My Unplanned Sabbatical

I quit the trial today

I withdrew from the trial today. It was not an easy decision but for me the correct one. I have achieved the best possible outcome and the ongoing maintenance therapy with Rituxumab every 2 months was starting to do more harm than good. My bone marrow was bring smashed a bit and my white blood cells were not regenerating.

After raising this with the trial Dr’s and and another independent oncologist, they agreed that its best I quit the trial. I was in the zone of diminishing returns.

I am now flying solo in my treatment. I will take a couple of months off to let my body strengthen and in February reengage with my oncologist as a private patient and take it from there.

It feels strange, slightly unsupported although empowering to take control of the next phase of my ongoing recovery. I feel I let the trial down by not hanging in for another year, but it was getting too punishing for me. It was not right for me any longer.

12 months ago today I was being prepared for surgery and today I walked away from the trial, cancer free.

Anniversary

On the 4th of December 2011 I found out that something was not quite right. The infamous first ultrasound.

What a year.