Chemotherapy and sunblock

I had been told docetaxol (one of my chemotherapy drugs) is photosensitive and would make me photosensitive…but I had no idea just HOW photosensitve. I enjoyed the weekend’s sun and I did use SPF30 sun block. I always tan easily and never burn, even without it. BUT…after just ten minutes in the sun TB said “Uh oh.”
I had already tanned sooooo deeply and now I have light patches and stripes.
I’ve asked some other photosensitive ladies about this and it seems we are all tanning with great ease.
So I guess I need to take more care than I had thought necessary.

TB and I took the young master and miss and Ralph to see my mother at the weekend.

The young master took Ralph and Stanley for a stroll

TB realised the joy of a hammock
This particular hammock is over forty years old, as is this particular toyboy!

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Purrs, prods and pokes

First of all, I want to thank everyone on the Purrs forum. I hadn’t been there for a long time and when I checked it yesterday evening I was overwhelmed by the comments and concern shown…yep, I cried! Also, I’ve managed to stuff up my account there. I changed my email and user name and now can’t log in. HELP, please, somebody at Purrs!

I saw the Lady Bits Guy today. He poked and prodded.
It seems my 65mm fibroid has shrunk and will not necessitate a hysterectomy, although I am to have another internal ultrasound to make sure. More poking and prodding…my life is weird. I saw the CT Scan pictures of me.
Man, that stuff is awesome!

I will, however, be having an oophorectomy (gotta love that word…it sounds cute and cuddly) but it’s only keyhole surgery, 24 hours in hospital, ten day recovery so I’m not too bothered by it. I’m more scared of having my filler ports removed under LOCAL aneasthetic. WTF?!

Removing my ovaries will mean no oestrogen from them will feed any stray breast cancer cells (my cancer was oestrogen responsive) which may have strayed to other parts of me. (Sneaky little f*ckers!) It will also prevent ovarian cancer and while it’s not thought I have the BRCA gene which causes breast and ovarian cancer, (based on the fact that my cancer showed up at an average age and there’s no family history) it’s still worth doing. Oddly, this is the view of the gynaecologist, not the oncologist but I’m happy to take this precaution, especially as it’s fairly minor surgery these days.

I am so grateful to the NHS. They really do care and are doing all they can to take cancer out of the equation and give me back my carefree life…and I will get it back. I have a beautiful husband who I will not leave.

When TB takes my hand, I can do anything.

Tri tri again

TB has not been able to train as he would have liked as he’s been staying by my side
as much as possible during my treatment.The acquisition of a turbo trainer helped though and I did enjoy watching ;o)

Yesterday was TB’s first triathlon of the year.

For this event he rocked a yellow rubber hat…
quack!

Running shoes ready in the transition area while TB is out on the road on the cycle leg

Me, lazing in the sun while TB is out the road on the cycle leg!
(In six weeks I shall be 52…not bad for an old bird, eh?)

The man himself out on the road on the cycle leg

 And here he is on the first lap of the run, looking pretty fresh and going well.
We had to get up at 4am but oh my, it was worth it to be kissed by my handsome hero husband as he ran by me on the second lap and his end result was a new personal best.

Proud doesn’t cut it. I am proud, smug, chuffed and so in love with this man…

It was a warm and sunny morning. TB was happy to be back in the groove and I was so happy to be there with him.
Here we are after he has just crossed the finish. (Whatever is aching, I am about to kiss it better…)
Thank you to Jill for this photograph.
It was great to meet you and Jim yesterday and Jim, my good man, you are an inspiration.

And please keep clicking the pink ribbon so more proud, smug, chuffed wives can be there at the finish line.

Thank you
xxx