Scan Results

I had my scan review today with the specialist and the results on the whole were positive. The tumour in my pelvis has reduced significantly (it's about a 10th of it's original size) and has therefore responded well to the chemotherapy. We must now wait for 3 months, have another scan and see what the rate of re-growth is. This will determine the timing of the next round of treatment.

However, in performing the full body CT scan they have found another tumour on my kidney. It is totally unrelated to the tumour we have been treating and is very small, I would not have found out about it without the scan, as there are no symptoms. As the tumour is small they again want to wait for the next scan and assess any rate of growth. This tumour is operable by removing part of the kidney but at the moment too small to make this necessary.

The upshot is I now have 3 months off any treatment to recover from the chemotherapy and to get my strength and fitness back. I can now get back on the Warfarin to get my leg sorted out and hopefully stop the daily injections. All ready for the next review in November.

So whilst the kidney tumour was unexpected, I am pleased the lymph tumour has not spread at all and is under control, that the kidney is not a vital organ and you can lose a whole one if you have to, and that I am being closely monitored and am fully aware of what's going on in there and we are now picking things up very early, when they are best to deal with.

I'll let you know about the Warfarin next week as I have to go back to the GP for that.

Speak soon.
Sheila x

The Big Five-O

OK, I can't deny it, Sunday was my 50th Birthday. I had a lovely day, lunch at Jury's (a local hotel in Bristol) followed by cake and champers at my brothers. I had some great presents, phone calls, visits, flowers and loads of cards over a three day period. I thoroughly enjoyed the actual day too so Thank You, it was very special.

Sheila x

Interesting Day

I had two appointments today, the first was with the Lymph nurse who performed a lymph drainage massage on me. I thought this would just involve my leg, but in fact it involved the whole lymph system, starting in the neck. The massage lasted about an hour and is very gentle as the lymphs are just below the surface so don't need much pressure to kick start them. By the end of that I was so relaxed I could hardly get up! However no rest for the wicked, next stop was the BRI for my CT scan. A CT scanner is a fancy Xray machine which takes pictures of small slices of the body area being analysed. I had to drink about a litre of lemon squash beforehand which contained a dye to get a clearer picture and then during the Xray procedure I was injected with further dye to produce the contrast required. The Xray itself took about 3-4 minutes and was silent, unlike the MRI scanners. The Xrays are then put onto the computer system ready for the Consultant to pick up and review. I have to wait a week for the results though because the Clinic is on a Wednesday. So all in all a day of "firsts" for me and very interesting. I'm going to have my early evening nap now :-)

Sheila x

Chemo Finished

I had my blood tested today and the platelet count has continued to decrease so the treatment has again been cancelled. Due to the time lapse since my last chemo it will now be of no further benefit. The next couple of weeks are about waiting; I have a CT scan booked for the 16th which will be reviewed by a team of doctors and they will decide the next course of action. I'm expecting to hear the results of this review on the 23rd, by which time I will be a 50 year old (Help!)

I plan now to take it easy, let my body (and in particular my blood) start to recover and prepare myself for what comes next.

Speak soon
Sheila x

Round 6 Part 2 delayed

Had my bloods tested today and the counts were too low. The doctor wants to delay the treament until next week to give my body time to recover, the fatigue and breathlessness reflect my blood counts really. This is a disappointing delay because it was my last chemo in this treatment plan. If it proceeds next week it won't delay my post treatment scan and review which are scheduled for later in the month.

Life on the leg is much easier now the weather has cooled down a bit and it continues to improve. I've now walked around the Marina a few times (not in the same day!), something I couldn't have done a few weeks ago.

Speak soon
Sheila x