Treatment and After Care

Today I was back in Nottingham for a support meeting ahead of my Stem Cell implantation scheduled for the week of 23rd October. This meeting held at Maggie's Centre on the Hospital Campus was aimed at informing the process to come and consider the after care. Patients and their families were encouraged to come and [...]

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Ill when you’re ill

I am writing this from bed where I have spent much of the past two days. On Sunday night I felt the telltale signs of an oncoming cold. I think normally I would probably carry on, but this time it has been different. The cold has 'knocked me for six'. The persistent cough and runny [...]

New Norm

The ring of the alarm. 7 am Morning comes too soon. On a good night I've been up twice. But sometimes thrice. Early hours ablutions. Within minutes they are up. Wife an daughter. Showers, hairdryers, dressed, breakfast out. The hustle and bustle of a typical morning followed by Silence. The house is quiet. Maybe another [...]

Renal etc

Today I had a mammoth trip to Lincoln County Hospital meeting with two consultants as well as having my Hickman Line checked and prescriptions issued. All in all I spent four and a half hours in hospital, but unlike previous visits there was relatively little waiting. The day began at 9:40 when I arrived at [...]

Willen Walk

Last night there was a twilight lantern walk around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes. This was organised by Willen Hospice as a fundraiser and as a way of celebrating the life of those lost to cancer in 2017. With two friends (Pete and Rachel) having passed away this year it was an excellent way to [...]

Kidney Conundrum

The ongoing effect of my poor kidney function on my treatment. Yesterday in Nottingham I met with my consultant to consider the final phase of treatment which would again involve a high dose of chemotherapy followed by stem cell implantation. This was scheduled for October but has now been put on hold. Read more by clicking the title.

Harvest

Today is the day when my Stem Cells are to be harvested. I arrive at Nottingham City Hospital at just after 8:30am having dropped off the hire car. As ever there is the ubiquitous blood sample to check my white blood cell (neutrophil) count and then my stem cell count. My wounds are redressed and [...]

Near Death Experience

The image is of our new car which was parked on a straight piece of road facing oncoming traffic. We had called in on our way back from a weekend away in Cheddar where we had bought our new car and after a day in Chichester with our son. We needed a place for me [...]

Rebuilding

Having been overseas for three years and having no intention of returning to Britain, it has been quite a shock to the system to be back here. Now, as we adjust to the reality, we are in the process of rebuilding our UK lives. Anita has secured her old job in Milton Keynes (in fact [...]

G-CSF

G-CSF is not some new exam system, but is in fact a medical treatment designed to boost the production of stem cells in the body. It stands for Granulocyte=colony stimulation factor - so you can see why it is better to use the acronym! Today I started a 5 day regime of G-CSF injections. I [...]

Hickman Line

Today Is the day I had my Hickman Line fitted. It is not a procedure I was looking forward to. Anita, who had a day off work, was able to drop me off and drive me home. This was useful as I was told not to drive home by myself. Even so a lot of [...]

In Between Days

Tomorrow I travel to Nottingham for the first part of the second phase of my cancer treatment. It's now over a month since the end and of my chemotherapy, the first phase of my treatment. It's been great to spend much of the last five weeks away from the regular hospital appointments and consultations. The [...]

Too Young

For the second time in three months I have attended the funeral of a friend who has died of cancer. Another peer (a year younger than me) who succumbed to this dreadful illness.Pete was externally positive and always thinking of others. Today's funeral was as much celebration as anything else. The church was packed and [...]

Jubilee

It is now time to share one of the longest running sagas of my Myeloma. A long running dispute which has only been partially resolved at the very end of our time in Tanzania.

Headache

I have woken with a bad headache. Interestingly that in the last few months my general health has been good and I have had little in the way of other illness.  At the same time I have been much more attuned to my body. I think the fact you're being tested and measured on such [...]