Recently in Boob Checking Category

What happens when an Anglican, an Orthodox, a Baptist and a Pentecostal all sit down for lunch? Almost 3 hours of conversation and laughter!!!

Ba-dum Tish!

Ian, Yay, Semele and I, met up for a somewhat annual Anzac Day (ish) wibmeet at the Wok Bar today.

It really is lovely to sit at a restaurant on the deck with the sea breeze keeping the air fresh on such a lovely autumn afternoon, even lovelier to do so in such good company! No shortage of things to talk about and at least one outlandish topic of conversation, this pretty normal for us. This time around it was the suggestion of a new ministry, an Orthodox/Pentecostal fellowship headed up by Ian, I think I'll be called in for Pentecostalising such a congregation... could be fun...

We finished of our lunch (3 pad thais - pads thai? and a Vietnamese beef salad - followed by fried icecream for 2 and death by chocolate and warm iced chocolate for others) with fortune cookies... I believe the others will post the contents of theirs... mine was ... "Be on alert for a new opportunity" It sounds very like a prophecy I had once (oops, that Pentecostalism just slipped out... ) I'll let you know if anything comes of it!!

All in all it's been a fabulous week/weekend with one thing and another... still, I'm looking forward to the day off tomorrow and a the chance to relax a little... it's been full speed ahead for quite some time!

At blogging, I mean.

It isn't as though I've been vastly busy really, though I've a new client who may be in the way of putting a bunch of work my way which is welcome busyness...

And then there's the business of looking for a new abode which is sneaking up. I've not found an alternate, the smurf house was a total dive... the 'kitchen at the end of the bed' kind of unsuitable... not really me... so it means I may need to find more money to move to a one bed. But I'm sure the right place will... well, manifest eventually...

I have rediscovered novels, at least since I handed in my last assignment. Hurrah... so I've been buried in those, even at the expense of TV which is rather marvellous. I loved this one. Tannenbaum's grasp of language and meticulous attention to character make for gripping stories. I have to say I've been enjoying turning the box off until there's something on I particularly want to watch and filling the gaps with reading... I started this one last night and it's proving compelling as well, and Australian which is always good!

Anyway, I was rather delightfully reminded this week that I haven't posted a Mupdate, which is very remiss as we've had very good news.

You'll remember Mum had a bilateral (both sides) mastectomy. Blech. It was largely a choice she made so as to avoid having to live with the fear that in spite of close care and early detection protocols and radiotherapy that in who knows how many months or years she'd be back in the hospital having to go through it all again. So, attached as she had been to her girls for 60yrs minus pre-pubescence, she had the chop.

Well, you may wonder what good news could come of it... But it transpired at her follow up cancer clinic appointment there was much rejoicing amongst the staff. Apparently, there were more cancerous nodes that had been undetected by the mammo or the ultrasound and that would have remained, perhaps unharmed after radiotherapy (had she taken the less radical course of treatment) and because she made the bold move, and because all tests indicate that there is no lymph involvement, she has been given the all clear.

Yep.

All Clear.

There'll be ongoing meds for 5 years or so to deal with any microscopic tissue, it's a hormone fed cancer so the meds gradually reduce whatever that hormone is. But other than that.

All

Clear.

I'm a bit grateful. I wasn't ready to walk the terrifying road.

Not just yet.

I know you won't get to read this Mum, being a technophobe and all... But for the record.

You're a champion.

My mother is New Zealand's latest titless wonder. (She'd really hate reading that, it's my little inside joke... so if you bump into her... Mum's the word ok?)

This month's been a bit of a roller coaster and I know, mentioning the 'C' word actually makes things feel bigger than life. But here's the thing. The really good thing is that at no stage have the surgeons or doctors given us any reason to believe that this cancer is going to kill her. She's only 60, she's got a few years left in her yet... A V good thing I'm sure you'll agree. And an advertisement for early detection... (on that note... have you been checked? Are you doing your self checking? )

ahem... as you were...

Having said all that, on Tuesday my brave little Mum chose to have a bilateral mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy and ongoing radiotherapy. In anyone's book I reckon that's a pretty bold move... I mean, seeing off your girls like that isn't exactly an easy choice...

At least it isn't for me at nearly 40 and never been ... well... you know...

It's a thought that comes up in my mind now and again, given our history and all, I wonder if it's the wiser choice but with the exception of my grandmother the age of onset has always been much later than 40... so I feel like I've got time and I'm having the boob sandwich again early next year... It's that first one that was the hard one...

So, there you are... the update... thanks for your generous thoughts and prayers from one side of the world to the other and points between it's extraordinary to have such positive vibes at such a time...

You guys rock... no seriously... you are rockin...

Just thought you should know...

You're the best.

Get Checked
Mammo Drama
My Dr the Tit
The Big Squeeze

Both me and my blog have a cancer history (above), specifically a Breast Cancer History, and in honour of that history and the incredible women in my family who have been touched by this scourge I'm, well... In the Pink for October...

It's somewhat appropriate really. My mum is the next Singular woman to get a diagnosis and a date with a masectomy. Heck, she may even make hers a double.

Bloody Hell - have you been checked?