Category Archives: cancer

the window

22 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in cancer, hospitals, sevilla

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windowIt’s not easy to find beauty in an oncology waiting room, but I have always loved these ripply floor to ceiling windows. This visit wasn’t as scary as other times, since I already knew the results of the last PET scan, so it was mostly to check new blood work and arrange the next scan.

I have such mixed feelings whenever I go to the hospital. Part of me hates it, another part feels so grateful because they saved my life, and yet another part just hopes I will never ever need to sit in the other section of the oncology waiting room, waiting for treatment. This time I got to walk home and enjoy every breath.

hope 2018

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in cancer, friends, hope, life stuff

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hope-2018

My first Photohunt entry was on January 3rd 2009 . The theme that week was “hope” and I put up a photo of my battered old daybook turned to January 3rd 2010 with the words “STILL HERE!” written on it. After having just finished a second stint on chemo a few months previously this felt like a very bold thing to do.

Since then I have continued this “tradition of hope” and have posted a similar photo on this date each year. So, as always, here’s hoping that I will still be here next year on this date, and will see this page… and smile just like I did this morning.

no carbs no booze – day 3!

30 Wednesday Nov 2016

Posted by in cancer, diet & nutrition, food & drink

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nocarbs-1courgetti with garlicky-bacony tomato sauce

Day three! Final day of PET scan prep and the no-carb-no-booze diet. And as you can see, I have been eating rather well. Wouldn’t want to eat like this forever, but I may start taking regular “carb & booze breaks” from now on. Or even just have the occasional no-carb-no-booze day. I actually had way more ideas for great non-carb things to make than I had time for.

nocarbs-3cheesy-eggy thingy

I only realized yesterday that I also wasn’t supposed to be drinking caffeine (!!) but apparently that’s more important during that last 24-hour stage, which is today. I certainly won’t make a habit of drinking green tea for breakfast, and a couple of times I would have LOVED a glass of wine (especially when out and about) but it really hasn’t been a big deal.

nocarbs-2chicken garam masala with lots of veggies

Anyhow, looking forward to having some toast tomorrow! The usual routine is that I get the scan done between 8 and 10 in the morning. Then I go for breakfast in the cafeteria while they check the images. Sometimes I have to go through the machine a second time, sometimes I don’t. After that, I’ll get my results. I’m so nervous! See you on the other side…