July update

Sorry about the lack of photos....I know I keep promising!!

PSA is down significantly, from 1380 to 970....a drop of nearly a third!! That's very encouraging, but occasionaly other components of my blood cells can't take the chemo, especially the 'blood builders' in my marrow, and the count gets so low that treatment has to be suspended for a week. That's about it...I'm in no pain, and am losing weight...but given the heat, I might just be melting!!

See you soon,

George

June 15, update

As those who read this blog will know, my PSA rose rather dramatically two weeks ago, while I was resting from a non-chemo treatment, that was working well, but, unfortunately, damaging my liver, and hurting some of my blood counts.

I have been put back on chemo, but only on very low doses, until some of these numbers improve. It means my PSA is unlikely to fall, but it is being held in check, and the numbers are indeed improving, albeit slowly. The plan is to get them up, so that I (my body) can tolerate a higher dose of chemo. So not great news, but not bad either. That is, things could be both worse...and better!!

I PROMISE photos next time!!

May update

Hi All....no photos this time, i'm afraid, but two visits to the docs to report. Both showed a fall in PSA...the first a small one, the second quite significant (surprisingly).

It now stands at 780, about a third of what it was when I started this latest (non-chemo) therapy. Two months ago I was at 2360. This success is tempered by some unwanted reaction from my liver, and the continuing anaemia. Treatment has been suspended while they check my liver out.
Whicever way you look at it, it's good news...

Love to All (called away by my wife...)

xx

Garden and Health Update

The structure holding up the wysteria collapsed under the weight of winter rains, so i had to chop the bush right back and re-build. Hasn't prevented some pretty impressive blooms.... The 'copse' as I fancifully call it, looks a little brighter now than when I last posted it in Feb...Sadly, or otherwise, all the blossoms don't come at the same time....

'Lea's garden' goes from strength to strength in beauty and freshness....just like she does....

April 5th was my last consulta with the doc....the bone scan showed little change (ie little advance of metastasis in my tumour-infested skeleton) since last September....good news. Even better is that my PSA has halved in the last month!!! (from 2000 to 1000)....a remarkable result by any standards. Needless to say, i shall be staying on the present treatment while I'm responsive to it.

Not all was rosy, and my blood count was low, so I've had another blood transfusion. That's beginning to take effect, and I feel much better. I need to....Michael and I start our 'building project' next week.....

Richard's 2nd Birthday...

Blow out the candles....and you get a Ferrarri!

Have another go!!

Engine sounds a bit rough....is there a mechanic in the house? Michael has a quick check...."I think you'll find she's OK now Richard, let's get her on the track....

Fancy a spin in my new car?

Flower Power...

Lyndy took the family photo when she came over with Rob, for a highly successful flying visit.


Michael seems to be perfectly at home in his hippy garb...

He even faced the camera, and managed a smile!

Thirteen magnolia blossoms the first year we planted it....none last...seven this. The rain has slightly battered them, so they don'y have the perfect form of the first years'...nonetheless, they are still a triumph of nature.

No updates from last week....thank God, I don't enjoy writing them. I'd much rather post photos of my Loved Ones....

The spring has sprung...

Hi All...so nice to be writing without having to put on the lights!! It's a beautiful spring day, warm and sunny; one of the first of the year.

The health report is equally sunny. I'm off chemo for a while, giving my body a chance to recover from its toxicity...which was what made me so ill in february. The temporary treatment is doing better that expected, and actually lowered my PSA...not by much, but every little helps! I feel a good deal better and am regaining strength, though I'm still a bit anaemic. Still there's no doubt that it's good news.

Sorry there are no photos this time round...i'll try to post some early next week.

Greetings...George