Nothing on at the movies this week and I’m still prone to infection so Sue and Maureen came here for supper. We had Shepherds Pie and leeks and watched the Freddy Finton “Dinner For One” DVD very funny video and all – including the dog - had hysterics trying on the flourescent wigs.
SUNDAY 26th November – Day 16
Tired today due to staying up till 3.30am writing my diary. To Aimi’s flat for tea and TV (X Factor). Eyes much better. Wrote Diary in evening.
MONDAY 27th November – Day 17
Felt very down & tearful today. This is probably my lowest point bloodcount wise. Practised deep breathing and ‘welcoming’ the feelings of sadness. Went to the Haven for an ear acupuncture class and wept silent tears for an hour with my eyes closed and six needles sticking out of each ear. This is the first down day in the cycle. I’m bound to feel like this from time to time. Sue gave me a massage at 2.30 and cheered me up.
FRIDAY 24th November – Day 14
Better today – picking up – lots of energy – WARM FEET!!! – eyes still a bit watery, sore tongue and lip. Slept well.
SATURDAY 25th November – Day 15
FEEL NORMAL except for watery eyes. Claire came to give me refelexology in the morning. I’m sure this is helping tremendously and is my one big treat per week. She is also a healer and gives me healing and a meditation while she is working on my feet. I always feel calm and energised after the sessions. This week Claire had done my astrology chart and numerology numbers. To get your numerological number you add your date of birth together as a sum 1943 at the top, 12 under the 43 and 2 under the 3 like a sum, and then you add all the numbers together on the bottom line until It boils down to one digit. However the numbers 11 and 22 are not boiled down to 2 and 4 because they are special in some way. (more next week) (link to Numerology site) My Life Path number is a 22 which is a very rare number. (I love it!!) She says I have chosen this difficult life path for a reason and she says I have come here to teach. I was thrilled to discover that I share this very rare life path, not only with my very closest special friend, but none other than Elvis Presley, the King, himself. He chose a difficult life path and a spiritual search too which involved a route through addictions and drugs, however, very sadly for us all, he was not able to overcome them and we are deprived of the teacher he might have one day become. Nothing on at the movies this week and I’m still prone to infection so Sue and Maureen came here for supper. We had Shepherds Pie and leeks and watched the Freddy Finton “Dinner For One” DVD very funny video and all – including the dog - had hysterics trying on the flourescent wigs.
SUNDAY 26th November – Day 16
Tired today due to staying up till 3.30am writing my diary. To Aimi’s flat for tea and TV (X Factor). Eyes much better. Wrote Diary in evening.
MONDAY 27th November – Day 17
Physical symptoms gone but felt muzzy headed and slow today. Made the mistake (which Aimi had warned me against) of looking up stuff on the Internet without someone to check it out with. I still had this question mark as to why I was to be given Herceptin and I found a site that informed me that Herceptin was given to people with HER2 receptor tumours, and I came across the words ‘fast growing cancers with a poor prognosis’. Into shock again. Solar Plexus in spasm. I felt that all my positivity and optimism was just me not facing the truth. Suddenly I had a death sentence again. Called Chris in Dubai for his brother in law, Bobby Gumpet’s number who is a retired breast surgeon – affectionately know as “God” in his medical circles, but Bobby was out for the evening and I would have to wait till the next day to talk to him and ask him how much time I might have left!
In a daze, I fixed myself some fresh vegetable soup and sat down on the sofa to try and relax.
At 8.30 the phone went. “It’s Nicky” said the voice at the other end “Hallo Nicky” I said in a delighted to hear from you sort of way, followed by “Oh my God” “O My God Nicky”. “Have you forgotten” he said. “Yes” I said. I had been expected for supper with him and wife Fiona at 7.30 and in the panic it had completely gone out of my mind. “Can I still come” I whimpered “Yes” he said “Get here as quick as you can”. I shot over to Eel Brook common and arrived at the door with no make up on (clean hair thank goodness) and in my pink piggy bedsocks in a flurried anxious state. Fiona couldn’t have been more gracious and understanding, and I managed to eat the smoked salmon and prawns starter and some cheese and home-made quince cheese but was excused the main course as I had already had supper!
TUESDAY 28th November – Day 18
Still a bit muzzy headed. I don’t think I’m giving myself enough rest. Noticed in the bath that my bodily hair is beginning to leave the scene, but hair on head still firmly rooted and nothing in hair brush. Perhaps the cold cap is working? Phoned Bobby mid morning and he reassured me about Herceptin. I am very lucky to be having it. He said that at his hospital grade 2 tumours were not even tested for HER2 because they wouldn’t have the resources to provide it to the patients. Only grade 3 tumours were tested for HER2 and these were the facts I had read which didn’t apply to me. There is no evidence whatsoever that I have any spread and that the fact that my lymph nodes were clear and that I am responsive to Tamoxifan make my prognosis very ‘favourable’. “So its not a death sentence” I said. “No, he said laughing” There’s every reason to believe you will still be with us in 20 years. I collected Mia and Isadora from school at 4.30 and we all went round to Fiona’s with more apologies, a bunch of flowers and a pair of pink piggy socks which she had said she admired. Hope she mean’t it!
Back at the house for half an hour before ballet and a huge box arrived by Parcel Force. The girls helped me to open it. Inside the box was a large aquamarine hat box on which was written “Fortnum and Mason” in gold letters and which was tied with a thick satin ribbon. It was filled with F & M chocolate of every description. A box of little squares of chocolates in various flavours. Several thick square bars of different species of chocolate; Chocolate after dinner mints. A pink box of trufles and a jar of Fortnum’s finest Hazelnut Chocolate Spread,. It was from Cynthia Rogers, whose family I normally photograph every Thanksgiving to say that she was thinking of me and so were the children. Mia and Isadora had Hazelnut chocolate spread on a toasted muffin and between squeals of delight said it was the best they had ever tasted.
I am yet again overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of the people in my life.
WEDNESDAY 29th November 2006
Today is two days before the next session of chemo. I have survived this one well. It has not been nearly as bad as a really bad case of flu, or giving up drinking, getting divorced or a period of clinical depression and I will survive the next one more easily by referring to this diary. It’s the unknown that is always so terrifying. Now I know what to expect and the reality is never as bad as I think it will be.
Today I am preparing for the Elinor Awards of Excellence ceremony which takes place tomorrow night at a huge marquee on the north side of Tower Bridge. I have a photography schedule which will keep me busy for 5 hours and I believe I am up to it and I need to earn some money to buy Christmas presents. My son in law Massimo is coming with me and he could take over if I get too tired. Hopefully I will get through that and then first thing on Friday…………………they will zap me with the chemical concoctions again!!!! Hey ho!
CANCER CARD – BENEFITS
TIME TO TALK TO FRIENDS ALL DAY ON PHONE FREE ON TALK TALK
TIME TO TIDY HOUSE, DRAWERS ETC AT MY OWN PACE
TIME TO FINISH OFF ALL THE ODD LITTLE JOBS THAT NEED DOING
TIME TO THINK
TIME TO REST
TIME TO ENJOY TV, DVD'S, BOOKS, MOVIES
TIME TO PLAY WITH MY ‘TOYS’ AND CREATE THINGS ON THE COMPUTER
TIME TO LEARN TO USE MY NEW DIGITAL NIKON D200
TIME TO ENJOY COOKING
QUALITY TIME TO SPEND WITH MY GRANDAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS
In a daze, I fixed myself some fresh vegetable soup and sat down on the sofa to try and relax.
At 8.30 the phone went. “It’s Nicky” said the voice at the other end “Hallo Nicky” I said in a delighted to hear from you sort of way, followed by “Oh my God” “O My God Nicky”. “Have you forgotten” he said. “Yes” I said. I had been expected for supper with him and wife Fiona at 7.30 and in the panic it had completely gone out of my mind. “Can I still come” I whimpered “Yes” he said “Get here as quick as you can”. I shot over to Eel Brook common and arrived at the door with no make up on (clean hair thank goodness) and in my pink piggy bedsocks in a flurried anxious state. Fiona couldn’t have been more gracious and understanding, and I managed to eat the smoked salmon and prawns starter and some cheese and home-made quince cheese but was excused the main course as I had already had supper!
TUESDAY 28th November – Day 18
Still a bit muzzy headed. I don’t think I’m giving myself enough rest. Noticed in the bath that my bodily hair is beginning to leave the scene, but hair on head still firmly rooted and nothing in hair brush. Perhaps the cold cap is working? Phoned Bobby mid morning and he reassured me about Herceptin. I am very lucky to be having it. He said that at his hospital grade 2 tumours were not even tested for HER2 because they wouldn’t have the resources to provide it to the patients. Only grade 3 tumours were tested for HER2 and these were the facts I had read which didn’t apply to me. There is no evidence whatsoever that I have any spread and that the fact that my lymph nodes were clear and that I am responsive to Tamoxifan make my prognosis very ‘favourable’. “So its not a death sentence” I said. “No, he said laughing” There’s every reason to believe you will still be with us in 20 years. I collected Mia and Isadora from school at 4.30 and we all went round to Fiona’s with more apologies, a bunch of flowers and a pair of pink piggy socks which she had said she admired. Hope she mean’t it!
Back at the house for half an hour before ballet and a huge box arrived by Parcel Force. The girls helped me to open it. Inside the box was a large aquamarine hat box on which was written “Fortnum and Mason” in gold letters and which was tied with a thick satin ribbon. It was filled with F & M chocolate of every description. A box of little squares of chocolates in various flavours. Several thick square bars of different species of chocolate; Chocolate after dinner mints. A pink box of trufles and a jar of Fortnum’s finest Hazelnut Chocolate Spread,. It was from Cynthia Rogers, whose family I normally photograph every Thanksgiving to say that she was thinking of me and so were the children. Mia and Isadora had Hazelnut chocolate spread on a toasted muffin and between squeals of delight said it was the best they had ever tasted.
I am yet again overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of the people in my life.
WEDNESDAY 29th November 2006
Today is two days before the next session of chemo. I have survived this one well. It has not been nearly as bad as a really bad case of flu, or giving up drinking, getting divorced or a period of clinical depression and I will survive the next one more easily by referring to this diary. It’s the unknown that is always so terrifying. Now I know what to expect and the reality is never as bad as I think it will be.
Today I am preparing for the Elinor Awards of Excellence ceremony which takes place tomorrow night at a huge marquee on the north side of Tower Bridge. I have a photography schedule which will keep me busy for 5 hours and I believe I am up to it and I need to earn some money to buy Christmas presents. My son in law Massimo is coming with me and he could take over if I get too tired. Hopefully I will get through that and then first thing on Friday…………………they will zap me with the chemical concoctions again!!!! Hey ho!
CANCER CARD – BENEFITS
TIME TO TALK TO FRIENDS ALL DAY ON PHONE FREE ON TALK TALK
TIME TO TIDY HOUSE, DRAWERS ETC AT MY OWN PACE
TIME TO FINISH OFF ALL THE ODD LITTLE JOBS THAT NEED DOING
TIME TO THINK
TIME TO REST
TIME TO ENJOY TV, DVD'S, BOOKS, MOVIES
TIME TO PLAY WITH MY ‘TOYS’ AND CREATE THINGS ON THE COMPUTER
TIME TO LEARN TO USE MY NEW DIGITAL NIKON D200
TIME TO ENJOY COOKING
QUALITY TIME TO SPEND WITH MY GRANDAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS
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