The Road Ahead

I came across this video from Myeloma UK. It gives advice about the recovery process from Stem Cell transplant. I found it useful although need for a neutropenic diet is no longer seen as relevant according to the stem cell nurses at Nottingham. https://youtu.be/zIXcGBv7Ryc

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Nottingham

It's become a weekly ritual. The two hour journey up the motorway to Nottingham. Parking the car at the Wilkinson Street Park and Ride before catching the Medilink bus. I have come to the city hospital for a meeting with my consultant ahead of a scheduled admission into the hospital some time next week for [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.

Line Management

With the stem cell harvesting completed it's now a waiting game. I am due to return to Nottingham for a consultation on 11th Sept. to find out when exactly the final phase of treatment will take place, though tentatively it is to be in October in Nottingham. Neither the fitting of the Hickman Line nor [...]

Memory Tracks!

My time in England has thrown up all sorts of reunions not just of people but of places. I chose to come to Lincoln as it was the family home and a good base while the family were in Tanzania. Then we were offered a house in Milton Keynes and my wife got her old [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Free

I'm free. I have no scheduled appointments at hospital for many weeks ahead. 😃 Today I met with my consultant who does not need to see me again until October, after my Stem Cell transplantation has taken place. That leaves only my scheduled stem cell harvesting in late August and the transplantation in early October.  [...]

Getting Mobilised

The next phase of my treatment is going to involve the use of Stem Cells. My own stem cells! Stem Cells are immature cells. Blood forming stem cells are found in the bone marrow, they are known as mononuclear cells and are continually growing into mature blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells or [...]

Next Steps

Today I went to Nottingham. This important visit was to meet with the medical team at Nottingham City Hospital who are overseeing the next phase of my treatment. That being the production, extraction and reinsertion of my stem cells back into my body either side of some intensive chemotherapy to destroy the remaining Myeloma cells. [...]