December in Frankfurt

Well, that was my ninth visit to the Professor. He says my tumours are more necrotic and that I have more lung capacity. He also says there are no new tumours, so I assume that there have been at other visits.

The Prof has made me an appointment for January but I will not be going then. I have decided if Dr. Jeremy Steele of St. Bart’s hospital agrees, to go on his IPM chemotherapy program. He uses the same chemo drugs as the Prof. Plus one other chemo drug called Irinotecan (Campto) I think I am also considering Mistletoe infusion too. I always have the amazing Prof. as back up if the IPM doesn't work for me, but his treatment is so expensive.,.

I am going to have a couple of months off as I have been having treatments continually for five months, and feel the need to pick up a bit before continuing.

I have just heard of a friend of mine who has just had an operation for lung cancer with pleural plaques. When will it ever end, especially as the Romans knew all those years ago that asbestos kills.

I wish all of my friends, supporters and everyone else in the world a peaceful and healthy Holiday over Christmas and the New Year.

My picture this time is of my beautiful Grandson Joseph on his first ever sledge ride.

Yet again to Germany.

I am off to Germany in a week and not at all looking forward to it. My Macmillan nurse says that here they put you on steroids when you have chemo and she thinks I will feel better if I do that. I checked with the Prof. who agrees. This will hopefully mean that I don't feel awful over Christmas. I hope it works.

My sister has just had radiation therapy on her brain and is waiting for more treatment for the other secondaries. She is being so brave and is a real fighter like myself, so I am optimistic for her.

I am looking forward to a few days in the sun soon.

Emily is in the area finals tomorrow and we are going to Portsmouth to support her. I have heard her song and it sounds amazing. If she gets through this final she will be off to the O2 in January.

I hope the snow doesn't make it difficult tomorrow.


My picture today is of a collage I have done, my first one.

8th Treatment in Frankfurt.

This was my 8th Treatment in Frankfurt. I had emailed the Prof. to say I was still being sick everyday and have the shakes for the last two months. He emailed back that he would therefore do the chemoembolisation treatment instead of the chemoperfusion treatment. Then I thought about it and emailed back that I actually wanted him to do the treatment that would best benefit my condition.

The Prof. says the shakes and sickness are to do with my brain probably being a bit inflamed and that it should wear off when the treatment stops. St. Bart's thought the same as they gave me a brain scan, but said everything was OK.

In the end I had chemoembolisation, and again had a bad allergic reaction and was given about six different medications to help, which they did. After about an hour I was OK again and rested for the three hours before having a follow up CT scan, and my appointment to discuss the outcome with the Prof.

The Prof. was very pleased and said I was now stable, I asked if it was all stable or just the bit he last treated. He said it was all stable, so brilliant news. He wants to do another treatment in December though, which was a bit disappointing as I thought this was the last one for a bit.

I told the Prof. that I felt I should try out the IPM chemo that St. Bart's is trialing. He thinks I may react badly to it as it uses mostly the same chemo that he uses. I hope not though. He says he will make another appointment after the December treatment, for 6 - 8 weeks while I investigate. I thought it best to be honest about what I was planning to do treatment wise, as I will definitely be seeing him again for more treatment in the future, as there is currently no known cure for mesothelioma. He says I am still good for his statistics.

I have had a CT scan at St. Bart's and they seem to have missed the fact that I have tumour below the diaphragm, in fact they say there is "no tumour below the diaphragm". I know I have tumour there from previous scan's I have had elsewhere. I have asked for the CT scan to be re- reported so they have an accurate view of my condition. It could affect the treatment options they give me. I just have to be on the ball and double-check everything, it is so worrying.

I have heard good and bad news of my fellow mesothelioma suffers, it is very hard to come to terms with bad news but the support we give each other is priceless.



Today's picture is of the Aldershot Open Mic Competition of my Daughter Emily taken by Caitlin Mogridge.