Lab Rat in......Life

So it’s not even two weeks since I last wrote a blog post, I usually leave at least a month or two between posts, so you can probably guess that I’m feeling the need to write again so soon because something has happened and I just need a wee rant about it. So apologies in advance for any ranting! As my chemo finished last May and Radiotherapy in July, I think a lot of people hadn’t realised that I was still undergoing some treatment. Herceptin ( Trastuzumab ) is a targeted treatment used to treat people with HER2 positive breast cancer (and some other types of cancer too). My treatment started with my first Docetaxel chemotherapy last May and was to be administered by injection every 3 weeks for a year (18 doses). My final dose was due to be given on the 9 th May. A s the Herceptin can have an effect on the heart and on the white blood cells I was required to have an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) and blood tests b efore the Herceptin can be administered which were to ...

I mentioned in my last blog how some days hold greater significance than others, and although I try my best not to weigh too much pressure on certain dates sometimes they come at you by surprise. When I applied to do the Inverness 5K as my March challenge I hadn’t realised that the 11 th March was Mother’s Day this year, it sort of took my breath away when I found out. I hadn’t planned to do anything to mark the day, but it seemed that chance or fate or whatever you like to believe had other ideas. It seemed like a great tribute to my mum and also inspired me to dress up in bright colours with, of course, a touch of bling. As the day approached it felt like Mother’s Day this year was on overdrive, I’m sure it’s always the same way but this was my first since losing mum and every pink sign or bunch of flowers in the supermarket felt like a personal attack. Luckily, I had the race to worry about and that was a big distraction. When I woke up that Sunday my first thought was about the ...