Downgraded

I've been downgraded (maybe)!

I don't know if you remember that Universitätsspital Zürich were going to do a second opinion of my tumour histology? Well they have, and they couldn't find any features of a grade IV tumour (GBM), so in their books I have a (anaplastic) astrocytoma grade III which is good news isn't it?

Well yes and no?

• It makes my mortality statistics slightly higher (but not by enough to think about)
• Both agree I have malignant tumours (thank goodness, I wouldn't have wanted all this nasty treatment otherwise)

BUT

• Some trails are now out of my reach because they favour GBM's (like the Tumour Treating Fields trial I kind of favoured)
• It introduces more uncertainty

Perhaps I'll feel better about this when I've got over the current Cold & Chemo bout.
Did I mention Carol & I should be off Thailand for a couple of weeks starting Sunday?

Cold and Chemo, not a good recipe

With all the excitement of Friday morning, I'd forgotten my cold.

Cooking curries for each other seems to be a popular pastime among ex-pat English and Germans, we had two curry invites this weekend. On Friday we went to our first curry invitation and after a great meal and conversation (thanks Steve), my voice started to disappear until at around midnight, when we left, I could only mouth my goodbyes.

Saturday morning was the start of Chemo 4, and added to the cold I already had it was a miserable day of coughs, sneezes and nausea with only sleep to ease the discomfort. Didn't eat much and was only able to lie on the sofa and watch a couple of movies on Film Four ("Simone" and "One night at McCool's"). Needless to say the second curry invite had to be declined (sorry guys).

Now it's Sunday and I'm feeling better if a little fragile.
I guess I'm being reminded that, no matter how good the good news, I am still sick.

MRI Results in

The MRI results are in, and things are looking good.
It looks as if the tumour hasn't grown much or not at all.

We were warned it might be difficult to tell because of the side effects from the treatments. For instance Necrosis, Oedema and irritation of live Brain cells all increase the whitening of the material seen around the tumour. In fact it was only in one dimension that you could get a clear view of the tumour and that looked very much like the one from the end of August (about 10-12mm). So NO 46mm tumour, hurrah.

The most significant positive sign, however, was to be seen in the front of the longitudinal fissure between the Brain halves. This gap had opened up indicating that the pressure in the brain had dropped. No MRI pictures available yet, but as soon as I have some I'll put them up.

Carol and the kids had been kidding me about the considerable dent that had appeared in my head along the Biopsy scar (see below). Also when I had the Biopsy I was told I would have a plate put in and that didn't seem to be conducive with this dent. So I asked what was causing this and discovered I have no plate! My skull had been stapled together after the operation and as the bone has regrown it has grown inward instead of flat (-ish). This happens sometimes apparently due to the way the blood supply is disrupted as the bone grows. You can even see this anomaly in the MRI scan, and it looks like I'll have to live with it.


So what happens now?
I carry on with my Chemo (starting cycle 4 tomorrow), and then the hospital tumour board will discuss my case next Wednesday to decide on further treatment. Most likely they will want to continue with the 6 chemo cycles as they are now. Or possibly swap to a 3 week on, one week off cycle for the last 2.

For me I'm going to enjoy the reprieve and look to taking a holiday with Carol for a couple of weeks.

One of those weeks

Carol and I went to Lucerne on Tuesday just because we hadn't been there for a while and we are very fond of the city. The weather is still sunny but there was a chill in the air. We had lunch right next to the River looking to the Kapplebrücke (Chapel bridge) and under it across the lake towards Rigi.

On Wednesday Carol had the sniffles, but we went to the cinema with friends to see Sweeny Todd (Tim Burton's interpretation of the gory story of the demon barber of Fleet street) anyway. At as the film progressed I started to to feel the onset of a cold too. This is now in full swing. I hope I'm OK for my scan results tomorrow.

I hate the waiting

Had the much waited MRI scan this morning, this is my first scan in 6 months. It's hard to believe that since then I have had Brain Surgery (Biopsie), Radiation treatment and a ton of Chemo therapy. Not to mention the birth of my grandaughter and the renovation of the outside of the house.

And now after spending nearly an hour in a noisy claustophobic doughnut, I have to wait until Friday to find out the results....

Last time time we compared two MRI scans a little under two and a half weeks apart my tumour had grown from 6.5mm to 10mm. So if all that treatment has had no effect, I could be looking at a 46mm tumour by now. Mmm, I don't think I want to think about that.

Keeping Busy

Been keeping busy this week in the home office. It's amazing how quickly work can build up once people know you are available, I'm going to have to ask the doctors to let me do more hours.

The big advantage is keeps my mind of my little problem, and the up and coming MRI next week.

Playlist Update

So what am I listening to at the moment

Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007) + the rest of Radiohead
I love this band

Seasick Steve - Dog House Music (2006)
Real blues from a real hobo. Just a man, his guitar, lots of humour and sad endings.

Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade (2007)
Country rock from an old master. Best album since Copperhead road

Amy Winehouse - Frank (2003)
Yes, I'm sorry every one wants to hate Amy, but this lady has a fine voice and here its even more jazzy than on Back to Black, so you can't

Dead Can Dance - Aion (1990)

Deerhoof - Milk Man (2004)
Some might find them wierd. Alternately thrash and nursery tunes. Love them.

Philip Glass - Symphonies 2 & 3 (1994)
Mister arpeggio shows how much a musical spectrum you can cover even with a severe set of self imposed limitations. Quite a contrast but both equally engaging. These are the two symphonies between the Low & Heroes symphonies inspired by Bowie / Eno's albums ow the same names.

The The - Mind Bomb (1989)
Protest dance music late 80's style. This man (Matt Johnson) was pretty caustic but his lyrics are just as valid now if not more so. "If the real Jesus stood up today, he'd be shot down by the CIA"