Got back on Saturday from a week in Gran Canaria with the family. Mostly we just sat around the pool until we got hungry and the went out for food, slept in late and then started again. To think that when we planned this holiday I wasn't even sure I would make it.
Builders started tearing our kitchen apart this morning. The work should last 2-3 days .... and Pigs might fly.
Monday, 28 July 2008
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Fitting the Cancer routine
Strange how having Cancer has become part of lifes routine. As I can pretty much trust the Chemo rythym to make me sick on a specific 5/6 days in each 28 day cycles. So I now put them in my diary leaving me able to plan the rest of my life as around 100% normal (except the odd scans and result session).
1-2 Prepare Moscow event, Dentist
3-4 New aquisitions slide set
7 Prep Friday call, Pick up Chemo, Goto Market Webcast
8-10 Paris meetings
11-12 Chemo starts - Phone conferences and desk work only
13-17 Heavy Chemo Days - Light homework when possible
18 Customer Meeting
19 Off to Gran Canaria for 7 Days -- Hoorah
Its amazing how much work you can get done in less than 3 hours a day :-)
As long as it gets no worse than this I'll be a very satisfied sufferer.
1-2 Prepare Moscow event, Dentist
3-4 New aquisitions slide set
7 Prep Friday call, Pick up Chemo, Goto Market Webcast
8-10 Paris meetings
11-12 Chemo starts - Phone conferences and desk work only
13-17 Heavy Chemo Days - Light homework when possible
18 Customer Meeting
19 Off to Gran Canaria for 7 Days -- Hoorah
Its amazing how much work you can get done in less than 3 hours a day :-)
As long as it gets no worse than this I'll be a very satisfied sufferer.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Scan Pictures
Finally got the pictures for the Scans from the end of May. So now you can see what all the excitment was about.
This is the initial diagnosis from last August (no contrast agent used)
Here was the shock growth only three weeks later before any treatment started.
This was six months, much radiotherapy and chemo later in March 2008. The battle was really on.
Finally in May 2008, we are just about back where we started. Next time we are aiming to see the tumour go up is own ****.
Cool eh!
This is the initial diagnosis from last August (no contrast agent used)
Here was the shock growth only three weeks later before any treatment started.
This was six months, much radiotherapy and chemo later in March 2008. The battle was really on.
Finally in May 2008, we are just about back where we started. Next time we are aiming to see the tumour go up is own ****.
Cool eh!
Friday, 4 July 2008
Suprises - Why we hate going to the Dentist
NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH
A couple of weeks ago I went to my dentist and she discovered that a cyst had formed under a broken tooth. So on Wednesday I had to go in for a "little Operation" (that word should have given me a hint).
When I got there the dentist he explained that he was doing this work rather than my normal dentist because he specialised in procedures where there was a lot of blood involved! He then explained the procedure, he told me that he would first remove the tooth and then clean up where the cyst was. Following that, because the cyst will have damaged some of the bone, he will use a granulate that uses calves bone to replace the missing bone and that would allow my bone to grow in its place. Finally a membrane made from collagen would be sewed in place (using 12 stitches, I counted em) to seal it off.
So after 90 minutes in the chair without any drilling or pain, I was packed of with a new appointment, antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash and pain killers (in case I needed them).
I needed them about 3 hours later when the pain started and continued in earnest for the next day. On Thursday the pain has gone down a lot, but I looked like half a Hamster from the swelling which is just starting to go down now (Friday Night).
Looks like I'll be back to normal just as my next Chemo starts, Ho hum.
A couple of weeks ago I went to my dentist and she discovered that a cyst had formed under a broken tooth. So on Wednesday I had to go in for a "little Operation" (that word should have given me a hint).
When I got there the dentist he explained that he was doing this work rather than my normal dentist because he specialised in procedures where there was a lot of blood involved! He then explained the procedure, he told me that he would first remove the tooth and then clean up where the cyst was. Following that, because the cyst will have damaged some of the bone, he will use a granulate that uses calves bone to replace the missing bone and that would allow my bone to grow in its place. Finally a membrane made from collagen would be sewed in place (using 12 stitches, I counted em) to seal it off.
So after 90 minutes in the chair without any drilling or pain, I was packed of with a new appointment, antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash and pain killers (in case I needed them).
I needed them about 3 hours later when the pain started and continued in earnest for the next day. On Thursday the pain has gone down a lot, but I looked like half a Hamster from the swelling which is just starting to go down now (Friday Night).
Looks like I'll be back to normal just as my next Chemo starts, Ho hum.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Pool & Barbeque
Finally got a good weekend (29° C) since setting up the pool, so we had a perfect Pool and barbecue weekend with the whole family and a few very good friends. Too much food and just the right amount of Sun.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Never forget what lurks behind
When I first started this blog I didn't think that I would make an entry everyday, but likewise I didn't think I would go three weeks without saying anything.
When I looked at the date today I was shocked that so much time had gone past, time I don't have to waste. It's funny how easily I have slipped back into the old routine of getting up for work each day, and jumping on planes for meetings here, there and everywhere and forgetting to spend enough time with family and friends. I've even noticed I'm not reading the Cancer news bulletins. Its almost as if my Tumour had never happened.
But that just isn't true; despite the improvement we saw 4 Weeks ago, I'm still taking Chemo to fight the little bleeder and losing a week in every four because of it, I'm still battling the feelings in my left hand side and still making mistakes with my speech. And today I suffered a small seizure after four weeks without any (and don't forget the pills I take to hold them at bay).
I'm convinced you have to fight Cancer mentally and physically if you are going to keep it at bay as long as possible, and that means reminding myself I have it, I must never forget it no matter how much I want to.
I think I understand why my doctors won't let me work at my day job any more than 30%, its because I have another job to do ... fight Cancer
Maybe I'll get back to my blog a bit more often too.
When I looked at the date today I was shocked that so much time had gone past, time I don't have to waste. It's funny how easily I have slipped back into the old routine of getting up for work each day, and jumping on planes for meetings here, there and everywhere and forgetting to spend enough time with family and friends. I've even noticed I'm not reading the Cancer news bulletins. Its almost as if my Tumour had never happened.
But that just isn't true; despite the improvement we saw 4 Weeks ago, I'm still taking Chemo to fight the little bleeder and losing a week in every four because of it, I'm still battling the feelings in my left hand side and still making mistakes with my speech. And today I suffered a small seizure after four weeks without any (and don't forget the pills I take to hold them at bay).
I'm convinced you have to fight Cancer mentally and physically if you are going to keep it at bay as long as possible, and that means reminding myself I have it, I must never forget it no matter how much I want to.
I think I understand why my doctors won't let me work at my day job any more than 30%, its because I have another job to do ... fight Cancer
Maybe I'll get back to my blog a bit more often too.
Friday, 6 June 2008
MRI scans results
The MRI results are in, and they look good!
The tumour has definitely shrunk. After the last scan it appeared on 3 scan slices and now its only appearing on one. I reckon that it looks smaller than when it was diagnosed 10 months ago. Both Chemo Man and Professor Nuero were there to bring me the news this afternoon and they couldn't wait to show me the results. This is the first time in the last 10 months I almost cried with joy.
More good news; they are now happy to let me drive (although still recommend against the motorbike).
There is a down side to all this; given the excellent response to the Chemo and the minimal side effects (apparently) they are recommending 3 additional Chemo cycles to keep pushing down the curve. It took me less than 30 seconds to make the decision to continue (without feeling any pressure from Carol's "you bloody better"). I still have to way up the damage the Chemo is doing to me but that is damage I'll probably never get to see, so the choice is no choice.
I talked about increasing my working week from 30% to something closer to 100% and both Chem and Neuro shook their heads violently in unison, telling me that these results are almost certainly to some extent due to not overdoing it. So sorry work chums I'm under doctors orders to keep it down (however much it might hurt).
Now I'm going to sit down for Pizza and a glass or two of wine with a big smile on my face.
The tumour has definitely shrunk. After the last scan it appeared on 3 scan slices and now its only appearing on one. I reckon that it looks smaller than when it was diagnosed 10 months ago. Both Chemo Man and Professor Nuero were there to bring me the news this afternoon and they couldn't wait to show me the results. This is the first time in the last 10 months I almost cried with joy.
More good news; they are now happy to let me drive (although still recommend against the motorbike).
There is a down side to all this; given the excellent response to the Chemo and the minimal side effects (apparently) they are recommending 3 additional Chemo cycles to keep pushing down the curve. It took me less than 30 seconds to make the decision to continue (without feeling any pressure from Carol's "you bloody better"). I still have to way up the damage the Chemo is doing to me but that is damage I'll probably never get to see, so the choice is no choice.
I talked about increasing my working week from 30% to something closer to 100% and both Chem and Neuro shook their heads violently in unison, telling me that these results are almost certainly to some extent due to not overdoing it. So sorry work chums I'm under doctors orders to keep it down (however much it might hurt).
Now I'm going to sit down for Pizza and a glass or two of wine with a big smile on my face.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
