A Colourful Day

Today I had to start another diet, which consists of generally white food. 

Bland Blanc

I have another type of CT scan on Monday. So have been given a diet sheet, consisting of generally white foods with no salad or veg. 

But my day was brightened up by visiting the garden centre with Tommy and then receiving a lovely delivery of a beautiful bright coloured bouquet of flowers via courier from Shepherds of Hertford, who I had worked for for 16 years, up until August 2024. They were with me through my other two cancers. 

Thank you Team Shepherds x

 Selfishly, I am a bit disappointed that the England football match has not been changed to 7pm instead of 1am on Monday,   as I could have watched it at the earlier time...  and am now worried that on Monday morning for my scan, that some of   the staff may be a little worse for wear. Let’s   just hope that whoever has to stick a tube up my derriere supports another team!!

I hope that when you RED this, it BLUE you away, I hear you YELLOWING, ‘it’s all WHITE Paula’

You've Got a Friend in Me

After the football we went to see Toy Story 5 with friends. Thursday lunchtime Heidi came to visit, had a special time chatting with coffee and cakes. Another afternoon rest for me, still waiting for the iron to kick in.  A lovely visit from neighbours in the evening.

Sunflowers from Heidi

I did a bit of therapeutic gardening today

.but again ended up sleeping in the afternoon

I am enjoying watching the men's football World Cup

🎵 Three C-lions on my shirt

Poem

I did not notice loss of blood, blood tests made them aware, 
That severe anemia found in me, required further tests and care

I gave them poo on a stick, as requested straight away,

Yes, that has blood within it there, - is all that they could say

Now I realise the palpitations, fatigue and frequent breathlessness, 

Are all the tell tale symptoms of this bloody ugly mess

In the past two weeks I’ve had over 10 needles stabbed into my arm,

They struggled to find a healthy vein from previous chemo harm

Introvenus Iron, CT contrast, special diet,

I’m sorry to bang on and on (most would stay so quiet)

But sharing my blog with all my friends has helped me through and through,

So I will keep on banging on... And share my life with you

This will go no further

I was on my way to the hospital today to see the radiology team to pick up my drugs, instructions and contrast ready for my Colon CT scan on Monday.

I received a call from my colorectal nurse to say that with the results that they have collected so far, that they can see that the cancer has stayed contained, and has not spread outside of the colon, this is brilliant news. They will await scan on Monday to see if there are any other culprits within and then I shall get a call Wednesday from my surgeon with a plan. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿  Back of the net! Cheers for my hattrick of kicking it! (born 1966) ⚽️

Waiting for a Wednesday

I have been counting down the hours, waiting for tomorrow as I now know that Wednesdays are the hospital teams big meeting day.  So I had decided in my head that there would be a big Wednesday meeting all about me tomorrow. I get a call today to book me in for a different type on CT scan for Monday, so now I am hoping that at next Wednesdays meeting that they may have gathered all the info they need to give me a diagnosis and a plan ahead. 

I am checking my NHS app so much more than I should, just to see if I can get anymore information or clues on what is going on. 

Since having my Iron Infusion, I have not felt, as suggested, less tired or even felt that I have more energy, I do have a massive bruise on my arm and that’s about it! I am hoping that my Popeye moment will kick in soon. I am hoping that this hot weather is making the energy contrast harder to notice, as I bet everyone else is also feeling lethargic and fatigued. 

❤

Messages

Thank you all for such heartfelt messages, chocolates, fizz and flowers, it helps me through the waiting game. The positivity carries me on.

Messages about 

• Family members going through similar
• Offering to be a carer for me at Disneyland! 
• Songs from Kylie Minogue
• Some reference to Trevor McDonald (which I cannot recall our joke)
• Wonder Woman
• 🐓🍷 
• 
  
  

The best typo referred to my DANCER diagnosis!

I say when in doubt

Dance it out

No results yet

We set off early for my CT Scan, another cannula then dye (contrast) pumped into me this time. Into the donut with my arms up, to hold my breath. The body scans were sent to a radiologist who will write up my report ready to be discussed at their meeting next Wednesday, after which they will contact me with a decision on my treatment. 

I'm trying to be a little patient whilst waiting for the results...

I am 5'2"