Bit of a Set Back

Hi just thought I would update the blog, seeing as I have a bit of time on my hands and I feel I should be doing something! Unfortunately I have had to have this week off work due to a serve throat infection, which doesn't sound that bad but has knocked me for six. Maybe my body is not as invincible as it feels! It all started on Sunday and today (Thursday) is the first day I have felt able to do anything apart from lying on the couch infront of the TV! I guess now the antibiotics are kicking in and will be back at work on Monday.

I have been reading The C-Word by Lisa Lynch, Lisa Lynch writes the blog Alright Tit, which I discovered while I was ill last year. 'The C-Word is an unflinchingly honest and darkly humorous account of Lisa's battle with The Bullshit, as she came to call it. From the good days when she could almost pretend it wasn't happening, to the bad days, when she couldn't bear to wake up, Lisa's story is emotional, heartbreaking and often hilarious. The C-Word will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately reaffirm your faith in life.' - Amazon 2010. I have really enjoyed reading it, admire her honesty and love the way the book can make you laugh despite the subject of cancer.

I have now become a 'Buddy' for the Lymphoma Association. The Buddy scheme offers the opportunity for people affected by lymphoma to talk with someone over the telephone who has had a similar experience. The lymphoma association do their best to match up buddies so the number of calls you get, might not be frequent but hopefully when a call is set up you will be in a position to help, and advise as best you can. I atteneded a Buddy Training day at the LA's offices in Aylesbury about a month of so ago now. It was very intense but highly beneficial, and it was lovely to actually meet some of the team face to face. They do a fabulous job, are highly dedicated and such lovely people...so a BIG THANK YOU to them for all the work they do.

Training is going well for the 10K run I am running in July! I have really chuffed with myself and am on target to run it in under an hour!! If you would like to sponsor me please click on the link below:

http://original.justgiving.com/lymphoma10km10

Any donation however big or small, really does make a difference. So please please sponsor me, even if just the price of a pint of beer!

Seems a shame to break away from tradition so here are some photos I have taken recently!

London 10K Run

Last year a group of friends ran the London 10K run and raised a fantastic amount, click on this link to see their sponsorship page.

After the 10K Run last year.

This year I am going to be running it, along with a couple of friends. If you would like to sponsor us then please visit our sponsorship page. Thanks.

Have been starting to train in the gym and now the evenings are getting lighter and hopefully the weather is improving, I should be able to start running outside. Watch this space!

Happy Easter everyone! I get to eat chocolate again today :) mini eggs here I come!

Stevenage Football Match in support of the LA

On 6th March '10 we organised that the Stevenage vs. Crawley Town game would be held in support of the Lymphoma Association. To raise awareness a little piece was put in the programme...

'Today’s match is in support of the Lymphoma Association, Registered Charity No. 1068395, which provides information and support to anyone affected by lymphatic cancer (most common cancer in the under 30s).
HAYLEY BENHAM DIAGNOSED IN 2009

After a year of travelling, life couldn’t be better but I started to suffer with back pain which I just dismissed as getting back into the daily routine. I then developed flu-like symptoms accompanied by itchy skin and a persistent lump.
After various tests, and a lot of visits to my GP, I was told that I had lymphoma. I had never heard of it before, didn’t even know it was cancer and when you're only 23, that comes as a real shock! I found the Lymphoma Association a wealth of information and support.
My chemotherapy treatment lasted for eight months. Now just over a year since diagnosis I am enjoying getting my life back on track.
Please give generously to the charity volunteers in the stadium as every penny will be put to vital use. Thank you. http://www.lymphomas.org.uk'

It was a great day, friends, family and even the Mayor of Stevenage came down to support. We also did a bucket collection on the day and raised nearly £400 for the LA, a great amount and way above our expectations. A big thanks to everyone involved.

Good News from the Consultant.

Bit late in posting this, just wanted to update you all on my follow up appointment with the consultant in March.

The consultant was pleased to see how well I was doing. He was encouraged to see I was back at work three days a week and that my energy levels were returning to what they were before I had lymphoma. My appetite has now returned and I love my food again :). Back at the gym and training for the 10K run which I am going to do in July. I had some bloods taken, which took a while because my veins are still not play ball, but the results all came back normal.

In my follow up letter the consultant wrote:

'Hayley continues in her clinical remission'

which was nice to see in black and white.

Continuing with my photography...here are a few snaps from walking around Cambridge after my appointment.

Hope you are all well.

A Year On.

I know I haven't blogged for a while, but a year on from diagnosis I thought a blog was worthy. The last time I wrote was back in October after my follow up appointment. I am due to see the consultant again in a couple of weeks for my second follow up appointment so will let you know how it goes.

So what has been going on since October...well. I have moved out of home and into a two bedroom flat, not to far away. It is lovely to have my own place and home it still just 10 minutes or so away so I can pop in for a cuppa now and then and catch up with the family. After having a year of being very dependent it is a relief to have my independence back. Even though I am living on my own people are always around, which is nice.

I started work again on the 12th January, and received my first pay check this week :0). As I was only temping when I got diagnosed I didn't have a job to go back to as such so I have come across this temporary part time job which I am going to do for the time being. I am working for the council as a garage maintenance officer...not particularly glam or anything I would have ever thought to apply for, but after 2 weeks I actually quite like it. It is 18.5 hours a week which I am finding enough at the moment and it is about 60% in the office and 40% out and about (which makes a nice change to being cooped up all day even if it is a bit cold at the moment). I have been kitted out with a van, Hi Vis jacket and boots, haha.

So besides work and moving out, I have been catching up with friends and eating and drinking far too much! Although I have started the gym again and am even having a few personal training sessions! I had a great birthday weekend back in November and got totally spoilt. And a lovely Christmas and New Year.

I am feeling fine at the moment, a little tired maybe after starting work again, but nothing a few early nights haven't solved, no other aches and pains to report so lets just hope it continues. I kind of but lymphoma to the back of my mind for three months, but now feel ready to get involved in the lymphoma association again and have started writing on the message boards and I am finding out about becoming a buddy. Being busy getting my life on track has meant I haven't thought much about the lymphoma returning, but as ever it does sometimes creep into your mind.

Just so you are aware...we will be going the Great British Tea Break again in September and I hope to run the 10km with some friends in July to raise money for the lymphoma association, watch this space!

Thank you all for your continuing support. x