Full Stop

I got my scan results recently and one year after the end of my treatment I am still in the clear, so its underline and full stop to the past year and a half and get on with the rest of my life...feels fab.

I think these results are more important to me than been told you are in remission as that is just the start of rebuilding your life. One year on you have rebuilt your strength, and it takes that long, rethought your future and how you may have changed your outlook and got you friggin mind over the question 'why me' and all that!

I remember someone asking me just after diagnosis how it has changed my life, they must have been naive as it is only now that I can naturally answer. I will not be and have not been 'plastic' and say what I think others want to hear, or the right thing, I am and will be more natural and honest in my thinking and that is probably been the biggest change to my life along with wanting to spend more time with honest family and friends and not been materialistic, that pisses me off more than ever.

Life really is to short, yes we all like the odd luxury and why not we work hard enough, but to think that we are all owed something is crap.

Right that's my current thoughts out of the way so its onward and upward. I feel great, look forward to some fantastic times and want to work hard in every area and most of all enjoy life.

So unless anything happens that is it, full stop and good night.

And for one final time KEEP YOUR PECKER UP.

Thanks

C

A Grand Day - Thank you

A massive thank you to every one who has supported me in the running of the Manchester 10K. Today my total passed the £1000.00 mark, double my original target.
Very humbling to think that I can muster so much support from friends and family and I know that the Lymphoma Research fund at Christies will use the money to try and fund new treatments and even a cure to this horrible disease which can hit anyone at any time, either personally or via close relationships.

Got the all clear again a few weeks ago, have a CT scan in June and my next appointment in August. This time last year I was facing my last Chemo - what a difference a year makes - another song....?

Cheers and KYPU
C

Your help please....

Hello everyone, appreciate it if you could give up a minute and read this.
I will be running the Manchester 10K in 7 weeks time and would appreciate your support. I know that you may have a few requests for sponsorship in the run up to the event, but if you could help me then that will be great, if others, then I understand.

The link is www.justgiving.com/christhomas2

Simply copy the above and paste. It only takes a minute to make an online donation and the site is secure.
This time last year I watched my sister Angela run the Great Manchester 10K raising money for Cancer Research as I was in the middle of Chemotherapy to cure Hodgkin's Lymphoma. At the end of the race I made a comment that I would do it in 2008 and guess what..............she did not forget!.
So here I am, raising money for Professor Radcliff's Lymphoma Research fund based at Christies Hospital in Manchester. This charity is very close to my heart as the research to find new treatments, and even a cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma is vital to all future patients.
I was very lucky to have a hospital like Christies on my door step during my treatment and the staff are second to none so please help me in reaching my modest goal of £500.00.
I will be running with my brother and sister, Adrian and Angela, so there will be a small competitive edge to the day, and I can guess who will win!!! My goal, to finish!
Thanks for your support and KYPU.

What is in a blog...

I thought I would publish some of the comments from my last post on the main page because they really mean so much, from the newly diagnosed patient who is starting out, the students who will be helping to treat sufferers in the future and to family members who find it hard to express themselves. The blog was started as an online diary for everyone and I am really chuffed that it has worked and is / has been used the way it was intended.

Some comments are:
Dear Chris
I am a Senior lecturer in Radiotherapy and Oncology and came across the blog when looking for some bits on side-effects of radiotherapy. Great to see such a positive and real view, the ups and downs of being a person with cancer. Thank you for your honesty and I will definitely put this the way of my students so that they see what benefits there are for the patients they are treating with radiotherapy. Good luck for the future. Paul Brown
Paul - Are you in the North West? If so I could always come and talk to the students if it would help. Thanks for reading and good luck to you. Feel free to contact me.

Blogs like yours help me find inspiration for the journey and fundraising I am doing to fight this horrible disease. Chriswww.140miles.com
Chris - Good luck to you with your fund raising. Sufferers owe so much to the people like you who do so much to support all kinds of cancer. Keep being inspired.

I have just read your blog and thinks it fantastic that you kept your sense of humour throughout your treatment. Recently diagnosed with HL and chemo starts Friday - very nervous but reading the blog it provided me with more "honest" info than any booklet. I am determined to remain positive, and looking forward to getting better
Nells9 - Hope all went well on Friday, you are probably feeling pretty shitty when I write this but it will get better. I hope my honest blog with my not too serious slant helps you, and if it does then I have achieved my goal. Keep in contact.

Nells9, Hope you got on ok yesterday, I think Chris's blog is something that could help anyone going through Hodgkin's.Although I am Chris's sister in law, his blog helped me see things from the "inside", it answered questions that maybe sometimes I felt maybe difficult to ask, I felt and still do feel that his blog is definitely a good thing, not just to other sufferers, but for the family and friends to keep updated on his progress.I saw Chris today, he looks great!, and the first thing I said to my husband when I got in the car was that looking at him, I could not believe how poorly he was this time last year. He looks brill!A blog may not be for everyone, but from a family point of view, when you see someone you love and care about going through Hodgkin's, you worry about saying the wrong thing, asking the wrong questions, but a blog like this, with Chris's honesty, the questions are answered, his feelings were explained.Being able to post on his blog, I didnt have to ask him questions, but I could make it known that I had read what he had posted and I was aware of his thoughts without him actually having to say a word to me. Good luck xxxRachael x
Rach - you made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and I never thought I would have said that? I know the blog has been read by you frequently and your comments helped me during the dark days. Glad it helped a close family member as we all know these types of events can be awkward to discuss.

These comments make me feel proud of my blog, something I have really enjoyed doing. Please keep the comments coming as they help so many people understand life with cancer, not only the sufferers but also family and friends.

And for me, feel good in general, although the last few days have been tough with fatigue and a stomach problem. Back to the hospital 10th April. A year ago today I was recovering from my first Chemo, what a year!
Cheers and KYPU

Chris

7000 hits....

I have just noticed that my blog has had over 7,ooo hits, I must be on about page 50 of a Google search!

I have just read that Wullie has closed his blog and can understand why. I closed mine in August thinking that I was over it but I soon realised that the emotional part of Hodgkins remmission is only just beginning. I think differently and I would like to share the ups and downs with any new sufferers so the odd update will continue, but only when there is something to say.

Last Monday was my offical 1 year since diagnosis and referal to Christies Hospital to the Oncologist. It was on my mind a lot this last week and I am very concious that I am not out of the woods yet but I am having a good go at staying on the parimiter for the next 18 months. Doing positive things really does help take your mind off the negatives but it is always there.

Skiing was fab, great snow, sunny weather, fab resort and top company - all the ingreadients for a memorable week. I missed Vicky and the kids more than ever but three nights is not along time.
Also great to see Steve in the play ground looking healthy again. Keep it going.

Nothing else of note to add so I will sign off for now and update when needed.

Cheers and KYPU

Chris

What a year

It was 1 year ago today that I went to see the doctor with a lump under my arm and you can read the rest by going to the beginning......

That was then and this is now!

By the way, a very happy but belated New Year to all. Hope 2008 brings great happiness to all.



Had my 3 monthly appointment last week, just bloods and a good fondle and nothing to be found. I don't even think that they are going to scan me in April as I don't have any side effects so Horrayyyy, a better start to the year. Thinking of two friends at this time as they are going through a very rough time currently with a similar illness. S - be strong, see you soon.




Even off skiing to France next week with 19 others from the rugby club - should be quiet and relaxing! I booked it during my treatment last summer and its always been a target - I will go skiing.


Everything else top dollar, Vicky is great, the kids have driven us crackers over Christmas but we had a good one. The new job is good and I am feeling much better, but still have my bad days. It will take time.



One last thing, I have signed up to run the Manchester 10K in May so there will be a link to a sponsorship site soon with all donations going to the Christies Hospital Lymphoma research fund. Appreciate any help you can give me.



That's about it, speak again when something else to say.



NB. Hope this blog can be a help to anyone who is new to Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If it is it would be great to hear from you so leave a response.


Cheers and KYPU

Full time results are in...

Chris Thomas 1 - Cancer 0

Great news, the lump on my arm was just a lump, fat, Lipoma, non malignant, JUST A LUMP. That's it, I won.

Got a phone call from Prof R today whilst I was at work and he told me the good news. I don't have to see anyone else until 2008.

The relief is out for Vicky and myself and god it feels good.

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life. Live it...

Cheers

C

Its been a while....

Its been a while since I last updated and I know that I said that I had finished, but such a lot has happened in the past few weeks so her I go again.

So I went back to work for a week, then went on a cruise, then back to work. I think that's where I left off.

Work has not gone according to plan. I planned to go back part time for a few weeks then increase the hours after approximately 4 weeks. This never happened as I found the return to work mentally and physically hard. I was very tired and if I had a long day (6 - 8 hours) then I would be in bed the next day. I could not give the commitment that I knew the job required so after 6 weeks I began to make enquiries about moving to a new job, not operational but in support. My company head office is 14 miles from my home so it made a lot of sense. Last Monday (5th Nov) I started in the new position in Business Development / Commercial and so far it has been a good move. I am working full time hours in an office environment and the other staff have been very supportive.

In the middle of it all I went to Paris to see England in the Rugby World Cup Final which we unfortunately lost. After watching the semi final with the boys at Marple Rugby Club I sat at my PC, pissed and armed with a credit card - Vicky was a bit nervous, but by the end I had transport (car and train under the channel) and four mates booked, that's it we are off! It was a once in a life time opportunity to see your country in a world cup final, no matter what sport. We had a great weekend and to top it all the lads that I went with did a whip round and brought me a ticket to get in the stadium. I owe them for this and always will - what do you say!

I think that's about it, nothing else to add....

Oh Yes, had my CT scan and the Hodge has defiantly fucked off! I brought my scan forward a few weeks due to not feeling too well in general so I had the scan on the 12th October with the results on the 22nd Oct. Prof R did not even come to see me, he sent one of his team to deliver the good news. My relief did not last too long as a few days before I had found a lump in my left forearm, just below the elbow. I was referred to the clinical surgeons who decided to extract it and have a biopsy. That was a week last Friday and I hope the get the results by the end of this week and I will leave an update. So the champagne is on ice again until this news is confirmed, fingers, toes, hair crossed that I will be free at last.

As usual Vicky has been a rock to me. She is saying that she is glad that I am back to work full time, but I know she does not mean it! I know it has been difficult but 2007 seems to be ending on a better note than it started. New job, no cancer and a very loving family - priceless.

Cheers to all and speak soon and remember KYPU.

C

Thank You

The end is near...not of me, but my journey to beat cancer.

The words to this song mean a lot, most of all I did it my way......


I have decided to close my Blog as I don't have too much to say on a regular basis. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to my regular readers for the support and comments that you have given me during my journey. Vicky and I have met (not face to face yet) some great people, notably Daz of Aberdeen, Kelly in Boston and Wullie and Veronica in Edinburgh, all of whom have been effected by this illness at the same time and all of whom seem to be getting through it (come on Kelly). We know that friends and family also read and have been happy with their comments and support, so again thanks.

It has been an education and I am quite proud of my blog and its contents and if it helps someone in the future who finds themselves in a similar situation, then great.

I will post news of my hospital visits over the years just to finish it off but that's all.
Oh the cruise was great and what a boat.


Thanks and goodbye.

The End.

We are sailing....

Survived my first week at work, well three days, as I am staging my return. It was really nice to see old faces again (as in not seen for a while - not old old!) and I received a warm welcome even though everyone is really busy as it is peak holiday season. I felt really tired at the end of the day so it shows that my body is not ready for a full on slaught - yet.

Vicky and I are off to spend a few days together this weekend, kid free. We are booked on a mini cruise from Southampton to Cork in Ireland on the Navigator of the Seas cruise liner for four days. Really looking forward to putting our feet up and spending some quality time together with a few luxuries thrown in! This thing is huge and even has an ice skating ring, climbing wall and 1000 seater theater. We leave for the long drive south late tonight and return on Tuesday.

This evening sees the return of the Rugby season so Dan and I are off to see Sale play the Samoa National team in a world cup warm up game which we are looking forward to.

All in all, thing are looking up with many positives and not many negatives, a complete swing from May 2007, just 3 months ago! I do feel that I am looking back on the whole experience and I can't believe that it all started over 7 months ago, time does seem to have flown.

Right off to find my sea legs, I think they are in the shed!

KYPU

Hi HOOOOOOOOOO........

Hi ho, Hi Ho, its off to work I go......

After seven months off its back to work on Tuesday. I am looking forward to it but I have to admit I am a bit apprehensive at the thought. My company have been great to me during the whole absence period and I can only thank them for that, it took a great deal of pressure off me when I most needed it. I am starting back on a part time basis, aiming to work 6 hours a day 3 day a week initially, slowly increasing it to normal hours over the next few months. The one thing I don't want to do is go back too quickly and burn myself out, resulting in further absence and disruption for all, it will be hard enough motivating myself and getting the old brain working again!

Last week has been good with a game of five a side football, playing Golf with my Big Bro, Ady and some other mates and spending time catching up on the huge list of jobs that has accumulated. It really is great to feel stronger week on week and not to have the big grey cloud hanging over your head is a huge bonus.

Speak soon and KYPU

C

Hodgkin's has left the building......

Went to see Prof R this morning and he gave me the once over, with the help of bloods and a chest x-ray. Conclusion is that I'M FREE of the 'H', in remission, free of cancer and ready to re start my life after a 6 month break. So from me its 'Goodbye, hope never to see you again' or as my little mate here says, Fuck Off!

Really chuffed that this whole chapter of my life is over and that we can look forward to the future as a family unit. Its been a long haul with plenty of deep troughs that have tested me to the limit but with the support of Vicky and many close family and friends, we have beaten it.

It was really interesting to read my blog from start to finish a few weeks ago as it reminded me of what we had been through. The worst time was the possibility of additional Chemo after a negative PET scan as I thought it had beaten me, but no way, just a day to day throat infection caused the grief and a temporary blip.

If you are reading this as a new comer to the Hodge I must ask you to remain as positive as possible, set a few targets and tick them off as time goes by. There is loads of support for you in the right place, but there is some information on the web that could do you more harm, just be careful!

So what is my next steps? Unfortunately my extended absence from work is over as I go back next Monday after 1 day short of 7 months. In some ways I am really looking forward to getting my teeth in to work again, having more to concentrate my mind on and familiar faces, but I know it will be tough and I must pace myself. On the medical side I have my next CT scan end of October followed my another appointment with Prof R and there after every 6 months. I really hope that these go well and I am one of the 80% that have no further issues.

Finally I really need to say a big thank you to Vicky. Its been tough, we both know that, but we have got through it together. You have been a rock to me and the kids and without you this ride would have been so different for us all. I know that our families feel the same, so from us all, THANKS and we love you to bits.

Today is the start of the rest of our lives.

KYPU to all

C x

Just checking in

Just arrived home for 24 hours to complete the first day of my Rugby Referees course. Having a ball in Wales, but mixed weather. We have had some hot days but I have to keep my shoulders covered so I don't burn the skin where I had the Radiation treatment.
Read up on Kelly's, Wullie and Daz's log and great to see that everyone is starting to feel better.
Family all well, its really good to have some quality time with them and to be able to swim again is great.
Next appointment with Oncologist is 13th Aug, week Monday so trying to be positive.
Cheers
C

Were all going on a Summer Holiday....

A quiet week with not a lot to update.

Went into work on Tuesday to see some familiar faces. It was nice to see them and got me in the mood for work again. I think my colleagues were happy to see me and they all commented on how well I looked, just missing the tan due to the good old English summer!! I must admit that I do feel good in myself, possibly the best since October 06, that's 9 months ago! At the end of the day I was absolutely knackered and this did effect me on Wednesday as well, so I did learn that I am not as fit as I thought I was, need to pace myself.

Getting ready to take the kids to Wales as they break up from school tomorrow. Looking forward to the break and some more rest, just hope that the rain stops and the sun shows his face again. I think I have lost some weight since last year, and todays questions is, Did I have any trunks on???!!!

Its just over two weeks to my next appointment with Prof R and after Kelly's news this week, I am really hoping that I don't get any set backs. Only time will tell, no point in dwelling on possibilities!

Nothing else to report so KYPU and have a great summer.

Who is David Beckham!

Played my first game of 5 a side football (Soccer for the guys from the other side of the pond!) tonight for six months and feel really good. Thought that my lungs could give up after 5 minutes, but managed 1hour with the lads and scored a few goals!

Another step towards normality which is great and feeling good is a great motivator. Celebrated with a few pints of Guinness, to keep the red blood cell count up......honest! This time last year I was playing rugby for my company in the Malaysia Airlines 10's tournament and tomorrow night there is a reunion which I would like to go to. We had a really good laugh last year with some top blokes and it will be great to see them again, what a year since!

Vicky thinks I have the look of DB, do you agree? I like to think of myself as having a party six!

Speak soon and KYPU.

Factor 99 please!

Its nearly three weeks since I finished Radiotherapy and my arm pit is just beginning to settle down that's to the magic of cool aquas cream! The picture shows my burnt pit, with the lighter area raw skin (or lack of it) and this has been very uncomfortable.

I said time was a great healer and this is proving to be right both physically and mentally. Have decided not to have counselling at this stage as I feel a lot better and am being positive about as much as possible.

Great to hear that Willie has been allowed home after this SCT which has been successful. I know that he has been to hell and back but his feet are on the ground again!

Nothing else to report so speak soon.

KYPU!

Getting by with a little help from my friends

It took a comment from Vicky to bring me back to plant earth and bring things in to prospective and for that thanks. We were lying in bed one night, me feeling all sorry for myself and being negative and argumentative about everything when she told me not to be selective in my thoughts. It took a bit of time to sink in but she was right, I was selecting small points to be happy about and negative about everything else. Small comments like that can really have a great effect on you, but am am aware that it may take a small comment to tip me the other way, I must remain positive and Keep my Pecker up.

I have also began to read comments on the Lymphoma Forum which has helped. There is a thread Post Chemo Blues which has made me understand that I am not alone and the experiences really help to change your attitude. I have began to get my self in order, working on setting goals to build my strength to enable me to get back to normal living. This includes work who I paid a visit to this week. I have a date pencilled in for my return, the 20th August, that's 6 weeks away and the week after my next hospital appointment! Having had what will be a total of 7 months off I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces and getting my mind into other things rather than myself and home. I know that Vicky will miss me, she putting on a brave face saying that she is looking forward to some peace and quiet, I know you are joking!!!!!!!

In myself I feel good although the burning from the radiation treatment under my left arm is getting worse and can be quiet sore.

Think that's about it for time being.

Speak soon and KYPU.

C

Motivation...

Well, then end of my first week with no treatment and how do I feel? After a great weekend, possibly assisted by adrenalin, I have spent the past few days not feeling too good. Woken up with headaches, stomach pains, feeling sick and very lethargic. I am not sure if I have picked up a bug (not from Amsterdam before you ask) or if it is something that people suffer from after having long periods of illness. I am also finding it hard to get motivated to do anything other than basic requirements and my head feels full of broken biscuits. I am struggling mentally to get my life back on tracks after such a long time of putting things on the back burner and as a result I have agreed with Vicky that I will take advise if I feel the same next week, maybe some counselling will help?
I know that you are not expected to get up and run straight away and that is why you are advised to take periods of convalescing, 4 - 6 weeks in my case, but the fact that this is effecting me is a backward step and one that I will have to get over before I think about returning to work full time. It is very frustrating but I do believe that time is a great healer and hope that this proves to be the case. A bit of dry sunny weather will help, agh the good old British summer again, remember it is Wimbledon week!
I have also been thinking about my blog. I do not want it to become a diary of my life in general as it is about my battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the sooner its over the better. I will only update when there is something relevant to share and as soon as I go into remission, then I will close it once and for all.
Thanks for all of you continuing support and comments.
KYPU....

Turn it on again

Just returned from a weekend of relaxation, rest and window shopping in Amsterdam, oh and did I mention the FANTASTIC Genesis gig at the Amsterdam Arena...

It has to be one of the two best live gigs I have been to, the other being Pink Floyd at Main Road. It is 15 years since the last tour and with no new material the boys (or oldish men) were able to go back to their roots and perform classics like 'In the cage', 'Ripples', 'Carpet Crawlers', 'I know what I Like' and 'Firth of Fifth', not as a montage, but in full version with amazing sound. Along with Phil and Chester beating the hell out of bar stools and drums the whole gig was great and made the weekend a huge success. Thanks to Alan for coming with me and using his previous experience to show me the sights of Amsterdam...and there are some, I tell you! Also got to thank Vicky who put the weekend package together for us, we really appreciate it.

I feel really good in myself, with the Radiation 'Sunburn' causing a little discomfort and my lungs slowly returning to improved capacity. I will start my strength building this week with some short walks and cycle rides (if the rain ever stops). I am determined to continue my good feeling by getting fit and returning to the bronzed stallion that you saw on my last post!

Finally a note to Wullie, KEEP YOUR PECKER UP. It is tough for you at the moment, but it will get easier in the near future and that will result in long term joy for all. Remember, you only need two foot prints at the moment, relax and when you are ready you can stand on your own two feet. Cheers.

Speak soon

Perfecto!

The cooking instructions stated:

1. Slowly marinate in a variety of spices for three months, topping up frequently.


2. Check that all areas have been effected by scanning from various angles.


3. Cook at 1,000,000 oC (See instruction manual for gas) for three weeks, turning frequently, watching not to burn outer skin.

Result - Cancer free living?

That's it, today I walked out of Christies Hospital in Manchester knowing that I will not go back in for any further treatment, finished, fenitoed, gone, no more! A great feeling for Vicky and myself after 5 months. Another chapter of this tale completed and a new one begins, hopefully with a very happy ending. Feel good, skin on shoulder burnt and red in color, but other than that all OK.

My next appointment is on August 13th with Prof Radford and the next scan is in October. These will give negative results (i.e. no cancer) and my time in remission begins. In the meantime, I need to slowly build myself up and get fit for the future, including work, after 7 months off! I have to admit that I look forward to getting a normal life back again and interacting with friends and colleagues.

Off to put my feet up and watch Tim Henman for the next 3 hours (oh he's just lost) and loose some weight!

Cheers