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, September 18, 2006

Feeling Crap again!!

Just when I thought I was feeling a little better after last weeks viral infection, I come down with a heavy cold. Again I felt really awful and spent a few days in bed. At least it will be out of the way before Christmas!!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Not feeling too good

I haven't been feeling particularly well for the last few days. Think I've picked up a viral infection which has kind of made me feel wiped out. I've tried to carry on as normal but had to leave work early on Tuesday because I felt weird and today have spent most of it in bed. Thank goodness there are friends to help take the kids to school.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Clinic appointment and Pamidronate

Skipped the clinic appointment today so that I could go up for treatment quicker. I didn't feel I had any questions for the Oncologist. The Oncology nurse confirmed that my blood picture was okay although they want a Bone Profile test completed next time. I think this checks the calcium in my bones.

It's a bit of a drag having to go up to the RBH for treatment every four weeks as sometimes I can spend the majority of my day there.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Needle and line insertion

The "port" nurse is on holiday this week so I had to go up to the hospital to have the line put in ready for treatment tomorrow.

It was more painful this time as they inserted the needle without any cream to numb the area. They have now given me some cream to put on an hour before the next needle is put in. Bloods were successfully taken this time although there were a few problems to begin with and I had to move around and cough a few times before the blood would flow.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

More filming

Ellie started secondary school today and Ricochet came along to do some filming. They want to catch as many normal family events as possible. I suppose it is to show that life does carry on as normal even though you have a terminal illness.

They joined us about 7.30am as it was also Freddie's birthday. Ellie was a little embarressed at the school gates as not many of the students were taken to school by their parents and a camera crew!

This was also an opportunity to meet Anna who is temporarily stepping in for Amanda the director of the programme. Anna and Hannah wanted to do some more work with me on the "Mummy Diary" so I did a few more entries for them.

I'm finding this task quite hard because it feels like I'm giving Steve a list of instructions on how to do things and I'm sure he will find some of the comments insulting. The more I think about the diary, I've begun to realise that it's not necessarily a list of how Steve should do things in my absence but more a list of how I would do things and it may be interesting for the kids when they get older, to know how I would go about everyday life. I'm sure most kids ask their mum advice when they've left home on how they do the cooking, washing or cleaning etc, if I'm not here, at least they can look in the "Mummy Diary" to see how I used to do things.