I have not been here for quite a while. I had to limit my time here a few years ago when my university studies became more time consuming. I finished my studies (Bachelor of Arts (ART) ) at the end of last year and graduated early this year. Then in March this year I started my Master of Art Therapy. The day after the first day back for second semester, my leukaemia from 2005 relapsed. Almost 7 years after my initial diagnosis, a relaps at this stage is bad - it means the relapsed leukaemia is stronger and harder to treat. I was in hospital having re-induction chemotherapy fpr all of August and into the beginning of September - I went into remission and now I am going to a different hospital for a Bone Marrow Transplant. I'd be interested in speaking with anyone who is familiar with relapsed ALL and/or BMT. ... View more

Before I go completely stir-crazy sitting in my little one-bedroon unit getting up every morning to study all day, attempting to avoid spilling paint on the carpet and stressing about my marks... I'm leaving on a jet plane - flying back to London on July 3rd next year. My Mum is still over there and she goes on summer holidays at the end of July, so we're driving around the UK for 5 weeks. England down to Wales, up to Republic of Ireland, on a ferry up to Northern Ireland, across to Scotland and back down through northern England and London to Kent where my Mum lives. I'm so excited because I didn't get to see the rest of the UK when I was there - leukaemia threw all my plans up in the air. I'll not enrol for the one semester from June to August and recommence when I come back at the end of August with a refrehed head!! For the first time since my diagnosis I have something wonderful to look forward to...it feels great, albiet a little precarious. I get a bit suspicious/skeptical/pessimistic when good things happen now, waiting for something to go wrong... ... View more

I just found my journals from after I was diagnosed in London in December 2005. Here is an excerpt: "Neuts not budged from 0.02 all week until today - 0.08! A small victory, Tomorrow's results will be the test, up or down - what's it going to be? Mucositis, thrush in belly, fluid in the knee caps, itchy skin, peeling lips, thining hair, massive weight loss and a generalised misery that comes with having had enough. Is it time to go home now? Do I want to go home now? Where is home? Chris came tonight - we cried." ... View more

It came as a shock, then as a bit of confusion - I get the connection, some cancers are more "socially acceptable" I suppose, but SEXY??? I just keep remembering when my hair started falling out and I was having a particularly "up chuck" day - so there I was in hospital, connected to the chemo pump, going bald and my boyfriend (who later decided it was too much after all) holding the cardboard emesis basin under my chin for 3 hours!! Whoa - sexy stuff huh?? There is a website I know of that may be of interest to some: www.crazysexycancer.com/ In my view, cancer is cancer, whether it invades your breast, your anus or your blood, but I do agree that some are given more thought and acceptance than others and I think it's disappointing. ... View more