Had a phone call from the new intern at The Churchill this afternoon, she was going to ring me yesterday evening but decided it was too late when she found out. They have looked at my blood results, liver is functioning almost normally, slight anomaly with the kidneys, may have been de-hydration. Result, back to 600mg of pazobanib from tomorrow! Lets hope the reduced dose is kinder on my liver but still enough to slow the tumours down.
After a slow and lazy start I have spent all day doing the last little jobs and packing the Skoda ready for tomorrows event. Ian helped, and I couldn't have managed without him. Carrying the hoover from the garage(yes I have a garage hoover) to the car was enough for me. I could have managed the spare wheels and the compressor, but it would have finished me off for the day and I would never have been able to put them away.
Early night tonight as I have to take the pazobanib an hour before food and I am picking lauren up at 9:00, which means leaving home at 8:30 ish, so up at 7:00 for pazobanib.
Thanks everybody for all the effort and facebook chat that has gone into making tomorrow happen. Lets hope Lauren and I don't come last.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Friday, 27 September 2013
Fantastic day!
I have done some running about in it picking up bits for Andy's rally car and all seems good. Bit tired now though.
I was expecting to hear from Dr Pratap today, but haven't. It will be Monday before I can find out what's going on. Hohum.
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Thursday, 26 September 2013
Reality Check
I have had a pretty shit day today. I had a facebook message first thing to tell me my old boss, John Matchett, lost his battle against cancer. I saw his name on the ward board at The Churchill last year. Then I saw his wife walk along the corridor. I couldn't do anything to find out what was happening as I was flat out in bed on a chemo drip.
Then, by chance, I saw him in Sainsbury's car park. I asked how he was, and in his usual way he answered 'Fine'. I then told him I had seen him in The Churchill when I was in for chemo and he admitted he had bowel cancer.
Since then I have spoken to him on the phone a few times, exchanged txts and emails. In our last phone conversation he described us as "kindred spirits fighting the same thing". I left a message on his phone a couple of weeks ago asking him when we could meet for a coffee. I didn't hear anything back, now I know why.
I have also had a long phone chat with my Dad. He doesn't sound at all well. He is diabetic, his lungs have problems and now they have scanned his brain. Must get over to see him.
I am also worried (I know, I don't do worrying) that Andy isn't going to have time to get the Skoda sorted before Sunday. It seems there are still a number of issues to resolve before an MOT and others before it runs OK. I hope we can sort it as Burton Dasset has always been my favourite event at one of my favourite places. I'd love to say "No worries, there is always next year".
Chaired my last governors meeting this evening. Well in fact I only chaired the first 4 items and then I handed over to the new chair. It was very sad, but I got lots of appreciation.
Had to wait half an hour for a blood test at The Horton this morning. Still far better than a trip to The Churchill. No oncologist appointment tomorrow, they are all away at a conference. They are going to ring me and let me know how my liver is and whether I can start the chemo again.
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Then, by chance, I saw him in Sainsbury's car park. I asked how he was, and in his usual way he answered 'Fine'. I then told him I had seen him in The Churchill when I was in for chemo and he admitted he had bowel cancer.
Since then I have spoken to him on the phone a few times, exchanged txts and emails. In our last phone conversation he described us as "kindred spirits fighting the same thing". I left a message on his phone a couple of weeks ago asking him when we could meet for a coffee. I didn't hear anything back, now I know why.
I have also had a long phone chat with my Dad. He doesn't sound at all well. He is diabetic, his lungs have problems and now they have scanned his brain. Must get over to see him.
I am also worried (I know, I don't do worrying) that Andy isn't going to have time to get the Skoda sorted before Sunday. It seems there are still a number of issues to resolve before an MOT and others before it runs OK. I hope we can sort it as Burton Dasset has always been my favourite event at one of my favourite places. I'd love to say "No worries, there is always next year".
Chaired my last governors meeting this evening. Well in fact I only chaired the first 4 items and then I handed over to the new chair. It was very sad, but I got lots of appreciation.
Had to wait half an hour for a blood test at The Horton this morning. Still far better than a trip to The Churchill. No oncologist appointment tomorrow, they are all away at a conference. They are going to ring me and let me know how my liver is and whether I can start the chemo again.
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Friday, 20 September 2013
Busy week
I have been keeping myself busy this week to keep my mind off of last weeks blood test results. Have been feeling fairly good. I have also discovered that I can walk into the path lab over the road at the Horton and get blood tests done on a Thursday ready for the Churchill on a Friday, which makes life easier. I had to go to The Churchill Wednesday though to get an envelope for the blood tests to go in as it has to be signed by the doctor. Went in 500Tie, in the sun. Unfortunately it rained later so I had to get her washed before going to Classics on the Green at Wychford on Thursday evening. It was a lovely little event with a variety of vehicles on the village green outside the pub.
Today I have been to see Dr Pratap. I was expecting the worst and that they were going to say the chemo has destroyed my liver and that it won't get better and chemo will have to stop. It wasn't that bad, my liver seems to have recovered a bit and we have planned another review next week. So, no chemo again this week. It's a difficult place to be mentally, I want the chemo back as it will extend my life expectancy, but I don't want the chemo because it could fatally damage my liver. It does my head in if I think about it for too long. Hopefully my liver will have recovered again next week and chemo will recommence. Then the plan is to monitor my blood every week. No appointment next week as The Prof and Dr Pratap are both off to a conference. So, blood test Thursday at the Horton and phone conversation Friday from the conference! What service.
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Today I have been to see Dr Pratap. I was expecting the worst and that they were going to say the chemo has destroyed my liver and that it won't get better and chemo will have to stop. It wasn't that bad, my liver seems to have recovered a bit and we have planned another review next week. So, no chemo again this week. It's a difficult place to be mentally, I want the chemo back as it will extend my life expectancy, but I don't want the chemo because it could fatally damage my liver. It does my head in if I think about it for too long. Hopefully my liver will have recovered again next week and chemo will recommence. Then the plan is to monitor my blood every week. No appointment next week as The Prof and Dr Pratap are both off to a conference. So, blood test Thursday at the Horton and phone conversation Friday from the conference! What service.
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Friday, 13 September 2013
Newsflash
Whilst I was there Dr Pratap rang me. The blood tests from this afternoon indicate that my liver function is not right. She wants me to stop taking the pazobanib immediately and we will review the situation next Friday. That means getting blood tests done Thursday and a visit to The Churchill Friday.
I don't know what to do or say at the moment. It all seemed to be going so well. Then the rug got pulled again. I am devastated.
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Something to Report!
I have been to see the oncologist today, and they were on time!!!!!!!
Saw Dr Pratap, we went through all my blood pressure data and she was happy that is staying below 100 dyastolic most of the time. I have to contact them if it goes over 100 2 days running. We went through all the other possible side effects, of which I have none (except a bit of fatigue now and then). I asked her if the soreness was the pazobanib doing its job or the tumour developing, she was straight and honest and said she didn't know. She also listened to my chest. I asked her if that was to detect side effects or to keep an eye on the findings from the last scan. She said it was to keep an eye on the scan results and what was going on in my lungs. She couldn't hear anything abnormal, so the pazobanib seems to be doing something.
She is requesting a scan for me sometime before my next appointment, which was to have been the 11th October, but I moved it to the 18th, in case we decide to go to Jersey for the rally and a few days of autumn fun.
I haven't had many adventures this week. I popped out to the Banbury Classic Car Club gathering yesterday evening, 500Tie got much admiration. Other than that it has been dog/plumber sitting and general odds and ends this week. Might have a trip East next week to Cambridge and my Dad to see how he is getting on. Depends when I can book my Speed Awareness course for, as Northamptonshire have decided that this time they should let me go on a course and not give me the fine and points.
It's been a bit too normal this week, I haven't posted a blipfoto and I haven't blogged.
Saw Dr Pratap, we went through all my blood pressure data and she was happy that is staying below 100 dyastolic most of the time. I have to contact them if it goes over 100 2 days running. We went through all the other possible side effects, of which I have none (except a bit of fatigue now and then). I asked her if the soreness was the pazobanib doing its job or the tumour developing, she was straight and honest and said she didn't know. She also listened to my chest. I asked her if that was to detect side effects or to keep an eye on the findings from the last scan. She said it was to keep an eye on the scan results and what was going on in my lungs. She couldn't hear anything abnormal, so the pazobanib seems to be doing something.
She is requesting a scan for me sometime before my next appointment, which was to have been the 11th October, but I moved it to the 18th, in case we decide to go to Jersey for the rally and a few days of autumn fun.
I haven't had many adventures this week. I popped out to the Banbury Classic Car Club gathering yesterday evening, 500Tie got much admiration. Other than that it has been dog/plumber sitting and general odds and ends this week. Might have a trip East next week to Cambridge and my Dad to see how he is getting on. Depends when I can book my Speed Awareness course for, as Northamptonshire have decided that this time they should let me go on a course and not give me the fine and points.
It's been a bit too normal this week, I haven't posted a blipfoto and I haven't blogged.
Friday, 6 September 2013
What to blog???
When I started the blog there was a lot of chemotherapy going on and much to share. The current chemo seems so easy. I take 4 tablets in the morning, most days I feel fine, if I overdo it I get very tired and if I walk too far I get very sore. But generally that's it. I don't know if it is doing any good. The tumour in my groin has gone hard (oooer missus, snigger snigger), I don't think it is any bigger and I don't think it is any smaller. I have had some pain in my back, in the sameplace as it was in the early chemo when the Prof said it was the tumour in my kidney. Other than that all is well and I have been busy enjoying myself.
Went down to Swansea for a couple of days this week to see Phill. We had a day out on The Gower, walked on Port Eynon beach and had lunch overlooking Rhossilli Bay. I drove his Jag and he enjoyed being chauffeurred, he didn't make me wear his peaked cap and he sat in the front. The Jag is a gorgeous car, almost obscene in its opulence. I left it fairly late to come back in the evening and got even later when my 20 minute power nap turned into an hours sleep in the Forest of Dean. I must of needed it, I awoke refreshed and between Cheltenham and Banbury I only saw about 3 other cars. Blasting across the Cotswolds under a star filled sky in 500Tie was gorgeous, I need more drives like that.
So with the chemo being fairly routine and me filling my time with as many adventures as I can, blogging will be sporadic.
Went down to Swansea for a couple of days this week to see Phill. We had a day out on The Gower, walked on Port Eynon beach and had lunch overlooking Rhossilli Bay. I drove his Jag and he enjoyed being chauffeurred, he didn't make me wear his peaked cap and he sat in the front. The Jag is a gorgeous car, almost obscene in its opulence. I left it fairly late to come back in the evening and got even later when my 20 minute power nap turned into an hours sleep in the Forest of Dean. I must of needed it, I awoke refreshed and between Cheltenham and Banbury I only saw about 3 other cars. Blasting across the Cotswolds under a star filled sky in 500Tie was gorgeous, I need more drives like that.
So with the chemo being fairly routine and me filling my time with as many adventures as I can, blogging will be sporadic.
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