Paul's Health Updates

I will add to this post as I work my way through round 1 of the Chemo treatment rather than add lots of different posts. Each round is a 14 day cycle of treatment and recovery. When side effects are most pronounced are different for everyone so its pretty much wait and see.

Day 6/7 – After being very tired Sunday and Monday. The last 2 days (Tuesday and Wednesday) have been much better, getting out and about.

Day 4/5 – bit more fatigue today and very limited appetite but still very manageable side effects to date.

Day 3 – Slow release pump removed today. Only noticeable side effect to date remains a reduced appetite.

Day 2 – Another good day, side effects very minimal.

Day 1 – Treatment administered, no issues or immediate side effects. Slow release drug released over the next 48 hours.

Following a good recovery from surgery I will be starting Chemo on Wednesday.

Round one will be Chemo only with the intention to add Cetuximab from round 2 depending on how I react/cope.

Once again thank you to everyone for all the prayer, support and well wishes . It really means a lot to know so many people care.

Following advice from my Oncologist we have decided that I will initially take the most aggressive treatment plan available. It will involve Chemotherapy combined with an Antibody to increase the effectiveness of the Chemo. The Antibody becomes publicly funded from 1 November which is a real blessing.

The plan is an initial 4 cycles (8 weeks) and then evaluate how effective the treatment has been and adjust if necessary from there.

The start date is not yet set and is dependent on recovery from last weeks operation. My recovery is going well and treatment could begin as early as the next week or 2.

After what I think is my longest hospital stay(unless mum tells me I was in longer at birth) I am now completing recovery at home.

There have been no complications from surgery and as far as I can tell things are progressing as expected.

The plan now is to recover as quickly as possible to begin treatment for the cancer.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

No one’s journey is going to be the same and this week we have had the first bump in the road. Following another period of feeling unwell I was admitted to hospital (Tue 22 Oct) which resulted in the discovery of a 2nd blockage higher in the bowel. This was surgically removed on the Wednesday (23rd). I remain in hospital recovering, the current indication is discharge likely Sunday (27th).