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Found out last night that my cousin died in 2003 aged 45. I had written to an address I had found for him on my Uncles death certificate to find out about any relevant family illness for genetic purposes. I had no family connections with his side of the family for a long time. I wrote to him at the address I had found but with no avail. Then I found on the ancestry web site his death death index . This explains why I didn't get a reply. I put a return address on the back of the envelope but got nothing back.
After a week or so of looking and admiring the flowers sprouting in the garden I realised how I felt after my diagnosis. I felt how I would miss Spring and the sight of flowers and blossom on the trees with all their colours and beauty.
We went to our local Italian restaurant this evening and were given a shock by the waiter telling us the chef had died on Saturday on his way home in his car from a heart attack they thought. There is going to be a post mortum. He was the same age as me. I was only talking to him last time we were there last week. The place will not be the same without him. I always thanked him at the end of the evening when he came out of the kitchen to talk to the proprieter Tony at the bar. His home made limoncello ice cream was amazing. He will be greatly missed.
It makes me realise how luky I am to see the flowers and still be alive.
Received my pack from the Race for Life today and I set up my fundraising website yesterday so I'm well away now!
It was the second anniversary of Dad's death yesterday and the memories came flooding back.
I phoned work today and spoke to Claire. I told her how I'm still feeling tired and don't know how I'm going to manage. Ok I'm only doing two afternoons the first two weeks bu t Claire says I'm booked solid with 15 minute appointments. I told her if I can't cope I'll just have to pack up. Dreading it..
Very tired again today had to force myself awake again. When will this tiredness go and when will I be back to how I was before the breast cancer. I'm due back at work in less than 2 weeks and I don't know how I'm going to manage.
Walked to Gray's doctors today (slower than normal!) to pick up his prescription before catching the bus into town to do some shopping. After meeting Gray from work we went for a balti which we enjoyed.
Was going to take my prescription into my doctors but didn't think I'd have the energy so will take it in next week instead.
Phoned my cousin Pat yesterday before they flew on holiday this morning. She asked if I'd had the results of my blood test yet. for the BRCA gene. I explained it had only been 2 weeks and I'd got another 6 to go. I think she's worried about her daughter Julie, understandably. So am I. This waiting seems to go on for ever!
Went to a meeting of the National Osteoporosis Society at Shirley Community centre in Solihull. A talk by an osteoporosis nurse, Alison from Heartlands Hospital. It turned out she had helped treat Dad after he'd broken his pelvis.
Very interesting talk and I learned a few things and asked some questions. Osteonocrosis was brought up and I added to the discussion. Some of the ladies asked me questions afterwards about dentistry.
Met a lovely spritely 83 year old called Molly who was sat next to me. She loved to talk as much as me!!
Caught the bus back into Brum and met Gray for a pint in the Wellie and a Thai meal.
Booked in for the Race for Life yesterday for Brum 24th May. The day before Gray's birthday.
Had tried to book on the net on Sunday but it messed up and I had to do it on the phone yesterday instead. Tried to set up an on line donation site but couldn't cos haven't got a registration number yet. 7 of us from the BRCA Umbrella site now doing it together. Hopefully we can get a few more. Looking forward to meeting them.
Well we have both been very tired today as had a disturbed night due to my brother who has had trouble with a neighbour.
I caught the bus into town to do some shopping, met Gray after work and caught the bus home to go to the local Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a meal and company.
My oncologist also refered me to a consultant geneticist. My mum had had ovarian cancer and my paternal aunt breast cancer. My GP had also suggested my breast cancer was genetic.
I attended the genetics clinic on 9th March and it was decided I was borderline for genetic testing so I went for it.
I've never done a blog before but I've kept diaries many years. My first was in 1962!
I am an extremely lucky person as I have had 3 health scares and I'm still here.
My first was in 1994 when I was 39 when I had a diagnosis of precancerous cells on my cervix. In view of Jade's demise I was very lucky it was picked up. I had always had smears from the age of 21 which you could in those days. The abnormal cells were never found on any smears I was told by the consultant because of the position of them!!
They were only found after a blood marker test as I was having 6 monthly screenings for ovarian cancer as my mum had had it.
As it happened the CA125 showed up because I had endometriosis which had never before been diagnosed even though I had had symptoms since my 20's and had an ovarian cyst removed when I was 27.
As a consequence I had a hysterectomy. This was a shame as I partnered up with my husband 2 1/2 years later and we would have loved to have children but it wasn't to be.
The third was a second ovarian cyst in 1998. It flared up in the night and I was in agony. Gray wanted to call an ambulance but I wouldn't let him. I knew it was a cyst.
I managed to get an appointment with the GP a few days after and I explained what I thought it was and that my Mum had died of ovarian cancer. She refered me to hospital for a scan where sure enough was shown up an ovarian cyst.
When I had surgery it was found I'd also had acute appendicitis when I'd had the pain as the cyst was stuck to it!! How lucky was I !!
The third was breast cancer which was diagnosed on 21st August 2008 after my second ever routine mammogram. No lump was felt by myself or any of the medics! I had a lumpectomy on the 7th October 2008 I had a Ductal Invasive carcinoma removed by a left wide local exision and 2 axillary sentinal nodes removed. The tumour was 26 mm grade 2 and thankfully the nodes were clear. More luck!!
It turned out they didn't get clear margins and I had to have a cavity shave on 4th November 2008 and ductal carcinoma in situ was found at the inferior margin.
I aws booked in for radiotherapy 15 sessions plus 2 boosters. This started on 2nd January and finished on 26th January.
Meantime my oncologist had sent me fo a DEXA bone density scan as the hormonal treatment he is going to put me on after 2 or 3 years of tamoxifen is an aromatase inhibitor and that can thin your bones. He menttioned osteoporosis and I said that my cousin had it .
Ihad that done on 30th December 2008 and this showed that I had early osteoporosis. I was put on alundronic acid and calcium and vitamin D.
I am also on tamoxifen.
Anyway that's the backround!
