SITTING LIKE A PRINCESS,
PERCHED ON HER ELECTRIC CHAIR

By Ali Bodie
Contact the author via Chris Johnstone by e-mail at christopher.johnstone@ntlworld.com

“Perched on her electric chair.”

Thanks Elton! That is exactly how I feel. Although I finally got my lung tumour zapped, I then got very congested and had the delights of a certain antibiotic for a long time. I went to Arran, but it was no happy homecoming. Somehow I was in appalling pain, I think from sitting on the swings at Cordon at my friend, philosopher Joan's lovely house on the beach; she's eighty but swings too. My arms were numb, but my neck was screaming. The two male GPs, Dr Campbell and Dr Thomson were very kind. I went from bad to worse, but grimly stayed my three weeks, resulting in my parents packing me up and my brother driving me home. Not very bright of me, yes, but hard to let go. Back home I saw my oncologist, he suspected a crushed verebra and offered chemo. NO!

At the next visit I mentioned my left eye hurt and flickered. He assumed it was brain mets, with out even a scan, I insisted it was an eye met, and that instead of going home to get my affairs in order (his advice), I should be referred to eye dept asap. I'm glad to say my GP Morag Martindale was in agreement with me and sent me off to Dr Roxburgh at the PRI. And lo, after a few minutes she diagnosed in very matter of fact way (which I prefer) that I had a secondary in my eye. I was actually very pleased and thanked everyone profusely, ha ha. Thank God for eye mets!!

Eye rads felt worse than brain rads, don't ask me, I'm not sure why. Then just when stuff and things could get no worse, I found a lump under my arm whilst washing on my good side (this is getting old).

My onc decided it was a handy measure to see if Xeloda (the chemo I gave in to) is working. That is if the lump gets smaller it is effective and if it keeps on growing it isn’t. Nice.

Tonight I had a freaky as my friend Gill and I scutinized it whilst bathing my persian cat. She agrees the tumour is coming through my skin, a nightmare I'd prefer not to face. I mean "Whats that smell? Is it the cats bottom again?" "No its the cats mothers breast", great. So I'm popping cipralex and valium again. I had stopped then because I thought they were making me fat, but no it was the 10 bottles of wine a week. I've got to put my hand up on this one. I have lost a stone in two weeks since cutting back.

And I'm shrinking in other ways, from 5ft 3 and a very important half inch, I am now 5ft 1inch, soon I will disappear altogether or turn into one of the little people, hopefully to sprout wings and be a butterfly, because butterlies are free to fly, fly away, fly, fly.

Thanks Sir Elton...

PS I have not been totally useless. My hubby and I started a new website for breast cancer girls (any cancer really) it took off with a bang and is still very busy. It is proving very popular and I hope it is helping lots of people out there.

Other hoolet online articles by Ali Bodie can be found at:
hoolet edition 49 - Perched on her Electric Chair
hoolet edition 48 - A Different Holy Aisle
hoolet edition 47 - Swimming up the Aisle
hoolet edition 46 - Support Groups and New York, New York
hoolet edition 45 - Cancer, Attitudes, The Cure... Not!
hoolet edition 44 - Cat In a Bag
hoolet edition 43 - Swimming Against the Tide
hoolet edition 42 - Swimming to the Holy Isle
hoolet edition 41 - Swimming In De Nile
hoolet edition 40 - Breast Lumps and Swimming

hoolet is the magazine of RCGP Scotland. It is supported intellectually, financially and emotionally by RCGP Scotland.

This issue maintained by Robert Hallam.

SITTING LIKE A PRINCESS, PERCHED ON HER ELECTRIC CHAIR

SITTING LIKE A PRINCESS,
PERCHED ON HER ELECTRIC CHAIR