With a sparkle in the eye

As the Fox‘s massage was from 4-5pm last night, we decided to eat out for a change, going to Ricky’s, our favourite Cantonese restaurant. The staff know about my cancer. We seem to have been more often of late with all these hospital appointments. Susan, Ricky’s wife, who does front of house, has been very concerned. Yesterday she was pleased to see some sparkle back in my eyes. I’m not sure if that’s the aftereffects of the Indian head massage, or the relief of knowing that we’re now halfway through the daily trips down to Preston. The end is in sight.

Or, who knows, maybe I was benefitting from the chat I’d had while waiting in CancerCare’s lounge while the Fox was having his massage. There was an interesting group of women there. 

The conversation began when one woman thought she recognised me, as I did her. We then realised we were in beds next to each other for our ops in Kendal last year. It was good to see she looked so well. Her post-operative treatment has been very different form mine.

As she left, the other lady in the lounge started talking. She works for the Crown Prosecution Service in Preston. She lost her husband suddenly two years. Her14-year old daughter was there to receive grief counselling.

Another lady joined us. She already knew the second lady. After Christmas/New Year was discussed the conversation took other paths. It turned out she was an accountant at Lancaster University & had been there for over thirty years. She obviously is very content there.

Tomorrow I should be seeing the radiography specialist again for a review. Hopefully I should get some idea as to whether the treatment is progressing well or not. So far I haven’t had too many side effects. Fatigue but that’s inevitable after all that travelling. Some skin is peeling a bit but it is noticeable that it’s on my midriff rather than my breast, in the area that started blistering from the E45 so I think that’s all that is. I’m now lathering that area with aqueous cream too. I’ve a certain amount of pain inside my left breast but I’m assured that is a sign that the therapy is working, not to worry, just take some painkillers if necessary.

As we’re going later today, I’ve just spent my time making a curried beef plait for dinner tonight. All the Fox will need to do is pop it in a hot oven to cook, while he sorts out the veg. It’s a rare day when I have the time, & energy, to get some preparation work done. I’ve even par-boiled some spuds for sautéing this evening for a change. It should be good.