Health update and recent travels

My most recent CT indicated I had fluid in my abdomen. A biopsy of the fluid tested positive for cancer. I can't begin to tell you how devastating this news has been for me, Mr. Margie, Mel and Chris, Lein and Duane, my parents, mother-in-law, aunts, uncles, and cousins near and far, also my dear friends, all of whom have rallied and supported me in the last few weeks. 

I had a PET scan last week, and the results show the cancer is confined to the fluid in my abdomen. As a result I start palliative chemotherapy on Wednesday 15th October. I will be on Folfiri, a cocktail of drugs that have proven to be effective for stage 4 cancers particularly of the bowel and stomach. I will have six 14 day cycles, taking about three months to complete, all depending on how I react and respond to the chemotherapy. My dear friend Ming in Singapore has been on Folfiri since September 1st when he was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer also. The good news is one of his two tumours has disappeared after two cycles of the drug. He is my hero, providing me with all the research he completed on options he compiled when he was diagnosed and a daily account of the side effects of the drugs. 

As soon as I was diagnosed Mr Margie and I took the next flight to the uk to have a few days with 

Mel, Chris and girls before they relocated to Boston, and to hug Lein and Duane in person, and we were so delighted to

 

have a beautiful meal to celebrate PC Jess passing out and becoming a policewoman. 

We cried and laughed, discussed and planned, looked for solutions and used expletives, and most of all we shared our love of being together.

I had my chemo prep last week and my weight is now 42 kilos, not a bad weight to start with. 

I have been eating well and juicing in prep for it.  The garden has proven to be prolific thanks to Mr Margie. 

I started making raw cakes too. I have also been walking a few miles two or three times each week. 

I hosted knitting group, made family lunch, had friends over for elevenses homemade scones, foraged with Nunny, shopped in charity shops and designer shops, chatted and listened to beautiful music love in my kitchen, lunched out with friends, chatted to Uncle Tony from Australia,

 attended uncle Pats 70 th birthday, locked out Ciaran and Domonie in the rain for forty minutes! and loved living each day.

 

 I am feeling strong and thanks to family and friends I have kept positive. 

Last weekend Mr Margie and I went to the UK again.

 

We saw the Ritz, got caught out in the rain, visited a beautiful golden 

Laudree shop, delighting in the macarons ( I don't eat sugar anymore, but Mr Margie enjoyed one) 

and were in awe at the delights of Fortnum and Mason. 

Lein and I volunteered for the UK handknitters Association at the knitting and stitching show in Alexander Palace. We had a wonderful time. 

Mr Margie and Lein worked on Lein's Morris Minor (MoMo), then we polished it up.  

We visited Kenwood House 

with our dear friends Maria and James, and Ollie and Alex. We walked in Hampstead Heath.

Duane cooked tasty pasta bakes 

and I even made my signature pancakes.  I really enjoyed the chats, the support and the love. Thank you all so much. 

Big hugs, 

Love Margie ❤️