Marching into March

Hair today, Gone tomorrow…

Actually that’s not quite true.

It’s been hair gone yesterday, and back today… kind of.

While I was on my previous cancer drug, I was gradually ‘thinning out’ quite a bit – though most people have been too kind to remark upon it (except for our poor ensuite cleaner). However there’s always a silver lining somewhere – and for me it meant that I didn’t need to shave my legs for approx. 10 months! Now that I am off that drug and onto the Nivolumab, my hair has started to re-grow (so out with the razor again). But most noticeable has been my interesting hair colour. My hairdresser burst out laughing when she noticed the distinctive bands of colour – from brown to grey/white and now… to black! 

Hmm… I think I’ll begin a new ‘rainbow’ trend. Any takers? 

One of the 'pleasures' of having an illness like cancer (if there are any) is the surprise visitors that have made a special effort to come for a visit. Last week I had a lovely catch-up with Jenny - a friend from my early teacher training days (at LTC). I refuse to believe it has been around 45 years ago that we regularly caught the Overland train between Horsham and Adelaide, laughed our way through 3 years of study, earned the princely sum of 40c an hour for babysitting (and 50c an hour after midnight), and learned how to master the twin tub washing machine without shrinking our very limited wardrobe. However that was the beginning of a long future in Lutheran Education for us both, and we had a very nice time reminiscing. 

No Jenny, it's NOT 45 years ago that we began our training at LTC. 

 Meanwhile the last couple of weeks have been pretty much the 'new normal' for Brian and myself. Every second Monday we drive to Warrnambool for my treatment - 3 down so far. Fortunately there are virtually no side effects, unlike many traditional chemo treatments and my back pain is unlikely to be related to the Nivolumab. However I am being given support and strategies to better manage the pain. I will be given more CT scans before long but they don't want to rush them as sometimes the initial trial results can look 'worse' before improvement is shown (says the oncologist, not me). 
Brian too continues to have ups and downs. He has had a very positive few weeks, but the last few days not so flash. Unpredictable! 
Nevertheless we do as many normal things as possible: stewing pears (Lorraine), taking photos of Jupiter (Brian), involving ourselves in music for worship (both) while Brian is enjoying getting his head into St John's School Council this year. 
Today, someone said to me that I must get so sick of life in a wheelchair - yes, yes, and yes! However there are still so many things that I can do, and that's where my focus needs to be. 

 

18 February

Well the last week or two have been a bit ordinary really, as my body adjusts to the new ‘Nivolumab’ drug. Some days have been almost pain free, while others (nights especially) have been just the opposite. However I am getting better at asking for medical help, so I now have a container filled with extra pills, lozenges or patches to use if needed. Of course this all takes time as it’s often a matter of trial and error before the best relief is found.

Things I am hoping for this week:

•          that the immunotherapy drug is working, and ridding my body of every last cancer cell.

•          that the best pain relief is quickly found (or better yet, that my back pain stops completely, so that no pain relief is needed at all)

•          that the barking dogs next door come down with a severe throat virus that might bring some peace into the neighbourhood.

•          that Brian’s ‘good’ days coincide with my ‘good’ days. Then again, perhaps it’s better that one of us has a good day at a time, in order to manage the daily meals.

•          that no local druggies ever discover what there is in our house – I’m sure they’d think it would be well worth a raid if they but knew...  

Things I am thankful for this week:

•          the messages of love and the prayers that have lifted us up.

•          God’s amazing promises – a new one emailed to me daily by an amazing friend.

•          (from Brian) the opportunity to enjoy a 50 years High School reunion – and trying to recognize who all those ‘old’ people were!

•          The ‘gentle nudges’ that I receive to update this blog, even if I don’t think I have anything worthy of note to say.

•          Wishing grand-daughter Lauren a happy 6^th birthday.

•          Romans 12:12 – texted to me by another dear friend           
  
  
  

8 February 2016

Looking at the date today, I realise it is exactly two weeks since my last blog entry. So today the Warrnambool procedure was repeated as I underwent the second of the immunotherapy treatments and I was better prepared this week with my kindle loaded up. One interesting comment from the oncologist was that the company that is providing this drug Nivolumab to me for free is now discontinuing the free form of this drug as of 28 Feb. This means that while I continue to be eligible to receive the drug for free for up to 2 years, no more free cases will be begun after this date. Nivolumab will still be available but at a massive individual price of over $100,000 per year or until it is approved on the PBA listing. Phew, I just got in by the skin of my teeth! Now I really have to pray that it works for me. I am not quite sure yet about side-effects, as I have had random days of troublesome back pain over the past two weeks, which may or may not be caused by the drug (it’s a ‘different’ back pain to the one I’ve had before). 

We’ve been having glorious summer weather over the past week or two, perfect for going for a drive along some of our favourite bush tracks, and this time we ended up at Dartmoor, a tiny township that is looking a bit sad right now since losing a timber mill - its only employment opportunity. It’s worth a visit though, to have a look at the creative chainsaw timber sculptures made from the stumps of cypress trees that have seen better days.

Brian inspects the chainsaw sculptures, under the theme of 'Fairy Tale' characters.

It always pays to keep an eye out for the 'locals'.

Meanwhile I continue to be amazed at the circuitous route of this blog! It has continued to spread and lead to re-connections with friends I haven’t seen for some considerable time. Thank you everyone for your encouragement – always very timely.