wigs to wishes.org.uk

The “Dawn Hughes Wigs to Wishes Fund” has been set up to enable me to receive further treatment at an Oncology Clinic in Germany where they have had a high success rate in stopping the spread of Cancer in patients and giving them the best possible chance of remission. The Berkshire Cancer Centre have informed me that there is little chance of my Cancer going into remission with the treatment available in this country.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my website. I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a wife and mother of 3 young children, Matthew 13, Ellie 10 and Freddie 6. I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2001 at the age of 36. Following Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, I was in remission until a chance MRI scan in Feb 2005 for an unrelated problem, detected that the Cancer had returned. I was then diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer. The likely prognosis given in February was 18 months to 5 years. I then had to undergo aggressive Chemotherapy, but following the results of a recent bone scan, it was found that the Cancer is still spreading. The treatment in Germany will cost thousands of pounds and for most people like myself, the opportunity for this is a dream. Many of my Family and Friends want to make this dream a reality and are making tremendous fund raising efforts, because without them, I would not be able to seek the treatment that I so obviously need and which is not being offered in this country.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Documentary filming

Ricochet spent the whole day with us today filming. We all went out on our bikes down to the River Thames to feed the swans and then rode our bikes up and down the Promenade followed by an ice cream, all the while being filmed for the documentary. Initially Matt was not keen to take part but once filming had commenced he was really enjoying it and has now asked if the documentary can just be about us!!! There are actually going to be 3 programmes of an hour in length. The production company aren't sure whether all the families taking part will feature in all programmes or 2 families per programme. We were so lucky with the weather because before we went out on the bikes it was chucking it down with rain, then for the 3 hours that we were out it was sunshine and clouds and then when we got home for lunch it rained again. How jammy was that!! In fact the whole day was a great success and everyone from Ricochet made us feel really comfortable.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Overwhelming tiredness

I’ve been very tired lately and I seem to have spent the last week in and out of bed during the afternoons. It’s not really fair on the kids but I just can’t help it. Freddie wrote me a note saying that he wished I wouldn’t go to bed so much and that when he asks me to get up he wishes I would. He says that he gets very bored when I’m in bed! What can I do, I’m forever being told that I don’t rest enough and should ask for more help and then when I do listen to my body I get moaned at. Oh well, such is life when you’ve got kids!!

Friday, May 19, 2006

Prescribed Aromasin

Clinic appointment and Herceptin and Pamidronate infusions. Luckily my normal Onc wasn’t working in clinic today so was seen by her Registrar. This made it easier to ask for the Aromasin. The Registrar suggested that I carry on with the chemo for another cycle (I thought I had finished). He said that this chemo was usually given in cycles of 8 so I may as well finish the course.

Had a discussion with Shiela about the Portacath. We are looking at the first week in July for it to be inserted. Initially I thought I would have it in my arm but I am now thinking more about the chest area as the skin isn’t quite so thin and possibly tender.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Weight Gain

I seem to have put on rather a lot of weight in the last 7-8 months and am increasingly having problems with all my clothes. This in turn is making me feel quite depressed. I don’t want to have to replace my whole wardrobe. Anyway I decided to email Dr Jacob and see if she had any advice. She suggested that I try changing the Arimidex to Aromasin. She did not think any of the other medications that I am currently taking would have an effect on my weight. I feel quite hopeful of this but now need to find a way of asking the UK Oncologist if I can change to Aromasin without letting on that the German Onc has suggested this as I don’t want to upset the apple cart!