Holly Cottage Bulletin: December 2018

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas

I didn't expect to be here with you now and further into 2019 - and it's just amazing that I am. So to all my local followers and to those who stumble on this blog, I wish you a very happy time this season of LED lights and excessive eating.

My story

In November 2010 I was diagnosed with (seemingly at the time) incurable lung cancer. I received 6 cycles of chemotherapy - ending in May 2011. This was so successful that the lower two lobes of my right lung were removed in July 2011. The tumour was only (at that stage) 5% cancerous and there was no cancer detected remaining in the adjoining lymph nodes which were also removed. My most recent check ups (x-ray and CT scan) May 2016 indicates that everything is fine and I am now regarded as cured.

The right hand lobe of my thyroid gland gave cause for concern during initial diagnosis of my lung cancer so in December 2011 that was surgically removed. In January 2012 I found out that there was no cancer in my thyroid lobe - just inflammation due to what appears to be Hashimoto's disease, an auto-immune disorder which means I have to take synthetic thyroxine for the rest of my life.

This blog charts my journey from cancer diagnosis to the current day (see most recent blog). Early postings will tell you what happened to me in the NHS system and how I felt about it, interspersed with information about charity shopping and other essential activities.

I much admire the work of Chris Woollams. Do check out the bountiful information on the Canceractive web site which he founded, and his book The Rainbow Diet.

My brush with cancer is hopefully at an end but as I've started blogging, I might as well carry on.