The cats tell the story of my day today. Give them a crochet hook, a bit of light music in the background and you pretty much have it all ! Leukocytes down a little exactly as expected from chemo, mask on from now on. No problems just time for a day of rest. Well she’s … Continue reading Rest day today →

Autumn has definitely arrived. I am no longer used to cold weather, even though I love it, but when Darlene and I escaped the hospital for lunch today and a decent cup of coffee wouldn't go astray ( sure there's a song in that), I was rugged up in my puffy jacket, card, beanie and … Continue reading Autumn is arriving →

Today is half way up the mountain. I say half way up the mountain, as leaving Moscow will be reaching the summit and seeing the view. Then there is the long slog of side effects, highly compromised immune system, getting back to work, building up the muscle mass I can feel dropping away ... and … Continue reading Half way up the mountain →

Lifted straight from Wikipedia ... Etymology Refers to Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River to wage civil war with Rome, on January 10, 49 BC, in violation of law. This act is also the origin of the phrase the die is cast. Verb cross the Rubicon (third-person singular simple present crosses the Rubicon, present … Continue reading Crossing the Rubicon →

I now have four days of chemo to come. All the required stem cells have been taken, and are now frozen safely awaiting reinjection once my immune system has been ablated. To be clear, my immune system needs to be partly destroyed, to allow the stem cells to assist with re-setting the immune system. By … Continue reading Four days of chemo →

by John Greenleaf Whittier When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't … Continue reading Don’t Quit →

Well today I officially feel like a puffer fish ! After 4 days of steroids and IV saline I weigh about 6 kg more than usual and am exploding out of my stretchy jeans ! It's going to be pyjamas from now on I think. They collected enough stem cells today that I can get … Continue reading Puffer fish day →

Today and tomorrow are stem cell collection time, so I'm basically hooked up to a machine ( yes, it goes bing!) for up to 6 hours a day, as it separates out the stem cells from the main blood system using a centrifuge system. Today they got about half the stem cells, so tomorrow should … Continue reading Stem cell collection time →

This, on a very superficial level, was one of my concerns. I've mentioned previously the boost from trying on heaps of head coverings and actually finding them attractive, feeling I can wear those coverings for an extended period. Now that I'm meeting people with venous catheters and no hair, it's amazing how quickly the focus … Continue reading Hair loss & perceptions of beauty →

Oh those steroids are kicking in, my face is puffing up no end ! Forget the cheekbones, they'll reappear at some time I hope. The routine for the next few days is antacids before meals, steroid infusion every morning, afternoon and evening free, painkiller at night plus sleeping pill by choice, then stem cell stimulation … Continue reading Today’s picture →