Chin Up Buttercup

After seven months of intense chemo, two weeks of hell-defining radio and two weeks in isolation for shingles, I finally feel as if life is getting back to..well..normal. I did the longest week at school since March, only missing out one and a quarter periods (solely because i got in at half one that morning and didn't get to bed until the back of two) And now it's October half term with no planned visits to hospital. To think this time last year, I was chilling, having thee most amazing time in Greece, not feeling that unwell, having as perfect a life as I could possibly have when I'm fourteen. And now, just one year later I've gone through an entire treatment for cancer, all my steroid weight slowly disappearing and hair slowly regrowing, it's crazy. You'd never have thought that that was what the future year had entailed for you. It just comes to show it's the most unexpected things that define your life.

I now have a five year period of remission until I'm given the official all clear. Basically meaning, if my disease stays away and doesn't relapse for five years, I'm 'cured' as you'd put it. Also in five years, my hair will (hopefully) be back to it's nice length that it once was, a while ago. The radiotherapy caused parts of my hair to fall out again, so I have a HUGE bald patch at the back of my head that may never come back, but I think I've given up on my wigs. They're such a nuisance. Why people like Gaga wear them for fun, I will never know. They're so uncomfortable, hot, annoying, mobile etc. So beware member of Edinburgh's public, the bald patch is now on the loose. Lock up your children. No, I'm kidding, but it's not exactly..aesthetically pleasing.

Although I say all my treatment is finished, technically this isn't true. I've just started Reiki and Reflexology sessions. Now please don't ask me what this is, because I honestly do not know. Mainly because it's all very spiritual and confusing but also because for both sessions so far, I've fallen asleep for the entire session. For all I know, she could be sitting in her office having a cup of tea whilst we pay for her to go all reiki on me. But yes, if you want to know what it is, google it, I'm useless. All I know is I didn't eat for two weeks, got Reiki and reflexology where she 'worked on my digestive system' and BAM my appetite is back. ..weird.

And of course the highlight of my week, of course, was seeing the most beautiful woman who ever lived, Rihanna. I cannot even describe this, so all I will say is..OH. MY. GOD.

Radio GaGa

"Corner of mouth to tip of earlobe, 91, 35, 42" is the current tune stuck in my head like a broken record. This is the result of eleven daily sessions of radiotherapy. What this means, I have no idea. I'm lying on a 'bed' (bed? puh-lease. beds are comfy in my experience) naked with four radiographers hovering over me lining me up with red and green lasers. Anyway, I'm beyond pleased to say that Thursday was my official end of treatment and boyy you have no idea how good it feels to say that after over a year of feeling like sh*t.  

So apart from radio, I've had an interesting few weeks, hence why you've been left blogless. I got cysts inside my bones as a result of steroid withdrawal, i then got bad cramps in my left ribs which turns out to be shingles (juust what I need eh) so I spent 5 days in isolation, and not even in my own ward (no TCT = no big TV, no colour LED lights, no internet, no DVD player, no nice snacks etc etc) so as you can imagine, I wasn't happy. 5 days meant 4 cannulas, 15 bags of anti-virals and 20 bags of fluids. On top of all that, my gullet is burnt to a shrivel due to the radio so I'm unable to eat, drink or swallow comfortably pluss I've been very sick. So it's not a great time for baby lgibs. Buuuuut its almost the end, when my radio symptoms disappear I will be an (almost) normal being. I think anyone who'se got or has had cancer can agree with me when I say that once you've been diagnosed, 'normal' is a very unusual word that isn't used often. 

My parents and Lynne McNicoll have been my saviours this week by providing me with ice lollies, ice creams and amusement. There was an It's Good 2 Give fashion show meeting on Tuesday which I managed to convince my doctors to let me out for. So yes, 

It's Good 2 Give 

Fashion Show

Tom Fleming Centre 

(PAC) at SMC

November 6th 

from 4-6

£5 a ticket for an 

amazing cause. 

(just ask for a ticket 

and I'll get you one)

Please come, it's going to be amazing. Over 50 models all with some connection to cancer and some truly wicked hosts (yours truly, the infamous Grant Stott (baddie from the pantos/radio presenter) and a fellow patient Shannon.) 

                                                                               

So, now that I'm (as far as I'm aware) finished, let's hope it's all up and away from here. I'm so over being ill.