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.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Sore Knee

I know it sounds funny but I've done something to my knee. It really hurts. I know I was standing a lot on Saturday and if anything I thought it would be my back and hip that would have given me problems. I don't remember twisting my knee or knocking it. It's not so bad in the mornings when I have rested it over night but come the afternoon it is really painful and really difficult for me to drive.

I haven't been able to see Les (Pranic Healer) this week as he is away but hopefully when I see him next week he can sort it out.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Secret Rendezvous

Well that's what I was telling everyone but really I just went over to Basingstoke today to meet a lady that I have been in touch with through the cancer website Breast Cancer Care. We spent a good few hours chatting about our experiences over lunch.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Chemo side effects

Yesterday and today I haven't been feeling so good. My left arm and shoulder have been really painful which has been interrupting my sleep. My tongue has been swollen also. It must be the side effects of the chemo.

I've booked the flights to Germany today, so am visiting the Leonardis Klinik on Wednesday 2nd May for a PET scan on 3rd May and Bone scan on 4th May.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

8th chemo - Navelbine

Clinic day today. Didn't see my usual Oncologist. Again mentioned the pain in my left breast, he couldn't find anything and suggested that I have a mammogram but I declined especially as I should be having a PET scan in May when I get round to organising my next visit to the Leonardis Klinik.

On a good note, my white blood count has been very high considering that I am on chemo. I didn't speak with Reading about the tumour markers because they don't rate the tests.

WBC - 6.41

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tumour Marker results

The District Nurse came out this morning (as she does every 3 weeks) to put a line in my port ready for chemo tomorrow. As I have been requesting tumour marker tests on my blood form each time, the District Nurse gets the results off the computer for me. This time however there was a note with the blood test results which questioned whether it was cost effective to carry out tumour marker tests every three weeks! I may have to stop requesting it every 3 weeks. The request should come from the Oncologist, but I have been marking the blood test forms myself. I expect to get a telling off tomorrow!!

The tumour marker CA15-3 which is usually a breast cancer marker has been streadily rising since I first started asking for the tumour marker tests in January. (This was following advice in an email from Dr Draczynski from the Leonardis Klinik on 4th Dec 2006). The CA15-3 started out at 12 but has gone up by one digit after each test and today's results from the blood taken on 20th Feb are at 15. Not sure whether to worry about the slow increase or not.

(See above link for information on tumour markers)