Dragons!

While not officially on my life list, I had an excellent experience this morning watching a private dragons training session and then meeting the team :) Boots knew someone who know someone who made this happen - it was fantastic! The team and coaches were all really nice, welcomed me and organized group photos plus a couple of individual ones and finished the signature collection on my jersey (kindly started by Scjohnson) We even met Darius Boyd's dog (Charlie), a very cute little thing who was brought along as he is being looked after by a teammate while Boyd goes to Brisbane for the game tomorrow night!

Boots & I with the team:

Coach Wayne Bennett getting my jersey signed:

Jason Nightingale (my favourite player) and myself:

Pills Pills Pills

I have been on new Chemo for a week or so now, to try to reduce the latest cancer metastases in my liver. This time it is a drug called xeloda, which I take as tablets, four pills twice per day. Each cycle is two weeks on, one week off. The only side effect so far is occasional nausea, which can actually be really painful - retching with this chest pain - ouch!! I definitely prefer Chemo pills to getting it via IV though, so I really hope that these work, at least for a while, would make life much easier. I am going to do two cycles on xeloda and then get a ct scan to see if they are working.

I still have some aches and pains, which I think are related to the cancer rather than the Chemo. My lower back aches quite a lot and sneezing/yawning/hiccups/sitting up really hurts my chest. I have a selection of "hillbilly heroin" painkillers to take, but they don't seem to make much difference, make me feel a bit dopey and I don't want to be reliant on painkillers just yet, so I am trying not to take them.

I went to a Chinese doctor to try some alternative therapy on Wednesday and had a great electroacupuncture session (pressure points like acupuncture but using little electric shocks!) so I'm looking forward to another one next week. He also gave me a selection of Chinese herbs to improve blood circulation and digestion, which I am going to trial for a few weeks, see if they make a difference - not sure yet if they are doing anything, but keeping an open mind!

We have booked to go to Vanuatu at the end of June, to see an active volcano and also to spend some relaxing beach time. I'm a bit worried about taking a turn for the worse, either before we go or while we are away, but (touch wood) hopefully all will be well and we'll have a great time :)

Incurable

It seems that while radiation may have worked on the cancer in the lymph nodes, the worst has happened and it has now spread further, to my liver, and is incurable. I had chest pain on the weekend and got a ct scan to look for a potential blood clot, which showed multiple areas of cancer on my liver :( My chest is hurting because they are pushing on my diapragm (sp?) so causing pain when I breathe (which is all the time, obviously).

This news is unsurprisingly devastating. I started Chemo (tablets) today to try to slow it down, bit given the speed it has grown (scans two months ago were clear) the oncologist is very concerned. Worst case is that Chemo doesn't work, cancer causes liver failure and I die within the next few months. Best case is that this Chemo or another one can stabilize it for a few years. Guess I wasn't meant to get old and grey, but to die young and beautiful (well, you know what I mean!)

The US trip is now off since if I were to fall ill and/or die it would be rather costly there and I can't get insurance. Appealing to the better nature of qantas (who seem reasonable) and sta travel (who do not!) to get a refund. Considering coming to the uk instead, to see family and friends. At least I'll get healthcare there and can perhaps see a bit of Europe if I'm feeling ok.