Really quickly....

Ok, am tired and need to do such a big blog but need to go to bed as office has moved from Parsons Green to Finsbury Park, so I no longer have a 15 min commute, moan, sob, wail!!!  

Last check up leukaemic rate down to 0.03% fucking brill!!!  Platelets down to 80, arse!

Last sat I ran 9 miles, yesterday only managed 7, but as I still have a 3 weeks until the big run, I know I will be fine.

On that note, thank you so much to all who have sponsored.  To those who haven't, here's the link:

www.justgiving.com/katherineruane

Lots of love, laughter and smiles and promises of a decent blog soon,

XXX

I'm now down to 8 weekly check ups!

Dear All,

Well I had my check up yesterday and more good news.  The rate is down to 0.05% and the platelets are up to 122 which is brill!  I was a bit upset that the Leukaemic rate wasn't down more, but as my darling little mummy pointed out who came with me, that I have started work full time, I'm running before work three times a week and doing social stuff which uses up energy and it's amazing that I haven't taken a step backwards.  Also tis true, I have been doing lots more and haven't been struck down with exhaustion or my tired shooting pains down the side of me head, so that is fab!

On the running front, I can now run about 3 miles without dying which is good.  Am doing gradual progress rather than going mental in 6 weeks, so hopefully soon I shall be able to run a fair distance.  I'm going to start running home from work soon and then do a lap of the common as I only work 2 and a bit miles from home.  It's amazing how close everything is in central london!  And yes, I do consider that Clapham is fairly central, it's not like it's zone 5 or anything!  So the running continues.....

What else?  Ooh I bought some AMAZING shoes yesterday, actually I bought 2 pairs which made me very very happy after being a bit down after my check up.  Who says money can't buy happiness??  That's bollocks, I was happy as larry and I only spent £150!  (thank god for credit cards!!)

I think there was something else I was going to mention, but I can't remember now.....it might come back to me before I finish this, if not I'll blog again, or assume that it really wasn't important/interesting at all!

A big thank you to those of you who have already parted with cash for my run!

Lots of love, laughter and smiles,

XXX

Great North Run

Well as you are all aware I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia on January 19th 2007. I have since come into contact with a fucking awesome charity called Teenage Cancer Trust who have kindly taken me under their wing even though at 24, I am not exactly a teenager!

www.teenagecancertrust.org

I could bang on for hours about how brilliant they are, building wards for teens and 20 year olds so they are not stuck on the baby/children wards or the adult wards. They also organize a weekend a year called Find Your Sense Of Tumor where they have people talking about things like fertility and chemo, what the different cancers are, what chemo is in english, and other things that are normally explained in doctor. They also have question sessions where our answers count, as we are so often ignored or not listened to because of our ages. It's also an opportunity to hang out with other Cancer Kids, share experiences and to make a support network for those who feel alienated, alone and that no one can understand how they feel.

I thought it was about time that I got off my arse and did something for them rather than just sponging off them (free Kasabian gig, I represented them at a perfume award at the Dorchester.....)

So if you can, please please give some money. Not only is my favourite mantra, 'exercise is bad for your health' I am also running the 13 miles whilst going through treatment for cancer. If that doesn't make you donate, I give up!

I know every one is running for charities at the moment, and I know you are all sick of the begging messages, but if you can spare even 5p, I will and the charity will appreciate it hugely!

www.justgiving.com/katherineruane

A great big thank you in advance!

XXX

Belated news

Well I know it’s been a while since I blogged dear readers, this is because the charger to my laptop has broken and I can’t use my laptop as it’s run out of battery until I get a new charger. To do this I need some money which I have been lacking recently due to a month of no work which was slightly helped by 3 weeks of the most boring data entry job which I couldn’t decide to cry or commit suicide due to boredom at about 9.05 each morning! Although I shouldn’t moan too much because that work has covered (I hope, haven’t been brave enough to check my bank balance recently…….) this months rent. I should probably have a look as I don’t want to get charged by banking bastards if I go over my overdraft….

Health front things are looking good. Two check ups ago the leukaemic rate was down to 0.03%, but the platelets were also down to 85. Most recent check up the leumkaemic rate was up to 0.06% and the platelets were also up to 118! My consultant thinks that my leukaemic rate has plateau-ed with little wiggles up and down so I am concentrating on platelets being up and leukaemic rate being down! Hopefully soon I shall be able to start my 2 year count down!!!

Happy news…..I HAVE A JOB! I just need to get a couple of fairly important things finalised, like hours and salary…..!!!!! But it’s all good! I got it through someone my mother knows (of course, applying for jobs the normal way does not work!) and I am an assistant to a fashion designer. She designs very nice beach wear, so bikini’s, swimsuits, beach/night time dresses. Everything is hand made over here and she mainly sells in boutiques abroad. We did the clothes show last weekend, which was an experience. It was meant to be upmarket and new designers etc, it was not. On the plus side we shared the stand with a women that Lulu (my boss) has met before in Kenya who was telling her how brilliant the shows are over there, so I think we are off there is December! Very exciting stuff!!

I also work in Parsons Green which means I can get the bus to work and traffic depending it only takes 15 mins, so I don’t have to get up stupidly early!

I’m sure there is lots more for me to be saying, but I can’t think of anything. I’m doing a ‘Healing Journey’ course at the local Macmillan Cancer Centre which is brilliant, lots of meditation, relaxation etc etc which I’m sure is helping me lots. I’ve also been given the go ahead for the half marathon in Sept, so the begging bowl is going to start appearing, I’m going to do a just giving page, so will put the details on here as soon as it’s done (prob later today). …I have now done it, it’s www.justgiving.com/katherineruane

I hope everyone is enjoying the BEAUTIFUL sun we are having at the moment, even though I am inside, it’s nice to see the sun and walk to the bus and back in the warmth each day, I might even put one of the blankets on my bed away soon…!! (as you can tell O wrote this a few days ago when it looked like we could possibly be in store for a nice summer…..I probably jinxed it, so apologies!)

Lots of Love, laughter and smiles as always,

XXX

Leukaemic rate down to 0.06%

Well dear all I fell like I should be having a little boogie about the recent news.

The rate has finally plummeted down...yay...but in all honesty I don't feel yay. Maybe it's because my consultant wasn't there to answer my question....yes I finally had some questions to ask and was seen by someone else. Although lovely and helpful, not my consultant who knows me and the conversations we've had.

Also my fucking platelets are playing up again, down to 74 so am back in a month for a check up.

Also everyone keeps on dying. Can you all have some consideration for others please, and STOP???!!!

Oh and still jobless.

Fuck me, I've turned into a right little moaner haven't I?!?!? Ok, right, Katherine, snap out of it!

Right, happy me back. So yes, amazing, the rate is down, soon it will be at 0.02 or even dare I say 0.00% and I can start my 2 year count down of being taken of the drugs and buggering off to Egypt. Woop woop!

I also went to a Teenage Cancer Trust (who I'm running the half marathon for in Sept or Oct, start saving up your pennys, the harassing will start soon) last Friday which was so much fun. I also happened to mention my age, they thought I was about 19....am I offended or pleased?!?! And told me to keep quiet about being 24 so I can still go to stuff. So on the 22d April I am getting all glammed up and am going to the Dorchester for a perfume award and dinner. I think it will be fun. I also have to go up to the stage to accept flowers on behalf of TCT, fingers crossed I don't trip on my killer heals and fall on my face in front of everyone. Whilst that is one way to get all the nice young men's attention, I would rather do it with my good looks and witty sense of humour!

What else, hmm....still looking for work, I'm sure the perfect job is just round the corner!

Oooh, also I am officially rare when it comes to cancer. This actually makes me happy, I like to be different and you don't get much more different than rare so you!?!?

I feel like I should have more to say...unfortunately I have been ill since Sunday evening, am giving in and going to the doctors tomorrow, fingers crossed they just do a blood test there and send me home, not make me traipse all the way to the bloody hospital...but on the plus side I am now on series 3 of re watching 24, which is a very good thing! I don't have to make up excuses for lying on the sofa all day watching tv rather than looking for work. I'm ill so am allowed!

I can't think of much else, have started a little group on the Macmillan website calling all young cancer kids, well young adults as we are a huge gap in the market, to talk about anything and everything, hopefully people will get involved!

I think that's it really, can't think of anything else. I hope all is well with everyone. If anything interesting happens at the doctors, I shall let you know. Sorry for being a whiny grump at the beginning, everything is going really well and fingers crossed that next month the rate will be down to 0.02% and the official two year count down can begin!

Lots of love, laughter and giggles as ever,
XXX

Photo shoots pics, and a little rant

This is one of the outfits, not the one used in the magazine which you clearly all know as you have obviously ALL bought Compnay Magazine, March edition! If not, only a couple of weeks left to get it!! (How amazing are the shoes?!?!? I just need to do another weeks work, and I'll be buying them!!)
Obviously a close, up, did I really need to label it?!?!
This is the pic they used in the magazine.


Well everyone,

Firstly a rant: (am now reading it through to see if I make sense, and it's all a rant, can't remember what the second non rant thing was going to be...)

The weather! It tricks us last week with a lovely sunny day that means you can take off your coat and one of the 5 jumpers that you wear, and makes you think that maybe, oh maybe it might be getting warmer, BUT NO! This week it's fucking cold and miserable again! GOOD!

The second is that for the last week or so I have been plagued with a skin rash...the drugs? I think it might be, oh joy! AND I had to spend £21 on prescription charges for the various creams....brilliant! Because I am so loaded with an amazingly highly paid job and I so have money to waste of steroid creams etc etc etc! Bring on April when I get free prescriptions and shall make up on a weekly basis something that is wrong that needs a cream/pill of some sort and rinse the system with my 'I'm special and have cancer so I don't have to pay for these ha ha ha ha' card.

Oh and whilst I'm on a ranting roll, because of one of the rashes the doctor (who is lovely and amazing, and said that if I ever need an appointment I get to jump to the top of the queue, woop woop! And rang me with my blood test results etc just to keep me in the loop....why can't they all be like this?) anyways, so one of the rashes, she thought, might have happened because my platelet count might have crashed. Oh joy! And not beyond the realms of possibility if you remember the hassle I had with them a year ago. So had an appointment made with the nurse for Monday (just gone) morning.

So up I got, at the outrageous time of 9.30 to be there for 10. Sat there waiting for 40 mins, just to be told when I got into the nurses room that I couldn't have the blood test done there because special platelet blood tests have to get to the lab quickly and not sit around in the fridge. So off I go to St. Thomas' hospital where I sit for another 45 mins, just to be butchered by the nurse to get some blood.

I have rather delicate veins, and he got a rather large needle out, I asked if he had any smaller and he looked like me as if I was an alien, and said no, they don't come smaller. BOLLOCKS! So of course he fucked up the first arm, I said again, that they normally use a smaller needle with me, he once again ignored me, and dug into my other arm. And it hurt so the vein jumped to he had to wiggle the needle around to try and find the vein which hurt and made me feel a bit funny. He finally managed to to get enough blood for the tube and off I went feeling very battered, bruised and pissed off!

That afternoon the doctor rang to say sorry about all the palaver of the morning, and that I could have had the blood test done at the surgery as it was a standard cell count test, but as she had specifically said platelet count on my notes, the nurse thought it was a different test so sent me off to the hospital!

AAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

On the plus point, I discovered Lambeth Palace which is beautiful and want to go back and have another look.

I'm also feeling a bit ranty at the moment (have you noticed? No? I didn't think so, I am being rather subtle about it all!) because all these reactions mean I might have to change my drugs and my grand plan is getting monumentally fucked. Next check up, in a couple of weeks, I'm going to ask about Egypt. If she's happy for me to go, I'm going to go in a year. Getting a job seems to be rather hard here at the moment, and I'd much rather be broke and jobless in the sun!

So my dear bloglets, rant over, I do apologise, well only a little bit!

Oh and is Jade Goody pissing anyone else off?? Fair enough sell your wedding for money for your children, but everything else is over the top. Have some dignity! Yes you have cancer and that sucks, yes you don't have long to live which sucks, hundreds of people have cancer and die daily and they do it with a bit of dignity, rather than flogging every second of it for money! (is ANY going to cancer research??) And apparently she is having her death filmed by news cameras....nice! Maybe I'm over reacting and it's a good thing that her suffering is being recorded on a daily basis and that the whole nation is just waiting for her to die, but after a very close and special family friend died a couple of weeks ago from bone cancer at home in peace with her family amI just being a bit touchy about it?? What are your thoughts??

I am now going to bugger off, be grumpy and watch Top Gear and hope that the idiotic antics of Jeremy 'I'm amazing' Clarkson, James 'I have really bad hair' May, and Richard (I fancy you quite a lot, so have no inverted comma name) Hammond make me giggle a little bit!

Hope all is well with everyone, once again, if any of you need someone to work for you...I'm your girl!

Lots of love, laughter and giggles, which believe it or not I am doing a lot of at the moment, mainly due to my amazingly lovely flat mates,

XXX

My article is out, and recent check up

Exciting news is that my article is out in Company magazine, p78! If you have a couple of quid and walk past a newsagents or supermarket, buy it! It is not as I would write an artice about the Leukaemia, but there is a nice photo!

Had my most recent check up on Wed. My consultant was going to up my chemo dosage up to the normal level(100 mg). It was lowered in Edinburgh (70mg)when my platelet count went mental. My consultant said that as it's a higher dose, would get faster results. But I have been having slight reactions to the chemo recently, so she has put that on hold til my next check up which is in 6 weeks rather than 8. The reaction is prickly skin, so nothing bad or anything, but it's not great that it's happening. If it does progress into anything worse, there are 2 other drugs that I can go on, so not the end of the world. Slightly annoying because it gets in the way of my grand plan and moving to Egypt.

My counts were fine, white, 5.9 and platelets were around 128 I think off the top of my head. Didn't have Leukaemic rate results....prob next time.

Am still jobless and have been rejected by the Cancer Research grad scheme....fuckers! And as I have been told my many a person (my parents and sister!) that it probably wasn't the job for me! Have applied for a job at Leukaemia Research so shall see what happens...

That's about it really. Am debating about going out tonight to find some poor victim as it's Valentines day, blah blah blah, or about buying a chick flick and a tub of ice cream and staying in....we shall see!

Until next time, lots of love, laughter and smiles,
XXX

Living in London and 2 years of cancer.

Well my little bloglets,

I have been outstandingly shit recently at writing this. For that I apologise profusely!
So what's been happening...I have moved to London, been here for nearly a month. Am in a lovely mansion flat in Clapham/Battersea (depends how anal you are being), in between the common and lavender hill. Tis very nice! And am living with 3 others. I didn't know them before, but we get on really well, and one of them is seriously into nutrition etc and is really excited about my juicer, sprouting stuff and dehydrator which is great! I wasn't expecting excitement about all my diet stuff, so had made taking over the kitchen much easier.

I am now looking for a job which is exhausting! I have applied for I can't remember how many office admin/receptionist etc jobs as well as being with 8 recruitment agencies....does anyone want to employ me so I can skip the job application and interview process??? I'm serious value for money! I'll accept £8 per hour, or £18,000 per year!!!!!

I have also applied for an assistant role at Macmillan which I'm really hoping to get. The closing date is this Wed, so hope that I will know something by next week. I'll also be hearing in a couple of weeks from Cancer Research and if they liked me enough on paper to put me through to the next round of their grad scheme. I have crossed fingers, toes, eyes etc that they do, especially as it makes functioning on a daily basis rather interesting!!!!

Health wise, I think all is ok. Get rather tired here in London town, but I guess that is to be expected. I just have to be good about not going mental everyday seeing people and staying up late etc My next check up is on the 11th and I'm really really hoping that the bloody leukemic rate will have dropped, hopefully significantly, but I'll be happy with a little one. Just as long as it changes, and changes for the better. If it goes up, I'll be seriously fucked off!

On an exciting note I am going to be in Company magazine in Feb. It will come out around the 15th, so I order everyone to go and buy a copy! It's cause I'm a cancer kid. The journalist has read the article out to me which she has written after about a 2 hur interview...I talk a lot! It was a bit odd because the article has been written as if it was me writing it, but I didn't, so the phrases etc used aren't me, but it's a good article. Just remember that when you read it! Also you obviously know my story as told by me because you have been reading this! And you WILL all read my book when I eventually finish it....I shall start doing more of it during this joyous job hunt!

I don't know what else to say, no doubt have missed out loads of stuff! Oh, last week it was my two year anniversary. I didn't celebrate it in the same style as last year (got very drunk with my friends) as am t total and have been for nearly 8 months!!!!! But because I didn't feel it was quite as momentous as last year. Also couldn't be arsed to traipse into central London!

I think that's it really. Blog again in 2 weeks after my next check up.

Hope everyone is well and remember, if any one has any job offers, let me know immediately!!!

Lots of love, laughter and smiles,
XXX