It's probably no surprise, given my continuing existence, that were I to be given the opportunity to change any of the decisions made regarding my treatment, I wouldn't alter a thing. However shaky some of the steps may have seemed at the time, and whatever slings and arrows outrageous fortune may have flung at me as a result, it's … Continue reading Me and my immunotherapy, on the national news
Day +261: Good blood and bad chat
It's been a while... I even cheated and used a website to work out how many days it's been since my stem cell transplant. I usually put such a delay down to the fact I've been too busy getting on with life, which is at least partly true. It's also, though, because medically my life hasn't been very interesting, … Continue reading Day +261: Good blood and bad chat
My 100th post: 10 months in pictures…
"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
So, cancer reckons it's in charge? I'm 77 days post-stem cell transplant following my relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and I say it's not... 1. Cancer fails to deny its inferiority As a trained journalist, I'm keenly aware of giving the 'other side' of a story the right to reply. So I tried contacting cancer through various media … Continue reading 11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
I've been feeling a bit more tired over the past few days; perhaps because of the triathlon in which I competed on Thursday evening... This was all one take (as you can probably imagine), but hopefully explains the importance of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and why you MUST support Anna in the Blenheim Palace … Continue reading Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
Time flies when you’re having… a transplant
Somehow we've reached Day -2 in my treatment plan, so my stem cell transplant is taking place very soon indeed. I've got through five days of Fludarabine without much to complain about – and was even allowed out to continue my and Mariacristina's efforts to eat as much good food as possible in the shortest … Continue reading Time flies when you’re having… a transplant
Chemo kicks off: VIDEO EXCLUSIVE
My first ever vblog! And yes, next time (if we do it again) we'll do it in Landscape rather than Portrait... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyomb9E1qNg
Toxicity vs tiredness…
Weary, weary, weary... The first phase of chemotherapy may have been particularly intensive from a toxicity point of view – and the delayed recovery to my blood counts was reflected in that – but it didn't come anywhere near this phase in terms of tiring me out. In terms of toxicity, this round has generally … Continue reading Toxicity vs tiredness…
A very special Christmas – best wishes to everyone!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS! I'll not be going out (except perhaps for a walk on Streatham Common, during which I'll be making people wonder what they've done wrong when I change my course to avoid them, or cover my mouth and nose when they approach) for at least the next few days. Instead we'll be enjoying our first Christmas … Continue reading A very special Christmas – best wishes to everyone!
Decisions, decisions, decisions
The luxury of time Given my domestic indecisiveness and patience (what Mariacristina would call my snail-like speed at getting things done) on the one hand, and Mariacristina's decisiveness and, erm, insistence on getting things done as soon as possible on the other, it's a small miracle that it was I who proposed to her, and … Continue reading Decisions, decisions, decisions