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.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Lymphoedema treatment

I've been visiting the Lymphoedema nurse for the last two weeks and have been receiving manual lymph massage to my arm (MLD) to help the lymph nodes drain the fluid correctly. Whilst attending the lymph clinic the nurse has also been showing me lymph massage to be completed at home and probably for the rest of my life. Don't know how I'm going to fit this in with everything else that I have to do in the day! I could be looking at an hour spent exercising and massaging. Has it made a difference? Well, I think so, my arm has been swollen from February onwards and my hand very puffy. It has since reduced in size but is still larger than my opposite arm. At least I now have the knowledge and training to keep control of the swelling.

The last two weeks have been quite a stressful period attending the lymph clinic, trying to work and sorting childcare for the kids during the holiday period as well as the day to day running of the house. It's a real strain coping with all the normal day to day activities plus the hassle of attending clinic appointments and having treatment. Having cancer and all the side effects that go with it doesn't mean that the rest of my life has to stop. You could regard this as a positive aspect although at the moment I'm looking at it as a negative side because I'm knackered!!!

posted by Dawn  

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