31st of January

I had a wonderful day yesterday learnt how to do all the exercises for mouth while I'm having the treatment, picked Franchesca up from dancing spoke to lots of family and friends what a lovely day.

Then I went to bed and around 2 am started feeling so ill it was awful, I was sick very hot don't know what it was, Jason thinks it's because I was running round all day but I really enjoyed being normal, I felt terrible when the kids woke up, Jason bless him took them to school and came home to stay with me and slowly I came round. 

The phone rang it was my brother he just nipped in to see me just out of the blue, that was nice and he always makes me giggle just what I needed to be honest. 

Then a couple of hours later a knock at the door and a bouquet of flowers was delivered with a beautiful card from some wonderful friends, it's like everyone knew I wasn't well. 

Because I couldn't make parents evening last week I went this evening and was made to feel very very proud of all our 3 children. 

So to say it started as a rough day it ends PERFECT. 

Night night xxxxx

  

The next picture is a few of the other flowers and gifts I've had over the past few weeks I am very lucky xxx

29th of January

Good Evening 

Well what a wonderful day, I woke up this morning to the sunshine and felt brilliant, I sung the Greatest Day (Take That) to Jason don't think he was that impressed cause I can't sing as most of my friends and family know hehe, I cooked breakfast for the family yummy, Jason went shopping and took Franchesca for her bits and bobs instead of me but that was ok. 

I prepared and cooked Sunday dinner yummy and we went for a walk with Rosie (dog) and the kids rode their bikes, which was AMAZING xx

I am bit sleepy now but life's good and I'm feeling a lot better xx

Off for speach therapy tomorrow, which everyone thinks is funny cause I can talk for England but it's really to teach me the exercises I need to do through out the radiation.

So I wish you all well 

Love A xxx

28th of January

Good Evening 

Yippeee today seems to have been the best day I've had in a few weeks, I'm still bloated but I'm not in as much pain yay, I've eaten 3 healthy small meals had a shower yay, was told I couldn't shower till today after the PEG was fitted boo, the PEG is flushing brilliant. The kids have had a lovely day with friends round at our house laughing, (what a wonderful sound) playing being silly and smiling then we've all just sat and watched a film together snuggling PEFECT. 

Spoke to my Mum and Dad, my Mother in Law and felt like i didn't need to say please let me go I need to lay down. 

Feel like I'm not as frustrated because I can actually be Amanda not ill Amanda, hopefully I'm gonna try and take Franchesca shopping for some new bits and bobs we won't be going far but if I can get out of this house it will be amazing. 

Life is good I need to live it for a few weeks before all the treatments start. 

Love to you all 

A xxx

27th of January


Hi Everyone

Last night was a tough one, came home from hospital Jason bless him went and got me a roast dinner from Woodfield (yummy), I ate as much as I could and then about 1 hour later I tried to flush the tube but the water wouldn't go down this gave me concern that I was doing something wrong so I thought perhaps I should wait a bit and try again. But then a pain in my tummy started it was awful, I was hot felt sick and was really worried about the pain, by this time it was around 9pm Jason had managed to get the children in bed, I became very worried so I phoned my personal nurse hehe Wendy. Who came round straight away and advised me to phone the out hours GP,  so I and they got back in touch with me quite quickly and advised me that I was bloated from the air been pumped in to my tummy from the operation and also the food, he gave me a prescription for anti sickness meds and medication for the pain in my tummy, Wendy went straight to town to get them for me. When she came back she advised me to phone the PEG out of hours nurses, which I did but they said it could be a couple of hours before they got back to me due to how busy they were.

I told Wendy to go home bless her it was 11.15pm and she was still looking after me. I felt a lot better so I went and laid on the bed, at 1 o'clock the nurse rang she said she was so sorry it was late, how can they help it, it's not their fault again more staff needed in the NHS bless them. The nurse was wonderful and explained that she would contact my PEG nurse to contact me in the morning and because I wasn't feeding through the tube I hadn't got to worry and it would get sorted in the morning.

It has been fixed the tube is now flushing perfectly again Im still trying to get rid of the bloating feeling but its loads better with the tablets.

Had a friend visit earlier who bought me the most amazing card and cup. I am so so LUCKY


Love to all

Amanda xx

26th January 

So I'm home yippee, even though everyone is amazing on ward S12 and I was so lucky to have another friend working all through the night on the ward, there is nothing as nice as your own bed. 

Jason brought me home Ive had a little nap and then our beautiful children have come home all excited to see the PEG hehe how cool is that the kids think it's exciting that mummy has a tube running from her tummy, they do make me giggle.

Now its time to look after this tube and make sure I do everything I've been told regarding flushing it etc, the support network that has been put in place for me is outstanding any worries, concerns and they will come straight out to me at home AMAZING NHS AGAIN.

Im bloated and have some pain but to be honest the infection in my teeth last weekend was worse.

Nearly there now, well to Radiotherapy and then Im gonna SMASH IT the Cancer that is.

Im going to say night night now,

Love to you all 

A xxxx

25th January

Good evening 

Well today was the PEG fitting day, me and Jason went to the hospital and I was scared but to be honest everyone has been amazing and looked after me so wonderful, it's in now and yes I'm in pain and I feel so bloated but it's gone well and we are nearly there, thank you for all the wonderful messages and a massive thank you to Wendy who was with through the whole process because lucky for me she is a nurse on the PEG fitting department. 

Still in hospital but hopefully I will be home tomorrow 

Love to you all xxxxxx

Made Wendy have a selfie with me before we went in

 

 

23rd of January

Hi Everyone,

Been to Weston Park today to get the mask made that I need for my Radiotherapy, this is so that the parts of my face and neck that dont have cancer are protected plus it will keep my head still through out the treatment, the image below is an image of a mask like the one I've had made today. To be totally honest I was a little frightened but I knew it need to be made, anyway I laid on a bed and the sheet that the mask is made out of was placed in warm water to make it soft it was then placed on my face, 3 nurses pushed it against my face and shoulders to make it a tight fit, it was locked in place and  cold water was put on to mask while on my face to make it go hard, the nurses then took the mask off and run it under cold water I could then get dried and dressed again.

We then went in to the waiting room because the next step was to go and have a CT scan with the mask on so my care could be planned out, while we where waiting I was given all the dates and times of my treatment.

We were called into CT scan area, I was asked to lay on the scan table a cannula was inserted into my arm so an ink could run through my blood while I was been scanned, this is all so every time Im blasted with radiotherapy its hit the right spot AMAZING, SCARY, BUT AMAZING.

This time when the mask was locked into place over my face it was really tight and it did feel uncomfortable the nurses removed it and we tried moving my chin slightly until I felt better, it was very tight and I think to be honest it's the fact that I was locked in and couldn't move that was unnatural which was the most frightening thing, once it had been on for a few minutes I was ok, it's not nice but I kept saying to myself  "Ive 7 weeks of this and I need to get use to it, because this is the only way I'm going to get better" this helped me to relax.

The scan happened and the nurses kept coming in and out marking the mask all the way through they kept talking to me and reassuring me.

It might be scary but IM LUCKY.

When it was all over I had to sit in a room to make sure I was ok for a while. While we were waiting for the remover of the cannula, Alison the research nurse, this is the nurse that will look after me while Im part of the trial came to meet me she wanted me to meet her before I started the trial so nothing was scary. When I was clear to go Alison took us to the floor where I needed to go on the w/c 6th she explained everything that is going to happen and that she will be with me at all times through out the week, Im really excited about this part of the whole treatment.

When I got home a beautiful bouquet of flowers where delivered with beautiful kind words from one of my lovely friends I am so lucky.

Tomorrow is a day of rest hopefully the mouth will stop hurting and then Wednesday is Doncaster hospital PEG being fitted.

Love to you
Night Night xxxxxxxxx

22nd of January

Hi Everyone

Just a quick update following on from Friday, after taking the tramadol it made me really sick so thought this doesn't suit me, better try and manage the pain. The kids went for sleep overs which gave me time to rest but I was still in so much pain that Jason and I decided that this morning I needed to phone Hallamshire, I was asked to go straight in.

We had to wait until the doctor became free but this never bothers me anymore, when she did she told me she had spoke to the consultant that had performed the operation on my mouth, and he had said due to the complications of the wisdom tooth they couldn't pack the hole and still couldn't as it would damage the exposed nerve. She examined me and said I had what is called a dry socket, she need to clean the area and give me a high dose of antibiotics, unfortunately as she had said she couldn't pack the area so she was hoping this would work. It was very painful and lots of yuck came out so hopefully this will fix it.

Ive come away with a syringe and some wash to keep putting in to the area, antibiotics and she recommend a interspace toothbrush to help clean the area.

Lesson learnt stop trying to put up with pain and speak out sooner.

Tomorrow is mask making day hopefully it will still happen because there is a bit of swelling on the outside (fingers crossed)


lots of love to you all xxxxxxxx

20th of January

The last 24 hours have not be nice if I'm honest, Ive even turned 2 visitors away, Ive been in lots of pain from my teeth, I was told the pain wouldn't be nice due to the fact that I can't take ibuprofen so the swelling can't be reduced, but I never thought it would bring me to tears, Ive caved in though at 4.30pm and phoned the GP and was given a prescription for tramadol, so hopefully I should get some rest tonight.

I just wanted to let you all know the plans that have been put in place


So a few appointments have started coming through,

Monday 23rd got to go to Weston Park for the mask to be made a CT scan etc 4 hour appointment.

Wednesday 25th going for an overnight stay at Doncaster hospital so I can have the PEG fitted. Not looking forward to this, but its part of the journey.

Monday 30th going to see the speech therapy, yes I know i dont need help with talking, it's so they can give me exercises to keep my jaw moving through out the treatment hehe.

Monday 6th of Feb the whole week will be spent going to Weston Park so I can start the meds for the trail and tests can be carried out.

Monday 13th chemo and radiation starts



So we now have a plan to start the treatment, Lets get this Cancer out of my body and

SMASH IT

Night Night Everyone Love to you

xxxxxxxx

17th of January

Well, it's certainly been another long day but it had to happen so I can Smash this Cancer out of my body. 

Off we went to Hallamshire at 6.30am left poor Dad in charge of the 3 monkeys (kids) on arrival I went in to TAU were I was given a bed, my obs were checked I was ready to go, sent Jason off to work, and then I had to wait until 2ish before I had my surgery a bit longer than the 10.30am I was original told, but do you know what, that was ok there was 37 patients on the morning list, and of course there never is enough Nurses because the NHS is just been cut and cut its terrible, I was sat very near to the nursers station so I could watch (nosey) at everything thats was going on I met 2 other ladies that were have ops and got chatting to them (no surprise to me chatting) and to be honest it wasn't a nasty day, Im so grateful that all these wonderful doctors, nurses, health care assistants, surgeons and consultants in fact everyone are working so hard to make me better I am so LUCKY xxx

When I went down I was so shocked by how many theatre doors there was, what a very very busy hospital the Hallamshire is, I was taken to theatre by a really lovely lady who chatted to me all the time made me feel at ease, she was asking me about my operation I had, had 2 weeks ago and had anything happened that I didn't like or had upset me, I explained how wonderful everyone had been but I couldn't believe that when the mask was put on my face it frightened me a little nothing that made me make a fuss I just put up with it but did frighten me it (smelt funny), anyway when we got in to room I was going in she got me a lovely warm blanket and explained to the anesthetist what I had said and he said well we won't put the mask on yet he pumped magic into my hand (I know it isn't magic) but I really do not remember the mask been put on and i had a wonderful dream about the kids.

When I came round I was taken back to the ward, the doctors explained that the first tooth came out with  no problem but the wisdom tooth was harder, bone had to be cut and Ive got a few stitches the nerve was exposed and apparently they dont like that, the numbness might go away in a few days or never, so far half my chin and half my lips are still numb but I had to have this op to get to where i need to be, lots of swelling but you always feel swollen after a trip to dentist for a filling so I knew this would happen, lots of pain but tablets help. 

So its done now thank goodness,  it just needs to heal so I can get on with the next part of my journey, but there is one thing I will guarantee, I will Smash It.

Lots of love xxxxxxxxxx

Monday 16th of January

Hi Everyone,

Had a great weekend with Jason and kids, just chilling and laughing and having fun xxx

Well today has been another wonderful day I sneaked out of the house and surprised the kids and picked them up from school it felt wonderful to be doing something normal, the kids were so pleased to see me at school awww just perfect, then Franchesca questioned if I was allowed out bless her. 

Tomorrow is another hospital day but it was my choice to do it this way I must admit I am a bit anxious but it's got to be done so I'm just getting everything ready and then off to bed it's a early start got to be Hallamshire for 7.30am 

Love to you all and thank you for reading and caring xxxxxx

Friday 13th of January 2017

So today we've been on a road trip to Sir Charles Clifford Dentist Hospital and Weston Park.

When we arrived at Sir Charles I was seen my a really nice chap who explained why my teeth had to be checked out (please note I hate dentists but I do go every 6 months) apparently when I have the radiation the blood around my gums will be affected, so if any of my teeth are dodgy they need to come out now, because through the treatment they will become weak and if they fall out or are taken out my gums won't heal and this could cause infection and make me ill. So he had a quick look and said all looked good just needed a quick X-ray to double check, so off I went came back and he said the wisdom tooth on the other side to where the Cancer is, has grown at a funny angle and was going to cause damage to the tooth at the side of it so they needed to come out.
'O' NO FEAR OF GOD RUSHED OVER ME, everyone that has had wisdom teeth out who I know has said how much pain they have been in, anyway he said I just want to talk to Dr Foran before we get you booked in, he came back and said we can do it now,  he couldn't get in touch with Dr Foran but I needed these teeth out ASAP so my mouth can heal ready for the treatment to go ahead.

I thought Woe your horses here I can't open my mouth fully without it hurting how the heck am I going to sit for 45 mins while you take teeth out today, also Im supposed to be signing to go on the trial in the next 10 mins panic panic lol,

Anyway I spoke to the dentist again and said I wasn't sure I could do it today due to the pain Im still getting and could I come back he agreed that it was ok for me to have the weekend to see if my mouth heals a little more but I needed to have this treatment Monday or Tuesday phew phew lol.

Of to Weston Park

When we checked in we had to wait along time but thats ok I really dont mind waiting everyone here has Cancer you can't rush no one xxxx
We went in to see Dr Foran who told us the best news ever the PET scan results were back and the Cancer is no where else in my body just in my tonsil and neck this is FANTASTIC NEWS yippee xx

I explained that she needed to phone the dentist hospital about my teeth, so she got straight on the phone and she agreed that I needed the teeth out but due to the pain and my FEAR I'm having the teeth out under a General Anaesthetic (put to sleep) so I'm going in to Hallamshire on Tuesday to have them removed.

I signed all the paperwork for trial so its all go yippee

Night Night xxxx

My special bracelet xxx

 

Road trip to Weston Park and Sir Charles Clifford

 

Photos

 

                    WELCOME TO MY CRAZY WORLD

Hi Everyone, Ive created this blog because I will find it easier to keep all my wonderful caring friends and family up to date with whats going on in my fight against Cancer.

Just a quick explanation about what has happened so far, back in October I was creaming my neck (trying to stop the wrinkles) and I found a lump I went to the GP late October, who thought it would be best for me to go and have an Xray and bloods taken, when the results came back there was nothing but my GP wasn't happy and sent me back to the hospital for more bloods and referred me to a haematologist, Dr Joseph. Dr Joseph gave me an appointment for his clinic very quickly and decided the best thing was for me to have a biopsy, now the results came back showing that the lump in my lymph node was secondary cancer which came as a huge shock to me I was sure that it was just Cancer in my neck and it would be all sorted really quickly. Dr Joseph arranged for me to have a MRI and to be now looked after Dr Watson. When we went to meet Dr Watson he told us that the primary Cancer was in my left tonsil, he checked inside my nose with a camera and was sure the primary was in my tonsil, I was then booked in for an operation to remove the left tonsil unfortunately the doctors couldn't remove all the Cancer from my tonsil but I was reassured that they could treat it with radiation and chemotherapy.

Monday the 9th of January we went to DRI to see Dr Watson who checked my throat and told us that the left tonsil was certainly the primary but just to make sure I was still to have a PET scan, we then went to meet Dr Foran (Consultant Clinical Oncologist) who explained to us what was going to happen next and she also explained about a trial that was about to start, and that if I wanted I could be part of that trial. The purpose of the study is to test a new type of treatment for cancer, I was really interested in being part of this as it would help me to feel like I was giving something back for all wonderful care I have and will be receiving, but I needed to take all the information home and read it to make sure it was right for not just me but my family.
A plan was put in place I would start 7 weeks of radiation treatment with 3 chemotherapy sessions within the 7weeks, in about 3-4 weeks I needed a mask making of my face to protect the areas that didn't need radiation, (I told Dad the Drs are cloning me lol) I needed to have a PEG fitted in my stomach so when I can't eat, because my mouth is too sore I can still receiving food through the PEG, (not looking forward to this) I needed more bloods taken, I needed to meet with the speech therapist, I was to visit Sir Charles Clifford Dentist hospital to make sure all my teeth are strong enough for the treatment and I was to have a PET scan.  We would also be invited to an open evening a Weston Park so we could look round and the kids could come too so they could see it wasn't scary what is going to happen to Mummy.

That night I told our 3 beautiful children that Mummy had Cancer and that I wouldn't die I would get better, it would be a bit of a journey but I would get better. Then I told the world on FB xxxx


Date 12th of January

So today Im off to receive the PET Scan at Rotherham Hospital a bit worried dont know whats going to happen.

Here is the web address for the explanation of a PET Scan

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/PET-scan/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Everyone was really nice I was going to be there for 2 hours so Jason went off for a cup of tea, I went in to a lorry how cool is that it's a mobile PET Scan, a nice guy injected me with some radiation (it didn't hurt) then I had to wait for roughly 45 mins or so before I could go in the scanner, I was in the scanner for about 25 mins this was a bit uncomfortable but Ive just got to suck it up and get on with it, and then we could go home.

On the way home I received a telephone call about me going on the trial, I am so excited about this It's a little bit I can do that hopefully will help the future treatment of Cancer.

I was told I couldn't go near the kids till tomorrow, due to the radiation that was in my body. Thats hard not being able to kiss them and hug them.

Im really sleepy again so Im going to try and get some sleep love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxx.