Friday 25 February 2011

Better News

I wanted to post this better news quickly for all who have been worried for me.

I saw an oncologist today at St. Bart’s. They had cancelled my appointment because I had an emergency one in January because of my kidneys, but didn't tell me. However they got my files and saw me straight away. It was not Dr Steele, but the oncologist I saw in January. He told me that I can probably have some chemo whilst on dialysis including cisplatin which is what he thinks ruined my kidneys.

I won’t be able to participate in any trials though, including the IPM trial. If my kidneys should improve this week and continues to do so they can’t do chemo until the eGFR count is nearer normal, probably many months away. So the news was better than I was expecting, which has lifted my spirits somewhat and also my family’s.

My Meso is currently stable and he says that the Professors’ treatment has done some good, which is good news too.

At least I have some back up chances again so let’s hope they find a cure this year for Mesothelioma and other cancers.


My wonderful son Christopher took a day off work and drove me to the Hospital, a nearly two hour journey each way. I was worried about being sick in the train, and was in fact sick in the car, but with family, not strangers. My other Son Stephen and Emily my daughter have offered to drive when needed too. What amazing children I have.

Thank you all for the tremendous support you have given me through all this horror, it has been a very stressful few days..




Thursday 24 February 2011

Can't have more chemo.

I am particularly worried about going on dialysis because it will mean I can’t have any more chemo, which means I can’t fight the mesothelioma. Therefore the cancer will now take its course and will kill me, probably this year.

This is what I meant by 'the beginning of the end' in my previous blog. There is no other treatment available for mesothelioma.

I see my Oncologist on Friday 25th February and will talk to him about it, but the renal specialist says it is unlikely that I can have chemo.

I am still being very sick and it seems to be getting worse, I also have difficulty eating as I feel so nauseous, which means I am losing weight quite quickly.

I did say when I started this blog that it would be warts and all and I am sorry these last ones are not more positive, but it hard to be positive when everything is going against me.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Very bad news.


I got bad news today. It seems my kidney failure is irreversible and I will probably have to go on dialysis three times a week. The Doc said that once I am on it I will not come off it and they can’t consider a transplant because of my Mesothelioma.

I did have forebodings before the appointment and I guess this is the beginning of the end.

The Doc will do another blood test in two weeks and if my eGFR hasn’t improved, and he doesn’t think it will, he will start me on dialysis.

Sorry it is a short block, I am a bit in shock.


Sunday 20 February 2011

Renal failure

Well, the sickness still continues. My eGFR has now dropped to 11, anything below 15 is considered as stage five kidney failure. I have an appointment with a renal specialist on Tuesday and my GP thinks they will admit me into hospital. I hope they do as it definitely needs sorting out. I am hoping they put me on dialysis to finally clear the remaining chemo from of my blood.

I have an appointment and CT scan with my oncologist for the mesothelioma due next Friday, I will have to rearrange it if I am admitted to hospital.

We had a good holiday except I was ill for the last four days. The temperatures were up in the 30’s and it was nice to get some sun. I had hoped that the sunshine would help my kidney condition, but it seems to have had the opposite effect.

It is very wearing being ill, especially as I have been being sick since August when I had the first of this round of Chemoembolizations in Frankfurt.






My photo is of my lovely grandson Joe who has decided that he doesn’t like having his photo taken, and it shows on his face.