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!!