All well...so far!

Went to hospital today to sign the consent forms for this new treatment. All went well in the usual pre treatment tests-blood pressure, ecg etc.

Have to back next Tuesday for a bone marrow biopsy, that is something to look forward to!

If everything goes to plan I start the new treatment on july 8th and is an injection once a week over a period of eight weeks followed by a whole series of checkups.

One good thing about this kind of tratment is that it does not involve any hairloss, its only just starting to grow back after the chemotherapy.

Another plus is that it does not involve any overnight stays in hospital--I think I have had my share of hospital food this year!

Andy

Bad News followed by Good News!

As you are probably aware I had an appointment at Kings College hospital last week to discuss stem cell transfer. Well all I can say is that I have never ever been treated in such a rude way before. All the doctor said was that as the tumour had not shrunk enough for stem cell treatment there was no treatment he could give and that I would probably die within a couple of months. He did not even say it in a kind or sympathetic manner.

After a very miserable week I saw Mark Hill at Maidstone Hospital yesterday and he said that there are plenty of treatment options available. He has booked me in for treatment using a new drug called Ofatumumab which involves a weekly injection over a period of 8 weeks with regular blood tests and CT scans. This is followed by regular monitoring over a period of 5 years. If this treatment does not work there are other options available including a different chemotherapy regime and/or radiotherapy.

The dark clouds from last week are rolling away fast but whatever happens I am not giving up.

Andy

A Brain Teaser for you

I was listening to Paul Millers late show on BBC local radio for the South East last night and he was asking people to ring in with names of famous people who had first and second names starting with adjoining letters of the alphabet. Heres what I came up with, can you add any more?

AB
BC Bryan Chalker
CD Charles Dickens, Celine Dione, Charlie Drake
DE Dave Edmunds
EF Ella Fitzgerald
FG
GH Gwyneth Herbert,George Harrison
HI
IJ
JK John Kennedy
KL Ken Livingstone
LM
MN
NO
OP Oliver Postgate
PQ Pauline Quirke
QR
RS Ringo Starr
ST
TU
UV
WX
XY
YZ
ZA

Andy

Not counting my chickens just yet

I saw the consultant at Maidstone on Tuesday and got the result of the latest scan.

The good news is that the tumours have considerably reduced and he thinks the residue may be scar tissue. I am having a PET scan on Thursday to confirm this so keep your fingers crossed.

Seeing the consultant at Kings on the 17ih about the stem cell transplant.

Andy

As Expected

As expected the local government elections here in the UK gave the Labour party a thorough drubbing.

Here in Kent the Conservatives have a large majority on the County Council. One of the basic principles of democrocy is to have an effective oppposition that challenges decisions by the ruling group. Sadly this is now lacking and policies will be followed without any challenges being made.

Nationally there are calls for a General Election but I disagree with this. MPs belonging to all the major political groups have become embroiled in the expenses debacle and if an election was called now people would be tempted to vote either for a fringe party or not at all allowing one of the lesser known groups come to power.

I have the utmost respect for people who wish to stand on an anti sleaze ticket but with due respect to them what knowlege do they have of issues such as health, education or defence? All issues that are fundamental to the running of the country.

Maybe we should wait until the expenses issue has been resolved and than call an election with politicians we can trust. Or as an alternative to that maybe, bearing in mind the financial situation a government of national unity where all the political infighting is put to one side and the welfare of the country is put first.

Andy