Endometrial cancer

I had a total hysterectomy in January 2003. I had stage one endometrial cancer. I would just like to encourage you as I'm having my 5 year checkup in February and have never looked back. Just be thankful that you don't need further treatment, i.e. chemotheraphy, that suggests you had early stage cancer. I didn't need any further treatment and am really thankful that I was caught in time. so take courage.

I understand the shock you feel, I was the same but once I had the total hysterectomy and the results came back that it was stage 1 I have got on with my life and have moved on. thank God.

You guys are lucky...For a number of years I participated in The UTOCS ovarian cancer screening survey which meant I had to have internal scans every 6 months. About three years ago they found that the lining of my womb had thickened in one place. They kept an eye on it and when it had thickened again the next time I was sent to a specialist at my local hospital. She said that it was quite common in women of my age ( I was 60 then ) to have thickening and it was probably a polyp and not to worry about it, so I didn't...Oh how I wish I had insisted that they'd done something. A year later I had some odd bleeding and to cut a long story short it turned out to be endometrial cancer. I had the full hysterectomy, cervix was reconstructed and then 5 weeks of daily radiotherapy..I thought that was it, lucky me, the report said that it hadn't spread and that I should attend 3 monthly check ups. Unfortunately for me, two years later the cancer has metastasised to my lungs and possibly my stomach. I have possibly five years left to live though apparently 20% live longer. I take Provera in the hope that it will slow down the metastasis. I live in hope.

I am new to this so here goes. I have been diagnosed with Endometrial and ovarian cancer on the 4th January 2008 after having a hysterectomy for post menapausal minor bleeding. I never in a million years would think I would be in this position and still can't believe it. I have now had 4 cycles of chemo and am due 5 more then radiotherapy. I hope we can keep in touch its good to talk to someone other than family.
Lucy

Don't know what you guys think but there does'nt seem to be a lot on the net about endometrial cancer or at least the metastasis of it,and yet I believe it's common...How unlucky are you Lucy a double whammy...good luck with your treatment, If you need any info about effects of radiotherapy let me know

Hi Taygus
I have just had chemo 4 and am feeling a bit tired otherwise the sun is shining and I am looking forward to another day.
Lucy

What is Provera? The doctors really stuffed up my whole diagnosis and treatment, finally admitting they'd made a mistake and sent me off to die, saying it had spread "further in my chest". I was supposed to die within 3-4 months, and now, 9 months later, I wonder if they WANT me to die ASAP to cover up all their mistakes. Why do they as standard give people with HIV lots of drugs to keep them alive, but offer cancer patients nothing? I just read your stories about metastasis, and wondered what Provera is. xxx Thanks

Hi Penny...Provera is a progesterone, a synthetic female hormone. When my cancer returned two years after the hysterectomy they tested the original stuff from the hysterectomy to see if i was hormone receptor positive. I was so am now on this provera which hopefully might slow down the metastasis. What happened to you....I do know how you feel though, I get the impression that they are not sure what to do with us!! Lucy....what a difference the sun makes eh? Its no fun all this treatment but I did meet the most incredible people, they are so positive...I'm a great believer in being positive, it does keep me going when I feel gloomy..

It's lovely to be able to ask people here things: I always feel that if I hear about something and ask my Consultant, he sneers a lot, as if Why should I need to know all this quite arcane information , and because patients shouldn't ask questions (he looked very disconcerted once when he caught me reading my file!). I really wish I'd had a computer and all you lovely people to ask when I was first diagnosed!! Yes, it is a lovely day. 'My' men went to the pub but I went to the gardencentre and looked at all the amazingly vibrant flowers. Now I just want some warmer weather to go out and plant them. Anyway, my blackbird is singing. xxxx

Hi everyone I have had a bad couple of weeks, sickness, toilets, etc and today I feel a little better. The only thing is I start Chemo 6 on Thursday and we start again. The only good thing is that I am being treated and am greateful for this not everyone is so lucky. The summer is starting lets hope we all have a good one. I will finish chemo in May and then Radiotherapy and then holiday yipeee!.

lucy

Sorry to hear you've had a bad couple of weeks - but chemo doesn't half give our body a hammering, and you're doing really well. I know that lovely feeling of the next lot being the final lot. Yes, I hope you were able to get out and enjoy the fab weather on Monday. I gardened (with a lot of just soaking up the sun and the wildlife), and it really felt like the end of winter. Where are you going for your hols? Enjoy them, whereever. xx Penny

Hi Taygus

I was first diagnosed with stage 1 endometrial cancer in 2001. After a full hysterectomy I was announced "cured".

In March 2007 I discovered a lump in my abdomen which initially was diagnosed as "only a blood clot". However a biopsy in July 2007 showed it to be secondary recurrent endometrial cancer. I was told it was slow growing.

My treatment has been radiotherapy and hormone therapy and I am awaiting results of a ct scan done last week. My Nurse tells me I am doing well and can still have further treatment if needed.

I am still devastated by the news and all the false promises and all the waiting about for results. I agree that the hospitals are unsure what to do with us and I always get the impression that it is somehow "my fault". I hope you continue to do well.

Jan x

Hello Jan and everyone else on this thread...I have just come back from sunny, hot Dubai where I have a new grandson..that was the best therapy yet! How do you get on with the hormone therapy Jan...I take Provera which is supposed to slow down the metastasis but it makes me feel sick and my heart races at times...I have a scan in May to see if it has worked.. I know I have metastasis in my lungs but they say it may be in my stomach too, I wouldn't be surprised as I have permanent guts ache but that could be the result of radiotherapy two years ago...I seem to live on paracetamol,how do you manage your stomach!?

I am so sorry to hear about all the mets and reccurences. I really don't think you are at all to blame - but I know that feeling of the consultant looming over you like a naughty schoolgirl! The thing with all this gyno stuff seems to be that we are so accustomed to period pains and were brought up to take an Anadin and grin and bear it. Our sort of tumours seem to set off on their evil course stealthily and be hard to locate even for the trained medical profession (eg I was misdiagnosed), so I certainly don't think you should be blaming yourself. Anyone see the Channel 4 "Embarrassing Bodies" prog last night on gyno stuff? Certainly getting it all out in the open! xxxx Penny

Hi Taygus

Congratulations on having a new grandson! I hope your scan is ok. I know how worried I get before mine. I've had so many this past year but they never get any easier. I find myself distraught for a couple of days before and then my life goes on hold until I get the results and pity all the people around me because PMT has nothing on me in my "waiting for results" mood!

I'm on a drug called letrozole/femara which I believe is usually prescribed for breast cancer. I went on it in August last year before radiotherapy. Initially I was like a zombie, super tired, slurring my words and aching joints but it did take some of the pain away. Nowadays its just like popping any other pill and apart from a 2 stone weight gain I really don't have much to complain about.

My scan last week showed my lump had reduced by 7mm so thats good news but it showed changes in my fatty tissue (maybe just the 2 stone weight gain lol) anyway they are hoping that its just radiotherapy damage but I will know more in May when I see my Oncologist. I know my stomach is now rock hard and huge. I also seem to be taking a lot of painkillers but the pain is nothing like before treatment. My main discomfort is in my hip bone. The pain sometimes radiates down my leg and I find it hard to bend, walk at more than a snails pace and reach my feet making it awkward to dress and put shoes on.

I think having abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy probably will damage us inside but am hoping it won't be permanent. Do you have any similar problems?

Initially the radiotherapy didn't hve much effect except a bit of diareah (can't spell and always get the blasted word in quizzes)but one year on I have quite bad stomach pains which could be lesions or metastasis so I live on paracetamol and am waiting on a scan in May for the lungs and will ask him to investigate my stomach then. I dont think metastasis are lumps and its quite hard to see on scans but will wait and see. I find the taking of so much paracetamol a bit distressing and the Provera was a bit scary after reading about it on internet but then I suppose if it keeps one alive will have to go on taking it...After the awful shock of the first scan last year telling me of the metastasis in my lungs and the matter of fact way that the specialist said that, well you could live for another 5 years or maybe not, I don't actually worry about them any more, what will be will be eh...It would be nice to be able to talk to other women in the same boat but there don't seem to be any round here except on this blog of course! Its great that everyone is so supportive...

I also remember getting the diarraoh (I don't know how to spell it either lol) during my radiotherapy and I still get urgency. Saw my GP on Friday and he said the stomach pains and hardness are almost certainly caused by the treatment. Apparently the soft tissues can tighten and shrivel leaving scar tissue and pain. I always thought I had another lump in my side but the CT scan has only shown this as fatty tissue changes so hopefully you might be the same. I, too worry about all the paracetamol/codeine I take but if it helps us to get through the day then I guess its worth it. I also take diazepam to stop my leg going into spasm and, of course, this has the added effect of keeping me reasonably calm except on scan days!!

Although none of us like having to cope with this awful disease and all the uncertainties it brings it is comforting to know there are other people going through the same and although I am a newcomer to this site I have already received much support. Thanks to you all.

Jan XX

Pleased to hear your scan shown fatty tissue changes and not anything more ominous hopefully that's all mine will be too....I suppose I can consider myself lucky in that I had gone through the menopause before all this happened and some of you are coping with all that as well.

Hi Elaine, I have joined today and spotted your details. I do hope that all is going well for you and that your health has improved, and if you can help me I would appreciate it.I am due to start chemo next tuesday 17.06.08 and find it hard to concentrate on anything at the moment.I thought that my hysterectomy would have resolved the situation but that was not the case.I had my operation 3 weeks ago and now have chemo on top of my recuperation.

I would really appreciate it if you could contact me

Jean

Seems a few weeks since I wandered into the Gynaecological Zone where I belong, and I've just been catching up on all your threads. Hope everyone is doing as well as possible with all the scans and pain management. Jean a special message for you as you are about to start chemo next Tuesday: I want to wish you the very best with this, and hope that your side-effects are not too debilitating. Hugs to all xxx Penny

Hi all..... firstly Jaye good luck with the chemo and hope everyone else on this thread is doing OK...I went for scan last week on my stomach which is giving me gyp! I await results...honestly sometimes I wonder if the consultants know what they are doing or else there are so many of us they can't keep up..for instance I went for my check up two weeks ago and they hadn't done a review of the scan so the consultant spent nearly and hour trying to compare measurements with the previous scan and the computer was playing up!..I just felt like jumping up and down with rage...what a waste of time and it was a beautiful day too.... I wonder if anyone can help with this problem..I'm not doing the pain killers very well. I take paracetamol and then in between I take Neurofen melts which work very quickly..seems ok in the day but not at night..I'm sure I overdose at times!! Is there anything stronger which lasts longer.?

Know the feeling with those scans! The prof misread my first one totally, and the last one I had, they couldn't find, then when we'd waited another 15 minutes they came back and told me I had 3-4 months to live. Am still here 13 months on! Yes, do sometimes wonder if they are looking at the right scan...

As to painkillers, my GP put me on to Zamadol (aka Tramadol). I have not found any side effects with it so far (a year so I think that is long enough), and they work by intercepting the pain messages along the nerves so that the brain does not receive the message. It does say they might cause drowsiness but I have not found this. They are only available on prescription though. They are sometimes used as short-term measure after operations at higher doses. They last 12 hours - I take them at breakfast and then again early evening. Maybe try these? Lots of love to all - as I know that if our pain is not controlled, it overrides everything and can make us very depressed. Hard to be positive suffering long-term pain, and no-one should.

xxxx Penny

Hi Taygus. Just to prove how different we all are - I've been taking Tramadol for about 6 weeks and find it makes me really sick and sleepy - the advantage is that I just take it at night, so I'm not awake for the sickness and usually manage 6-7 hours unbroken sleep. Great stuff - but prescription only, as Penny says. I do hope you find something that suits you. Best wishes, Kate xx

Hi Jan x

I was first dianosed with early stage utherine cancer in 2002. After a full hysterectomy I too was pronounced "cured"

I had a pap smear every 6 months for 6 years and they all came back clean. In 2007 I had weight loss surgery,6 months after surgery I started having a pain in my lower abdomen. I keep telling my doctors about my pain and it took them another 6 months to find out what it was. It was cancer in my stomach muscle. It also spread to my liver.
My doctor say it was a fluke, that it never should have happen. He says the only thing for me is Chemo to try and prolong my life. I feel great,I have no more pain in my stomach. The biggest tumor shrunk, but more have pop up. I take it one day at a time and remain positive that I will be cured. Hope everyone is doing ok.

DianeM

Sorry to hear about the stomach muscles becoming involved. Well, they don't know everything, but hopefully the fact that your mets/secondary is unusual will get you a lot of attention and excellent treatment. Keep going! Let us know any updates and we shall be willing you on. xxxx Penny

Hi all.....well Diane I think I can say snap..Had results of CT scan last week and as I guessed there is mets in my spinal lymph nodes (blasted thing gets everywhere) as well as a few more 'bits' in my lung...Have to have chemo now which Im not looking forward to but if it shrinks the things and prolongs life all well and good. Did anyone go down the wig route?

Mine in eg mediastinal. Do you know what sort of chemo drug you are having? Sorry to hear your bad news - these pelvic cancers are really sneaky, and I reckon there is a big Design Fault in Evolution! Good luck for your treatment, and keep us posted. With lots and lots of love and hugs (gentle ones keeping well away from spine!) xxx Penny

Hi Penny,

Thanks for your support. So far all I'm doing is chemo. I get one more this thursday and then he going to check to see if there is any strinkage. If not he say he is going to change to a different chemo. Everyone keep there fingers cross that the tumors have shrank. Will keep you inform.

Diane

Hi Diane M..... how much chemo did you have to have and how was it...I start five lots in three weeks time then the same as you, if there is no shrinkage they try something else! I think I heard the doc say that one of the drugs I will have for the chemo is taxol but I cant remember the name of the other.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for both of you with this latest chemo that it will shrink-zap those miserable rogue cells, and that you won't suffer too much in the way of side-effects. Keep going! Keep fighting! Love and hugs to both of you xxxx Penny

Hi guys....just come home after firt chemo session....was a bit nervous but all went well..took lots of things to do and some snacks and felt fine..let's hope it lasts...have masses of pills to take, hope I remember...The hardest thing I've had to do lately is tell my children about the C...Although I've known since Christmas there has never been a good time to tell them, what with birthdays, parties..Anyway I've done it and what a relief! The other thing that is hard is telling friends which I have started to do...The first reaction was the face drops, that really makes you feel doomed! So what I do now is e mail friends or text so they get used to the idea and maybe will smile when they see you. How is everyone else out there

Third day after chemo and feel a bit rough..Last night it felt like this poison was creeping up my body and making its presence known! My legs ached,in fact everything ached...bit better this morning but am now feeling sick so hope sick pills work.

Oh boy have I been feeling rough....Have'nt actually been sick but feel awful..its so debilatating feeling ill...have got numb feet, feel like I'm going to keel over, spent days reading and trying to eat a little and often...However I am much better today and have stopped feeling so sick, the sun is out and all's right with the world..

I had Tramadol just after my surgery and hated it. It delayed my bowel working again, and I took it back to the hospital pharmacy I was so disgusted with it. My GP prescribed Co-Codamol (Codeine and paracetamol) which as it comes in "bombs" he kindly prescribed in soluble form. I thought it worked very well, and it didn't taste too bad, but then I was motivated to have it work. There is a commercial version called "Veganin" which has a little caffeine added, and it has been my painkiller of choice for many years. Just one is enough for a thumping headache, and a repeat dose is unneccessary.

It may be that you need to drink more water with your chemo. If you can face it that is. I have had pain in my right calf, but assumed it was Anno Domini. I walk as far as I can every day with my dog. About a mile and a half. I go to all the parks nearby to stop myself getting bored. I look for new ways to get lost in familiar places. There are paths, that come out in strange places. Good fun for a change of scene. The fresh air and birdsong is very therapeutic. I live in a city.

Sorry the chemo is hitting hard. I lost track of what was happening on this thread as since they changed the site, my profile seems to be failing to record all the important threads I've participated in. It's miserable when you feel nauseous and have aching bones. Ae you suffering fatigue as well? What sort of anti-sickness have they prescribed? You can always ask for a change, although I found that Ondansetron gave me terrible constipation (prune juice good for that), so I stuck with the Metoclopramide and the ever-present sensation of nausea.
Ruthless, it seems it's a very individual thing with pain-killers, and of course must depend upon why exactly the pain is happening. I think mine is mostly from the untreated tumour pressing against my spine, so hopefully my new hospital won't just say, "Nothing else we can do." The GP did muse about starting me straight away on morphine, but I must say for the last 14 months the Tramadol have worked for me, and don't seem to give me any side-effects.xxx to everyone, Penny

Hi all....well its nearly time for the second dose of poison! For the past two weeks I've been feeling great and best of all not taking so many pain killers...my hair is all over the house, think I will be bald by the end of the week..I have a good wig waiting for me but not sure if I will cope with it as don't like hats at the best of times, will have to become artistic with scarves I ..How is everyone else on this chemo lark, I can't remember names but I think there are a few of us on this thread going through it.

You must be a couple of weeks ahead of me! I started chemo last Friday [for ovarian cancer] and for the first 3 days wondered if the drugs might have been past their 'use by' date - I felt so much better than I expected! Now feeling sick and aching in every muscle, but I'm telling myself that's just the cancer cells being clobbered. Hair is still OK in theory, though I seem to be having a permanent 'bad hair day', but like you the wig is ready and waiting. However in this heat I don't think I shall be wearing it much - my head is too hot already! Hope your second dose is relatively painfree! Best wishes, Kate xxx

Sorry to hear the chemo has kicked in as to side-effects, but as you say that must mesan that it is getting to grips with the things you're going to get rid off. Glad your hair has so far defied the chemo, as it must be sweltering to have to wear a wig when it's hot. I have bad hair days all the time as I have the Frizzy Hair Gene, so you're in good company... Lots of love xxx penny

Thanks. The only good thing about the wig is going to be fabulously coiffed hair every day - I sometimes think that Frizz-Ease will see an enormous drop in profits while I'm on chemo! It's a good thing I'm not a shareholder ... Lots of love, xxx

This wig thing is a real blessing for my husband...at least he won't have to listen to the hairdryer for a few months....I wonder why they don't invent a quiet one! Kate....hope you go on Ok...My legs feel quite heavy and can't walk far but I really don't care as long I don't feel sick! My hair is hanging in there (sorry) though it's looking very moth eaten..get my wig tomorrow, like you Kate won't it be nice not to have to do hair in the mornings!

I don't think there is an inch of me that hasn't been scanned, scraped or had a needle stuck in it--but finally they have decided that the womb cancer is the primary cancer.

SO that's nice to know. I have secondaries on my 'seat bone' (in my hip. No wonder ridng the horse has been so uncomfortable recently) and accounts for the interesting limp I had developed.

If you are my age and you go to the doctor and say 'My leg and hip don't half ache after I have been riding' all they tell you is to stop riding and to 'rest'.

There is another secondary on my liver.

To add to the confusion I have an enlarged thyroid and two 'funny lumps' on my neck. Neither the thyroid nor the 'funny lumps' are malignant. So they have settled for the womb.

The tumour on the bone has been treated with radiotherapy. I think they thought they ought to be doing SOMETHING with me whilst we waited for the results of all those scans and biopsies. The nasty pain in the leg has gone--but I am not allowed to ride the horse until they have done a follow-up scan. next week.

In the meantime I have decided that I am not going to have chemotherapy. If I can't be treated with Provera then I shall fight ths thing on my own. The very idea of passively allowing someone to deliberately fill my system with toxins is more horrifying to me than the idea of the cancer itself.

For the moment I feel pretty normal--and if it all goes to pot--well--I have had plenty of fun in my life and done pretty much all the things I ever wanted to do.

My wonderful husband of 36 years is supporting me all the way.

Arrangements have been made for the horses future, but for now he is staying with me.

Firstly I want to say how sorry I am that you have come down with what the doctors will probably look on as an 'interesting' case. You certainly have got them looking very hard at/through you, and they do seem to have got to the primary site now. Your hip sounds very uncomfortable and I think that it is an excellent idea to have the radiotherapy as that will shrink the tumour and will hopefully enable you to ride again, as well as dealing with the pain.

Chemo certainly is a knock-out. If I had been given the correct diagnosis (I was misdiagnosed as Stage 2 when the scans had actually revealed Stage 4 and incurable) I would have actually asked them to stop the chemo after my first session. It turned me into someone living on Jupiter's gravity for about 8 weeks. I had done an 11 mile walk the day before I had gone for my first test - and have never got back to that level of fitness nor ever will. I can therefore understand totally why you do not want the chemo, although doubtless there will be people on here who urge you to take everything offered. However, it is your body, and as my new oncologist said the other week, "YOU are in the driving seat" of your body. I did decline a second course of chemo - although that was only offered due to another mistake, and there was some confusion over whether I should have it or not. I have no regrets then or now about only having radio for the second course. it may not have been so effective at shrinking the tumours, BUT I did not feel so ill, and nothing is going to change my terminal diagnosis anyway. In fact I have already survived nine months longer than they predicted, am still getting about under my own steam, and Living. I too prized Quality over Quantity.

You sound marvellously level-headed and philosphical about all this. I am so glad that you feel satisfied with what you have achieved in life. This must be a big help, but I am sorry all the same - and am sending you my love and very best wishes. xxxx penny

It must be much more difficult to mnake these decisions when this horrid thing happens to a younger woman with a dependant family.

I have never wanted to live forever--and even if one is 100% healthy you can never know what is going to happen 'tomnorrow' or even later today.

I don't just toddle gently around the countryside on the horse (although it may come to that of course if/when my physical condition declines)--I actively compete him and we ride some pretty stiff x/c courses together. I took a cracking fall out hunting too, last November. I could have broken my neck then too--but actually I 'got away with it' although I discovered that I don't 'bounce' as well as I used too. I also drive on our dreadful modern roads and cycle on them too.

AND I have a dodgy heart, which has defied medical science for the past --what--20 years. So the big C is just one more thing to add to the 'risk list'.

I WOULD rather like to mnake it to 60 though. Just to get some of my State pension. :) I haven't missed a week's payment INTO it and I shall be everso cross if I peg out before I get any of it back.

But I refuse to let this thing get me down. I think that some of my family think I am being flippant and foolish about it--but I really don't know any other way to be. I have, once or twice, sat in the corner and had a good cry over it, but they don't need to know that.

Well, rather ironic about the fall - and yes, I too would much rather go by doing a great jump that went wrong than lying like a cabbage for weeks. I'm afraid I'm anti, but both my brother's wife and daughter compete and hunt, and my mum has gone back to buying "Hare and Hounds" perhaps in search of her lost youth with the Pytchley!

I think your attitude towards your c is an inspiration to all of us. You are most definitely allowed the occasional clandestine weep!

Take care (or rather, keep doing what you love regardless), and keepus posted as to progress. With very best wishes xxxx Penny

Hi stranger, welcome to the thread...by the way never mind the pension what about the bus pass, it's brilliant,I've retired now so use the bus quite a lot and save pounds and all importantly, petrol!I must have at least 5 out of ten for my carbon footprint... If your hormone receptors are positive, provera is the route to go down as you probably know it slows the growth of metastasis hopefully. Unfortunately it didn't work for me so am having chemo...I did think long and hard about it as why put poison into your body that is already struggling with it's own poison...I am a few years older than you and have had a brilliant life but if the poison will enable me to have a few more years,( I am so nosey, I can't kick the bucket not yet ) I will risk chemo and anyway how do we know, they might find something in the mean time like this drug for Alzheimers that will cure us all, isn't it annoying though when they tell us about it and then say but you can't have it for a few years...fat lot of good that is eh!! Do keep us posted ...keep on riding, horses don't like me on them but I do go hunting on foot!

How strange this chemo is.....felt fine on the day and the following three days and now am feeling decidedly lethargic, maybe the blood is low who knows, keep feeling that I'm going to keel over any minute..hopefully it will get better as the week progresses and I eat more and more spinach!! Have worn my wig a few times and had compliments on my new haircut and style!! Mainly resort to hats and scarfs though, much easier.... How is everyone else progressing... Penny, Iknow you were going to Royal Marsden, how is that going?

I have had Cancer (of the Bowel) and have had the op and a 30 week course of Chemo. Yes, I have been lucky, and have been discharged back to the surgical team. Whatever that means.

I used to ride myself and was thrown onto my coccyx, which I think broke, but was bruised badly for a few weeks. (As a young girl, I left it to heal on it's own.) So I know how painful it can be.

I have always regarded Cancer treatment as "Slash poison and burn", but it is different when you have cancer. They explained about the chemotherapy, about how I had a few cancer cells near a vein, and did I want to think about it for a week? I was dead against it, and thought about it for a week and eventually couldn't decide. My consultant shoved the paper over the desk and said "Sign here", and I did. The agony of decision is the worst.

I had nausea, watering eyes, and tiredness. But I'm really glad I had it. It has given me a 4% extra chance of not having a recurrence. A very small chance, but the main chance was 84%, so it was worth it.

I am also hypothyroid, and now the chemo is over, my tests say I'm fine, but I felt really vile. I said, I want to go on having the same dose until my body catches up with the tests.

Anyway, you do need to rest and you do need to have the thyroid tested. Just a blood test for TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) which they might have done already but not taken any notice of. If it is swollen, it is probably trying to keep going. You don't want to feel more tired than you need to. If your voice has gone a little croaky, you should definitely check it out.

I have my buspass and pension, which I already had when diagnosed, and they are definitely worth having.

Good luck, and give your lovely horse a pat from me.

Ruth

Sorry to hear the chemo is slowing you down. Yes, mine felt like I was suddenly under Jupiter's gravity and everything seemed an enormous effort. As you say, keep eating that spinach. Glad the glam wig is getting lots of compliments. Thanks for remembering about me: I'm going for a scan soon and will hear at the end of August. I did have the District(or Community, I'm not sure about these days) Nurse ring me yesterday. When I told her I'd transferred to the Marsden, she immediately asked if I was going private - could imagine her reaching for the bill-for-everything-thus-far button! xxx Penny

I have given Red (thats my lovely horse) a pat and a carrot from you.

I am back in the saddle after the success of the radio therapy to the tumour on my seat bone. At about the same time I have been given my first packet of Provera. It's a terrifyingly high dosage and is making me feel rather unwell at the moment.

It made me even more unwell, when I realise that I have to PAY for it too. Well for the next year or so anyway. Luckily I already have a prepayment card. Worth it's weight in gold, the amount of drugs I am piling up here.

Sadly (from a free prescription point of view anyway) my thyroid is working well, despite it's lumpyness and needs no treatment. Oddly, thyroid treatment drugs DO entitle you to free prescrptions--but cancer ones do not and neither does the drug I take for the dodgy heart. It's an odd world isn't it.

A treatment over 30 weeks! I hope it's a long cycle.

I am not keeping my fingers-crossed on the Provera. Not because I don't think it will do any good,but because it is amazingly difficult to do most of the things one does with a horse, with ones fingers crossed. LOL.

I shall have a 'check-up' scan in three weeks tine.