After Round 3 Mark had a scan to review progress but we didn't see the Oncologist and receive the results for 6 weeks!! By which time he is now already on Round 5. However, the results were worth waiting for because they are good! They show a 'partial response' to the 2nd line chemo treatment with some mets shrinking by more than 50%, after only 3 rounds. In other words, the chemo is working! I felt a surge of happiness and joy, having almost forgotten how that feels. Time for some celebrating and a few "whoop-whoops"!! And a few tears. They seem to accompany everything these days.
Unfortunately, the downside is that Mark has more recently been suffering from the dreaded dysphagia. Red flag! But only intermittently. One day he will find he can barely eat or drink, the next, he can manage a cooked breakfast! So, the oncologist suspected this might be a stent issue, rather than the tumour growing "because the scan results are too good". So an endoscopy has been ordered and M might possibly need a new stent to be fitted. At least they will be able to see what is going on and hopefully resolve the worst of the problem.
It is nearly a year since Mark was first diagnosed and given "months to live". We have been through SO much in the last 12 months but today has given us a real boost and the energy fo keep pushing forward. We have been given a 2nd chance and a reason to carry on hoping....
