How has the past month been for you?

Got the results from my nose and eye biopsies and it is SLL so going to start FCR in December to give me time to get over the lumpectomy. Hoping 2020 will be a better year ! X

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Thanks so much for letting us know your results. Please do keep us updated how you are feeing and thinking, we are here to support you. Here, Here, to 2020.

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Thank you for letting us know your results. I hope your treatment works. Best wishes x

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December is almost upon us! And I would love to know how the last month has been for you! Are you beginning to feel festive? Perhaps you’ve already begun decorating for Christmas? :christmas_tree:Or perhaps it’s been a slow month of rest and recovery?

My November has been up and down, but has turned a corner this last week or so and I can feel myself getting ready for Christmas!

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Hi Dawn, my November has been a second month of back pain, although it is improving albeit slowly. I saw a chiropractor who was really practical and said I could see you for the next 4-6 weeks and you would think I had really helped your back, but actually you will heal yourself in that time. He also said pilates, pilates, pilates, which I do anyway and have continued to do. Lastly he said my marathon running days were over, well at 69yrs old they hadn’t started yet. I am feeling absolutely fatigued as I have been to 3 different blood cancer conferences in 8 days. Just a coincidence in timing and of course, I want to go to them all, and I know the price I will pay, but I have chosen to do it. As for Christmas, I think I am even more aware than usual this year that Christmas can be such a difficult time for so many people for so many varied practical and emotional reasons. My Christmas is very simple really, but I still get drawn into the hype and get stressed. I have done all I can and my Sainsburys deliveries are booked. We had 2 close family birthday celebrations this month which were fun, but although I had very little to organise, they still fatigued me. Seeing friends for lunch tomorrow and tea on Saturday, what a lovely way to end the month.

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Hi Dawn, glad to hear you have been getting into the Christmas spirit! I’ve had a really exciting month promoting the new Follicular Lymphoma Foundation. This was a big deal as lots more of my friends and colleagues were made aware of my diagnosis. This has been quite liberating. I’ve also applied to be a facilitator for the Live your Life workshops organised by Lymphoma Action! I’m trying to chanel things more positively. I’ve identified that my communication needs some
work - especially around appointment times so this is what I’m working on this month! Small steps eh! If you haven’t had a positive month so far I’m sending lots of get well wishes and Christmas love xxx

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Hi Nicola, exciting times for you and I don’t know about small steps, to me you seem to be taking great big leaps and you really seem to be getting stuck in with blood cancer initiatives. Look after yourself as well and have the odd treat. It would be great if you could let us know how your initiatives progress.

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Thanks Erica. How are you doing? X

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Thanks for asking Nichola, my bloods appear stable at the moment and I have had a lot on, but hopefully I can relax a bit more now. I have never been comfortable in large social groups and as everyone around me knows that I ‘don’t do evenings’, it means my priceless family and friends socialise with me at lunchtimes which is great. I went to a Lymphoma Action Live your Life conference last week, it was very useful, lots of handy hints and there were some lovely people there. I am sure you will make a great facilitator.

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It sounds like your friends and family are pretty amazing Erica! I’ve just had my four monthly check and all ok - let’s hope it stays good news with both our bloods for a while yet. Let’s wait and see how the interview goes. The training is two days in Birmingham which is a challenge in itself! X

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Gosh, two days training concentrating would really fatigue me either immediately and/or with a delayed action. Please let us know how you get on.

Hi all. Well @Nichola75 I am impressed with all you are taking on. As I found after blood cancer treatment while many doors shut there could be something very different and exciting around the corner. I am pleased your four month check went well, and hope the training goes well. Where and when is it?
@Erica I hope my buddy is looking after herself and not doing too much. I know how much you get involved 100% with everything you sign up for.
November has been a great improvement on the stress and infections faced in October. I am able to have my massages again which I really missed while on antibiotics. I have a local lady who not only gives a fantastic personalised body massage, but we chat about how I am feeling etc and it is like having a counselling session too.
November is usually brings up some mixed emotions as I was finally diagnosed on 07.11 07, and operated on 12.11.07. It is a time when I am thankful and able to look back on what I have achieved since then. However this year I got a special email on the 12th saying that I am one of the 4 Ambassadors from a draw attending the Bloodwise Carols at the Royal Albert Hall this Tuesday! I am beyond excited as I have never been there.
I have also enjoyed some time in Manchester with our youngest son, who loves winding me up, but is also very thoughtful regarding my energy levels and lack of hearing. He took us to the Christmas Market at Salford and some great eats places too. Our older son visited with the two girls so that we could give the older one her birthday presents. I can’t believe she is already 2.
December already looks very busy. i started writing a few cards last week but need to get the momentum going again. @DawnBloodCancerUK I hope you are ok, and that whatever stresses you have been under are on the way to being dealt with. Take care all xx

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Lovely to hear how you have all been, and thank you for sharing your reflections over the last month. I’m doing well @Pisces56 thank you for your thoughtful message :smiley: I hope you enjoyed the Carols! I’m sad I couldn’t make it this year!

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Hi Dawn. It was a fabulous and moving experience. I am now trying to remember which member of the team I said hi to thinking it was you! I have met so many people associated with Bloodwise over the years :smile:

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Hi everyone! :grin:
I hope you are well, and staying warm in this chilly weather!
How has your December been?

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Hi Su, my December has been a weird month.
My social festivities were all very early in the month before I got the festive feeling. A friend and I had a lovely Christmas lunch in our local garden centre. I wondered why everyone seemed to be looking at me when I went to get glasses of water and then realised we were the only 2 in the restaurant dressed in festive jumpers, tinsel and silly hats. Then I put our decorations up and the flat looks like Santa’s Grotto and I felt more festive.
Then I got a sickness/ diarrhoea bug that kept on bouncing back, literally, and lost 10 days of the month. The plus side was that it was much cheaper putting in my on line food shop requirements because I could not even look a the pictures of food. What I did find was that nearly every programme and advert on TV had a food element to it. Anyway, it will take quite a while to build back up and I have this laid back attitude now and if it’s done it’s done.
How about everyone else?

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@Erica I am sure you looked awesome in your festive jumpers! :smiley: I’m so sorry to hear you weren’t feeling too well, it sounds like it was a horrible bug! shame it took out 10 days for you! How are you feeling now?

look forward to hearing about everyone else’s’ month :smiley:

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Really hope you are feeling better now! X

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Hi Nichola, thanks, as they say time is a great healer. How are you and how has your December been?

Hi everyone. Apart from the bugs December has been a hectic month. It started with a trip to London for the Bloodwise Carols, as I had got in ticket in the draw. We went a day early so that I could rest after the travelling. On arrival at our hotel I had an email from Grace, asking if I would speak at an induction for those who had recently joined Bloodwise. The next day, after a trip to the Handel (for me)/Hendrix (himself) House we made our way to Eagle Street via a lovely bar where we had tapas. The group were very friendly and welcoming…and I met Su too! It was lovely meeting up with some of the ambassadors again at the concert. Back home we took on childcare, taking my grandson to his swimming lesson then both children for lunch at a nearby cafe where we did a 100piece jigsaw. The next week was a write off as the bugs had got hold of me, but last weekend another big family get-together for my uncle’s 80th. This week I have been trying to get motivated to get tree up, and as I put my angel on " Hallelujah Chorus" burst forth from Classic FM! Presents are now wrapped and sun is out drying a line full of washing. Youngest son comes home on Monday, and we will be staying with daughter and family for a couple of nights, so Granny will be on storytelling and Lego making duty while SIL does the cooking. Happy Christmas to you all, and I hope it is a Happy HEALTHY year for you and your families. Take care xx

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