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