UPDATE

A note to a friend that i haven't seen for a while...

• Hi Debbie, Great to hear from you X:-) i have finished a round of chemo that although was greatly successful (ie) reduced 5 inoperable tumors of the central liver to 2! i had so many side effects (Painful leg rashes, fevers and swelling) that the docs put me on steroids and then i reacted to them too!... And ended up 'blowing up' to 100 kilo's!!!(It became 'Secondary Cushings Syndrome') It was so bad that at one stage i was unable to walk X:-( i have now gone down 11 kilo's and am still going down... i also had Lymphodema (fluid) in my legs and arms/hands but that is now under control (Thank God!) As that was quite painful... i then went on Femara (a hormone pill/treatment aimed at reducing the tumor's ability to feed on estrogen-that is they aim to suppress the production of estrogen) But i didn't respond to that (ie) my liver has begun swelling again, like it did in the very beginning... Which is painful and uncomfortable... So now i am trying another hormone treatment called Tamoxifen... i have had so many CT (and bone) scans that i have started to forget how many and just last Friday had my first PET scan (Which is aimed at plotting any further cancer growth in my body) The best result of that would be that it is still contained within my liver X:-) As well as all this we have seen one specialist and have another yet to meet (next Friday) regarding different procedures aimed at 'blasting' the tumors... So my biggest hope right now is that we could contain the tumor size to make this easier... i rattle a bit at the moment with all the pills/supplements/pain killers and spend my days mainly resting (which is sooo boring that i want to smash the telly!!!) i have some good days and when i do i get straight out in the fresh air and try and walk my neighbors dog, who are in America at the moment... So that is it in a nut shell... Quite a journey no?!!! i have lots of support though with palliative care nurses visiting regularly and a Lymphodema nurse too... i have just recently gathered info to write up a will and funeral/etc instructions because this illness business is pretty tricky and things i have learned can change in a blink, BUT having said all that i am still hopeful (you know me the eternal optimist) but am trying to be practical too... So there it is, quite a ride no?!!! Hope you are coping well with your health luvvey, lots of *Love* and (((hugs))) Vicki xox

Yep that's it in a nutshell for now folkes!

(Ps) i meant to tell you that on the way to the scan on Friday, i put out a prayer that my 'Spirit helpers' come and be with me... Primarily my Dad... Then a song came on the radio about... "Come lay with me and forget about the world" and when i looked up at these words, the car in front of us had the number plate: EF 111 ...My fathers initials! And in my worlde THAT means i was not alone in that tunnel... Thankyou Dad, For Always being there when i need you...

*Loving You Always*

Vicki xox