Welcome 2009

The CT scan this morning has delivered very promising results. The cancer growth is stable – this is wonderful news as it means that the clinical drug is halting the growth of the current and new lesions! With today not being a full working day I do not have the full CT results so I cannot report back on the state of my lesions – will do this later. This morning I saw Dr T regarding the terrible pain I have been having in my left arm since before Christmas and I have been diagnosed with inflammation of the veins (too much toxic substance causes this) …. Argh.. it is really painful! I cannot received chemo in my left arm again and will do some hasty work coming Monday regarding having a port fitted. I have been saving my right arm for all the blood tests, etc. So, in conclusion, I remain on the clinical trial with a reassessment of the lesions end Feb 2009. Lets hope and pray that the good news continues thru 2009. I thank everybody who has been supporting me the past 14 month and wish you and your families a healthy prosperous 2009. I will be having a few glasses of bubbly tonight to celebrate today’s news and the new year.

3rd round patupilone

I was really positively surprised by my white cell and neutrophil count last Thursdays. Both were inside normal range – well done dear body for recovering so well! With the holiday season in South Africa the wait for the blood test results took really long – waited over 4 hours and then got the good news that chemo would occur… .Whoopee! The past 3 days have been much better than cycle one and two on patupilone. I ‘m still bit nausea and tired, but don’t have the intense nausea of the past two rounds. Dr T (clinical trials unit) has put me onto the same anti nausea meds that I had previously on taxol and carbo platinum, and it seems to be doing the trick! I have been having my afternoon siestas and early nights to rest the body. No rest for the wicked as I will do a few hours work from home tomorrow.

11th round of chemo

Today I have risen with a heavy heart as I face the clinical trials unit and my 11th round of chemo. We start the day with an ECG and blood tests, I then need to wait for the test results (about 1.5 hours) and then see the doctors for some checks and balances, ‘anti’ medicine prescriptions and then I finally get to walk to the chemo rooms with my files in hand. I must admit that I am not looking forward to the treatment knowing how I am going to feel for the next week. In my heart I have had enough of this toxic stuff … it has been 14 months of chemo.

Bron and Rory's wedding

Tuesday I decided not to take my cortisone (it was my last scheduled dose) and I really started feeling better from Wednesday. I still have the odd bout of nausea and tend to get physically sick in the mornings but managed thru Friday and Saturday without any medication. All is going really well this weekend and I have managed late evenings out and no afternoon naps, though I am not sure I will manage that today. Yesterday was my Goddaughters wedding day and Ian and I consumed an ample amount of bubbly. Bronwyn and Rory looked absolutely stunning and it was a wonderful ceremony and excellent party. Quite a few tears were shed as we raised our glasses to late Sharon (Bron’s mom passed away with cancer nearly 10 years ago).