Thursday 22 November 2012

Emotional Rollercoasters and Genetics

Well its been a while since I last blogged but a lot has happened, not only to me and my family but to my bowel cancer buddies and twitter family.

A few months ago lots of us were going for tests and so many of us had clear results that we climbed high on an emotional rollercoaster, virtual parties on twitter in full swing. Then we came crashing down to earth as we heard the devastating news that one of our twitter family had had very bad news. Instantly the mood on twitter changed instead of raising a virtual glass we were reaching out to hug and hold the hands of a lovely couple.Im sure like me others were going through the 'what ifs' and 'maybes', we're human and always start thinking the worst.
Sadly a few weeks later we lost that member of our twitter family to bowel cancer.

Then more good results came and once again we were off on a high although this time tinged with sadness. Some of our twitter friends were finishing chemo and getting themselves ready to get their lifes back on track, but then again we came hurtling down as one of our bowel cancer buddies had bad news.
It never fails to amaze me that the friends we have made on twitter are all so supportive. We may never meet but they are always there for a virtual hug,advice or a good old fashioned gossip!
Twitter is also an amazing place to raise awareness of bowel cancer and other life changing illnesses.
Im also pleased to be part of Beating Bowel Cancer's facebook support groups so if you or you know anyone with bowel cancer please tell them to have a look for us.

Im so happy to hear of so many people finishing treatment and starting back to work. Their excitement is obvious and rightly so! I do have to admit that I am envious of them, I miss my job,I miss being out in the big wide world! I also miss having money in my bank every month!!

On tuesday I had an appointment at the genetics clinic at Guys hospital. This is the first time that Ive been to a hospital shaking! So nervous, after all this isnt so much about me but my daughters futures. I was 47 when diagnosed with bowel cancer,lost mum aged 44 to ovarian cancer so there is a risk that they may be linked that we have a faulty gene known as Lynch syndrome.
On a positive note if the test result is positive the girls will be offered a blood test and if needed early screening. So actually its a good thing for them as I certainly wouldnt want them to go through what I have.

Next week is my next ct scan, Im more nervous about this one than any others this year. So far all clear and if this one is it will mean the first year in seven that I havnt had any ops and the second in seven that cancer hasnt raised its ugly head!!

FINGERS CROSSED!!!!