What a day.
We had expected today to be a quiet one. The plan was to have just one late afternoon medical appointment and that was it. I was looking to do the Dad thing with Genevieve and go shopping for a car for her. Initially the idea was to do this during the weeks of Chemo and Radiotherapy but I had over looked one simple thing, it is not a great idea to expose yourself to too many people during flu season as potentially sick people need to Be kept at a distance given the immune system takes a hammering over this period. So obvious once you are told about these things.
So today was going to be a relaxed day, time with Gen, a massage, a catch up with a couple of mates, a Doctors appointment and easy weekend getting ready for the starters gun on Monday morning...BUT...
There is always a BUT! An early morning text from the Sunday Mail Journo who was instructed to cover the Toop Cancer story. Yep...not returning calls and pretending it will all go away is not how the system works.
When you spend half your life living in the media, it is hardly any point sooking about it when the time comes that you don't want to be in it. After a few hours trying to get my head around this I decided to try and at least get the facts right and co-operate in having something productive, meaningful and truthful printed.
Rumors and misinformation are just another form of cancer, while truth and knowledge is powerful and positive.
Who knows what will appear tomorrow, and it will be tomorrow in The Advertiser, but the upshot is that the Journo's were great. Let's face it, they were just doing their job and I am sure (hope) that they will cover this in a way that may help someone else suffering out there. Every one has had some experience with cancer, yet there is so much misinformation, so many stories.
Anyway, today was turned on its head by one SMS, it felt initially like a real invasion on my life, but in the scheme of things not such a big deal I guess, just unwanted and unexpected. Normally I am a serious media junky, it is part of what we do, and there is an old saying, "you can't have your cake and eat it". The media have been so good to me over many years, I believe we have developed a mutual respect for each other and I am sure whether a tiny article or a larger one, it will be in the spirit of what is happening.
Enough about that.
Last thing today we had a full 90 minute session with an Oncology Nurse turned Naturopath covering all the alternative medicine options and thankfully referred to us from Tabitha my Oncologist. How good it was to have collaboration between the two, it takes so much pressure off and feels like we are all working as a team to beat this thing.
Lots of more information on diet. One thing I was not thrilled about is learning my weekend of indulgent chocolates, cream buns and sugar every thing was not such a great idea. Anyway, we will see. Don't think I can pass up the Haighs!
Had dinner with Tom and Gen, then headed off to the farm for some relaxing and getting the plan finalized for my new diet, new routine and lots and lots of reading up on all the stuff I have been "issued" with.
On the good stuff about being crook, had Ken B drop off the biggest block of chocolate I have ever had the challenge of eating, got an amazing and incredible Box of things from O'Connell family (if anyone catches up with me who reads this blog, ask me privately what was in this box...clearly from someone in the know!!!!! Very funny). Chevvy sent me a really great quote, thanks mate, more really lovely emails, so it has been full on.
Earlier in the week, thank you for the cakes, the home made biscuits, the inspirational books, the casserole, soup and so many cards and letters...I love you guys!
I'm going to have to be crook for a damn long time to get through all the books but great inspiration.
So it has been another full day, maybe this weekend will be slow and lazy, I hope so, I recon I need a rest, being sick sure soaks up the time. I suspect I ain't seen nothing yet...it's a journey alright.
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