Short update

As promised here is a short update on treatment this week.

Well I met with my new consultant Wednesday, and this was a very productive meeting, and the trialhe wants me to go on sounds very interesting. Its basically using trojan horse viruses to get inside the tumours and then the virus kills the tumour. There are only 32 people on this trial in the UK and around 2000 worldwide, so once again I am part of a select group. The downside is that I will need to spend a few days in hospital after each treatment, so I can be closely monitored, which is to be expected as its a trial. We asked what the measure of success is, and as a phase 1 trial, they are looking to see if the virus gets into the tumour. Now of course they would not do this if they did not expect this to also have a major benefit for me. In the labs this approach is very successful, so hopefully this will also work for me too.

My biospy, which was booked for Thursday, was cancelled as they want to carry out the biopsy in their own labs next Thursday. I will need regular biopsies throughout the treatment, as this is the only way they can check the virus is in the tumour. At the first biopsy they will also send a sample to another lab in London where a separate trial is looking at the genetics of tumours, and the benefit for me here is much more information about my tumours, and hopefully more targeted tresatment.

Now on returning from seeing the consultant, there was an update letter from my oncologist, which he sends to the whole clinical team, and a copy to me, after each visit. Both Sarah and I were srprised to see a statement in the letter that it had also spread to my lungs, which had not been mentioned to us before. I ncould not get hold of my consultant but did speak to my radiologist who confirmed this bad news, but he was extremely sorry it had not been explained to us in person. So thats another worry for us to deal with.

However to end on a positive note, Jackie, Sarah's big sister, has sent us 2 tickets to see rod Stewart at the O2 next Tuesday. She was worried I would not be up to it, I replied that I will dose myself up with morphine and Red Bull, but I will be there. Yesterday I booked the disabled parking, and was somewhat surprised to find this is in the cap park furthest from the O2, I feel a letter coming on ....