Not to much new to report, its been a “standard” Chemo cycle. Today would have been the start of a new round but having a short break.
We are really looking forward to Josh & Aleisha’s wedding this weekend.
Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday 17th with all the prep … blood tests etc all underway. Expect to start Chemo again following recovery from surgery.
Apologies for the lack of updates here recently … reality is there is not been much to report. The latest Chemo cycle was pretty much as I have come to expect … which is essentially positive.
I have one more Chemo cycle starting tomorrow before taking a break for Josh’s wedding and then surgery soon after. The focus and prayer right now is to get to and through the wedding and surgery (17 April) without illness or any other complications.
The expectation would be that once recovered from the operation that I will get back into Chemo to continue to deal to the tumours in the liver.
I have just had an appointment with the surgeon that will perform the operation to remove my bowel tumour … technically its a Laparoscopic High Anterior Resection … but he described it as quote “a simple plumbing job”. A slight change in date with surgery now scheduled for 17 April … so it will be Easter in hospital, with an estimated 3-4 night stay post surgery.
This round of Chemo seems to have hit a little harder that previous with a bit more nausea and pain … but I have still been very blessed in the big scheme of things. Another 2 treatment rounds before a break for the wedding and surgery.
After having to take a Chemo break due to the insertion of another stent, it was back into treatment today. Today’s session went smoothly and without incident.
The potential removal of the primary bowel tumour has also significantly progressed over the last couple of days, with April 16 now penciled in for surgery. While the tumours in my liver are more serious in the medium-long term it has been the bowel that has given me all my serious symptoms to date. The removal of the bowel tumour would be a real answer to prayer and its now looking possible, even likely.
I found the issue last week particulary frustrating, I think partly as it came on the back of feeling so well for a number of weeks.
I was released from hospital on Saturday afternoon after the successful insertion of a 2nd Stent on Friday, I am now recovering at home.
As part of process of discussing treatment options to alleviate the obstruction last week, the removal of the bowel tumour was discussed. There were very good reasons that it was not the right option at the time, however there was agreement that to eliminate the potential of the same issue moving forward that it should be considered once everything has settled down.
While the removal of the primary bowel tumour will not deal with the more serious liver tumours it does seem like a very positive outcome of the hospital stay. Chemo is continuing to shrink all the tumours (bowel & liver) so that would likely continue as the short-medium term treatment plan once recovered.
Thanks again for all the prayer and support.
