Well it is now official, I am bald. Well not 100% I still have stubley bits, its quite cool though. So far I've been told I look like Sinead O'Connor, Sigorny Weaver in Alien and Demi Moore in GI Jane. All good looking women so I'm ok with that. Luckilly I have quite good bone structure so the look is working for me. It's a little cold and breezy, lol, but its ok in general. Just gotta get used to having no hair!
No other news so far. I have pics if anyone wants to see it, drop me an e-mail and I shall send them on to you.
xxxx
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Hello lovely people! Just to let you know that my hair will be coming off this weekend! Just want to say thanks to all the people that have supported me so far and those that are continuing to support me!!
I aso want to thank the collegues of Big Dave who have sponsored Dave to shave his head alonside me and have sent a cheque off to Macmillan Cancer Support!!
A very very big thank you to everyone that is doing their bit!!
Keep Smilling!
I aso want to thank the collegues of Big Dave who have sponsored Dave to shave his head alonside me and have sent a cheque off to Macmillan Cancer Support!!
A very very big thank you to everyone that is doing their bit!!
Keep Smilling!
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Second Chemo
Ok, so today I have had my second lot of chemo for this month, so I am now officially well into my treatment.
I am feeling a little more tired then I was last time, but that is to be expected I guess. I was warned that some things will be the same but then I may feel a bit sick as the treatment continues. Hopefully it will ware off, I'm going to take it easy and have a quiet evening. This is my plan!
I am watching the Mighty Boosh and browsing the old interweb and may even visit the book of face (aka Facebook).
I'll give you an update later in the week with how I'm doing.
Keep it real!! xxx
I am feeling a little more tired then I was last time, but that is to be expected I guess. I was warned that some things will be the same but then I may feel a bit sick as the treatment continues. Hopefully it will ware off, I'm going to take it easy and have a quiet evening. This is my plan!
I am watching the Mighty Boosh and browsing the old interweb and may even visit the book of face (aka Facebook).
I'll give you an update later in the week with how I'm doing.
Keep it real!! xxx
Monday, 21 April 2008
Ok, so far I haven't really written much of interest but then nothing much has happened. I seem to be defying all the chemo odds and have yet to experience any sickness or anything bad. I feel brilliant, I feel ten times better than I have in months!!
I have my second dose of Chemo on Wednesday and I'm hoping that it will be ok like the last time.
So the only thing I've been doing is hanging out with some very cool people I know and thats about it! Have recently got an Xbox-360 so that will keep me entertained for some time and have a great many DVD's to work my way through.
I will wait to write again when I have something abit more interesting to tell you. For now I am sitting watching Torchwood (last episode) in tears (no surprises) and planning my afternoon!
Till next time dear travellers. Keep following that road...
I have my second dose of Chemo on Wednesday and I'm hoping that it will be ok like the last time.
So the only thing I've been doing is hanging out with some very cool people I know and thats about it! Have recently got an Xbox-360 so that will keep me entertained for some time and have a great many DVD's to work my way through.
I will wait to write again when I have something abit more interesting to tell you. For now I am sitting watching Torchwood (last episode) in tears (no surprises) and planning my afternoon!
Till next time dear travellers. Keep following that road...
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Chemo - First Week
The last few days since the chemo have been really good. People try to prepare you for the things that may happen, but in the end only your body will show you what it can do.
I have not felt sick, in fact the only sensation I have at the moment is this tingling feeling in my mouth. It's not a burning but it can be affected by certain foods or drinks. However, I still feel better than I have for months. I have not felt this healthy since before Christmas. I am hoping that it stays this way!! I have been told that what ever I experience now will be become the norm from now on...here's hoping!!
In fact I have felt so good this week I have been able to go out and do things. I have had to take it slowly and often have to have a break, but I can still get out. On Tuesday (day before chemo) Mum and Dad took me out with Jo to a National Trust house, had a good day! Wednesday was the day itself - no problems. Thursday was spent at home because Mum had work to do and Dad wanted to work on the garden. Friday I went with Mum to take Dad to a trip in Oxford so we had lunch and did some window shopping, also went to see my Grandma and my Aunt Steph. Saturday Mum and I went to Basildon Park for cream teas, it was very very nice!! Saturday night Big Dave came down after the football. Sunday, Big Dave, Mum and I went to Studland Beach and had breakfast and a really nice day out. Went back via Oxford to pick up Dad from his weekend thing and went back via Grandma's again.
Tonight Big Dave, Mum and I are going to see "Son of Rambow" can't wait! We should be leaving soon as Big Dave wants to get dinner first. Should be a great night!
So far nothing really interesting to report, but at least I'm not being sick! I am sorry if this update bores anyone, but I just wanted to let people know that I am able to go out and enjoy myself, even if I do have to have a nap!! lol!
God Bless xxxxx
I have not felt sick, in fact the only sensation I have at the moment is this tingling feeling in my mouth. It's not a burning but it can be affected by certain foods or drinks. However, I still feel better than I have for months. I have not felt this healthy since before Christmas. I am hoping that it stays this way!! I have been told that what ever I experience now will be become the norm from now on...here's hoping!!
In fact I have felt so good this week I have been able to go out and do things. I have had to take it slowly and often have to have a break, but I can still get out. On Tuesday (day before chemo) Mum and Dad took me out with Jo to a National Trust house, had a good day! Wednesday was the day itself - no problems. Thursday was spent at home because Mum had work to do and Dad wanted to work on the garden. Friday I went with Mum to take Dad to a trip in Oxford so we had lunch and did some window shopping, also went to see my Grandma and my Aunt Steph. Saturday Mum and I went to Basildon Park for cream teas, it was very very nice!! Saturday night Big Dave came down after the football. Sunday, Big Dave, Mum and I went to Studland Beach and had breakfast and a really nice day out. Went back via Oxford to pick up Dad from his weekend thing and went back via Grandma's again.
Tonight Big Dave, Mum and I are going to see "Son of Rambow" can't wait! We should be leaving soon as Big Dave wants to get dinner first. Should be a great night!
So far nothing really interesting to report, but at least I'm not being sick! I am sorry if this update bores anyone, but I just wanted to let people know that I am able to go out and enjoy myself, even if I do have to have a nap!! lol!
God Bless xxxxx
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
A catch up
Before we go into too much detail it is probably important to start at the beginning and let you know what has been happening.
At Christmas I discovered a small lump in my neck, having several muscular problems I ignored it. In January, once back at uni, I suffered a sever panic attack and was taken to hospital, where they looked at the lump and decided that it was just an infected lymphnode from my chest infection before Christmas. I was given a course of antibiotics, after that week the lump seemed to be no smaller, so I visited my local GP who suggested that I wait another week to give the anti-biotics ample time to work through my system. Again a week went by and still no change, in fact by this time the lump was in fact getting bigger.
By this time we had entered February and I had been refereed by the GP to the Head and Neck Unit at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The doctor there examined me and said that the lump was definitely not a result from a chest infection and upon further examination he found another lump under my right arm. At the time he took a small needle biopsy to determine what the lump actually was.
On February 29th 2008 my doctor partially confirmed that I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This is a cancer that attacks the immune system, it forms lumps in the body and comes in four stages, all of which are highly treatable and the survival rate is at least 98%. Obviously the doctor wanted to confirm his suspicions, so he decided that a week later I would have to have another biopsy, but this time I would have to be admitted because they would need to take a larger piece.
On March 6th 2008 I had the operation on my neck to remove part of the lump, i felt quite sick that night so they kept me in over night and released the following morning. However, I was feeling less then brilliant when I woke up on the Saturday morning and by the Saturday night I was back in hospital with an infection.
The infection had spread quite badly and had swelled in my neck to the size of a fist. I was taken back into theatre on the Tuesday to have the wound drained - 30mls to be precise - this relieved a lot of the pain from my neck and I was finally discharged from hospital on Friday lunch time. Having had a bone marrow biopsy also that day I did have a bruised lower back as well. But was happy to be returning home.
All the test were confirmed that I do have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I have a lump under my right arm, a small lump behind my stomach, one behind my the top half of my right lung and what remains of the one in my neck. It has not spread to my bone marrow.
That is basically it and today I had my first set of chemo. I feel fine at the moment, but that's probably because of the steroids. Tomorrow I might not feel so good. I have been told that I have to take each day as it comes and not to expect to much at first. The days after chemo are not all sugar and rainbows. I also found out that a lot of the side symptoms that come with this cancer should start to disappear within the week and that if my hair is to fall out then it will do so by the end of the month. So if anyone has any cool ideas for hats or bandannas then let me know. Also, I can have one special wig made up for the occasions when I feel like I would like to have hair, so if anyone has any style ideas let me know, at the moment I'm going with the "Jackie Kennedy."
This blog has is for anyone who wishes to know how the treatment is going and how I'm feeling. I know it is a little impersonal, but there are so many of you kind and caring people that it can be exhausting letting everyone know everything all the time. At least this way you can all get a detailed first hand account of whats happening and if you want to leave messages or ask any questions then you can.
In my next blog I will list some helpful websites for those of you who are still not quite sure about my type of cancer and chem.
Much Love
Charlie xxxx
At Christmas I discovered a small lump in my neck, having several muscular problems I ignored it. In January, once back at uni, I suffered a sever panic attack and was taken to hospital, where they looked at the lump and decided that it was just an infected lymphnode from my chest infection before Christmas. I was given a course of antibiotics, after that week the lump seemed to be no smaller, so I visited my local GP who suggested that I wait another week to give the anti-biotics ample time to work through my system. Again a week went by and still no change, in fact by this time the lump was in fact getting bigger.
By this time we had entered February and I had been refereed by the GP to the Head and Neck Unit at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The doctor there examined me and said that the lump was definitely not a result from a chest infection and upon further examination he found another lump under my right arm. At the time he took a small needle biopsy to determine what the lump actually was.
On February 29th 2008 my doctor partially confirmed that I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This is a cancer that attacks the immune system, it forms lumps in the body and comes in four stages, all of which are highly treatable and the survival rate is at least 98%. Obviously the doctor wanted to confirm his suspicions, so he decided that a week later I would have to have another biopsy, but this time I would have to be admitted because they would need to take a larger piece.
On March 6th 2008 I had the operation on my neck to remove part of the lump, i felt quite sick that night so they kept me in over night and released the following morning. However, I was feeling less then brilliant when I woke up on the Saturday morning and by the Saturday night I was back in hospital with an infection.
The infection had spread quite badly and had swelled in my neck to the size of a fist. I was taken back into theatre on the Tuesday to have the wound drained - 30mls to be precise - this relieved a lot of the pain from my neck and I was finally discharged from hospital on Friday lunch time. Having had a bone marrow biopsy also that day I did have a bruised lower back as well. But was happy to be returning home.
All the test were confirmed that I do have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I have a lump under my right arm, a small lump behind my stomach, one behind my the top half of my right lung and what remains of the one in my neck. It has not spread to my bone marrow.
That is basically it and today I had my first set of chemo. I feel fine at the moment, but that's probably because of the steroids. Tomorrow I might not feel so good. I have been told that I have to take each day as it comes and not to expect to much at first. The days after chemo are not all sugar and rainbows. I also found out that a lot of the side symptoms that come with this cancer should start to disappear within the week and that if my hair is to fall out then it will do so by the end of the month. So if anyone has any cool ideas for hats or bandannas then let me know. Also, I can have one special wig made up for the occasions when I feel like I would like to have hair, so if anyone has any style ideas let me know, at the moment I'm going with the "Jackie Kennedy."
This blog has is for anyone who wishes to know how the treatment is going and how I'm feeling. I know it is a little impersonal, but there are so many of you kind and caring people that it can be exhausting letting everyone know everything all the time. At least this way you can all get a detailed first hand account of whats happening and if you want to leave messages or ask any questions then you can.
In my next blog I will list some helpful websites for those of you who are still not quite sure about my type of cancer and chem.
Much Love
Charlie xxxx
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