Hi all, haven't been on for a while.
Neutropenic again after day 14 of chemo so back off to the hospital for another fortnight of crap food and cynical old men moaning about the NHS.
My next chemo was going to be cycle 3, after which I was going to have another CT scan to see if the tumours in my lungs had changed. Reduced 50% or more = Excellent, Reduced some = good, No Change = Bad, Grown = Really shite !!!!.
But I didn't need to wait for a 3rd cycle or a CT scan. A simple chest X-Ray revealed the news was Really shite. The tumours in both lungs are growing, the Doxurubicin wasn't working.
Ok, deep breath. What now?
We're changing to Ifosfamide, more side effects than Dox and a 3 day stint in hospital every cycle. 3 or 4 cycles if I can handle it. If that doesn't do anything it's off to the Marsden to see what they can do, but the outlooks not good. 6 months or so unless we have a miracle.
So talk now cannot skip over the T word. I am now terminal.
Surprisingly it only took me and the wife a little while to get over the grief and blubbering until we could formulate sentences and discuss the future. At the moment, together we are both amazingly strong and are planning for 2 possible outcomes but, only hoping for one. However, alone we are both devastated and frightened.
Typically the news was broken to us just before the Holiday weekend when my Onc was off for a week. All those initial questions that you forget to ask will be building up until Tuesday.
The positivity of friends and family is amazing. I'm not sure I should let on to too many people about my bad news in case that changes to despair.
Anyway more to follow I'm sure.
Peace
Dave
ps .Anybody know anything about Trabectedin
FormerMember
Everyone in the world is terminal and the docs sometimes think they have some crystal ball that gives time lines. Well, no they don't. Sometimes they get it right and many times wrong. You still have options and hence there is some hope of at least slowing it down to a crawl. Have they said 'no surgery' to you? Well, whichever treatment you receive I hope it is what you and your wife hope it to be and I send support and (((hugs))).
Blimey Dave - how awful. I'm so sorry to hear that. You and Mrs Dave sound like such a good team together, I really hope this next reatment helps and gives you a good summer together.
Just started reading your blog when I got your terrible T news. I have been diagnosed with exactly the same as yourself and also have secondary spread to the lungs. My initial tumour was in groin/pelvis area. Lung has filled with fluid twice and has to be drained although this time they will do the talc procedure. New chemo due to start this week.
Anyway I have always maintained a positive attitude as even after all I've been through I still do not feel unwell! Looking at starting mistletoe injections soon which are good for your immunity and fight cancer cells. Trying alternative medicines stimulates thought and gives a feel good factor. Also Reading Lance Armstrong autobiography "its not about the bike" which is an excellent read especially in hospital.
Chin up and positive thoughts will hopefully reverse the T diagnosis.
