Kicking Cancer's Butt because it's got a hold of mine

This week has been a massive step forward to my end goal of seriously kicking Cancer's Butt. I started this week having pre operation tests on heart lungs and body.  The tests are designed to rate my recovery time from this massive operation I'm about to undergo. I have been tested and been put through my paces these past couple of days by my  anaesthetist and care team, as a result I am in great shape considering what my body has endured these past 7 months.  My operation is still planned for December and they are trying to get the two surgeons booked for an early date in December as they want me out for Christmas 🎄. So fingers crossed.  When I was 1st diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer I looked at the family events this year determined to be able to celebrate the birthday's & events of my nearest and dearest, my youngest daughter's Amy's birthday was in May when I was in hospital with complications to my heart from the chemotherapy but we managed to face tim...

Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer earlier this year and the diagnosis for treatment I always found it both difficult and frightening to accept I would have to have a permanent Stoma. My family are the most important thing to me I love them and are so proud to have them in my life. I would do anything for them. This is why I sought-after the help I needed. MAGGIES CENTRE CARDIFF  I could not get my head around having to have a stoma let alone the possibility of having to accept TWO stomas. I took myself to get counselling these past few weeks at Maggie's center Cardiff to discuss the issues around stomas, the counsellor asked me what was it I did not like about stomas I explained I have a weak stomach and I find them disgusting and I'd always find them disgusting. I can't clean and look after them. She went on to ask what my day looks like and what I do, I told her I get up early every day get washed and dressed keep busy I explained I do this so I don't fa...

As we hit the new month of October we as a family will mark 6mths of living with stage3 Bowel Cancer. It also happens to be the month of my eldest daughter Kirsty and my own birthdays 🎂  Up 1st will be Kirstys on the 13th then my own on the 25th I will turn 53 years old & no prizes for guessing what I'd like for my birthday!  It's been a difficult time since chemotherapy was halted, I have been sick on almost a weekly basis, not being able to hold food down. Medication is helping to correct this. September was in part a good month we managed a trip to Turkey 🇹🇷 just Deb & I it was so good to get time together and to relax.  Since coming home it's given me time to think about what the surgeon and stoma nurse said about the operation itself and the procedures they want to do. I have been looking at double stomas and how people cope, I've looked indepth into the quality of life with them, how people manage, how they fit the stoma around their new life, the huge ...