Wednesday 29 February 2012

Hair Twin

Oh hello there bloggy type pals. I hope you are all well. It has come to my attention that I now have a hair twin. Well, I have had hair twins for a while I guess. When I was bald, I was told I looked like Harry Hill, the guy from Eastenders, Voldemort (thanks Teenie) and many other men. How kind to be compared to such attractive guys.. At one point, with my skin head, I looked like various different neds. I have also closely resembled Mr Zelner from Friends. However, there have been none so similar as... Wait for it... Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl! 'Who is that?', I hear you cry! Well, you are about to see the shocking similarity..


Yes, uncanny isn't it? Yeah? YEAH?! I know you're saying, 'No, not at all'. Well, I am sorry about this. I am very lazy with google images and totally rubbish with computery things so this is probably the fourth picture from google and a shoddy paint job. So basically, go and google him OK? This is now my reason for watching Gossip Girl - to compare my hair with one of the hunks from the show. If anyone can think of any WOMEN who have the same hair as me, please let me know. I feel like I'm overdosing on mascara, perfume and frilly tops so people are sure that I am female.

In other news, I am now 26. Hurrah. NOT. Honestly, I don't really care THAT much. The only downside for me is that I can't apply for another Young Persons Railcard. Well, that and the fact that I am now the dreaded 'mid twenties verging on late twenties' stage. That's not good. I had a very nice birthday actually. I asked some of my girly pals to come round dressed in their best black dress and crazy wigs for some karaoke and champagne - everyone looked marvellous! Here is the proof..






I, of course, went for a blue wig. Why break the norm eh?!

Tomorrow I am travelling back down to London for a check up on Friday. I'm hoping after this one they will become less frequent. I'm not expecting him to say too much but it's always good to check in I guess. However, I seem to have caught a cold from one of the million germs that are kicking about. I feel OK but sound like a very hoarse man (matching the hair eh?).

I am definitely starting to feel a bit stronger - no cartwheels just yet though! I'll leave them a few weeks.

Friday 10 February 2012

Thank you Dr Li

This will only be a brief post (I promise) as I just wanted to share with you all something I have found out this week. My Dad is currently reading a book about the history of cancer (sounds fun eh?!) (The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee) and he thought I would find one chapter very interesting.. I did!

We have found out about a doctor in the late 50s, early 60s (can't quite remember) who discovered the first ever chemo cure for adult cancer while treating a patient with a choriocarcinoma. The patient had a high hcg level and the doctor (Dr Li) realised very quickly that if he administered methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug) the tumours declined. However, he kept on giving the drug so the hcg hormone level would gradually decrease. The hcg was what they call a tumour marker. He continued the treatment until the hcg level hit normal and the patient was cured. Yet he was accused of experimenting on patients and sacked! Today though this has been hailed as the first ever cure of adult cancer through chemotherapy.

I have mentioned before how odd/weird/random/out there my tumour was, yet it seemed to behave like a germ cell tumour (ie a choriocarcinoma). Chorio's are normally in the womb and associated with a pregnancy - my tumour was incredibly awkward and had nothing to do with this and showed up in my bowel, yet still producing a high hcg. I still find the whole thing rather confusing.

Anywho, all I wanted to say was that I found this rather interesting and I guess I have a lot to thank Dr Li for. What a smart guy! (Also, how on EARTH do you figure something like that out?! BLOWS MY MIND).

Other than the above, I do not have much else to report. The staples are out of my tummy and I have another scar to add to my collection. I also turn 26 tomorrow and am already sick of 'old lady' jokes. How on earth am I this old?!