The Diary Of A Lost Boob.

My name is Alexandra Jones and in December 2013 aged 23 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In March 2015 I was diagnosed with Secondary (Incurable) Breast Cancer. So I write about it, an honest, warts and all blog about the effects a diagnosis, treatment...

[wearetheboobettes]

MEET THE BOOBETTE:‘If I’d met a Boobette when I was experiencing symptoms, I would have gone to the GP’

Information is power! Just ask amazing Boobette Alex. She has incurable cancer, but that doesn’t stop her from delivering a life-saving breast checking message as often as she can…

Age: 26 Location: Manchester Boobette since: February 2014 Boob names: Good cop and bad cop I check my boobs… Once a month (and so should you), normally while I’m getting changed into my pyjamas for a night of blissful sleep.

How did you find out about CoppaFeel!?

I found out about CoppaFeel! a couple of days before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was waiting to receive the results of my biopsy and, in a desperate attempt to find any information about people of a similar age with cancer, I, luckily, stumbled across Kris’s story and how she founded CoppaFeel! I spent a good few hours reading through Kris’s blog (I promise I’m not a stalker!) and looking through the CoppaFeel! website. It was very comforting, at a time of major uncertainty for me, to know that I wasn’t alone in this crap cancer storm.

What inspired you to become a Boobette? 

CoppaFeel! does amazing work and I knew straight away that I had to get involved. I was so chuffed when I read about the Boobettes and that you could apply to become one. The rest is history really, but I’m constantly inspired by lots of people especially Kris and Maren and the other Boobettes! GO #TEAMBOOBS! 

What does being a Boobette mean to you? 

Being a Boobette means more to me than I think people realise. I’d love to do it full time, I enjoy it that much!I wish I’d met a Boobette during the time I was experiencing my breast cancer symptoms. They first started when I was 21. I know I would have gone to my GP in the blink of an eye and, who knows, if I had, I might not be in the situation I am now. Unfortunately though, I was diagnosed with cancer at 23 and I now have incurable breast cancer. It just goes to show that by being a Boobette you can save lives.Every presentation as a Boobette is a highlight for me. I feel like I’m turning my negative situation into a positive one by being proactive about what we can do to help spread awareness about breast cancer. 

Any surprises so far?

I’ve had some lovely, amazing and thoughtful surprises along the way. My favourite to date was when I presented to Swinton Insurance at their annual conference and, at the end of my talk, they presented me with a cheque for £4,000 for CoppaFeel! I got a bit emotional at that point. It’s a great feeling knowing that there are lots of lovely people that are invested in helping us continue to spread our important message! Aside from that, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Giovanna Fletcher for the October 2015 Breast Mates Campaign aired on ITV’s Lorraine show! How amazing is that!

What’s the best thing about being a Boobette? 

Whenever I finish a Boobette talk, I get a real rush and feel like I could literally skip out of the venue. (I obviously wouldn’t, as I fear the giant boob might cause carnage to our surroundings, but honestly it’s such a great feeling.) Maybe I should get people to do a boob dance at the end of the presentation so I can release a bit of my adrenaline. 

In all seriousness though, people are really lovely and it’s always so, so rewarding when I receive positive feedback. 

So, you’re familiar with those giant boobs? 

I am indeed. The giant boobs are SO engaging at talks and everyone is always interested in them. Sometimes I think people can be quite nervous as they’re not sure what to expect from the talk. So, when I rock up packing a giant boob I think it’s a great way to help people relax and it adds a bit of humour to an unfamiliar situation. By the way, they are really comfy. I wish I was small enough to crawl inside one and have a nap. 

Tell us about your latest talk…

My last talk was at a Lloyds Bank processing centre in Manchester. I used to work for Lloyds so an ex colleague and friend got in touch with CoppaFeel! and asked me to present as a Boobette. It was lovely to see a few familiar faces, but most of the people at the talk were people I didn’t know, so it was great getting to present to them and have a healthy conversations about boobs! I felt like people left the room knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how important it is to get to know their boobs. Just knowing I’ve made that group of people think differently about breast cancer makes me really happy. 

What’s your favourite boob fact? 

I think my favourite boob fact is that breast cancer doesn’t always develop as a lump. There are lots of different signs and symptoms we need to be looking out for. I don’t think many people know that.

What’s next on your Boobette calendar? 

I’ve just returned home after dancing the night away at the amazing CoppaFeel! Thank You Volunteer party in London! It was wonderful to see the gorgeous CoppaFeel! family and get covered in glitter. Next on the calendar is a trip back to Lloyds Bank to do a couple more presentations so that lots of their other employees can attend. All very exciting! 

Any advice for those tempted to join the Boobettes?

Do it, do it, do it! CoppaFeel! is a really positive, informative, funny and beautiful charity. Why wouldn’t you want to be part of that? It’s so rewarding. What would you say to someone worried about visiting the doctor? Don’t be afraid, embarrassed or ashamed. I know exactly how it feels and I know it’s daunting. But (and take it from me), it is SO important that you go to your GP as soon as you find anything abnormal for you. Early detection is the BEST form of defence, so get that appointment booked please!

Book a Boobette: 

If you’d like Alex or any of our Boobettes to talk boobs at a school, workplace or community group near you, we want to hear from you. You can get in touch via CoppaFeel!’s website here.

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Hi Everyone, 

Another attempt at a vlog to give you an update about my current cancer happenings. 

Apologies, it’s quite lengthy and no doubt pretty boring but as I missed some important details here is a link to some information about Letrozole, the new drug I’m taking....watch my video and you’ll find out why! 

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/letrozole

Be back again soon!

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Hello you lovely lot! 

Ok... so I filmed a ‘vlog’ instead of writing a blog, to update you on what’s been happening with me recently (that is if anyone is at all interested of course)! Apologies in advance for my terrible video editing, I’m new to this. 

Au Revoir

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Breast Cancer - The Signs and Symptoms

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Hello Friends, Me again (sorry, not sorry) its Breast Cancer awareness month and CoppaFeel! Have launched the brilliant #breastmates campaign to get you and all your besties checking those boobs! This morning I was on the ITV Lorraine show with my bestie Imogen Berry talking about my experience, living with Breast Cancer, and how my friends encouraged me to get checked. Have a watch, please share and PLEASE continue to check those Boobs! Thank you xxx

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Thank you so much to everyone that has already pledged some money towards my Crowdfunding page. I've only got 28 days left to reach my £500.00 target but I'm currently, only, at £200.00 so PLEASE help me out and donate to an amazing charity @coppafeelpeople so they can continue to send the Boobettes across the country - spreading the #booblove !! Don't forget with your donation you can choose a reward you'd like the most and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win! AND if anyone has any ideas about extra rewards e.g I'll be your cleaner for the day if you pledge £10.00 please let me know, I'd love to hear your suggestions! http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/we-are-the-boobettes-alexmanchester/ p.s Look out for me and my lovely #breastfriend @imo64 tomorrow morning on the @itvlorraine show!!! p.p.s CHECK YOUR #TITTAYS PEEPS!!! #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #cancer #breastmate #livingwithcancer #booblove #checkyourboobs #boobs #boobettes

[alexandratiffanyjones]

We are the Boobettes - Alex, Manchester

Love boobs? Help the CoppaFeel! Boobettes educate the nation about being breast aware! Pledge, Support, Share and of course check your boobs! http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/we-are-the-boobettes-alexmanchester/

LISTEN UP PLEASE FRIENDS!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and as most of you know I am unfortunately living with INCURABLE Breast Cancer. Since my diagnosis I’ve been really passionate about raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and I volunteer for the amazing charity CoppaFeel! I am known as a BOOBETTE and I volunteer alongside loads of other gorgeous Boobettes visiting schools, universities, businesses and anywhere else that will have us! In doing so we are spreading a REALLY IMPORTANT message – GET TO KNOW YOUR BOOBS and know the signs and symptoms of Breast Cancer.

Throughout October the CoppaFeel! Boobettes are CROWDFUNDING and we’re asking you to Pledge, Support, Share and CHECK YOUR BOOBS and with your donations you will be helping the CoppaFeel! Boobettes to continue educating the nation about being BREAST AWARE. There are some amazing rewards for your pledges and I’ll be adding some of my own personal rewards throughout the month.

I’m really proud to be a Boobette and I can’t stress enough how important the work is that CoppaFeel! do for young people across the country. I want to continue spreading the Boob Love – SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pledge some money towards a reward, I’ll be eternally grateful & please CHECK YOUR BOOBS! Thank you xxxx

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/campaign/boobettes/

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Bored and drawing weird things #boobcheck #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #illustration

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Pills, pills, pills #breastcancer

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Dear Cancer - You’re so Boring!

I realised today the last time I wrote a blog I left you with the news my cancer is likely to be spreading, I needed further scans etc, an unintentional cliffhanger - I apologise, please trust that no news with me is generally good news. So, as I'm still alive (go me!) I thought it’s about time I updated you on what’s been going on over the past month.

Well basically, it’s all rather boring at the moment… I’d say I’ve always been quite resilient to this disease but I’ve got a real knack for blocking it all out at the moment, my only reminder is my three weekly appointment at The Christie and various other cancer related chores one must complete. Oh, not forgetting the odd aches & pains I get, mostly in the mornings as I get my creaky Jones Bones moving. Speaking of cancer chores, I did attend that bone scan I mentioned in my last post however, I’ve still not received my results. I’ve seen my Oncologist twice since the scan so I’m pretty sure they’re somewhere in my ever expanding medical folder but to be honest, I have no real desire or interest in hearing what they might be. My main concern in our meet up’s recently is discussing whether I’ll be able to do a bungee jump, ride roller-coasters or go trampolining - all of which have sadly been banned.

My poor Mum, she’s probably desperate to know what’s going on and I’m sure, if any of you are familiar with the term “ Scanxiety”, a word commonly used amongst cancer folk, you might be wondering why I’ve chosen to not find out for myself. Well, I’ve decided to take my own approach, scans can tell us things yes, but I know my body and I feel like it tells me more than any Oncologist can relay from a scan. At present I feel good, everything has improved massively since March (Christ, I remember one night the pain was so bad I actually felt like I was dying - Drama Queen). So even if a scan shows my bones are looking more holey, I don’t feel that way physically so I’m more than happy to plod along ignoring the fact that whilst I feel better, beneath the surface it might be a different story.  

Something I haven’t neglected to discuss with my oncologist is my ongoing treatment, as there were talks of going back to intravenous chemotherapy, (please no!) So we’ve come up with a plan…

Continue Capecitabine chemotherapy until we think it’s pointless as it’s not working..

Try hormone based treatment until we think it’s pointless as it’s not working…

Try intravenous chemotherapy until we think it’s pointless as it’s not working….

And after that, well I didn’t dare ask.

So I continue to take my daily dose of chemotherapy pills, six weekly denosumab injection and we’ve recently introduced a new injection.. Zoladex - Zoladex stops ovaries producing oestrogen and induces temporary menopause, HELLO HOT FLUSHES! As my cancer is Oestrogen positive we thought it wise we try and stop my body from producing it, hopefully stopping the cancer from spreading further. So far so good, I’ve had two injections and haven’t noticed any immediate changes.

I think that about covers everything.. Now onto the good things! Team Alex were re-united a couple of weekends ago, hitting the trails in the Lake District trekking both Helvelyn and Skiddaw summit. In total we walked/climbed 33 Miles over two days…GO TEAM ALEX! I’m actually amazed I managed to lug myself over both mountains without any training, just goes to show what the body is capable of, although half way up Skiddaw (with no safe way back down) I did consider calling in the Mountain Rescue team. I prevailed though with the help and patience from all of Team Alex, so proud to call them my friends - they are all amazing! 

That’s about it for my round up. I’m off to Barcelona in a couple of weeks for some more relaxing time, I can’t wait! I’ll make sure I check in before I go though! Also, if you do one thing after reading this, please make sure that it’s checking your boobs - Thanks!

[significacoisalguma]

Dedicated to women fighting breast cancer.

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Thank God for Holidays!

Well the past few weeks have been a whirlwind, mostly highs, lots of lovely highs! I can’t thank my friends, family and strangers enough for supporting Breast Cancer Now - The Last One campaign, sharing the new advert, my interview in the Mirror, Daily Mail and my blog. Helping me raise lots of awareness, thank you, thank you so much! The mundane cancer chores continued amongst all the media activity though and I had been attending lots of hospital appointments...

I recently met with my oncologist to plan my Radiotherapy that I’d be having higher up my Spine as that’s been causing me some bother with pain spreading into my ribs! This meeting wasn't all it seemed though and I've been debating withholding this information, simply because I wasn't entirely prepared for it myself. We’re also missing some facts so everything is slightly up in the air! My CT Scan that I went to a few weeks ago has confirmed that my cancer is continuing to be a selfish sod and is still eating it’s way into my hips and spine! Although, we aren't entirely sure whether this has happened during the break in-between my Hip/Femur operation and starting chemotherapy or that this chemotherapy just isn't working for me. 

I’ll admit, it came as a pretty hefty blow. I've been on a lovely high for a while now and I really have been feeling much better. I've adopted a vegan diet for the past 3 months, almost utterly convinced myself that because I’d cut out alcohol, dairy and meat along with the Capecitabine Chemotherapy I get along with so well, we were going to help stunt the growth. EARTH TO ALEX - YOUR CANCER IS STILL SPREADING.... I did cry, I felt disappointed, mostly in my stupid body. 

“The bones are looking more holey”..... 

“Your bloods are dropping”...

“Worst case scenario”.. 

“Back to intravenous chemotherapy”.

Then I managed to mumble through my snotty tissue “any signs of cancer in my organs?” and like an Angel my oncologist said ”No nothing”, I felt a sudden rush of relief and the scrambling feeling I was experiencing began to subside. So, we have come to the conclusion that I need another Bone Scan so we can look into this a little more closely, I’ll also need to have scans more frequently so we can be sure to catch the bugger out if it’s still inviting the whole of it’s cancer cell mates over for a rave. Then finally, if needs be, we switch back to intravenous chemotherapy and I can kiss my ginger tresses goodbye again! But as long as it keeps me going I will take ANYTHING! 

It didn't take me long to get back to feeling my normal self after the news, it only took a lady in a wheelchair, looking rather poorly, to put me back in my place.. 

Brain - “This could be so much worse Alex”. 

I’ll be patient and positive that we will find something that works if Capecitabine doesn’t. Plus I have had lots of lovely distractions to keep me going, last weekend I met up with The CoppaFeel! Boobettes: wearetheboobettes for a Manchester Training day...

I then trotted off to see my lovely family back home on The Wirral....

AND THEN (My Favourite part) I jetted off to Santorini for a week with all my favourite people to watch one of my best friends get married, ah life is so good! 

Today I'm having one last day of rest before returning back to work tomorrow and then on Friday it’s off for a bone scan so we can try and work out what’s going on with my misbehaving cancer, wish me luck!

[alexandratiffanyjones]

#The Last One

So my little London trip was amazing. As I said previously I got to be involved in something really special, powerful and thought provoking. Breast Cancer Now (Created by the merger of Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer) have pledged that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live. As part of this campaign I was involved in filming a part in their new advert titled “The Last One” (Have a watch below please). I want to Thank Breast Cancer Now for including me in this advert, alongside the other gorgeous ladies that are featured. For as long as I’m on this planet I will help raise awareness about Breast Cancer, ESPECIALLY in young people like myself because I don’t want anyone to have to go through this, ever!

http://breastcancernow.org/

I was also asked to give an interview about living with Secondary Cancer, which has been featured in The Mirror today. That was probably the most open I have ever been about how I feel about my situation, being asked questions that I’ve never spoken about out loud before, as you can see it certainly opened the floodgates (I’d just like to apologise on behalf of my crying face, it ain’t pretty!) I don’t want to come across defeated, weak or upset though because I’m not! In those moments though I wanted to be honest, sometimes I do take a moment to think about these things, never a moment too long though because unfortunately there is always someone in a worse off situation and that makes me so grateful for my life!  

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breast-cancer-sufferers-moving-video-5894188

Let’s help Breast Cancer Now stop people dying from Breast Cancer.., “I wont be the last one to die of Breast Cancer but there will be a last!” #thelastone

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Life goes on and I love it!

I'm back to leading my somewhat normal life again, hence the lack of blog posts. Basically I'm back at work and not spending my days basking in front of the telly watching netflix in my pyjamas all day. 

The last time I posted It was just after I’d had some radiotherapy and in true form, as my oncologist promised, after having radiotherapy it gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes I forget what my body is actually going through so as soon as I felt like my body was returning to a “normal” state I laid off all the different painkillers, anti inflammatory drugs and anti depressants (which I didn’t know were anti depressants until I finally read the information leaflet) I’m certainly not depressed but my gosh do they give me a nice sleep… Ahhhh! 

Anyway, coming off my daily drug dose was probably the worst idea I’d had so soon after my hip operation and so close to having radiotherapy. It all hurt again, a lot, and I was back to hobbling like John Wayne, struggling to lift myself from my bed because my back and ribs were feeling quite awful.

I'm happy to report though a new prescription and a stern reminder from the pain team at The Christie that it’s probably best I keep up the drugs I went back to pill popping. Within days I was a new woman again, literally riding roller coasters in Blackpool for the weekend with my boyfriend (I've been meaning to mention that by the way!). I won’t lie though and I don’t advise it, I did fear for my Spine when I was on a waltzer and I thought “oh god what if it fractures”. My priorities are all about having fun though so I ignored every warning sign I saw before each ride and do you know what, I’d never been to Blackpool before and I had the best time!

Something else that I’m really excited about happened too, I went to London with my lovely Mum and Sister for the night to be involved in something amazing, something which I hope will raise so much awareness and funds towards further treatments and research for! It airs tomorrow so I’ll share it when I'm allowed to! Here’s a quick peek though...

Hospital visits and chemotherapy continue. I had my first CT Scan (since starting Capcetabine chemotherapy) a week ago, so I’m currently waiting on the results. I don’t really know how to feel, I’m not really nervous nor anxious because I simply won’t, can’t, accept that this drug won’t work for me, so I am obviously hoping for Good News! I will be sure to update you when I have the results next week but for now I’m easily distracted. Fingers crossed.

I have another course of radiotherapy to look forward to as well next week, this time, higher up the spine and possibly ribs, no chances of getting my kecks off this time round, thank you very much! I’ll be well prepared (ahem groomed) this time round.

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Hello there. Really hoping you are doing ok. You write a truly inspiring blog, so sooooo mature, no nonsense, kick ass. Please let us know how you are feeling. .... x

Hello lovely person! I am doing really well Thank You, hope you are too. I’m just about to post a new blog so all updates will be on there. xxx

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Bra on Pants off?

So my promise to update you more promptly didn’t exactly go to plan, I really need to stop doing that and trying to condense everything into one monthly post, I will learn eventually… Here goes!

Firstly my MRI results came back, they were best case scenario, considering what we’re actually talking about here. “The Bulge” of cancer (yes that’s what we’ll refer to it as) in my Spine is.. well it’s quite bulgy. Good news though, said bulge isn’t permanently imposing it’s unwanted self upon my precious spinal nerves so there is no need for me to have any invasive surgery (YES!). My oncologist decided that along with my hip a spot of radiotherapy to my back should do the trick in relieving me from some of my pain, to which I gladly accepted the offer.

As I mentioned in my last post I was about to start the Chemotherapy drug called Capecitabine. I told you how the side effects will be minimal didn’t I, In truth they have been in comparison to the horrid stuff I had to have last year. But I was slightly disappointed on day three of my new “life source” when I had a run in with some familiar side effects, If you’ve read my blog from the beginning you’ll be fully aware of “that time” I sharted. Don’t you dare think I’m disgusting, anyone going through this will definitely be able to relate to uncontrollable bowel movements, I lost all dignity since my diagnosis and I refuse to sugar coat any turding side effects.

So yes, THE RUNS! The really horrible, “If I move an inch I fear poo might dribble down the inside of my pants” type diarrhoea, Oh and throw a bout of projectile vomiting in there too. Since that day though I just had to deal with some nausea and general weakness, probably down to the fact that all of my 5 foot 11 body was missing a hefty amount of calories, it’s a vicious circle this nausea lark, at least I lost a bit of weight though! Week 2 on my new drug was a different story, I began feeling better, the best I’ve felt in a while actually and Week 3 is a pill free week (which I’m currently enjoying). Here’s hoping my first week on Capecitabine was just my body adjusting, I’m positive cycle 2 will be better!

Yesterday I was at my Radiotherapy Planning appointment for my Hip and Spine, to cut a long story short, this was a similar process to when I had radiotherapy to my breast. Except this time it’s obviously in another area, which in turn, meant I was taking my pants off for once and not my bra. To my absolute horror though I was asked to remove everything from my bottom half in a room full of radiographers. “Shit” I thought… “Is this day 4 or 5 post muff shave?” “I’m not prepared for this, why didn’t I shave this morning!” I found the whole experience worse than my recent smear test, at least I was mentally prepared for that plus they’re used to having their face down there. So I nervously lay, waiting for them to line me up and make the markings they’d use for my radiotherapy blasting. I think the most uncomfortable part of the whole thing was when the blue sheet used to cover half of my pubic bone kept flying up every time the air-con swooshed up and down the room, It doesn’t help that they ask you to separate your legs, stay still and reeeelax… “How am I supposed to protect my modesty now, just concentrate on that ceiling tile - think happy thoughts, DON’T THINK ABOUT YOUR EXPOSED VAGINA!”

So with the radiotherapy plan completed successfully yesterday, today I was back at The Christie for the actual procedure. Same protocol, pants off (this time I was prepared - smooth as a baby’s bottom!) and a big dose of radiotherapy was given to both my back, hip and femur. It was all very boring to be honest, except the part after they blasted my back, my feet started itching like crazy and I thought something might have happened, turns out my normally well hidden nerves must excrete from my feet. I have felt a little sick since, I’ve been told because the radiotherapy is around the pelvic area it can cause nausea and surprise surprise diarrhoea but I’m keeping on top of my meds to ward off any mishaps. In terms of the radiotherapy and what it will do for my bones, it’s going to kill some of the cancer cells that are destroying and weakening them, it helps reduce the pain and the bones will eventually repair the damage caused and hopefully get stronger! Just to clarify, unfortunately this doesn’t cure my cancer, it just slows it down, hopefully to a snails trail pace so I can carry on my attempts at twerking without fear of breaking a hip.

I’m back in clinic on Friday to pick up my second cycle of Capecitabine, I’m confident we’ve got the major stuff out of the way now and hopefully everything will settle down and I can stop running between hospitals every other day. I would imagine my next major milestone is my first scan to see if the Chemotherapy is working, let’s bloody well hope so that’s all I’ll say! 

[alexandratiffanyjones]

Boo, I’m alive!

Well, the past few weeks have flown by, I’ve lost track of time and I know that this blogpost is overdue, again, apologies! A lot seems to have happened but I’ll get the sort of scary, not such great news out of the way first….

A few weeks after “that operation” …the pinning of my femur, I’m once again being invited to appointments here there and everywhere, most importantly the one where I re-established my relationship with one’s oncologist aka the lovely lady who’s main job is to now keep me alive!

During the impromptu appointment where I was first told that my cancer had spread I didn’t really get the full picture, I remember hearing the words “various bones across the body” but the main concern of that moment was my hip and spine. So anyway, during the planned appointment with my oncologist she had the unfortunate job of telling me that the cancer is in fact in the following bones: Hip, Spine, Ribs, Shoulder and Skull – queue squeaky fucking bum time upon hearing the word Skull.

It all sounds quite scary doesn’t it, good job we’ve got a plan in place then! Tomorrow I’ll be starting a chemotherapy tablet called Capecitabine and a monthly bone injection called Denosumab (this has been delayed until my Vitamin D levels are up, I’m quite deficient you see!). Also some radiotherapy here and there.

Capecitabine: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/capecitabine

Denosumab: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/denosumab

Side effects compared to my last lot of chemotherapy are minimal so if I compare this to how I managed those, I did climb The National Three Peaks, I know I’ll be just fine. These drugs allow me to go about my life as normal and guess what (my favourite part) – NO HAIR LOSS, something I insisted couldn’t happen again, no no. Let’s just really hope and pray these drugs work.

In other cancer news, I’ve experienced my first Paramedic visit. That horrendous pain I mentioned in my last blog post, the one where I get shooting pain that goes from my lower back into my legs, well that happened for about 48 hours straight. To be fair the Friday prior to this painful incident, I was literally having tequila poured into my mouth whilst throwing some questionable shapes on the dancefloor, to say I over did it 5 weeks after a major operation is an understatement. I actually thought, like I’d been told to look out for, my spinal cord was being compressed. It wasn’t (thankfully) and I was given some heavy duty painkillers that literally knocked me out for the whole week, I lost a week.

Since then, I’ve discussed this pain with my oncologist, who agreed I needed an MRI to investigate what the cancer in my spine might be up to. Low in behold though an MRI scanner is basically a massive magnet, I happened to have a magnet in my expander, inside my tit, that could be affected by the scanner and needed to come out. So on Tuesday of this week I had an operation to change my boobie expander to a silicone implant and on Wednesday I was at The Christies for my MRI. Recovering from Tuesdays operation is a walk in the park compared to previous op’s I’ve had. Originally I wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of having any more invasive treatment so soon after the hip and leg incident. Now I’m pleased though, it means we can find out what’s causing my pain faster and I should get the results of my MRI in the next few days.

I think that covers about everything, I suppose I should talk about how I'm feeling… Well I feel just fine to be honest, Thanks! I'm not frightened, I'm not upset, I’m just me but I’m having to navigate through some slightly hairy situations. I’m fully aware how serious this is but balls to that, I’m not wasting my time crying or moaning about something that’s out of my control, what will be will be and I’m accepting of that.  So whilst we’re on the subject… Look at some of the fun things I have been up to:

I turned 25… We had a Mexican themed party, next years is going to be Mermaids, I’ve decided:

Courtesy of Teenage Cancer Trust I got to introduce “The Who” on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London, that’s me with Roger Daltrey:

I’ll be blogging more frequently going forward so I’ll be posting soon to let you know how I’m getting on with my chemotherapy and my MRI Results. Have a great weekend everyone and don’t forget to check your boobs!