Passed the buck.

I have waited until today to update this blog as I was seeing my surgeon Karen Harrison-Phipps this afternoon. The x-ray she took was OK and she was pleased, it didn't look any worse than six months ago. I still feel a bit chemo'd out but am looking forward to the holiday, sunshine here we come.

I still feel a lot going on in my chest and I am sure it is the chemoembolization doing its job.

Three other ladies were diagnosed at the same time as me and I asked my lovely Macmillan nurse Sandra how they were fairing. Three of us are still going but one had died through complications with her second-round chemo. She caught pneumonia and was overwhelmed. I send my condolences to her family. This is one of the big risks with chemo, as your immune system takes a hammering, and why I won't see anyone in my first week of treatment each time.

I have passed the buck for most of my Christmas gift buying by sending cheques to my cousins so they can get their children something that is wanted rather than my choice which could miss the mark. So thank you cousins for doing this for me. This also has the effect of sorting out over 50% of the presents I have to buy, a result!
I will have 2 -3 weeks after the holiday to get the rest and this should suffice.

Today's picture is of one of my own paintings of a winter flower done a year ago. I must say it looks better small like this than the original size.

Still haven't touched the nuts but I keep noticing them, the temptation is soo strong!!!

Day five after second treatment.

'I've been reading your blog, it's like watching someone you love having a car crash....................'
This is what my cousin wrote to me, it made me think. I write the blog to keep friends and family up to date but at the same time I am reminding them that I am ill. I am sorry that there is this side effect to the blog.

Feeling pretty spaced and not with it, about the same as I felt after the first treatment. It would help if I could get a good nights sleep but I seem to wake up several times in the night. I will feel like this for a few more days then should improve a lot. It definitely feels as if something is going on in my chest so I am hoping for an even better result at my next treatment on the 4th January.

I am looking forward to our holiday at the end of the month, a few days cruising between the Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco. The sunshine will certainly be most welcome for us both as this is as hard for Rob as it is for me.

Rob had his swine flu jab today so hopefully this will help as I can't have one for four more weeks. That is if I do have it. After the Prof. telling another Meso patient that he shouldn't have it I am now not quite sure what to do.

Thank you for the several offers of translation, I now have an idea of the blood tests I will need to have before the next treatment, it seems I must get my GP to do them. I am to telephone the German hospital if my bloods are not back to normal before I go again. I wonder what would happen if I didn't get them done?

Today's picture is of the wonderful team I had racing with me in this years Cancer Research Race For Life in Maidstone in May. I am the one in the centre. We walked the 5km and raised over £4.000 between us, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful sponsors. I am hoping to be able to do the race again next year, God willing.

I must seriously start thinking about Christmas shopping when we get back from our holiday. For those who have read an earlier blog we still have our nuts!

Day three after second treatment.

It is day three after my second treatment and I must say that this time I can feel a lot more going on in my chest. I am quite uncomfortable in the area that the Prof. has just treated.

Hopefully this is good news and shows that the chemoembolization is doing its job. I did get some soreness last time too but not so early and not so much. Perhaps this means that this second treatment will be more successful!

The Prof. will treat the top front of my lung next time, which is in January.

I have been quite sleepy today and managed a catnap this afternoon. The first week after treatment is the worst, it leaves me feeling exhausted and a bit nauseous, but nothing like conventional chemotherapy did.

I have been out to post my foreign Christmas cards today and I couldn't have even considered doing anything so soon last year on conventional chemo.

I am hearing about so many people with cancer now and it is quite distressing. It is amazing that we can get on the moon but can't cure this awful disease yet. However there are lots of things in the pipeline so I must be more positive.

My family and friends are a real inspiration to me and I really appreciate them.
I do feel a bit humble though when I read of these poor young men getting killed in Afghanistan, at least I have experienced the majority of my life.

Today's picture is of a canoeist I photographed having fun in the Medway near our home. Several groups use the river with varying skills. It is great to see them enjoying the water.