My Unplanned Sabbatical

Staying occupied

The past 4 days have been pretty good. We have been out for a couple of family dinners with friends which has been enjoyable. I have been doing a little work and other things to stay a little active.

I feel a bit pre flu like with a headache and sore throat today and I hope this will pass overnight.

This week Petra and I will be attending a Lymphoma Society Patient and Carer workshop in the city. It’s objective is to have speakers cover the latest thinking in treatment etc. this should be interesting. On Friday I will have the PET test, the following Monday will be the CT scan and the Tuesday will see me back in the big blue chair for my first dose of Rituximab under the 2 year maintenance protocol.

I handle the Rituximab pretty well. It only brings on flu like symptoms for a day or so. This will happen once every 2 months for the next 2 years.

I don’t fancy being that room again but there is nothing I can do about it.
Tuesday afternoon will also be the debrief and assessment meeting with the oncology team. I am looking forward to getting the results.

Big week ahead. Really tired today.

All pretty good

Continued improvement. All going well. A little anxious about the results of next weeks tests but nothing that I can do about that. Very manageable.

Training well and fitness slowly returning. I no longer fear the aging shopper!

Hoping the throw the leg over my bike soon. Looking forward to that. Next week feels about the right time to squeeze into that lycra!

One month out

Not a lot to update on. Every day is slightly better than before. I still experience periods of fatigue at some stage each day that require me to stop for a while and assume the horizontal position.

If I over exercise this is worse, no real surprise there.

Over one month has passed since my last chemo and it’s wonderful that I am not psyching myself up for another couple of bags. So pleased its not happening again.

The last couple of evenings, including today, I experience that awful sickly sweet, yet metallic chemo taste at the back of my throat. I can also smell it it my room. This is very weird as its not possible, yet this is what I am sensing. I cannot explain it. I assume it is a mental association of some sort or Petra is spiking my stir fry with Bendamustine! Who knows.

Doing a little more work this week which is a pleasant change.

There have been calls for more Mika shots, so here is one more of the killer dog sleeping on her back. This reincarnation concept may be worth buying into!

A much improved week

This week has seen steady improvement everyday. I have started to exercise and managed a couple of solid sessions with my trainer this week. A big one today so I expect I may be sore tomorrow.

This has improved my confidence. I still need to rest for large parts of the day but lucky I can do this when I need to. I have managed to do a little work as well. Solid sleep remains elusive and this is really frustrating. In time I hope that this will improve.

Overall a much better week physically and hope this trend will continue.

The Oncologist and an update

The appointment with the Oncologist went very well yesterday. Although no new tests as yet to confirm the effectiveness of the 6 treatments, the team looking after me could not be happier with the outcome so far.

We discussed various options going forward but given my apparent health, fitness and age the current suggestion is that they collect my stem cells and freeze them for future use if needed. Like an insurance policy.

As my bone marrow was clean before I started and after 6 months of chemo it should be crystal clean, the strategy is a good one. Gives me more options in the future should I find myself in relapse. Apparently you can freeze it for 10 years. If I don’t need it there is always Ebay!

Spoke about strategies for returning to work and the maintenance program for the next 2 years. Seems all rather doable.

The next key process will be new scans at the end of August and a factual assessment of the impact and effectiveness of the chemo. We will then have enough information to map out the future will more certainty.

In the interim I just need to focus on building myself back up to some form of new normal.

I will never quite be the same but I intend on being the best I can be in these new circumstances. I could even be better! That is up to me.

I still find myself having to rest before and after things. Mondays track day has put me in the horizontal position for a while but it was worth it. I am still suffering a bit but that will pass. In time this fatigue will also diminish.

The Oncologist suggested it takes 3 to 6 months after chemo to start to shake free its impacts. I am still within the first month so this is all very normal. I am just a poor patient that hates to be still.

Challenge Cancer Charity Drive Day

I spent last night and today in the company of 24 friends who came together to raise some money for cancer. I was touched by the their generosity. We raised $24,000 on the day.

We spent the day racing our own cars around Phillip Island race track. We had 3 professional race drivers help out with tips and advice. It was a crazy day of testosterone and fun. It started the evening before with pasta, steak and red wine. As most are of Italian and Greek origin the food and wine was of the highest priority. It was a very funny night with plenty of stories. I put myself to bed early as the rest kicked on for a while.

We started with a 7 am breakfast before heading to the track for briefings etc. Managed to watch the mens 100 m at the Olympics which was a great race and set the tone for the rest of the day.

The boys had an amazing collection of cars. Ferraris, Porsches, Elfins, Morgan’s, BMWs, AMG Mercedes and even a F3 race car.

It was raining on and off and we had an amazing time. Most of us are experienced track drivers and we were hitting speeds of more than 250 kmh at the end of the main straight. Even my little Golf R was clipping 215 kmh. A number spun off into the gravel traps and mud and only one car hit the wall and sustained some damage. No one was hurt.

Although we had a great time, the objective was to raise money for a worthy charity and $24,000 was a solid effort. I had not been away from home for a long time so spending the night in Phillip Island was a pleasant change.

I am home now feeling very tired but extremely satisfied.

Crown

The last couple of days have been pretty good. Attended a work friends 50th birthday dinner last night. My first work connected event in 6 months.

It was pleasing to see them again. It was a good night. Enjoyed the steak, the red wine and the conversation. Felt a bit like the start of the journey back to work.

Not rushing though. A latish night has seen me spend the bulk of the afternoon in bed sleeping. Good thing I can.

Support Group

After driving to the wrong venue today I almost drove home.

Sharing my predicament with a friend, she quickly directed me to the correct venue and after some persuading I decided to drive to the new venue. What would we do without the internet and texts!

It was in Preston. I had driven to the city!

A big thank you for helping me out.

I was about 50 minutes late for a two hour session so it was not to bad.

No one really minds and I was greeted with warmth and understanding.

All new faces. I knew no one. As I was late I was pretty much given the floor for the balance of the session.

It was again really intense and confronting at times. I know no two stories are the same but nevertheless as each participant has what I have, listening to and discussing with them the range of issues I/we confront and think about, is about as draining as it is helpful.

All the participants where honest and open. The facilitator had 20 + years experience with my cancer and she was direct and honest. Some of what I heard I challenged and pushed back. It was confronting at times.

There was one other younger than me but the rest of the group was well into their 60’s and 70’s. I was the only one to be given the “new drugs” and there was a high degree of interest in this. Everyone keeps learning, even those who feel they have seen it all.

I always leave feeling better informed and enriched by the experience. Although it is also very draining and today brought on a decent headache.

This afternoon I have spent basically horizontal, resting and sleeping. No training today.