Well, what an action packed few weeks, it makes me exhausted just thinking about it, literally!
Let’s start with a quick catch-up. I attend the first 5 sessions of the HOPE course and learned about:
- making SMARTER goals
- practicing gratitude
- relaxation techniques
- coping with fatigue
- coping with ‘what next?’ thinking
- mindfulness
- body image and intimacy
- communication
- And so much more!
I am sad to be missing the last one tomorrow night but it’s for a happy reason (more on that in a minute ?). I have made more new friends who are going to be an important part of my life going forward.
In my last blog I said how surprised I was at just how rewarding the conversations with other survivors are, I continue benefit from these new friendships but I am struggling to find the words to describe it – I know it’s not like me to be unable to find words but I will consider it a challenge for a future blog!
The next monumental thing since I last blogged was a trip to the office in Bristol. I know I told you that I have been gradually phasing back into work. Due to changes in the organisation structure, most of the team I now work with are based in Bristol rather than Aberdeen. It had been on my mind a lot that the journey to Bristol is more tricky than that to Aberdeen because it means taking the train into London, the tube across to Paddington station and then a train out to Bristol. Driving that distance isn’t an option at the moment and would take as long anyway. From the moment I booked the train until I arrived in Bristol I was worried about it. I didn’t sleep properly and even though I knew that whatever happened, I could just get in a taxi and go home, I was all over the place!
Of course, everything was absolutely fine. Meeting some of my new colleagues for the first time and bumping into some old faces was great and I’m really glad I did it ?.
Finally (for now) I had an appointment with the oncologist last Wednesday and my markers are still sitting nicely in the ‘normal’ zone. We were particularly delighted because I was worried that all the stress I had put myself through may have impacted them but it’s all good. The tamoxifen seems to be doing its job (along with the unicorns et al) and the tumours are sitting there sulking because they can’t do anything. I like that image!
I had a bone treatment his morning and now we are sitting at Norwich airport – just about to board a flight to Malaga – I think I am as excited as I have ever been!!
Talk to you soon
Lots of love Mand xxx