Five Weeks To Go.....

It's been way too long since I wrote my last blog, so it's time for a quick update on my life, the universe and everything. It's been a pretty hectic and “full-on” few months!

At the time of my last blog I was awaiting my second operation to remove the DCIS cells that the surgeon hadn't been able to get out initially – it's pretty common for this to happen, so I wasn't as worried this time around. In fact, the nurses had to tuck me into the bed with a “Bear Hugger” to stop me from getting up and “getting in their way” - they were busy and I felt at a loose end! Well, they do say nurses make terrible patients! Fortunately, following this second op, the surgeon was able to tell me that they had removed all the cancerous cells that were there at the time, and put me on a course of tablets (tamoxifen) for two months, stopping for a month before surgery. These were ok actually, I had expected tons of side-effects, but actually instead of gaining weight, I lost heaps mainly due to the fact that it made my food taste metallic and therefore made me feel nauseous. The only meal I could really enjoy was dinner when I totally “pigged out”. So currently I am a size 6, which I can't complain about I suppose! I also felt absolutely shattered a lot of the time. Unfortunately for me, following my op I have to go back on these darn pills for five years – the reason being that if any rogue cancer cells get into my blood stream during surgery, the tamoxifen will kill them off. So at this current moment in time, I am on my drug break, and have five weeks to go until surgery (the date for this being Tuesday 5^th June – just after the Jubilee!). If I'm being honest, I do have my “wobbly” moments, but in another way, I'm looking forward to living without the threat of imminent cancer for the first time in half my life! And a new bod for summer as well, even though for a good proportion of the season I will be under bandages! During the wobbly moments I keep telling myself that of the two evils left to me – a lifespan of 5 years or this operation, the latter is the one I would have one hundred times over as long as it meant I could see my kids grow up etc. Heck, there's a lot of living left in me to do yet! Cancer is NOT going to beat me this time. No way Jose!

Next Sunday (6^th May) I am running Cancer Research's Race For Life with two of my lovely friends. It's only a 5k one (the 10k happens just after my surgery, so there is no WAY I could do that, unless someone pushed me in a wheelchair!), but for me – who is a total non-runner, (I have the worst knees out that dislocate easily – so this will be fun!), it is a marathon. I wanted to do it as an almost three-times survivor with a positive message, that cancer doesn't kill everyone, and the sign I am planning on wearing on my back will say something to that effect. I have benefited from new advances in cancer treatments and cures – and seeing that twice as many patients are cured from cancer than they were 40 years ago (Cancer Research statistic) – surviving this dreadful disease is becoming more commonplace. I'm also running it for

family members and friends who have/have had cancer, and also those people who I do not know who have/have had cancer; as well as those who lost their battles. So that's a lot of people I am trying to raise money for! To date, I have raised £615 through the generosity of Facebook friends, Twitter followers and personal friends. If you are in the position to sponsor me, please visit www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/june-louiselaurenson or text SJLL71 £donationamount to 70070.

So that's me. Oh yes, I have also given up my nursing registration – that's a story for a separate blog – and am looking forward to somehow starting a brand new life chapter and career when things start getting back to normal in August – I'm not sure doing what career-wise yet – but waiting to see what opportunities life throws at me. Life is for living, and that is what I intend to do!