A quick post tonight. Yesterday I went in for round 4 of this course of chemo following my good scan results on Thursday. However the Oncologist was not as pleased. He was happy that things had stopped getting worse, but was disappointed that nothing had shrunk. So, we discussed changing the chemo drug, to something which should attack everything more aggressively. The good news is this drug, which is not approved by NICE for NHS as its so expensive, so lucky me, has really good results. The bad news is I might have to have 10 rounds, one every 3 weeks. So thats 30 weeks before I even start thinking about getting back to normal. I would only go the full 10 rounds if I respond well, and things shrink. Wonder if it will work on my belly too?
Treatment will hopefully start on Monday, and I can have a break to go on our summer holiday. So look out Dunc, Sara, Andrew, Mary, Garry and Ali - I will still be there, you might just need to help us put up the tent though!!!
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Friday, 18 January 2013
Lastest test results
So I ma at the end of round 3 of this cycle of chemo and yesterday I went down to Gatwick Park to see stev, my Consultant Radiologist for my check up CT scan. Now I seem t know everyone down at Gatwcik as I always have my scans there, and everyone is so friendly. However over the last few scans I have developed an intolerance to the dye they inject to make the tumurs stand out. The side affects of this dye are very short lived and some can be quite funny. Firstly you get a strange metallic taste in the mouth, then a hot flush aroudn yout shoulders and head. The funny one is a hot wet feelign down below, which does feel exactly as though you have wet yoursel, f I imagine, and lastly nausea. Now when I first started having CT scans I only got the metallic taste but about 3 or 4 scans ago I got the full works with a vengance. It is bloody hard to lie still and not breath for 30 secs or so while the scan takes place, when you are heaving away, but somehow I seem to manage it. I joked with the David, who did the actual scan, that he need to wear his wet weather gear. Since then they are well prepared for me. Yesterday for instance Davd supposedly was interviewing, so left me to the other radiologists!!
Anyway I digress, after the scan we met with Dr Gwyther, my Consultant Radiologist, to look through the scans and the good news is they have not got any worse and were in fact more defined., ie they have stopped growing. Which is the first aim of the treatment. That, along with my improved blood results is all great. Of course I would have liked to see some shrinkage, but I still have 3 rounds of chemo to go to allow that to happen. Dr Gwyther explained its like stopping an oil tanker, it all takes time and happens slowly. to see how much had grown in the 3 months between my checkup scans and now to see no growth over the last 3 weeks thanks to the chemo is a good result.
I have had a couple of comments about the fact I have been posting less, well as not much has been happening, there has not much to write about. I thought "got up today tired so didnt go out" every few days would be a little boring plus the fact I had some good targets like yesterday to look forward to, gave me some good opportunities to update everyone and some focus for me. Trust you all understand. anyway it has not all been boring. for a start we are finally, definately maybe, probably, pretty much certain going to have our loft extended to make a new bedroom and bathroom. Now not only is that going to cost quite a bot, and certainly more than we estimated, but we have to clear te loft. Now our loft is very well insulated, with several tons of clothes, and other assorted junk. Sarah seems to have kept all the kids clothes, ever, and now its time to go. So we have opened an ebay store and are posting many items online. We have agreed that we will be getting rid of as much as possible, those items that dont sell will either go to charity or the dump depending on what it is. This is a mamouth task but will be very good use of the time I have on my hands for the next few weeks.
Aside form that, we have a number of other things going on. Freja has just finished her AS exams first round of exams, as well as startign driving and looking at Uni's for the next stage of her education. Max is looking at his GCSE choices at the moment, we have to finalise these by early Feb, and on my part for him I have been in touch with the RAF in regards to his choices, as this is by far his preferred occupation. Anya has settled into secondary school and is progressing in her ballet, and maybe moving onto points and competitions in the next few motnhs. Lastly, Leisha is doing very well at school and in her football, her team has reached the cup semi-final in only their first year.And Sarah as ever is so supportive not only of me,but also of the children, and only has the occaisional noght out, like her book club, as her reward.
So over the next few weeks we will be busy doing all the above, plus my next treatment on Monday, only 6 weeks to go til my last one - yipee!!
Anyway I digress, after the scan we met with Dr Gwyther, my Consultant Radiologist, to look through the scans and the good news is they have not got any worse and were in fact more defined., ie they have stopped growing. Which is the first aim of the treatment. That, along with my improved blood results is all great. Of course I would have liked to see some shrinkage, but I still have 3 rounds of chemo to go to allow that to happen. Dr Gwyther explained its like stopping an oil tanker, it all takes time and happens slowly. to see how much had grown in the 3 months between my checkup scans and now to see no growth over the last 3 weeks thanks to the chemo is a good result.
I have had a couple of comments about the fact I have been posting less, well as not much has been happening, there has not much to write about. I thought "got up today tired so didnt go out" every few days would be a little boring plus the fact I had some good targets like yesterday to look forward to, gave me some good opportunities to update everyone and some focus for me. Trust you all understand. anyway it has not all been boring. for a start we are finally, definately maybe, probably, pretty much certain going to have our loft extended to make a new bedroom and bathroom. Now not only is that going to cost quite a bot, and certainly more than we estimated, but we have to clear te loft. Now our loft is very well insulated, with several tons of clothes, and other assorted junk. Sarah seems to have kept all the kids clothes, ever, and now its time to go. So we have opened an ebay store and are posting many items online. We have agreed that we will be getting rid of as much as possible, those items that dont sell will either go to charity or the dump depending on what it is. This is a mamouth task but will be very good use of the time I have on my hands for the next few weeks.
Aside form that, we have a number of other things going on. Freja has just finished her AS exams first round of exams, as well as startign driving and looking at Uni's for the next stage of her education. Max is looking at his GCSE choices at the moment, we have to finalise these by early Feb, and on my part for him I have been in touch with the RAF in regards to his choices, as this is by far his preferred occupation. Anya has settled into secondary school and is progressing in her ballet, and maybe moving onto points and competitions in the next few motnhs. Lastly, Leisha is doing very well at school and in her football, her team has reached the cup semi-final in only their first year.And Sarah as ever is so supportive not only of me,but also of the children, and only has the occaisional noght out, like her book club, as her reward.
So over the next few weeks we will be busy doing all the above, plus my next treatment on Monday, only 6 weeks to go til my last one - yipee!!
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Half way there ...
... so yesterday so me take chemo number 3, that's half way! As usual it all went well, no hiccups and once again some good news. I have not shared with you all the aims of this chemo, so here we go. When I had my scan it identified that I had some new growthj on my liver from exixsting tumours and also a couple of new lymph nodes had shown some signs we needed to get on top of. Therefore this round of chemo is targeting those areas alone. These cannot be tested by blood tests, only by scans. Hopefully my next scan in a couple of weeks will show that the chemo is working and these are getting smaller. Alongside this treatment, my PSA levels had shown signs of going up again from my low of 0.68, this had risen to 2.78 3 weeks ago. This is still relatively low, but of course represents a rise which was escalating. I have been on some additional tablets for the last 3 weeks and the good news yesterday was that my PSA had dropped by more than 50% to 1.3. So thjats good news.
Now Christmas was a quite low key and quiet, and we looked forward to New Years eve where we were spending some time with friends. However, I was very tired after Christmas, so Sarah took the kids, and I went to bed at 9pm! The dog came and joined me at midnight, even though she is not allowed upstairs as she hates fireworks and we had a lot going off. Then she set off again as Sarah returned home, and we had a small amount of family time together. Thanks everyone for all your kind wishes, cards and thoughts over Christmas, we really appreciate it
Then on New Years Day we have went out to Sian and Dee's for a lovely roast dinner, and spent most of the post dinner time talking to the police as it seems we saw an armed robber leaving the scene of the crime. I thought he was a bit suspicious as he came through the church but Sarah thought he was the husband of someone at the church. Either way we put it to the back of our minds, at least untill the po;ice arrived. Then of course it was time to rack the old chemo brain to remeber exactly what we saw LOL . So Ross look forward to speaking to you soon!
A few posts I put some lyrics up, and I have some more to put up today, the ;ast couple of verses and chorus from Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer
We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot
Whooah, we're half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer
We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got
Whooah, we're half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer
Now Christmas was a quite low key and quiet, and we looked forward to New Years eve where we were spending some time with friends. However, I was very tired after Christmas, so Sarah took the kids, and I went to bed at 9pm! The dog came and joined me at midnight, even though she is not allowed upstairs as she hates fireworks and we had a lot going off. Then she set off again as Sarah returned home, and we had a small amount of family time together. Thanks everyone for all your kind wishes, cards and thoughts over Christmas, we really appreciate it
Then on New Years Day we have went out to Sian and Dee's for a lovely roast dinner, and spent most of the post dinner time talking to the police as it seems we saw an armed robber leaving the scene of the crime. I thought he was a bit suspicious as he came through the church but Sarah thought he was the husband of someone at the church. Either way we put it to the back of our minds, at least untill the po;ice arrived. Then of course it was time to rack the old chemo brain to remeber exactly what we saw LOL . So Ross look forward to speaking to you soon!
A few posts I put some lyrics up, and I have some more to put up today, the ;ast couple of verses and chorus from Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer
We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot
Whooah, we're half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer
We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got
Whooah, we're half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)