Another Family Christmas get together

Great to catch up with the Noblet side of the Family – Ben and Michelle, down from Sydney, Alex , Roni, Ana and Tori, Jordan, and Julie, Tom and Holly. Unfortunately Carole couldn’t make it.

Lots of love and laughs, and some great advice from Michelle who had cancer 10 years ago.

#shouldseemoreofeachother

Me and a Port Power Scarf – how did that happen?

After a quick trip to Largs Bay to see the Smiths – Heather, Brian, Ben, Alyssia, Chloe and Jonty, it’s off to the Spencers with Tom and Holly for Christmas lunch.

There are 10 people there. 9 Power Supporters. 1 Crows Supporter. How is it that I ended up with a Port Power scarf in the Kris Kringle? Daryl…..did u plan this?????? Fortunately it was a swapsie Kringle, and I offloaded it.  It may be that no-one will ever tear me apart, but I AM NOT WEARING THAT SCARF.

Anticipating that I may be bald, Sue, unbeknown to me, (and as I heard later)  had organised scarves for everyone to wear. Foiled again!

Lovely lunch and evening with all the Spencer crew. Thanks Sue and Daryl et al.

#Greatfriends #wherewouldIbewithoutyou

A few days early, but what the heck

Sam, Cass and Penny will be in Whyalla Christmas Day this year, so we have our Christmas lunch early.

A quick ZAP at Tennyson Centre in the morning. (Yes, like time and tide, radiotherapy waits for no man, or Christmas), then it’s all hands on deck to prepare Christmas lunch. Well most of the hands. For once I feel a little poorly, and supervise from the couch for a while.

Holly has made a maaaagnificent Gingerbread house and lots of biscuits, which we decorate.

Lovely lunch, then an orgy of Christmas presents and games of QI – one of my presents, and Trivial Pursuit. Think the girls won – didn’t we?

Sam, Cass and Penny head back to Whyalla on the Monday.

#thankskids #lovelyday

How much protein a day? Do cockles count?

Sam, Cass and Penny down for the week and help with the driving to the House of Zap.

The dietitian at Western Hospital sets me a target of 90 grams of protein a day. That’s a lot of protein. Have you ever tasted those extra protein Up and Goes? They don’t taste like chocolate, they taste like, well, protein.

Friday, Sam and I go cockling at Goolwa. Well, he cockles, I mostly doze in the car. But it’s a lovely day.

Cockle Score :
Sam : 150, Helen : 20

#howmuchproteininacockle?

A houseful!

School holidays and Sam, Cass and Penny arrive and stay for a few days.

Cass stocks the freezer with soup.

Great to have everyone at home for a while. Lots of fun.

#cantbeatfamily #loveyouall

Doesn’t everybody…..

get greeted in the chemo unit with flowers and a smoked salmon crepe for lunch? Maybe only those who are on a friendly basis with the Unit Manager – thanks Sue.

This process is also a bit daunting to start with (particularly when the girls gown up to handle the chemo) but relatively straightforward. Mind you, they know what they’re doing, and they do it well.

This happens once a week for 5 weeks, and I am fortunate to have minimal side effects. Even retain my hair. Well, my vacuum cleaner might disagree – but I had so much hair to start with the loss is not noticeable. Even eventually returned the “just in case” turban to the chemist.

Thanks Dr. Tim, Sue, Loretta, Lindy, Nicole, Barb et al at Western.

King William Road Christmas Drinks that night, and to everyone’s surprise (including mine) I am able to front up. Lovely Christmas gift including the complete box set of “The West Wing” – designed to keep me amused while stuck at home. Thanks Jackie Leo.

#whosstayingathome?

First of many

Tom and Holly drive me to Tennyson Centre, (the first of many trips for them – thanks guys) and laugh at my fiercely determined march inside. Apparently I looked like a bulldog on a mission.

It’s all a bit scary, but the staff are lovely. Even get my own pigeon hole to store my very attractive gown in for the duration of the treatment.

The treatment is quick, and absolutely painless. But very undignified. Minimal clothing, arms over the head – you get the picture. Or perhaps you’d rather not.

Apart from the whirring of the machine as it passes over and around you zapping, you’d hardly know it’s happening.

Also see a nurse to check on my weight, eating and general well being. Won’t bore you with a daily update but suffice it to say I seem to cope with it quite well. Very tiring, but continue to eat OK, no weight loss and minimal nausea.

Thanks to Tom and Holly, Sam, Cass, Katie, Jackie, Nicki, Daryl, Sue et al. For driving and sitting in the waiting room with me. Much appreciated. Hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.

#azapaday

Bet that got you reading!

Dr Palumbo is a Radiotherapy specialist based at Tennyson Centre Kurralta Park.

Once again Sue comes with me.

More questions, background information and advice. Lots of info about the radiotherapy process, how it happens, what it does and possible side effects. No I won’t glow in the dark, but it may result in another cancer further down the track. Good grief.

Don’t have much choice really, so the process is set in motion for 21 zaps – one a day, sometimes two,  to make up for Public Holidays.  I return in the afternoon to be measured up. It’s quite an exact science and the aiming is important. The tattoo marks the spot. I was hoping for “I love Penny” or “Go Crows”, but it’s just an innocuous looking dot .

#Doesn’t meanyoucangetoneSamandTom

“I’ll pick you up at 9am – be ready!”

Sue has arranged a day out for some R & R after a pretty ordinary couple of weeks.

I know not where, but she knows that for me to be ready at 9.15am, she has to tell me 9.00am.

We head for Glenelg and end up at Endota having a massage. A delightful surprise, and just what I needed. Coffee afterwards, then the mystery tour continues to the Marina Pier, where Ros and Deb are waiting for lunch. Another surprise. A lovely day.

Now to gird my loins for meeting with the Radiotherapy Specialist on Sunday. That’ll bring me back down to earth I’m sure.

#can’tbeatanicemassage #thanksSue

Where are we?

A review of where we are at the moment, particularly of the PET scan.

Lots of confusing stats about stats, odds and possibilities. Distressing.

At least it confirmed that no cancer was detectable anywhere else.

The 9cm size is a worry. At the upper end for surgery, so it’s full steam ahead with the chemo and radio, in order to shrink the thing.

#howdiditgetTHATbig