Marie Ali's My Radio Gaga (RadioTherapy) Challenge
Marie Ali Campbell is raising money for Dorset Cancer Care Foundation
Story
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If you don't already know me, my name is Marie Ali Campbell, known as Ali to all I know.
Back at the beginning of March, I had an ulcer in my mouth which wouldn't go away. I tried everything, even an aspirin directly on it (yuk) which one of my crochet pupils said worked for her son. So after about 2 weeks enough was enough as it was growing and getting more sore day by day, so I phoned my Doc for some antibiotics.
She wasn't happy when I told her what had happened so far and asked that I immediately went to see her, which I did. She took a look and said "to be on the safe side I am going to fast track you to Max Facial in Dorchester County Hospital, just to rule out Cancer".
I remember coming home to tell my husband Ian, but the word Cancer did choke me and bring tears to my eyes.
Within half an hour, the hospital phoned. They had a free appointment the next day! Was that fate or was it urgency from the Doc?? I will never know. What I do know is that within a week I was back having a biopsy taken. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I was actually crying in pain within 1 hour as the anesthetic was wearing off quite rapidly.
On St. Patricks Day, March 17th 2017, Professor Ilankovan told me and Ian the news. I had Head and Neck Cancer. There was good news though - I was A/ Young, B/ They had caught it early & C/ I would be treated at Poole Hospital, which is one of the best cancer hospitals in the country.
I remember standing outside the consulting room, waiting to meet my MacMillan Nurse. I looked at Ian, he had tears in his eyes, which made me do the same, but I wasn't going to let Cancer beat me, or him for that matter, so there and then, my Positive Mental Attitude set in.
My operation was due on the 27th April. It took 2 teams of surgeons 12 and a half hours to work on me whilst I was in a medically induced coma. They took flesh and bone from my left shoulder and re constructed the top left of my mouth, where my cancer had been cut away.
I was supposed to be in hospital for 1 month, but to cut a long story short, I managed to escape in 10 days and come home, where I knew I would be happier and more comfortable for my recovery.
I found out 6 weeks after my surgery, (I have been going to and from Poole Hospital, weekly, more often than not, twice weekly) that although the Consultants had got all of my cancer, the biopsy showed that the Cancer did "kiss" or touch my bone, so after a big meeting, they have decided that I should go through a daily course of Radio Therapy, which I like to call Radio Gaga, every weekday for 6 weeks, starting on the 28th June. No, sorry, UPDATE. New start date is 5th July!! So no I won't be zapped on my birthday see every cloud has a silver lining.
Dorset Cancer Care Foundation came to me by chance, surfing the WWW. They help Cancer patients and survivors based in lovely Dorset. They are an independent charity.
I don't have the strength to run a marathon or hold a cake bake sale or tea party to raise funds for them, so this is my way of fundraising for DCCF!
Please donate what you can, but just as importantly please share, not only so that more funds can be raised, but to spread awareness of the importance of getting your mouth checked, either by a dentist or a doctor if you have an ulcer or something similar.
Thank you, or as I am currently saying "Fank You"
Ali
The one with a gummy smile and PMA xxxx
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
If you don't already know me, my name is Marie Ali Campbell, known as Ali to all I know.
Back at the beginning of March, I had an ulcer in my mouth which wouldn't go away. I tried everything, even an aspirin directly on it (yuk) which one of my crochet pupils said worked for her son. So after about 2 weeks enough was enough as it was growing and getting more sore day by day, so I phoned my Doc for some antibiotics.
She wasn't happy when I told her what had happened so far and asked that I immediately went to see her, which I did. She took a look and said "to be on the safe side I am going to fast track you to Max Facial in Dorchester County Hospital, just to rule out Cancer".
I remember coming home to tell my husband Ian, but the word Cancer did choke me and bring tears to my eyes.
Within half an hour, the hospital phoned. They had a free appointment the next day! Was that fate or was it urgency from the Doc?? I will never know. What I do know is that within a week I was back having a biopsy taken. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I was actually crying in pain within 1 hour as the anesthetic was wearing off quite rapidly.
On St. Patricks Day, March 17th 2017, Professor Ilankovan told me and Ian the news. I had Head and Neck Cancer. There was good news though - I was A/ Young, B/ They had caught it early & C/ I would be treated at Poole Hospital, which is one of the best cancer hospitals in the country.
I remember standing outside the consulting room, waiting to meet my MacMillan Nurse. I looked at Ian, he had tears in his eyes, which made me do the same, but I wasn't going to let Cancer beat me, or him for that matter, so there and then, my Positive Mental Attitude set in.
My operation was due on the 27th April. It took 2 teams of surgeons 12 and a half hours to work on me whilst I was in a medically induced coma. They took flesh and bone from my left shoulder and re constructed the top left of my mouth, where my cancer had been cut away.
I was supposed to be in hospital for 1 month, but to cut a long story short, I managed to escape in 10 days and come home, where I knew I would be happier and more comfortable for my recovery.
I found out 6 weeks after my surgery, (I have been going to and from Poole Hospital, weekly, more often than not, twice weekly) that although the Consultants had got all of my cancer, the biopsy showed that the Cancer did "kiss" or touch my bone, so after a big meeting, they have decided that I should go through a daily course of Radio Therapy, which I like to call Radio Gaga, every weekday for 6 weeks, starting on the 28th June. No, sorry, UPDATE. New start date is 5th July!! So no I won't be zapped on my birthday see every cloud has a silver lining.
Dorset Cancer Care Foundation came to me by chance, surfing the WWW. They help Cancer patients and survivors based in lovely Dorset. They are an independent charity.
I don't have the strength to run a marathon or hold a cake bake sale or tea party to raise funds for them, so this is my way of fundraising for DCCF!
Please donate what you can, but just as importantly please share, not only so that more funds can be raised, but to spread awareness of the importance of getting your mouth checked, either by a dentist or a doctor if you have an ulcer or something similar.
Thank you, or as I am currently saying "Fank You"
Ali
The one with a gummy smile and PMA xxxx