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Life on Lars - living with LARS and PRD, Cheltenham (2025)

20/06/2025

💕 I've just been given the go ahead to tell you about the Pelvic Radiation Disease Association new PRD pledge.

💖 The charity is always working away for the benefit of people like me.

❤️ They brought us the Best Practice Pathway, a document that is now widely used by health professionals and i have seen this first hand. This document was a game gamechanger in raising awareness and helping the people treating us, to fully understand exactly what pelvic radiation is.

🥰 Although the term PRD is becoming more and more recognised, more needs to be done and this pledge will help to do that. If you are or know a health professional, please share this with them. More cancer survivors mean more patients with prd, the more this term is recognised, the quicker survivors can get the help they so desperately need.

Thank you 😘 ###

Radiotherapy UK Macmillan in the South West Maggie's in Cheltenham Maggie's Centres Guts UK Charity Bowel Cancer UK BBC Morning Live Wes Streeting

03/06/2025

💖 With the onset of tremors, my knitting is now really slow. These are what I've managed over the last few months. While I can do it, I'll continue.

🥰 Pelvic Radiation and Late Effects Clinics are going really well. The Macmillan/SWAG funded Late Effects Clinics in the South West were told they needed 600 patients through their doors in the 2 year funding period... they've actually discharged that amount of patients. The patients they've helped and continue to help is more than three times the initial number of patients needed.

❤️ I can't tell you how important these clinics are, they are life savers and an important part of an all round cancer care package for cancer survivors.

🤔 Sadly, the NHS still haven't commissioned this important vital service. Our Therapeutic Radiographers are still working so hard to ensure patients at whatever stage of their cancer treatment journey are being properly looked after. 🥰 ###

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Macmillan in the South West Macmillan Cancer Support Radiotherapy UK NHS England Wes Streeting

17/04/2025

💕 Tuesday was a tough day. I had to go and see the lovely Claire at after I had to admit defeat when it comes to filling in forms. I've always found filling in forms easy...but not anymore 🤦🏼‍♀️

😢 While there, I had a message to say that a lovely friend from Maggies had died. He was one of the loveliest people I know. He was also the only other person I know that suffers from Essential Tremor. I really appreciated Claire being there while I read the message. Our little group had been together through very dark days, but we also all had a similar sense of humour, which we all needed. It's safe to say that he will be so missed 💖✨️

❤️ Once home, this little one came and sat with me to comfort me. The boys are nearly 4 now. I can't believe I was not a dog person, I wouldn't be without them now even though they can be a pain. Vinnie always seems to know when I need a cuddle and will sit with me for ages.

🐶 lessons learnt today... even if its tough, go see your friends, catch up with them. You just don't know when the last time is that you will meet up.
Laugh often, even if it's a really s**t day.
Never say never...I was never getting a dog, I now have 2 😂..and when things in life change, grieve for it if you have to then roll with it and look for plan b, c, d etc. I might not be able to do things I used to, but I am still grateful to be here. Every day is a blessing 😍 ###

09/04/2025

😍 At the moment, I'm having to cancel lots of plans last minute. I did manage to get to see Seven Drunken Nights at the Wyvern Theatre . What an amazing night. I managed to have a glitter mishap...I was covered in it ✨️ but that's another story 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

💖 I had the honour of being invited to speak to the Year 1 Therapeutic radiographars at University of Liverpool about the late effects of pelvic radiation.

🥰 A big thank you to Lauren Oliver for the invitation. Its another big step forward to getting this disease recognised and also it means the therapeutic radiographers of the future will be fully aware of the possible effects patients may suffer.

💕 It was also really lovely to hear that the Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Best Practice Pathway is also being used by the students. This is such an important document for health professionals to understand the impact of the disease.

😫 My lower back is agony today, so I will be on Tramadol in a bit, so an epic mum fail day spent feeling drowsy...but hopefully with no pain 😘 xx

Macmillan in the South West
Radiotherapy UK NHS England Wes Streeting

08/04/2025

❤️ I truly believe that by going through lows, we appreciate every day, especially the highs.

😍 My daughter have birth to this beautiful little one last November. On the day she was born, it was three year anniversary of a darling friends passing.

💕 She's named Azaria, which means a gift from God, which she is.

💖 Don't let illness or down days take away any joy you have. Live in the moment.

🥰After a kidney scare, and more regular blood tests, it is now satisfactory and we're back to 6 month check ups.

✨️For those who don't know, after bowel cancer it was discovered (very painfully) that the radiation had damaged and blocked the tube from my kidney to bladder. Despite 2 years of tring to keep it, it was eventually taken out. My remaining kidney doesn't work so well. So any blip is a worry.

🌞Apart from the shakes and pain, today is a good day 😘 ###

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Macmillan in the South West Radiotherapy UK

25/03/2025

A new diagnosis meant a few months of getting used to a new way of living that includes issues with driving, special cups and weighted cutlery.

😍 I've had a head tremor for years, my gramp had it too, but the last 2-3 years has seen the tremor get worse. I had to wait a year to see a consultant. He diagnosed hereditary essential tremor. It's something that will get worse over time.

✨️ I'm now back on top of things and back to raising awareness of radiation late effects and tremors.

💖 March is Essential Tremor Awareness Month, so I thought this would be a good time to get back on social media.

🥰 There are lots of good things happening with late effects too, which I'll tell you about soon. 😘 ###
Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Macmillan in the South West Radiotherapy UK

05/08/2024

❤️I love a delivery 😍

🥰This stuff by Wype is amazing 💕 I've been using it for a while. I initially had one of the smaller tins as a sample in my Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Out and About Toolkit and I've loved it ever since.

🚽I know a lot of people don't like using wipes because of the damage to the environment, Wype turns regular loo roll into a wipe that doesn't cause the damage regular wipes do.

💩It's also cooling and soothing. When you have toilet issues like incontinence, the number one thing you can do is take care of the skin down there and this is definitely one of the products I use to do that.

😞As for me, I'm still not feeling right. Headaches, can't sleep, fatigue and toilet issues as usual. But thankfully I have a lot to be grateful for 🥰 ###
Radiotherapy UK Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan in the South West Guts UK Charity Maggie's in Cheltenham Bowel Cancer UK

22/07/2024

❤️I think this nicely sums up the last week. Between pain, migraines, fatigue and upset tummy...although I'm feeling slightly more myself today thankfully.

😞 I hate the feelings of guilt illness causes. Lizzie had artwork exhibited at Gloucester Folk Museum and I was supposed to go with her to see it. Epic mum fail.

🥰Lots to be grateful for though. Milly and Lizzies college reports were so good. The only issue is attendance. But finding back up drivers is so difficult. But I'll find a way.

😕 I have had to make a decision to get a cleaner. Just twice a month to begin with. To help me keep on top of things as I'm struggling.

💕 I am managing to knit though. Lots of beautiful baby bits to be made. Just over 3 months to go until we meet her...I can't wait 😘 ###

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Bowel Cancer UK Macmillan in the South West Macmillan Cancer Support Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

09/07/2024

🥰After a few bad days last week...spent on Tramadol, I managed to get out to my first ever C3 Everywoman Retreat arranged by C3 Church Cheltenham which was really good even though breathing was a pain and I was really tired.
💕Yesterday I managed to see my parents, which was so nice, little trips just take so much out of you, but they're so good for the soul 💕
😍Today I took Sophia (on the right) to a gp appt. We then had a cheeky trip to Costa.
💖I can't begin to tell you how tired I am and this afternoon has been spent on the toilet 🤦‍♀️💩
Life after colorectal Cancer treatment can be challenging, but there is always something to be grateful for 💕😘 ###

25/06/2024

The day after we came back from holiday. I think he missed me 😍

25/06/2024

🥰While sorting through paperwork, I came across some posters, including this one.

😍It has some really useful tips for people struggling to get out of the house.

💕You definitely need a bag, some people have more than one. I call them my change bags. Imagine a baby change bag...but for adults.

💖The bags are personalised to what you feel you need.

💩Stress and anxiety are major factors affecting your tummy/bowels. These change bags take some of the stress away 🥰

What do you put in your change bag? Any useful tips for those that are struggling 😘 ###

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Macmillan in the South West

Radiotherapy UK Guts UK Charity Bowel Cancer UK Macmillan Cancer Support

24/06/2024

🥰This is my bad day kit, it even comes with me everywhere...even on holiday. I prefer this kit to my other one...which includes medication, cleaning products, pull ups, change of clothes etc.

😢The end of last year and beginning of this year were so tough mentally and physically, but I'm glad to say things mentally are improving.

😕I haven't been coping well and my prd/late effects work has also suffered. So today is being spent sorting through all the paperwork, including minutes of the meetings I was unable to attend.

🤩So many amazing things are happening where cancer treatment late effects are concerned, I can't wait to share them with you ❤️ ###

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association Maggie's in Cheltenham Radiotherapy UK Macmillan in the South West Guts UK Charity Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Life on Lars - living with LARS and PRD

20/06/2025

03/06/2025

17/04/2025

09/04/2025

08/04/2025

25/03/2025

05/08/2024

22/07/2024

09/07/2024

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