I have no idea who is still reading my blog,
28 page views in the last two days and over 2700 since it began. With the
arrival of the New Year I thought about stopping writing and “putting it all
behind me”. In reality it’s not quite that simple and for me the blog continues
to be cathartic and a much welcome outlet for my thoughts.
I have
read several cancer stories and blogs over recent months, written by men and
women in their 30’s and 40s’. I have found it helpful to know that others have
experienced the same fears and hopes and rebuilt their lives after diagnosis
and treatment. As one said, being told you have cancer is like a bomb going
off, your world as you know it and have probably taken much for granted,
suddenly blown apart. I waited for seven weeks after my first mammogram until
my diagnosis. Much of that waiting time I have little or no recollection of.
Paul tells me he often reads back through the blog to those difficult early
days, I am not so able to do that. After the initial diagnosis you have no idea
if you will live or die and there is nothing you can do about it except wait and
hope. Hope that your prognosis is a good one and hope then, that your cancer
will not become active again. Your emotions and heart strings are pulled in
every direction and your head is consumed with your own needs and nothing
external. I felt my whole world close in around me, I was pulled into a vacuum
and I removed everything that was no longer important. I remained in that
“cancer bubble” for several weeks. As another blog says “Cancer is arbitrary.
The club that no one wants to join – yet only offers lifetime membership”.
I have entered the New Year a much calmer,
slower, relaxed person. I don’t waste time or effort on unnecessary things or
on things I cannot change. There are things we don’t want to do but have to and
there are things we don’t want to do and don’t have to! I have learnt to say no
to things now, which in a previous life I would have said yes to, learning to
hold onto energy and strength, and looking out for my and my family’s needs
above all else.
I became aware that I was probably a little
less self-confident having been through treatment and largely having been at
home for four months being looked after. The trips and events I have planned have helped restore
that confidence, travelling to Mums and socialising with new faces, the works
do with Paul – (not knowing a single face!) and just this weekend the long trip
to get to Dads, cancelled trains, re-routing and not getting flustered at all!
Lugging my 16 kilo suitcase on and off the train wasn’t quite so clever but I
managed, however, today I am suffering for it with the return of some mild
stabbing at the site of surgery. It’s a normal occurrence after physical
activities such as heavy lifting or snow shovelling!( I am blessed to have
Jackie as a house guest at home. She appeared dressed in waterproofs and
proceeded to clear the drive of snow last week for me. I’m thinking I should
offer her part time work!)
Two days of travelling also caught up with me
today and despite sleeping for ten hours last night, I found myself dropping
off mid-afternoon beside the wood burner! Dad dusted off an old static cycle
machine from in the barn and brought it inside for me. I did ten minutes of
cycling to get the legs moving! Nearly 12 hours sat on a train caused my hips
and knees to complain a little, I shall endeavour to fit in a good walk
tomorrow.
I was happy to have borrowed a Kindle for my
trip, loaded with various reading material, I am on my second book. Dad has set
up an internet connection for me so I am also able to communicate with the outside
world from this sleepy hamlet in the Charente!