For those of you who read this blog, this piece is a little out of date - it's about when I was ill in the summer, not the last episode just two weeks ago.....but the feelings are the same, I'd say. Also, the drawings are lovely - so worth buying the actual hard copy of the newspaper today.

I'm always impressed how quickly Guardian readers respond - ther's already been loads of activity on the Justgiving site.

I'm off to hospital today for more blood, so looking forward to seeing the site again at the end of the day. Meanwhile, has anybody at all spotted the elusive copies of TOYPD anywhere in the vicinity of a Marks and Spencer????? I keep sending the children on recces into the tasteful lingerie sections, but nada, nada, nada. What is going on?

Comments

[Lee]

I hate reading your pieces, and love them too. Cnn one of your readers please scan the drawings and post them online? No access to the Guardian here, I fear.

[grannyp]

No,Dina, never out of date. You bring to life what most of us don't know/don't dare to. From a family with motherless children through several generations this speaks particularly - and no, there's nothing about it anywhere, not since the Victorian novels with children dressed in black. I think your openness with your children is wonderful. My mother didn't manage it, nor did I with mine, when similarly threatened - something that has echoed through family relationships since, even though I survived. You are writing the missing manual. Wish you didn't have to, wish you had other's experience to help you. Can only send you love and thanks - and wishes and hopes. Penelope

[Ms Baroque]

Dina, I've emailed you. I think Granny P is right: you are writing the manual. Lucky you.

It strikes me that you were the manual through the whole family courts experience, too - see, always blazing a trail in print!

[Alexandra Simonon]

And you're right, the illustrations are beautiful.

[Brian Abbott]

Dina,
Another very moving article which means more tears for me and many others I'm sure. Ever since I became co-ordinator of the CTRT Appeal, tears have become a regular part of life - not always of sadness but often of admiration for the brave people I have met. It makes me, and my committee, more determined than ever to raise the money needed for the new chemo research facility - which will save many lives.
Most of my colleagues are cancer patients - some still being treated - and we limp on, inspired by you and your words.

Love Brian

[bookwitch]

Lee, I can send you the pages from the Guardian if you want. Not good with scanners, but maybe someone else is?

[Ann]

Dina,
Checked the Manchester M&S this morning, and nothing. I'll chase, I think.

[gemma]

Beautiful article Dina - I lost my mother to this 5 weeks ago - she was my rock and thank you as it was your amazing book and attitude that helped her to face it head on your words are true and apt of day to day living with this disease and It makes my heart feel that bit better that we have such talent as yourself to convey this message.

I wish you energy and love.

Gemma

[Oriole]

Dina, I would love to send you an e-mail about the Guardian piece not a posted comment) - where would I send it?

[Debi]

Donations have indeed taken off, Dina.

Thank you for sharing your life with us all - as a woman, a mother, a daughter whose mother died 16 years ago - and a grateful blogger.

The things you describe are so universal - they will never be out of date. Though hopefully a time will not be too far off when breast cancer will no longer be stealing away women's lives. I hope it comes very very soon.

[sam hills]

love and respect Dina- another beautiful piece. Others have put it better.

xxsam

[dalia]

dearest dina,

so very proud to know you!! you are so brave! you give me so much strength and good advice.

we are all fighting with you and praying for you.

with lots of love
from an admirer ( and a mother in law of another mother - victim of this awful sickness )

[jeffrey coleman]

Dear Dina
Hadn't read you for a while. Avoidance, probably. Read yesterday's:day becomes night becomes day; and what at the beginning are diary notes become more than we can expect from a newspaper - something durable and real, something you've discovered for us. As Arsene once said of a Denis Bergkamp goal, 'It's art.' With appreciation

[steg]

I came here via the Guardian's website. Their reference is missing a 'w' from the 'www' so initially when I clicked on the ref it claimed not to be able to find your site. I found the article interesting - I admire your openness. I don't think it's true to say that our generation's mothers did not die - breast cancer survival rates have increased at a greater rate that breast cancer diagnosis. Also, if one goes back a few generations to the start of the 20th century, 1 in 10 mothers died in childbirth. None that detracts from your personal tragedy, I just don't think it can be interpreted as a national trend.

Best of luck with everything.

[karen mclaughlin]

Dina,I'd been thinking about you and wondering how you were,hadn't seen the blog only the Guardian articles.I read various letters today which refute the statistics of a plague but to you and to me it does seem like an epidemic.We do hear more about it of course, years ago women died but folk didnt want to speak about cancer.Now we all say more including personal and informative and brave pieces like yours. k

[Kim]

Dina, thanks for the article. It certainly feels as if more women are dying, both from cancer in general and breast cancer in particular. In my own family, my mother, maternal aunt and 32 year old cousin all died from breast cancer, and I can think of three people I know currently with the disease.

I looked up the incidence, and as this website shows, there has been a massive increase in breast cancer rates over the past 30 years, even if survival rates are improving:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/incidence/

[Vivienne Quinn]

Dina
read your article on Monday and would love to come and hug you and make you better. If only it was that easy!! At almost 54 I've just had a clear routine mammogram- what a relief. I agree that it seems like an epidemic. I have lost so many friends but also have friends and relatives who have survived breast cancer. I hope you can feel the love out there for you and that it helps.

[Annie]

Visited M&S branch in Marble Arch today, and was so disappointed not to find TOYPS on display. A helpful young male assistant told me (after making enquiries) that they were "supposed" to have it alongside all the other breast cancer awareness "products" (ghastly term but he genuinely meant well). Well, it wasn't there! I've since taken the matter up with Stuart Rose's office...
In the meantime, thinking of you,
best wishes,
Annie P

[Kath]

Dina, I've been missing you since reading TOYPD and not knowing about this blog - so it's good to have "found" you again. TOYPD was so helpful to me when in the summer I was diagnosed, like you, with a large lump. Ref the Guardian article: Kim and Steg are right - fewer women are dying of breast cancer now despite the increase in incidence. The link below (see chart 6) shows how mortality rates for those under 70 are dropping quite sharply. I agree that it seems that more of us in our 40's and 50's are copping it, but the good news is that the stats show otherwise.
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/images/publicationspdfs/factsheet_breast_feb2004.pdf

Meanwhile you are an inspiration and a guide. My thoughts are often with you. All the very best wishes.

[Nash]

Hi, I'm new in reading your blog. At first sight I seems kinda adore your writing.

Cheers,
Wheelchair transport chair

[Pastry Shoes]

Thanks for the great post. I really enjoyed it. Added your site to my feed reader.

[dax]

Great post! hope to read more from you. thanks!